Beijing - Jiugulou Street（旧鼓楼大街）, Drum & Bell Towers（鼓楼，钟楼）, WangfuJing Walking Street（王府井步行街） & Haidilao（海底捞）

We reached our Airbnb homestay at Beijing in Thursday morning. The owner only allowed us to store our luggage in the house as there were still occupants staying in it. It was a brisk morning and we decided to take a stroll on the Jiugulou （旧鼓楼大街）Main Street. We passed by a number of big Chinese restaurants, McDonald’s, cafes, hotel inns and also discovered branches of hutong (胡同)on both sides of street.

Only in China, McDonald!

Unique cozy cafe.

Bumped into few persimmon trees, excited like a kampung boy...since we can't find this in Malaysia LOL.

We were greeted with Drum and Bell Towers （鼓楼，钟楼）after taking a left turn at the end of Jiugulou Street. There were two groups of locals kicking shuttlecock in a vast area between the two towers. They were definitely good in the sport and I was crazed of how a Chinese lady performing her classy back heel kicks for several times in a row.

Nice weather we have, cold and breezy.

Drum and Bell Towers （鼓楼，钟楼）

Drum and Bell Towers （鼓楼，钟楼）. Locals kicking shuttlecocks.

Tried some local snack, pan-fried tortilla liked food.

Hot from the oven! Taste good, would be better if less salty.

We checked in our homestay at 1200 noon. After some rest, we were off to Wangfujing Walking Street （王府井步行街） for dinner. It was raining in the evening and we quickly took shed in a shopping mall once out of the subway station. The Wangfujing walking street is one of the most famous streets in Beijing and it boasts an average of 60,000 visitors daily. You can find almost everything here in one go.

Eat again while on the way to go for steamboat :P

The Haidilao steamboat （海底捞）is approximately 15 minutes walking distance from the Wangfujing  （王府井）subway station and it is located at the 8th floor of Beijing Intime Department Store. Once entering the mall, you will find most people are heading in the same direction as you. After obtaining my running number, a polite staff welcomed us with snacks in bowls and drinks. These are served as free items and customer can refill as much as they want while waiting for seat in the designated area.

Got the waiting number.

Free snack while waiting...

Menu for you to decide what to eat later on.

There are mini games like chess and card game too..

One hour and a half passed, we were finally being called. The restaurant offers five kinds of soup bases and three pot types, where customer can creatively choose more than one soup base according to their selection of pot. There were arrays of marinated ingredients, fresh salad & vegetables, dipping sauces, and even porridge on its common area to make up your brilliant dining experience.

Choices of dipping sauce!!!

Our unknown-mushroom based soup for steamboat!!!

In addition, you get to watch the staff performing the hand-pulling noodle skills after you ordered.

In all, the food at Haidilao is reasonably priced for a steamboat dinner, with all the generous offerings of side dishes and snacks, the provision of board and card games for pleasure, and not to forget, the free yet attentive service of manicure.

How to go to Haidilao steamboat （海底捞）:

Get off at WangfuJing subway station (Line 1) and head towards north of the walking street for 900 m. The restaurant is located at the 8th floor of Beijing Intime Department Store.