24 Hours in Beijing With Expat Branding Consultant Shagi

The Beijingers | Oct 8, 2025 11:30 am | Add a comment | 131 reads

24 Hours in Beijing is a series in which we ask some of the capital’s movers and shakers how they’d spend a full day in the city.

Greetings, I'm Shagi. I'm originally from the tiny island of The Commonwealth of Dominica, not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, and a long-term resident in Beijing. For the last couple of years, I’ve been a full-time dad and part-time marketing/branding consultant.

This is my perfect 24 hours in Beijing:

Armed with my camera, a notebook and pen – ideas happen 24/7 – and providing the weather is good, I'll start with a run at Side Park in Lidu around 6.30am while listening to a podcast or Hit FM 88.7. After a shower, I get on my fixie and roll over to get a bagel sammy for breakfast at The Daily Bagel (the best in the city).

After breakfast, I'll ride around the hutongs, grab a coffee at SUR Cabo rooftop while overlooking Baitasi, then move along to Furongji to grab an interesting dim sum lunch. The crew there is absolutely epic, I must add. While there, I'll definitely sneak a cookie or two from The Bake Shop on the rooftop, where I'll jot down some ideas and some production notes on an upcoming job.

This is followed by an afternoon stroll through shops or galleries in the 798 Arts District. Galleries like 798CUBE, UCCA, Red Gate and shops like Sauce Zhan and local brand SoulGoods are all my go-tos.

I'll then grab a last cup from % Arabica (Spanish Latte w/Coconut Milk to be exact), then ride home to have dinner with my girls. If we can find a sitter, wifey and I will go to catch a show at Modernista or BlueNote Beijing, followed by a post-date night drink or two at Hide & Seek. Fin.