the Beijinger

Senior Atlantic Monthly correspondent James Fallows has been covering China extensively for the past three years and is now preparing to leave Beijing for his next postings in Washington D.C. and Australia. We caught up with him recently to discuss his experiences in China, his new book, Postcards from Tomorrow Square, and getting mistaken for former President George W. Bush.

Perhaps it was politics that stirred Ken Wiland’s interest in China – he was a socialist union organizer during a 26-year career on the New York subway. Maybe it was a family connection – his father flew supplies into China as a pilot during World War II. One thing that’s sure is that Wiland didn’t come to Beijing primarily for the city’s ballroom dance scene – though he did start his own club. Jennifer Ying Lan asked him why Beijingers should hit the floor with Beijing Ballroom.

Jennifer Ying Lan: When did your love of ballroom begin?

If eating in one of Beijing’s thousands of restaurants isn’t enough and you’re aching to get into the kitchen yourself, don’t despair. The capital city has a cornucopia of options available for you to become the iron chef you always knew you could be. Here are a few schools where you can wok and roll.  

Now the home to culinary experiences such as Maison Boulud, the Fez/Agua/Shiro Matsu/Hex compound, the Meat & Wine Co., and Ristorante Sadler, the former American Legation Compound used to be only a twinkle in Chinese businessman and lawyer extraordinaire Handel Lee’s eyes.

While many of us are sitting in comfortably air-conditioned offices, homes, or cafés here in sweltering Beijing, Kim Paul Nguyen has been on an intercontinental cycling journey for the Ride Planet Earth Challenge. Born and raised in Canberra, Australia, Nguyen has called the road his home for the past few months.

For foodies in Beijing, this one-night only event on June 8th at the Hilton Wangfujing is sure to cause major salivation and near-lust. In a joint effort with the executive chefs of the Hilton WFJ, three 3-star Michelin chefs (Heinz Beck, Annie Féolde, Heinz Winkler) and U.S. celebrity chef (David Burke), will all be in our capital city to design the ultimate six-course dinner with wine pairings provided by Master of Wine Dr. Ron Georgiou and Hilton's resident Sommelier Peter Teng.

Joanna Wong fans...this just in from the ticket office. Her concert for this weekend in Beijing has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.

For those who bought tickets, please call your ticket office or (8528 5344) for reimbursement information.

Tucked away behind Pacific Century Place just off Sanlitun, in what used to be the research facility for the Beijing Machinery and Electric Institute, is now 1949 – The Hidden City, a neo-industrial factory-chic dining and entertainment compound. Behind the brick walls lies a quaint courtyard, which features indoor and outdoor restaurants, cafés, bars, gardens, terraces, a private members' club, and a contemporary art gallery. The restaurants each serve a distinct style of cuisine.

In a city where sheep guts, cow heart and fried silk worms are considered delicacies, there is no shortage of bizarre eats. He are a few of our picks for some of Beijing’s most unusual fare.