Getting Familiar with Fengtai: 5 Things to Do

        Fengtai is not somewhere that most tourists or expats visit often because of its location in the South-West of the city and its mainly old residential feel. However, it can offer an interesting insight into local Beijing life and also offer a quieter day out for those looking to move away from the hustle and bustle of Chaoyang. Here are 5 great things to see and do in the Fengtai and Shijingshan districts of Beijing.
        The area is full of culture, and one of the best places to head to first is the Stone Scripture Hill. This attraction offers the chance to see Buddhist scriptures carved onto stone over the last 1,000 years. There are nine caves with these exquisite carved stone slabs inside, and because it is not a tourist attraction that is widely visited by foreigners it will not be as crowded as many other places. Stone Scripture Hill is both interesting and historically significant as a landmark.
        Another such landmark is the Marco Polo Bridge. Known as Luguoqiao in Chinese, the bridge has been spanning the Yongding River for over 800 years. With its huge granite block construction and collection of lion carvings, it is a beautiful and ancient feature of the Beijing landscape. It is also part of history given its role as a key point for the assault on Beijing by Japanese forces.
        To learn more about the war, there is the China People’s Ri Kang Fighting Museum located near Marco Polo Bridge. It looks as the politics and role of the KMT in China, and the tragedy of the fight against the Japanese. It is an interesting insight into modern Chinese history and politics, with over 800 artifacts and 141 cultural relics on display.

          After a day of culture you can refuel at the Jinshancheng with some spicy Sichuan food. It offers some of the fieriest Sichuan cuisine in Beijing, and it is great value for money. While eating your chicken with chilli peppers, you can admire the elegant Chinese décor of calligraphy works and art.
          A final stop on your whirlwind tour of Fengtai can be completed by a trip to Der Landgraf for a nice pint of German beer and some pork knuckles for those who couldn’t take the Sichuan heat at dinner.