The best part of my Beijing — Helsinki flight? The window seat!

Between 10pm and 5am, the city is alive and thriving. Night markets, busy streets, lights everywhere — life doesn’t stop in Beijing.

We accidentally discovered the new heart of Beijing’s nightlife a few days later, walking around the Old Beijing. Most of the trendy bars are now in Hou Hai (后海), by Beihai， where bars, discos, restaurants and night markets are set around the lakes.

Cars are plentiful but people still bike everywhere, older people hang out in traditional parks and not around the Bird Nest, calligraphy is still an art that is practice in the street and many traditions are still followed. This is also Beijing.

Like many megalopolis in the world, Beijing has two sides: a modern one and an old one.