Beijing Blooms
A City Blooms Beyond Media Misconceptions
Several times since I returned to Beijing in July of 2024 I have berated myself for losing momentum on pursing a career here. Before I left universal and returned to the UK for three months, almost 1 year ago, I met with a talent agency called Cozmikk who were very positive and I arranged to contact them on my return in July of 2024. There were many reasons; arriving back in Beijing on crutches being chief among them, for why I didn’t follow up on this lead. I spent nearly 7 weeks recovering and in this period the enthusiasm to work left me and instead I made videos, wrote a blog and planned a variety of trips and meetings to distract me from my purpose. I received notice from the agency that they were running some basic film acting skills workshops on Tuesday evenings and feeling every moment of my 8 month long act of procrastination I immediately signed up, sensing this was the push, jump, shove I needed to give myself if I were to make good on my aspirations. I was sent a short passage to learn and on Monday I dedicated myself to this task.
Peng had arranged to see his parents but feeling the burden of line learning I declined, particularly as we had another early morning walk to Caishikou and Coti coffee to collect some free pins and magnets Peng had ordered. I had decided to travel to Fengtai with Peng and while he did his filial duty I briefly explored a new industrial park conversion to creative centre, Jijia Miaoshuangchuang, to have tea at a stylish cafe ‘Topmaker’ and work on learning.
As Tuesday dawned I felt extremely anxious about the workshop I had agreed to do working on film acting skills and I abandoned plans to go out in the day to give more focus to the script. I left early though to continue working on the script in the privacy of a cafe. As i walked through the Hutongs on my way to Caishikou station I was made aware of just how radically the landscape was changing as more of the homes and courtyards were being reclaimed and torn down. I couldn’t help but feel a little sad to see this change and sincerely hoped that whatever was to be done with the land it would honour the streets and not, as in some cases put equally squalid looking blocks in place. I traveled to Baiziwan by subway, exiting for the first time at Huagong station where I was able to record another wonderful subway mural; here celebrating chemicals and nature. I found an excellent cafe, DAVIA Coffee to sit in but annoyingly it closed at 5 and I had to make my way to Cozmikk studios early. When I arrived I discovered that the workshop began at 7pm not 6 which made me absurdly early. I was able though to sit in relative quiet and comfort till the work began.
Despite the nerves I was able to get a lot out of the workshop in which I was reminded and challenged with some basics of script analysis and practical work. from some fun exercises to being educated to actually being put in front of the camera and find some truth. It was exposing, but it was also informative and fun and I was happy to sign up for the next week.
It was nice to have a day where I was not having to think about threatening someone with a gun and I started the day by cycling to Qianmen and Beijing Fun to see a new Chinese film, Always Have Always Will. It was overtly sentimental but it looked good enough and was touching enough for me to enjoy the experience. I had a coffee at Page One overlooking Zhengyang Gate and as I surveyed the world outside I had a message from Peng who had discovered that Heytea were giving a Kite Magnet away with a new tea. The only store where this could be picked up was in Chaoyang in the north. Conveniently I could take line 8 from where I was directly to the mall where the free gift was available. I made the journey, picked up the kite and tea, then, as I was in the location, took the opportunity, to walk along the river and see if any of the cherry trees were in bloom in the Yuandadu Chengyuan Relic Park where clearly Spring had begun to sprung.
Han Meilin is one of China’s foremost contemporary artists and sculptors. He is probably known in the west for his work on the 2008 Olympics. Conveniently located close to the apartment in Tongzhou I was going to on Friday evening for play reading club, is a museum dedicated to his work. It is at Liyuan Cultural Theme park; which comprises 2 buildings and 12000 square metres, houses 2,600 pieces of the artists work in an astonishing range of mediums and sizes and is actually a companion gallery to another building in Hangzhou, at the opposite end of the Beijing-Hangzhou grand canal. Peng joined me on the excursion to Tongzhou to explore the museum which was wonderful. From tea cups to awe inspiring monolithic sculptures the work is full of the spirit of China and the east. We went to a cafe I had frequented before to do some work before Peng headed home and I ended my day reading several parts in the play ‘Almost Maine’ with ex-colleagues,
In preparation for future Marathons Peng wanted to return to Tongzhou to run a half marathon along the canal. This gave me the opportunity to enjoy a walk along the canal, visit the freshly renovated Sanjiao Temple and explore again the exquisite, beautiful, ripple like lines of the Qianhe Xielu Bridge. The trees alongside the canal were starting to bloom and the vista could not have looked more beautiful than it did against the ancient architecture, magnolias and blue skies making the difference from my first visit to the canal in 2020 quite astonishing. After Peng’s run I had arranged to meet him at Yuanwei Xiangxi, a Hunan Cuisine restaurant in the quirky Yueliangehe Art town, otherwise known as Moon River. This again was an area I had visited in 2023 with Rachel from UBR. Then it had seemed desolate and empty and its distinctive sculptures and style made it seem weird, out of place and slightly alienating. On this day there were market stalls lining the streets and the atmosphere was bustling and lively and there was nothing strange or other worldly about it. I really felt that in the 5 years I have had experience of Beijing the city was really coming into its own.
When I was in The Uk in 2024 the BBC started a series entitled The Invention of China, I was excited to hear a historical analysis of the country i have adopted. Unfortunately when I listened to the second episode my interest turned to dismay. I was appalled at the biased view of Beijing that was given in this programme. The presenters depicted the city as a “tough, polluted, soulless, deserted city that you would not want to spend any time in other than to see the palace Museum”. This was so far from my experience of Beijing that I truly wonder if the presenters have actually been here. I am constantly surprised and disappointed by the negative impressions that are given by British media when depicting China. I was looking forward to hearing an educated and enlightening programme but instead I was left with a sour taste and a dread of what the rest of the series would contain.
In a week where signs of spring are exploding and the sense of regeneration continue to surprise and thrill, I cannot see what there is to be gained from depicting China’s capital city in such a bleak and soulless way. This is a city rich with history, with many temples and ancient sites to visit, there are vast beautiful parks. It has a thriving art culture, many fascinating old style Hutongs, markets and art parks to explore and many wonderful restaurants. Above all in my experience the days of dazzling blue skies far surpass any days of pollution. The city literally shimmered with light and joy during its new year celebrations this year and that feeling has continued into new season. Beijing is truly blooming and there is nothing quite like it to nourish the soul.
