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>>

Beijing has hundreds of museums catering to almost all interests. Though most guide books lead you to the obvious museums, there are also those which you may never even have thought of. Water melons, tap water, bees, sandalwood, even an entire underground ... Read More>>

Sanlitun and Gongti – the latter referring to the area around the Worker’s Stadium – have long been names synonymous with dining and entertainment. In the last few years, the arrivals of high profile developments such as The Village and the more recent ... Read More>>

What’s the point of cold weather and dirty snow mounds piled up on the pavements when there’s absolutely nothing fun about it? Why do we even bother enduring the random snow showers that scare away taxi drivers and cripple public transport? Why do we even ... Read More>>

Aside from eating, drinking and cavorting, shopping has to be one of the Beijing expat’s most favoured pursuits. There are miles of shiny marble-floored malls filled with couture boutiques with stylishly near empty shelves in Beijing, as well as tourist ... Read More>>

Few people like to exercise in winter time: the ground is slippery, the air burns your throat, and in Beijing it sometimes feels like you have to fight your way through the dense smog that blankets the city. Going to the gym gets monotonous. Nonetheless, ... Read More>>

The Chinese nation has laid claim to many inventions over time; great inventions such as gun powder and paper as well as more contentious claims such as football and ice-cream. One thing you are unlikely to ever hear a Chinese person lay claim to is coffee. ... Read More>>

Beijing’s biggest second-hand goods market is about to open at the end of the month. Xinqicai Commercial Centre (新七彩商业中心) opened for business on December 31st in Yaojiayuan (姚家园), Chaoyang District. The market’s location is behind Beijing’s ... Read More>>

Balancing a healthy lifestyle in Beijing’s somewhat tough winter climate is a goal which is much longed for but not always realised by many. Here is a helpful how to guide to staying healthy in the Beijing winter. Read More>>

Originally the home of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games events and spectacular opening ceremony, the iconic Bird’s Nest National Stadium has been transformed into a winter wonderland featuring a ski slope for snowboarders and skiers. The Happy Ice and Snow ... Read More>>

To frequent eaters of Chinese food – particularly the heavy, starchy northern variety – the fresh, distinct flavors of Vietnamese cuisine offer a welcome respite from thick sauces and the same old spices. Vietnamese food offers a bright mix of sweet, sour,... Read More>>