BEIJING NIGHTS

For location, this hotel is hard to beat. Its in the hutong (alleyways) of Beijing right next to the Drum and Bell Tower, with Behai Park and Jingshan Park on your doorstep! (You can walk to Jinghsan through Behai) The Lama Temple is 3 stations away by subway and the nightspot of Houhai is right outside. A few minutes' walk away are the trendy bars and restaurants of the hutong. I have a little time before checking in so I find this charming bar right opposite the hotel.

Looking around for somewhere to have lunch I find this small Indian restaurant where the owner is actually

from India and the dishes are authentic (at least in spirit) although quite mild perhaps owing to the limited availability of some Indian spices in China. Anyway it was very good and a charming place.

I check into the hotel and find my room. It's quite pleasant. I unpack my things, and decide to explore the area a bit. I find to my joy that I am right next to the Drum and Bell Tower and there are bars everywhere.

Here's my room, with quaint old-style phone!