72 hours of transit time might be too short to thoroughly entertain yourself, but it shouldn’t prevent you from recording your own Beijing memory or pleasing your relatives and friends. Souvenirs, as a unique carrier of culture and memory, are an ideal choice for your travel gifts. Let’s make the best of the opportunity that 72-hour visa-free transit policy offers and pick your gifts with Chinatraveldepot.com.

Since January 1st 2013 visitors who hold a passport issued by any of the 45 countries eligible for Beijing’s 72-hour visa-free transit policy that will remain in Beijing for no more than 72 hours while in transit can apply for 72-hours visa free transit stay in Beijing. If you fulfill all the necessary requirements for a visa-free transit stay inBeijing, you can check by clicking here and read everything you need to know about this new policy.

◆Handicraft works

Cloisonné

Cloisonné, as one of Chinese traditional and exquisite works of art, is also called enamel. It was first originated in the Yuan Dynasty and became popular during the period of Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty (from 1450 to 1456). As the result, the historical background of Cloisonné formed the first two words of its Chinese name, Jing and Tai. And the last word was based on its main glaze color, peacock blue and sapphire blue. So people used Lan which means blue in Chinese as the last word and created the Chinese name of Cloisonné, Jingtailan.

Where to find: Wangfujing and Nanluoguxiang.

                                                                                                     Chinese knot

Knotting is a unique traditional handmade folk art in China. What makes it so famous and special is that the complicated patterns of a knot are woven from one piece of cord. It is also possible to combine different knots together to create more different and more various lucky patterns. Embodying plenty of spirit of the Orient, Chinese knot now is regarded as a symbol of Chinese wisdom and culture.

Where to find: Wangfujing and Nanluoguxiang.

Peking painted clay figurine

Painted clay figurines of Niren Zhang have been quite popular with young people in recent years. Compared with exaggerated modeling of a modern cartoon character, a Pecking painted clay figurine has more vivid expression, visual gesture and impressive costume. In addition, most of clay figurines are based on characters from famous Chinese classical novels, like The Water Margin (Shuihu), A Dream of Red Mansions (Hongloumeng) andThreeKingdoms(Sanguoyanyi).

Where to find: Niren Zhang,No.138 Wangfujing Road, Dongcheng district,Beijing.

◆Food

Peking duck

Among all Beijing cuisines for tourists to try, Peking duck is a must. It is known to the world for its eye-catching red color and succulent mellow taste. If you want to share the delicacy with your family who is far away from you, it doesn’t matter. The vacuum-packed Peking duck is a nice choice.

Where to find:BeijingQuanjude Restaurant Qianmen Branch,No.30 Qianmen Road,Beijing.

Daoxiangcun Dim Sum

The dim sum of Beijing Daoxiangcun has a long history and it can be traced back to the year of 1895. Its first shop was opened in Qianmen, near Guanyin Temple, and was founded by a boy from Fragrance Drifting Village in Suzhou. It was the first shop to supply the special food from southChina. Specialties like pine nuts cakes, pastry with sweet stuffing, honey pie and pecan pie are all worth trying.

Where to find:No.130 Xidan North Road, Xicheng district,Beijing.

Do you still scratch your head for proper travel gifts of Beijing? Please don’t be confused and hesitated. Souvenirs list recommended on chinatraveldepot.com which ranges from handicraft works to special foods must meet every need of you. Carry a souvenir, keep the memory ofChinaall along.

Is transit time for dozens of hours harrowing and annoying for you? Do you aspire to a carefree tour for a short term? Now, this can come true if you remain inBeijingfor no more than 72 hours while in transit. The 72-hour visa-free transit policy ofBeijingwill offer you a great opportunity to enjoy both visual and gustatory pleasure in this capital city.

Since January 1st 2013 visitors who hold a passport issued by any of the 45 countries eligible for Beijing’s 72-hour visa-free transit policy that will remain in Beijing for no more than 72 hours while in transit can apply for 72-hours visa free transit stay in Beijing. If you fulfill all the necessary requirements for a visa-free transit stay inBeijing, you can check by clicking here and read everything you need to know about this new policy.

 

The visual and gustatory tour destination

Nanluoguxiang

 

72 hours which seem long for a transit but passing for a journey, how to make it perfect? If you are a nature lover, a visit to Nanluoguxiang will, no doubt, arouse your excessive passion and curiosity as it has the perfect combination of cultural and natural relics. As for a food lover, cuisines in Nanluoguxiang should be your first option to satisfy both your visual and gustatory needs. So, within those 72 hours, at any time, you must be stunned by every fantasy that Nanluoguxiang creates.

Nanluoguxiang is known as one of the best preserved historical sites in Beijing. Built in 1267, it has become a landmark in this area. Since ancient times, high officials and noble lords preferred to settle here and their mansions were scattered around 8 hutongs on both east and west side of Nanluoguxiang, the main alley. For example, the former residence of Qi Baishi (Chinese painting master) in Yu Er Hutong and Mao Dun’s( Modernistic famous writer ofChina) house in Houyuan’ensi Hutong deserve visiting. Besides being the cluster of historic homes of different styles, Nanluoguxiang is now appealing various fashion pioneers. Many shops and bars with traditional Chinese and modern Western characteristics are opened here.

 

Dining from morning to evening

When walking around this old alley, the short-term trip without cuisines would be dull and boring. Why not buy a cup of yogurt or a bag of snack from eateries scattering along the alley? Foods provided here are so various that 72 hours will not be enough time. Only in Nanluoguxiang, it is possible to eat from morning to night. The gourmet trip could start from a traditional breakfast ofBeijingand end up with a barbecue in a pokey alley.

Eateries recommendations:

08:00

Yaoji Chaogan

The first stop of this gourmet trip is Yaoji Chaogan，a Chinese restaurant with a time-honored brand. Yaoji Chaogan is famous for its dainty snacks of morning with old Pecking style, like Chaogan(fried liver），steamed bun with meat stuffing and braised foods. So come and sit with old Beijingers to have a rich and tasty breakfast.

Price：Around ¥22 per person

Address: No.311 Gulou East Road, Dongcheng District (东城区鼓楼东大街311号)

Tel: 010-84010570 or 4008110057

 

Huguosi Snacks Restaurant

Dessert lovers can choose to have your breakfasts at Huguosi Snacks Restaurant, which is known for its well made desserts with various stuffings. For example, pea cake (Wandouhuang), seasoned millet mush (Miancha) and baked sweeten wheaten cake (Tanghuoshao) are appreciated by many people, especially by oldBeijingpeople.

Price：Around ¥15 per person

Address: No.180 Di’anmenwai Road, Xicheng District (西城区地安门外大街180号)

Tel: 010-64042946

 

10:00

Wenyu Nailao

When walking through Nanluoguxiang, Wenyu Nailao should not be missed. This eatery is greatly welcome by customers due to its milk and yogurt style snacks like Nailao and Shuangpinai with different ingredients. Buy one and make you enjoy a romantic trip with the magnificent creaminess of snacks of Wenyu Nailao.

Price：Around ¥14 per person

Address: No.49 Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District (东城区南锣鼓巷49号)

 

Xishi Toufu Pudding

Xishi Toufu Pudding is also a good choice to have some desserts. The eatery mainly sells tofu budding products. It offers tofu buddings with distinctive tastes, spicy and sweet, and various ingredients like sweet beans, fruits and honey are included.

Price：Around ¥12 per person

Address: Nanluoguxiang, Xicheng District (西城区南锣鼓巷)

Tel: 18611755576

 

12:00

Taste(Zamo)

Having lunch at Nanluoguxiang would provide you a deep insight into the life of Beijingers. Taste(Zamo), as the largest restaurant in this alley appeals a large amount of clients with its creative dishes，a mixture of Chinese and western food. Gongbaojiding (spicy diced chicken with peanuts) and roast duck are the best known Chinese dishes in the world. Here, the chef could offer you brand new dishes which cannot be enjoyed anywhere else except Taste (Zamora). Spicy Diced Chicken with Peanuts pizza and Beijing Roast Duck pizza are highly recommended.

Price：Around ¥70 per person

Address: No.106 Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District (东城区南锣鼓巷106号院)

Tel: 010-64017029 or 64019708

 

Wamao

Besides, local cuisines ofChinaare worth trying. Wamao is a restaurant that embodies some culture of Dai group, one of minority groups inChina. Wamao literally means clay cat, which is considered to be a mascot inYunnanprovince. The typical food provided in Wamao isYunnanhotpot. Different from general hotpot, Wamao hotpot should be eaten from vegetables then to meat so that the meat would be more tasty and tender. So come and enjoy the ethnic culture with Wamao.

Price：Around ¥74 per person

Address: No.125 Gulou East Road, Xicheng District (西城区鼓楼东大街125号)

Tel: 010-64064398

 

14:00

Zhishimi

In afternoon, nothing is more relaxing than sitting in a cafe and enjoying a cake with a cup of coffee. In Nanluoguxiang, cafes with different characteristics can be seen everywhere. Among them, Zhishimi is the most recommended. Cheeses offered here are with flavors of many kinds. Cheese with durian flavor must be special for you.

Price：Around ¥38 per person

Address: No.69 Xiao Ju’er Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District(东城区南锣鼓巷小菊儿胡同69号)

Tel: 010-64053523 or 13661161717

 

17:00

Guiwei

For Beijingers, having a barbecue at night is their most favorite way to spend their night life. Outdoor barbecue is very common inBeijing. However, escaping into a shadowy lane to enjoy a barbecue must be unfamiliar to you. Guiwei(ghost flavor) is a perfect place to have this kind of special experience. Besides its exceptional location, foods here are also exotic. Roasted wing with mustard sauce, roasted wing of “ghost” flavor and roasted marshmallow are its specialty.

Price：Around ¥46 per person

Address:N0.20 Heizhima Hutong, Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng district (东城区交道口南锣鼓巷黑芝麻胡同20号)

Tel: 010-64075931

 

By taking the short-term trip recommended on chinatraveldepot.com, we believe that a transit in Beijing, no matter short or long, would turn out to be meaningful and full of surprises. Come toBeijingand enjoy your 72-hour visa-free transit stay. Check now all Beijing-Tours available on Chinatraveldepot.com.