BNU and surrounds 北京师范大学的周围

[AdamD]

roddy gave me some tip top advice for having Chinese conversations in a non-touristed area of Beijing. I went there last week and, on roddy's request, took a stack of photos.

 

This is the main entrance area (as far as I can tell) of 北师大:

 

 

 

 

This is Sculpting in Time Cafe, which was harder than I thought to find but has incredible coffee and cakes:

 

 

 

This is the northern end of 文慧园北路, and stuff south of that:

 

 

 

Somewhere along here I had dumplings in a tiny restaurant (out of shot, sadly) where two customers and the owners really wanted to talk to me, in Chinese, for half an hour, and get my 微信 details:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where things were in relation to one another gets a bit blotchy in my head at this point, but I had a conversation outside these toilets with a bloke who commented on me being a 老外:

 

 

I also had dumplings at the restaurant to its right, but they weren't great and nothing interesting happened there.

 

The whole area is great to visit. This is it here:

 

 

BNU is at the top right. Sculpting in Time Cafe is on the south side of 学院南路, just about where it says 学院南路 on the map. The area around the big 小西天 label in the middle is where all the action is.

[roddy]

Excellent, looks like things haven't changed too much... and glad to see they got that sign fixed ;-)

 

So, when do you move into the area?

[AdamD]

haha. I would definitely look at if I were to move to Beijing.

 

Here's the landmark archway you mentioned (for the sake of completion):

 

 

For those who have yet to visit the area, it's on the west side of 新外大路 as you're walking north towards the south gate of 北师大。

[m000gle]

Bah!  Way to make me all homesick... 

 

Seriously, though, great photos!  I studied there for nearly three years, and hope to go back someday (Masters, maybe?).  I'll see if I can find any others to add, as these bring back some truly great memories.

 

Should anyone have questions about BNU/北师大, feel free to post them and/or PM me.

[AdamD]

Thanks! It'd be great if this thread became a story book about the area.

[mouse]

I'm sure you've been there already, but if you go down to 积水潭 there are some nice and varied 小吃 places. Also if you walk north from BNU's east gate then there's another little cafe across the road that is often almost empty. Good for if you need some peace and quiet. Just a bit further up is a fake DVD shop with a very nice art house selection as well as a very friendly 老板. In case you can't find it, it's in the back of the massage place.