Beijing and Labor Day break

Just got back from Beijing last week and going there again tomorrow to follow up on a magazine job. The trip was quite rewarding. I was lucky to meet with some incredible + well respected design professionals and they were very very helpful. More projects coming up, so far so good...

I was busy and didn't get to take a lot of pictures. I saw the Olympic stadiums from the high way. Have to say... the bird nest looks pretty cool, but the swimming stadium's exterior looks way cheap and dull :(

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Labor Day Break
With my cousin. Real vintage: the blouse I'm wearing is one that I recently snatched from my mom's closet. She bought it right before she gave birth to me and it's been sitting in her closet since 1985, in mint condition. It's silk and has these patches of textured weaving, a square neck, and scalloped edges. Love it.





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Photos from Beijing

I went to this duck restaurant, Quan Ju De. I went there once before when I was younger and didn't remember it being so crowded. Food was good but way over priced (one duck costs RBM220, where it would cost about 30 at small restaurants). Though I hear there's a new duck restaurant that's even bigger, more glam, and more modern, but I forgot what it's called...

Duck pastries, so cute


Duck carver


Chefs at the stove


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Outside the Grand National Theatre (the Egg) by French architect Paul Andreu


We went to check tickets for the night and they were all sold out so we went to the Peking Opera House instead and saw a show there. My first time watching Peking opera, the costumes were amazingly elaborate and it was LOUD. Thankfully there were English subs. Loved it.






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This was at a restaurant called Wish. Hmm... what can I say, at first this place looks very New York when you make your way to your table. Then you look carefully, and realize the materials are cheap and very repetitive. I noticed this is very common for supposedly stylish restaurants in China: they tend to focus on the size of the place (this one was factory size, bigger than Spicemarket in the meatpacking district, NYC) rather than making the interior immaculate and detailed. As for the food, good on the eye and average on the taste buds...maybe I was too busy chatting I couldn't remember much of the food...other than the fact that I went home hungry. I was there with some recent CAFA graduates.




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With a friend from NZ et al. At Steak Factory, next to the Hyatt at Wang Fu Jing. The view of Chang An Street is awesome.


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At Laoshe tea house








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I had one more afternoon free so I went to the Seasons Palace mall for some window shopping. The newly opened Lane Crawford is housed there. I was impressed by the collection they have, a really good selection of pieces from designers that are probably new to Beijingners. Some great items from designers like Dres Van Noten and Marni, even fresh ones like Alexander Wang and The Row (Olsen twins). The store interior was really well done too. Thank goodness, please please please make Chinese people realize there's more than just LV monogram and Gucci monogram *cringe.

There was a modern chair exhibition on the ground floor: 'A Century of Chairs'. (I have a thing with chairs...I can't explain it). Tiny models, not life size unfortunately...
Frank O' Gehry chair (btw there's a real one at the Brooklyn museum)


Philippe Starck chair, you can sit on one at Felix, Peninsular hotel, Hong Kong


Arcade Fire, they have awesome websites, here and here


Thats all.