A young girl s grisly murder in 1937 shocked the world and made headlines around the globe. But as Beijing teetered on the edge of war with Japan, her death - and the search for her killer - were soon forgotten.
The author Paul French stumbled upon an unlabeled box of dusty yellow paged files at the British National Archives. The documents inspired him to write his novel
Midnight in Peking that became an instant bestseller.
Murder and Gin is a portrait of a young girl, Pamela Werner, and her Beijing. A collection of historical photographs and antique maps will open a window to the city that she knew. Using three original maps from the 1930s we will retrace her steps presenting places like the Fox Tower, the French ice skating ring, Hotel Des Wagons Lits and the notorious badlands.
A hundred years ago, in a country on the verge of collapse, a woman from the shadows stood up and defended her Chinese countrymen. Abandoned by the imperial government, and occupied by western forces looking for revenge, the fate of Beijing was placed on the narrow shoulders of a common courtesan. But who was this saint like figure? A plain prostitute or a Maria of the East? The lover of a German general? A Brothel Madam? An opium addict? Or a liar and a cheat?
Follow us, in the small footsteps of a very unlikely hero with tiny lily feet, through old opium dens and brothels still standing, when we look for answers. During this walk we will track down the life of Beijing’s most famous prostitute - Saijinhua, and create a portrait of Dashilar, the more than 600 year old commercial districtof Beijing, and Ba Da Hutong - the old red light district. The walk ends with an exhibition of related pictures from Beijing Postcards collection.
A hundred years ago, in a country on the verge of collapse, a woman from the shadows stood up and defended her Chinese countrymen. Abandoned by the imperial government, and occupied by western forces looking for revenge, the fate of Beijing was placed on the narrow shoulders of a common courtesan. But who was this saint like figure? A plain prostitute or a Maria of the East? The lover of a German general? A Brothel Madam? An opium addict? Or a liar and a cheat?
How did the Japanese occupation in 1937 impact Beijing? Why was the city wall torn down? What did the decision to move the capital in 1928 mean to Beijing? When did Beijing get its first tramway system and why was it smashed up by 50,000 angry rickshaw pullers? What was Wanfujing called during the 1960s?
TGIF: Pizza Cup Final Four Taste Off, Christmas Bazaars, Celtic Music, and Santa-Approved Improv Dec 18, 2020 11:30 am | Add a comment | 173 reads
The weekend is here! Time for fun, relaxation, and recharging the ol batteries ahead of gulp Monday morning s alarm clock. Luckily enough, there’s plenty of fun stuff to keep you occupied over the weekend that doesn t necessarily involve getting blitzed. Our weekend roundup offers you some of the best.
Come decide Beijing’s Best Pizza at the Beijinger’s 2020 Pizza Cup Final Four Taste-Off in the cozy confines of Boxing Cat Brewery on Dec 19! We’ll have five sessions, each limited to 100 participants. At the event, you will be served pizza from all Final Four contestants, drink beer and make merry – but this is key: only those present who have tasted all four can choose the ultimate champion for 2020. But scan that QR code and book your table now, because there are only a few tabl