Beijing 2024 - Wangfujie (王府井大街), Van Gogh and Dinner

 

This is the view of one of the roads at Wangfujie. It was kinda drizzling outside. The place was kinda high end, like Orchard Road. It was a shopping area. So there weren't much that interest me there. I don't really shop for clothes or shoes of bags that much :P  I prefer cultural streets and markets and food street! Not high end restaurant!

I did found a cool Van Gogh photo studio at the top floor of the Wangfujie Bookstore. You have to pay to go into the studio to take photos like you were inside a Van Gogh painting. I wasn't gonna pay for something that cheesy! I've visited a Van Gogh Exhibition in Singapore before, and even tried a VR walking inside his painting. It was surreal. So that experience was enough for me until I get to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam! Hahahaha. Bucket List!

But that doesn't stop me from taking photos of the outside of the studio. I just love 'almost' everything about Van Gogh. His Starry Starry Night painting is just so whimsical to me. I've even seen the real painting before when it came to Singapore on loan. It was more beautiful than I could have ever imagine :)

So selfie for the fan girl!

And off for dinner. We never did found the 'food street'. After a few days in China hunting for other 'food street', I then realised that the meaning of 'food street was different here in China as compared to what I am used to. So when I heard 'food street', my expectation is something like stalls and pasar malam type of vendors selling their food where you can buy and try. Maybe even tables and chair for your to sit down and eat at. But in China tour guide books or website, 'food street' actually means a street filled with restaurant selling food -__________-  Maybe 'market street' would be closer to what I was actually looking for. Anyway, after wandering round and round trying to find the 'food street', we finally gave up and ventured into one of the basement food court to look for dinner. It was hard for me to read the food menu, but this sour vegetable fish looks nice! It was a rainy evening, and I wanted something hot and soupy. 

So we actually order two dishes. But we were only served one. Guess the order was lost in translation. The rice was free flow, and OMG the dish was amazing! Luckily only one dish was served as it was quite huge! Not too expensive too! And till this day, I still miss this lovely dish. I tried some in the Singapore food court and it was diluted and nowhere near the taste in China. I have bought some of the ready sauce to cook this similar dish. And because the sauce I bought was made in China, it was closed to it! But if I could, I would love to eat this dish again in China! Totally love it!

So even though we were tired and got lost walking round and round Wangfujie, the day ended happy with a love dinner that was cheap and hearty. I got myself a book, and even saw a cute Van Gogh studio. So far, I'm in love with China!