ICI or 33 Coffee is what you will find yourself at this address. Backed by ICI, a cultural organization and a team of architects, it is a multi-functional space offering authentic speciality coffee drinks, pastries as well as event experiences, such as art exhibitions, talks and workshops. Located right in the middle of downtown Beijing, close to my childhood neighborhood, it has become one of my favorite meet-up points in town. I enjoy the cozy and welcoming atmosphere, a breathing space away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the minimal design details and their interesting space making of the exhibition design. 

The Summer Palace is just gorgeous and definitely a must-see spot for those visiting Beijing for the first time. The sheer size of the grounds is inconceivable; I don't think I've covered everything yet, but the marble boat and Seventeen Arch Bridge are well worth a visit. Close to the east gate also lies Aman, which offers great afternoon tea; the complex is housed in a series of pavilions, some of which date back over a century and were originally used by guests of the Summer Palace awaiting an audience with the Empress Dowager Cixi.

A good surprise down the lane - used to hang out with childhood friends here a lot before the commercial development made the area touristy. So happy to spot this independent coffee during a brief stay in Beijing. Cozy space, and impressively diversified line-up of single origin coffee beans, quite neat! 

I didn't expect much from NAMOC when I first visited to be honest, but most of the exhibitions I've seen here have blown me away. Themes have varied from the art of Chinese shadow puppetry to abstract paintings from Taiwan, and even socially responsible design.

A hutong is a type of narrow street or alley most commonly associated with Beijing. Since the mid-20th century, the number of Beijing hutongs has dramatically decreased as they are facing demolition to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history. I love walking around the hutongs when I need a break from the office (my current office is located in a particularly interesting hutong neighbourhood); they are a great exemplar of ancient urban planning and architecture, and breathe "the old way of life".