Beijing, one of the four ancient capitals of China, with a rich history dating back three millennia, was once a place I called home
My life there started where the city itself started, in the timeless hutongs of old Beijing, I lived in a siheyuan, just a stone's throw form the awe-inspiring Forbidden City
But Beijing isn't just for history buffs. It's a multifaceted city that's at the cutting edge of art and architecture.
This was no more evident than in places like the hip 798 district, or the Beijing CBD, home of the jaw-dropping CCTV headquarters
However, for a gastronome like myself, dishes like the iconic Beijing roast duck and lamb hotpot really stand out from my time there.
But above all else, it's the people that I remember most fondly.
For some time, I lived near Tsinghua and Peking University, where I crossed paths with individuals from all walks of life, including some of China's best and brightest minds.
Nowadays, whenever someone asks me if I'd live in Beijing again, I always say the same thing: in a heartbeat.