Money Stories
20:47, 16-Mar-2019
The brewery that shows off Beijing's globalization
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When it comes to the most globalized city in the world, people think of New York, London, Melbourne. These are all good choices, but Beijing is catching up. According to the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network, Beijing ranked No. 4 among the top 10 most international cities in the world. And this city's diversity and globalization can be seen in a single bar.
Beersmith is one of the growing numbers of hangouts that cater to a diverse and international crowd in Beijing. And Soul Shake is their house band.
"It's such a big city, it's growing so much, so many bars popping up. For us we're in a hub that's growing full of people like us," said Danny Dunn, a member of Soul Shake.
"It's a crazy city, it doesn't sleep – there's always something different on every corner, and every now and then something pops up, you have no idea what it is. I've met people from every inch of this world," said Tom Knight, a bandmate of Danny Dunn.
Singers in the Beersmith, Beijing / CGTN Photo
Singers in the Beersmith, Beijing / CGTN Photo
Danny Dunn on Guitar and Tom Knight on keyboards both sing. They come from opposite ends of the planet – the UK and New Zealand, but both of them love being in Beijing.
The patrons are a mix of Chinese and international, drawn by special events, and by the fact that Beersmith is a brewery too.
"So tangerine, jasmine flowers and purple rice were part of the ingredients. Very Chinese, very Chinese," said the general manager, Clifford Weiner, who shows off a very special kind of beer.
Kaleb Brown, a 23-year-old English teacher from Indiana in the U.S., also comes to this unique brewery. He's only been in Beijing for five months and is impressed at how open and livable Beijing is.
"Everyone here has been very generous. If I need help translating anything, people will go out of their way to help me and I wasn't expecting that," said Brown.
New, fun, exciting… Beijing's natives and its foreigners may have their differences, but all are dancing to a similar tune.