Experience handpicked local gems in 60 minutes

Sheraton hotels encourage guests to make the most of their trips by exploring local gems around the hotels. The hotels provide tailor-made travel itineraries, under the name One-hour Gem, which are available in more and more cities worldwide.

As Sheraton Grand Beijing Dongcheng Hotel recently unveiled its One-hour Gem, guests can now explore three of the capital's attractions, all within a 10-minute car ride of the hotel. The adventures will take guests to ancient rituals and through ancient compounds, and will allow them to sample ancient foods, served up with a slice of modern flair, all achievable within an hour. The following are a taste of each tour:

Temple of Earth

About a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel, the Temple of Earth, also known as Ditan Park, enjoys less fanfare than the more famous Temple of Heaven. Yet, it maintains its own quiet charm. Built in 1530, the grounds were used for sacrifices during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Although the temple is still used for worship, visitors are more likely to see residents practicing tai chi and water calligraphy.

Wudaoying Hutong

Known to locals as "the trendy hutong", Wudaoying Hutong is only a few minutes' walk away from the Temple of Earth. The old alley is filled with fashionable and artsy finds, chic cafes and cool restaurants. Perhaps the most interesting part of all is that despite Beijing's race to modernity, these narrow old alleys still provide a peek into city living as it would have been long ago.

Guijie food street

It is never too late to eat on the food street of Guijie, where more than 100 restaurants are clustered, and scents of cooking waft through the air till sunrise.

The street is decorated in red and lit by billowing lanterns, making it one of Beijing's most photographed food scenes. While some international dishes are on offer, the top attraction for many is spicy crayfish.

(China Daily 10/08/2016 page10)