I (Heart) Wu
Representing since 2003

If you're studying at Peking University, Tsinghua or BLCU, (and chances are you are) you'll be spending a lot of time in Wudaokou, or as the cool kids say, the Wu.

There will be a test.

Lesson One: The Strip

Lush
Voted the Best Student Hangout in Beijing four years in a row. Experience the magic. Ready, set... Hangout!

Pyro
Authentic New York-style think crust pizza, spicy buffalo wings, cheap draft beer and a Frozen Margarita machine. Sports on big screen and two regulation-size Beer Pong tables.

Ii-shin
That's a double 'i' in front there, like 'ee-shin'. Whatever. Anyway, the best Japanese food you'll get within, well, inside the Haidian district. Huge selection of traditional as well as nouveau dishes, and tasty fresh sushi. Sushi restaurants are always judged on their salmon, and no fear, Ii-Shin does not disappoint.

The Bridge Cafe
A cool spacious place when you feel like you need a break. Wide selection of food. Wireless internet. Great place to study.

McDonalds
Because you're lovin' it.

Tafi's
Nice little Italian place with a pretty tasty menu. They have a Lunch Buffet and a great evening meal deal for around 50rmb which includes a main dish, salad, soup, bread and a little desert too!

KFC
Try the Peking Chicken Wrap. Word.

Pizza Hut
I bet the Pizza Hut Corporation's Director for Marketing in Asia got more than a slap on the back for this one; Pizza Hut is classy in China. See upscale families, guys throwing down to impress dates and *gasp* a queue. Try tipping the Maitre'd for prompt service.

Tours Les Jours
Korean owned, French named bread store. If you like sickly sweet asian style bread, well, they have it. Lots of it. They've also got free wireless and free internet stations if you left your laptop at home.

Korea Town
Hidden inside a little alley just past the railway tracks you'll find a whole bunch of great Korean restaurants. Try the Korean BBQ, it's awesome. You can also find a few little convenience stores stocking Korean snacks if you like 'em.

Starbucks
Orange Mocha Latte Frapuccino. Support Globalization, buy a mug. But seriously, Starbucks is actually a good idea in China, at least from the point of view of the consumer. Compared to a lot of the coffee out there, Starbucks actually qualifies as 'average', though effete Euros (and Melbournians) will still turn their noses up. Way to go Starbies!

Quan Ju De
Fancy shmancy Chinese restaurant for when you want to impress visiting relatives. They specialize in Peking Duck but the other food's great too. And it looks more expensive than it actually is; the price point is actually quite reasonable if you watch what you order.

Ganges
Little hard to find, but totally worth it. Amazing Indian restaurant featuring food that would qualify as authentic even back home. Unless you're from India, in which case I can't judge. But who knows? The place is tiny though so you may have to wait if you come for the dinner rush.

Subway
Buy One Get One Free Mondays!

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Cash Point
Best places to mug people. Just kidding. The ost convenient ATM on the strip is the one just below Lush, cut into the Cell Phone Store's security door. Next up is just a few minutes away, right next to the McDonalds.

Other not-so-close ATMs are next to the Wudaokou Cinema and at the South Gate of Tsinghua.

ATMs in China can be tempremental. And occasionally just mental. Sometimes they won't take your card, sometimes they just don't work, and othertimes they're just plain empty. For real though, if there's a public hiliday coming up, hit that shit up. Because it'll empty out before you know it and won't be refilled until work resumed. Gotta dollar?

And cash is important. A lot of places are starting to take credit cards, sometimes with a service fee, sometimes not, but the places you're likely to go on a, let's face it, student's budget, aren't likely too. Oh, and cabs definitely don't. It's definitely a cash economy, cash rules, so if in doubt, keep a roll of Dead Chairmans in your kit at all times.

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Propaganda
Famously Dodgy Nightclub
A Meat Market famous throughout Beijing. Boasting a sweaty dance floor, bad ventilation, sweaty bodies, bad hip-hop, MP3 DJs, fake booze and a ridiculous cover charge. But hey, sometimes you just gotta go. I've been there. I understand. No judgement.

He Zi
Legit Massage Parlour
Don't expect any Happy Endings, Warm Goodbyes or Reverse Cowgirls, just pretty solid affordable massage action. Try the foot massage; it takes awhile to get used to, but it includes a back rub as well, and it's the cheapest thing on the menu. Bring your student card for a discount.

Nirvana
Average Gym
The sketchy half-brother of what is otherwise a pretty reputable gym chain in Beijing. A little small, and the staff apparently spend a lot of time looking at themselves in the mirror. Close though, but there's another gym not much farther (see number 6 below).

Wudaokou Cinema
Crap
Don't bother. They never have anything good. But there's a fantastic cinema not far away, though you'll have to jump in a cab. It's called UME and it's in Shuang'an about 15 minutes drive away (Shuang'an Bridge, opposite Shuang'an Shopping Center) . They have great movies- well, actually, they have a crap selection, but after you've been in Beijing as long as I have, one or two new English releases a month is a rare treat, and one of them's usually a big one.

Feeling hungry? No problem. Dairy Queen, Subway, and McDonald’s all vie for your attention within shouting distance. Though smart money’s definitely on Häagen Dazs, the perfect place for a little post-movie nookie..

Big Pharmacy
Chemist/Pharmacy/Legal Drug Vendor
The biggest and most conveniently located pharmacy in Wudaokou. They'll have most things, but trying to find out the Chinese name for 'Robotussin' can be a pain in the ass. Also, a lot of things can be bought in China over the counter, including antibiotics such as Amoxicillin, topical cream for skin allergies, and even birth control pills. Good ol' One Child Policy.

Gym that I Can't Remember the Name Of
Decent Gym
Big. Huge actually, so if you're one of those who works out to get away from it all, and not to stare at the Yoga instructors, then this is for you. I'll add more details as soon as I find someone who goes here. What can I say, I flunked Gym.

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