shu and joe

After a year lying low in Chaonei public housing, we decided it was time to check out the CBD. We opted for Jianwai SOHO, a Corbusian experiment in architecture for total living. I’ve always been resistent to the idea that tower block communities could offer rich urban-dwelling experiences, but in a city like Beijing, I think there’s something to be said for the sort of campus-style live/work/shop/dine ethos of SOHO.

Yeah I was impressed. We were lucky enough to have Nick back in town, so we took him to see some plate spinning, leg bending and ball balancing. Yup: Chinese acrobats.