Beijing: the spirit of the place according to Daphné Mallet

"In Beijing, I've always preferred to live in the hutong district, where life is truly relaxed. That's where I opened my gallery, near the Lamas temple. Unfortunately, this area, with its traditional houses, is in the process of being transformed, and may well disappear. But it's the Beijing I love. My favourite addresses includeThere is the magnificent Temple Restaurant, located in an ancient temple dating from the 15th century.^e century building with several courtyards. This is a top-of-the-range restaurant, with dishes that are as stunning as they are aesthetically pleasing - sea urchin with yuzu sauce, white tuna with basil, garnished with borage flowers and nasturtiums - with a French influence that includes foie gras. This makes it an ideal venue for important business meetings.

Other favourites include Susu, Beijing's best Vietnamese restaurant, with its unbeatable salmon spring rolls. Dali Courtyard is also a pleasant address, in a house whose the inner courtyard is shaded by pomegranate trees. It serves typical spicy Yunnan cuisine. When I'm in the mood for Italian food, I go to Mercante, in the heart of the hutongs. For a relaxed night out, I recommend DDC, a small jazz and world music club, also housed in an old traditional house. For informal business meetings, you can opt for the Orchid Boutique Hotel, which offers one of the best brunches in the district.

In the very pretty Rue Guozijian, planted with old trees, you can go to Lost & Found, a very elegant furniture shop from Chinese designers. There are also a few items of clothing in raw linen or silk, dresses, as well as ceramic vases and cups. A stone's throw away, the Temple of Confucius is a haven of peace, and nearby, the Temple of the Lamas is one of the few remaining Buddhist temples in the capital. The atmosphere is guaranteed.

Another shopping address I recommend is Spin Ceramics, in the Chaoyang district, which offers quality tableware at low prices. In the same district, I recommend it to art lovers the Red Brick Museum, which offers one of the best contemporary art programmes, with interesting architecture. Not to be missed either, even if the place has really become popular and can attract thousands of visitors at weekends, is the 798 Art District, a former Bauhaus factory where most of Beijing's good contemporary art galleries have set up shop: Continua, UCCA, Urs Meile, etc...".