the Beijinger

Tian Xian Old Chinese Scholar Tree Restaurant is a simple courtyard restaurant in Tian Xian Yu village, under the shadow of the Great Wall. The proprietors are Ge Haojin and his wife, who have lived most of their lives in this village. It is Ge’s vivid interest in food that led to their opening this restaurant, open since 2000. Ge is passionate about local flavors and local foods. According to him, eating locally and naturally is not only nutritious, it is makes you healthier and more beautiful. In his philosophy, if the food you eat is all natural and fresh, it follows it will be beneficial to your health.

Alameer sets itself apart from Beijing's cherished handful of homey Middle Eastern cafes by also being a bakery that specializes in Arabic sweets. You'd never guess it was a bakery, though, from the mosaic walls and metal garden furniture – intended, perhaps, to evoke more verdant surrounds than the dusty office buildings of Xinyuanli?

Few in China are aware that as well as strange animals and a Mandarin-speaking former Prime Minister, Australia sports a thriving new media art scene comprising some of the world’s most innovative artists. The Synthetic Times exhibition at the National Art Museum of China just before the 2008 Olympics featured many Australian works, but now Beijingers have the chance to check out a showcase of exclusively Australian media art with DreamWorlds, a screen-based exhibition on the Sanlitun Village screen.

Incongruous moments are a dime a dozen in Beijing, but bringing our kids to this restaurant catering to Gongti clubbers proved unusually weird.

Over the past week or so, the police have been dropping into bars in and around Nanluogu Xiang asking live acts to turn down the volume. Beijing Daze even carried a post late last week entitled “Lockdown in Nanluogu Xiang or the Days the music died?”

When we made enquiries on the strip, several bar owners indicated that visits from police responding to noise complaints have long been common on Nanluogu Xiang. Actually long term residences have the right to be angry about their life in colorful pajamas being invaded by colorful lights and amplified sounds. There's actually no law or regulation against the sound, however, so there's really nothing the police can do.

More bad news for clubbers, as Lantern will close its doors following a farewell party this Saturday night (September 4). Karaoke chain Kuzi is taking over a sizeable chunk of 3.3 Shopping Mall’s basement, spelling the end for Lantern, the arcade beside it and other businesses.

After a slow couple of weeks as the local cinema scene recovered from Aftershock, things are picking up with the arrival of Hollywood’s latest hit Inception. Unlike most of what comes out of the Californian Hills, this looks like a movie that might tickle your brain as well as your senses. 798’s UCCA also has a couple of great screenings coming up of new, rarely seen Chinese features.

Moluccan folk fused with modern jazz? If you’re not quite sure what that would sound like, head over to Star Live on Friday, September 10 to find out. Boi Akih, comprising life partners Monica Akihary and Niels Brouwer, plus table player Sandip Bhattacharya, will be taking the stage there in the group’s Beijing debut.

This unassuming restaurant is hidden behind a sliding wooden door. Winding past dimly lit hallways, you soon find yourself in a minute seating area with a low sushi counter. (If you prefer privacy, beautifully appointed tatami rooms are also available.)