Beijing City Guide: Travel, Hotels, and More Around Houhai

I'm Wang Jiao, welcome to my travel blog all about Houhai's hotels, shops, restaurants and more!

This is one of my favorite sightseeing areas in Beijing, so I'll bring you into the action through my posts, pictures, and video! Enjoy!

Chinese Traditional Goods at Oriental Palace

Beijing Houhai Bayunxiang Silk Shop

On the north east of the Beijing Gulou (the Drum Tower) scenic spot, there is a narrow alleyway which connects Gulou and Zhonglou (the Bell Tower).

Walking in this lane, you will be attracted by an interesting shop because of its traditional Chinese style.

Oriental Palace (Ba Yun Xiang in Chinese, 八运祥) is this shop’s English name right near a lot of Beijing Hotels.

Compared with other shops, it attracts more foreigners as its product information is written in English and easy to be seen through the window displays.

This is not the only interesting bit about this shop: it also displays a few beautiful Qipao dresses on mannequins.

I pushed the door and entered the shop.

Three women greeted me, and inquired about my needs.

On the left side, where they sat, I noticed a section where they offer Chinese tea.

Embroidery artworks are hung on the wall In the back of the shop. Traditional Chinese dresses are displayed on the right side: Qipao, Tang apparel, and Chinese decoration.

According to a shop assistant who spoke a bit of English, the shop mainly carries quality Chinese tea such as Dahongpao (大红袍, a variety of Oolong tea), Dragon Well (龙井), and Tieguanyin (铁观音).

Embroidery artwork are created in their own workshop. Interested customers can also learn to embroider as professionals come to the shop to teach their art.

Qipao and Tang apparel are the most popular items of the shop’s selection, and some clients order made-to-measure models.

While the assistants introduced the shop and its merchandise, I picked up a red traditional sleeveless frock. It was embroidered with a golden phoenix pattern.

The silk material felt soft and smooth. By the entrance door, colorful Chinese knots (中国结) designed in a traditional style could also catch your fancy.

Prices for Qipao and other Chinese apparel range from RMB 250 to RMB 800.

The fee for a made-to-measure Qipao is between RMB 600 and RMB 800. The price tags of embroidery artworks are comprised between RMB 800 and RMB 15,000.

Prices for tea ranged from RMB 30 / 50 g to RMB 150 / 50 g. Hand-made tiny items such as Chinese knots only cost RMB 20 to RMB 60.

You can bargain with the shop.

Mini Play, Mini Dressing

Close to the Beijing Henan Plaza, a hutong (traditional alleyway) named Nanluogu Lane (南锣鼓巷) receives numerous visitors every day.

At the north corner of Nanluogu Lane, a casual wear shop attracts customers by its unusual name: “Metamorphosis” (蜕变).

I decided to have a look inside when I eyeballed several pairs of jeans through the glass door.
Soon after I entered, the shop owner greeted me and inquired what kind of casual wear I needed.

Mini Play Apparel is the only brand offered in the shop. It manufactures its goods in Guangzhou.

I looked at the merchandise hung on the walls and on the racks, quickly browsing through the boys’ casual wear section near the entrance, and soon heading to girls’ wear in the back.

The shop selection is mainly comprised of jeans, skirts, shirts, hats, and leather bags.

The owner explained her clientele is made up mainly of foreigners and local college students.

I picked up a short grey jean-skirt (RMB 208), a style popular among foreign shoppers. With its diagonal zipper line sewed on the front, this skirt looked simple but uncommon.

Besides fashionable jeans, I noticed a light-brown bag made of deerskin, which felt thick but soft. The seams were sewn tightly. According to the shop owner, office ladies like this model, though I found its design rather casual for an office environment. It was offered at RMB 598.

Prices for clothes ranged from RMB 150 to RMB 800, and for items such as hats and bags, from RMB 100 to RMB 600.

Although the owner does not bargain, most of the merchandise is sold at a 20% discount.

When our conversation turned to her location, the hospitable lady told me she was fond of this area, and frequently visited by foreign friends who also appreciated the traditional culture of Beijing. The shop employs an assistant who can speak English pretty well.

Are You Attracted by Chinese Folk Arts?

Beijing Huacaizhou Handicrafts

With typical traditional Chinese style facade, Huacaizhou is a shop which offers traditional Chinese handicrafts near the Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

The shop is a colorful, soothing world, with numerous Chinese folk art items on display.

Near the window display, I noticed a host of exquisite Peking Opera character puppets, paper-cuts, and decorative items in Chinese ethnic style.

Others attract my attention were hand-made Piying (皮影) artworks. These hand-made puppets can not only be enjoyed as beautiful artworks, but also used in shadow theater plays.

They are made of leather, and one of Beijing’s essential handcrafts. The prices range from RMB 150 to RMB 500 a pop.

Huacaizhou also offers customized works, like the furry monkey.

The shop owner, Mr Xie is a master of the art. He told me the body of the monkey is made out of cicada slough, while the furry part is made by the seeds from yulan.

Both are traditional Chinese medicine. For Mr Xie, the most difficult part is the tool-making. His monkeys carry wood items like fans, drums, and football.

Because they are very small, it was hard to cut the wood into the correct shape.

“I can make a furry monkey with different themes upon a customer’s request. It usually takes me 10 to 15 days to complete.” Mr Xie added.

Talking about his experience, Mr Xie said he came up with the idea to open this shop because his wife and he had a crush on Chinese folk arts.

They started their business together in 2005. Since then, they’ve received more and more customers, especially foreigners.

Overall, prices in the shop range from RMB 15 to RMB 1000. You can bargain with the shop owner in English.

Woolen Sweaters from Inner Mongolia

China’s Inner Mongolia is famous in China for its woolen products.

Erdos is one of the well-known local brands. It has numerous stores in Beijing.
The Erdos outlet I visited is situated near the Beijing Phoenix Palace.

Its presence is signaled by a few Chinese characters (内蒙羊绒) which mean ‘Wool from Inner Mongolia’.

As I entered the shop, the sale clerk was in discussion with a middle-aged couple about the products.

The woolen sweaters — their main items — are displayed by the entrance.
In the back, there is a small section devoted to bed items, such as cushions and pillows. The shop is decorated in a simple but orderly style.

The woolen sweaters are chiefly in solid hues: red, grey, black, and purple.
Not unlike the shop itself, their design is simple: round high collar, long sleeves, no button.
I picked a deep purple one; it felt light and soft.

According to the shop assistant, this hue is popular among female aged over 35. Chinese men prefer other dark colors.

In general, prices range from RMB 150 to RMB 400 before discount.
The shop puts their off-season merchandise on sale.
The shop assistants do not speak English, but that just adds to the fun!

Mountain Tea in the Big City

Pu’er tea is distinctive for the mild climate where it grows.

It has gathered a popular following with its light, sweet taste and for its noted ability to lower blood pressure.

ZhengYun ChaShe, a shop in Houhai near the Beijing Henan Plaza, offers Pu’er tea as well as ethnic handcraft from Yunnan Province, where the tea is grown.

The owner, Mr. Yao, has been in the Pu’er tea business for 5 years. And inside the shop, he set a tea table to offer free samples to those interested.

Prices range from RMB 150 to RMB 800 per gram, depending on the age of the tea.
Also, there are ethnic items.

Mr. Yao showed me a pair of straw sandal, usually worn in the mountain regions of southern China. It is made of bamboo root, and help avoid slipping while treading on the steep mountain paths.

A pair sells around RMB 100.

For ladies, he recommended traditional Yi ethnicity cloth-sole shoes, beautifully embroidered, and 100% hand-made.

Yi ethnic women often wear these shoes for various occasions. A pair sells around RMB 150.

Ningxia Hotel-Live in Old Beijing

Some people take a big gulp and say “uh-oh” when they’re driving through one of the oldest neighborhoods in Beijing to the Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

But there’s nothing to fear, for this neighborhood has all of the culture and charm that every visitor to China should see.

The old hutongs near Houhai are a great place to stay: they’re cheap, interesting, and away from the busy crowds. This is where the Ningxia is located.

Although the hutongs outside can be quite dirty, once you step into the Ningxia, it’s really very clean and pleasant.

The hotel is very cheap and boasts some of the cleanest rooms I’ve seen in this neighborhood.

And when you can step out the door, sit in a real-life hole-in-the-wall restaurant and drink Chinese “baijiu” alcohol with the locals, that’s something you can’t buy anywhere!
Visit the Ningxia online here

An Appointment With Paradise

Located near Houhai in Beijing, this accessory shop has a beautiful name: “Tiantang Zhi Yue”(天堂之约) which means “an appointment with paradise” right near a lot of Beijing Hotels.

I was attracted not only by the romantic title, but also by the Tibetan music which floated out to my ears.

As I had made up my mind to enter the shop, the owner came out and started to close. Seeing my disappointed face, this hospitable person reopened the shop for me, her unique client at that time!

As I stepped into the shop, I dived in a totally different world immediately. I could not help but think I had arrived in Tibet. The whole place was decorated in Tibetan style, and looked like a Tibetan home.

The shop owner is Tibetan, and her family migrated to Beijing 10 years ago. This shop is not only their business, but also a reminder of their home sweet home.

The shop itself is rather large. Its left section is designed as a lobby to rest. It features a bed and a stove. A few religious pictures on the wall.

In the back, some burning candles, a big fish bowl, and a few pictures. The merchandise is displayed on the right side: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pendants. Overall, a different feeling from other Tibetan shops in Beijing.

The owner confirmed that all their accessories are sourced in Tibet.

They are divided into two types: ordinary and rare.

I was interested in a slim light blue necklace (RMB 160) made of tiny stones matched with a bigger pendant at the center. It looked elegant and showed its ethnicity.

The owner recommended a thick one (RMB 520) decorated with more details and a more attractive pendant. She explained that this kind of pendant had a religious meaning which could protect its owner.

Accessories of the ordinary type are mainly made of Tibetan silver, and designed in a simpler way.

In general, prices for the rare accessories range from RMB 20 to RMB 100.

The most expensive ones range from RMB 150 to RMB 1000. You can bargain with the shop. They sometimes discount their items directly. The shop owner’s English was rather limited, but her hospitality second to none.

Chinese Minority Art

: Chinese Minority Art

China has 56 minority groups, and each of them has their own artwork and customs.

If you have a chance to visit Yandai Xiejie, an old lane famous for small antique and handicraft shops, you may find a shop named “Naxi Po Po”, only a few steps away from the Beijing Phoenix Palace.

“Naxi” is the name of an ethnic minority mainly lives in Lijiang, Yunnan province. “Po Po” means grandma in Chinese. So, the name sounds quite genial.

On my visit there, the characteristic façade of the shop caught my eye. Its name was written both in Chinese and in Dong Ba pictograph, a picture language created by Naxi people over a thousand years ago.

It is the only pictograph language still used in use today. With curiosity, I stepped in.

The shop owner, Mr. Yang, greeted me and told me about this shop. He once visited the ancient town of Lijiang, and was fascinated by the unique local handicrafts.

He couldn’t remove the deep impression from his head. And so he decided to open this shop, and bring the mysterious Naxi culture to Beijing.

Looking around, I found various handmade items on display, such as clothing, bags, tapestries, and lacquerware.

Most of them are decorated with Dong Ba pictograph. These blessings are considered to bring good luck to you and chase away evil spirits.

The colorful bags, called “Tong Pa”, are popular with young people. The picture shows a pledge of love between a girl and a lad.

For presents and souvenirs, the beautiful Naxi dolls wearing bright ethnic costume and accessories look very lovely.

Click Here to see video of this shop.

Old Rolex, Longines Watches for Collectors

: Old Rolex, Longines Watches for Collectors

When you enter the gate of the Panjiayuan Collection Market on the southwest corner of Panjiayuan Bridge near the Beijing Henan Plaza, the first thing you see is a row of shops decorated in ancient Chinese style.

And the first shop at the entrance is Shengda Valuable Watch Firm, specializing in second-hand, name-brand Swiss watches.

Looking at the various old watches and clocks arranged in showcases makes the shop look almost like a museum.

Every watch, Rolex, Omega, Longines, etc., is shown with the original Guarantee Registration Certificate.

Prices for most of their watches range from RMB 10,000 to RMB 30,000.

While they may sound expensive, the shop owner told me that prices for some of their watches are lower than in Europe.

They also buy, repair, maintain, and renew old watches.

Apart from watches and clocks, the shop also carries old silver wares, rosewood sculptures, and old jade wares.

Check Out Cloisonne, an Ancient Beijing Art

If you take a trip to Beijing one day, buying a local, traditional handicraft items as a souvenir must be on your plan.

Here’s a good option: cloisonné, or Jing Tai Lan in Chinese, which is a combination of porcelain and copper.

With Chinese design, striking colors, and exquisite workmanship, it can be a tasteful adornment in your room, and they are usually moderately priced.

In the southeast part of Beijing you can find an excellent cloisonné shop. I paid them a visit last week.

When I entered the shop, its middle-aged owner was wiping dust off a vase.

He greeted me and told me something about his business.

Cloisonné combines not only copper and porcelain, but also painting and engraving.

More than 500 years ago, it became popular in the Ming Dynasty. At that time, the key color of the patterns was blue. But nowadays, many other colors are highlighted.

This shop is an outlet of a famous cloisonné factory in Beijing right near a lot of Beijing hotels.

I looked around attentively, and found that there was a very large collection of cloisonné wares on display.

They included cloisonné vases, plates, desk clocks, and small ornaments.

One item especially appealing to me was a vase with a very intricate pattern.

On the vase, magnificent ancient buildings with red walls and golden roofs are situated on a green mountain. At the foot of the mountain lies a peaceful lake, with green lotus leaves and pink lotus flowers floating in it. White, graceful cranes fly in mid-air.

Looking at it for a minute, I felt so relaxed and refreshed.

Every item there is worth admiring slowly, again and again.

« Previous12 Next »