The Large “Why” Behind Our International Lifestyle Expo

I’ve referred to as Beijing dwelling for 25 years, ever since arriving in 2000 to ascertain the corporate that grew into the Beijinger and our sister model, Jingkids. That’s lengthy sufficient to look at town’s worldwide group develop, shift, and reinvent itself extra occasions than I can rely. Some years felt electrical—full of recent faces, new concepts, new companies. Other years, particularly the final six, felt quieter because the pandemic and an financial slowdown took its toll. And as Beijing developed into the fashionable metropolis it’s immediately, extra areas of town grew to become livable — and the individuals who as soon as crossed paths naturally in locations like Sanlitun all of a sudden discovered themselves scattered throughout the map. It made me understand how a lot we have been lacking a spot the place we are able to merely stumble upon one another once more.

This thought has been rattling round in my head for six years. It began in the course of the pandemic, when so many people had been caught at dwelling and noticing how unusual it felt to not see acquainted faces. That interval made one thing very clear: we do not simply take pleasure in group; we depend on it.

For 15 years, we at the Beijinger have been creating areas for folks to satisfy. We’ve organized large worldwide college expos, meals festivals, burger festivals… you identify it. They had been enjoyable and profitable, however additionally they taught me one thing I did not count on. Yes, folks needed to discover a new college for his or her little one or strive town’s greatest tacos. But they stayed to talk with somebody they’d simply met in line, to check notes on neighborhoods, to chortle concerning the quirks of life right here. They stayed as a result of it felt good to not rush off for as soon as.

These days at our festivals, I’m typically greeted by younger {couples} holding the hand of an lovely toddler. “Hey Mike — we met six years ago at your Burger Fest!” Moments like this are what make me happiest.

That’s the spark behind Culturopolis. We did not wish to do one other meals fest or just a faculty honest for a slender viewers. We needed a spot you may want existed while you first arrived in Beijing — or one you are still eager for.

And to be clear, this is not an occasion for foreigners. This is for Beijing’s worldwide group, together with native Chinese.

I’ve by no means cherished the phrase “expat” or “foreigner” — it attracts a line that does not mirror the Beijing I do know.

Our readership has lengthy included an enormous variety of native Chinese residents, and at our festivals, greater than half the group is all the time Chinese. When we discuss concerning the worldwide group, we imply one thing broader and extra actual: not simply foreigners, but in addition internationally minded Chinese residents, returnees, folks working in multinational corporations, embassy employees, households who’ve lived overseas, vacationers, and anybody who feels at dwelling in a worldwide dialog.

They’re all a part of the material of Beijing’s worldwide group, they usually’re all a part of Culturopolis.

So here is what we’re constructing: a group hub beneath one roof at Langyuan Station on Jan 31 and Feb 1.

You’ll discover trusted providers, high worldwide colleges, world delicacies, handmade crafts, authorities assets, well being and wellness choices, and native sports activities teams.

But actually, the cubicles are simply the excuse. The actual level is the connections and conversations that occur between them.

Whether you are a pupil in Haidian, an govt in Yizhuang, a household in Shunyi, or a diplomat within the CBD, we wish this to be the place the place town feels just a little smaller and just a little hotter.

This is our first try at one thing like this, and we would like to have you ever with us — as an exhibitor or just as a customer. Our imaginative and prescient is to make this a yearly and even seasonal custom: a dependable gathering place the place folks can reconnect, uncover one thing new, and really feel a way of belonging in Beijing.

So take into account this a real invitation. Come be part of us. Let’s take one weekend to collect in the identical place and construct the group we have all been lacking.

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Culturopolis: The International Lifestyle Expo might be going down at Langyuan Station’s Central Station from Jan 31 to Feb 1. Entry to Culturopolis is free with superior registration earlier than Jan 15, or RMB 20 after that. You can join now by scanning the QR code within the poster above.

Langyuan Station Central Station 郎园Station 中央车站
53 Banjieta Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区半截塔路53号

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Images: the Beijingers