The Beijing Experience Part II

Beijing's weather was quite likeable. Day time temperature of between 26 to 28 degrees, while night time was a much cooler 18 degrees celcius.

average day looks like this

best weather day!

Out of the seven days that we were there, there were only two days where the weather was pristine with distinctly defined colours.

Every morning after breakfast, we'd trudge our way to the Beitucheng (北土城) MRT station.

Beitucheng MRT

The exhibition venue was just two stops away at Beijing Olympic Park station. Best part of MRT transportation in Beijing? A flat fare of ¥2 per exit. Heard from colleagues that Line #1 and #2 are the most crowded. Thank goodness for our daily destination was on Line #8. For people entering the MRT stations, all bags must be scanned prior to boarding of the trains.

event's venue

empty, before it starts

our booth was placed within the animation sector

We only ate once at the exhibition venue. It wasn't nice. Super difficult to get seats, long queues and no one liked the cold food. Plus it was expensive at ¥40 per pax (for a plate of rice with tofu, vege and pork, an apple, one yoghurt and a bottle of water).

So, lunch on subsequent days we'd be at a nearby mall called Xin'ao Shopping Center that's about 10 minutes away.

at the mall

Just before one heads towards the mall, there's a corner nearby that looked like this:

can you spot the fake Disney characters?

If you ever see those people in costumes lurking there, please turn and run far. They're sort of like tourist trap. Unsuspecting passerby (like us) would snap their picture and all of a sudden they'd be willing to pose with you. Not one but at least 3 poses. And when you're done, they'd ask for payment which was ¥10. They'd follow you till you pay up! Hahaha. But gotta hand it to them too. In costume on a hot day is no joke. Just that they should declare upfront that they charge for posing with you. They're not right, yet not wrong too. Just opportunists.

my ¥10 shot

The shopping mall was rather new and modern. Spacious too. It has a 4D theatre, lots of restaurants, cafes, food court and retail shops.

Level 1 of the mall

Had lunch there twice and was quite happy with the food that I ordered.

Seven Nana's counter

beef curry Japanese style (¥25)

Another beef rice from a HK-style cafe. Which I think tried to be authentic but without success as two out of the three dishes that we ordered, failed. At this said HK-styled cafe (which btw, was packed during lunch hour), never order the curry chicken rice nor the claypot mushroom sausage rice.

beef brisket rice (牛腩反) from a HK-styled cha chan teng (茶餐厅)

We also found KFC near the MRT that was beside Xin'Ao Shopping Center. There's no two/three piece plate here. Just single piece fried chicken (if you must have fried chicken). Most people was observed to be eating burgers. There's no chili sauce for fast food joints. Only ketchup is available.

err...fishball soup with KFC, anyone?

doesn't taste like the 11 secret herbs and spices of the Colonel's...