Between 10pm and 5am, the city is alive and thriving. Night markets, busy streets, lights everywhere — life doesn’t stop in Beijing.

I was introduced to massage by my former boss in Hong Kong, Ning. Now don’t imagine inappropriate work incentives: Ning may have paid me a ridiculous wage and asked me to work on weekends too often, but he wasn’t this kind of man.

A collection of “Chinglish” signs spotted in Beijing… wait — don’t you speak Chinglish?

The day is almost over, it’s now time to relax. I sometimes wish I were a morning person because I find the idea of waking up a bit before the world does a very good one. But I’m useless in the morning… so I settled for dusk.

We accidentally discovered the new heart of Beijing’s nightlife a few days later, walking around the Old Beijing. Most of the trendy bars are now in Hou Hai (后海), by Beihai， where bars, discos, restaurants and night markets are set around the lakes.

Cars are plentiful but people still bike everywhere, older people hang out in traditional parks and not around the Bird Nest, calligraphy is still an art that is practice in the street and many traditions are still followed. This is also Beijing.