The Beijinger Celebrates Its 20,000th Blog
It's not every day that we get to celebrate milestones here at the Beijinger office. In fact, most of the time it can feel like we're merely surfing the neverending wave of Beijing related news, reviews, and creativity, trying to stay afloat among all that this great city has to fling at us. Yet, to work here is to be a part of something much bigger than the individual roles that we fulfill.
That's because for over 18 illustrious years in the business, the Beijinger has been providing expats and locals alike with tips on how to live their Beijing life to the fullest. In that time, dozens of writers and editors from all around the world have passed through this office, each adding their particular flavor to the topics covered, tone struck, or in some special cases, people pissed off. But mostly, they used their enthusiasm for Beijing to create a resource for others, and to share their experiences – good and bad – of living in a foreign country. This week, the combined passion and energy of all of those writers resulted in a truly epic milestone of which we are very proud: our 20,000th blog post.
The first ever blog was posted on thebeijinger.com way back on Jun 27, 2007, a full six years after the print magazine was born. Titled 'Blue Skies' it's at once charmingly dated, and strangely relevant. Twelve years on, we're still discussing many of the same topics: air quality, local customs, the mysterious nature of government regulations. Life goes on and the only constant here is change, yet our blog has become a running testament to how we each try and make Beijing our home away from home, writing about community and documenting experiences in a way that is useful and relatable to others.
We've come a long way since 2007, seeing the launch of sister brands beijingkids and JingKids as well as our food festivals that bring thousands together in the name of pizza, burgers, and hot and spicy grub each year. Yet throughout, the blog has also remained a constant, evolving to meet the changing needs of our audience, and the publishing world more broadly. It's now even outliving our original print magazine, which came to an end at the end of last year, and currently feeds the new beast vying for everyone's attention: WeChat.
It seemed fitting then to celebrate our 20,000th post by talking to some of the people that helped the Beijinger blog become what it is today, looking back on their time here as well as the adventures that followed. If you've been a long-time reader it's likely you will recognize some of these names. If you're new here, welcome to the party.
Cecily Huang
Previous position at the Beijinger: Stage editor, the Beijinger Kids (now BeijingKids); staff writer and listings editor, the Beijinger.
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? 2006-2010.
What have you been up to since? I am currently working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Beijing Bureau as a news and documentary producer. I am an experienced news and feature and documentary producer, and I've produced a few influential documentaries about China for ABC. My articles have been widely published on various international media, including ABC, The Diplomat, and Sydney Morning Herald.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? Too many to say. I had many 'first' life experiences with the Beijinger. It was my first time working with an international team, I had my first ski experience with the team, as well as my first real drunk experience.
But the most important thing is that the experience of working for the Beijinger made me more multicultural. I got to know Beijing from both the Chinese and Western perspectives and got to know Beijing better than I ever had before. I met many cool artists, film directors, actors, and musicians because of my job. I was also working at the Beijinger during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a time when Beijing was developing at a very fast pace. Our readers call the Beijinger their Bible that allowed them to survive in Beijing (without speaking Chinese).
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? I used to write reviews of stage performances and films, but my favorite blog is 'My Beijing Christmas in Jail.' This was about a real-life experience where I was locked up with about 20 other expats in a Police station on Christmas Eve. Just read it, it was so frustrating and funny – you might be able to relate!
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? My English, my people skills, and perhaps my party skills.
Tom O'Malley
Previous position at the Beijinger. Dining editor and dining contributor.
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? 2009-2010.
What have you been up to since? I'm currently researching and writing the 12th edition of the Beijing Lonely Planet guidebook. I’m also one of two character scriptwriters for Gorillaz (the band).
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? The Capital M opening party was great fun. I’ve still got a champagne glass from that night. Sorry, Michelle.
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? The first post I did of a series where I pitted two Beijing burgers against each other, using a wholly unscientific set of metrics. I even took cross-section photos. I like to think it inspired the Beijinger Burger Cup, which is still going. Looking back, this city is much better furnished with burgers now than it was then.
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? Belief in my writing ability. Prior to the Beijinger, I’d worked as an editor of children's comics in the UK, so my audience, while substantial, consisted mostly of boys under the age of 10. Writing for grown-ups was a new thing.
I also learned a lot from other talented Beijinger staff, especially the copy editor Lilly Chow who was (and is) a terrific writer and wordsmith. Another inspiration was Adam Pillsbury who ran the Beijing Insider’s Guides. And Iain Shaw, for his inestimable Beijing contacts book. Quite the networker.
Emily Young
Previous position at the Beijinger. Assistant dining editor.
When were you at the Beijinger? 2010-2011.
What have you been up to since? Director of Black Card City Guide.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? Teamwork with Lilly Chow, Jonathan White, and Iain Shaw.
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? My blog on tanghuoshao (糖火烧).
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? Not a skill per se, but a view: no restaurant is absolutely great; there will always be some points that need improvement.
Iain Shaw
Previous position at the Beijinger: Deputy managing editor (including stints managing the nightlife, dining, and travel sections).
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? 2007-2013 at True Run Media [parent company of the Beijinger], including 2.5 years working on the Beijinger itself, 2009-2012.
What have you been up to since? After leaving the Beijinger, I co-founded The Cleaver Quarterly (with two fellow TBJ alumni, Jonathan White and Lilly Chow), a magazine about Chinese food as a global phenomenon. I stuck around in Beijing for a few more years, before moving to St. Louis, Missouri, around this time last year. I’m writing about food, drink, and the hospitality industry for a number of publications, including St. Louis Magazine and Vinepair.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? I got to work with a lot of good, smart, and talented people at the Beijinger, but there was a period sometime in 2011-2012 when it felt like we had the right team together, everyone working in the same direction. That doesn’t happen easily and it can be fleeting, so you enjoy it while it lasts. In the big picture, I would say the same for having had the experience of living in Beijing during those years, from about 2005 to around 2013.
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? One of my favorites was a cover feature called “A Taste of Home,” which became a regular column. We asked people from different countries where they would eat food in Beijing that reminds them of home, and to join us for a meal at that place. I got to learn from those people about the food they grew up with, and what it means to be able to connect with that culture, even in a rudimentary way, when you’re living far from home. Additionally, the April Fools’ blog posts were always good fun to write, as were the fake ads we ran in the magazine. Sadly, the fake ads never really made it to the blog, but some of the ideas have actually become real-life businesses (hot pot hot springs, for example).
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? I became a better writer and editor, and learned a lot about time management and organization by failing over and over again. Another important thing was learning to talk to people and reach out to people, to trust that wherever you are, there are always going to be people who will give you the time of day even when they owe you nothing. There are cliques everywhere, but there are also communities that want to build and let new faces in. That was partly a TBJ thing and partly a Beijing thing for me.
Belle Zhao (pictured right, above)
Previous position at the Beijinger. First employed as an editorial assistant, then later promoted to fashion/shopping editor.
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? 2002 (pretty much from the very beginning, I guess) until 2010.
What have you been up to since? Founder and head designer of my own fashion label BELLAMODE.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? The most memorable experience was a feature that TBJ ran on Beijing shooting ranges. The editor and I were assigned to check out a shooting range in Beijing’s surburbs and I had my first experience of pulling a trigger. I didn't open my eyes once until all ten shots were finished. That was a scary but exciting experience, and I haven't touched a gun since.
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? My most memorable feature is a guide to Taobao I wrote for expats back in May 2010, which I actually wrote in my last month working at TBJ. We did extensive research on Taobao and wrote some how-to tips as well as listing some of the weirdest things you can get on Taobao. A fun story, even for me – that fact-checking and research helped me to gain more knowledge about the online shopping platform. Later, five years after I left the TBJ family, I was to open up my own store on taobao.com.
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? Countless. First of all, I gained a wide range of connections. During my time in TBJ, I got to know many up-and-coming fashion and jewelry designers. From them, I learned a lot about how to get fabrics printed and produced, which helped me eventually found my own fashion label. Secondly, there are the many skills I learned; now I work as a fashion stylist for models and take photos and videos for my own collection.
Paul Ryding (pictured middle, above)
Previous position at the Beijinger. Nightlife editor, deputy managing editor, managing editor.
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? 2012-2014.
What have you been up to since? I'm currently the sports news editor at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? A staff retreat weekend at Genting Ski Resort. Memories are a little hazy, but it was some weekend. Let's hope those photos never see the light of day. Some other memorable times were Bar & Club Awards nights. They were always a blast.
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? I was lucky enough to get to interview some hugely interesting people during my time at TBJ – a very bizarre but thoroughly enjoyable interview with English post-rockers 65 Days of Static stands out. I was also sad but proud to cover a terrible incident that involved a Shuangjing dog being brutally beaten to death by chengguan in front of his owner's eyes. It was a very upsetting and terribly tragic episode, but the story was later picked up internationally and brought some focus to China's lamentable record on animal rights.
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? I learned a great deal about surviving a 12-hour shift – often without eating – and I like to think that has stood me in good stead for the rest of my career. Working in a hugely pressurized environment with the sword of Damocles constantly fluttering above your head is something everyone should experience. It's character-building, probably.
Jerry Chan
Previous positions at the Beijinger. Marketing director, managing editor, digital strategy and content marketing director.
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? 2001-2016 (15 years).
What have you been up to since? Independent editing and marketing consultant/full-time dad.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? Too many to recall, but I will never forget walking the streets of Beijing with [boss of True Run Media] Mike Wester on the very first day of our new company as we began our search for our office. Organizing our very first-anniversary event (an art exhibition and concert atop the Dongbianmen Watchtower) was also a very rewarding challenge – this was back in 2002 and over 1,000 people showed up (which at the time seemed like an astronomical number). It was the first time we realized "holy shit – people really do read our stuff!"
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? Too many memories, but a couple that stand out: Mike Wester almost singlehandedly repopulating the thebeijinger.com classifieds after our former boss sold us out to a rival company (who took over our former domain name). Working with the pet store at Gongti to shoot my favorite TBJ cover of all time, "Dogs Playing Mahjong." Becoming the fattest I've ever been when I was the food and drink editor, and eating out just about every day.
What skills (if any) did you take away from your time working at TBJ that helped you get to where you are today? Aside from editing and writing, one of the best skills I learned was understanding how to establish and manage workflows and sustainable operational processes. As editorial director, it was also an ongoing challenge to learn how to manage teams, processes, and expectations – I didn't always do my job well, but I feel like I helped establish something that has endured and evolved. Finally, working at True Run Media [parent company of the Beijinger] allowed me to get to know the people and places of Beijing like no other job. For all these reasons I feel proud and grateful to have been a part of the company.
Jonathan White
Previous position at the Beijinger. Managing editor from 2009-2013 (but managed every section at some point along the way)
When and how long were you at the Beijinger? Almost five years, starting the day after the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
What have you been up to since? Working on the Sports Desk of the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, alongside another TBJ alum, Paul Ryding (see above). Also started up The Cleaver Quarterly and still pushing the Chinese food agenda through that.
What was your most memorable experience from working at the Beijinger? Probably some of the Bar and Club Awards or the Quiz of All Quizzes I hosted, or when we tried to make a live action comic to celebrate CNY.
Do you have a favorite blog or story from your time working here? My favorite by anyone else was Iain Shaw’s April Fool's that suggested Shunyi was getting put under a bubble. My own favorite thing was either the time I went to see a fortune teller (which we could not publish) or when I called the Ying Yang Twins “loud trousered whisper merchants.”
Hungry for more? We have 20,000 blogs, and counting, all right here in our blog.
Photos courtesy of the respondents
