Cosmopolitan Beijing

Editor’s note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, and huge changes have been made in Beijing, capital of China, over the past 40 years. We have invited 40 foreign experts to participate in a series of interviews named “New Era, New Insight” jointly hosted by GMW.cn（The official website of Guangming Daily） and the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and share their “Beijing Stories”.

When I first arrived in Beijing, the most impressive thing was the number of bicycles, which is now of course a lot of cars. When I came here in 1994, the Reuters office was in the diplomatic compound in Sanlitun，many bungalows and the skyline can be seen from the window. But now tall buildings are everywhere. Water cube, world trade square, CCTV building. Lots of nice buildings. There were very few restaurants, and I was single. Because our Philippine Spring Festival was not very lively, so I stayed in Beijing at that time, but my friends in Beijing were very warm-hearted, and I always had a full schedule every day, whether it was lunch at a friend's home, or a meal at a friend's place in the evening, I think it's not just Beijing, the Chinese are probably the most generous and kind-hearted people in the world. Now all kinds of dishes and restaurants are available. When you go to the supermarket, you can easily buy imported food. Around the 1980s and 1990s, I heard from other foreign journalists and diplomats that there would be a flight every week, and then all the imports would send to the Beijing Hotel. The diplomats and foreign journalists went to Beijing Restaurant once a week to buy some imported food. Beijing now is a very cosmopolitan city, very modern. We said it’s a dramatic transformation in English. He is not a simple change, but a dramatic change. Food, clothing, shelter and transportation have changed dramatically. You can find all kinds of famous brands in Beijing, and almost every month a big international BBS is held in Beijing. Beijing is a very attractive city. It can attract people’s attention, and this attraction is like a magnet. Many foreign journalists live in Beijing for 3 years or 5 years, and they are willing to come back after they leave. That’s why I lived for 21 years.