brian salter

An Expat in China

Society EN ↓ 135 episodes

What’s life really like as an Expatriate? More specifically, what’s it like to live and work in China? As I am asked regularly about my 7 years in China, I decided to draw on blogs and articles that I wrote, not to mention a guide book about Beijing*, to put together a series of podcasts all about what life is really like there. Please feel free to give feedback or ask any questions. New episodes will be added every day.*An Englishman in Beijing by Brian SalterAvailable on Taobao at https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId

Author

brian salter

Episodes

Ep 84: Red Dreams in Beijing's Da Guan Yuan 22.05.2026 6:46

Dream of the Red Chamber is widely regarded as one of the four ancient Chinese classical masterpieces. In the southwest of Beijing is a park called Da Guan Yuan which is themed around the book. Definitely a must-visit venue, despite being almost unknown amongst westerners!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: h...

Ep 83: Who is mad enough to go to an outdoor museum when it's minus 16 degrees? 21.05.2026 16:16

The Chinese Ethnic Culture Park in Beijing is well worth a visit... in the summer months. But in the depths of winter? Even the locals can't believe their eyes when a laowai shows up!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ...

Ep 82: Strutting the flesh on a cold winter’s day at Beijing's newest dance studio 20.05.2026 6:06

A new Salsa dance studio opens in Beijing... And what an opening it turns out to be!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian Salter, is published by Amazon ASIN: B083V1...

Ep 81: Coming Face to Face with a Scholar and Thinker - Brush up on your Azerbaijani! 19.05.2026 10:57

Time for a visit to what must be the most boring museum in the whole of Beijing... "An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian Salter, is published by Amazon ASIN: B083V1J...

Ep 80:Is Purple the new Black? Inside Zizhuyuan 18.05.2026 10:42

Beijing's Purple Bamboo Garden has a crisis of identity. For why else would it be called Black Bamboo Park in another language? Either way, it's still a lovely place to visit..."An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6b...

Ep 79: Beijing's Auto Museum - where the super heroes aren't the best drivers 17.05.2026 16:13

The Being Auto Museum isn't a patch on the privately run Classic Car Museum, but you can tell they have made an effort... of sorts"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by...

Ep: Which is more stunning... Nature in Taoranting or Chinglish? 16.05.2026 5:35

Taoranting Park was the earliest modern city park built after the establishment of the People's Republic. Not only is it a stunning place to visit, but its Chinglish signs are to die for..."An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f0...

Ep 77: How Come I Am The Only Visitor In the AAM? 15.05.2026 8:55

Beijing's Ancient Architecture Museum is well off the tourists' radar - not to mention Beijingers themselves. I wonder why?"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Br...

Ep 76: A Long-overdue Pilgrimage to Beitang 14.05.2026 5:57

Beitang is a historic Catholic church in the Xicheng District of Beijing; and of all the cathedrals and churches located in the city it is, apparently, one of the most ornate. But your first problem could be how to find the entrance!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=6753...

Ep 75: Following in the Footsteps of the Spermatozoa - A Museum's well kept secret! 13.05.2026 11:20

Beijing's Natural History Museum has a secret that it would rather it kept under wraps... and I'm not talking about the giraffe with its head chopped off"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogge...

Ep 74: Zhongshan and Tian'anmen - two not to be missed venues 12.05.2026 16:05

Beijing's Zhongshan Park is widely shunned by visitors to the northern capital (out of ignorance?) while hordes of crowds make for the Forbidden City right next door. But they're missing a huge amount. Find out why!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&a...

Ep 73: In Search of Beijing’s Elusive Bees 11.05.2026 11:04

If the life and science of bees is what floats your boat, then Beijing's Bee Museum could be just what you're looking for... but first you have to find it. Not as easy as you might think!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3...

Ep 72: Travelling Through Shanghai's Time Tunnel 10.05.2026 8:04

Shanghai's History Museum, housed in the base of the famous TV Tower, is an amazingly put together experience, and well worth a visit. "An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beiji...

Ep 71: Shanghai's Jing’an – a Mecca for Leophiles? 09.05.2026 4:41

You’ll know when you’re at Shanghai's Jing'an temple as gold lions smile down at you from every vantage point. "An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian Salter,...

Ep 70: Searching for Peace in Shanghai And Eating Lunch Through A Straw 08.05.2026 8:38

Shanghai's Garden of Peace & Happiness - aka Yuyuang is an amazing park... but probably best not visited on a Chinese national holiday! And I’ve heard of dumplings in soup… but soup in a dumpling? Meet Shanghai's signature dish!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?...

Ep 69: First Visit to Shanghai – But mind what you drink! 07.05.2026 16:33

PLA soldiers holding hands? Lady Penelope's Thunderbird lighting up the skyline? Booking one's first visit to Shanghai was probably not a good idea on a Chinese national holiday..."An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1b...

Ep 68: Back to Nature AGAIN in Beijing's Botanic Academy 06.05.2026 5:17

Beijing's Institute of Botany, aka Botanic Academy, lies across the road from the Botanic Gardens, and many mistakenly go into it by mistake. It's where ex-emperor PuYi worked tending orchids when he was "dethroned". Well worth a visit!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall...

Ep 67: Back to Nature in Beijing's Botanic Garden 05.05.2026 8:56

Beijing's Botanical Garden has an open area of 2m sq. m. There are eleven themed gardens within the overall gardens and this venue should be on every Beijing visitor's itinerary. "An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ...

Ep 66: Move over Dante! Make way for the 76 departments of the Taoist Pantheon! 04.05.2026 12:16

Something straight out of Harry Potter? The Taoist Pantheon makes you wonder what a complicated afterlife is in store for us!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian Sa...

Ep 65: Give Peace a Chance? Beijing's anti Japanese aggression museum 03.05.2026 11:02

Does 'The Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression' have the longest museum name … in the world?"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide...

Ep 64: Return to Tianjin 02.05.2026 13:40

Another day out in the beautiful port city of Tianjin"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian Salter, is published by Amazon ASIN: B083V1JQN5#expat #expatlife #expatria...

Ep 63: Is This What Chinese Heaven Is Like? 01.05.2026 9:42

Yuan Dadu Chengyuan is definitely a Happy place to be. Does it sum up the spirit of the Chinese?"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian Salter, is published by Amazon...

Ep 62: Chinese Exercise - The best way to get over a trauma is to meet it head on 30.04.2026 13:57

Forget about adverts from sex companies … if a westerner is at all worried about his tackle, I can strongly recommend he takes his next holiday in China and visits a swimming pool every day. "An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062...

Ep 61: If Confucius had been Catholic, he’d surely be a saint by now! 29.04.2026 13:10

Confucius, as we've all been told, was one of the greatest philosophers and teachers of all time. The Temple of Confucius at Beijing is the second largest Confucian Temple in China, after the one in Confucius' hometown of Qufu. It's definitely on my list of must-sees..."An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from...

Ep 60: Everything about China told in Miniature - Philately Museum 28.04.2026 13:31

Was the DPRK's Kim Il-Sung a closet royalist? Visit Beijing's Philately Museum, opened in 1985 and see what you think!"An Englishman in Beijing" by Brian Salter (ISBN: 9781784779658) is available for sale in China at ¥85 from Taobao: https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675304960828&spm=a21dvs.23580594.0.0.3f062c1bQ6bPG5&skuId** A Blogger's Guide to Beijing by Brian S...