Beijing for Foodies

There's no better way to explore the Chinese capital than via the gratification of your appetite. From comfort food eateries to cooking schools, here are Beijing’s must-try epicurean experiences.

Dumpling Delights

Warm those cockles with a big bowl of Beijing dumplings, known locally as jiaozi. Frill-free, cheap as chips Baoyuan Jiaozi Wu is permanently packed out for its rainbow-hued parcels, stuffed with tasty and wholesome fillings – the vivid colours come from all-natural veggie dyes like spinach, blueberry and carrot.

Afternoon Tea Time

Cha-ficionados beeline for wholesale sip-icentre, Maliandao Tea Market, where you will literally find all the tea in China. Lined with some 900 stalls, teahouses and eager, leaf-swilling shopkeepers, adventurous tasters can easily get lost in this maze – instead head straight into the fragrant fold of Cha Cheng for its delicious pick of Taiwanese Oolong and traditional ceramic sets.

Duck ! ... Where?

Beijing and duck go together like Donald and Daisy. Start with a visit to local chain Da Dong, a revered Peking Duck institution since 1985, now with three branches across town. Skip perusing the 150+ page menu – you’re here for the crisp, aromatic sugary-brown duck, roasted until extra lean and skillfully carved tableside. Or, swoop into classic Sino stunner Duck de Chine, housed inside a former factory turned neo-industrial complex; alongside the duck, they serve an array of French-inspired dishes, cooked over 30-year-old Shanxi date-tree wood.

Sichuan Firestarter

Crisp, contempo decor sets the scene for chef Huang Chao’s innovative spin on Sichuan heritage cooking at sultry Transit. Don’t miss his signature dandan noodles doused in house chilli oil and fresh lime, or the beloved spicy Angus Tenderloin Beef. Can’t take the heat? Opt for the slightly milder chicken, drizzled in grapefruit vinaigrette and avocado, or slip away for palate-cleansing after-dinner tipples in the plush adjoining lounge.

Cook Like a Pro

And now to recreate your culinary antics at home! Chefs Chunyi and Chao will teach you how to pinch dumplings and toss a cast-iron wok over roaring flames at the Beijing Cooking School. Add extra flavour with a pre-class wet market tour, and finish with a meal in the school's Qing Dynasty courtyard.

Baoyuan Jiaozi Wu / 6 Maizidian Jie / Chaoyang / +86 10 6586 4967 / lunch & dinner daily

Cha Cheng / 11 Maliandao / Xicheng

Da Dong / 5/F / Jinbao Hui Shopping Center / 88 Jinbao Jie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8522 1234 / 11am-10pm daily / + branches / @beijing-dadong-roast-duck-restaurant

Duck de Chine / 1949 The Hidden City / Gongti Bei Lu / Chaoyang / +86 10 6501 8881 / lunch & dinner daily / elite-concepts.com

Transit / N4-36 / Taikoo Li Sanlitun North / Chaoyang / +86 10 6417 9090 / lunch & dinner daily / facebook.com

Beijing Cooking School / Dengcao Hutong / Dongsi Nan Dajie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8401 4788 / beijingcookingschool.com