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Here at Bespoke we’re known (we hope!) for the stellar line up of experts and guides that bring serious chops to our tours across China. Well, for reasons that we probably don’t need to go into, we’re unable to run actual on-the-ground tours right now. But here’s the good news: we’ve lined up a series of fabulous speakers that will, via the magic of modern technology (also known as Zoom), be broadcast live and direct to your living rooms to speak on a series of tantalising China-related topics that range from true crime through to tea appreciation and hand-pulled noodle classes.

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Phew, it’s been a long few weeks, hasn’t it? If you’re slowly starting to feel a little less sluggish, consider joining us on a virtual jaunt to the hutongs of 1930s Beijing as we launch the first season of our online Bespoke Speaker Series. The first session, taking place on Tuesday, April 14th, will be hosted by two of our favorite Old China experts – Paul French and Jeremiah Jenne – who’ll be teaming up to talk about the authors, politicians and famous faces that once called Beijing home.

Between the wars, a motley crew of foreigners that became known as the ‘Peking aesthetes’ resided in the city’s ancient hutong neighborhoods where they wrote novels, studied the language, learnt Chinese painting and even, in some cases, explored what was a surprisingly vibrant gay scene. Our speakers have chosen their favorite ‘original hutong hipsters’ to discuss during this talk, and will spill the beans on the likes of Wallis Simpson and Anna May Wong to boot – giving us a unique glimpse into the lives of the famous foreign residents you didn’t even know had spent time in China.

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