Throwback Thursday takes a look back into Beijing's past, using our nine-year-strong blog archives as the source for a glance at the weird and wonderful of yesteryear.
Some of us have ended up in China as if by chance, following our careers or loved ones to the Middle Kingdom without much knowledge of its past, ancient or otherwise. Those hoping to learn more about their new adoptive homeland have more than likely stumbled upon the SupChina website, then possibly the Sinica podcast, and from there down into the rabbit hole of China-watching platforms.
The one author you are inevitably going to run into is Kaiser Kuo, an American-Chinese writer and China watchers' personal hero. Kaiserhas been hosting the go-to podcast for any China-related questions, Sinica, with Jeremy Goldkorn, writing for various media outlets and – wait for it – playing in a metal band. But you might have assumed that from looking at his hair.
The pleasure and honor are all ours when recapping 10 years of Kaiser Kuo's column in the Beijinger titled Ich Bin Ein Beijinger. Kaiser notes that he is neither German nor a real Beijinger, though, in the live episode of the Sinica podcast recorded in the Bookworm back in 2015, he was getting ready to leave back to the United States after 20 years spent in China. Kaiser's views are intriguing, inspiring, curiosity-piquing and, most importantly, approachable, laid out for listeners in human language, which is often difficult to come by when digging through the writing of hardcore sinophiles.
Arguably the best part of Kaiser Kuo's column in the Beijinger is that, despite going live more than 16 years ago, they are still perfectly relevant for those currently residing in Beijing or wanting to re-live the nostalgia after moving out. If you are currently going through the downward spiral at the end of your Beijing love story, check out his "Ten Ways to Fall in Love With Beijing" column, in which he lists the tricks and cures of seeing the Big Smog or elbowing in the subway. When was the last time you wandered farther south than the Temple of Heaven to simply explore or took your old two-wheeler out for a spin around town in the middle of the night (word of caution: a wool scarf and doubling up on pants should be present for this time of the year).
While bullet-point pieces are often consumed as fast food in the content world, Kaiser Kuo's pieces rarely fall short on subtle irony or gentle self-mockery. In his other text "Twelve regrets," he admits his wrong in ever trying to prove that Beijing tap water is suited for drinking (oh, didn't we all do that once. feeling hardcore enough to handle it) or publicly apologizing for tricking his unsuspecting friends into eating dog meat. What may have been funny in the '70s or in 2011 would not fly in 2017. Someone is guaranteed to get offended.
If finding your niche in Beijing seems harder than expected and the random rendezvous in a yet another watering hole in the hutongs are less than spiritually fulfilling, there is a guide for that! Being uncool is cool now if you embrace it, but for all those old-schoolers who still want to be on the cool side of Beijing laowai, check out Kaiser Kuo's guide to belonging to the various scenes in the city that will get you some 'wow' from the crowds. Whether its music, film or art, this column will train you for any scenario. Just remember your lines.
Loving Beijing in winter often comes with hardships – starting with the torture of getting out of your bed in a freezing apartment or smelling your own breath while wearing a mask. But the Beijinger blog is often as magical as Hogwarts: "Help will always be given to those who ask" (credit to Mr. Dumbledore). So just ask, or skim through his observant and loving pieces on Beijing, none of which include the best Pizza.
More by this author here.
Images: the Beijinger, The Genius Works, Youtube