IWC Schaffhausen

Here comes another...

Just embarked on another business trip. This time to Beijing. I go to Beijing frequently. However, my trips to Beijing tend to be very short and are often in a rush.

This time though, I get an evening free on my own to roam around town. Where have I gone? don't worry, I will take your there...

Before that though, as usual, let's start by taking some photos at the Hong Kong airport and the boutique at the airport:




As said, I had an evening by myself. I slowly walked down to my destination. On my way there, I came across a what used to be a catholic church, now a square for the local folks to gather and even dance:




Here I am, the perhaps most famous street in Beijng, the Wangfujing Avenue. A great variety of shops and diners (plus other points of interests) can be found in here:


Want an example? how about this Nike shop with an interesting display? these sneakers rotate, and seem as though they are all kicking in a soccer match or something of that sort:


Some of the more famous restaurants:


Perhaps one of the most famous restaurants for Peking Ducks... (but I think it is WAAAAAY overrated, as I have had better from other restaurants):


The streets have way more watch shops than I could remember when I was here a decade or so ago...


Here I am, the little alley that I really intend to take you folks for a tour. It is what this place is all about... (forget those Omega/JLC/Tag Heuer/Cartier boutiques)


This little alley is a famous spot for some local delicacies.

Such as...

Fried ice-cream and cakes?


or perhaps the well-known Chinese-style candied apples (and other fruits)?


Or perhaps... the "peeing" meat (beef) balls?
(hey, that's what it literally says on the sign)

Or noodles, dumplings, mutton, and other fried internal organs of animals?


No... we didn't come all the way here to have all these mundane food!

We came here for the best of the best...

Namely... fried (live) scorpions and starfish:


Or how about some fried cocoons?


Better yet, fancy some deep fried cicada?


(by the way... if you had to choose amongst these delicacies... do yourself a favor by getting the scorpions and scorpions alone... trust me on this one. Unless you have some very distinct taste-buds, and enjoy eating moth-balls (quite literally), I would sincerely advise against the cocoons).

So... what did I have for dinner tonight?

Just some mundane Mongolian-style spicy mutton-on-a-stick:


A kebab:


Some other mundane stuff like corn-on-a-cob, fried bean-curd, etc.

and for dessert, just some candied grapes:


There are many stalls that sell little pieces of gifts also:


No, silly, no IWC in sight. Sorry to disappoint you.

Well, at least there are shops that specializes in selling Chinese-locally made watches...


A couple of streets over... things get scarier...

I didn't want to walk too close, as things over there are believed to be hazardous to my health:




There are more watch shops inside, but I dare not to get too close... so, sorry, no pictures!

Hope you have enjoyed my little travelogue as much as I have, and have not grossed out yet. Anyone care for a bag full of crunchy scorpions, by the way?

Sincerely,
Kelvin Leung
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Repeat after me: I don't need another IWC, I really don't need another IWC...

Last edited: 17 May, 2012 - 18:02

Kevin, that AT is sure getting around the city!

Thanks for taking me along this journey - now, if and when I get to Beijing, sadly the only part I still need to see, is not apparently but definately not condusive to my good health! Apparently a very aggresive uber virus, currently mildly dormant ithin me, triggers at proximaty around there! Glad for you that you managed to avoid it this time - LOL.

Best regards
Mark

Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36

Nice report Kelvin, although I am not sure about some of the food you show :-)

Kind regards,

Clemens

Last edited: 30 May, 2012 - 20:59

Kevin, a fun post. Although unlike Nad's... reading yours has NOT really made me all that hungry! LOL...

Thanks for sharing!

Best wishes,
Thang

iwcforummer@outlook.com

Last edited: 21 April, 2013 - 08:55

Interesting, Kelvin...I thought we deep-fried everything imaginable in the U.S. South! We can't begin to compete with the variety found in Beijing! Thanks for taking us along.

Best regards,
Jim

"We are the other people, we are the other people...you're the other people too!"
Frank Zappa

Hi Kelvin,

I loved my visit to Beijing and appreciate your travelogues. I think the reason IWC sells so many watches in China is that money is plentiful:

Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com

Last edited: 18 May, 2012 - 02:04

That was a really fun trip you took us on!

I'd be willing to try starfish, fried scorpions, and cocoons, fried cicada, etc, but I might draw the line at peeing meatballs. I'm afraid they lose something in the translation into English, or perhaps it is just in American slang.

You wore a good watch for the trip, too. Thanks for taking and posting the great photos.

Dick L.

whichwatch at roadrunner dot com

whichwatch Wrote:That was a really fun trip you took us on!

I'd be willing to try starfish, fried scorpions, and cocoons, fried cicada, etc, but I might draw the line at peeing meatballs. I'm afraid they lose something in the translation into English, or perhaps it is just in American slang.

You wore a good watch for the trip, too. Thanks for taking and posting the great photos.

haha...

actually there were a few funny names/signs, but I did not really bother to bring out.

One of them is the famous "dog-doesn't-care buns". See the wikipedia pages for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Believe
Basically they are a certain steamed buns with pork in them.

The "peeing" meat balls are actually nothing to be afraid about. I think it was an invention from one of a popular Chinese comedy/movie in the late 90's. Basically these are just beef balls with some soup in them that make them juicy. The meatballs are supposedly a bit crunchy too... so when you take a bite, the juice inside will come shooting out. Hence, the name "peeing".

Sincerely,
Kelvin Leung
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Repeat after me: I don't need another IWC, I really don't need another IWC...

Last edited: 18 May, 2012 - 00:40

Thanks Kelvin, you shared some of the very interesting parts of Beijing to our forum friends.

I liked your explanation of "peeing" meat ball. It is fun to see the influence of HK food culture outside HK. Good culture exchange. LOL.

Best Regards,

Felix

Nice 1 Kelvin! The food & AT looks good! Thanks for sharing.

rgds
Kee Siew