By Lin Shujuan (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-11-01 15:39

Tucked away in the west end of Beijing's boisterous restaurant street Gui Jie or Chaoyangmennei Dajie, Shixiang Zizai offers an escape for those opting for a moment of peace or in need of a recharge.

Shixiang Zizai is in fact a shop, a library and a club for those interested in Tibet culture. It is decorated with a dozen Thangka paintings collected from Northwest China's Qinghai Province and there are a cozy array of tables covered with Tibetan linen cloth and books related to Tibetan culture, Buddhism and travelogues. The Thangka - paintings or embroideries on scrolls of silk or other cloth found in monasteries, lamas' residences, Buddhist worship halls and Tibetan homes - are for sale. Run by a young lawyer and a few Tibetan college students, Shixiang Zizai aims to gather support for education in the Tibetan area through the sales of Thangka and volunteerism.

The place remains a quiet harbor in downtown Beijing. Typical Tibetan drinks like buttered tea are served along with cookies for 40-50 yuan (US$5.70 to 6.67) per pot. WIFI is available within the store.

Shixiang Zizai:

Location: 14-5 Chaoyangmennei Dajie, Doncheng District
Tel: 010- 8407-0487