Beijing Friends?

[WmAl]

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Hi! I will be in Beijing from 3 November until 21 November.

Looking for fellow Leica shooters to go for photo-walks.

Please give me a buzz.

[ezc203]

William! My family lives in Beijing and I spend a lot of my time there (summers and other vacations) however, I'm currently living/going to school in NYC. But I can give you some tips as to interesting locations to shoot if you need!

[WmAl]

William! My family lives in Beijing and I spend a lot of my time there (summers and other vacations) however, I'm currently living/going to school in NYC. But I can give you some tips as to interesting locations to shoot if you need!

 

Hi Eddie,

I live in NYC too. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

[eckart]

For real maniacs there is just one place to go in Beijing;):

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[ezc203]

Hahaha, Eckart - I remember that. Not the best cafe, but worth a visit just for its name.

[eckart]

[Falstaff]

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Hahaha, Eckart - I remember that. Not the best cafe, but worth a visit just for its name.

 

I recently met Eckart in Berlin and we had a wonderful couple of hours drinking coffee and chatting.

He presented me a print of that image as a present. To say that I was surprised and pleased is putting it mildly.

It now is on my wall.

 

Hello Eckart, are you well?

 

Falstaff

[eckart]

Yes, thank you, I am very well and I hope you are so.

I have been in Venice last Weekend, so what shall I say:D?

-Back to the Thread, the only thing I know from Beijing is that cafe on the airport, because I was in Chongqing, a good place to go too.

[ezc203]

Hey William,

 

Sorry I have yet to reply, I was under the impression I had sent a longer post after my initial post, but apparently I did not. Oops.

 

I think, instead of listing a million and one locations you can check out, how about you tell me a little about your shooting style, what you like, etc. This way I can probably suggest something that's more appropriate for you.

[WmAl]

Hey William,

 

Sorry I have yet to reply, I was under the impression I had sent a longer post after my initial post, but apparently I did not. Oops.

 

I think, instead of listing a million and one locations you can check out, how about you tell me a little about your shooting style, what you like, etc. This way I can probably suggest something that's more appropriate for you.

 

Hi Eddie. The 'Hutong" appears to be an interesting subject but with a more intimate approach; not touristy looking. I want more "people" pics. The great Wall and any martial arts would be photogenic. I leave 11/2 and return 11/22. I will keep checking here for your input and thanks for your help.

[ezc203]

The hutongs are definitely worth a visit. However, recently the Chinese government has decided to "clean up" Beijing's hutong area. I'm not sure what stage the process has come to, but I know they are slowly demolishing all the residential hutongs and building a series of "new hutongs" for tourist purposes. (Horrendous decision!!!) But fortunately for you I do not believe this is in action yet, so you should be able to see some authentic hutongs. The best areas for hutongs is 1. Houhai and 2. Gulou area.

 

1. Houhai is the "Back Ocean" which is a man-made lake right behind the Forbidden City. It has since been turned into a bar scene but if you explore deeper (and I mean seriously deeper) the hutong there is still quite authentic.

 

2. Gulou is the "Drum Tower" which was originally used to tell time I believe (not sure about this). But this destination is more for domestic tourists aka Chinese people from around the country. And the surrounding areas hosts some quaint little hutongs too.

 

These two locations are actually walking distance from each other, but in the bitter Beijing winter, I'd suggest you dress appropriately. The weather can be very testing. Might I also add, Houhai is more western, in that you will find coffee shops and bars in the main area around the lake, where as Gulou is more likely to provide you with a place to have tea.

 

-

 

For the Great Wall, I would suggest either the Simatai section or the Jinshangling section. These are not the closest ones to Beijing, but will provide a better experiences. They have less foot traffic and the Walls are better preserved. Not necessarily in better condition, because the closer ones to Beijing have been renovated, but the aforementioned two are more "authentic" in their cosmetics.

 

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Martial arts is not a Beijing specialty. For that you should really go to Henan Province at the Shaolin Temple. As an alternative, I would recommend you check out some Peking opera performances. Now, I must warn you, I myself am not a huge fan a Peking Opera (or any opera for that matter ) but the Peking Opera is a big part of Beijing culture since way back when, and people of my grandparents' generation still really enjoy it. So check it out! Hint: ask to see a "fighting" shower, its a mixture of acrobatics and Peking Opera. Easier to enjoy in my opinion.

 

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That's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure I can come up with more later. BTW - may I ask where you are staying? Maybe I can recommend some things in the are.

 

Hope you enjoy Beijing. Growing up there I really loved it. You just have to learn to ignore the weather/pollution.

[WmAl]

Eddie: Thanks for all your suggestions. They were helpful. I just returned with 4000 photos.

The trip was physically a workout; I thought New Yorkers walked a lot. I did get to the usual tourist spots and Qianjing Hutong. I will post a sampling of the pictures I got soon. Thanks again.