It’s been almost a year since I’ve left Beijing and I still think about how the city landscape was in such dramatic change while I was there, as I’m sure it still is. At that time I also met Jonah Kessel (via Twitter), who filmed a series of short videos for Asia Society, the first is titled “A Disappearing World.” This chapter documents and interviews the local people’s reflections on life in Beijing’s Hutongs and Alleyways. The following two videos provide deeper insight into this changing landscape and discussion about cultural preservation.

Wandering the hutongs was one of my favorite things to do while in Beijing, with glimpses into the daily lives, living, and culture. I also had small insights into the poor conditions and dramatic gentrification of these neighborhoods. I’m simply sharing with you this difficult balance and bit of heartache. It’s such a dilemma, isn’t it?

Regardless, see the beautiful scenes for yourself– either in the videos or in person!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season

The recent few days of public holiday in Hong Kong have been rather nice for the Christmas season. As a result, I’ve finally had the chance to do some end-of-the-year cleaning of photos. And I’ve gotten around to editing photos from all the way back in May when I took a trip to Yunnan Province, China. Have a look at the set on Flickr and let me know what you think!

It was a 10 day trip during the Chinese May holiday and I traveled with a few friends to some of the major cities in Yunnan: Kunming, Dali, Shangarila, and Lijiang. All the while we took overnight-sleeper buses (never done this before!), or had a private driver to drive the 4 of us from city to city. The scenery was absolutely stunning (farmland and forests), people were incredibly friendly, food was fresh and delicious (the best strawberries I’ve ever eaten), and the air was clean! Our driver in Shangarila, who was of Tibetan decent, as many people in the region are, even invited us over to his home for milk tea! Not something we foreigners would expect, or even think of doing at home. I’m looking forward to more adventures in 2012 (and first up.. India!)

Until then… Happy New Year!

Reflecting Hong Kong’s history as a port, many of Fitzpatrick’s images are taken on the water. “We’re used to seeing Hong Kong from the island’s perspective, looking out at a famous harbor,” Fitzpatrick says. “But the sea is the heart of what Hong Kong is, and many of our early boat dwellers would have seen Hong Kong the other way—from out on the harbor looking at the island. That’s the point of view I’ve tried to capture in many of the photos. It’s a subtle link to the past that appeals to me as a Hong Konger.”

The photos that follow (taken on my iPhone 4) don’t even compare!

It’s a fitting exhibit in conjunction with the recent launch of the iPhone 4S and opening of Hong Kong’s own Apple Store… Anyways, have a look and visit the exhibit yourself before Oct 15 at Culture Club,15 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong.

I returned to HK yesterday from another trip to Xining, China… and looking forward to a pizza lunch in Central. It’s been a while since I’ve had American food (though it seems that’s all I write about)! This is just a quick update to share what I’ve been writing for VeggieWala.

Check out a few things I’ve been trying in HK, since the last visit to the World Peace Cafe:

Delicious selections of wonderfully thin crust, brick oven pizzas at Black Sheep Pizza, 330 Shek O Village (Shek O Road).

How could you be in HK and not be drinking bubble tea??? Although, I know this tea is actually from Taiwan…

And of course, there’s always a brunch craving! I highly recommend Eggs Sardou (a veggie eggs benedict) at The Flying Pan.

我今天从青海西宁回香港。。这张博客让你知道我还帮Veggiewala写一些关于吃素的食品。在香港吃的太好了！

很有意思啊，我写了英文张博客的时候是刚从青海省西宁市回香港的。我现在写这张，也在西宁了！太重合了！:)

对了，一年过了。我达一年了。也搬家到新的城市。一年里有很多发生。朋友去世了。久友谊继续成长，别的朋友没联系，也有新朋友们。等一下，看起来我在写一种俳句或什么。从小学没写过！

我想说得是我发生我常想到这个终点线，但现在用这短时间我常忘了，但也知道我应该享受的旅程。二月分是刚过了我开始这个博客的时一周年。这时候，我从美国搬家到北京。现在，过了一年，我也搬家了。搬到个有点儿熟悉的城市，但香港还是一个非常有意思的地方。 等不了后来怎么样！

三月份第一次来青海的时候是一个太独特的经验。我和一些朋友说了这样的经验我也相不了。我们去了一些农村的地方，环境和景观太没了。虽然是冬天，红和棕色的地没见过是这样的。不单是看风景和欣赏的景观，可以和农村的农民和游牧人打交互是一种机会。能看他们的家是用土和泥做的。也让我知道他们的生活是真正的有最小的生活。对了，对万死环境科技有限公司非常感谢，他们让我有太好的经验也可以帮他们一起合作做对我支持的项目，还可以旅游和做一些用户研究。

虽然，我呆了北京一年，我觉得我没有好象真正在北京住的人的机会，在北京学习当学生的时候一定是不一样的。虽然自是语言的学生海当学生有不一样的想法。觉得可能因为我在北京是个学生，我没做都可做的东西。到香港之前我很期待在北京当个真正的大人，但在写这张文章我也非常感兴趣在香港。我要说清楚在香港一定比在北京舒服。可能是我习惯的问题，还可能是我过这年的困难。我很想让自己过这写难受的问题，让我改善。在面上香港好象比较容易，所以我还需要继续面下的挖让我改善。 要对我朋友们和家庭非常感谢给我的支持和爱了！

I recently took another trip to Hong Kong and encountered a pleasant and tranquil surprise. In the middle of one of the world’s most international financial capitals and densely populated cities is The World Peace Cafe in Hong Kong.

There are several set menu options available, mixing and combining the choice of soup, appetizer, entree, and a drink or smoothie. I happily decided on humus, the vegetable sandwich, and tea. The humus was chunky, thick, and flavorful with perfectly warmed sesame pita and some spices as garnish. The open-face vegetable sandwich came with a small side of fries, cous-cous, and cabbage; however, the most memorable was not the perfectly grilled veggies, but the generously spread pesto that coated the bread. For HK$88, I couldn’t even finish my sandwich after the humus!

If you find yourself in Hong Kong, either as a destination or as a travel hub, make some time to enjoy this cafe and contribute a small part for world peace!

Located at 21-23 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai, HK

我最近在VeggieWala翻译的post：

我最近也去香港了，吃惊的碰到挺舒服和安静的地方。在香港，世界上一个最多人口和国际金融的城市是天下太平咖啡馆。对我情趣，挺好的朋友们带我到天下太平咖啡馆。着家不是一家普通的咖啡馆，他们只服务器质性素菜，新鲜果汁，和草本茶。在咖啡馆里也有小商店卖书和健康食品。我们吃午餐的时候非常多顾客，他们要拿多一些桌子和椅子让人座，人比较小的时候，椅子和桌子放下。

菜单有不同的套菜，可以配汤，小菜，菜和饮料或冰沙。我开心的点鹰嘴豆泥，素菜三明治，喝茶。跟住他们的浓粘稠香香的鹰嘴豆泥是刚刚暖的芝麻面包。套我的素菜三明治是一些薯条，米饭，和圆白菜。虽然菜很好吃，最值得是在三明治面包上的香蒜酱。我套菜附了港币88块，连我三明治吃不光。

如果你在香港要么旅行要么停过，应该用时间试试尝尝天下太平咖啡馆，太平捐班。
地址：香港灣仔大王東街21-23號地下

Watch this 20 minute TEDtalk by Martin Jacques, which gives some wonderful insight into China and how Westerners can better understand China and its growth. Jacques identifies some key points of  Easterners being more knowledgable of the West because they have been forced to learn from these powerful, developed countries. In the time that I’ve been in China, I could not agree more. I’m often feeling ignorant about Chinese history. Whereas when talking to the Chinese, they are very aware and informed about the West. Here are some quick facts:

• The founding of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) was October 1, 1949
• The population of China is 1.3 Billion (The US is 300 Million)
• China has 55 ethnic minority groups, in addition to the ethnic majority, Han
• Shanghai (18 Million) and Beijing (20 Million) are 2 of the most populated cities in the world
• The Chinese language uses 4 tones for speaking has over 20,000 written characters

Jacques touches on many points, including cultural identity, where 90% of China’s population identifies themselves as the Han race. In addition, “China is shaped by its sense as a civilization-state not a nation-state” of Western countries. And as a result, citizens of China view their government as a guardian of their civilization with legitimacy and authority, as opposed to the challenged State power in the West. Of course we know about the Chinese government’s censorship of news and media, including websites, but it’s completely true that the average Chinese believe everything that the media reports and they just accept that certain websites are not accessible. Perhaps it has much to do with the Chinese’s resilience and adaptability. Or is it cultural ingrainment of avoiding problems? Where no one claims responsibility, therefore just avoids any situation all together. Or like many discussions about education lately, are many Chinese not taught to think for themselves and challenge ideas? Jacques points out that there are no serious rivals to the Chinese State power and that there is a different construction of power embedded in society resulting from the Patriarchal family structure.

As you can see, I’m personally struggling with understanding many of these issues as well, but I’m here to learn more!

We know that the Chinese invented a lot of things and that recently, this sense of innovation is more than encouraged. So really, the most important take away from this video is that ”China is going to change the world.” And “if you want to feel the future, if you want to taste the future–try China.”

What are your thoughts?

我鼓励你看看上面的TEDtalk。Martin Jacques让我们西方人了解中国和中国的发展。他提提东方人比西方人了解多知识因为东方人（中国人）需要从西方的国家强大也开发。是真的，我呆了中国快一年，我同意有多次我觉得对中国历史我什么也不知道但中国人对西方的历史有了解。

加上Jacques说说中国的人民民族，他也说中国是文明国家但西方是民族国家（？）。为了中国文明国家，中国人对中国政府有合法和权力，比西方的不一样。西方人常对政府反对。当然我们知道中国政府对新闻和媒体删减，但普通的中国人对新闻和媒体什么都相信。可能是因为中国人很有弹力和应变力。或是不是以种避免问题的文化？谁都不责任。或好象最近的教育话题，多中国人没学怎么想，问问题，和反对主意。Jacques说对中国权力没有别组反对，为了家长制中国人有不同的权力感觉文化。

你看到呢，我自己有挣扎但很想多了解。

我们知道中国人发明了很多东西，现在多鼓励这样的发明。但在着视频最重要的是“中国回改变设计”和“如果你想感到前途，如果你想尝尝前途－试试中国。”

你觉得呢？

Happy Chinese New Year! And there couldn’t be a more fitting way to be greeted into the year of the rabbit than with the Red Bookstore. Red Bookstore plays an important role in the Shanghai design community and design education. Gavin Chang (张尊祥) started Red Bookstore in Shanghai’s Sculpture Space artist community over four years ago.  With his help, Shanghai is becoming increasingly design centered and design aware.

I had the chance to chat with Chang, who’s diverse background ranges from calligraphy to being a fisherman, tells me that his shop started in his apartment, where he sold design books and magazine subscriptions to schools and libraries. In Chinese, the shop is called 瑞点 (rui4 dian4) which stands for ‘lucky’ or ‘auspicious’, and luck is symbolized by the color red, hence the name Red Bookstore. Chang’s shop sells English design books. Although the shop caters to the expat and English speaking community, his larger volume sales benefit those in Chinese education. Chang reconfirms that because design is a profession that has grown and developed in the West, the Chinese are interested in learning the Western thought and philosophies, practices, and trends.

In addition to books, Red Bookstore also sells some small design items. It’s the only shop that focuses on a wide selection of design books that range from architecture to product, graphics and interiors. If you find yourself in Shanghai, I encourage you to visit Red Bookstore and the surrounding art and sculpture space filled with shops, galleries, and studios.

The website is being finalized and mainly in Chinese with images and titles of the books in-stock and available for purchase. Red bookstore is located in Shanghai Sculpture Space (Red Town) Room 118, Area B570 West HuaiHai Road (淮海西路570号).

Originally posted at DesignMuseumBoston.

祝你新年快乐！春节快乐！张尊祥的瑞点书店对上海的设计社区和教育很重要。现在瑞点书店在上海城市雕塑艺术中心。我有机会和张尊祥谈谈，张尊祥有很不同的背景，学过书法也当过渔夫。四年前张先生在他家里开了瑞点书店，卖书和杂志订阅给图书馆或学校。为了张尊祥的帮助，上海对设计越来越感性和重要。

张尊祥家书店大部分是卖英文设计书。虽然着家商店是卖书给外国人和说英文的人，他大部分销量是为了中国教育。张先生正式因为设计是一个西方发展的事业，对设计有感性的中国人都想雪和了解西方的理念趋势。

加上书呢，瑞点书店也卖小的设计产品，算只有这家书店卖怎么多设计书。建筑，产品，制图，室内设计书都有。如果你在上海的话我鼓励你参观参观瑞点书店也看看上海城市雕塑艺术中心的商店，美术馆展览，和工作室。地址：淮海西路570号