Best of the Blogs: 2012 By The Month

Before we jump into 2013 here's a month-by-month look at this past year via our blog. From Chinese New Year last February to Peking Man's infamous satires this fall, here's what made its mark in 2012.

January

Time For Temple: Chinese New Year's Fairs
An early Chinese New Year made this January’s top post. Look out for updated information on celebrations for the Year of the Snake in February 2013.

Openings & Closings: Where to Eat During Chinese New Year
Nearly a year later and three of the restaurants have closed for good.

Breakfast of Champions: Where to Watch Super Bowl XLVI
The Giants defeated the Patriots while Beijingers knocked back beers and Bloody Marys. Now our thoughts have turned to who will be playing this year.

February

Vote Now in the Beijinger's 2012 Reader Restaurant Awards! "Every year we ask you, the readers, for your opinion on the best in Beijing dining at the Reader Restaurant Awards."

Four Scores: 4corners Offers Vietnamese at Houhai"Most folks agree that the lakesides of Houhai and Qianhai, blighted by tacky bars and tourist tat, are a scandalous misuse of prime real estate. But a wind of change is blowing across the waters."

Peking Man: George's Guide To Getting a Seat on the Subway "If you’re not getting dirty looks from people around you, you’re doing it wrong." Our controversial columnist George Ding offers some handy advice on how to leave you're moral compass at the platform.

March

The Lighter Side of China: English Names & The Chinese Ever wondered why some of your Chinese friends have somewhat "original" English names? Scott Kronick asks Billboard, Beef, Psyche and Running to shed some light on the subject.

The 2012 Reader Restaurant Awards Results: Part One Kudos to newcomers Home Plate Bar-B-Q for winning "Rest of the year", "American", "Best new" and "Best personality". These guys have gone from strength to strength since, and walked away with our Burger Cup this month.

The 2012 Reader Restaurant Awards Results: Part Two Winners include Din Tai Fung and Da Dong for Best Chinese and Flamme International Grill for Best Steak.

April

Voting Now Open in the 2012 Reader Bar & Club Awards! We asked you what you thought of Beijing's nightlife scene.

Ya, Ya, Ya: Sum 41 Adds Up "Ya, I’ve always loved playing live. That’s what got me into being in a band, wanting to play in front of people." We spoke to Sum 41 right before their show at Mastercard Arena.

The Lighter Side of China: Marital Advice for Mixed Marriages Sound advice for staying out of trouble, keeping the in-laws happy and avoiding confrontations.

May

Are You Legal? 100 Days of Checks on Foreigners Begins Today News on a government clampdown on foreigners' right to stay in the country, with checks on visas, passports and residence registrations.

Sanlitun Savvy: Can You Stay Safe on Bar Street? As reports on attacks and brawls mounted, we offered some advice on how to protect yourself when you're on a night out in Beijing's livelier parts.

Train Wreck: Foreigner Abusing Chinese Woman Sparks Web Fury Netizens react to a video of a Russian man being highly annoying on a train, the Chinese lady sitting in front understandably becomes very upset.

June

How Much Is Your Girlfriend Worth? Contains a magazine-style score guide to assessing the 'worth' of a girl.

Of Elements & Embassies: Is It Safe to Go Out? A US embassy employee is beaten in a nightclub in an isolated attack.

Welcome To Fake Beijing Taxi: Cab Tips Advice on avoiding massive taxi bills and how to spot fake cabs.

July

Foreigner Killed at Qianmen: The Web Reacts An American man is murdered by a man with alleged 'mental problems'.

You want me to what? Unusual Jobs for Foreigners Weird jobs for foreigners is not an uncommon sight in China, just have a look at out own classifieds where the occasional outbreak of oddness occurs.

Beijing Subway Worker Held Hostage, Man Shot A dramatic standoff occurs on line 10, involving a sniper and a 'negotiation expert'.

August

McDonald's Burgers Matter If They're Black or White Black-bunned and white-bunned hamburgers at McDonald's might mean more than what first meets the eye.

The Rules of Expat Dating: Ask Yue Xu A local dating coach who's played the game in NYC offers tips and her take on Beijing's dating scene.

Très Bien: First Impressions of Chez Julien on Lucky Street Solid French food served up by a local celebrity.

September

News You Might Have Missed: Subway Extensions, Airport Scams and a Sing-a-long Stabbing All you need to know about the new subway lines, plus heads-up on overcharging cabs and a horrible karaoke death, plus Coca Cola stiffs a guy.

Anyone For Tennis? Free Tickets For The China Open What it says on the tin.

News You Might Have Missed: Stabbings, Hit and Run and Marriage Ads Poor unfortunate people and eligible bachelors with too much money and too few dates

October

Why I'm Leaving China Before George came back, he left.

Fiendish Frolics: The Best Halloween Bashes in Beijing A round-up of Hallowe'en festivities

Gangnam Mentality: the Beijinger's "Beijing Style" The Beijinger makes its own version of Psy's phenomenon

November

Burger Off: The Beijinger Burger Cup 2012 Kicks Off Our epic competition to determine who has the most popular burger in Beijing.

The 2012 Great Thanksgiving Guide: Dining Out Round-up.

Bazaar Beijing: Holiday Shopping Starts Early Fairs, fairs and bargain bazaars.

Want more? Check out the ten biggest blog posts here. The hottest photos. Or the tastiest bites of the year.