For several years I lived down the street from a weekly farmers’ market in Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by a multitude of organic and natural food stores, yet I never gave much thought to buying organic groceries. My main reason for this was the price. ... Read More>>

Beijing’s air is not going to markedly improve any time soon, so it makes sense to protect you and your family from the long-term health effects of air pollution. Read on to find out where to buy good-quality anti-pollution masks in Beijing. Read More>>

When you live in Beijing, you face bad pollution days. Sometimes the air is thick with lung-harming particles and you just don’t want to be outside in that. If you live in Beijing it should not be the biggest surprise if you wake up one morning, open the ... Read More>>

Gyms in Beijing have long realised that to match every member's dream of toned bodies and flexed muscles, variety is the key. When choosing the perfect sweat arena you should be aware of the choices too. In the wake of a number of high-profile chains in ... Read More>>

Like almost any city in China during the summer, the heat in Beijing is pretty relentless. It’s best to embrace it however; and there’s no better way to do it than taking a splash in one of the city’s many water parks. Read More>>

Along with elegant tea, ink brush painting, paper cutting, martial arts and Chinese medicine, massages are also an important aspect of traditional Chinese culture. Chinese massage stems from the Chinese medical massage and is one of the cornerstones of ... Read More>>

In Beijing, expat life outside of work can be one long succession of indulgent evenings out wining and dining, interspersed with evenings of DVD box sets. For many, their only adrenaline rush is the mad dash to the elevator before a less civically minded ... Read More>>

Now that the smothering summer heat has subsided and given way to mild temperatures, blue skies and gentle winds, the perfect time for horse riding has arrived! There are plenty of indoor and outdoor equestrian centers all around Beijing, so below we’ve ... Read More>>

9 million bicycles in Beijing sung in the lulling tones of Katie Melua, and the Chinese independent film Beijing Bicycle, a touching -at times heart-breaking- movie charting the hardships of a Beijing courier, are just some of the associations between ... Read More>>

From time to time people get bored of their normal routine in the city, this sometimes leads to a kind of stagnant feeling; going to the same places, seeing the same faces and doing the same things. Something that many Beijing expat residents are not aware ... Read More>>

Beijing has an array of extreme sports you can try at your hand at, one of these is rock climbing. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned climber, Beijing has a whole host of indoor and outdoor rock climbing areas to try. Read More>>

With the cold winter on the horizon, now is as good a time as any to get outside and run in Beijing. Here are five places in Beijing where running is a pleasant (well…less unpleasant) experience. Read More>>

Sometimes the only way to escape the endless sprawl of Beijing is to go vertical. Whether that means mile high bars or rock climbing is up to you. These places all offer climbing facilities for both beginning and experienced climbers and they’re cheap – 20... Read More>>

It is very easy to feel a kind of malaise when living in Beijing. With a million and one bars serving reasonably priced drinks, and a selection of twice as many restaurants at which a seemingly never ending conveyer belt of varied and delicious food is ... Read More>>

Having fresh organic produce delivered to your door may seem like a luxury, but when you live in Beijing, where food scandals and general unhealthiness are facts of life, you may find yourself reconsidering, especially when there are plenty of affordable ... Read More>>

Balancing a healthy lifestyle in Beijing’s somewhat tough winter climate is a goal which is much longed for but not always realised by many. Here is a helpful how to guide to staying healthy in the Beijing winter. Read More>>

With a rapid developing construction industry and infrastructure, Beijing, as China’s capital, is an international window to the modern face of China. With the blossoming of entertainment and leisure industries as well as increased interest in sporting ... Read More>>

Every year, when a whole load of fluffy snowflakes fall in Beijing, the city turns into a winter wonderland – for about an hour. Then, it all turns to brown, slippery slush or a compressed sheet of ice with the sole purpose of slipping you up. Only ... Read More>>

Unbeknownst to some, Beijing’s surrounding landscape is dramatic and stunning, and for many hikers, a true paradise. Fancy breathing some fresh air for a change? Why not take a look through our guide to the best spots for hiking in Beijing. Read More>>

With their minimalist, elegant frames and endless customizability, the popularity of fixed gear bikes (often known as fixie bikes) has grown exponentially in recent years, especially in urban areas. True to their name, fixed gear bikes have no freewheel, ... Read More>>

On January 29th, many in Beijing found themselves waiting in trepidation. Asia's first ever Grand Slam singles finalist was about to enter the tennis court, and she was Chinese. Beautiful Wuhan- born Li Na did not win the match, but her humble smile to ... Read More>>

Beijing's winter has developed a split personality in recent years. It likes to lull people into a false sense of comfort and security – that feeling you get when it's early December and you can still go outside without wearing long underwear – but wham! ... Read More>>

Few people like to exercise in winter time: the ground is slippery, the air burns your throat, and in Beijing it sometimes feels like you have to fight your way through the dense smog that blankets the city. Going to the gym gets monotonous. Nonetheless, ... Read More>>

With many people tired of the meat market atmosphere of Beijing’s many bars and the pop-oriented dance scene, a game of pool is an often forgotten but very viable alternative to going out on the razzle. If you are tired of shouting into the ears of people ... Read More>>