As I arrive in Beijing for a week of interviews for my new book, the city welcomes me with its rough romantic edge. It is snowing outside and I am chilling in a very charming renovated courtyard hotel lit up with red lanterns and hidden way in one of the old hutong. There is a major feast outside with home-lit firecrackers and loud blasts to honor the last day of the Chinese new year. I have a large bed with a tea-table tray on my left side and an even larger antique bed with red silk curtains and red lining on the right. I was told that it is the wedding suite and the room with the best feng shui. I long for Peking duck but the hotel tells me that all the restaurants will be packed tonight–as it the end of the Chinese New Year and also Chinese Valentine’s day. They advised me to have Peking duck tomorrow. But I just cracked open a beer and very soon I am heading outside. It is snowing more heavily now and I am going to find that duck.
