BEIJING.
adventure + discovery pass.
Beijing, China’s sprawling capital, has history stretching back 3
millennia. Yet it’s known as much for modern architecture as
its ancient sites such as the grand Forbidden City complex, the
Imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Nearby, the
massive Tiananmen Square pedestrian plaza is the site of Mao
Zedong’s mausoleum and the National Museum of China,
displaying a vast collection of cultural relics.
_local language.
MANDARIN.
_best time to visit
The best times to visit Beijing are autumn and late spring, which bring clear skies, mild temperatures, and
resplendent flora. Crowds are thick during the October holidays (October 1 through 7) and Spring Festival
(late January to mid-February, depending on the lunar calendar).
_local weather.
July is the hottest month, with an average high of 81°F (27°C), and January is the coldest,
with an average high of 25°F (-4°C).
_know before you go.
Though Beijing is the capital of China, few locals speak English, compared with Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Haggling is expected at markets like the Silk Market, Maliandao, Panjiayuan, and Hongqiao, so brush up
on your survival Mandarin for best results.
eat here
Duck de Chine// $$
Housed in a former factory compound in Sanlitun,
Duck de Chine marries French and Chinese cuisines
in chic industrial wood-and-concrete surroundings.
Don’t miss out on the beijing specialty peeking duck
Xian Lao Man// $
With a name that translates roughly to "the fillings are huge,"
look no further than Xian Lao Man for authentic northern-style,
delicious dumplings.
hang out here
Forbidden City
Beijing is synonymous with the Forbidden City – once the political, religious, cultural as well as geographical center of the city.
For the duck:
4 duck breasts with the skin on
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
1/8 teaspoon five spice powder
1 tablespoon oil
For the mandarin pancakes:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon oil
For the fixings:
1 cucumber (de-seeded and julienned)
1/2 cup julienned cantaloupe (optional)
2 scallions (julienned)
3 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
peking
duck
First, marinate the duck. Mix the salt, soy sauce, wine, and five spice powder in a small bowl and massage into the duck. Leave the duck breasts skin side up on a plate uncovered, and let sit in the refrigerator overnight to marinate and to let the skin dry out. (If you don't want to wait overnight, reduce the marinating time to 30 minutes).
Next, prepare the Mandarin pancakes. Mix the flour and salt in a heatproof bowl. Pour the boiling hot water into the flour mixture and use chopsticks or a spatula to mix until a dough ball forms. Once it is cool enough to handle, knead the dough for 8 minutes until smooth, adding flour if the dough is too sticky. Cover with plastic and allow the dough to rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
Roll the dough into a cylinder and cut into 12 equal pieces. Form each piece into a dough ball, then flatten them out into a small disc about 2 inches in diameter. Lightly brush 6 of the discs with oil, ensuring the sides of the discs are also brushed with oil. Layer the remaining 6 discs over the 6 oiled discs so you have 6 pieces, each comprised of 2 discs.
Use a rolling pin to roll the discs into 7-inch circles, flipping the pancakes frequently so both of the dough discs are rolled into the same size.
Heat a wok or frying pan over medium low heat, and place one pancake into the pan. After 30 to 45 seconds, you should see air pockets begin to form between the two pancakes. Flip the pancake; it should be white with just a couple of faint brown patches. Any more than that, and they are overcooked. After another 30 seconds, the air pockets should be large enough to separate the two pancakes. Remove the pancake to a plate, and let it cool for another 30 seconds. Now carefully pull apart the two pancakes at the seams. Place finished pancakes onto a plate and cover with a warm kitchen towel. Repeat until all pancakes are done.
The pancakes can be reheated in a steamer for about a minute when ready to serve. They also keep in the freezer for up to 3 weeks if you decide to make a larger batch. Next, prepare your fixings and place in small bowls to serve alongside the duck. (Using cantaloupe as one of the add-ins was new to us but was quite common in China. It's a surprisingly delicious addition!).
Next, preheat the oven broiler on low heat. Heat an oven-proof pan over medium-high heat, and add 1 tablespoon of oil to coat the pan. Sear the duck breasts, skin side down. Move them frequently so the skin crisps up and fries in the duck fat that renders out. After 8 minutes, or when the duck skin is golden brown and a little bit crispy, carefully drain off the duck fat and discard (or save for later application to other recipes!). In the pan, flip the duck breasts (so they are skin side up), and transfer them to the broiler for about 3 minutes. Be careful not to burn the skin, which at this point should be a bit crispy.
Remove the duck from the broiler and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes. The duck will be cooked about medium well and will be very juicy. Transfer to a cutting board and, using a sharp knife, cut into thin slices.
Serve the duck with your warmed pancakes, fixings, and sauce.