Beijing gift ideas

August 21, 2006 8:43 AM

Help me plan a great birthday gift for my sister who just moved to Beijing.

My younger sister and her boyfriend just moved to Beijing (about two days ago) and I want to do something really nice for her birthday, which is in a week. Price range is flexible, but ideally around $50-100. I am thinking dinner or a nice experience that I can plan and pay for from Wisconsin. I am open to any ideas or suggestions.

posted by sulaine to shopping (5 comments total)

Don't know if they can use them... but a gift card for TGIFriday's, Pizza Hut or Hard Rock Cafe. When I was there is was nice to have some American food once in a while.
I often had things get "lost" in the mail when they were coming from the states. So mailing something might not be your best bet.
posted by nimsey lou at 10:09 AM on August 21, 2006

If they only moved there recently, they're probably not craving American food yet. You could try looking at tickets for concerts or other performance type things- lots of big names come to Beijing, so they might appreciate tickets for something like that (especially since they are priced at Western prices, usually). For example, the Rolling Stones and Andrea Bocelli were in Beijing two years ago, and the concerts were said to be phenomenal. For a more classical experience, maybe tickets to the Beijing Music Festival? It looks like the schedule for this year isn't up yet, but it's generally very well planned.
posted by Oobidaius at 12:22 PM on August 21, 2006

Pizza Hut is crazy over there, not anything like it is stateside. It might be worth getting them a meal there just so that they can experience culinary version of "chinglish".

Unfortunately there is not that much you can do for them from here, most of the best experiences are local and not really part of the global economy. I would reccomend sending them a box full of books as they will most likely soon run out of what they brought with them and fresh litterature in English ought to be appreciated.
posted by BobbyDigital at 2:06 PM on August 21, 2006

I was thinking some sort of local experience that could perhaps be arranged globally. Great local restaruants (not American chains) that might work with me on the phone to get a certificate or even just suggestions of places where I could tell her to go (and I would then reimburse her). Something along the lines of the Beijing Music Festival would be ideal, but too bad no schedule for 2006.
posted by sulaine at 2:18 PM on August 21, 2006

Great local restaruants (not American chains) that might work with me on the phone to get a certificate or even just suggestions of places where I could tell her to go (and I would then reimburse her).

Call the nicest hotel you can find. Optional: If they hassle you about being a guest, book a room there. Ask to speak with the concierge: if it's a nice hotel, they'll likely speak fluent english. Tell them that you'd like to arrange some plans for your trip, and can they recommend a restaurant? Ask them what's going on, and ask for their help in arranging plans in advance. Ask them to put you on the line and translate as they call local agencies. Optional: after your itenerary is set, cancel your room reservations.

Tips: Do not, under any circumstances, allow them to book your sister on an official tour. Ask them for the best dim sum restaurant in the area and/or for the best peking duck. It's going to be a bit hard to know if they're really sending you to the best, or if they're sending you to the restaurant where their cousin gives them a kick-back, but you're not in-country so that's the best I can offer.
posted by gd779 at 12:58 PM on August 22, 2006