Bespoke Beijing: Holiday Gift Voucher Experiences

Posted: December 19th, 2012 | | Hot Tips, | Bespoke Beijing, Cricket Fighter Liu, gift experiences, Gift Vouchers, Great Expeditions, Hummingbird Spa, Jet Lag Remedy Massage, Master Leo, National Geographic Traveler, Tai Chi, Temple of Heaven, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Tranquil Tuesdays, Wild Wall, William Lindesay | No Comments »

Why Give Someone a Gift When You Can Give Them an Experience?

Scenario 1:

You and your friends have lived in Beijing for XX-number of months/years and you haven't yet scratched the crocodile-skin-hard surface of China – explore deep into the hutongs of Beijing or experience some of the more exotic cultural experiences of China from learning Tai Chi from a Shaolin trained Master, the art of a graceful traditional tea ceremony, or the fundamental philosophy and practices behind TCM (traditional Chinese medicine).

Scenario 2:

You're either expecting close friends/family to finally make a visit to China this coming year or you're still trying to convince them to come.  Either way, you want to be prepared to have the most kick-@$ $ itinerary lined up of your favorite restaurants and meaningful, memorable activities packed into one condensed period of time. 

I hope I've successfully described something each of you can all relate to. Whether I'm right on the money or 差不多, in both of the above stated cases, Bespoke Beijing's gift vouchers make for wonderful holiday gifts for your loved ones – both those who are based in Beijing and for those first-time visitors or abroad travelers who you want to impress and guarantee that they leave only after having had positively enriching experiences that give them access to the "real" Beijing.

A travel and events company that specializes in the city of Beijing, Bespoke Beijing had rounded up their top 10 most popular experience packages and wrapped them up into perfect little gift vouchers to make it as convenient as possible for you.

A massive advocate of Bespoke's experiences, I speak from experience as I couldn't stop arranging Bespoke's experiences one after the other when my family came to visit me over a long weekend in May this past year.  I booked everything from a tai chi lesson in the early morning of Temple of Heaven to a customized combination of Bespoke's signature Hutong Tour together with a visit to Beijing's crazy cricket trainer Master Liu (Bespoke is great about tailoring and accommodating everything to meet your needs and fulfill your every request).

An example of my personal experience with Bespoke during my family's visit to Beijing:

Instead of just aimlessly wandering around the hutongs of Gulou, it was so much more meaningful to instead arrange for my family to experience Beijing's labyrinth of narrow alleyways together with an old Beijinger who's lived in the hutongs his entire life.  Not only did we explore deeper into the hutongs than I have ever experienced on my own, he also took us to ascend the ancient Drum Tower, a local wet market, we hopped into rickshaws for a whizz around the neighborhood, and even visit a cute private museum crammed with artifacts from hutong life before China jumped on the bandwagon towards modernization.

Click here for Previous LDS Article: Bespoke Beijing: Hutong Adventures & Cricket Fighters

LumDimFam Expedition into Beijing's Hutongs

So as good as these vouchers are for the holidays, keep in mind that these gift vouchers are not only made available during the holiday season, these vouchers will also be available for purchase year round – you can imagine how thoughtful and romantic a Weekend Getaway Up at the Wall would make for a Valentine's Day surprise or how fun and quirky it would be to arrange for a group trip to see Beijing's cricket trainer (a real character) for a friend's birthday.

To inquire into purchasing a voucher, or to receive a full list of gift experiences, email: info@bespoke-beijing.com.

LDS' Top Picks for Bespoke's Gift Experiences:

Meet Tai Chi Master Leo for a Morning Session in Temple of Heaven

To help you engineer your very own Mr Miyagi moment, this hour-long tai chi class amongst the cypresses in the Temple of Heaven will teach you the key moves you need to look graceful in combat /your local park (delete as appropriate). And like all kick-ass kung fu masters, your instructor was packed off to the Shaolin Temple at the age of 5 to begin his rigorous training, so you're in good hands.

Included: Tai Chi Class and entrance tickets to the Temple of Heaven.

Terms & Conditions: Available throughout the year. Trip must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. Subject to availability.

For a full list of Terms & Conditions, see www.bespokebeijing.com

Voucher for 1: 550RMB / Voucher for 2: 600RMB

30 Minute Private Tea Salon & Gift Tea Set by Tranquil Tuesdays

 Admit it, you drink Twinings out of an IKEA mug more than you sup proper Chinese tea don't you? Well now's your opportunity to up your game a little. Bespoke Beijing has teamed up with Wallpaper*-featured tea boutique Tranquil Tuesdays to bring you a beautiful gaiwan tea set (for infusing tea leaves) and a mini salon with the owner where you'll learn all about the background of what makes Chinese tea culture unique (its as complex as wine you know). You'll also get to taste three of their personally sourced tea collection. We wouldn't miss this for all the tea in China!

Voucher for 1 Fluttering Leaf Teapot and Tea Cups Gift Set + 30 minute Private Tea Tasting: 800RMB

Learn All About Cricket Fighting with Beijing's Crazy Cricket Trainer

On the quirky scale, this one's a ten. Admit it, you didn't even know people fought crickets did you? Well in China this is a serious sport and has been for centuries. This is your opportunity to meet Beijing's most famous cricket trainer (yes you heard right) and find out all about this ancient practice. You'll get to meet the clients (read: insects) he's currently working with, and hear all about the instruments and methods he uses to get them fighting fit. Have you stumbled into Bizzaro World? Nope, just Beijing. But it's the same thing really.

Included: 90-minute session with 'Cricket Liu' and translator.

Terms & Conditions: Available throughout the year. Trip must be booked at least 4 days in advance. Subject to availability.

For a full list of Terms & Conditions, see www.bespokebeijing.com

Voucher for 1: 480RMB / Voucher for 2: 480RMB

You Can Cure Jet-Lag with this Bespoke Massage Package by Hummingbird Spa

Disappointingly, modern science hasn't yet figured out a way for people to teleport between countries, so we assume that you got here the same way everyone else did – by plane. It's hardly the best way to start your holiday is it? That's why we asked Beijing's best and most affordable spa to come up with an exclusive massage to magically disappear the puffy ankles and dry skin that has more in common with one of Gandhi's flip flops than a baby's bottom. This 90-minute Bespoke Jet Lag Remedy consists of foot reflexology (using imported, protein enriched Mandarin and Pear oil) and an Oriental Massage (lots of stretching, pushing and kneading). You'll feel like new in no time.

Included: 90-minute Bespoke Jet Lag Remedy Massage

Terms & Conditions: Available throughout the year. Must book at least 1 day in advance. This voucher must be presented before services. Hummingbird reserves the right to final disputes.

Voucher for 1: 450RMB / Voucher for 2: 900RMB

Learn About Qi Gong & Chinese Health from a TCM Expert

Ever wondered how Chinese people stay so slim? Or why they're so damn flexible? So did we. Turns out it's down to 2,000 years of preventative health practices, a set of 8 exercises invented by a Chinese general, and a lot of hot water. Your Australian-Chinese guide will help you unlock the surprisingly helpful mysteries of Traditional Chinese wellness, via a tour of the Temple of the Earth, a traditional Beijing breakfast and a 30 minute qi gong lesson. Prepare to be enlightened.

Included: TCM Expert, all entrance tickets and breakfast.

Terms & Conditions: Available throughout the year. Trip must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Subject to availability.

For a full list of Terms & Conditions, see www.bespokebeijing.com

Voucher for 1: 1,600RMB / Voucher for 2: 1,800RMB

Spend the Weekend Seeing the real "Wild Wall" with William Lindesay 

You're in Beijing. You're thirsty for adventure…. You're Indiana Jones! Ok, not quite, but pretty close. This little voucher means you get to be a roving historian for a weekend, venturing out to one of the most beautiful and interesting sections of the 'wild' Great Wall as guest of expert William Lindesay (OBE). You'll hike, eat dumplings, see the Wall at dawn, uncover the secrets and crush the myths. By the end of the weekend you'll no doubt be an expert too. And have thighs of steel.

Included: Great Wall Expert, roundtrip transportation, all meals and board.

Terms & Conditions: Available March-November. Trip must be booked at least 7 days in advance. Subject to availability.

For a full list of Terms & Conditions, see www.bespokebeijing.com

Voucher for 1: 3,500RMB / Voucher for 2: 7,000RMB

Explore Hidden Hutong Fashion Boutiques with this Exclusive Shopping Experience

Psst. Yes you. Come closer. We hear you like shopping… Handily, this 5-hour experience offers not only an opportunity to power up with a delightful lunch at Beijing's most stunning restaurant (it's located in the grounds of a 600-year-old temple), but an opportunity to go, with a stylist, to 3 of Beijing's most exclusive hidden hutong boutiques. Two of which aren't even open to the public!

You lucky thing, you.

Included: Car & Driver, Stylist, Set Lunch at TRB.

Terms & Conditions: Available throughout the year. Trip must be booked at least 10 days in advance. Subject to availability.

For a full list of Terms & Conditions, see www.bespokebeijing.com

Voucher for 1: 3,950RMB / Voucher for 2: 4,150RMB

Gift Experience Vouchers by Bespoke Beijing

Each of these experiences cater to different interests – access to hidden hutong boutiques for shopping addicts, an eye-opening, life-changing experience with Bespoke's TCM expert (my personal favorite) for health-conscious and wellness freaks and tai chi for some chilled-out, kungfu action and who doesn't like getting up close and personal with the biggest crickets you could imagine?

I've done all of these tours with the exception of the Wild Wall Weekender, but that's on my top priority list once the weather begins to warm up again in Spring 2013.

Although the "Wild Wall Weekender" is one of the most expensive packages in the range of different Bespoke experiences, this one stands as having the best value and most unique as you will never find a more knowledgeable Great Wall of China expert – William Lindesay is even credited for coining the term "the Wild Wall"!

"The term 'Wild Wall', coined by William, has been absorbed into the Chinese language to describe the ruins." – Article by the British Embassy in Beijing

'Wild Wall' refers to the wilderness of the Great Wall of China, unrestored and therefore ramparts in ruins, often overgrown in the mountain areas, thus retaining authentic antiquarian and wilderness atmosphere. – [f. William Lindesay, Brit, Geographer and Great Wall Researcher, first coined 1990]

William Lindesay coined the term "Wild Wall" in 1990

A British historian, author and TV personality regarded as the world's leading educator in Great Wall Studies, he trekked 2,470km along the ruins of the Great Wall in 1987, and in 2001 he founded the activist group International Friends of the Great Wall. He has written several books on the subject, published by Harvard and Oxford University Press, and in April 2011 was followed in the National Geographic Documentary 'Great Expeditions'.

William Lindesay together with his beloved Great Wall

To see a full list of Bespoke's gift voucher experiences, click here.

For bookings and inquiries email: info@bespoke-beijing.com

Bespoke Beijing Contact Details:

• Tel: (+86) 10 6400 0133

• Address:  B510, 107 Dongsi Bei Dajie, Dongcheng district, 100007, Beijing

• 北京市东城区 东四北大街107号 天海商务大厦B座510 邮政编码 100007

• Email info@bespoke-beijing.com

• Website: www.bespokebeijing.com

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