How Freestyle Ski Champion Eileen Gu Spends an Off Day in Beijing, China

For freestyle skier Eileen Gu, the vibrant foods, endless activities, and cultural experiences in Beijing, China, have always held a special place in her heart. She has been exploring Beijing for as long as she can remember, and has curated a shortlist of her favorites for Chase Travel.

Gu shared her favorite things to do when she has an Off Day in Beijing, including eating her way through the city’s street food scene, traditional tea ceremonies at The Peninsula Beijing, and horseback riding.

Where to Eat

Visiting Fangshan Teahouse has become a family tradition for Gu and her mom when they’re in Beijing.

One of Gu’s top priorities when she’s in town is finding the best places to eat. Whether she’s hitting up a traditional tea house, scouring markets for amazing street food or indulging in some Peking duck, one thing always rings true for her: Chinese food is best enjoyed in Beijing. “Chinese food is super diverse,” she said, “and although you can find it all over the world, there’s nothing comparable to the Chinese food in Beijing.”

Fangshan Teahouse
Beihai Park, Beijing

Gu’s grandmother used to take her mother to Fangshan Teahouse, and Gu herself has been visiting the imperial-era relic with her mom since she was a child. The cozy teahouse still serves up traditional tea and snacks from the Qing Dynasty era.

Haiwanju
Haidian, Beijing

Haiwanju, Gu’s favorite local noodle shop, serves zhajiangmian, a flavorful noodle dish with pork sauce.

“This amazing noodle shop is always on the list when I come back to Beijing. It’s more of a locals’ spot, and is situated in the neighborhood [where] my mom grew up,” Gu said. She recommends trying the zhajiangmian, a handmade noodle dish with savory pork sauce that’s a specialty of the shop.

Hutong Street Food
Nanluoguxiang, Beijing

When sampling Beijing’s street food, Gu always makes sure to pick up tanghulu, a popular candied fruit snack.

Gu also enjoys eating her way through Beijing’s street food scene. “There’s great street food in Beijing that kind of flies under the radar, and I love to find it in Beijing’s traditional hutongs, which are these old alleyways still built in traditional architecture and [are] a relic of Beijing's history,” she said. Her favorite snack is candied fruit sticks, also known as tanghulu.

Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant
Chaoyang, Beijing

“There’s no way I’m planning a trip to Beijing without going for Peking duck. It’s one of those iconic dishes that just isn’t the same outside of Beijing. Dadong has some of the best Peking duck in the city and has truly perfected the process. I love it because it’s crispy in all the right ways and best when shared family-style with friends.”

What to Do

One of Gu’s favorite activities in Beijing is taking a boat ride through the central lake in Baihai Park.

When she’s taking a break from the slopes, Gu likes exploring beyond the major tourist attractions in Beijing. Since she’s “a big fan of rogue side quests,” she chooses boat rides, horseback riding and plenty of shopping.

Take a Boat Trip in Beihai Park
Forbidden City, Beijing

For a quick escape from the city, Gu recommends heading to this intricately designed park, which is “full of gardens, foot paths and is overall very tranquil.” Instead of strolling in the park, Gu enjoys taking a boat ride around the central lake.

Go Horseback Riding
Beijing

Horseback riding might be an unexpected activity in a bustling city like Beijing, but as Gu explains, “a lot of people don’t know that Beijing is a very green city, home to lots of trees and parks, and [it] has many options to get outside and get moving.” She loves to ride right outside of downtown, where there are a number of stables.

Shopping at Bosideng
Sanlitun, Beijing

Whenever Gu is in town, she makes sure to stop at Bosideng, a fashionable jacket store specializing in down outerwear.

“I love to stop by Bosideng and check out their latest items. They are the biggest down jacket producer in the world, and for me, even though I compete in the snow, I hate being cold, so having the right winter gear is key.”

Unwind at Peking University
Haidian District, Beijing

Gu’s mom attended school at Peking University, so when Gu is in town, she heads to the campus park to unwind or go for a run on one of its many trails.

Where to Stay

The Peninsula Beijing pairs centuries of Chinese tradition with modern, spacious rooms.

Beijing is one of the largest cities in the world, so finding an amazing place to stay here is a breeze. When Gu’s in town, she usually picks The Peninsula Beijing for its traditional tea ceremonies or the InterContinental Hotel Sanlitun for its delicious traditional Chinese breakfast.

The Peninsula Beijing
Wangfujing, Beijing
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Located in central Beijing, just steps from the Forbidden City, The Peninsula Beijing seamlessly blends centuries of Chinese tradition with contemporary design. The all-suite hotel has some of the biggest rooms you’ll find in the city, each with separate bedrooms and living rooms.

According to Gu, the highlight of a stay at The Peninsula Beijing is the tea ceremony. “There are many amazing places to find [tea ceremonies] in Beijing, but this ceremony at The Peninsula Hotel is particularly beautiful. The attention to detail in their process is extraordinary, much like the details of the hotel itself,” she said.

InterContinental Hotel Sanlitun
Sanlitun, Beijing

“I spend a lot of my year on the road, so when I come back to Beijing, I like to stay here since they have such comfortable accommodations, and also the food is really, really good. The breakfast spread has some classic Chinese dishes, like youtiao, which is a kind of donut that's crispy and to die for; congee; pork and chive dumplings (my personal fave); and more.”