Beijing

Beijing's Mystery Canal: Centuries-Old Brook Reimagined in Qianmen Neighborhood

Beijing's Mystery Canal: Centuries-Old Brook Reimagined in Qianmen Neighborhood

Last month, state media buzzed about the restoration of an ancient brook, a long-lost waterway transformed into a beautiful new park in Beijing. The trouble was, the brook didn’t seem to exist on any historical maps of the city. 

Not Just for Tourists: How to Make the Most of Beijing's Scenic Spots

Not Just for Tourists: How to Make the Most of Beijing's Scenic Spots

Beijing’s scenic spots are often dismissed as touristy by those of us who have called this city home for longer than, say, six months. This summer, however, you may want to pay them another visit bearing these alternative activities in mind.

The 5 People You Meet on the Beijing Metro

The 5 People You Meet on the Beijing Metro

Having spent quite a few commuting hours below ground of late, I’ve started to distinguish a taxonomy of my fellow passengers, including several species which I find it best to avoid

Will the Authorities Slow the Out-of-Control Roll of the Bike Sharing Revolution?

Will the Authorities Slow the Out-of-Control Roll of the Bike Sharing Revolution?

Bike sharing has been one of the best things to happen to Beijing in a long time, but like any disruptive new business model, it has its problems.

How to Order a Jiānbing in Mandarin

How to Order a Jiānbing in Mandarin

Ubiquitous. Delicious. Not entirely nutritious. You can find them on the street in Beijing and Brooklyn. They are a staple of both morning commuters and late night revelers, the apex snack, the Egg McMuffin of breakfast foods: The humble 煎饼 jiānbing.

A Teacher's Advice to His Students for Staying Safe During Spring Festival

A Teacher's Advice to His Students for Staying Safe During Spring Festival

As a teacher at a study abroad program here in Beijing, I feel it's my duty not only to introduce the wonders of Chinese civilization to impressionable young minds from America but also to keep them safe. Each year, it is customary for me to prepare a short talk to acquaint the students with the Spring Festival. Happy New Year to all and stay safe.

Stanford Closes Beijing Study Abroad Program, Enrollments Down at Other Beijing-Based Centers

Stanford Closes Beijing Study Abroad Program, Enrollments Down at Other Beijing-Based Centers

News that Stanford University will shutter its undergraduate overseas studies program in Beijing has focused attention on the future of the city as a destination for US students studying abroad. 

Don't Be a Fool, Eat Your Gruel: The Story Behind Eating Porridge for Laba Festival

Don't Be a Fool, Eat Your Gruel: The Story Behind Eating Porridge for Laba Festival

Some people will do anything for a free meal, even if that means waiting in line outside in Beijing in the middle of January for nothing more than a bowl of thin 粥 zhōu, or porridge.

Capital Histories: How Beijing became the capital of China

Capital Histories: How Beijing became the capital of China

How did Beijing become the capital of China? My short-form history of Beijing for the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of The Beijinger.

Blinged-Out Mobile Not the First Telephone Controversy at the Forbidden City

Blinged-Out Mobile Not the First Telephone Controversy at the Forbidden City

The recent flap over the Palace Museum's promotion of a bling-out luxury mobile phone was not the first time that a phone has caused a stir at the Forbidden City. The story of a phone, a young emperor, and his love of prank calls.