How to Get to This Weekend's Pizza Fest (Shuttle Bus Edition)
While Haidian haunts like Zhongguancun are off the beaten path of many a Beijing expat, who may prefer the dusty hutongs or shiny CBD joints, this weekend's Beijing Pizza Festival, Oct 13-14 at Zhongguancun Software Park, is a tempting opportunity to break some fresh ground in an exciting, untapped locale. That prospect is, of course, made all the more enticing given the number of delectable pizza slices being served up at the event, not to mention the breezier ambiance (especially compared to chock-a-block crowd density at more centrally located events).
The futuristic park makes for the perfect place to pitch up and soak up the weekend
Better still: getting to Zhongguancun is not anywhere difficult as the daunting name may otherwise imply, thanks to subway upgrades that make the route a quick hop, skip, and a jump from the center.
A Cheesy Journey to the West
To get to this year's event, held at the sprawling Zhongguancun Software Park, simply take subway Line 13 to Xi'erqi (西二旗) station. After that, walk one block to Shangdi 10th Street to the entrance of the park, a sleek, modern, airy venue with loads of green space to settle down on as you munch away on the vendors' cheesy wares.
This year's venue is only five stops north of Xizhimen (tap on image for larger view)
Once you're off the subway at Xi'erqi Station (Line 13), the Zhongguancun Software Park is only one block west (tap on image for larger view)
For everything you need to know about the event, including an interactive map, scan/extract the QR code below:
But Wait, There's Also a Shuttle Bus!
A total of two routes for shuttle buses will also be heading to the event: one from Wudaokou Hualian and one from Workers' Stadium, in the heart of Sanlitun.
Route 1: Wudaokou Hualian leaving at: 11am, midday, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm (tap on image for larger view)
Route 2: Workers' Stadium North Gate leaving at: 1pm, 3pm (tap on image for larger view)
The maximum number of passengers for each bus is 50. You can catch the bus back to their point of origin once they have dropped off their passengers at the Software Park.
Making a Day of It
Many a savvy Pizza Fest attendee will be keen to double up and visit another event in the vicinity. While filling up at our doughy happening, there'll also be a bucketload of bands, DJs, and live entertainment rolling on and off stage throughout the day.
If you're feeling extra snazzy, remember to come in your chicest threads on account of this year's theme: Roman Holiday, after the iconic 1953 romantic comedy starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. This year, we pay homage to the Italian capital and the iconic dish that the country birthed – pizza – by eating a lifetime's worth of the stuff.
Now that you know how to get there, read all about the entertainment that awaits you by scanning/extracting the QR code below:
Early bird tickets for the 2018 Beijing Pizza Festival are now sold out but you will still be able to buy tickets on the door for RMB 30. Finally, scan/extract the QR code below for all of this year's Pizza Festival coverage:
Photos courtesy of the organizers, travelchinaguide.com, Paramount Pictures
Want to know what awesome events are happening in town? Scan/Extract the QR code above to get the list of our Editors' Picks.
Got something to sell? Looking for a job? Or probably your soulmate? Then scan/extract the QR code above to visit our Classified Ads.
Do you have what it takes to be a True Runner?
Scan/Extract the QR code above to check out our current job openings.
Always something fresh
Scan/Extract the QR code above to follow us!
Tap on the cover to access the latest print issue.