Jin Ding Xuan

The ding is a type of vessel which is one of the symbols of Chinese civilization in the Chinese consciousness. The ding is associated with power and domination, and the number of ding you could own was restricted by rank. The Shanghai Museum is even shaped like a ding! However, the ding cauldron did have practical uses, such as storage, ritual, and cooking.

Jin Ding Xuan is a restaurant chain famous for its hulking, brilliantly-lit building just outside of Beijing’s Lama Temple and Ditan (Temple of Earth) Park. It’s not shaped like a ding, but it is a sight to behold all the same:

Its name, Jin Ding Xuan, translates to Gold Ding Pavilion. The character for ding even looks like one: 鼎

The restaurant is open 24 hours and is constantly packed with people. I took these exterior shots after dinner, when it was already dark; when I got there in the early evening, there were dozens of people hanging out in the parking lot waiting for a table. The restaurant had set up some dispensers of a sweet lemon drink (it’s not uncommon for restaurants to have some complimentary beverages and snacks for people waiting for tables in China).

This is what the building looks like in the daylight:

Inside, the first floor was very busy. The chefs were hard at work making dim sum.

Famous guests:

Lively atmosphere:

This place looks touristy from the outside because of the decoration but it’s mainly Chinese people inside. Food is authentic and reasonably priced.

I met some family friends in a private room, which they helpfully reserved beforehand.

We were given several menus. The menus have seasonal items on them so it’s worth it to flip through all of them, and it’s easy to order more dishes in the middle of your meal if you decide you want to try something else. Ordering is done by filling out a piece of paper with all the items on it so it helps to have someone who can read Chinese.

The logo of Jin Ding Xuan, on the menu, has a ding vessel.

We had braised wheat gluten with bamboo shoots, peanuts, and wood ear mushrooms:

Lacy shrimp potstickers:

Soup dumplings (xiaolongbao):

Bamboo shoots with greens:

Crab-and-tofu stew, served in a crab-shaped container:

A slightly sweet soup with chestnuts, water chestnuts, and goji berries in fermented rice (jiuniang):

Spring rolls:

Congee (rice porridge) with tea eggs:

And egg tarts:

I ordered a kiwi drink, which I did not get. Instead, I was given a lime soda, which was pretty good.

But the sugarcane juice Jin Ding Xuan serves in its own bottles (which you can take away) blew the soda away. Sugarcane juice is so refreshing and interesting.

After a long day of taking in Tibetan Buddhism at the nearby Lama Temple (Yonghegong)…

Or learning about ancient Chinese Imperial religious rituals at the Temple of Earth Park…

Or shopping in the nearby hutongs (where the Confucius Temple is)…

…relaxing for some yummy dim sum and other treats in the flashy building at the intersection is the perfect way to recover from all that walking!

 

Jin Ding Xuan

77 Hepingli W St, AnDingMen, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100007

 

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