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Editor's Note

The beauty of a hobby far exceeds its value as a way to pass time. For some, a hobby such as arts and crafts requires total concentration that helps the artists escape the humdrum of daily existence, giving them an alternative way to express themselves.

Many discover, to their delight, that focusing on a hobby in their spare time helps improve their attitudes and performances in their daily routines while bringing a bit more beauty into their lives. So it was not surprising, when we looked into the world of Do It Yourself (DIY) handcrafting in Beijing, that we discovered a world of dedicated crafters, teachers and students who were producing beautiful objects, some traditional and some entirely contemporary, with media ranging from common flour dough and clay to leather. Look inside “Handcrafts DIY” in this issue and begin your exploration of Beijing’s handcraft scene. Perhaps you, too, will find satisfaction in DIY.

But sometimes you just need to have some fun: with “Cheap Thrills in Beijing on 100 Kuai,” we point to ways to spend a fun day in Beijing without having to visit your bank. Let editor Chai Jingnan show you how to have some fun without wrecking your budget.

Last month, we profiled the stereotypical life of Hutong Chuanzi, the life of a typical man in Beijing society. As promised, this month we bring you the life of a woman who could have been Hutong Chuanzi’s wife or sister in an interesting read that begins on page 28.

There are many more fun things to peruse in this issue of BTM, but we have also taken a moment to remember our former language consultant and friend Les Charlton (see full obituary on page 64).

As one Chinese editor who worked with Charlton during his BTM tenure said, “Whatever we gave him to polish, whether a feature story or an ad, he made it sparkle. His English was beautiful.”

Charlton will be missed by many in the expatriate community in Beijing as well.

Springtime is beautiful in Beijing. Be sure to set aside some time to enjoy it.