I am Ku Chifai from Hong Kong. Prior to 2009, I served as the Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton in Osaka, Japan. Following the Olympics, I returned to The Ritz-Carlton in Beijing to continue my journey in the realm of five-star hotels. In 2016, I opened a restaurant in Chaoyang District, named “The Beijing Kitchen”. While our expertise lies in Cantonese cuisine, you may wonder why we put “Beijing” in the name of our restaurant. Before I opened this restaurant, I had these thoughts that, since I’ve lived in Beijing for a long time, and I’ve already developed a profound affection for this city, I want to name the restaurant after “Beijing”, and something more. Then it struck me— I work in the kitchen everyday, and every household possesses a kitchen. I hope my guests would feel a sense of coming home, warm, cozy and relaxed when they dine in The Beijing Kitchen.

Now we have five branches of The Beijing Kitchen, three of which are situated in Beijing's Chaoyang District. Why did we select Chaoyang District for all three restaurants’ locations? Because this international and fashionable district is renowned for offering outstanding business and residential environments in Beijing, drawing numerous visitors from home and abroad. And that’s why people will always choose to dine in Chaoyang.

In this area, I find that the restaurant industry embraces diversity and inclusiveness. Unlike some cities or specific places that specialize in a single cuisine, it offers a wide range of culinary styles. From Western to French and Chinese cuisine, among others, the restaurants here cater to diverse tastes. Chaoyang District stands out as the hub of Beijing's most prestigious restaurants, boasting the largest number of Black Pearl restaurants and Michelin restaurants. As an ordinary citizen, it’s so nice to be able to dine in a fantastic environment and have a wide variety of options for different cuisines.

Convenient public transportation has greatly facilitated our daily lives, especially the subway Line 14. Along the line 14, there are commercial zones such as Wangjing, SKP, and INDIGO. When traveling outside the city, the subway could take me directly to Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station or to the airport via the Airport Express.

I love the nature, and living in Chaoyang is incredibly comfortable. There are so many parks here for us to take a walk or do some sports such as jogging or cycling. The cycling paths in Chaoyang Greenway is very convenient and safe for cyclists.

Since I’ve witnessed the changes in a decade in Chaoyang, my connection to this district has become stronger. Chaoyang is becoming a better and greener place for us to live. And now it has truly become a second home to me. Hahaha, I’ve decided to settle down in Chaoyang.

Producer: Chen Jing

Planner: Li Tianxiao

Director/Editor: Zhou Yangjun

Cameraman: Sheng Ming

Special Support: Foreign Affairs Office of Chaoyang District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality