Good Lifestyle

Beijing has an array of must-see Olympic architecture and an improved public transport system aimed at helping to diminish notorious pollution. Reuters correspondents with local knowledge offer tips for making the most of the city by bike, foot and public transport.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. - Take a walk or pedal a bike back in time in Beijing's disappearing hutong alleyways for a glimpse into the sleepy Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) life the city knew when it became a capital around 1283.

A maze of car-less, mostly Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty hutong lie to the north and south of the central Forbidden City, and around nearby Houhai's three picturesque lakes. Wandering is the best option, as the sometimes nameless alleys are too small to be on maps.

7 p.m. - Rest under shady willow trees, or in a lakeside cafe or bar such as No Name. Said to be Houhai's first bar, it has a range of strong Vietnamese, Irish and other iced coffees and snacks. (Tel: 6618 6061) Across the lake and down another hutong its sister restaurant, No Name Yunnan Restaurant, has a rooftop terrace and South China specialities.

9.30 p.m. - Take a post-dinner stroll around brand-new Games venues the Bird's Nest national stadium and Water Cube aquatic center. A new subway line leads up to the perimeter fence around the futuristic buildings, which are lit up with glowing colours from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night.

10.30 p.m. - Zip over to Sanlitun, the main bar district, via the new subway line 10 (Tuanjiehu stop). There are bars for all tastes, from the very glamorous such as Q Bar to the rather seedy Kai bar. Take your pick.

HOME BEAUTY SALON NAIL TREATMENT TIPS

It is very important for one to take care of the nails. Nails should be strong and always clean to make them look great and fantastic. And so, you could try giving your nails a treat with a home beauty salon treatment.

First thing to do in giving your nails a beauty salon treatment is by cutting them short. Well, do not worry about this because nails grow faster than you could think. After doing this, soak your nails in warm water mixed with lemon juice. Then while drying them off, use a soft bristle to brush, clean and knead them. This would rest your nails a lot.

GREAT HAIR TIPS

Here are some hair tips that you could do to have a great looking and healthy hair.

Use the right products. It is very important to use only those products which match your hair style. Because if you don’t, it’s just like you are wasting money and taking risks of damaging your hair.

Do not shampoo all the time. Shampoos, especially those with many chemicals could cause the hair to dry out. Shampoo your hair only when it is dirty or better yet, use mild shampoos for it.

WHEN MAKE UP GETS OUT OF HAND

When do you know if you are already over doing your make up? Well, these common mistakes that we would discuss below might help you improve your make up style.

First in the line is a dark lined lips. Remember that you only line your lips with dark lip liners if you are wearing dark lipsticks. However, if this is not the case, do not use dark liners. This won’t look good on your lips. Instead, buy a liner that would fit all lipstick shades.

Second, do not use super light colored concealers. The main purpose of a concealer is to hide and even out dark areas in your face. If you use light ones, you might end up showing the dark areas all the more.