Meimei's staff was extremely helpful and cordial.  Not only was there much info and assistance to be found at their place, i witnessed many travelers being treated well, also.  Staying a week in Banna, i visited Meimei's many times - it was default central for meeting up.  The chow is excellent for the price, the cool bevs a welcome respite from Banna's tropical 'sensuousness' (the kind that makes your clothes stick to ya).  The sisters are familiar with many parts of their Yunnan homeworld, and can point you in a direction that suits you.  Backpackers welcome!

Excellent!!! If you can get a room here, you will love it! The neighborhood is so nice. You will never want to leave.

能和北京一较高下的，也只有上海了。北京有着昔日皇城的霸气和大气。古迹在市中心比比皆是。同时北京又是充满活力的城市，2008年奥运会更会让北京成为一个世界性的大都市。

上海，举步都是繁华和大气。去过很过中国大陆城市，只有北京才可以和上海有的一拼。外向型经济，决定了这个城市视野开阔，当然也有一些崇洋心理。至于是不是媚外，仁者见仁智者见智。上海接触的大场面多了，其实就算媚外，也没有那么明显了。

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Like any traveling, one needs to meet the right people in order to enjoy the area fully. Try connecting with people at the Karma Cafe or Hazel's Bar in old town. They will set you up with driver, guides, etc. My group spent 4 days there in May 2008 and had a great time hiking, touring, and visiting Tibetan families and enjoying the yak butter tea, barley wines, yak meat, etc. Aroo Kampa is a good restaurant with Indian/Nepali food. There are good bakeries in town to pick up picnic items.

Stayed there for 4 days in May 2008. Excellent food and service and a fine place to stay while visiting shangrila. Breakfast costs Y20 and comes with regular toast and french toast (that's right), eggs cooked to your specification, yogurt, fruit, tea or coffee. Extensive lunch and dinner menu. Also a good place gather information about drivers, guides, and meeting people. There is also a Karma Cafe in Shaxi, Yunnan, run by the same people and that's a good place to visit too.

Similar to the Qianmen branch owned by the same man but this place is better for the food and a bit less rowdy in the evenings, a nice place to go after a stressful afternoon shopping in the Silk Market.

There are two Sakura's in Beijing now after the success of number one located off Meishi Jie on Dashilan Xijie just down from Qianmen, the second is just round the corner from The Silk Market on Dongdaqiao Road near the British Embassy. I found the Qianmen Sakura after staying at the Far East Hostel just up the road, the bar in the hostel was pretty dead and closed at midnight every day but after being spotted about to return to my dorm one night I was taken down to Sakura where the atmosphere was all there, the place busy with friendly people and the beer cheap and cold.

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Exploring Beijing by bike is great! Kingdom Bikes a in a very good condition and he delivers to the hotel in time! Perfekt! Bikes are in good conditon and are good value!