The Beijinger Blog - Fiona Lee

Chris Patten at the Bookworm on Friday

thebeijinger — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:30:39 +0800

Lord Chris Patten, best known for his role as the last British governor of Hong Kong, will be appearing at the Bookworm this Friday. The European politician will be there (and at a European Union Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Nov 1) to talk about his latest book, What Next? Surviving the 21st Century. Fiona Lee spoke to Patten by phone earlier this month and below we’ve included her profile of the politician and author that first appeared in the fresh-off-the-press November issue of the Beijinger magazine.

Lord Chris Patten has never eaten a Big Mac.

Yet while avoiding McDonald’s (and the fast food industry in general) is standard practice for legions of left-wing warriors, Patten is hardly an opponent of globalization. Instead, he is a staunch supporter of the free market system.

Globalization is just one of the subjects that Patten takes on in his newest title, What Next? Surviving the 21st Century. Dubbed “the best foreign secretary Britain never had” by The Independent (UK), Patten takes a clear and engaging look at the multiple issues that demand the attention of international governments and their people.

Linda Jaivin speaks at Bookworm Tonight

thebeijinger — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:11:03 +0800

Australian author and Asialink Writer in Residence at The Bookworm Linda Jaivin, will be reading from her books and talking about her work at the Bookworm tonight. If you're unfamiliar with her work, take a look at Fiona Lee’s great interview with the author (included below) for some idea of what to expect. Personally, I regard The Monkey and the Dragon as one of the best “China books” around. Tickets are required, so it’s worth calling the Bookworm to confirm that there are still some spare seats. RMB 20-30.
7.30pm. The Bookworm (6586 9507)

New Openings: Bobo

thebeijinger — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:00:15 +0800

It's Austin Powers time at Bobo, with its mish-mash retro decor and staff dressed in kitschy sailor outfits. The menu is composed primarily of serviceable Taiwanese and Cantonese dishes. We started with a delicious version of the classic Taiwanese dish, sanbeiji (RMB 42) – chicken braised with basil – subtly sweet and garlicky. A tasty Taiwanese-style rice noodles (RMB 25) with bean sprouts and scallions came next, its clean flavor was a good antidote to the sanbeiji. The recommended fried shrimp balls (RMB 58) were a tad overpriced, and would perhaps be better suited to a light dim sum meal. Nothing ends a Taiwanese meal better than a shaved ice, and the towering mango shaved ice with condensed milk, watermelon, and kiwi (RMB 30) cleansed the palate with its sweet flavors. The slow 15-minute waiting interval between each dish was the only hiccup in the meal. Due to its location in the Gongti club district and late opening hours, Bobo will attract worn-out clubbers looking for grub after all-night partying.

Forgotten Beijing: Beijing by Foot book talk at the Bookworm tonight

thebeijinger — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:10:21 +0800

If you missed out on the interesting events that marked Cultural Heritage Day last Saturday, tonight offers up another chance to delve into some of the quirkier aspects of Beijing's history.

Eric Abrahamsen, the principal contributor to Beijing by Foot, will be speaking at the Bookworm about his new project, a collection of Beijing walks. Beyond the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, forgotten Beijing comes to life as Abrahamsen explores some of Beijing's lesser known historical sights.

Tonight Abrahamsen will be speaking on the Bada Hutong and Xiangchang Lu area in East Qianmen. From 1911-1928, the area was a center for modernization and development. Intriguingly enough, it also served as the primary neighborhood for brothels, and today, despite the redevelopment of the whole area, many of the original buildings still remain.

Immersion Guides' Beijing and Beyond Quiz Night

thebeijinger — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:00:20 +0800

A quick reminder that if you haven't got a team together yet, it's not too late to register for tomorrow night's Immersion Guides' Beijing and Beyond Quiz Night. Show off what you know and maybe learn something you didn't. Plus, as extra encouragement, the first beer is free! There isn't much space left, so call up your know-it-all friends and reserve a spot for you and your team now by contacting Kathy Zheng at 5820 7700 ext 855 or e-mailing her on kathyzheng@immersionguides.com. Free.

7.30pm. Sequoia Cafe (6413 0771)

Beijing Taxi Guide

thebeijinger — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:30:56 +0800

As a recent Reuters report on getting around by taxi illustrated, Beijing is a difficult city to navigate, especially if you're a newcomer. There is little English spoken, street numbers are meaningless and places are sometimes identified by obscure markers – it took me weeks to remember the names of all the qiao (highway bridges). Taxi drivers themselves may not be all that familiar with the city, as I once discovered when my cabbie didn't know where Gongti Beilu was!

Step Lively, Please!

thebeijinger — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:00:49 +0800

Beijing is transforming in the blink of an eye, and its residents are moving more quickly as well. According to a recent survey by pedestrian simulation software company Legion, Beijingers are outpacing Hong Kongers by 10%. Using hundreds of hours of video footage recorded at various Beijing subway stations, it turns out that Beijingers are speeding along at 5.3 kph compared to 4.8 kph for Hong Kongers.

Beijing isn't alone in stepping quickly – pedestrians the world over are hurrying up, with Singaporeans the fastest in the world according to another study conducted by British psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman. Busy Guangzhou ranked fourth in the world, over other famously fast-paced cities like New York (8th) and London (12th).

What's behind all the rush?

One Night in Photography at the Bookworm

thebeijinger — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:41:33 +0800

Those interested in knowing more about what it's like to be a professional photographer in Beijing should head over to the Bookworm tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7.30pm to catch a panel discussion related to the topic. In celebration of the recent launch of One Night in Beijing, Immersion Guides have organized an evening of discussion that will focus on the photography and life of a few notable photographers in Beijing. The panel will include art photographer Oak Taylor Smith and photojournalists Nick Otto and Gilles Sabrie and be moderated by Adrian Bradshaw. Expect to see some great new work and to hear about the many challenges and highlights of the photography trade.

Beijing and Beyond Quiz Night!

thebeijinger — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:49:34 +0800

Test your Beijing intellect and get smashed at the same time at the Immersion Guides' "Beijing and Beyond" (with an emphasis on beyond!) quiz night at 7:30pm tonight, where you can get a chance to win an array of fabulous prizes.

Space is limited so this is your last chance to reserve a spot for you and your team. To RSVP for this event, please contact Kathy Zheng at 5820 7700 ext. 855 or kathyzheng@immersionguides.com.

Teams are limited to no more than six people. And remember, the first beer is on us!

Sequoia Cafe, 44 Guanghua Lu (6501 5503)
红杉咖啡屋光华路44号