Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If professional networking is your goal, several groups have been developed to help you
expand your Rolodex. Arm yourself with business cards and sign up for one of the events
with
VIVA Professional Women's Network
(
www.vivabeijing.org
), the Beijing chapter
of
85 Broads
(
http://secure.85broads.com
), or
FCGroup
(
www.fcgroup.org
). FCGroup
is a long-standing well-respected networking group in the city offering industry-specific
events, such as nights for finance or the media industry. The various chambers of commerce
also organize regular professional networking events. These include
Amcham
(
www.amchamchina.org
)
,
Austcham
(
www.austcham.org
)
,
Britcham
(
www.britishchamber.cn
)
, and the
Canada China Business Council
(
www.ccbc.com
)
.
Not all networking groups require a tie or suit, however, and a wide range of groups use
entertainment to catalyze friendships. Needlepoint fans, male or female, can join
Stitch 'n
Bitch in Beijing
(
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stitchnbitch_beijing
), which meets over
coffee and sweets to chat over crafty creations. Any mode of craftwork permitted.
Beef-
steak and Burgundy
(
www.beefandburgundy.org
)
is one for the boys and somewhat more
exclusive, requiring an invitation and approval process to join. Members meet at Beijing's
upscale eateries and gel via gastronomic interests.
Last but not least, international networking group
InterNations
has a Beijing circle
(
www.internations.org/beijing-expats
)
. As a full member, you'll be able to meet up with
groups covering a wide range of specific interests, including music, dining, or even ten-pin
bowling.
Culture, Education, and Hobbies
There's no need for your hobbies or interests to go on hiatus while in Beijing. From
cooking to photography, there are one-off classes and term-length courses in English to
keep you active and to broaden your horizons. Two of the major staples for hobbyists
are the
China Culture Center
(CCC,
www.chinaculturecenter.org
) and
The Hutong
(
ht-
tp://thehutong.com
)
. Both offer a range of activities, with the CCC delving into history as
well as taking the adventure-bound out on Great Wall hikes, and The Hutong is an all-
rounder with Chinese medicine courses, cooking classes, life drawing, and much more
on its events list. More cooking classes can be enjoyed at
Black Sesame Kitchen
(
www.blacksesamekitchen.com
)
. Set in a restored
hútòng
house off Nanluogu Xiang, this
tiny cooking school-cum-restaurant runs intimate cooking classes headed by Chinese chefs.
It's definitely worth getting yourself on the mailing list for Sanlitun's
Bookworm
café
(
http://beijingbookworm.com
)
. This expat den is not only a laptop hub for itinerant work-
ers, it also holds an extraordinary number of events, arranging talks by authors, perform-
ance poets, journalists, and anyone else with something interesting to say.
