China's exploding middle-class is best exemplified by its insatiable passion for retail therapy, which has revolutionised the streetscapes of central Beijing.
In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics, vast swathes of the city centre were transformed by the bright lights and bling of top-end shopping centres.
Start your
shopping in Wangfujing St - the pedestrianised retail ribbon in the heart of Beijing.
It is a deliriously exciting mishmash of state-of-the-art retail swank juxtaposed with traditional markets and quaint little stores.
The sensory overload of the glitzy new mega-malls rub shoulders with the jumble of old-Beijing shops. And the silk shops, tea shops, herbal medicine stores and hat shops are enchanting gems.
For an authentic taste-bud adventure, check out the many open-air food markets. Take a taxi from your hotel to the Donghuamen Night Market, which offers a smorgasbord of delicacies ranging from fried grasshoppers and quail's eggs to strawberry kebabs and Mongolian cheese.
Luxe lovers should head to the Shopping Arcade at The Peninsula hotel, just off Wangfujing St. It's a glittering wonderland of labels and home to 50 designer boutiques, selling labels such as Gucci, Prada and Chanel.
The hotel oozes gracious hospitality and pampered comfort. I recommend dining at Huang Ting restaurant, which specialises in classic Cantonese cuisine, served in a setting that imitates a noble courtyard house.
TOP TIPS
Adventure World offers a variety of fully guided sightseeing tours in Beijing.
The Great Wall and Ming Tombs tour is highly recommended. Contact www.adventureworld.co.nz
Cathay Pacific's award-winning service to China includes 10 non-stop flights every week from Auckland to Hong Kong, with easy onward connections to Beijing and beyond. Check out the latest airfare specials at www.cathaypacific.co.nz
Beijing is still a great value-for-money destination. Spoil yourself and live it up in the Chinese capital's premier establishment, The Peninsula Beijing. For more information, visit www.peninsula.com/beijing
