Things change fast in Beijing, and this is especially true for the live music scene. Just over four years ago, one could pretty much count the number of live music venues with the fingers of two hands. The old Yugong Yishan, D22, 2Kolegas, Star Live, ... Read More>>

From missionaries to mosques, religion in Beijing has not been confined to Buddhism and Taoism. Today, there are many religious communities flourishing in Beijing, and Catholics and Christians, Jews and Muslims, Taoists and Buddhists all have ... Read More>>

Rumors and speculation about the fate of Beijing’s Bird Nest have been doing the rounds even before the Olympic Games kicked off in 2008. However, well over a year ago, an unidentified official of the National Stadium revealed that the now iconic landmark ... Read More>>

With what seems to be a continuing global economic crisis, people all around the world are tightening their belts in various ways. In times of uncertainty, one thing is for sure: partying and enjoying the nightlife is something most people don’t want to ... Read More>>

With air conditioning units now finding themselves switched on, the gents in shorts and ladies in those gravity defying skirts, and people taking to the streets in the evening again, it is safe to say that summer is finally here in Beijing. What better way ... Read More>>

Welcome to Miyun, a picturesque suburban county north east of Beijing where the hills are green, the air is fresh and pollution at bay. The area is known for its beautiful natural environment and rich history, but what makes Miyun even more attractive is ... Read More>>

With spring well and truly on its way, many people will be thinking about coming out of hibernation, casting their DVD box-sets and take away pizza boxes aside and taking a weekend break. Echinacities brings you some of the best getaway locations around ... Read More>>

With many people tired of the meat market atmosphere of Beijing’s many bars and the pop-oriented dance scene, a game of pool is an often forgotten but very viable alternative to going out on the razzle. If you are tired of shouting into the ears of people ... Read More>>

The first foreign language library for children opened on the eve of Children’s Day in Haidian District, Beijing. The new library, which is located in Haidian Children’s Palace (海淀少年宫), occupies a floor space of over 80 square metres and contains over... Read More>>

Most of us do not wake up on Sunday morning after a busy night enjoying Beijing’s nightlife and want zhou (they call it gruel for a reason) spiked with fermented dofu and pickled vegetables. Sometimes, the best way to start off your Saturday or Sunday, ... Read More>>

Traditional Chinese Medicine, from here on referred to as TCM, is something that fascinates Chinese and non-Chinese people alike. It is part of Chinas long legacy and, to many, constitutes a significant part of the country’s mystique. Along with feng shui, ... Read More>>

China has long been known for its rich culinary culture, but with the import of some of the world’s greatest chefs carrying Michelin stars with their name, there’s never been a better time for exquisite international dining in Beijing than now. At present,... Read More>>

Beijing’s book selection is growing a little larger with two giants of the industry now battling it out under the same roof. Read on to find out what each has to grab your attention. Read More>>

Life is full of small pleasures: for many, one such pleasure is taking their family out for a meal/snack/treat, having a jolly good knees up in a warm atmosphere surrounded by their loved ones. Here are some of Beijing’s more family friendly eateries. Read More>>

Most of us can probably recall a time when we overdosed on cheap Tsingtao or Yanjing beers, suffered from a severe hang-over and swore never to go down the cheap alcohol route again, but instead pay a few kuai extra for quality beers that won’t wreak as ... Read More>>

From April 26th onwards, Beijing’s restaurant, club and bar scene will get that little bit bigger – 1200 square metres bigger to be precise - with the grand opening of ROOMBeijing Restaurant, Bar and Lounge. ROOMBeijing is the much-anticipated brainchild ... Read More>>

If you’ve browsed through the exhibition halls of IKEA more times than you can possibly recall and know the Swedish names of at least 3 products in the store without looking at the tag, then it may be time to switch it up a little and inject your home with ... Read More>>

It seems almost everything these days has the words ‘Made in China’ branded on it. Much to the surprise of many fresh expats in Beijing, even though many electrical goods are manufactured here, they are still retailed at a high price and some items are can... Read More>>

All kids need to run around and let off steam, but Beijing isn’t exactly the best place for outdoor play. Between the bitterly cold winters, the stiflingly hot summers, and the year-round pollution, many parents are at a loss as to find a suitable place ... Read More>>

Making heads or tails of Beijing can be a daunting task. The city proper is about 1,300 sq km (502 sq mi) which makes it about the same size as Los Angeles but with three or four times as many people and a significantly longer history. The Beijing ... Read More>>

China’s burgeoning young affluent generation has had a taste of wine and decided they like it. Wine sales in China have boomed in recent years and even the number of local wine producers has seen a rapid increase. As China’s wine industry continues to grow... Read More>>

Wudaokou’s Chengfu Lu is one of Beijing’s commercial and recreational areas most overlooked by the non-student/university crowd. However, in recent years, the area has come on in leaps and bounds receiving attention from residents of other districts. With ... Read More>>

Live in China long enough and you start to forget that the closest most non-Chinese will ever get to China’s uber-urban areas and striking natural landscapes is movies portraying a country, and a people, that to most foreigners, even those of us lucky ... Read More>>

Going “green” has never been as urgent as it is today, and fortunately for the planet, the world’s biggest polluter has finally begun jumping on the environmental bandwagon. China is home to the world’s largest coal production industry, yet ... Read More>>