Hello from Beijing

Vegans and non-vegans alike are welcome.
Post an intro here first to have your account authenticated by a mod, then you'll be able to post anywhere.
Even if you're here to lurk, please drop a short intro post here to let us know you're not a spammer so you aren't accidentally deleted.

Forum rules
Please read the full Forum Rules
Post Reply
Estellaona
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:08 am
Diet: Vegetarian

Hello from Beijing

Post by Estellaona »

Hi all,

I'm an American living abroad in Beijing and struggling with food at the moment. I've been a vegetarian for 13 years now, for some of which I was a vegan. I gave it up when I started spending a lot of time volunteering because I was living in communal spaces with others which made it difficult. I haven't picked it back up since because of the difficulties I've been having with Chinese food and supermarkets. I'm joining you in the hopes that I can become better educated about ethical veganism and hopefully get some positive encouragement. Treat me kindly.

Estellaona
莫圆
User avatar
Red
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 3897
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:59 pm
Diet: Vegan
Location: To the Depths, in Degradation

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by Red »

Hey Estellaona!
Sounds tough over there, hope you'll be okay.
What inspired you to give up meat?
Learning never exhausts the mind.
-Leonardo da Vinci
User avatar
Jebus
Master of the Forum
Posts: 2379
Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:08 pm
Diet: Vegan

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by Jebus »

Hi Estelleana and welcome to our forum.

I recently heard that veganism is getting popular in China. Is there any truth to this?
How to become vegan in 4.5 hours:
1.Watch Forks over Knives (Health)
2.Watch Cowspiracy (Environment)
3. Watch Earthlings (Ethics)
Congratulations, unless you are a complete idiot you are now a vegan.
User avatar
brimstoneSalad
neither stone nor salad
Posts: 10273
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 9:20 am
Diet: Vegan

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by brimstoneSalad »

While there are eggs in some noodles, Chinese don't put milk in everything like companies in North America do (although they may be getting worse about this), so a lot of things are accidentally vegan unless they contain lard or beef fat.

As long as you're avoiding the overt things, you're probably doing pretty well. An accidental trace of egg or lard isn't going to make a big difference.
It's probably a bigger challenge to avoid partially hydrogenated oil for health reasons. It's generally a good idea not to eat Chinese snack food unless it's just nuts (which AFAIK only commonly contain gelatin in North America for the sugary coatings).
Peanuts are a good go-to emergency snack in most countries.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/4f/58/6f/4f586fc9933a28d8bd85ddd2b3be3ab5--china-food-in-china.jpg

Have you been to any of the vegan restaurants in Beijing? (I assume you know about happycow, which has listings for pretty much every country)
Estellaona
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:08 am
Diet: Vegetarian

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by Estellaona »

Thanks for the responses!
brimstoneSalad wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 2:18 pm Have you been to any of the vegan restaurants in Beijing? (I assume you know about happycow, which has listings for pretty much every country)
Part of my problem is I live in the sticks of Beijing, where happycow pretty much doesn't exist. There is a great vegetarian restaurant near me though, Chinese buffet style :)
My main difficulty is the things I usually eat are not in most Chinese supermarkets so I've resorted to eggs as a hold-over. I'm not a great chef, and I'm not used to the foods they eat here.
Jebus wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:29 pm I recently heard that veganism is getting popular in China. Is there any truth to this?
I really don't know, but there's definitely more vegan things geared towards expats who live in central Beijing than I would've imagined. It goes hand in hand with the fitness community here.
Red wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:29 am Sounds tough over there, hope you'll be okay.
What inspired you to give up meat?
Thanks for the love! I'm really fine, but thanks for worrying about me. I gave up meat when I was 10, I think it was based on my love for animals, but honestly an argument with my father spurred me on- he said, "If vegetarianism is so great, why aren't you a vegetarian?" I hate to lose an argument.
User avatar
brimstoneSalad
neither stone nor salad
Posts: 10273
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 9:20 am
Diet: Vegan

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by brimstoneSalad »

Estellaona wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:06 pm My main difficulty is the things I usually eat are not in most Chinese supermarkets so I've resorted to eggs as a hold-over.
What are the things you usually eat?

If you can find fresh tofu in a market you can eat that without cooking. The easiest way to eat it is if you smash it up in a bowl with some seasoning blend and use it basically as an tofu "egg salad" on some bread or with crackers.

Otherwise, you can make a soup: not hard for even a bad cook to do in a rice cooker.
Estellaona wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:06 pmI'm not a great chef, and I'm not used to the foods they eat here.
Can you find Liangfen on the street? That's typically vegan.

Not much protein, but it can hold you over if you're hungry until you can get some tofu or peanuts.
Estellaona
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:08 am
Diet: Vegetarian

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by Estellaona »

brimstoneSalad wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2017 3:35 am Can you find Liangfen on the street? That's typically vegan.
Erg, I can't eat Liangfen, it gives me the heeby jeevies. You're absolutely right about the tofu, I need to eat more of it- I've failed cooking it several times so I've been tentative towards using it, but I'll try the mashed way.
User avatar
Red
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 3897
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 8:59 pm
Diet: Vegan
Location: To the Depths, in Degradation

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by Red »

Estellaona wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:06 pm Thanks for the love! I'm really fine, but thanks for worrying about me. I gave up meat when I was 10, I think it was based on my love for animals, but honestly an argument with my father spurred me on- he said, "If vegetarianism is so great, why aren't you a vegetarian?" I hate to lose an argument.
Alright, good to see you'll be okay.
I actually have a story similar to yours. When I was 12, I started questioning the morality of meat-eating, told my mom about it, and she asked the same damn question. It's good to see I'm not the only one with a story like that ;) .
Learning never exhausts the mind.
-Leonardo da Vinci
DrDavid
Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:42 pm
Diet: Vegan

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by DrDavid »

Red wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:49 pm
Estellaona wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:06 pm Thanks for the love! I'm really fine, but thanks for worrying about me. I gave up meat when I was 10, I think it was based on my love for animals, but honestly an argument with my father spurred me on- he said, "If vegetarianism is so great, why aren't you a vegetarian?" I hate to lose an argument.
Alright, good to see you'll be okay.
I actually have a story similar to yours. When I was 12, I started questioning the morality of meat-eating, told my mom about it, and she asked the same damn question. It's good to see I'm not the only one with a story like that ;) .
+1. I was 9 years old at the time - questioning eggs/chickens, but I was run over by both school and parents...
User avatar
PsYcHo
Master of the Forum
Posts: 1166
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 10:24 pm
Diet: Pescetarian

Re: Hello from Beijing

Post by PsYcHo »

Hello, and welcome!

I've only traveled in the US, so I can't imagine how challenging it can be to live in an entirely different continent! (I know this is a Vegan based forum, but they welcome all inquiring minds, and they tolerate my non-Veganism, though I have quit eating most meat.)

Dietary issues aside, what was it like going from the States to the Orient? It must have been quite a culture shock.

I enjoy talking to travelers, seeing as how most of my countrymen haven't explored their own country, and I envy you your travels! ;)
Alcohol may have been a factor.

Taxation is theft.
Post Reply