Freedom, Beijing Style

One of my projects while in Beijing is to research and experience the city’s notorious “underground” live music scene.  The scene is not that underground really--for several years now clubs have been operating in the open, featuring gritty Chinese rock bands.  One such club is 2Kolegas, which opened up two years ago.  Run by veteran rocker Liu Miao 刘淼 and his partner , the club is located beyond the Third Ring Road on Liangmaqiao Street.  It’s in a Drive-in Movie Theater Park.  The area of its location is parkland--meaning field and forest.  The club itself is small, and patrons can sit outside on a dirt-grass field and drink their beers while enjoying the (cough, splutter) clear Beijing night air.

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A Short Walk on a Great Wall: David Spindler Strikes Again

 

Mark Schatzker, a travel journalist, has posted two blogs (April 4 and 5) on a hike on the Great Wall with David Spindler on his 80 Days blogsite for Conde Nast Traveler.  In the process, he also recounts some of the knowledge that David has accumulated over years of research on how the Ming Wall worked and whether or not it kept the Mongols at bay.

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I also remind readers that I have a few blogs and photos of David and the Wall as well.  See my Great Wall journal.  I promise to add more soon.  We're also nearing completion of a documentary film featuring David hiking on and telling stories about the Great Wall.  If anybody is interested in learning more about this film, please write me at andrew.field@unsw.edu.au. 

Beijing vs. Shanghai

A question that people often ask me is:  which is the better city, Beijing or Shanghai?  This is such a loaded question I don't know where to begin.  Of course, the answer depends on one's perspective, background, and interests.  I always reply with the hazy but useful phrase 各有千秋 (ge you qian qiu) which literally means "each has a thousand autumns" but translates more accurately as "each has its advantages..." 

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