The Blogging in Beijing WeChat group invites everyone to their second quarterly meet-up and networking event on May 31 at XL Bar in Sanlitun. The meet-up brings together Beijing-based bloggers and key opinion leaders (KOLs), and serves as a forum for them to share topics and ideas to help further explore living in China, as well as find writing and travel opportunities.
This time around, this FREE online-to-offline gathering will focus on the topic of “Beijing: A Gold Mine of Stories” (click here to register). Being a city full of history, Beijing gives everyone a feel of what life in a highly cultural but very contemporary setting is. But beyond the touristy sights and daily urban living lie a wealth of fascinating stories that can inspire budding writers and bloggers.
Seasoned historian and educator Jeremiah Jenne of Beijing by Foot joins the gathering, with a talk about how travelers and writers are barely scratching the surface of Beijing’s extraordinary topics hidden in historic areas. Chef-turned-writer and Blogging in Beijing founder Pauline van Hasselt of Beijing Mothers Guild will describe how living in Beijing for over two years has helped her overcome a learning disability and become one of the most intrepid storytellers to look out for in the city. Multicultural blogger Jackie Park of Bringing Up the Parks will moderate the subsequent panel discussion with the two speakers. Park has been living in Beijing for more than eight years and documents her experiences raising two third-culture daughters in China.
The gathering will be hosted by Andy Penafuerte III, co-founder of Blogging in Beijing, who runs the Cool Kid Andy travel blog. Penafuerte worked as an international news editor at China Global Television Network (CGTN) in 2016 and was a member of a team of news producers in the Philippines who received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for Best News Coverage in 2013.
Blogging in Beijing is also looking for volunteers as the group prepares for more upcoming activities in autumn and winter. Responsibilities include creating posters and visual materials, and help with event organizing and liaising. No prior blogging/writing/reporting experience is necessary, but a willingness to learn basic journalism skills and events management will definitely be preferred. Volunteers should be able to speak English regardless of skill level. For those who are interested, contact Andy Penafuerte (WeChat ID: anp3rd) and add “BlogBJ volunteer” to your message.
Blogging in Beijing’s Quarterly Meet-up and Networking Series: “A Gold Mine of Stories,” May 31
Ages 18+. Free to attend (but registration is needed as there are only 30 seats). 7-9pm. XL Bar, Sanlitun. For more inquiries, contact Andy Penafuerte on WeChat (ID: anp3rd). Scan the QR code to register. Special thanks to XL Bar for providing the venue for this event.
Photo: Negative Space via Pexels.com
