An extensive municipal makeover has prepared China’s capital for the 2008 Olympic Games – and enabled it to challenge the dominance of its nemesis, Shanghai, in terms of dining, nightlife, shopping, and sky-high architecture. Beijing is ready to welcome the world.
For the impressive Imperial architecture, fascinating history, mammoth museums, and to experience both modern and ancient Chinese values living side by side.
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The Olympic Effect has brought several deluxe hotels to the new skytower developments of Dongcheng district, as well as Chaoyang and Financial Street. Chinese-owned mid-range and budget hotels are plentiful, and Beijing is at last celebrating some boutique openings, especially in restored hutong courtyards.
Beijing’s rapidly maturing dining scene might not yet equal that of Shanghai, but it still offers a mouth-watering spectrum of cuisines from street snacks to premium Peking duck to eclectic, modern fusion. The new, upscale hotels are injecting much-needed dynamism to Beijing’s international dining, while northern Chinese cuisine remains unswervingly popular.