Mid April I was back in Beijing on business again (last trip in January is posted here) and this time I stayed an extra week for business.

Again I was humbled by the generosity of my hosts Otis and Chris. Otis gets the award for being not only host but tour guide, honorary uncle to my sons, and even banker. Chris was nice enough to keep my travel dates in mind when planning a Beijing speed solving competition so I was able to attend that as well.

The Beijing collectors group took me out puzzle shopping to the best puzzle shop in Beijing, and it did not disappoint.

Many puzzles were flat out given to me (guys, let me buy something!) and I was never able to pay for a meal. Talk about the royal treatment!

I can't describe how awesome it is to be able to fly around the world and meet people who have a deep shared interest and make an otherwise foreign city so welcoming.

You can find the full set of pictures (with full resolution) here on my Flickr site but here are a few to save you time:

It was nice to see Gordon again, I was able to give him the laser cut Gordon's HexClock based on his design.


Unexpected KO experience: In China I fully expect to find KO puzzles, but this surprised me: The HotPot restaurant where we were eating that night that was part of a known restaurant chain. Or so we thought... Chris later informs me that it seems that restaurant isn't actually affiliated with the chain, and just uses the name. So we ate at a KO restaurant!


I brought Eric's Pentagram, and it was quite popular.


Back from left to right: Dave, Chris, Aiai, Otis, zhanxing, Gorden
Front from left to right: Lunny, Luchen, Mickey, xiaoyuan


The competition

Here are a few pictures of the wonderful puzzle shop, and one of me with the owner.





Here is a picture of me (and my son Dan) with the collector's group after lunch.


Thanks to all my hosts,

Dave

Nice photos Dave, thanks for sharing them.

Interestingly, I had another friend visiting Beijing around that time (now he is back in Greece).

Thanks for sharing those pictures, it is great to see again (even in photos) you and Dan!




Pantazis

That puzzle shop is amazing! I'm glad I wasn't there, though ... I don't think my bank balance (or my luggage allowance) could have taken it

And I bet there are loads of such shops to visit!

I've just looked at the flickr pictures. Were those Dogics new i.e. KO? I haven't seen the pink one before? Did someone really take apart several dogics just to make one pink one?

I was wondering that too?

Robert

Absolutely not KO.
Aiai had been collecting the pink tiles for months to finsh the monocolor dogic. He's a pink-mania.

Miss you Dave. Especially Mat & Dan^^Best Wishes.

And yes the pink Dogic is not a KO one. The Beijing collectors group we now have around 6-8 main person & we got around 13 different Dogic here^^ The pink one is from Aiai. We share the tiles to let everyone of us to have different color Dogic, & let him to have a pink one. And jerry got a whole set of Dogic now. While I still don't have one Of course Instead of Dogic, we share lot's of different puzzles. Aim to let everyone of us to have good puzzle to play^^

Having any unwanted puzzles? Trade them to China (just a joke)

One more thing, I got more pic for Dave's Beijing trip herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/otischeng/sets/. Hope someone will like it.

Would you be so kind to give me the address of this puzzle shop in Beijing?
I have been to Beijing 3 times, but I couldn't find any....
Thank you so much!

The address is here: Beijing shi Chongwenqu Muxiyuan "Bairong shimao shangcheng" erqi, 4/F, shop 4032.

It's at the South part of Beijing. Would be hard to find for a foreigner...... But it's OK. Next time you come to beijing, contact me I'll take you to~

Thank you so much.

Last time I met "happyman" in Beijing. "happyman" is the user ID on Ebay....
He gave me his address, I took a taxi, I spent a lot of time in the taxi, but at least I found him....

We exchange some puzzles.

I would be happy, if we can meet once... We could drink some Quintao beer....

Well, I'm not a very mature puzzle collector but anyway I like to collect them. Just tell me when you go to Beijing next time. You. Will have fun with Beijing collectors group!