Beijing Then and Now: The Tree Team

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.

David黎涛, Caojian曹坚, Pat De Smet, Jack周华武, Gin贾建, The Tree, 2006.

David黎涛, Caojian曹坚, Pat De Smet, Jack周华武, Gin贾建, The Tree, 2011.

THEN

What year was it? 2006.

Where's the original location?The Tree.

Who is in the photo? David黎涛, Caojian曹坚, Pat De Smet, Jack周华武, Gin贾建

What were you doing there? We're at the 10 year foundation party for the Hidden Tree.

What were you doing in Beijing? Pat was best costumer at The Tree, everyone else was bartenders at The Tree.

NOW

Who is in the photo? The same.

What are you now doing in Beijing? David is a bartender at By The Tree. Caojian is the chief bartender at The Tree, and co-owner of 1FL. Pat is best costumer at The Tree, Nearby The Tree and By The Tree. Jack is a bartender and the co-owner of 1FL. Gin is a daytime bartender/purchaser at The Tree, a bartender at 2FL, and co-owner of 1FL.

What has changed for you? Pat:The size of my 2 kids.

What has changed in the city? Old things are out of the Windows, and an Apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Anything else you'd like to add? Congratulations The Beijinger.

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