tower: Traveling is all about decisions. I go to the one at 32 Qianmen Dajie (dajie = avenue; if you don't pronounce it correctly, it sounds like "elder sister"!). The servers are decked in imperial palace garb. In the last century at one time I lived 2 bus stops from it, and they also sell vacuum-packed take-out ducks.

To expand on Neil's, Beijing was the capital of many dynasties from 1421 to 1911. When the seat of government moved to Nanjing in 1928, the city was renamed Beiping (northern peace). In 1949 it was restored as Beijing, the national capital.

So, S., this would be the "original" 150-year-old Quanjude? I can't wait!!

E: Next -- if you like lamb, try mongolian hot pot. I've only went to ones in hutongs that you probably won't be able to find, anyone have suggestions?

Yes, I love lamb. I am up for almost anything at least once. Did not like jellyfish so much when I tried it here in NYC, though. Any food recommendations for Beijing and Shanghai, please send them my way!

E: You sound like me, I'll try anything once and happen to like jellyfish.

Happy New Year! I'll look you up if I'm in NYC next year.

One of my guide books on Beijing (Odyssey Books & Guides) lists 4 Quanjude restaurants in Beijing:
"Sick duck" (see Tower), "Small duck", "Old duck" (see Shanghainese), "Big duck"(Tower).In addition they list Li Qun ( see Neil Oz). Take your pick - they are probably all comparable. Li Qun chef worked at Quanjude. I will probably eat at the "sick" one only because it is walking distance from Peninsula.

Paul:

Yes, Paul..walking distance from the Crowne Plaza, too.

But OJudy...where did you eat the ng Duck that you so clearly described?? Thanks for the info.

Stu T.

>>>>>
unless the duck is very very different than the duck I've tried here in US and in HK.
>>>>>

i don't know about 'very very' but duck in the UK and US is less fatty due to measures taken to reduce the fat during preparation and less fatty duck to begin with.

chinese like it fatty and anglo-americans tend to prefer it less so. different tastes, i guess.

reply to Shanghainese:
Best Peking/Beijing duck ever -- Great China restaurant in Berkeley on Kitteredge just down from CAL
They serve it the meat boneless and the skin crispy with all the excess fat scraped off - absolutely delicious - you can either order it with thin pancakes/crepes or with steamed buns

Here is an interesting and detailed rundown on Peking duck in Beijing from chowhound:



http://www.chowhound.com/topics/308138

Thanks very much, DMary, I understand. I know where Great China is and it caters to American palates. The joy of eating at Quanjude is to savor the skin, fat and meat directly from the bones, which is the one of the differences between chinese and western food. Until I left China, I didn't know you could eat fowl, fish and pork without bones, and clams, prawns and crab without shells.

Stu, I'm sorry but I cannot remember the name of the restaurant with the Peking Duck that I described. My son took me there twice - once in 2003 and again in 2004. I'm not sure I ever did know the name. As far as location goes, it was across the broad avenue from the old Silk Alley market (which, I understand, no longer exists). Sorry I can't be of more help.

I was refered to this interesting article about Quanjude in the "Beijing this month" magazine:

http://www.btmbeijing.com/contents/e...rands/quanjude

hope you enjoy reading it. Has other good links to Beijing dining & activities.

Shanghainese....
sorry to disappoint but I am Chinese (my parents are both from Shanghai, by the way). Though 2005 was my first trip to China - I was however born and raised till my teen years in Hongkong. We had a wonderful time there and thanks to many suggestions from fellow fodorites, we sort of muddled through the trip mainly on our own.

So I take offense to your remark re Asian/Western palate. I think the boneless feature of the peking duck is more amenable to eating it with the pancakes or a bun. If I want the bones, I would just order an ordinary roast duck.

As far as Great China catering to westerners as opposed to asians... just check out the number of foreign born students (asians) who are regulars there on any given night.

DMary: Disappointed? Not at all, that's why I wrote "I understand".

As to why so many asian students go to Great China, I refrain from discussion in order not to further offend.