Beijing Then and Now: Josh Stephens

For our October Issue, we invited local personalities to recreate photographs that inspired fond memories. Here are the stories behind those snapshots and those Beijingers, in their own words.

Josh Stephens, Guomao, 2007

Josh Stephens, Guomao, 2011

THEN

What year was it? 2007

Where's the original location? Guomao

Who is in the photo? Me and a half-finished CCTV building

What were you doing there? I was with my father who was visiting me. He had read about the design of the building, so we trekked to Guomao (I was living on the west side, and the CBD actually felt far then).

What were you doing in Beijing? I was studying Chinese and working part-time for the Asia Society helping them organize a business conference.

NOW

What are you now doing in Beijing? I work for Zynga as their China Marketing Manager.

What has changed for you? CBD is no longer a trek, I come here everyday for work. Instead, anything West of Nanluoguxiang feels like going to Tianjin.

What has changed in the city? In the year leading up the Olympics, there was construction everywhere. Beijing had the gritty construction site feel to it, which was pretty fun at the time. Things were cheap and lacked refinement in a refreshing way. What's emerged is a much more international city. Not that construction has really ceased, but the lifestyle expectations are much higher. The CCTV tower still isn't done though ...

Anything else you'd like to add? Nope.

Click here to see the October issue of the Beijinger in full.