I'll be the first to concede that Beijing isn't the most livable city in China. It's a big, crowded metropolis, with ever-worsening traffic, unacceptably high levels of air pollution, and prolonged freezing cold winters and stifling hot summers. Yet despite all that, it's hands-down China's best city for expats.
As of May 9, Beijing residents can report to the Municipal Bureau of Public Security any police cars are being used for private purposes, such as weddings and funeral ceremonies or leading the way for cars as part of a new policy introduced by the bureau. If the tip-off is verified after investigation, the informer will receive a cash reward ranging from 100 yuan to 500 yuan.
Last month, Beijing was given a huge pat on the back by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences - ranking the city as having the best transport - in its annual report on urban competitiveness. Beijing beat Shanghai and Hong Kong to win the title.
As a keen supporter of unfashionable Ipswich Town Football Club, an enthusiastic drinker of warm Tolly Cobbold beer and an avid listener to the music of the long-disbanded Velvet Underground, I know my taste in some things is not mainstream.
If you are one of the Beijingers who owns one or more of the almost 1 million dogs living in the city, the news that most of the 200,000 people who have been bitten were the dogs' owners should raise the hair on the back of your neck. According to those numbers, a dog owner in Beijing has a one in five chances of being bitten.
As you are all no doubt well aware, this year, Mother's Day fell on Sunday, May 9.
I got stuck on my way to meet a superstar a couple of days ago. While I was thrilled to meet a celebrity most people only dream about seeing in person, my taxi was jammed on the road, a frequent Beijing occurrence.
The recent violent incidents in some primary schools and kindergartens in China has raised the issue of school security from social level to the political level, according to a May 5 report on the 21st Century Business Herald. But many people are concerned that some of the measures now in place won't be maintained in the future.
I recently took up living room rowing (not a metaphor) in an attempt to get healthy, following a seemingly endless stream of illnesses that devoured my spare pounds faster than installments on a student loan.
For all that has been written about cross cultural relationships I am really surprised no one has really mentioned sajiao. Of course there are a lot of cultural differences that influence any romantic relationship between a Chinese and a Westerner but in my opinion none as often, or as much, as sajiao.
When I told my Chinese friends I was marrying a foreigner, two out of three friends advised against it.
There are a variety of training programs targeting the wealthy second-generation in China; courses ranging from financial statement analysis, international trade and the performance of listed companies, to golf, horse riding, ballroom dancing and Sinology.
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