Many a writer finds his muse at the bottom of an empty bottle. Sometimes the third bottle. With so many scribes in town for the Bookworm's Literary Festival, we consider where some of history’s famously tipsy scribblers might get inspired in Beijing?

Ernest Hemingway
Mojito

Very macho, that Hemingway. Shooting, fishing, bullfighting, womanizing … but drinking a minty highball? Centro is a long way from Papa’s more adventurous moments, but it’s unlikely the bearded one would object to their quality mojitos.

Centro. Daily 24hrs. 1/F, Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (6561 8833)
朝阳区光华路1号嘉里中心饭店1层

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but not all of us are lucky enough to have a lover, wife, "special friend" to share meals with. Need a table for one? Don’t wither under the smirks. Hold your (sniveling) head high and tuck in at one of these singles-friendly establishments.

New Year’s resolutions be damned. You’re bound to slip up eventually, so tumble off the diet wagon in style by treating yourself to one of these all-American towers of power.

The holidays are a gift-wrapped opportunity for you to express affection for friends, lovers and parents in a tangible way. If you pride yourself on giving innovative presents, here’s a few places to look as you do that last minute Christmas shopping.

Spanferkel in Germany, lechon in Spain and ruzhu over here … nothing says Winterval like a hearty hog roast. Here are five spots to feast on roast suckling pig.

The festive feeling comes much easier after a few glasses of holiday spirits. These bars are offering drinks to warm your cockles as 2009 plays out.

Winter is looming and with it Beijing's dry air, making moisturizers essential. Most consumers assume that the prices of beauty products are directly proportional to their quality. But what’s the real difference between a 500-kuai facial cream and a 20-kuai product? Certainly, products from the high-end European cosmetic giants may have additional features, such as anti-aging, whitening, etc, since they spend more money on research and development. On the other hand, they also spend a ton on advertising, marketing, luxury packaging, etc. If you’re on a budget and simply want a basic, effective moisturizer, here’s a list of reliable options.

Combat has been around as long as time, and the East has given the world some of its more graceful techniques. Often shrouded in mysticism and linked with a code of honor, these martial arts are known to instill discipline as well as deadly force. Use what you were born with to get all Jackson Pollock over the canvas that is your opponent’s body.

Sometimes your drinking companions are boring and you need something else to occupy your mind. Sometimes you’re drinking alone and there are no listings magazines to distract you. Either way, you need something to look at. Thankfully, there are bars in Beijing that offer such visual relief. Here are five to help you through a dull Saturday night.

Getting a 20-kuai manicure at a cramped, noisy salon in a clothing market is like gobbling fast food. Don’t you deserve better? The following salons offer you thoughtful service and a chance to exhale.