About Carrie Kellenberger

Recent Posts by Carrie Kellenberger

Hiking Korea’s Sa Ryang Do Island

It has been wonderful getting back into hiking again. As a young girl, I spent all of my summers romping around the trails of the Appalachian Mountains.  Though I love the coast, I constantly crave mountain energy.  70% of Korea’s landscape is filled with mountainous terrain, so there are countless places to adventure and explore. Now that the weather is slowly warming up, I decided it was time to take an expedition down south.

I found a particular trip labled “Jagged Ridge Island Hike and Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival”. Just the title of the trip sounded enticing, but it was the description that sold me. The description said, “Let’s hike Sa Ryang Do Island! Sa Ryang Do Island hike is one of those hikes avid Korean hikers know about, but much of the non-hiking population does not. The island is a small island (40min ferry ride from Tong Young) but has an interesting hiking route . . .  The entire trail provides spectacular views of the surrounding blue ocean almost the entire time. Some have said this is the best hiking they have ever done in Korea. Its that good.”  “Wow!” I thought. I knew this would be a special trip, and I did not want to miss out!

Typically weekend trips leave on Friday nights in order to cram as much as possible into the short weekend. I got off work from my hogwon at 10:00pm, so I only had enough time to stop at my apartment, grab my bags, then rush to the subway. Our bus departed around 11:30pm, and we drove through the night to arrive at Tong Yeong around 6:00am.

We arrived at the harbor, just as the sun was rising over the mountains.  It was so refreshing to breathe in the ocean air. We boarded the ferry, where we all sat on the heated floors. It is Korean custom to take of your shoes in sitting areas, so the room was slightly stinky of feet.  It seemed almost everyone on the ferry was there for hiking purposes. One group of men particularly amused me. There were about 12-15 of them, all sitting in a circle. They were eating kimbap and drinking beer and soju at 7:00 in the morning! They were troupers!

As we arrived at the island, our guide kept making comments that we may hate him at the end of the day. He kept warning us that this hike was going to be challenging and wanted to make sure we were prepared for what was about to happen. I felt a slight tinge of nervousness run through my body, but my friend Rachel, who I have been hiking with before, assured me I was more than capable to handle it. As we began the hike, I found it to be a steep climb, but nothing that I was not used to. I was relieved and thought to myself, Oh this is not bad at all . . . Let’s just say I was quite unprepared for what was coming next!

Suddenly, the rocks became very jagged and steep. Maneuvering began to get very tricky. In order to climb down, I literally had to get into a crab walk position, so I would not go tumbling down.  I was very nervous, but I was glad to meet two other people that were feeling the same as I was. We decided to sing a silly song as we crab walked, to make the descent less daunting. As we carefully maneuvered each ledge with great caution, I kept thinking to myself, “well it can’t get any more challenging than this . . .” Again, I was wrong.

All of the sudden this gigantic boulder emerged at the peak. Attached was a rope with people rock climbing up. I had to sit down for about ten minutes, staring at the massive boulder. I honestly considered giving up. There was no way I was going to scale a mountain on a rope! My guide guaranteed, that once I got closer I would see that it was not as intimidating as it looked. I took a deep breath and decided, “alright, it’s now or never”. I said a prayer to myself and began the ascent.

Half way up, I accidentally looked down, and had a small internal panic attack. My breathing began to get rapid, as fear shot through every vein in my body. I took a deep breath, and then I continued the climb. Reaching the top was the most incredible feeling. I was full of adrenalin and had an incredible sense of accomplishment. I thought that I had conquered the most challenging feat of my life, but then I remembered, “Uh-oh, I have to climb down”.  Luckily my adrenalin rush had not subsided, so I was able to use this newfound energy to conquer the rest of the hike.

When I finished the hike I was utterly exhausted! I could barely even eat! We had a late lunch in the island harbor. I had a delicious soup with handmade noodles. When we got back on the ferry, I passed out for the entire ride home. We got back on the bus, then rode about an hour towards the district of Tong Yeong.

Seoul Hiking Group is one of the largest Facebook groups for those who live in the Seoul Area. Seoul is a basin and is surrounded by mountains on all sides, so there are tons of places to explore right in the Seoul Area.  If you do not live in Seoul, “Adventure Korea” and “When in Korea” also provide tons of awesome adventure trips. Both “Adventure Korea” and “When in Korea” offer other types of trips too;  you can take trips to the DMZ, temple stays, trips to Jeju Island, booze cruises, or getaways to various festivals and events all over Korea!

Contributed by guest writer Caroline Hosey

 

The Marshalls Invade Taiwan!

The Marshalls have invaded Taiwan!

After nine years in Asia, John and I felt that it was time for my parents to visit, so we decided to fly them over for five weeks as a combined Christmas/birthday/anniversary present all rolled into one. We called them in December to let them know that their tickets had been purchased and that they would be joining us for the month of April. My dad immediately returned our gesture with an offer of free accommodations through their rental group in Bali, so we got an unexpected bonus with their trip in that we are all going to spend a week in Bali. (More on that later…)

It’s been a long time since I’ve done any honest-to-goodness blogging, and what better excuse than to regale y’all with tales of our adventures in Formosa!

Mom and Dad arrived on April 4th, on Tomb Sweeping Day. For John and I, it meant that we didn’t have to deal with much traffic going to or from the airport. Their flight arrived on time and they arrived looking quite fresh and fairly relaxed despite the long journey. Thursday and Friday were ‘rest’ days for them, although we managed to squeeze in some Japanese BBQ on Friday. Dad’s first comment as we sat down to eat was not to order anything too weird. Mom ate with gusto and Dad did a great job using chopsticks for the very first time. While we abided to his request not too order anything too off the wall, I think the whole concept of cooking our own meal at the table ended up being a strange, but terrific experience for them.

We spent Saturday touring Taipei and managed to squeeze in a visit to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. We spent some time wandering the perfectly symmetrical grounds of the complex and admiring the flowers and beautiful koi ponds, and as luck would have it, we had just in time to see the Changing of the Guard before moving on to our next destination, Taipei 101.

Most shopping malls in Canada don’t even come close to the luxurious mall decor found in 101. We wandered 101 for a bit while we waited for our table at Din Tai Fung, and ended up skipping a visit to the Observation Deck. $25 per person is much too steep in my opinion. My parents seemed to agree. We can view the city from the rooftop of our 36 floor apartment complex and while we might not get a downtown view of Taipei, we figured what we have at home is good enough and our hard-earned dollars will be put to good use elsewhere.

Taiwan’s very own Michelin Star restaurant, Din Tai Fung, is always a top notch dining experience for John and I, although my parents expressed slight doubts to begin with. It didn’t take long for my mom to become a fan of Din Tai Fung’s famous xiao long bao, and my dad seemed pleasantly surprised. It seemed as though he had made up his mind about the meal before we got started, but once the wonton soup arrived, he was clearly enjoying his meal.

We capped our day off with a walk through Ximending, where they got to see the Saturday artisan’s market and watch as dusk settled in over the city and the streets come alive with people, lights and music. Ximen probably wasn’t a good way to end the day, as they were clearly experiencing sensory overload when we left, but that’s Taiwan for you. Nothing is ever done here on a small scale.

 

Celebrate a Memorial Day: Tomb Sweeping Day in Taiwan

On April 4^th, 2012, the often neglected hillside cemeteries and graveyards of Taiwan will become hives of activity as families prepare for Tomb Sweeping Day (Ching Ming Jie). The Chinese equivalent of Memorial Day, Tomb Sweeping Day is a day when Taiwanese families show their love and respect for their ancestors by visiting their graves. It is traditionally celebrated on the 15^th day of the Spring Equinox.

The custom of ancestor worship originated in China during the Tang Dynasty and the ancient tradition eventually made its way to Taiwan. The holiday is observed a statutory public holiday in Taiwan, and most businesses and schools are closed for the day.

Tomb Sweeping Day is a designated day for demonstrating filial piety and funeral rites by cleaning the grave, burning ghost money and making offerings of fruit, food, and incense. Vegetation that has grown up and around the tombs is cut back and the tomb is swept clear of debris.

A visit to any graveyard in Taiwan on this day will reveal large groups of people scattered around the traditional family burial plots that generally belong to parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents. The day begins with cleaning the tombs, but once that business has been concluded, food offerings are made.

The foods offered to family ancestors on this day vary from region to region, but the most common dishes in Taiwan are grave cakes such as hung kuei cakes, fa cakes, and taso tsai cakes, and jun ping, which is a type of flour roll stuffed with dried tofu, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and bamboo meat.

As family members pray, ghost money (also known as spirit money) is burned in piles in front of the tomb to offer to the ancestors or planted in the dirt. The money isn’t real currency, though. Ghost money is made of bamboo or rice paper and it is offered to ancestors to invoke their help and guidance.

Although every family pays their respects in different ways, the rites mentioned above are generally performed prior to or following Ching Ming Jie (Tomb Sweeping Day).

Most graveyards in Taiwan or located on the outskirts of town or on hillsides. Since Ching Ming Jie falls in early April, many families take advantage of the nice spring weather to enjoy a day outside. This ancient tradition is not only an important time for families to enjoy together, but it also teaches younger generations about the importance of honoring their elders.

Traveling the Philippines: Luzvimin of the Philippines

It’s heart-warming to know that there are so many travelers who appreciate my country. I am certain that there are still millions of people on this planet who have not heard of the Philippines or who don’t know where the Philippines is located, but I believe in a few years to come that the Philippines will hit the top ten list as one of the world’s most beloved vacation spots.

So why should the Philippines be part of your travel itinerary if you’re traveling to South East Asia? Apart from Aklan’s famous island – Boracay, there are 7107 islands where you can bask in the glorious sun (this is a tropical country having two seasons – dry and wet, where the sun is a constant companion when it’s not raining during the months of June to November) and choose from any of our majestic islands from the three major regions called LUZVIMIN – Luzon (upper portion), Visayas (middle section) and Mindanao (southern part).

Some of my favorite spots to travel to are Tagaytay in Luzon, Cebu in the Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao. 

Tagaytay in Luzon, ranks second to our summer Capital – Baguio City (also in Luzon) because of its cool climate, which is due to its high altitude. It isn’t more than a two-hour drive from Tagaytay to Manila. I have been to Tagaytay a number of times, often for a whole day of dining out as there are several delicious dining destinations in this part of the province of Cavite. There are numerous restaurants that dot the ridge overlooking the breathtaking Taal Volcano, and there are a number of different cuisines on offer here, so you’re sure to find something you like. The volcano and the food in Tagaytay is always a constant highlight for me whenever I’m visiting this part of the Philippines. No writing or picture can describe my feelings whenever I am viewing this spectacular sight. Adventure travelers might want to hop on a boat to visit the volcano, but you can also find some amazing hiking trails in the area. It’s simply amazing!

The first time I ever went on a plane was in 2004 when I visited Cebu province in the Visayas region of the Philippines. I have always been hesitant about riding planes,but my trip to Cebu opened my eyes to the inspiring world of experiencing “several worlds” and meeting diverse cultures. From 2004 to 2008, I went back to Cebu for projects and I focused on exploring what the Queen City of the South has to offer its visitors in June 2009. Having their own international airport on Mactan Island makes Cebu an accessible province-city-island to travel to, and it’s a great jumping off point for a number of islands from the north to south, such as Malapascua and Bantayan in the North and Sumilon Island in the South. Sumilon Island is slowly gaining in popularity, and all of these islands offer unique traits that make visitors want to come back again and again. Furthermore, when it comes to food, you won’t find sweeter mangos in the world. Eating mangos is almost a traditional past time and and not to indulge in them is a sin.

Davao City is close to my heart because this is where I found the love of my life. It may be a long distance relationship (I am currently based in Manila) but, as they say, love knows no boundaries. But even before I met my beau, I fell in love with Davao City during my first trip there in 2006. It was another work-related trip where I did not get to explore the city’s beauty, but an abundance of one of my favorite fruits helped me make it through that ordeal. Fresh and juicy pomelo is a constant sight among many fruit stands, and with other exotic fruits like marang, mangosteen and the king of fruits durian can all be savored in this part of the archipelago for just a fraction of the cost of what’s on offer in Manila. For example, you can pay 200 to 250 pesos ($5USD) for durian in Manila, but you’ll only pay around 45 pesos ($1USD) for the same sized fruit in Davao City.

As for island adventure, the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS or simply Samal Island) is just 5 minutes away – that is if you’re heading to Babak District via Sasa Wharf riding a Roll-On-Roll-Off (RORO) boat. It costs Php10 per passenger (based on my travels there in 2010). Motorcycles, which locals call habel-habel, are the vehicles of choice for independent travelers who want to explore the island on their own time. Furthermore, I personally recommend staying at Pearl Farm Beach Resort located at the Kaputian Island, which offers tranquility despite their many guests, as you can enjoy 28,000 hectares of lush greens and white sand.

I’ve only been to a few of the 7107 majestic islands the Philippines has to offer, but I am on a mission to explore this amazing and friendly English-speaking country (Filipino is our official language and English is a must to learn even at a tender age). So join me as I continue to discover what the Philippines has to offer – one day, one island at a time.

Written by Pie Rivera

Cityscape Photo Essay: Favorite Buildings in Downtown Seoul

A Seoul cityscape photo essay of some of my favorite buildings in downtown Seoul in February 2011.

This charming little street can be found just at the entrance to Seoul’s cultural district, Insadong. It’s about a ten-minute walk from Gyeongbok Palace.

This photo was taken at one of my favorite places in Seoul, Gyeongbok Palace. I like coming here to spend time wandering the grounds, but I especially love people watching here. This was my first time touring the complex during the winter but the brilliant blue sky and leafless trees made for a great backdrop for this series.

Jongno Tower is a 33-story office building in downtown Seoul which is famous for its view of Jongno and its surrounding areas. The tower is located directly across from Insadong-gil, a famous street in Seoul that is popular for its traditional architecture, souvenir shops, art galleries and restaurants.

A busy day for traffic in downtown Seoul.

I really liked the reflections in the side of the buildings.

I came upon Seoul’s artificial river, Cheonggyecheon, which is located in the center of Seoul just as dusk was closing in. This photo was taken from the Dongmyo District Bridge.

Volunteer Work at Seoul’s Angel House

Time has been going by so quickly since I arrived in South Korea. If it was not for a calendar, I would be oblivious to the fact that three months have gone by since I arrived in Seoul. I’ve moved through life at a manic pace; diving into every opportunity that comes my way with complete abandonment.

From dancing the nights away in Hongdae and Itaewon, to exploring temples and palaces, from eating live octopus, and to all the countless adventures in between, I have taken little time to truly center myself since I arrived. I am not saying this is a bad thing, as I have been having the time of my life, but I knew it was time for a break when February came knocking on my door.

Mental disorders seem to be somewhat of a taboo subject in Korea. According to the Korean Times, there is a drastic underlying fear of visiting psychiatric institutes; and many Koreans shun the idea of getting proper psychiatric help because of this social taboo. Some people believe this is why Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

Ashley and I took the subway to the Younsinae Station and met up with about 20 other volunteers. We ended up hopping on a bus that took us up into the mountains. Our journey was over in under 30 minutes. Upon arrival at Angel House that weekend, I was assigned to a group. There were several groups helping out in different ways, such as cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry. I originally signed up to help cook, but they needed more hands to do the laundry, so Ashley and I did that instead. It was actually a lot of fun, as I got to try my hand at hand washing clothes on a washboard. Everyone on the laundry team was in a great mood, so although the work was hard, it was still a time for laughter and I got to meet some amazing new friends.

Once we had dispensed with the work, it was time to spend some time with the residents of Angel House. The first group of people that I met was a group of younger children that were happy to engage in some hilarious monkey business. They thought my favorite brown hat was a hoot, and they loved it when I covered up my face and pretended I couldn’t see. Their laughter was contagious and T felt my soul fill with love and happiness.

I also shared some special moments with some of the older ladies. Even though I couldn’t speak Korean with them, I found a way to communicate with one lady who started humming a song. When I started humming along with her, her eyes lit up and she added some words and waited patiently for me to repeat after her.  Suddenly, everyone was clapping along with us and the moment turned into a sing-a-long. At the end, all we could do was smile and laugh over the connection we had made together. Now I know what it means to say that music is powerful. I won’t ever forget that moment. Just before I left, an old lady kissed my hand and made a heart shape over her head with her hands. One of the volunteers told me that the lady was telling me that I have a heart full of love.

Tips on Finding Volunteer Work in Korea

Finding volunteer groups can be slightly tricky, as many of them do not have leaders that speak fluent English. Furthermore, take note that you are required to have an E-2 visa in order to volunteer. In the past it was illegal for foreigners to volunteer, but the current laws allow it as long as you are not being compensated.

You can visit Angel House on the first Saturday of every month. You’ll be responsible for cleaning the facilities, doing laundry, cooking food, basic personal hygiene for the residents, and having fun with the residents. Each volunteer has to pay 10,000 won to cover the cost of food for the day, as you will be cooking the food and eating it with the residents. The remainder of your payment is donated to Angel House for the residents. If you live in a different region of Korea, or if you want to browse other volunteer opportunities there’s Always Hope.

Volunteering at Angel house has been my most memorable experience thus far, so those of you in Korea for an extended amount of time, I highly recommend taking a break to volunteer. It will not only be a rewarding and unforgettable adventure, but you will also gain a completely new perspective of Korean culture.

Guest Author: Caroline Hosey, An Adventure of the Seoul

Kota Kinabalu Rings In The Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year celebrations are almost upon us here in Taiwan. I’ve commented before on how this holiday is celebrated in Taiwan, so this year I thought I’d comment on celebrations for Lunar New Year in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia Borneo, which was where we spent the holidays last year.

The Lunar New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, luring thousands of friends and families to participate in games and watch Lion and Dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations and other fun events. We witnessed no less than three lion dances in various areas throughout Kota Kinabalu. My favorite by far was held in a local seafood restaurant known as Hua Hing Seafood Restaurant in Seri Selera Kg.Air (Sedco Square) in Kota Kinabalu. Seri Selera Kg. Air is a seafood village in town and this is the place that locals go to for cheap seafood. That’s right! Stay away from those pricey seafood establishments on the promenade and head for this place instead. Glass aquariums line the walls of the complex, while seafood vendors hawk their fresh catches and cook it for you right there. John and I are huge seafood lovers so we were delighted by the variety of dishes available and the cheap prices, especially when we compared it to the seafood restaurant our hotel concierge recommended (which was also excellent, but mighty pricey). Having picked up a giant assortment of shrimp, fresh sea bass and river prawns, we had just sat down to enjoy our meal when we heard three distinctive tock, tock tock sounds that announce the entrance of a Chinese lion or dragon.

The golden lion represents liveliness, and there seemed to be no shortage of liveliness on display in Kota Kinabalu during the Lunar New Year. During Spring Festival, lion dancer troupes from Chinese martial art schools visit  the homes and shops of citizens within the Chinese community. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to homes and businesses; I certainly hope that my posting here brings you a little bit of good luck and fortune for the coming new year.

This year the Lunar New Year Carnival in Kota Kinabalu runs from January 17 – 22nd, 2012. Festivities are taking place in Lintasan Deasoka, which will be lit up with rows of traditional Chinese lanterns. Visitors will also enjoy a large variety of food stalls, local handicrafts, and decorations, as well lion dances, drumming shows and other colorful cultural shows such as the Fan Dance.

Here are a few more images from Kota Kinabalu Lunar New Year Festivities:

The Essential Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year in Beijing, China

Combine the wonders of this exotic Asian destination with one of the biggest celebrations on earth and you’ve got yourself a trip of epic proportions. No one does Chinese New Year better than Beijing, China.

A celebration filled with color, energy, food, and history, Chinese New Year in Beijing hosts a number of fascinating local events to make your journey truly unique and unforgettable. MSW offers you an essential travel guide to some of the best attractions, activities and restaurants in Beijing during Chinese New Year.

Beijing Chinese New Year Winter Attractions

Fireworks

Each year, Beijing’s skyline erupts in a colorful array of fireworks for nights on end, while daytime hours are filled with noisy fireworks being fired all across the city by residents. The resulting cacophony is deafening and the city literally reverberates for days on end.

The most popular venues for setting off fireworks – and watching the pandemonium that ensues – are around the Drum and Bell Towers in the Houhai Lake district. During the day, this Beijing neighborhood is a perfect place for visitors who want to learn about traditional hutong lifestyles.




Nightlife

Houhai Lake District

If it’s Chinese culture that you’re looking for, start your night off with a rickshaw tour of Houhai Bar Street and its surrounding area. There are an ample number of bars and boutiques situated alongside a picturesque manmade lake; the area is dotted with gardens, ponds, traditional Chinese courtyards and ancient temples.

After you’re finished exploring, warm up with a hot beverage or a nightcap at the nearby Drum & Bell Bar. Overlooking the courtyard between the Drum Tower and Bell Tower, this rooftop bar provides a great view of the lake. In recent years the Drum & Bell Bar have provided a great place to view the fireworks on Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Another local favorite, the East Shore Jazz Café, comes highly recommended as the most authentic jazz in town. The café’s rooftop terrace offers views overlooking Houhai Lake.

Sanlitun Bar Street

Sanlitun Bar Street boasts some of the best nightlife activities in Beijing. Known as THE entertainment district of Beijing, Sanlitun has a wide variety of venues, including nightclubs, sports bars, pubs, coffee houses, and cafes.

As one of the most popular nightclubs in Beijing, Mix Club is the perfect place to dance the night away. The ultra modern 2-story nightclub regularly features international DJs who spin the latest music in a trendy setting that resembles some of the hottest clubs in LA.

The Bird’s Nest

Home to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, hosts several celebrations in honor of Chinese New Year.  During the Spring Festival, visitors can enjoy an artificial Winter Wonderland that includes skating rinks and mini ski slopes.




Skiing and Snowboarding

If you tired of sleepless nights in a city that sounds like it’s under siege, try hitting the slopes for a day or two.

Just 30 minutes outside of Beijing, Nanshan Ski Village has one of the best snowboarding parks in the country with five kickers jumps, a mini half-pipe, and over 12 boxes and rails. This winter wonderland also boasts some of the best man-made snow in the world. Experience it for yourself on any of Nanshan’s 12 ski trails, or try your hand at tobogganing or snowmobiling.

Less than a 4-hour drive from Beijing, Wanlong Ski Resort boasts a snowboarding park and 22 ski trails of man-made snow. As China’s largest ski mountain, Wanlong sees over 1000 skiers every weekend.

Celebrate Chinese New Year in a Traditional Village

This tour, hosted by the China Culture Center, takes visitors into the suburbs of Beijing to experience Chinese New Year in a traditional village, where lively street entertainers, folk dancers, puppet shows, sword swallowers, story tellers and magicians spin their magic and showcase their mesmerizing skills. Visit a traditional Chinese home and learn how fire is used to cook and heat the bed. Guests learn how to make dumplings and steam buns. The tour even includes a visit to local artisan who makes life-size paper replicas of horses and carts for Chinese funerals!




Experience Beijing’s Temple Fairs

Chinese New Year in Beijing is a noisy, colorful and busy occasion. If you’ve never experienced the temple fairs of Beijing, then this should be at the top of your travel itinerary during Chinese New Year.

The first temple fairs in Beijing date back to around 1000 AD. Vendors would often set up shop outside of the temples where pilgrims came to pay tribute to the gods during traditional festival periods such as Chinese New Year.

Today, Beijing’s temple fairs attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. Each year, organizers invite hundreds of performers and artisans from all over China to participate in the Chinese New Year temple fairs that are held near the temples and parks of Beijing.

These lively carnivals offer an opportunity to appreciate traditional artwork and local delicacies, spectacular variety shows from rural areas of China, dragon and lion dances, boys and girls on stilts, life-size puppets, waist drum dancing, lotus blossom fairy dances, Peking opera, acrobatics, and tea culture displays. If all that entertainment makes you hungry, you’re in the right place. You’ll find plenty of snacks and Chinese delicacies to sink your teeth into.

Temple Fair Tour

The China Culture Center offers a temple fair tour in Beijing each Chinese New Year. Visitors learn about the history of Beijing temple fairs and then they are taken to two or three temple fairs where they will get a chance to sample local snacks, purchase traditional handicrafts and view various folk performances and traditional handicrafts.

 

Eat

Chinese New Year celebrations generally begin with a family feast at home, but many families are breaking away from this traditional custom in lieu of eating out. Hu Zhifu, the secretary general of the Beijing Food and Catering Association, states that having Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner at a restaurant first became fashionable in 2003. The number of families that host their New Year’s dinner at restaurants is growing annually.

Popular Beijing Restaurants

Dumplings – Din Tai Fung

When food is renowned as much for its flavor and appearance as it is for being a true work of art, you know you’ve attained perfection in the culinary world. Din Tai Fung got its start in Taiwan in the 1980s, but since then it has expanded to 42 locations in nine countries worldwide. The Beijing restaurant does a brisk business, and many people say that they offer some of the best dumplings in China.

Visitors come for the paper-thin xiao long bao, (steamed dumplings) which are stuffed with vegetables and meat or mashed red beans. Beijing does not have a high concentration of xiao long bao restaurants, and food critics have claimed that the difficulty of finding good xiao long bao in Beijing makes their high prices worth it.

Weighing in at just five grams, the outer-skin of each dumpling is thin as tissue. Each skin is then stuffed with approximately fifteen grams of meat filling. Served with finely sliced pieces of ginger and a soy-based dipping sauce, the end result is sheer art. The tiny bundles bulging with a delightful combination of flavorful soup broth and meat simply burst with flavor.

Mongolian Hot Pot – Donglaishun

After a evening out in the cold Beijing winter air, warm up with a hearty meal of Mongolian Hot Pot at Beijing’s most popular hot pot restaurant, Donglaishun. This northern style hot pot restaurant has been serving Chinese Muslim fare since 1903, and the restaurant is thought to have some of the best shuanyangrou, (instant-boiled mutton) in town. An integral part of northern Chinese cuisine, hot pot is traditionally served in a copper potfilled with soup broth. Meat, frozen bean curd, vegetables, and noodles are added to fill the broth out. Once cooked, a final dip into a sesame butter sauce gives the meal an extra burst of flavor. As Beijing’s most famous hotpot restaurant, Donglaishun may be a little pricey, but its 40 locations throughout the city attest to its popularity.

Peking Duck – Quanjude

No visit to Beijing is complete without dining on glazed and roasted Peking duck. Crispy skin and tender, juicy duck meat is wrapped in paper-thin pancakes and topped with a thick, sweet hoisin sauce, scallions, and radishes.

Locals may argue vehemently on their picks for the best duck in town, but there’s no denying the popularity of Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, a seven-story building at #32 Qianmen Dajie. The unique presentation of the food and the traditional interior design at Quanjude has been attracting roast duck lovers for more 146 years.

Shop

Shopping in Beijing is a veritable paradise for bargain hunters. Add Spring Festival fever into the mix and you’ll find yourself looking for deals of the century. Many shops and vendors hold sales to celebrate the New Year, so shop to your heart’s content and don’t forget to bargain!

Hong Qiao Market

One of the best places in China to buy pearls, coral, turquoise and other semi-precious stones lays a short distance from the Temple of Heaven’s main east gate. Prices at Hong Qiao Market are very reasonable owing to a number of vendors selling the same goods, so smile, have fun and bargain hard for your Chinese souvenirs.

GuWanCheng (Curio City)

This four-storey building on the 3^rd Ring Road behind Pan Jia Yuan harbors treasures waiting to be discovered. The store offers upscale Chinese antiques with prices to match. The management makes every effort to avoid selling fakes and low quality goods, but please remember the rule that applies to all antique shopping in China: Let the buyer beware.

A Note About Travel During Chinese New Year

Mainland China sees more interurban trips during the Spring Festival travel season than the total population of China (1.3 billion as of mid-2008). Masses of people begin rushing home in time to have a reunion dinner with their loved ones on Chinese New Year’s Eve, and all modes of public transportation are thrown into chaos every year. It is almost impossible to book any kind of travel tickets during Chinese New Year, and if you do manage to lay your hands on a ticket, beware that it might be a fake and don’t be surprised to learn that you are paying double the price for a ticket that allows standing room only.

The best advice we can give you about travel in China during Chinese New Year is to plan ahead and don’t try to travel by rail outside of Beijing. On a positive note, since most people stay at home with their families during Chinese New Year, you will be able to take advantage of fewer crowds at some of Beijing’s tourist attractions. Just remember to call ahead to make sure that they’re actually open! Furthermore, if you can beat the crowds, it is a great time to observe local Chinese New Year customs and traditions.

 

Twelve Tips for Enjoying Chinese New Year in Beijing

1. Book your hotel well in advance of Chinese New Year.
2. Avoid traveling by rail during Spring Festival.
3. Find out where the local performances are being held before you set out on your journey.
4. Bring warm clothing. The weather is bitterly cold in Northern China.
5. Call ahead if you’re planning on visiting any major tourist attractions since many places close down for a few days during Chinese New Year.
6. Catch a lion or dragon dance at one of Beijing’s many temple fairs.
7. Firework displays are de rigueur in China during Chinese New Year. Go somewhere special to enjoy the show!
8. Buy some chunlian. These temporary decorations are embossed with happy and hopeful messages for the coming year.
9. Buy a Chinese-style coat, or purchase some rabbit-head hats and shoes for the kids to usher in the Year of the Rabbit.
10. Visit a temple on Chinese New Year’s Eve to pray for a prosperous New Year. Don’t forget to light some incense to send your prayers to the skies.
11. Travel a few days before Chinese New Year to avoid getting stuck among the crushing millions of people who are traveling home to be with their loved ones.
12. Since many popular Beijing restaurants are booked months in advance, many restaurants recommend that customers book a lunchtime meal instead.

Article Resources

NIGHTLIFE – As of this writing, these establishments have not confirmed if they will be open during Chinese New Year’s Eve 2012.

• Drum & Bell Bar: #41 Zhonglouwan Hutong – Telephone: 86-010-8403-3600
• East Shore Live Jazz Café: Houhai, 2^nd Floor, 2 Shichahai Nanya -Telephone: 86-010-8403-2131
• MIX Club: Workers Stadium, North Gate, Chaoyang District, Beijing Open 8pm to 6am. www.mixclub.sohu.com – Telephone 86-010-6530-2889

ACTIVITIES

• The Bird’s Nest National Stadium: Olympic Green Village, Chaoyang District
• Nanshan Ski Village: Shengshuitou Village, Henanzhai Town – Telephone: 010-8909-1909 www.nanshanski.com
• Wanlong Ski Resort: Honghualiang, Chongli Xian, Hebei Province 031-3478 5111  - www.wiski.com

RESTAURANTS

• Din Tai Fung Beijing: #24, Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie www.dintaifung.com.cn Telephone +86-010-6462-4502
• Donglaishun Dongcheng Branch: Xin Dongan Plaza, 5F, Wangfujing, Dongcheng – Telephone: 010-6528-0932
• Quanjude Jinsong Branch: #826, Jingsong Eight District, Guangming Bridge – Telephone: 010-67711211
• Quanjude Hepingmen Branch: #14, Qianmen West Street – Telephone: 010-63023062
• Quanjude Qianmen Branch: # 32, Qianmen Dajie – Telephone: 010-6701-1379

CHINA CULTURE CENTER
Kent Centre A 101, Anjialou, No.29, Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District  - info@chinaculturecenter.org  - www.chinaculturecenter.org

Telephone +86–010-6432-9341
Fax: +86–010-6432-0145

Celebrate Chinese New Year in a Village

February 5, 2011. RMB 350 per person. The bus leaves the China Culture Center at 9am and returns at 4pm. Call 86-10-6432-9431 to reserve your spot. Book early because tickets sell out fast!

February 4, 2011. Tour price (RMB 200 per person) includes admission tickets, lunch, and transportation. The bus leaves from the China Culture Center at 9:30am and returns at 4pm. Call 86-10-6432-9431 to reserve your spot.

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