Let's toast Beijing

[adrianlondon]

I'm going to be in Beijing from Friday 20th November for a week. I'm sure there used to be a dedicated place in these forums for arranging meetings but I can't find it; here looks as good a place as any, so ...

Between 21st and 26th November is anyone interested in meeting up for dinner? It would be great to get a group of forumites together.

I'm especially interested in meeting people at BNU as I studied there for a semester (level 101) in Autumn 2006. I'm also keen on having lunch at one of the BNU canteens; it's grief to pay cash so someone with a canteen card would be great company ;)

If anyone's interested (I know Roddy is) please post and we can sort out a suitable date/venue.

[Scoobyqueen]

I would have joined but I am only in Beijing from 3-19 December.

There was a thread on some weekly dinner meetings taking place in Wu Dao Kou.

[gougou]

I'd be up for it most of the days you mentioned.

Anybody else?

[Daan]

I'll be in Beijing for ten days from November 20th, so I would be up for some dinner!

[adrianlondon]

Once Roddy comes along we can pick a date! Although he's usually able to move his busy schedule around (normally dictated by Sculpting in Time opening hours...)

[roddy]

Any time'll work for me I think - you just tell me where and when to go

[adrianlondon]

OK, how about Monday evening? Monday 23rd.

I'm not too familiar with the restaurants, so if anyone has recommendations then please say. Somewhere around Houhai, Drum & Bell Tower or BNU would be perfect as I'm most familiar with those areas.

[Daan]

Would be fine for me! It's going to be my first time in Beijing, so detailed information as to where to find the restaurant would be appreciated

[gougou]

I'll probably be in Changchun on Monday, but it seems we're flying back in the evening, so I should be able to join at least for an after-dinner drink, maybe even for dinner itself.

[roddy]

Anybody object to pushing to Tuesday to ensure Gougou can make it? Daan, do you know which part of Beijing you're staying in?

[gougou]

I object

Seems we're going on Tuesday now, Monday should be fine for me!

[roddy]

Right, Monday it is then. Looks like there's only four of us, and bar Daan we'll all be within a few bus stops of each other.

[Daan]

Tuesday would have been fine as well, but Monday it is then I'll be staying in the Beida area, just ten minutes away from Wudaokou MRT, in what I think is called Peking University Hostel. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, and might or might not have internet access there. A friend will lend me a SIM card, so I'll be able to use my mobile phone, but unfortunately I don't know the number yet, so I can't post it here. I should be able to find wherever you meet, though So any ideas as to where to meet?

[roddy]

Daan, I'll pm you my mobile number so you can get in touch. You're a bit of a trek from the rest of us, but we'll figure something out. Also the new Line 4 subway might make you a bit closer . . .

[adrianlondon]

Geat - Monday it is. Anyone else interested? Feel free to join in the party!

I've only just arrived and haven't got a SIM card yet, but once I do I'll message around my number.

[roddy]

Belch. Some rather decent food, I thought, and the company wasn't bad either.

[adrianlondon]

Very impressed with the food; great choice Roddy.

Your company's always welcome. I think Beijing brings foreigners here for all sorts of reasons, most of them interesting (apart from those businessmen who just live in the Hilton and Sanlitun), hence it's always fun and informative to meet people here.

[roddy]

Fine food indeed, and made all the more delicious by your erudite conversation, Adrian.

Could go a plate of that cheese and potato stuff for lunch, actually. Stuffed aubergines for a starter, perhaps. Hmmmmm . . .

[adrianlondon]

I could eat those stuffed aubergines for ever. I'll have to each my Mum how to make that dongbei dish of cheesy potatoes.

[roddy]

If anyone's curious we ate here

http://www.dianping.com/shop/508618

Vegetarian restaurant (none of us are vegetarians, I just happen to think it's a good restaurant). Not too far from the north end of Wangfujing and / or Dongsi and Zhangzizhong subways. They do the fake meat stuff, which is actually a lot better than it sounds, and loads of other delicious stuff. We ate, among many other things, this and this. Came to about 55Y per head, with tea and beers.