Five Key Steps to Live Like Real Native Beijingers
The life style of native Beijingers has been deemed as easy-going, leisureful, and open. Living in a busy and crowded city like Beijing, real Beijingers prefer to enjoy life, instead of wasting it aftering wealth and fame. Keep reading and find out how you can live like a true native Beijinger following 5 simple steps.
1. Food - Douzhir, Jiao Quan, and Mung Tofu
Douzhir (Fermented Bean Drink) is probably the most notorious native Beijing food. It is the single most important and easiest way to see if you are a real Beijinger. If you can stand the smell and drink it all without twitching your nose, you are half way to success. Made from green beans, Douzhir has a history of nearly 2,500 years. Most Beijingers have Douzhir as breakfast, accompanied with home made snacks. Douzhir is no doubthealthy. Rich in Protein, Vitamin C, Coarse Fibre, and Sugar, it helps to reduce blood pressure and improve your appetite. It is said that if you hold your breath and try 2 bowls, you’ll become addicted to it.
Jiao Quan (Deepfried Snack) is essential when drinking Douzhir. Made with flour, salt, alkali, and a little alum, Jiao Quan tastes crispy outside and soft inside, and can be preserved up to ten to 15 days. Due to high level of fat and heat it contains, it is not recommended to have Jiao Quan for over twice a week, and better be accompanied with organic drinks such as Douzhir.
Mung Tofu, made from remains of mung bean starch, is another true Beijingers’ favourite food. It got popular in ancient China when the poor had no better food. But surprisingly, the rich also became addicted to it for its special taste. Most big restaurants in Beijing nowoffer Mung Tofu, but the taste is different with the original for the oil used has been changed from caproic oil to vegetable oil.
2. Sports - Kong Zhu
Kong Zhu (Diabolo) was originated in Song Dynasty and got popular in acrobatic performances in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.). Made from a wooden stick with single or double wooden plates on one or both sides, Kong Zhu is played using a long cord in the middle where it balances. Because of the smallholes on the disks and the way it is played, Kong Zhu makes sounds similar to whistles, which make it more fun to play with. In order to play it well, you need to use every part of your body to throw, catch, twist, stretch, and jump. If you want to lose weight and have fun at the same time, go to a park in the morning and learn from the elders.
3. Pets - Birds, Fish, and Jing Ba
Pets are essential to live like the real Beijingers. Walk around on streets and in parks during 5 to 8 a.m., the old people you see carries birdcages or walks Jing Ba (a local breed of dog, also called Shih Tzu) are true native Beijingers. All of the most common types of pet fish and birds can be found in morning fairs and around corners of old housing areas.
Jing Ba used to be pets for the royal families in ancient China. They are small, quiet, and sometimes sensitive little doggies, which are deeply loved by all Beijingers. These most common local pets are living a worry free, laid back, and healthy life, just like their owners live in Beijing.
4. Residence - Hutongs and Siheyuans
Living in Hutongs and Siheyuans is becoming popular for the rich and the powerful in Beijing. Siheyuans are being sold for millions and even tens of millions for its traditional architecture, cultural richness, and increasing scarcity. Hutongs are narrow lanes between Siheyuans, and Siheyuans are courtyards with living rooms at all 4 sides. Architecture beauty and cultural uniqueness can be found in every corner of Hutongs and Siheyuans.
Life style in Hutongs and Siheyuans used to be close, quiet, and safe. Everyone knows each other well, and the atmosphere of having a huge family can be found at no other places. If you can afford it, buy a Siheyuan and live among the native Beijingers. If you don’t have the money, go into a pub or cafeteria at Nanluogu Lane, where most shops and stores were renovated from Siheyuans, and have a taste of the old Beijing.
5. Recreation - Xiangsheng
Xiangsheng (Cross-Talk) is a must have recreational activity for true Beijingers. Some even listen to it every morning before eating breakfast and going to work. During the Ming Dynasty, Xiangsheng originated as a form of gastriloquism imitating and mocking other people’s tone and dialogue, and telling jokes. It was deeply appreciated by the common people and became an art form that can be performed by single, double, and several performers. There are 4 basic skills that any qualified performers must master. Dialogue, impersonating, teasing, and singing. The best place to go for quality performances is Tian Qiao Theater where Guo Degang and his partners and students perform regularly. If you are a foreigner, learning good Xiangsheng can definitely give you an unfair advantage in becoming popular in Beijing and even the whole country.
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