Breath of fresh air from the usual routine

The weekend is on its way, which usually means the set routine: going out for lunch or dinner somewhere decent, a few drinks one night, perhaps a walk around one of the popular areas like Sanlitun Village if the girlfriend fancies a spot of shopping. Sound familiar?

Many of us fall into these weekend ruts and some are perfectly happy with the arrangement. Everyone's plans are slightly different, but the aim is largely to relax and re-charge the batteries before a new week begins.

Sometimes the standard can get tiresome, though, and sitting around in restaurants or bars can often induce the same lethargy as a day at the office. A change of routine can be all that's required to wake up your weekend and rejuvenate yourself for another week of work.

Thankfully, with spring already showing itself, the weather is ideal for getting out and about. Providing there's no dip in form over the next few weeks, the temperature will comfortably sit between the big freeze of winter and the excessive heat of summer and allows us to spend more time outdoors.

Beijing has a number of assets that fit the bill for casual yet refreshing activities. A stroll through one of the capital's numerous parks can help you forget the stress of the office and to get away from the concrete jungle and traffic that form the foundation of most weekends. Best of all, the majority are entirely free, with restaurants and bars usually within easy reach, should you not want to abandon previous habits entirely.

If you haven't been to the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven for a while, a wander through their gardens can also be enjoyable and, although not totally free (they both cost a few yuan), the scenery can be more conducive to a longer stay.

Not up for spending all your time outdoors? There are a number of places for a wander that aren't your standard shopping experience. Everyone knows Nanluoguxiang, but there are a number of other hutong that have a similar environment, such as Wudaoying just a few minutes' walk from the Lama Temple subway station.

Ignoring the undesirable construction that comes with the territory, a look around here can be a break from the norm, as well as being home to a few expat favorites as far as bars and restaurants are concerned.

Art fascinates many and it can be a welcome change to the identical shopping malls in the city center to head out to the 798 Art Zone, which is in Dashanzi, between Sanyuanqiao and the airport. With new exhibitions regularly appearing and plenty otherwise, it's certainly worth a visit even if you don't feel art is really your thing.

Taxi is the best bet to get out there quickly and easily from Chaoyang district, although there are apparently buses from a number of subway stations, should you so desire to take them.

The number of options available is great and many are free or virtually free. If your weekend routine is getting tired, it's the perfect time to change it, as the weather is just right for doing something different.

There's no excuse for being bored in Beijing.

The author is a British freelance writer based in Beijing.

For China Daily

(China Daily 03/09/2011 page)