Ritan Park and Yabao Lu-日坛公园雅宝路

The office of communication between the Indian government and China. It operates as the official representative of India in China.

Czech Embassy

This Ritan Park area restaurant serves decent Cantonese dim sum/yum cha in spacious surroundings. Good for outdoor dining in the spring and summer.

Both of these branch of the Nan Men franchise serve authentic hot pot in traditional coal fired bronze pots in refreshingly unpretentious surroundings. The broth, meat and vegetables are all fresh, and the outdoor courtyard seats at the Houhai branch are particularly pleasant on summer evenings. Recommended for out-of-towners seeking a real "lao Beijing" food experience.

The home of Beijing's climber community. Ritan park's jovial atmosphere and late hours make this outdoor wall an ideal destination for novices and pros alike. RMB 10 per climb, RMB 30 per day.

Relax in style among rose-scented water features, soft music and helpful, friendly staff. Private rooms are available; bring your favorite tunes or DVDs and feel those serotonin levels rise. RMB 168 buys you 90 minutes of fabulous foot massage, with healthy fruit juices and snacks included.

If your name is Ivanka, you'll probably feel at home at this winter headquarters in the Russian-heavy Yabaolu neighborhood, which features a long strip of stores solely selling thick fur coats - long, short, and even multi-colored. "Palace Peeress Furs" is the biggest, but you should compare prices and walk in the various shops. Short coats start around RMB 1,000, and long coats can hit RMB 12,800.

Don't be afriad to peek past the sheets covering every doorway in this five-story market, because inside you'll find great deals on puffy jackets of every size and color, denim (jeans, vests, jackets, you name it), sweaters, kids' wear, and athletic clothes. Not a huge variety, but cheap.

Favored by Beijing’s serious riders, this shop has a wide selection of bikes, helmets, shorts, tools, high-tech components and cyclist fashions. It can order parts from abroad. Another reason to come is the Shimano-trained repairmen. Be sure to bargain.

One of Beijing’s most pleasant markets: sellers are polite, prices are fair, and the selection defies our powers of description. Since they cater to Russian shuttle traders, the stalls here generally carry more ample sizes – notably for bras, stockings and pants. Particularly worthy of attention are the coats, pants, and belts. They also have accessories galore, and random stuff like toilet fixtures or swords. You’ll also find tea, shoes, toys, camping gear, spy equipment and electronics. Definitely haggle.