Beijing | An Unweeded Garden

Browsing All posts tagged under »Beijing«

ChinaPhoto

April 4, 2014

A vast country, an unfathomable number of people and a great many photographs would explain why it’s taken as long as it has to review, edit and publish them all in one place – but have a look at my new site, ChinaPhoto and I hope you’ll agree it’s been worth the effort! In […]

The end of Movember

November 30, 2012

There are some things about living in China that cause more concern than they rightly should. Taking a taxi for the first time, dining out in a local restaurant and getting your hair cut. Not that the latter should really bother me too much since anyone that knows me will testify I’ve had more than […]

Wherever I lay my hat?

November 21, 2012

It was a little weird returning to Beijing after a few weeks in London, and then Vietnam and, for the first time, thinking of a place other than England as “going home.” It was odd to start with when answering what should have been a very basic question from those in Ho Chi Mihn City […]

10 strangest foods in China

August 27, 2012

There are lots of strange things to eat in China. Before moving out here, I read Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper by Fuschia Dunlop and, whilst I have no real desire to eat the former, I’ll confess something of an addiction to Sichuan pepper already – a lip-numbing, fragrant pepper that I hadn’t come across […]

Saving face or saving money?

August 20, 2012

Understanding what something’s worth is never as straightforward as it might be. Yes, there’s supply and demand, but there’s at least three extra dimensions in Beijing. Distance, Haggling and Face. Distance is a factor everywhere, of course, as convenience always comes at a premium – but when nipping to the shop at the next corner […]

IKEA – with Chinese characteristics

August 6, 2012

Anyone trying to get to grips with modern China could do worse than head to IKEA in Beijing on a Saturday afternoon. Not only do they have one here (actually, they have 10 across a variety of cities with at least 2 more planned in the next couple of years) but, as might be expected […]

Olympic Legacy

July 30, 2012

People talk a lot about legacy when they talk about the Olympic Games. In London’s case, the word has never been far from the spotlight – and casting a glance over the previous two host cities can be telling in determining what that legacy for London might be. Athens has not fared well. Amidst the […]

A Traditional British Summer – in Beijing

July 23, 2012

Sometimes it seems like a bit of a shame not being in England to join in the support during the Euros, Wimbledon, the Tour de France (well, we had to win something), the cricket and, of course, The Olympics. And, I guess that’s just bad luck. But for anyone concerned that I’ve been missing out […]