People will be eating dogs and other weird stuff…
We’ve never seen dog on the menu up here in Beijing. Except in the North Korean restaurants, where they do eat it. But you will see a lot of dogs in the capital – they’re just usually wearing mini Superman outfits (Beijingers are obsessed with their pet pooches). As for other unmentionables… Yes, local tastes can encompass everything from deep fried scorpion to sea slugs. The good news? You don’t have to encounter any of this if you don’t want to. You’ll only find these ‘delicacies’ on Chinese-tourist-heavy snack streets and at expensive banqueting restaurants, neither of which make up the bulk of the restaurants in the city.
The pollution will make you choke
Hmm. This one makes us a little angry. Not because it’s a lie, but because it’s often reported out of context. The pollution can make you ill – after many years of breathing it, or if you already have an existing respiratory disease. Otherwise it shouldn’t affect you physically at all. Most importantly, don’t let it ruin your trip. A visit to Beijing was never going to be a beach holiday now was it? You’re here for the culture. And besides, seeing it for yourself qualifies you to have your own opinion (the sky is blue more than people think). When the pollution is occasionally visible, Team Bespoke tends to re-imagine it as a mystical fog. Or a gust of dragon’s breath. Hey, whatever works.
You shouldn’t eat the street food
This would be a real pity – chowing down on streetside snacks is one of the most enjoyable things you can do. Even Michelin-starred French chef Jean Georges declared the Chinese jian bing (a savoury crepe served out of street-side carts) to be the “best breakfast on earth”. Equally wonderful are the lamb kebabs roasted curbside wherever you see the glowing red 串 character. Not sure which stands to try? Ask us for our favorites!
It’ll be cheap
It used to be, but times have changed. Locals command increasingly high wages (12% a year on average); fuel, rent and food prices have risen off the charts, and the government slaps quality-imported goods (including wine and electronics) with large taxes. Nevertheless, certain things (getting the subway, even staying in five star hotels) can be a lot cheaper than their Western equivalent.
A guidebook is essential
On the contrary. The capital changes weekly, with new subway lines sprouting up and unexpected closures (even of tourist sights) making it hard to know what to do when. Great for historical background but with less practical use than they might have in other cities, be especially wary of using a guidebook for restaurant and bar recommendations.
Want to separate fact from fiction? Get totally up to date venue recommendations for your trip? Why that’s what we’re here for! Click here for more on Bespoke’s essential Trip Customisation Service.