An Expat in China

The China Railway Museum (中国铁道博物馆) is one of three rail museums in Beijing. For overgrown schoolboys it's an oasis of delight - even if the temperature inside is down to minus 5 degrees! #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalCitizen #BeijingLife #ChinaPodcast #EmbracingExpatExperience #ChinaExpat #chinarailmuseum #chin...

They say the best parties to go to are surprise parties - even if they have been planned weeks in advance... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalCitizen #BeijingLife #ChinaPodcast #EmbracingExpatExperience #ChinaExpat #yearofthedragon #surpriseparty

The house and grounds of what had once been lived in by Sung Qing-ling, also known as Madame Sun Yat-sen, is a beautiful unexpected oasis of peace and quiet that contrasts starkly with the hordes of tourists that pass by its front gates, many of them totally unaware of what lies inside. #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalC...

Located in the Fengtai District of Beijing, Beijing World Park (北京世界公园) “features 106 of the most famous sites from 14 countries around the world”. The blurb continues in over-the-top style: “All these attractions ... are such good works of art that even a person who has seen the originals cannot tell the difference.” - which only goes to show that the copywriters have either never set foot...

Where on earth can you buy a sprig of mistletoe in this country? Not in Beijing, it would appear... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalCitizen #BeijingLife #ChinaPodcast #EmbracingExpatExperience #ChinaExpat #xmas #christmas #christmastree #santa #hilton

Prince Gong’s Mansion lies close to Shichahai Lake to the northwest of the Forbidden City. What lies behind the notices that warn "Cantion" to all passers-by? (And no, the answer is not a wall!) #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalCitizen #BeijingLife #ChinaPodcast #EmbracingExpatExperience #ChinaExpat #princegong #mansion

Beijing's hutong areas possess a timeless charm about them and their history goes back many centuries. #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalCitizen #BeijingLife #ChinaPodcast #EmbracingExpatExperience #ChinaExpat #hutong #history

To suggest to a Beijinger that he should desist from spitting in the street would be a total waste of time. What expats need to remind themselves is that until around 70 years ago spitting was considered quite normal in Europe as well. #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #WorkAbroad #GlobalCitizen #BeijingLife #ChinaPodcast #EmbracingExpatExp...

Chinese acrobatics is said to have started during the Warring States Period two thousand years ago. Nowadays more than 10,000 people are involved in the acrobatics industry across China. But is it as spectacular as they would have you believe? #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #BeijingExpat #ExpatsInBeijing #Ex...

Lecturing to students at Renmin University is an experience I can thoroughly recommend to anyone... who needs their ego boosted! #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #renmin #students #bbc #renminuni

If it hadn't been for the grand larceny of the naughty Empress Dowager Cixi, the Beijing Tourism Bureau wouldn't be lauding her now... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #summerpalace #cixi #empressdowager #yiheyuan #nanhu #longcorridor

While relatively obscure in most other countries, Singles Day is likely to increase in prominence in China as the male vs female ratio is now out of kilter and females are under tremendous pressure to get married before they are 30. #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #single #singles #singlesday #1111

The "New Media, New Future" contest run by China Daily's Web site department attracts students from all over China. But pity the poor judges who have to get up at the crack of dawn and then put their bladders through turmoil... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #newmedia #chinadaily #judging #judgingothers #baijiu #baiju

What do a tiger, a rat, a dog, an ox and a pig, together with a bell and a drum have in common? Answer: They save you having to wear a clepsydra on your wrist (or they certainly used to!) #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #drumtower #belltower #clepsydratimers #puyi #chinesezodiac #ming #qing

Every year Beijing's Red Leaves Festival is held to celebrate the autumnal colours of the changing foliage. But what happens if nature is caught napping? Turn to Mickey Mouse of course! #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #xiangshan #fragranthills #redleaves

It's predicted that within 50 years the quality of Chinese wine will rival that of Bordeaux. So what's the quality like now? And will "real" wine ever replace baiju as the nation's favourite tipple? #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #wine #baiju #Changyu #greatwall #dynastywine #spitting

Huairou is an area some 60kms to the north of Beijing. It's home to a number of attractions, but seeing a deer's private parts up close might not be on everyone's must-see list... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #jackiechan @chateaulaffitte #deerworld #huairou #carmuseum #classiccars #classiccar #classiccarmuseum #chinafilmgroup

The Russian National Ballet is in town. But could it be that not everything is as it seems? #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #nationalballet #russianballet #swanlake

798 Art Zone (798艺术区) is a part of the Dashanzi area of Chaoyang that houses a thriving artistic community - often compared with New York's Greenwich Village. It used to be a complex of East German factories built in the 1950s ... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #798 #art #artbeijing #fashionweek #Dashanzi

One hears so many stories of fake goods being sold in China's markets that how on earth can you tell if they are genuine or not? Why, ask the seller of course! #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #fakegoods #fake #armani #paulsmith

Chinese people prepare for their Mid Autumn Festival in much the same way as the West prepares for Christmas. The Zhongqiu Festival (中秋节) is one of the four most important Chinese festivals, and mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion. But what is their attraction? Are they really as mouth-watering as many would have you believe? #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expa...

I am finally the proud owner of my very own internet connection at home in my apartment. Getting it wasn't as easy as one might have expected... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #bankaccount #internet

From June to the end of August it is the turn of Lotus flowers to be given pride of place in the old Summer Palace - the YuanMingYuan. And lest you should have difficulty making out a lotus bobbing on the surface of one of the many lakes, the park planners have made it a little easier for you…. #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #yuanmingyuan #ymy #lotus #ruins #maze

The Chinese are still intensely proud of their 2008 Olympics; and the venue is well worth a visit, not only for the buildings, but for all the other extras that have sprung up since 2008... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina #beijing #china #olympics #sculptures

If ever an entrance ticket fell foul of advertising standards, then that of Beijing Zoo has to be the one! It is not for nothing that the zoo itself has terrible write-ups on the web, with terrible conditions for the animals - the ones that still remain. But even your favourite podcaster was surprised by just how bad this particular zoo actually was... #expat #expatlife #expatriates #expatinchina...