Fangshan Restaurant

Beijing's Best Bites: Fang Shan Restaurant 仿膳饭庄

Fangshan Restaurant, Beijing, China. — Fangshan Restaurant, Beijing

Fangshan Restaurant is located within Beihai Park to the north west of the Forbidden City.

Fangdhan is located on the lakeside and has fantastic views of the area. The restaurant dates back to 1925, when cooks from the imperial palace opened a teahouse in this area, when Beihai Park was first opened to the public.

Fangshan was nationalized in 1955 and was closed in the 1960s and 1970s for a while when it served as a meeting place for party officials.

Fangshan reopened in 1978 and has been going strong ever since.

Fangshan Restaurant, Beihai Park, Beijing, China. — Fangshan specializes in Qing Dynasty cuisine

Fangshan specializes in Qing Dynasty imperial recipes such as those enjoyed by the Empress Cixi and the waitresses dress accordingly in period costume.

Altogether Fangshan has 11 historic dining rooms which can seat around 300 guests.

Recently, the restaurant has been receiving mixed reviews as it has become a more touristy experience. There's only one way to find out, though, go and sample the cuisine and historical ambiance.

Exotic-sounding specialities of Fangshan include Sesame Cake with Minced Pork, Abalone Jade Toad and and Man-Han Banquet.

A number of foreign dignitaries have dined here including US President Richard Nixon, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei and British Prime Minister Ted Heath as China opened up to the west in the 1970s and wooed its guest with fine dining and tradition.