My weekend: Emmy Andreasson, 22, Swedish

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-30 11:01

Saturday

I wake up and meet a friend for breakfast at Helens caf in Wudaokou. Every day they offer sandwiches or hamburgers including a drink for 18 yuan. It's a relaxed atmosphere and a great place to study - a perfect hangout for students.

After a couple of hours studying and doing research, I head to the zoo market in Xizhimen area across the road from the Beijing Zoo's main entrance.

It's a huge market with eight floors and has pretty much everything on offer for wholesale prices, but with no chance of bargaining. This is where I buy my outfit for tonight's Halloween celebration.

After finding the perfect Halloween costume, I eat lunch at Babelas Kitchen on the fourth floor in Xizhimen Mall, next to the subway station.

Babelas Kitchen has restaurants all around Beijing. They are usually very nice and I find Western food at reasonable prices. I've also heard it's a popular place to take a date for Chinese people.

After a quick trip back home for a shower, I put on my awesome costume. My friends and I jump into a taxi to have pre-drinks at Nanjie Bar near Sanlitun South Road. Here we pour drinks down our throats for 10 yuan each.

After that we head off to Happy Valley, Beijing's biggest theme park, for their Halloween celebration.

Going on the rides when it's dark and spooky is a perfect way to spend Halloween.

The Happy Valley party closes a little early, so after midnight we head to the Yen party in the 798 art district, stopping for some street food on the way.

I love walking around the old factory area during the daytime, checking out sculptures, weird paintings and buying unnecessary stuff in its tiny shops.

This time, one of the warehouses has been turned into a huge Halloween party. With electro music and dancers wearing imaginative costumes, nothing can go wrong. We dance the night away.

Sunday

When I wake up, probably still wearing my now torn costume from last night, I change clothes and head out for brunch.

Depending on my state from last night, I might go to Lugas Villa near Tongli studios with some friends and order good Mexican food. We all share it like a big buffet. I will also play a couple rounds of pool.

Otherwise, I will stay at home feeling sorry for myself and order home delivery from McDonalds.

If I go to Lugas I stop by Little High, a DVD shop right across the street from Tongli studios, to look for the latest movies that haven't hit the cinemas yet.

Right now I have a thing for international movies and they have tons of them, right back in the far recesses of the store.

With my bag full of DVDs, I wander home and spend the rest of the evening with my flat mates. We watch my movies and eat healthy Chinese candy until all of us fall asleep on the sofa.

This is the perfect way to end a Sunday night.