The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and many other outstanding cultural treasures have won worldwide renown.

Beijing's beauty also lies in its culture and art.

But look beyond the well-known visitor spots and you discover many more hidden treasures.

The city's ancient culture is also made up of many special experiences, both large and small, that make each person's vacation unique.

Here we introduce Lao She Teahouse and Huguang Guild House.

This tour is designed for those who want to experience local customs as well as the history and culture of Beijing.

Our suggestion is to visit Lao She Teahouse in the evening after visiting Tian'anmen Square, which is about 500 metres northeast. Huguang Guild Hall can be visited another evening after a hutong tour nearby.

Lao She Teahouse

Tea from China, along with its silk and porcelain, were known the world over as long as 1,000 years ago and has been an important Chinese export ever since. A special tea culture remains in China.

Lao She Teahouse, established in 1988, is named after the famous Chinese author, Lao She (1899-1966), and one of his better-known works, Teahouse.

At Lao She Teahouse, customers sit in an old Beijing setting, and can drink the best tea in China, watch all kinds of traditional Chinese performance art and enjoy delicious traditional Beijing-style snacks as were eaten by Qing Dynasty emperors.

Since it opened, Lao She Teahouse has entertained many famous people from China and all over the world.

The teahouse has a total area of 1,500 square metres, and can sit up to 250 guests at once.

In Lao She Teahouse, there are opera fans activities from 2:30 to 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. There are also opera and folk music performances from 2:30 to 5:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons of each week, ticket price: 10-20 yuan (US$1.2-2.4); 5 yuan (60 US cents) for those with discount cards. Eye-catching performances of Peking Opera, folk arts, acrobatics and magic are arranged from 7:40 to 9:20 pm every evening.

To get there, take the subway to Qianmen Station. It is 400 metres Southwest.

Tel: 6302-1717; 6303-6830; 6304-6334.

Ticket price: 40 yuan (US$5), 60 yuan (US$7.2), 80 yuan (US$9.6), 100 (US$12), 120 yuan (US$15) or 130 (US$16) according to different seats, tea and pastries.

Huguang Guild Hall

Beijing Huguang Hall was once a residence of celebrities of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It has a unique layout with its magnificent principal opera building, lofty pavilions and side courts and halls.

It offers a scenic view with its hills, rocks, pavilions and forests. The noble rank and steles suggest its glorious past. The elaborate furniture and graceful screens are arranged carefully for comfortable living.

The place often reminds English visitors of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

It has the same projecting stage with two pillars, galleries where the audience can sit and music during the show. You can even munch on food during the play as they did in Elizabethan times.

Peking Opera and many other local performances are shown here every day.

Price: ranging from 100 to 380 yuan (US$12 to 46) for each person per run of performances.

Tel: 6351-8284, 6352-9134

Location: 3 Hufang Lu, Xuanwu District.

(Beijing Weekend March 22, 2003)