Seeing stars in Beijing: Where the celebs are
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E-mail CRI, March 18, 2013
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Katie Holmes finds time to explore the Forbidden City. [Photo: Courtesy Sina Weibo] |
Beijing stargazers know better than to crane their necks toward the hazy sky. The brightest stars are right here among us. (No, not you; sorry.) Whether they come for work or for play, China's cultural capital draws the world's top actors, musicians, athletes and reality TV stars.
In fact, China is a pretty darn good place for celebs to escape the paparazzi and sink into relative obscurity. Of course, superstars like Tom Cruise or Lady Gaga couldn't pull off anonymity in any urban setting, but if Tom's ex-wife Katie could waltz through the Forbidden City, then certainly a few of Hollywood's A-listers could manage to see Chairman Mao's body or stroll through Sanlitun without disrupting traffic.
Of course, pop-savvy individuals keep their eyes peeled day and night because you never know when teenage pop sensation Greyson Chance might bump into you in the soymilk line. South Korean beauty Choi Ji Woo actually had the gall to sip cappuccino in the Sanlitun Starbucks.
Those interested in tracking the rich and famous in Beijing should keep an eye on Smarp, a website where celeb sightings are tweeted in real time to keep the masses informed of which stars are seen in which restaurant, eating what. Sultry star Gwyneth Paltrow, ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and tennis hunk Novac Djokovic have all been pinpointed on the streets of Beijing, alongside many famous and "kinda famous" public figures. But the truth is, Smarp reportings are sporadic. Most people in Beijing don't use Twitter, after all.
If you're really set on catching a glimpse of a rich and famous person your best bet is to catch one at a high profile event or in the line of duty. Last year's Georgio Armani event, One Night Only in Beijing, featured fashion guru Armani himself and smattering of other notables such as Tina Turner, Fan Bingbing, Mary J. Blige and Michelle Yeoh. Okay, it's true: You needed a pass to get in. But the gig ended with everyone spilling outside the venue to hear the DJ set.
To see the gritty reality of actors' lives, catch them fumbling through scripts or waiting for countless hours between takes at one of greater Beijing's film studios. Uma Thurman and company shot "Kill Bill" scenes at Beijing Film Studio, but generally in these spots, you're more likely to bump into stars of a more local variety. Jackie Chan, Jet Li and the ever-slender Zhang Ziyi have all made films at the State Production Base of China Film Group.
Upscale shopping spots like Shinkong Place or Seasons Place are frequented by local stars who can't justify hitting Hong Kong to score shoes. And, of course, the city's swankiest restaurants are always a good bet for anyone who gets that special tingle from seeing the illustrious in person.
If upscale shopping's not your thing, no problem. Some well-knowns are busy, busy, busy with work and schmoozing, while others are smart enough to enjoy the sites of Beijing. Keanu Reeves window-shopped along Nanluoguxiang. Nicolas Cage kicked ass in Sanlitun. Michael Jordan contemplated his defense strategy at the Great Wall. Everybody knows that what locals consider mundane, visitors find magnificent. If you trip over Anne Hathaway in a hutong, don't say I didn't warn you.
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