The first time I came to Beijing, I barely spoke a word of Chinese and had no idea about what it would mean to live in a new country.
I went on adventures in supermarkets, thinking: "What is this place, with hundreds of noodle types but only two brands of steak? "I walked around to get a better sense of the city. I would start a morning near Houhai, which was amazing with commercial walkways. From there, I would wander into hutongs, the narrow paths that wind their way from one end of old Beijing to the other. The elderly women, known as damas, sat on chairs outside their doorsteps. Occasionally, a man on a bicycle would pass by. To any newcomer, Beijing seemed like a ever-growing city contrasted with its calm surroundings and a pace of life seemingly unchanged for decades.
However, everything in Beijing has in fact changed. The 0lympics started the construction of more subway lines, a new airport, many high-speed railway routes, and many other projects. In the years since, Beijing has continued to transform at an amazing speed. I had no idea that the 2018 Beijing I was seeing was just a snapshot(快照) of the city's fast-paced turnover.
When l returned three years later for another research project, I found that my picture was entirely outdated, although the relaxed damas still sat on their chairs. Bike-sharing companies had come and gone. The folks who had previously been roasting lamb meat in food stands on the streets were distributing the groceries for an online shopping platform company. 'The group of old men who swam in Houhai was only half in number. Some believe that because they have wandered its darkest hutongs and been to its grandest palaces, they have a chance of knowing Beijing, but locals only laugh at the attempt.
