Beijing

Tea festival

The 14th Badachu Chinese Garden and Tea Culture Festival will be held through May 3, at Badachu Park, or the eight temples among the Western Hills of the city. This year's festival will focus on green tea, especially from Zhushan county, Shiyan city in Hubei province, which was once an imperial tribute (gong cha). At the opening ceremony, there will be performances related to tea culture and demonstrations on how to make green tea and pu'er tea.

Chinese cuisine

World Association of Chinese Cuisine, an international organization aiming to promote Chinese food worldwide, held its sixth annual convention in Beijing recently, with more than 400 representatives from 31 countries and regions participating. Yang Liu, the director of tourism bureau in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, was elected the organization's new president. The convention also discussed modern ways to promote Chinese cuisine.

Durian attraction

Some of us don't often glance at the rather strange-looking durian being sold by vendors on sidewalks as we pass by. But the fruit with a fuzzy smell actually tastes divine. Kerry's Pantry is now offering an easy introduction to the fruit with its durian cream roll for 26 yuan. One bite, we are told, will seduce you.

Kerry Hotel Beijing, 1 Guanghua Road. 010-6561-8833 Ext 45.