With bad air, skyrocketing rents, and taxis next to impossible to hail, sometimes we wonder how it is that anyone is even left here in Beijing. As we prepare to bid 2013 adieu, we stop for a moment to pay homage to some of the myriad personalities that moved away from Beijing over the past 12 months. Their contributions to the city's international community have left an indelible mark, and we’ll miss them all dearly in 2014.

Gaby Alves, Restaurateur

With the launch of Alameda a decade ago, Brazilian restaurateur Gaby Alves revolutionized the western food circuit by offering gourmet prix fixe meals for under RMB 100 and menus that evolved daily. In the process she raised the stakes in Beijing's restaurant scene, along the way attracting other talents to Beijing such as the folks that went on to create Mosto. After Alameda, Gaby went on to open Lido's SALT as well as the relatively short-lived Terra in Sanlitun before leaving Beijing over the summer. Rumors abound that she'll be back, and our inner foodie hopes so.

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Chad Lager, Nightlife Impresario

After a multifaceted career in the Beijing bar scene that included putting places like Tun, the Rickshaw, Fubar and Grinders on the map, Chad finally grew weary of the Northern Capital and set off for his home country of the United States. In his wake he left an indelible imprint on Beijing’s bar scene (not to mention resident livers). He has since settled in Savannah, Georgia.

Karl Long, Barman

Karl Long's sudden departure over the summer came as something as a surprise – not least to his many regulars at Paddy O'Shea's and Great Leap Brewing. Claiming it was time to leave after ten years in the city, Long headed for pastures new (in beautiful Hefei). Although with business interests still in Beijing, it would be fair to suggest that the Northern Capital hasn't seen the last of this gregarious Irishman yet.

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Marilyn Mai & Josh Ong, Foodies

Marilyn and Josh were the tag-team duo who kept Beijing informed of where to eat with their contributions to the Beijinger as well as their relentless foodie notes passed via their personal social media accounts. Since departing Beijing in the early spring, the couple have delivered their first child in their home state of California and are continuing their foodie ways.

Paul Mathew, Mixologist

When Paul Mathew left, so did his talent for unique and innovative cocktail creation. Luckily, he inspired his protégés sufficiently that they have stepped in to fill his sizable shoes, but the city's cocktail scene is certainly the worse for his leaving. Paul left Beijing for Cambodia back in June.

Will Moss, Blogger & Olivia Lee, Nutritionist

PR man extraordinaire Will Moss left Beijing at the beginning of 2013 along with his better half Olivia Lee and the couple’s young son. Will was well-known outside his professional career for his insightful, often hilarious musings on his prolific blog imagethief. Olivia made her mark on Beijing with her own healthy living blog and her regular column in our sister mag, Beijingkids. Prior to his departure and reacting to a flurry of media attention on expats leaving China, Will summed up his reason for departure in his post I’m Leaving China and It Doesn’t Mean a Thing: “We [foreigners] leave. That’s what we do. But just because leaving China is normal doesn’t mean something isn’t going on. Among my friends there has been a tangible change in mood in the last couple of years. A sense of excitement about being here that endured for many years has in many cases given way to a sense of weariness or indifference.” Will and Olivia are now rasiing their son in California.

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Alex Pearson, Bookworm Founder

The founder of the Bookworm, Alex called Beijing home for more than 20 years while she built her humble personal book collection first into a lending library at the back of a restaurant, and then into the three-city cultural juggernaut it is today. Along the way she created the Bookworm Literary Festival and has single-handedly done more for the world of English books in this city than anyone, full stop. This year she decided to head home to greener pastures. While she won't be a stranger -- she'll be back in March for the Lit Fest -- we'll miss her near daily presence in the Beijing location where she could often be found talking shop with Beijing's literati.

Anthony Ross, Hotelier

Swire's Opposite House in Sanlitun broke the mold: hotels weren't supposed to be cool and certainly weren't for locals. Boutique, unique, hip and trendy, The Opposite House changed that upon arrival in 2007, quickly becoming a destination not only for travelers but for local residents as well. This was done on Anthony Ross's watch, who as Area General Manager always knew how to hire and train the right people to make the hotel feel part of the very fabric of the city. The Opposite House's dining venues Sureno and the now-defunct Bei, along with nightlife stalwarts Mesh and the now-closed Punk pulled in the local crowd in droves, not just the hotel visitor. Anthony did all this while laying the groundwork for more recently opened East, the larger but just as impressive boutique hotel in the 798 area, anchored by the excellent Feast on the dining side and Xian on the nightlife side. Anthony left Beijing at the beginning of 2013 to pursue other travel related businesses in Hong Kong.

Leslie Simpson, Philanthropist

Leslie Simpson is the founder and most outspoken advocate for local charity Roundabout, raising the profile of giving for many in the expat community over the course of her stay here. Since Roundabout's founding in 2008, it has expanded to support 48 charitable organizations in the Beijing area and many more throughout China and Mongolia. For her efforts Leslie was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and late this year has regretfully relocated, but the work of Roundabout will continue.