Dear Mal,

Have a great time! It requires some serious energy to bargain in the
zillion shops. One thing I didn't realise before arriving is that
Maliandao isn't a big tea mall. It's a long, long street FILLED with
huge tea malls. Some of the tea malls are hidden behind other tea
malls. Each mall contains a zillion shops. There are a few great
malls which you should visit, which I've described on the Half-Dipper:
start at the following post, and use "Newer posts" at the bottom of
the page to continue.

http://half-dipper.blogspot.com/2007...om-orient.html

Keep your head out there!


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

P.s. Don't forget the Confucious Teahouse (Kongzi Chalou) opposite the
"Lama Temple", in northeast Beijing.