Chinese Class - Dining and drinking at Houhai

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CITYLIFE / Odds & Ends






Dining and drinking at Houhai


By Annie Wei (Beijing Today)
Updated: 2007-09-19 11:31





Houhai, located dead in the middle of old Beijing, is also known as
Shishahai, an area including Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai and with a history
of more than 700 years.

According to historical records, Houhai was designed in the thirteenth
century. Since the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), Houhai has been the city's
largest commercial area. It was also the terminus of the local water
route, so the surrunding area booms with hotels, restaurants, stores and
business workshops.

Many interesting restaurants and shops have shot up around the lake
during the last six years. The lake, however, achieved global fame after
becoming a safehaven during the SARS outbreak. Since then, Houhai has
been a landmark of Beijing nightlife and a tourist destination to rival
Wangfujing.

Houhai is a comprehensive entertainment area. Along its chic, sexy and
prosperous shores, you can also find traditional food like chou doufu,
stinky doufu, a popular local snack disliked by many foreigners.

Every restaurant in Houhai has its own style of entertainment,
decoration, food and drink. Take Qiulu Shanwu for example, it's a
delicate Hunan restaurant. You can have great night view on the second
floor, and enjoy a star-dotted sky on the third floor.

Buffalo's menu is very interesting.It's like a CD cover with extremely
romantic names like "Love can be food" and "Fish from the love sea".
South Silk Road is one of the Yunnan and Guizhou food restaurants favored
by local diners seeking a nice environment. Its sofa seating and large
glass windows let customers have a good view of Shishahai while dining.




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