Are you a lover or a hater of century eggs, the Chinese staple rendered dark, gooey, and pungent through preservation? Well, burgeoning Beijing expat vloggers Yvonne Horst and Miguel Roberg are here to at least give those oh-so divisive eggs the old college try in their latest clip.

Roberg (an American) and Horst (who is Dutch) have been in China for nearly a decade and recently began vlogging via their Trip Bitten YouTube channel. In comparison to many fair-weather vloggers, their clips are polished and professional and touch upon topics that range from travel to exotic food to more practical matters like Beijing's cost of living.

Although they are fairly new to vlogging, with only a handful of clips amassed on their YouTube channel thus far, the videos are a fun and aesthetically pleasing source of information about traveling in Asia, exploring the world of offbeat snacks, and daily life in Beijing, making us look forward to what they come up with next.

To shoot their videos, Roberg tells the Beijinger that he and Horst use a Canon G7X camera ("only about USD 600, but the quality is good"), before editing them with Adobe Premier.

Their latest video, titled “Eating a Century Egg for the first time!” is endearing look at one of China's most notorious foods. In it, Roberg attempts to maintain an open mind while explaining what he knows about the preparation, appearance, and smell of century eggs, before slicing one open to the exclamations of Horst. To find out whether or not they have acquired a taste for these prized eggs, check out the clip here.

“One of the things I like most about making Beijing and China [themed] videos is the comments I get from people around the world,” Roberg says. “Many people from the US don't know much about China, and making videos and showing people my life here is fun.”

Watch Two Crazy Vloggers Drive 5,000km Across Southern China on Handmade Motorcycles

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos courtesy of Horst and Roberg

This post comes courtesy of our content partners at China Film Insider.

‘Shazam!’ Scores Apr 5 China Release

DC superhero film Shazam! has been scheduled for release in China on Apr 5, the same day as in North America. The film tells the story of Billy Batson, who gains the ability to transform from a teenager to an adult superhero simply by uttering the word “shazam!”. Directed by David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation), Shazam! has been received positively by film critics for its humorous tone. The film stars Asher Angel, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, and Jack Dylan Grazer.

Read more on Mtime.

China and Hollywood to Co-produce Antarctic Rescue Film ‘Snow Dragon’

According to Mtime, China’s Xinhua Film Company and Shune River Media are partnering with American film producer Allyn Stewart to co-produce action-thriller Snow Dragon (“Xue Long”). Han Sanping will serve as creative advisor. The film, set in 2013, is based on a true story about how the Chinese icebreaker, Xue Long, rescued a group of 74 passengers on a Russian vessel trapped in the Antarctic. The screenplay will be written by American writer Todd Komarnicki who previously collaborated with Stewart to write Sully, another true story drama in which pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger miraculously landed a plane in the Hudson River, New York, shortly after takeoff, saving all passengers on board. Directed by Clint Eastwood and Starring Tom Hanks, Sully had a theatrical run in China in 2016 and grossed RMB 60 million.

Read more on Mtime.

A Look at Chinese Remakes of Korean Films

Taiwanese remake of Korean Movie More Than Blue opens in mainland China this week, making a total of 13 Chinese films that have been based on Korean films over the past decade. Mostly crime and romantic dramas, the highest grossing remake has so far been The Big Shot, which made RMB 379 million (RMB 56.5 million) in China. In addition to The Big Shot, four other remakes each earned over RMB 100 million. While those numbers are not particularly impressive, Chinese producers continue to show interest in remaking Korean stories due to several reasons, including shared similarities between Chinese and Korean culture, making it easier to adapt the movies for Chinese audiences; acquiring the adaptation rights to an already successful film for an emerging director is easier and a safer bet. On the downside, however, Chinese producers’ interest in remaking successful stories from other countries is an indication that China lacks skilled screenwriting talents.

Read more on entgroup.cn.

Which Companies Make Art House Films in China?

Over the past two years, an increasing number of art house films have scored theatrical releases in China. This spring, several more will hit the big screen, including The Crossing (Dir. Bai Xue), So Long My Son (Dir. Wang Xiaoshuai), and The Shadow Play (Dir. Lou Ye). This article lists 27 film companies that made art house films over the past few years, dividing the companies into three categories: companies that were founded by art-house filmmakers, such as Jia Zhangke’s Beijing Xihe Xinghui Pictures and Wang Xiaoshuai’s (pictured second from left above) Beijing Dongchun Films; companies that specialize in financing and producing art-house films, such as Black Fin Production and Shanghai Hehe Pictures; and large studios that produce various genres, including art house cinema.

Read more on Yiqipaidianying.

Marvel’s First Asian Superhero Film Confirms Its Director

Destin Cretton has been confirmed as the director of Shang-Chi, the first Asian-led film of the Marvel cinematic universe. His previous directorial works include Short Term 12 and The Glass Castle. Brie “Captain Marvel” Larson collaborated with Cretton on both of those films, as well as on the upcoming drama Just Mercy. Marvel Studio previously announced that they had hired Asian-American screenwriter Dave Callaham to write the script.

Read more on Mtime.

Gong Li May Join Peter Chan’s Upcoming Sports Film

Acclaimed Hong Kong director Peter Chan is to soon begin filming his new sports-related feature about China’s national women's volleyball team, according to sources familiar with the production. Chinese actress Gong Li is rumored to be cast as the legendary Chinese volleyball player Lang Ping. Neither Gong Li though neither the film's production team nor Gong Li's management has confirmed the news. The film is written by Zhang Ji who previously wrote American Dreams in China and Dearest, both of which were also directed by Peter Chan. The film is eyeing an October 2019 release in order to pay tribute to the 70th anniversary of the founding of PRC.

Read more on Mtime.

READ: 'The Old Barber' Documents Death, Dignity, and a Dying Art in Rapidly Changing Beijing

Images courtesy of China Film Insider

Figuring out how to get a mobile phone contract isn't easy when you don't speak or read Chinese yet, but even once you've overcome this hurdle, the battle isn't over quite yet.

In the age of WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and Whatsapp, text messages can feel pretty antiquated, so you might be surprised by the number of messages you begin to receive once you activate your service. Was your number previously used by an A-list Chinese? Are these long-lost friends coming out of the woodwork? Sadly, probably not.

While many western countries have regulations preventing mobile phone numbers from being publically made available, and therefore preventing spam, China doesn't so the moment you get your new phone number, so does everybody else. 

You’re about to get a loooot of love in your text message inbox. While much of it can be deleted without a worry, some of it is important, and you need to know which is which.

Tips and Tricks to help you deal with Chinese SMS spam 

Resist the urge to ignore your messages completely. Getting pointless messages is irritating, but you don't want to risk missing a notification from your phone service provider that your balance is running low. Recently, I renewed my passport and I almost deleted an SMS saying that I needed to go into the China Mobile store to update my details, as my old passport (which I used to register) was expiring. Failing to do so probably would have cut off my connection and led to even more confusion.

Get into the habit of translating messages. Save your favorite online translator service as a bookmark or standalone app on your phone home screen. Long press the SMS to copy it, then paste it over. Easy.

Rename contacts that are important, such as your bank and mobile phone provider. You may notice that you get messages from your bank on a few different numbers, but you'll notice that the real, important messages always come from one number, while promotional stuff comes from others.

Look out for the letters "TD" at the end of your messages, which is often preceded by 退订 tuì dìng (unsubscribe) or the easily recognizable 回 huí (return, reply). When you see these, you can use them to unsubscribe from that particular number, and prevent future hassle. Just reply to the SMS with the letters TD as in the image above. Taking the time to do this can dramatically reduce your spam.

The name of the organization that is sending you the message usually appears between thick brackets 【like this】. You’ll quickly get to recognize the important ones, such as:

• 【中国移动】Zhōngguó yídòng – China Mobile
• 【摩拜单车】Mó bài dānchē – Mobike
• 【滴滴出行】Dī dī chūxín– Didi

Don't lose your phone. Not that you would want to anyway, but losing your phone and number is an especially big pain in the ass in China. Every useful daily service, from WeChat to buying train tickets to using a delivery service is linked to your mobile phone number, and if you lose it, you'll have to reapply for all of those services again from scratch.

READ: Know Your Kuaishou from Your Douyin: Chinese Social Networking Sites 101

Images: Unsplash, Anna Pellegrin Hartley

It all began with a photo of thriving garlic sprouts that my colleague had grown on her window sill from store-bought garlic cloves. She, in turn, had been inspired to try the experiment by her ayi. This one photo led to a cascade of others – a weird collection of plants that had been regrown from veggies, fruit seeds, and fruit greens over the years, such as a pineapple top, sweet potato, and one very special avocado seed that came to be called Cornelius Sprout.

Although none of us brown thumbs had ever gotten very far with other home and office gardening projects, we all found that growing a plant from seed (or root) to be fun, simple, and best of all, almost indestructible. All you'll need is a suitable container, some water, and some patience. At the very least, these plants make for delightful decorations or even toppings for salads.

Springtime also makes for the perfect time to introduce a bit of greenery into your life, and gardening (even at this level) is proven to reduce anxiety, stress, and promote mindfulness.

Without further ado, it's time to turn your store-bought cut-offs and scraps into thriving plants that can be regrown in water, even in an (occasionally sun-starved) Beijing apartment.

Cabbage

Among the endless supplies of veggies in the market, leafy greens such as cabbage, spinach, water spinach, bok choy, and lettuce are probably the easiest to regrow in water. Here, we'll use cabbage as an example.

First, take a healthy cabbage, and cut off the base. Fill a shallow with cool water and then simply place the cabbage base into the water, ensuring that it is not fully submerged. Place the container on a window sill, and change the water every two or three days. Wait for the vegetable to sprout.

Carrot

People usually just throw away carrot tops but why not recycle them to grow some carrot leaves? They make for a great addition to salads and soups for their flavor and a splash of color.

When preparing fresh carrots, save the cut-off heads and put them into a shallow bowl of water, stalk facing upwards, so they are half submerged. Place the bowl somewhere with lots of light. The green carrot tops will sprout in about two weeks.

Celery

The same as the carrot ends, instead of discarding the base of the celery bunch, stand it upright in a small bowl of water, again making sure it is not submerged. The central part of the base will start growing new leaves after about a week. You can click here for more photos of what it should look like.

Garlic

Anybody who has found a forgotten garlic clove in the back of their fridge only to see that it's started to grow legs will be unsurprised to learn that garlic involves very little maintenance to regrow. All they need is plenty of light and fresh water. Take healthy garlic cloves and place them in a container with a little water. It's best to use a glass container so that you can see the level of the water to ensure they won’t dry out or begin to rot. The garlic cloves will begin to push out bright green stalks after a few days. These can be used to garnish dishes.

Leeks

Like garlic, leeks regrow from sprouts, and are more suited to be placed in tall, skinny containers. Cut the base of leek off and make sure the roots are intact. Keep the roots in a container with water, and new growth will emerge from the center after several days.

Sweet potatoes

You might want to save this one for summer since sweet potatoes (and yams) prefer to grow in the warmer weather. Take a few healthy sweet potatoes and place them in a container that is half filled with water. Change the water regularly and place the container in half-shade. Wait until the roots begin to sprout, and thicken.

General tips

• Always put vegetables in sunny spots to make sure they get enough light.
• Use clean water (the water you used to wash the vegetables is also fine), and be sure to check the water every two or three days to make sure the plants are well watered.
• The size of the container should be relative to the size of the vegetable you’re growing. Move the plants into bigger containers or separate them when they get too big, so as to give them enough space to spread out.

Taking the next step

The instructions we have provided are very much designed to help you start a fun side project. The fact is that plants can grow in water, but only for a little while given that it doesn't contain enough nutrients for long-term growth. So, if you’re expecting a proper harvest, you'll need to plant your green babies in soil once the roots have formed. If you're ready to take the next step and want to know more, contact Daniel Lim from Homegrown School (WeChat ID: dadan8), a small organization that hosts workshops about urban gardening and indoor composting in Beijing.

READ: Spring Has Sprung: The Best Beijing Parks and Gardens for Budding Horticulturalists

More stories by this author here.
Email: kuang@thebeijinger.com

Photos: Tautvile Daugelaite, Anna Pellegrin Hartley, Daniel Lim, 17apart.com, Pixabay, Home Joys

Beijingers craving satisfying, unfussy, and affordable middle-eastern fare are hard pressed to find a better alternative than Al Safir. Now that long-running Middle Eastern restaurant's team has brought its winning straightforward formula to Shunyi’s pinnacle plaza with the new Ashraf's Arabic Restaurant.

It couldn’t have happened a moment too soon, as the suburban northeast corner of Beijing drastically lacks affordable eats with personality. Now the Shunyi set will also be able to enjoy all of that seasoned vet's favorites, from rock bottom priced RMB 30 shawarma, RMB 30 plates of crispy falafel, to generously portioned RMB 100 mixed barbecue meat platters (pictured above and featuring a half dozen pieces of chicken, beef and lamb, along with bread and side sauces). More creative flourishes include Fattah hummus loaded with deep fried batter and chickpeas (RMB 60), and the restaurant’s criminally underrated deserts like gooey basbousa squares and wholesome Arabic pudding (RMB 30 and 25, respectively).

READ: Enjoy a Falafel Frenzy at Al Safir Near Xiaoyun Lu

The decor matches the unfussy practicality of the menu, from the multicolored floor tiles, shisha pipes, and Arabic pottery on the walls, and exposed brick lining the equally exposed open kitchen, all making for an inviting down-to-earth vibe.

Together, these elements make Ashraf's Arabic Restaurant a boon for Shunyi dwellers craving both Middle Eastern eats and a welcoming atmosphere.

Ashraf's Arabic Restaurant
Daily 11am-10.30pm. 2 Xinyuan First Street, Xiangyang Road, 3 Pinnacle Plaza. Shunyi District
顺义区榆阳路馨园一街2号院3幢03荣祥广场

Sticking around? There Will Be Bread ups the bakery ante in Shunyi

Photos: Kyle Mullin

Veganism has never enjoyed a higher profile than it does today. Alongside the traditional concerns about animal welfare and healthy eating, there is a new motivation for avoiding meat and dairy in your diet. A global study in 2018 confirmed previous research into the devastating environmental impact of our addiction to cheeseburgers.

“A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use,” according to Joseph Poore from Oxford University, who led the project.

The study found that meat and dairy used 83 percent of farmland, while producing just 18 percent of calories and 37 percent of protein. With an area of rainforest the size of a football pitch cut down every day to clear land for farming, it’s not surprising that veganism has moved from the fringes to the mainstream. A quarter of a million people took part in this year’s “Veganuary,” giving up animal products for a month, and vegan products have been introduced by companies as diverse as Ben & Jerry’s and Ikea. In 2018, Guinness announced that they would no longer use fish bladders in producing their globally popular beer, after 260 years of brewing.

However, this higher profile has been accompanied by a backlash. While vegetarianism is now unexceptional, veganism still provokes strong feelings. The widely shared documentary Cowspiracy was criticized by scientists for its dubious use of statistics, and legitimate concerns have been raised about whether a vegan diet supplies essential minerals and vitamins.

There’s a disturbingly personal and aggressive tone to many attacks on veganism though, with vegans stereotyped as smug and preachy, or superficial: “a 19-year-old food blogger with pink hair who posts pictures of Amaranth grain with the caption ‘Nom nom nom’ is not a dietician,” as the Irish Times sneeringly put it. The introduction of vegan sausage rolls by UK baker Greggs triggered a storm of protest, despite the fact that the pork version was still available for those who wanted it. And a customer calling a British bank about a loan recently was astonished to be told: “all vegans should be punched in the face.”

So what is the reality? What sort of people decide to adopt a vegan lifestyle, and why? What challenges do they face, and does living in China make those challenges easier or harder? We spoke to members of Beijing’s vegan community to find out.

Read the rest of this article over on our sister site beijingkids.

READ: Beijing's Best Salad Bowls to Eat Greens on the Cheap

Photo: Unsplash

As Beijingers, we eat out a lot but there are some occasions when your regular haunts just won't cut it. Maybe it's your anniversary or maybe you've got clients in town but one thing's for sure: you need to impress. 

Of course, you can go to any high-end restaurant and drop a chunk of change to impress someone but for this blog, we have endeavored to find places that are unique, not just fancy, and won’t require you to take out a bank loan in order to afford them. 

Perfect for… a meeting with clients: Migas Mercado

What better way to impress those important clients than with a sweeping view of Beijing's most iconic building? Migas Mercado offers just that, in a convenient location in the heart of the CBD, alongside a menu of modern Spanish cuisine and tasty cocktails (if you're looking to entertain with drinks, too). The set lunch menu is particularly business friendly and is easy on the corporate credit card at RMB 118 for two courses. Picking a restaurant that is formal but not too formal to entertain clients can be a challenge but Migas Mercado strikes a good balance (the background music isn't too loud either, a pet peeve of ours).

Daily 11.30am-late. 7/F, China World Mall North Zone, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6500 7579)
朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区7层

Perfect for… a first date: Hulu

It can be hard to figure out how formal to go on a first date but luckily Hulu hits right in the middle, with sharable food with a few fancy twists here and there and staff that are attentive but don’t hover awkwardly. Our only caveat would be that the lighting is perhaps a touch too bright to be date friendly but the recently re-opened terrace could be a great alternative.

Daily 11am-11pm. S4-32, 3/F, Taikooli, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6512 5701)
朝阳区三里屯路太古里南区3层S4-32

Perfect for… an anniversary: TRB Forbidden City

Its location alone would be enough to make TRB Forbidden City an impressive venue but like all of the TRB group’s ventures the food, service, and wine list are all exceptional too, adding up to one of Beijing's finest dining spots. It’s not cheap (quality usually isn’t) but the set lunch and brunch menus offer good value. If you book ahead and mention it’s a special occasion they will often go out of their way to do something special for you, too.   

Lunch Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, brunch Sat-Sun 11.30am-3pm, dinner 5.30-10pm. 95 Donghuamen Dajie, Dongcheng District (6401 6676)
东城区东华门大街95好

Perfect for… impressing on a budget: Haidilao

Old Beijing hands will probably roll their eyes at this one but there is just something impressive about the scale and slickness of the Haidilao operation that never fails to impress, particularly if you’re new to China. On top of that, you can order to your heart’s content and rarely come away spending much more than RMB 150 (not to mention getting a free dance show if you order the noodles). All of the more than 30 stores in Beijing are equally competent but we have a soft spot for the Wangfujing branch.

9am-7am. 3/F, In88 Shopping Center, 88 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (5762 0741)
海底捞：东城区王府井大街王府井银泰in88 3层

Perfect for… newbies or visitors: Hua’s Restaurant

Hua’s flagship location near Beixinqiao is like a checklist for visitors: Peking duck? Check. Cute hutong courtyard location? Check. Traditional music in the background? Check. Their duck isn’t necessarily the best in town but it is a competent rendition (served with batons of hawthorn jelly alongside the traditional accompaniments) and sits on a menu packed with other popular local dishes such as boiled crayfish.

Daily 10.30am-4am. 235 Dongzhimen Neidajie, Dongcheng District (5128 3315)
花家怡园：东城区东直门内大街235号

Perfect for… impressing vegetarian diners: Blossom Vegetarian

With its tome-like menu, Blossom Vegetarian will have your guests redefining their expectations of vegetarian cuisine. Not every dish here is successful, particularly the ones featuring mock meat (although that in itself can be impressive for a first-time diner - the smoked salmon in that picture above is anything but, for example), but those that are, such as the tofu with toon sprouts or braised chestnuts with lion's head mushrooms, really knock it out of the park. The upscale decor is a nice touch, too.  

Daily 11am-9pm. 144 Dongzhimen Neidajie, Dongcheng District (6401 2228)
东城区东直门内大街144号

READ: Beijing's Best Restaurants for Visitors and Tourists

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos: Pixabay, Migas Mercado, Robynne Tindall, Wikimedia, TRB, Ken Liu, Dazhong Dianping

The fun, the strange, and the what-on-earth-is-this: a wrap-up of top stories in Beijing as told by the trending hashtags, local press, and general power of the internet.

1) Proposal for "death education" to be added to school curriculums

One National People's Congress deputy and a chief surgeon, Gu Jin, proposed a bold addition to the national school curriculum during last week's Two Sessions plenum: a course about death to be taught in either primary or middle school. This "death education" would inform students about the importance of life, with the intention of also giving them a greater understanding of mortality. Gu Jin stated that as a medical professional, he sees seriously ill people on a daily basis and notices that their relatives aren't always equipped to cope with the prospect of death. Furthermore, he said society no longer holds the value of life in high enough regard, and too many young people commit suicide for frivolous reasons.

Additionally, Gu Jin made the case for adopting assisted suicide, or euthanasia in China (安乐死 ānlèsǐ, literally peaceful death), which is currently illegal. He admitted that "there was a long way to go" before planned suicide would be accepted by society.

On Weibo, netizens seemed to be quite accepting of the Gu Jin's ideas but added that society at large wouldn't be so supportive. One user looked at the bigger picture, saying: "China lacks three kinds of education: sex education, love education, and death education." Another wrote: "Sex education is already difficult to implement; parents will tear down the schools if you try to teach the kids about death." The discussion continues under #建议全民开展死亡教育# (suggestion for nationwide death education).
 

2) McDonald's starts selling youtiao in the US

... or so Chinese netizens would have you believe.

Back in February, McDonald's stores in the US launched cinnamon sprinkled donut sticks, but Chinese netizens only recently began insisting that they are simply a long lost cousin of youtiao. We'd argue that Chinese influence reverberates in a variety of cuisines, and even Wikipedia appears to believe that the French crepe is actually just a variation on Chinese jianbing.

In Beijing, youtiao has already made the leap from street vendors to KFC and McDonald's, and has been part of the breakfast menu at branches across China for years. It is equally famous for its chewy texture as its enormous calorie count. The main difference between China's variation and the one now found at McDonald's US appears to be the size (stubby and finger-length versus foot-long) and the fact that they're rolled in cinnamon.

One netizen asked out of curiosity: "Is soymilk also available?" referring to doujiang, the soy-based beverage typically paired with youtiao here. Netizens continue the discussion of whether youtiao is a universally shared food or a Chinese export under #美国麦当劳卖油条# (American McDonald's sells youtiao).
 

3) Beijing is big. But how big really?

Everyone knows that Beijing is a big city. In fact, it's size is so difficult to grasp by our primitive minds, that netizens have started asking "just how big is Beijing really?" This video (Chinese audio with English subtitles) posted on Mar 12, poses just that, breaking down the city's 16,000sqm landmass and comparing it to other places in a number of creative ways. For example, the video claims that two and a half Shanghais or almost ten Xiamens could fit into the same area taken up by Beijing.

Aside from its daunting square-meterage, the video shows how Beijing also impresses in terms of population, noting that its total of 21.5 million permanent residents is only 3 million of the entire population of Australia.

In the comments, one netizen offered an even more relatable comparison in order to help us fathom just how large the city is: "If a boyfriend and girlfriend live in the north and south of Beijing, it's basically a long-distance relationship."

READ: Can These Cutesy Beijing Vloggers Sell You On Pungent Century Eggs?

More by this author here.
Email: tautviledaugelaite@thebeijinger.com

Images: Weibo, The Takeout

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming outside, yet you find that you feel sleepier than usual while others bounce around in the warm weather. In Chinese, this phenomenon is called 春困秋乏夏打盹 (chūn kùn qiū fá xià dǎ dǔn), a proverb that describes how people tend to feel sleepy in spring, doze off in summer, and feel tired in autumn.

In English, it's known as "springtime lethargy," a very real human body reaction to seasonal climate change which can leave those affected feeling fatigued, lazy, and even depressed. If you find yourself muttering more than a few of the following phrases per day, it might be time to head to the doctor. Otherwise, try them in front of your boss and perhaps they'll be kind enough to grant you an afternoon nap, China-style.

Feeling sleepy

Take a nap
小睡一下 xiǎo shuì yí xià

Doze off
打盹儿 dǎ dǔnr

Feel sleepy
困 kùn

Going to sleep

Hit the sack/hit the hay
去睡觉 qù shuì jiào

Go straight to bed/sleep
立刻睡觉 lì kè shuì jiào

Go out like a light
倒头就睡/秒睡 dǎo tóu jiù shuì/miǎo shuì 

Catch some Z's
补觉/睡回笼觉 bǔ jiào/shuì huí lóng jiào

Beauty sleep
美容觉 měi róng jiào

Sleeping

To sleep
睡觉 shuìjiào

To fall asleep
睡着 shuì zháo

Dream
做梦 zuò mèng

Sleepwalk
梦游 mèng yóu

Snore
打呼噜 dǎ hū lu

Sleeplessness/insomnia
失眠 shī mián

Sleep-talking
说梦话 shuō mèng huà

A heavy/deep sleeper
睡觉很沉的人 shuì jiào hěn chén de rén

Light sleeper
睡觉很轻的人 shuì jiào hěn qīng de rén

Sleep like a baby/log
睡得很香 shuì de hěn xiāng

Sleep well, Have sweet dreams
祝你晚安好梦 zhù nǐ wǎn ān hǎo mèng

Waking up

Wake up naturally
自然醒 zì rán xǐng

Sleep in
睡懒觉 shuì lǎn jiào

Oversleep
睡过头 shuì guò tóu

READ: Spring Has Sprung: The Best Beijing Parks and Gardens for Budding Horticulturalists

This article originally appeared on our sister site beijingkids.

Photo: Unsplash

When The Cut arrived at Taikooli North’s InfraRouge bar and restaurant for its month-and-a-half pop-up residence this past summer, most of us who had the chance to try the wares at the casual grill hoped that it would stick around for longer. Thankfully, the Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant's juicy steaks proved so popular that The Cut has now taken over that space permanently, expanding on its pop-up menu with new items like tartare, foie gras, and more. 

When we were invited to stop by a few weeks ago, we were impressed by the varieties and grades of beef on the menu. Indeed, there's enough breadth to appeal to a variety of palates and budgets.

On the cheaper side, there are Inner Mongolian dry-aged sirloins (RMB 178) and ribeyes (RMB 218). You can also upgrade to Argentinian grass-fed sirloins (RMB 258) and ribeyes (RMB 278) or really splurge on Australian grain-fed black Angus sirloins (RMB 288), tenderloins (RMB 298), and ribeyes (RMB 378). Then there's the American premium grain-fed black Angus striploins (RMB 145) and ribeyes (RMB 145), which are about half the size of the others at 100g.

The mammoth Australian ribeye we tried had just the right fat ratio to make it a little marbled and varied in terms of texture, while its juicy tenderness also made it a winner. The sirloin was even more delectable and all but melted in our mouths, while the side of salty potato wedges nicely rounded out both servings of steak.

Although the steaks obviously overshadow everything else on the menu, The Cut is no slouch when it comes to appetizers. The RMB 118 duck foie gras is a must-try thanks to its supple textures and subtle bitter-sweet flavor thanks to its flecks of ginger-apple chutney, although their RMB 118 Pacific salmon tartar is a tad too mayonnaisey and really should be skipped until they better balance its ingredients. 

It all amounts to a flavorful, indulgent meal that is sure to impress your special someone on a special occasion. The soft lighting, colorful furniture, and vibrant neon signs also help in that regard, making The Cut a cut above InfraRouge's comparatively lacking food menu, and a standout among Taikoo Li North's otherwise sleepy restaurant options.

The Cut
Daily 11.30am-11pm. 3-5/F, N8 Taikooli North, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6468 1619)
朝阳区朝阳区三里屯太古里北区N8室3层及顶层

READ: Beijing's Best Restaurants to Impress, Whatever the Occasion

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle

Photos courtesy of The Cut

Our Events Watch series aims to highlight happenings that aren't focused on alcohol and drinking, but instead take a more educational or productive approach. Events include comedy, talks, networking events, markets, and dinners.
 

Monday, Mar 18

Boardgame Night
Yardhouse gets together for another of their board game nights on Monday. A good opportunity to make new friends, play your favorite game, or just to get to know the city better, each week features a different tabletop game; "sometimes co-operative, sometimes strategy and resource management, sometimes role-playing, but always a good time." This week, things get heated over games of Coup Rebellion and Kingsburg (pictured above). Free. 7-10.30pm. Yard House
 

Tuesday, Mar 19

100mins Nonstop Heyrobics Workout!
Billed as "extremely challenging, yet extremely for everyone," what we can be sure of is that 100 minutes of Heyrobics is a surefire way to sweat away a Tuesday evening with a half-grimace, half-smile on your face. They’ll bring the beats, some headbands, something to drink, and all you need to bring is your gung-ho self. RMB 80. 6.15-8pm. The British School of Beijing (BSB)
 

Wednesday, Mar 20

Sharp Talk: TanTan’s CEO on their Secret to Success
Do you have a swiping problem, spending hours mindlessly moving your thumb left and right while you try to make small talk with people who almost definitely look nothing like the person in their profile picture? Well, we have the event for you! On Wednesday, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce hosts Yu Wang, the CEO, and co-founder of TanTan AKA "Chinese Tinder," for a discussion about his app and the secret to success in China’s tech economy. RMB 380. 6.30-8.30pm. Swedish Chamber of Commerce
 

Thursday, Mar 21

Men and Women Speak
Luga's hosts the latest edition of Men and Women Speak, Beijing's open discussion group where people can get whatever they want regarding the frustrations and mysteries of dating off their chest. The event provides a safe, judgment-free environment and is open to individuals, couples, gays, straighties, whatever. Just come with an open mind and no doubt be prepared to listen and laugh. RMB 20. 8-11pm. Luga's Pho Pho
 

Friday, Mar 22

US-China Conflict: Truce or Cold War 2.0?
Stephen Roach, economist and senior fellow at Yale University, comes to the Yale Center Beijing to speak about the ongoing US-China conflict. The talk will center around the question: Are the two countries reaching a truce or is this the start of a new cold war? RMB 80. 6.30-8.30pm. Yale Center of Beijing
 

Saturday, Mar 23

Fun Run and Walk
Didn't go out on Friday? Why not partake in this leisurely 2 or 5km run and walk. The event is hosted by Wild Women on the Wall in aid of supporting the children of the Agape Family Life House. There'll also be coffee, snacks, and a bouncy castle for the kids. RMB 80 (5km), RMB 50 (2km). 9am. Beijing Riviera
 

Sunday, Mar 24

Weekend Art Market Vol. Spring
Spring is in the air and that, in turn, means spring markets are here. One of the first is the Weekend Art Market, which is hosted at Prototype in Hotel Jen for the first time. As usual, there'll be plenty of vendors including illustrators, photographers, jewelry designers, and craftsmen. There'll also be artists, DJs, a cappella, and even magic performances. Free. Midday-7pm. 3/F, Prototype, Hotel Jen

Looking for even more things to do this week?
Absolutely everything you need can be found via our events page here.

Images: tabletopfinder.eu, yale.edu, courtesy of the organizers

Think the guzheng is a stuffy instrument only played by old masters for old people? You're sure to have your mind changed by Yu Miao. As Miao rightly points out: "The guitar has a much longer history than most Chinese instruments! But people don’t think of it as old."

She concedes, however, that the guzheng has gotten short shrift because it is mostly "played in China, so not many foreigners know about it, and tend to just categorize it with classical music that they might assume is inaccessible."

The hotshot Beijing native not only studied the guzheng– considered a staple of classical Chinese music – at the prestigious China Conservatory of Music, she pushes its sounds to new, modern heights, performing alongside some of China's top electronica producers. Audiences will have the chance to experience such at her DDC show on Mar 23.

Yu began to see the 21-stringed instrument in a new light during a recording session with American flutist Bruce Gremo. When he asked her to try improvising or playing a piece of her own, Yu was taken aback. “Most traditional musicians in China don’t know how to compose pieces themselves, or play freestyle,” she explains.

Regardless, Yu began plucking away, and before long those reverberating notes lead to a revelation. “It was like saying what you want to say, through music,” she recalls of that liberating session, which was so enjoyable that she formed an avant-garde jazz group with the flutist. From there she began playing and collaborating with a wide array of other musicians, including hotly-buzzed Beijing techno producer Shao, and his partner Wang Meng. Wang in turn creates dazzling visuals at various musicians’ concerts, and who will appear alongside Yu for their eclectic, techno-meets-tradition performance at DDC next week.

Read more about rising producer Shaohere.

It’s a long way to come for Yu. After all, she can still recall squeezing onto a bicycle with her mother as a six-year-old in 1997 and zipping through Beijing’s hutongs, bound for her guzheng teacher’s home. Those lessons cost around RMB 50, a hefty sum at the time that would prompt her mother to gently, but firmly, push Yu to practice hard.

Her current deftness with the instrument, and eventual acceptance into Beijing’s prestigious China Conservatory of Music, all would've been beyond her wildest dreams as a six-year-old novice. An equally unlikely outcome: winning over cynical, classical music-averse artists like Wang Meng, who will helm the synthesizer and coordinate the accompanying visuals at the DDC show next week.

"I didn't know much about traditional music myself, and never liked it," Wang says of his mindset prior to working with Yu. However, he says, “In her hands, the guzheng is just a musical instrument used for self-expression," as opposed to a hallmark of a bygone, off-putting genre. He adds: "We don’t write music together, we improvise. And whenever I see her playing, it’s as if God manipulates her hand. It's the most emotional kind of artistic creation."

Yu can’t wait to share that sentiment with the DDC crowd, saying she expects the show will “be like a party, where people will talk and enjoy the music, and have a relaxed night.” But for her, sat behind one of China's most ancient instruments, playing will be the same as always – it'll be all about “talking through music.”

Yu Miao and Wang Meng will perform at at DDC on Mar 23 at 9pm. Tickets are RMB 100 or RMB 80 advance.

Never miss a gig: click here for a huge list of live shows in the city, updated daily.

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle

Photos courtesy of Yu Miao

It’s amazing what beauty you can find in the old, abandoned, and forgotten. In a world where sustainable living is increasingly on the agenda, small but purposeful trash-to-treasure projects in the home can limit waste and provide a creative outlet for you and the whole family to enjoy.

The eco-friendly benefits of upcycling are vast. Aside from minimizing the volume of rejected and discarded materials being sent to the landfill every year, it also reduces the need for producing items using new or raw materials. This can help put an end to the repeated consuming and dumping cycle of many households.

Upcycling and reusing objects and materials can actually lead to a reduction in air pollution, water pollution (have you seen our oceans, rapidly transforming into seas of plastic?), greenhouse gas emissions, and can also support the conservation of global resources.

If all that eco-conscious talk isn’t enough to get you repurposing your old hangers into kitchen towel hooks, then reflecting on all the fun that is to be had might help. Thinking outside the box can produce some seriously impressive transformations of everyday items you were just about to throw out or happen to adopt and save from the waste heap. Taking someone’s trash and making it your treasure not only happens to be a tried and tested way to be proactive in your eco-friendly endeavors but is also the making of a fulfilling craft project.

I started my upcycle project with a walk and foraging expedition through the hutongs. You will be amazed at what you can find lying around in these ancient residential alleyways and lanes. I wanted to find raw materials, like wood or stone that speaks to the beauty of the natural world around us, and use it in a repurposed fashion inside the home. With the help and company of my like-minded colleague, I put on some layers, braved the cold, and went on a hutong hunt.

Not even 30 minutes into our walk through the southern parts of Beijing’s hutongs, we came across a lonely wooden trunk sitting outside a couple’s home and place of business. The trunk was keeping a heavy potted plant sturdy and was covered in dust. My colleague kindly took the lead and knocked on the door. A brief conversation in Chinese ensued, as the looks on the couple’s faces transitioned from bemusement to unexpected curiosity, and finally excitement...

Read the remainder of this article via our sister site beijingkids site here.

Want more DIY tips? Learn how to regrow vegetables from kitchen scraps

Photos: Nicole Bonnah

What's Up, Wudaokou? Whether you're at Tsinghua, BLCU, Peking University, or even Google, there is an event for you in Haidian. In this series, we round up the best innovation, entrepreneurship, technology forums and workshops as well as student-related events. Don't worry, we'll even sneak in the occasional happy hour...
 

Friday, Mar 22

University of Massachusetts Hacking Demo Class
This demo class, which will be simulcast to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai, means that it will be a great opportunity to network while you listen in on experts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst discussing their outlook on the internet of things as well as hacking in the modern era, which they'll provide a demo on. Free. 6.30-8.30pm. Beijing Jiaotong University
 

Sunday, Mar 24

Mars Rover Robotics Workshops
Learn how to make and assemble your own Mars Rover-style wheeled robot from scratch. Using ROS, Python, and OpenCV, within 5 hours you'll take a robot from parts to motion, all with the guidance of the Popular Robotics team. This first workshop in the series focusses on motion control, and is suitable for beginners. RMB 300, RMB 250 (students). 1-6pm. Tsinghua University
 

Monday, Mar 25

When Art & Innovation Converge
Join Startup Grind at this exciting discussion to find out how the concepts of art and entrepreneurship are complementary, why creativity is a matter of commitment rather than resources, and how innovation is the outcome of combining talents that require the use of our brain’s right (creative) and left (analytical) hemispheres. Nir Hindi, serial entrepreneur and founder of The Artian, an innovation and creativity company, will act as the keynote speaker at this event and dissect how art is challenging innovation, and why companies need more artists. Not to be missed for entrepreneurs and creatives alike. RMB 60. 6.30-9.30pm. Innoway

READ: Events That Won't Leave You Hungover, Mar 18-24

Images courtesy of organizers

EAT: Your bite-sized guide to the best eats to be had in Beijing this week.

New all-you-can-eat tapas brunch at Migas Mercado

Migas Mercado has just launched a brand new all-you-can-eat tapas brunch. For RMB 298 per person, you get to order an unlimited number of dishes, three at a time, from a menu of more than 30 tapas and sharing dishes. We're looking forward to trying dishes like fried eggs with chistorra spicy sausage and french fries, piquillo peppers stuffed with codfish and bechamel, and fried cuttlefish hotdogs with lime aioli. For an extra RMB 168, make it a properly boozy brunch with two hours of free-flow cava, sangria, and bloody mary cocktails. Available Saturday and Sunday, 11.30am-2.30pm.
 

Ethiopian Table at 4corners, Mar 22

Getting your hands on some authentic Ethiopian cuisine is not an easy feat in Beijing so we're excited to see that 4corners have teamed up with Abenet Belay from Habesha Coffee for a sit-down dinner event this Friday, Mar 22. Hailing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Abenet has been cooking from a very young age, and in Beijing, she usually only caters for people in their homes and companies upon request. Ethiopian food is famous for hot spicy dishes served on top of Injera, a type of soft pancake that is made from a very nutritious gluten-free grain (indigenous to Ethiopia) called Teff. Choose from a meat mixed platter priced at RMB 228 per person or a vegetarian version priced at RMB 188. Visit this WeChat post for details of how to sign up and pay.
 

Dining City Restaurant Week, Mar 14-24

Fans of dining deals get ready because Dining City Restaurant Week is back for another edition, running until the end of this week, Mar 24. As always, this is a good opportunity to try out some of the city's pricier restaurants at slightly more wallet-friendly prices. Our top picks for new and good value restaurants in this edition include Kup Kup Kup, Rive Gauche at the Puxuan Hotel, and Tease by CreatureS (all of which we have reviewed recently and enjoyed). Find and book all deals via the Restaurant Week website.
 

The Merchants celebrates Chinese Wineries Around the World, Mar 17 and 24

This March, The Merchants has invited three young Chinese winery owners to present their overseas wineries: Howard Kwok with Chateau Tour Saint Christophe from Bordeaux, France; Ling Lang with Dominio de Cair from Ribera del Duero, Spain; and Lee Su and Leo Guo with Nocton Vineyard from Tasmania, Australia. Their wines are highly ranked internationally, breaking common stereotypes that Chinese people are not capable of buying or managing great wineries. On Mar 17 and Mar 24, respectively, taste their wines at a master class or indulge in a multi-course wine pairing dinner. More details in this WeChat post.

Click here for more of the many Beijing dining events happening this week.

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos: Migas Mercado, Pexels, Wikimedia

Homosexuality has been documented as a facet of Chinese culture since ancient times. From before the Han dynasty, numerous writers and poets noted the deep and loving relationships that have existed between emperors and their male companions. Of course, such romances occurred in the privacy of the Imperial court. For the rest of Chinese society, same-sex interactions, particularly between men, often took place within select tea houses or Chinese opera theaters.

Over the years, the number of spaces for the LGBTQI community has grown and while the community is still under strict legal restrictions in China, it has been interesting to monitor the development of these spaces. For example, in first- and second-tier Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Kunming, gay clubs, bars, saunas, and support centers are becoming more widespread. However, in spite of this progress, being an LGBTQI person is still particularly difficult, especially in China's more rural areas. This is primarily due to a lack of internet access as well as access to organizations which can provide support and information about the LGBTQI community.

Those unaware of the current conditions that China's LGBTQI individuals currently live in may ask: "Why is this important?" and "Why does the LGBQTI community require designated spaces?" Before the digital era, these spaces were the only platform in which people within the community could interact freely with one another; from finding a potential lover or partner to even simply socializing with persons of a similar persuasion. As such, they were coined "safe spaces." This is not to say that outside of these spaces members of the community feared for their life, though it is safe to assume that what these venues provide is a greater level of acceptance and support. Additionally, because the LGBTQI community exists as a minority group, the average leisure space available can be classified as heteronormative (i.e. promoting heterosexuality as the normal or "preferred" sexual orientation).  

Interestingly enough, in 2018, a small scale exploratory survey was conducted by a master's student at Beijing International Studies University regarding the perception of Beijing residents towards the development of gay leisure spaces. While the study wasn’t able to reflect a true representation Beijing's wider population, the student’s findings nevertheless showed that among participants, a high percentage of persons associated a neutral to positive perception towards the development of gay leisure spaces. Additionally, the survey also demonstrated that few residents were aware of designated LGBTQI spaces within the city. 

On the contrary, after the birth of apps such as Blued, Grinder, and Tan Tan, it's debatable whether these same spaces hold as much relevance today given that people have shifted to, at least initially, interacting online as opposed to meeting in person. However, despite this increasing trend, it is the opinion of this writer that online interactive spaces (which I will discuss in a separate article) cannot and should not serve as complete substitutes for face-to-face interaction. Specifically for educational and community building purposes, spaces such as support centers and the like still possess great value in providing the community with a "home base."

While the topic of understanding the role of "safe" spaces for the LGBTQI community in China still remains to be further expanded upon, it is believed that the sensitization to the wider society of the existence of these spaces is both helpful and relevant to seeing the LGBTQI movement push forward.

Watch this space for a comprehensive list of Beijing's safe spaces.

READ: Asia's Biggest Pride Events in 2019

Photo: Teo Butturini

Until about a month ago, you could have entered Sanlitun's 3.3 Mall and never guessed that it was home to some of the city's best vintage shopping. Only those in the know were likely to stumble across the collection of clothes, accessories, and barber shops that had been banished to the sixth, top floor of the complex. That has now changed, with a rejigging of the space that sees all of those stores and more open in the mall's much more accessible basement.

Many of the shops here also have outlets in Gulou Dongdajie, and while you won't have the same experience of ducking in and out of the racks, dodging chuan'r-wielding tourists, the larger space of the basement, and convenience of having everything in one place makes for an altogether more streamlined approach to browsing and bagging what you need. The fact that most of the stores are also present on WeChat (add them with the IDs below) means that you can browse online before you buy, and have the opportunity to clinch prized pieces before anyone else.

A word of warning: If you've ever visited those Dongcheng-located stores, you'll know that vintage shopping in Beijing does not come cheap. Prices here are much higher than in Western or Japanese vintage stores on account of import costs, a limited market, and superstitions that surround wearing secondhand clothes. Even after haggling, you'll be stunned at what some of the items are marked at.

Apart from Tiger Vintage Store (ID: Tiger_Vintage_Store), most of the shops only have a railing or two dedicated to men's clothing. Women, therefore, have a lot more to choose from and Mega Vintage (ID: mvintage3), DDR (ID: ddrvintage3), and Vintage Caravan (ID: vintagecaravan2) stock everything from high-end vintage pieces, casual wear, knick-knacks, shoes, and even furniture. There's also Fala Wang (ID: gh_573615c7d4ab) which specializes in vintage jewelry as well as Luxes Wang, a store dedicated to the iconic brown-and-gold Louis Vuitton bags and accessories.

Dotted in between there are other stores with goods ranging from tattoos (Destroy Tattoo), leather products and workwear (Rivets). Twoface barber, which we've covered previously, also makes the jump downstairs along with their slicked-back cuts.

One of the more original openings is Lomoparty (ID: nightbright). Though somewhat sparse, the store is well-stocked with secondhand vintage cameras as well as all types of film for photographers looking to re-up. They also provide a convenient service in which they develop and scan your film, and provide you with a digital copy (BYO USB stick) for about RMB 25 a roll (4-5 days processing time), should you not want hardcopy prints.

While Beijing still has a long way to go before it's considered a hub for vintage shopping given the lack of cheap, secondhand clothing that floods markets elsewhere, a growing demand for more niche items and fashion trends that value something other than the "newest and shiniest" mean that vintage shopping here in on the rise. While the basement space is currently only half-occupied by stores, as it stands 3.3 is already the best one-stop shop for the city's vintage needs.

Callus Vintage Market
B1, 3.3 Shopping Center, 33 Sanlitun Beijie, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯北街33号3.3服饰大厦地下一层

Want to explore some of the curios that Beijing has to offer? Try a tour around the historic Dashilar district.

More stories by this author here.

Email: tomarnstein@thebeijinger.com
WeChat: tenglish_

Photos: Tom Arnstein

OlymPicks is an ongoing blog series wherein we highlight news, gossip, and developments regarding the buildup to Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympics.

Before he became a silver medal Olympian or the current world record holder of the 800-meter freestyle, Beijing-born star swimmer Zhang Lin was afraid to even get in the water.

During one of his first lessons as a seven-year-old, his coach asked the then timid Zhang: “‘Are you getting in or not?’ And when I hesitated, he said ‘Ok…’ then boom! Pushed me in,” the now 32-year-old retired competitive swimmer recalls, as dozens of students from the Western Academy of Beijing’s (WAB) swim team gathers at their campus’ auditorium to watch him speak and answer their questions.

When we meet him, Zhang is wearing the same Team China team zip-up sweater that he donned at the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Games. Even a decade later, that sweater is still crisp, emblazoned with a red China flag, Olympic logo, and Nike insignia. It also fits the former pro's still-trim frame perfectly, even though his face looks less boyish than the last time he wore it.

While Zhang is now grateful for his coach’s tough love on that first day at the pool, at the time he complained to his mother about being pushed too hard in every sense of the word. The WAB students laughed when he recounted how his mother nonchalantly asked: "You didn’t die when he pushed you in, right? So keep going."

Although she knew little about swimming or athletics in general, Zhang’s mother believed in his potential and had a practical knack for helping him – taking careful note of what the coach had tasked him with and ensured Zhang always completed his sit-ups, pushups, and other work assigned to him at home.

Slowly but surely, the pressure, discipline, and perseverance paid off, at least in Zhang’s eyes. "As I progressed my coaches would tell me I was quite good, though I think that was just to keep me encouraged and motivated to come to each class," Zhang says. However, the tone and timber of all that changed when, at 16-years-old, he placed eighth in the 800-meter freestyle swim of the World Champion Cup.

After that, his practices and regiment grew far more intense. And there were times, before important races, where he still felt anxious before diving in the water: “Before those times I would find ways to try to calm myself down, sometimes by listening to soothing music, sometimes by finding a quiet place to just put my head down and scream until I let all the nervous energy out.”  

Any time he felt frustrated with his performance at one of those races or practices, Zhang says, "I’d just force myself to jump back in the water again later, and keep trying," all of which made his silver medal win at the Olympics all the more satisfying.

Before giving that talk to the students at WAB, Zhang briefly granted a rare interview to the Beijinger, and said he is not only grateful to have had his own opportunity to struggle and thrive as an Olympian. He says the 2008 Olympics was also a watershed moment for athleticism across the country, prompting more "diversity in sports, making it more open to the public in China, and offering China’s athletic industry more commercial opportunities and more interaction with the outside world."

As the 2022 Winter Olympics approach, he is also encouraged to see more young Chinese athletes train and study abroad, all the better to hone their skills for the forthcoming Games. "I see it as a great way for us to exchange cultures and skills," Zhang says.

READ: 7 Fun Beijing Races to Kickstart Your Summer Exercise Routine

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle

Photo: China Daily, EPA (via the Telegraph), courtesy of WAB

Before they became a common sight lining the streets of New York, Tokyo, Beijing, and numerous other cities, ginkgo – an archetypical Chinese tree – was once on the brink of extinction.

That story of ruin and revitalization is the muse of British botanist Sir Peter Crane. Among his chief accomplishments: being both an environmental scientist at Yale University and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS, an award given to scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by England’s Royal Society). Crane will be at the Bookworm on Mar 22 at 6pm to discuss his book Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot, and to regale attendees with tidbits about what makes this tree great. He’s especially keen to speak with Chinese people about how their corner of the world helped it persevere during a perilous period.

"Many people in China perhaps are not aware of the deep history of the ginkgo, and I hope to talk about it in my lecture," Crane tells the Beijinger ahead of the talk. "Many Chinese people know it’s a Chinese plant, and that it was rather rare for a period, but what they might not know is it was once widely distributed in the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere as well, and then somewhat inexplicably, its range contracted and for a time it really only survived in China."

Furthermore, he says, “the people of China should be very proud because they were instrumental in its survival and shared it with the rest of the world.”

Indeed, the tree was common throughout the globe, even surviving in Europe up until about two million years ago, but after its range contracted it came perilously close to becoming extinct. However, the tree quietly persisted in central China, and before long it not only survived but also thrived, being planted for its edible seeds through much of China, and then in Korea and Japan, where they are remain eaten to this day.

When it was also recognized that the tree was resilient to urban environments, it became common to plant ginkgos along city sidewalks the world over, thereby adding a bit of greenery to the ubiquitous gray swaths of concrete.

It’s what Crane calls an "inspiring story... a tree that has undergone a remarkable resurgence and is a good counterpoint the more common narratives about plants going extinct because of human activity."

But aside from all that history, Crane also appreciates many simpler aspects of this tree. For one, he says "the shape of the gingko’s leaf is completely unlike anything else. It has this long stalk that broadens out into a fan shape. So I enjoy its distinctive beauty as well."

Sir Peter Crane will speak at the Bookworm on Mar 22 at 6pm. For more information and tickets, click here.

READ: a Roundup of the Lit Fest's Top Speakers, here

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle

Photos: Visit Beijing's (via Twitter), The Daily Texan

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms based on seasonal changes and the changes in weather that they encompass. These changes have played an important role in guiding seasonal human behavior and activities, especially farming, that continue to this day.

Spring equinox (春分 chūn fēn), which begins Mar 21 and ends Apr 4 this year, and is the fourth solar term of the year. The equinox marks the time in which the length of day and night is equal due to the sun being perpendicular with the Earth's equator, and ushers in gradually longer days in the northern hemisphere.

In China, people attach great importance to this day as it signals rebirth and renewal. As such, it is celebrated with various rituals, of which the top two are Spring Sacrifice (春祭 chūn jì), and the egg standing game (立蛋 lì dàn).

Spring Sacrifice is an ancient tradition that originated during the Zhou dynasty (1046-771BC) when the imperial family began offering various specially prepared foods (lamb, tea, wine, and fish etc.) as a tribute to the Sun God. Such offerings were thought to soothe the God's temperament and usher in a successful harvest, which was largely dependent on suitable weather conditions. The tradition is still practiced in some parts of China today.

While Spring Sacrifice has largely fallen out of popularity, the spring-related egg standing game remains widely practiced. The premise is simple: If you're able to make an egg stand on its base on the day of Spring Equinox, you will enjoy good luck for the year ahead. Why exactly on this day though? It’s said that on Spring Equinox, the axis of the Earth is balanced against the orbital plane of the Earth’s rotation around the sun, which makes it possible to make an egg stand.

This game has actually spread to other areas outside of China. For example, the current holder of the Guinness World Record for the number of successful egg standings is an Australian called Ryan Spotts, who managed to stand 439 eggs upright in 12 hours.

According to traditional Chinese medicine wisdom, spring also happens to be peak season for liver disease (correspondingly, summer is bad for stomach diseases, autumn for lung disease, and winter for kidney disease). Therefore, we should try to eat foods that nourish the liver such as goji berries, walnuts, peanuts, red dates, and dried longan, as well as seasonal vegetables like leeks, bean sprouts, and lettuce.

You should also try to balance your yin and yang foods, for example, fish is believed to have a cold nature and corresponds to yin, so you should accompany it with warm foods that correspond to yang like ginger, leek, and garlic, to keep your body in balance.

Whether you believe in the principles of TCM or not, few would say no to a mouthful of spring rolls 春卷 (chūn juǎn), fittingly one of the most popular foods during this season. Why not try to make your own this spring with the traditional spring rolls recipe below:

Ingredients (makes 15):

• 200g plain flour
• 100g cold filtered water
• Oil
• Sweet bean sauce (甜面酱 tián miàn jiàng, available in most Chinese supermarkets)
• 5 eggs
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 cucumber

Method:

• Put the flour into a container and gradually the water, gently folding it in until evenly mixed
• Cover the mixture with a damp tea towel, and leave it for around 20 minutes to proof
• Knead the dough until it is smooth, but do not over-knead
• Divide the dough into 15 evenly-sized balls
• Use a rolling pin to roll out the balls into thin, flat casings for the spring rolls. Brush a small amount of oil onto each casing to keep them from sticking to one another
• Either steam the casings for 15 minutes or fry them using low heat until light brown
• Julienne the carrot and cucumber. Blanche the chopped carrots in hot water till they are tender
• Whisk the eggs in a bowl and then cook in a frying pan as you would an omelet. Remove the eggs from the pan and cut into lengths similar to the carrot and cucumber
• Brush the cooked pancakes with the sweet bean sauce, add the cucumber, carrot, and the egg, and wrap

Spring has officially arrived!

READ: Springtime Means Spring Rolls: Where to Eat Chunbing in Beijing

Recipe translated from Xiachufang

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Email: kuang@thebeijinger.com

Photos: China News; Baidu Baike; Xiachufang