Liaison offices hot spots for Spring Festival celebrations

Yunteng restaurant offers authentic Yunnan cuisine and is packing during holidays. Photo by Yu Xiao

By Liang Meilan

The central government has announced that 582 out of 900 city- and provincial-government liaison offices in Beijing will be shut down within six months as part of an anti-corruption drive.

Many of these liaison offices are popular dining and shopping spots, selling local cuisines, snacks, handicrafts and staging cultural performances. The Sichuan Province liaison office, located in a hutong in Jianguomen, is considered to offer the most authentic and delicious Sichuan dishes in town.

Many Beijing residents are flocking to these offices to take advantage of their offerings before they close. Some offices are holding special food events and performances for Spring Festival, and many are already fully booked for Spring Festival Eve.

The liaison offices were set up to facilitate communication between the central and local governments. They also provide accommodations to local officials who come to the capital on business.

Below are some of the most popular liaison offices for dining and shopping this Spring Festival:

Guangxi Liaison Office

It has an art gallery showcasing artwork by its Zhuang minority and regularly holds folk dance performances. On the building’s first floor are uangxi specialties, like rice wine, bamboo shoots and teas.

Where: Guangxi Building, 6 Shuanghuayuan Nan Li, Beisanhuan, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6771 3384

Henan Liaison Office

It has a display of some 50 types of local products for bulk purchases, including new year pictures, pen holders, medicinal balms, eggs and potatoes.

Where: Henan Building, 28 Panjiayuan Huaweili, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6774 5648

Urumqi Liaison Office

Its shop sells locally grown fruits like pears, apples, grapes, dates and cantaloupe. Those who want to buy in bulk need to order in advance.

Where: 1 Chegongzhuang Dajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6835 3040

Yunnan Liaison office

Its Yunteng Restaurant offers the specialties of its Dai minority: mixian, or rice noodles. The decoration and music are also authentically Dai.

Where: Building 7, Donghuashi Bei Li, Chongwen District
Tel: 6713 6439