Reading guide

Keeping cool is the name of the game in summertime Beijing. Called chengliang in Chinese, the traditional way of doing it is going for an evening stroll. On the Unwind page, we suggest a few popular strolling spots, augmented with a few ideas for evening bycle rides around town – nothing too strenuous, of course!

Summer is elsewhere

Living in a society that largely takes for granted modern technology like air conditioning and refrigeration, the ingenuity and creativity of those people from earlier times is a source of constant amazement. It is not so much about choices and options, what really impressed us was the delicate love and enthusiasm with which they embraced every detail of daily life.