One-Stop Fun
Though Chaoyang Park was recently stripped of its title as the largest green space in Beijing by the new Olympic Forest Park, the attractions huddled around this east-side yuppie haven remain as formidable as ever. Here young professionals can live both respectably and still indulge in the party and play lifestyle the nine-to-five grind occasionally necessitates. Geographically adjacent to the ever-popular, ever-developing Sanlitun district, these two areas pack the one-two punch that lures and keeps expats in Beijing. While Chaoyang Park’s west gate entertainment stronghold is now rivaled by the likes of Lucky Street and Women’s Street, Sanlitun and its Bar Street remain as intoxicating as ever, with countless shopping and dining spots sprouting up almost daily. Unlike Chaoyang Park, Sanlitun wasn’t really planned as a residential area, yet both zones are receiving a perpetual influx of investors and developers, guaranteeing that future denizens will have places to relax, unwind and rave for years to come.

Quick Facts

Perfect for: Night owls
Who lives here: Wealthy expats to thrifty students
Culinary hot spots: Kro’s Nest, Haiku
Notable developments: 3.3 Mall, Block 8
Look out for: The Village at Sanlitun

Preview

Park Avenue 公园大道
Back in 2002, when Park Avenue first opened, the five apartment buildings looked a little lonely. Now, not only are they surrounded by other high-end properties, shopping malls and supermarkets, they are also sandwiched between Eton International Kindergarten on the left and Beijing BISS International School on the right, making it a great option for families. As an added bonus, the brand-new community club, opened at the end of 2007, comes equipped with its own mall, gym, tennis courts, spas, music bar, laundromat and supermarket, ensuring residents will not have to look very far to meet daily needs. Layouts vary from studio to four-bedroom apartments and penthouses featuring simple designs, 3-meter high ceilings and views of nearby Chaoyang and Honglingjin Parks. Prices to rent vary from ￥10,000 to 50,000/month.
Address: 6 Chaoyang Park South Rd 朝阳公园南路6号

Review

No.9 Park Apartment (Greenlake Garden III) 9 号公馆
Located opposite the bar and restaurant strip that is now home to Block 8, No. 9 Park Apartment is the latest to join the Chaoyang Park crowd. Close to Lucky Street and Nuren Jie, these apartments stand out with their circular courtyard, beautiful indoor garden and low-building design, with no more than 10 floors per tower. Families can appreciate the close proximity to two of Beijing’s top schools, Beijing World Youth Academy, located just behind the compound, and the Canadian International School, just a two-minute drive away. The units range from 190 to 436 sq meters in area and all come installed with international TV channels. Finally, the community club facilities are free of charge and include a gym, sauna, squash courts, children's playground and an underground parking lot. Selling price is about ￥30, 000/sq meter.
Address: 9 Chaoyang Park West Rd 朝阳公园西路9号

Retail Space | Sanlitun

The Village
For those wondering what the multi-colored, angular establishment next to 3.3 Mall is, the wait will soon be over. A joint venture between Swire Properties and Gateway Capital, The Village at Sanlitun is slated to open during the first half the year, ending months of speculation. Designed by a famed team of architects hailing from the United States, Hong Kong and Japan, The Village aims to provide its shoppers with something beyond your typical retail experience, “creating an environment where people can stay all day [with] outdoor street-side events¡¬ indoor dining, entertainment and shopping.”

Divided between the North and South Zones, the 19-building project will measure a total floor area of over 172,000 sq meters, accommodating a cosmopolitan mix of no less than 30 bars and restaurants and over 250 flagship, local and international shops. Despite the interesting juxtaposition to Yashow Market, shoppers of The Village will be able to look forward to authentic accessories and apparel from the likes of Roberto Cavalli, Esprit and Quiksilver. Meanwhile, sports fanatics will no doubt be excited about the upcoming opening of the world’s largest Adidas store, which will measure an amazing of 3,160 sq meters. Additional highlights include a sunken garden, an eight-screen, 1,700 seat Megabox Cinema and a 99-room boutique hotel, all interspersed with mini gardens, courtyards and alleyways, for the ultimate leisurely atmosphere.

Finally, in anticipation of the increased flow of shoppers, The Village will also be home to an estimated 900 parking spaces, although its location near the Beijing Metro Line 2 at Dongsishitiao Station and the up-and-coming Line 10 makes this complex easily accessible by public transport.

Address: 11 and 19 Sanlitun Road 11号和19号 三里屯路

EDITOR’S PICK

Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Compound 亮马桥外交公寓
Situated in the Lufthansa Center business area near Airport Expressway and the Subway Line 10, Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Compound offers a relaxing and elegant lifestyle for those wishing to escape the city’s chaos but retain all of its conveniences. Divided into two sections, the compound features 246 single-room and studio apartments, and 24 townhouses, equipped with 24-hour hot water, floor heating, central air-conditioning, dual power circuits and satellite TV, and surrounded by visual intercom and infrared perimeter alarm systems, and 24-hour security patrol.

Residents will enjoy easy access to nearby hotels, markets and schools, such as the Hilton Beijing, Carrefour, and the Canadian International School of Beijing, while the onsite Club House provides over 10,000 sq meters of the leisure space, open exclusively to tenants. Complete with a fitness center, swimming pool, children’s recreation room, beauty parlor, restaurant, wine house, indoor squash court and golf simulator, shopping center and a Starbucks, residents will no doubt find everything they need right in their own backyard.

Address: At the intersection of East Third Ring Rd and Liangmaqiao Lu.
Property Management: Beijing Housing Service Corporation for Diplomatic Missions
Tel: 6532-4849/ 1027/ 1611/ 1835/ 4670

Regus-Pacific Century Place 雷格斯盈科中心
Located within Pacific Century Place among global names such as Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse First Boston, Regus offices provide companies with a temporary solution to mobile business needs. Offices come fully-furnished with panoramic city views, and feature 24-hour access and closed circuit monitoring. High-speed internet access and voicemail make communication easy. Secure underground parking is available, and the site isn’t far from Dongsishitaio subway station. The nearby Comfort Inn offers a place to stay without breaking the bank, and Pacific Century Place is located right by nightlife hotspot Sanlitun, making it a prime location for networking. In addition, clients will enjoy the range of shopping, entertaining and dining options nearby such as Schlotsky’s Deli and Starbucks, located downstairs. Regus is flexible, with short to long-term leasing options, as well as virtual office services available for those who’d like a presence in Beijing without dealing with the logistics of physical presence.

Address: 14/F IBM Tower, Pacific Century Plaza, 2A Workers Stadium Road North 2A工体北路太平洋百货IBM大楼14层 Property Management: Beijing Jing Wei Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Tel: 6539-1030
Fax: 6539-1060
Web: http://www.regus.com

Retail Space | Chaoyang Park

Solana
Expected to open at the end of May, the highly-anticipated Solana is in stark contrast to the high-rise behemoths we’ve come to expect in this space-starved city. Instead, the low-level, low density complex will act as a 130,000 sq meter lifestyle shopping center, the first of its kind to hit China. Taking advantage of its prime location by Chaoyang Park and the Liang River via pedestrian promenades and fountain gardens, it will create a shopping experience more comparable to a leisurely outdoor walk than your average shopping spree. With cafes, park benches and open spaces situated a mere 50 meters apart, shoppers will never have to worry about finding a place to rest. Divided into three main sections and featuring both themed venues and streets, Solana aims to appeal to the emerging middle-class and will feature a large selection of second-line brands in addition to the more familiar name-brand goods. Amidst the likes of Jewelry Lane, High Street Loop, Red Line Street, shoppers are bound to find what they’re looking for-and then some.

In addition, Landmark Dining Street and Lakefront Bar Street will provide an array of dining options sure to entice even the most discerning palate. For the sake of variety, each of the complex’s eateries, including China’s first Fat Burger, has been selectively green-lighted according to cuisine. Meanwhile, the Core Entertainment Area will house an on-site mini-concert hall, classical ballroom, and a 5,000 sq meter Sunken Garden, decked out with fire-themed facilities and flower kiosks, and intended for stage shows and special events. For children, the Tree House playground will provide hours of excitement and discovery while the world’s tallest Ferris wheel (standing at 208 meters), will offer an eye-popping bird’s-eye view of the city. Once completed, the ride will top the Singapore Flyer by a full 43 meters and the London Eye by 73 meters.

Finally, for those who just can’t seem to pry themselves away, the five-star Villa Hotel will boast an indoor swimming pool, hot springs and rooms decked out with their own private garden view. Throw in the multiplex cinema and the variety of themed bars and restaurants, and visitors could conceivably spend entire jaunts in Beijing without ever leaving the complex.

Address: 6 Chaoyang Park Rd 朝阳公园路6号.
Tel: 6585-5858
Web: http://www.solana.com.cn

Where You Live: Xinfu Yicun

Sean Willis, Business student
I live across the street from the Gongti North Gate, and aside from the direct benefits of living within walking distance to Sanlitun, I also have the convenience of having a multitude of restaurants to choose from as well. My most frequented restaurants are Purple Haze, O Sole Mio and the Olive, simply because of the short distance involved in getting to these places. Both April Gourmet and Le Boucherie Michel are also just down the street. As a meat-eating and meat-loving American, the butcher provides me with great cuts of meat at excellent prices. Cooking the steaks medium-rare is both a simple and delicious task. Besides beef, they offer chicken, rabbit, lamb, pork, duck, imported cheeses and have an organic grocery store upstairs. Simply put, anything and everything I want is generally within walking distance, and I pity those who do not live in this bubbling center of excellent food and drink.

Preview

Haisheng Mingyuan 海晟名苑
You might have noticed this patch of green-windowed buildings on the west side of Chunxiu Road. With the south end still being under construction and covered in smog, Haisheng Mingyuan is the first hotel service boutique apartment designed for high-income people. Once completed, layouts will primarily range from 40 to 70 sq meters, fully-furnished studio apartments, and will feature all the service benefits of your typical hotel. Also, just a 10-minute walk from Dongsi Shitiao subway station and five-minutes away from the ever-popular Worker’s Stadium, these residences are sure to be on the hot list for single people everywhere. Future residents are bound to enjoy all the conveniences of having a range of supermarkets, boutiques and dry cleaners within reach. Price is yet to be determined.
Address: 36 Dongzhimenwai Dajie 东直门外大街36号. Tel: 6417-6888

Review

Glory China Center 光彩国际公寓
There aren’t many comfortable apartments among all the embassy buildings in the Sanlitun area and that’s what makes Glory Apartment so special. The residence takes advantage of its close proximity to all the good restaurants, DVD stores and bars. Also, Glory is surrounded by one of the oldest green belts in the city, and we all know that you can't put a price on good air in Beijing. Being the only four high-end apartment buildings in Sanlitun for many years does have its perks. The property management has had the time to mature, and the residents, many of whom are French, have resided there for a good period of time. As for layout, Glory offers mostly two or three-bedroom apartments, ranging from ￥27,000-30,000/sq meter.
Address: Southeast corner of Dongdan on Chang’an Jie 东单东南角
Tel: 8479-7966