20 for 20: Jing-A Brewing's Kris Li
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In celebration of our 20th anniversary, we're profiling 20 movers and shakers who, much like The Beijinger, have called the capital home for 20 years or more.
Kris Li hales from Toronto, Canada, but he's one of few who have called Beijing home for the past 20 years. The Jing-A co-founder believes while there are many similarities between his two homes – just like in any big global city – he feels overall Beijing is just so much more massive, and has its own special vibe that's like noplace else. Its a place where so many things he could never imagine happening, like Jing-A opening its doors right underneath Kerry Centre, the "Pinnacle of Commerce". And just in time for The Beijinger's 20th Anniversary, he sat down with me to discuss his own 20 years in what he calls a "non-stop" city.
Taking a selfie in front of the Kerry Centre, 2001
What brought you to Beijing, and when?
My first trip to Beijing was in 1998. I was attending a summer exchange program in Hong Kong and decided to backpack into China to experience the mainland. I landed in Beijing without any plan, no accommodation booked and very, very basic Chinese. Luckily, one of my classmates from the summer program was from Renmin University and offered to meet me at the airport. I remember just clinging to her arm as we left the airport. The noise, confusion, and level of energy of Beijing was a little overwhelming at first, but I soon found my groove and started exploring the city. This trip really sparked my fascination in China and when I returned to Canada, I became obsessed with reading books and watching films about China. Jan Wong’s “Red China Blues” was a pivotal book for me. Two years later, I applied for an intern position with a Canadian publishing company to come back to Beijing. I arrived back in Beijing September of 2000 and started living and working in Shangdi, an undeveloped suburb of Beijing.
The first impressions of Beijing for me in both 1998 and in 2000 was an overwhelming sense of change within the city. It felt like a place that was on the cusp of something “big” and the energy associated with that change was infectious. I was also enamoured by the entrepreneurial spirit of everyone that I met. Everyone seemed to have a plan to start a business or make it “big” in the city.
Kris and Alex brewing in the early days
Absolutely not. My initial plan was to come back to China for a year, work as an intern, travel a little more around the country then head back to Canada. However, Beijing always has something to offer you. There’s always the next opportunity lurking around the corner. After my internship I committed to really trying to learn Mandarin and enrolled at school in Wudaokou. After 6 months of hardcore immersion, I found a job, moved down to the Sanlitun area and started working in an office. Every couple of years a new opportunity would present itself and I would stay a little longer.
One thing that I have always loved about Beijing is the randomness associated with living in this city. Any day has the potential to unravel into a completely unexpected experience. I remember the first time that a friend brought me to the “No Name Bar” in Houhai. At that time, the whole area was still just a neighborhood without any other bars or restaurants. It was a cold winter night and when I walked into the bar, it felt like entering someone’s living room. I remember having a Yanjing (beer) and staring out at Houhai lake and thinking how lucky I was to be living in this city.
Kris and Alex and the fruits of their brewing today
What’s changed the most since you first arrived?
That’s a really good question and something that people like to ask all the time. There are the obvious changes that come with the modernization of any city – new buildings, fancy apartments, expensive cars, etc. For me, I think the biggest change has been the price of beer! I remember buying a bottle of Yanjing for 1 RMB at my neighborhood restaurant when I first arrived.
Living in Beijing all these years has made me a very resilient person that can deal with a great deal of ambiguity. Over the past 20 years there have been incredible highs as well as some deep lows, but the community here has always been there to support me during these transitions. When we started Jing-A in 2012, that was a key moment for both of us as we handed in our corporate day jobs to brew beer. After living in Beijing for so many years, it just felt like the right time to strike out on our own and build something together.
Recent selfie along the Great Wall
What’s your main reasons why Beijing continues to be a draw for you to this day?
It’s a constantly evolving story. I find the constant change and energy within the city to be infectious.
What are your three favorite places in Beijing (aside from your home)? Could be restaurants, parks, cafes, tourist attactions, neighborhoods, or experiences.
1. Back in around 2005, I owned an old 20x20 jeep and one of my favorite things to do was to take the top off and drive into the forbidden city at night. I’m not sure if it’s still allowed, but you can enter from the East gate and follow the road along the moat to the front of the Forbidden City. I used to park my jeep there and stare at the front entrance – it was magical.
2. My second favorite experience is having traditional Beijing style hotpot with friends on a cold, frosty night in the city. I don’t have a particular place that I visit, but I love going to one of the many small hotpot shops that are scattered throughout the hutongs.
Alex, Kris and Jing-A team members taking a break along the Wall
My one piece of advice would be to really spend time to learn Mandarin.
Are you still doing what you came here to do, 20 years ago?
That’s a good question. When I came here 20 years ago, I always dreamed about becoming an entrepreneur in this city and it’s something that I’ve accomplished with Alex by starting Jing-A. However, I never thought I would be lucky enough to be making beer for a living!
Images courtesy of Kris Li
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