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Beijing offers a wide variety of entertainment. Visitors can enjoy the traditional Chinese performances of Beijing Opera, Chinese Drama and acrobatics staged at theaters and teahouses or stop off a private Karaoke TV room to sing, or at a bar for a drink. For those who prefer more active pursuits, Yoga, bungee-jumping and rock-climbing are also available
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Performances
Beijing is the cradle of Beijing Opera, acrobatics, cross-talk, and story-telling. Beijing Opera is the quintessence of Chinese culture. It combines singing, dancing, music, art and literature, which endears itself to people home and overseas. Chinese acrobatics has won many awards at an international level and has amazed audiences throughout the world. In a cross-talk, performers use different ways to make you laugh. They may tell jokes, imitate, show stunts or sing in exaggerated ways. It is so comical that audiences can't help laughing. Story-telling (Pingshu) is deeply loved by local people. As a common practice, the teller has a paper fan in one hand and stands behind a table that has a block on. The block is used to call listeners' attention when he comes to the showdown of the story. With particular cadence and actions, it is quite interesting.
Following are some recommended theaters and concert halls.
Liyuan Theater
Location: 1/F, Qianmen Jianguo Hotel, No.175, Yong'an Lu, Xuanwu District
Feature: Beijing Opera
Laoshe Teahouse
Location: No.3, Qianmen Xidajie, near the Tiananmen Square
Feature: Beijing Opera, acrobatics, cross-talk, Beijing folk music
Chang'an Grand Theater
Location: No.7, Dongchangan Jie, Dongcheng District
Feature: Beijing Opera
Tianqiao Theater
Location: No 30, Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District
Feature: opera, ballet
Poly Theater
Location: No.14, Dongzhimen Nandajie, Dongcheng District
Feature: opera, ballet, symphony, musical play
China Puppet Theater
Location: No. Jia 1, Anhua Xili, Chaoyang District
Feature: puppet show
Beijing Concert Hall
Location: No.1, Beixinhua Jie, Chaoyang District
Feature: concert
Karaoke TV (KTV)
The Karaoke TV (KTV) is very popular with the Chinese people. The youth often come to sing to a karaoke back up when they have a get-together. Most of the Karaoke TV places are open around the clock, which makes it important for a lively nightlife. The karaoke chambers are charged based on the size of the room and consumption of time. More, the price of the same room changes within a usage period, that's to say, the charge become much higher when evening begins. In some large ones, buffet, drink or snacks are offered for free. With an excellent acoustic system and attentive service, Karaoke TV has been winning an increasing attendance.
Following are some recommended Karaoke TV places.
Cashbox Party World (Chaowai Branch)
Location: 1/F, Fanli Prime Tower (Fanli Mansion), Qianmen Xidajie, Tiananmen Square
Tel: 010-65883333 010-88576566
Feature: most popular KTV, top acoustic equipment, free buffet and drink
Melody KTV (Chaowai Branch)
Location: No.77, Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65510808
Feature: J-Style KTV, songs with quick renewal
Party Life KTV (Zhongguancun Branch)
Location: No.32, Zhongguancun Nandajie, Haidian District
Tel: 010-62140299
Feature: reasonable price, free buffet and drinks
Magic Box KTV
Location: B1/F, Century Mansion, No.55, Donganmen Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65598888
Feature: reasonable price, free buffet
Teahouses
Beijing teahouses, in spite of what the name indicates, are not only places to savor fine tea. Some teahouses in Beijing stage a wonderful repertoire with local characteristics, like the Laoshe Teahouse and Tianqiaole Teahouse. Some may even provide snacks or food as well. As tea culture is part of Chinese culture, tea ceremony performances are presented in some very upscale teahouses. There are also some time-honored teahouses which prosper yet today. These teahouses are a good reflection of Beijing tea culture and are truly worth a thoughtful observer's eye.
Following are some recommended teahouses.
Laoshe Teahouse
Location: Building 3, Qianmen Xidajie, Tiananmen Square
Tel: 010-63036830 010-63021717
Feature: a most famous teahouse in Beijing, tea, performance ( Beijing Opera , acrobatics, magic and Beijing folk music)
Tianqiaole Teahouse
Location: No. Yi 1, Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63040617 63040912
Feature: Pingshu (story telling), cross-talk
Wuyutai Teahouse
Location: No.44, Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-64041928
Feature: Tea, time-honored
Bichun Teahouse
Location: No.233, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65256141
Feature: Tea, time-honored
Zhangyiyuan Teahouse
Location: No.18, Wanming Lu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63032056
Feature: Tea, time-honored
Qinglinchun Teahouse
Location: No.9, Qianmen Dajie, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63038512
Feature: Tea, time-honored
Wuzhaoxiang Teahouse
Location: No.104, Di'anmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-64059648
Feature: Tea, time-honored
Bars
There are 400 or so bars in Beijing which are the world of night-owls. The Sanlitun Bar Street is the most famous among bar areas in Beijing. Shichahai, a new promising bar area, seems to take the place of Sanlitun. Many bars gather at the Worker's Stadium and the Chaoyang Park. Still, sporadic bars which are wonderful and professional outshine in the city.
Following are some recommended bars.
SWING
Location: No.58, Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64159196
No. 52
Location: No.52, Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64164697
Jazz-Ya
Location: No.18, Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64151227
Cross Club
Location: No.78, Sanlitun Nanjie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65865020
AZUCAR
Location: No.4, Dongdaqiao Xiejie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65015661
Comma Bar
Location: No 54, Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64174643
Blue Lotus
Location: No. 1, Xihai Dongyan, Shichahai, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-84020655
Buddha 2
Locantion: No. 16, Houhai Yindingqiao, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-66155746
Frank's Place
Location: Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65072617
Sports
The numerous sports centers in Beijing have been enriching the lives of many people. There are various venues for locals to be involved in daily exercise like basketball, football and tennis. For people in great shape, it is an excellent idea to do some exciting sports, such as diving, horseback riding, rock-climbing and bungee jumping. For those who are less active, golf, bowling, billiards and squash are better choices. In other words, there are a variety of sports to meet the requirements of both locals and visitors.
Following are some recommended sports centers.
Julong Garden Fitness Club
Location: No.22, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65520549
Features: badminton, bowling, fitness, ping-pong, swimming, squash, tennis
Dongdan Sports Center
Location: Near the Beijing Hotel, east end of Dongchang'an Street, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65251336
Feature: basketball, billiards, football, marital arts, ping-pong, swimming, tennis, volleyball
Yuetan Stadium
Location: No. Jia 1, Yuetan Nanjie, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-68020342
Feature: badminton, basketball, ping-pong, fitness, swimming, volleyball
Scitech Club
Location: No.22, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65123388
Feature: bowling, fitness, swimming, tennis
Capital Club
Location: 50/F, Capital Mansion, No.6, Xinyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 84862225
Feature: billiards, bowling, fitness, ping-pong, squash, swimming, taek-wondos, tennis
Recreation Center in Jingrui Mansion
Location: Jingrui Mansion, No.17, Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 67668866-Recreation Center
Feature: billiards, fitness, golf, swimming
Huantengyuan Club
Location: No.54, Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 87795899
Feature: basketball, billiards, fitness, ping-pong, swimming, shuffle ball, tennis
Capital Stadium
Location: No.50, Baishiqiao Lu, Haidian District
Tel: 010-68335552
Feature: badminton, fitness, golf, ping-pong, rock-climbing, skating, skiing, tennis
Guigu 2008 Club
Location: No.15, Haidian Sports Center, Haidian District
Tel: 010-62529529
Feature: badminton, basketball, bowling, fitness, ping-pong, swimming, tennis
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