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AFTER a hard day trooping around the sights, theres nothing better than sitting down to a hearty meal. Fortunately, visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating in Beijing.

Peking Duck

For anyone visiting Chinas capital, indulging in Peking duck is a must. No matter what the season, the local roast duck is tender, tasty and fresh.

Although roasted whole, Peking duck is traditionally served in thin slices. The skin should be eaten first, while it is still hot and crispy. A two-kilogram duck can be cut into 108 slices, according to one senior chef.

Peking duck is usually eaten with a few vegetables, wrapped in a pancake. Diners take a pancake in their hands, add a few splashes of bean sauce, and then lay shredded scallions, cucumber or carrot on top, followed by slices of roast duck. The pancake is then wrapped around the lot.

Quanjude Restaurant, established in 1864, is the best choice for sampling Peking duck. Diners can also watch the cooks display their exquisite knife skills. Quanjude cook their birds by hanging the duck on a pole over a wood fire in an open oven, while Bianyifang, another long-established restaurant, uses closed ovens to cook their birds.

Snacks

Traditionally, Beijing snacks can be divided into Han, Hui (Muslim) and palace flavor.

Douzhir, or fermented bean drink, is a favorite of many locals. During Beijings freezing winters, it is common for Beijingers to down a cup in the morning with a plate of pickles.

Wandouhuang, or sweet pea cake, is a popular snack in spring and summer. The yellow cake tastes cool and smooth, and melts in your mouth.

Aiwowo is a steamed rice cake with sweet stuffing. Traditionally a snack during the Spring Festival, it is now available year-round in the capital.

Ancient Qianmen Street is home to many time-honored restaurants, each with its own specialty. The aforementioned Quanjude is famous for Peking duck, Duyichu is the place to go for steamed pork dumplings, and Kaifeng Diyilou is renowned for its juicy steamed buns. Another well-known commercial street, Longfusi, is lined with 100 meters of food stalls every night.

Foreign Dishes

Restaurants serving foreign food have mushroomed in Beijing in recent years, as the city receives more and more foreign visitors and residents. Cuisine from France, Italy, Russia, Brazil, Japan and a host of other countries is now available.

If youre after French food, BleuMarine offers beefsteak and prawns from southern France. Dadi Western Restaurant serves authentic black caviar and borscht. And the Adria provides traditional Italian pizza, cooked over wood fires fueled by timber taken from fruit trees.

Recommended Restaurants in Beijing

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Flagship Restaurant: 32 Qianmen Street, Chongwen District (currently undergoing a facelift, so please call for the date of reopening)

Tel: 86-10-6710 1379

Hepingmen branch

Address: Building 14, Qianmen West Street, Chongwen District

Tel: 86-10-6301 8833

Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant

Flagship Restaurant: 36 Xingfu Street, Chongwen District

Tel: 86-10-6711 6545

BleuMarine

5 Guanghua Xili, Chaoyang District

Tel: 86-10 6500 6704

Adria (Xincheng branch)

17, Building 8, Xincheng International

Apartments, 6 Chaowai Street

Tel: 86-10-6597 0086

Dadi Western Restaurant

58 Xisi South Street, Xicheng District

Tel: 86-10-6602 0738

Hantenggeli Muslim Restaurant

7 Sanlihe Road, Haidian District

Tel: 86-10-6833 5599

Dongfang Jinghu Hong Kong-style

Restaurant

West side of Gehua Tower, 1 Qinglong Hutong, Dongzhimennei Beixiaojie, Dongcheng District

Tel: 86-10-8417 6252