See Beijing by Sidecar: Zoom with Beijing Sideways

Posted: June 25th, 2013 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: A Day In My Life, Hot Tips, Travel | Tags: Back Alley Chili Cook Off, Beijing Craft Beer Festival, Beijing Sideways, Candice Lee, CCTV Headquarters, Guomao, Jianwai SOHO, Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant, Ming Dynasty City Wall, Seedicego Productions, sidecar tours, The Big Pants | 3 Comments »

Zoom Through Beijing on a Sidecar: Beijing Sideways’ City Tour

I recently found out that my very first friend in Beijing is getting ready to go back home to the US come fall 2013 after almost 7 years.  If you don’t know Candice Lee personally (it’s rare for anyone in Beijing to not know C-dice), she’s the woman behind SeeDiceGo Productions (who also organizes the annual Back Alley Chili Cook-Off, BALLS Bowling League, annual kickball tournament (how she celebrates her birthday each year), and the just recently completed and very successful Beijing Craft Beer Festival).  Not so surprising, this is the same woman who planned to travel from Beijing to Italy by sidecar motorcycle (and yes, she would have been driving).

But alas, life does not always go according to plan, and now C-dice is moving back to the US in a few months time. To see C-dice finally go is a bit too much to bear so instead of fretting, I decided to sign us both us for a sidecar tour of Beijing by Beijing Sideways. It’s no trip to Italy, but a 2-hour city tour of Beijing gave us both a chance to reflect on this city that’s become our home and rediscover Beijing in all its glory from the unique perspective of a sidecar.

“See another face of Beijing and its countryside. Beijing Sideways helps you discover Beijing and its surroundings from a sideways look, seated in the side-car of a motorbike. Ignoring traffic jams, enjoying the pleasures of a top less vehicle, wind in the hair (or in a helmet), admiring the stunning hilly landscapes of Beijing, savouring a French picnic with French wine on the crest of the Great Wall, cruising the less known hutongs and markets, or on a boat drifting on the Summer Palace lake.” - Beijing Sideways

Serving as a sort of belated birthday present/perfect way to savor a blue-sky-day in Beijing/spontaneous way to spend a weekday morning for two flexible freelancers, we met with our German city guide Chris at 10AM in the Sanlitun area where we clipped on our helmets, hopped on his sidecar, and began our tour.

Feeling pumped: The start of our sidecar ride adventure around Beijing

Starting with a Beijing’s Central Business District (CBD), we flew through the streets (avoiding traffic at all costs) and zoomed by CBD landmark buildings including the famous “big pants” CCTV headquarters and Jianwai SOHO.  To amplify the contrast between modern, big and new vs. historical and small, we found ourselves deep in traditional hutong neighborhoods just around the bend of the CBD before popping back out to see landmark sites like Qianmen, the National Center of Performing Arts (aka “The Egg”), Houhai Lake and finished our tour at the towering Drum and Bell Tower in Gulou.

LDS Snapshots of “Beijing in a Nutshell” Tour by Sidecar:

Oh heeey Big Pants

Photo op on the side of the 3rd Ring Road with CCTV HQ Behind Us

Zipping Under Highway of Guomao Bridge

Taking Roads with less Traffic

Stop-and-Go by Ming Dynasty City Wall Entrance

Stark Contrast Between Beijing’s CBD and Traditional Hutong Neighborhoods

Following the Spray-Painted Ducks to Liqun Peking Duck Restaurant

Roasting Ducks in the Open Fire Pit

After 6 years since our last visit to Liqun, it looks exactly the same

On the Wide Open Road

Zooming by Qianmen

Pit-stop by The Egg (aka National Center of Performing Arts NCPA)

View of Beihai

More Hutongs please!

Cruising Down the Empty Paths along Houhai Lake

Last Stop: View of Bell Tower

Last Stop Under the Towering Drum Tower in Gulou

Our 2-hour city ride was slightly extended to 2.5 hours, but still, I was amazed to see so much of Beijing in such a short stretch of time!  And the best part is that even after almost 7 years living in Beijing, both of us were introduced to new roads and new hutongs we hadn’t seen before! Beijing has so much to explore and see, this tour is a perfect way to see a whole lot in a very condensed period of time.

So whether you’re new to Beijing or old school expats like us, I highly recommend Beijing Sideways as a unique experience that will show you Beijing’s highlights in a way that’s so much better than within the confines of a car.  Just remember to bring sunscreen and a camera that ties around your wrist so you can snap away at all the landmark sights of Beijing as you zoom zoom by.

More than just city tours, Beijing Sideways does night rides (RMB 1400 for two pax) and overnight trips up to the Great Wall (up to RMB 4,300 per person). Check out their full range of Beijing tours and prices on their website here.

Contact Beijing Sideways: Click here.

To the Girl who should Still Travel from Beijing to Italy by Sidecar. It suits you.

Other Suggested LDS Articles:

• Serene & Stunning Song Shan Nature Reserve

• Celebrate Canada Day like a Canuck: Win FREE Tickets!

• MODO Urban Deli: Wholesome, Easy European Eating

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