James M Zimmerman
@jmzbeijing.bsky.social
Beijing-based author, lawyer, and political commentator; and former four term chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.
http://ThePekingExpress.com
http://ThePekingExpress.com
Personal history: On 9-11-2001, I put up a US flag at my home in Beijing (189 Dragon Villas). Most Chinese were sympathetic/supportive. Here, the community guards are showing their solidarity with my daughters. This wouldn’t happen today as both sides have squandered their political capital.
September 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Personal history: On 9-11-2001, I put up a US flag at my home in Beijing (189 Dragon Villas). Most Chinese were sympathetic/supportive. Here, the community guards are showing their solidarity with my daughters. This wouldn’t happen today as both sides have squandered their political capital.
I am super excited for the upcoming release of the Japanese language edition of The Peking Express. Once out, I am looking forward to a road trip to Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities in Japan to chat with old and new friends about China's great train robbery of 1923. Details soon. Here is the cover:
September 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
I am super excited for the upcoming release of the Japanese language edition of The Peking Express. Once out, I am looking forward to a road trip to Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities in Japan to chat with old and new friends about China's great train robbery of 1923. Details soon. Here is the cover:
I am excited to meet old and new friends in the South Florida area on September 28th. Join me at the legendary Books & Books Coral Gables for a talk about China's great train robbery of 1923 and a host of other China-related issues.
shop.booksandbooks.com/event/2025-0...
shop.booksandbooks.com/event/2025-0...
September 4, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I am excited to meet old and new friends in the South Florida area on September 28th. Join me at the legendary Books & Books Coral Gables for a talk about China's great train robbery of 1923 and a host of other China-related issues.
shop.booksandbooks.com/event/2025-0...
shop.booksandbooks.com/event/2025-0...
As military parades go, the 50th anniversary parade in 1999 was one I will never forget. This was Jiang Zemin's big day and the first parade since 1984 (as the 40th parade in 1989 was cancelled for reasons we all know). Lots of clunky, noisy stuff on the streets and in the skies. Times have changed.
September 3, 2025 at 4:50 AM
As military parades go, the 50th anniversary parade in 1999 was one I will never forget. This was Jiang Zemin's big day and the first parade since 1984 (as the 40th parade in 1989 was cancelled for reasons we all know). Lots of clunky, noisy stuff on the streets and in the skies. Times have changed.
My favorite parade photo of the day. Even the little guy loves a good parade. (Taken by me while watching a mini-parade of departing tanks rolling through Sanlitun after the big parade was over.)
September 3, 2025 at 4:06 AM
My favorite parade photo of the day. Even the little guy loves a good parade. (Taken by me while watching a mini-parade of departing tanks rolling through Sanlitun after the big parade was over.)
I finally got my hard-copy of long-time Beijinger Steven Schwankert's outstanding book, The Six: The Untold Story of the Titanic's Chinese Survivors. A fabulous read. Not to be missed.
June 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I finally got my hard-copy of long-time Beijinger Steven Schwankert's outstanding book, The Six: The Untold Story of the Titanic's Chinese Survivors. A fabulous read. Not to be missed.
I am delighted to meet old and new friends at the Keystone Academy in Beijing to talk about The Peking Express. Join us if you are in Beijing this coming Wednesday, April 16, 630pm.
April 13, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I am delighted to meet old and new friends at the Keystone Academy in Beijing to talk about The Peking Express. Join us if you are in Beijing this coming Wednesday, April 16, 630pm.
I am very excited and honored to be moderating the talk by Tony Banham, the author of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival on Saturday, March 1. Join me at the HK Litfest. See link for tickets: www.eventbrite.hk/e/talk-the-s...
February 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I am very excited and honored to be moderating the talk by Tony Banham, the author of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival on Saturday, March 1. Join me at the HK Litfest. See link for tickets: www.eventbrite.hk/e/talk-the-s...
Reflecting on 25+ yrs and 4 eds of my China Law Deskbook, first published by the ABA '99. I started the 1st ed in '91 as a bundle of JV laws tossed in my suitcase for travel around the country. While purely my perspective, it reflects 3 decades of China's development. We'll see if I finish 5th Ed.
January 13, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Reflecting on 25+ yrs and 4 eds of my China Law Deskbook, first published by the ABA '99. I started the 1st ed in '91 as a bundle of JV laws tossed in my suitcase for travel around the country. While purely my perspective, it reflects 3 decades of China's development. We'll see if I finish 5th Ed.
For those in California: I am delighted to be moderating a discussion with Pulitzer and Polk Award Winning journalist and investigative reporter Dean Calbreath, the author of The Sergeant: The Incredible Life of Nicholas Said.
July, 23, 2024, 730pm
Warwick's
7812 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
July, 23, 2024, 730pm
Warwick's
7812 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
July 17, 2024 at 1:17 AM
For those in California: I am delighted to be moderating a discussion with Pulitzer and Polk Award Winning journalist and investigative reporter Dean Calbreath, the author of The Sergeant: The Incredible Life of Nicholas Said.
July, 23, 2024, 730pm
Warwick's
7812 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
July, 23, 2024, 730pm
Warwick's
7812 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
I am thrilled and honored to be part of the 13th edition of The Script Road — Macau Literary Festival, and look forward to meeting new and old friends in Macau at the two events on March 10-11. Join me!!!
March 3, 2024 at 12:47 PM
I am thrilled and honored to be part of the 13th edition of The Script Road — Macau Literary Festival, and look forward to meeting new and old friends in Macau at the two events on March 10-11. Join me!!!
A perfect Saturday morning to walk the Beijing Ming Dynasty Wall Park (北京明城墙遗址公园). It's sunny and getting warmer, and air quality was good. And always interesting to compare the scenes of today with photos from old Peking's past.
March 2, 2024 at 9:28 AM
A perfect Saturday morning to walk the Beijing Ming Dynasty Wall Park (北京明城墙遗址公园). It's sunny and getting warmer, and air quality was good. And always interesting to compare the scenes of today with photos from old Peking's past.
I am very much looking forward to meeting old and new friends in Singapore this coming Monday, Feb 19, 700-830pm, at 1888 Singapore, and moderated by the fabulous Liza Lin of the Wall Street Journal. The book is available in Singapore at Kinokuniya Books.
www.1880.com.sg/event/the-pe...
www.1880.com.sg/event/the-pe...
February 16, 2024 at 10:52 AM
I am very much looking forward to meeting old and new friends in Singapore this coming Monday, Feb 19, 700-830pm, at 1888 Singapore, and moderated by the fabulous Liza Lin of the Wall Street Journal. The book is available in Singapore at Kinokuniya Books.
www.1880.com.sg/event/the-pe...
www.1880.com.sg/event/the-pe...
For those in WDC: I am very much looking forward to seeing old and new friends at Georgetown on February 8 for a book talk on The Peking Express. Join me!
uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/events/the-p...
uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/events/the-p...
January 23, 2024 at 11:25 PM
For those in WDC: I am very much looking forward to seeing old and new friends at Georgetown on February 8 for a book talk on The Peking Express. Join me!
uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/events/the-p...
uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/events/the-p...
I am honored that Better World Campaign has listed The Peking Express as a favorite book "for insight and inspiration to navigate a complex world". And in remarkable company too! I am blessed and grateful.
betterworldcampaign.org/blog/2023-li...
betterworldcampaign.org/blog/2023-li...
January 18, 2024 at 5:51 PM
I am honored that Better World Campaign has listed The Peking Express as a favorite book "for insight and inspiration to navigate a complex world". And in remarkable company too! I am blessed and grateful.
betterworldcampaign.org/blog/2023-li...
betterworldcampaign.org/blog/2023-li...
Very cool that China Books of the Year listed The Peking Express book cover as one of the best of the year and specifically as a "cinema-style poster for a history thriller."
December 29, 2023 at 3:32 AM
Very cool that China Books of the Year listed The Peking Express book cover as one of the best of the year and specifically as a "cinema-style poster for a history thriller."
In the final week of 2023, I look back on a year of reading a number of outstanding non-fiction titles, and mostly focused on late 19th and early 20th century China and Asia.
See link to: People Stories of “Old” China: My Favorite Books of 2023
thepekingexpress.com/news-%26-new...
See link to: People Stories of “Old” China: My Favorite Books of 2023
thepekingexpress.com/news-%26-new...
December 27, 2023 at 10:27 PM
In the final week of 2023, I look back on a year of reading a number of outstanding non-fiction titles, and mostly focused on late 19th and early 20th century China and Asia.
See link to: People Stories of “Old” China: My Favorite Books of 2023
thepekingexpress.com/news-%26-new...
See link to: People Stories of “Old” China: My Favorite Books of 2023
thepekingexpress.com/news-%26-new...
The "official" Peking Express Christmas cookie.....as creatively baked and decorated by my talented daughter!
Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas to all!
December 24, 2023 at 11:48 PM
The "official" Peking Express Christmas cookie.....as creatively baked and decorated by my talented daughter!
Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas to all!
I am very excited to be part of the 2024 Young Readers Festival School Program as part of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, March 4-10, 2024. It will be a fabulous opportunity to chat with talented students who will some day become great storytellers.
December 17, 2023 at 5:13 AM
I am very excited to be part of the 2024 Young Readers Festival School Program as part of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, March 4-10, 2024. It will be a fabulous opportunity to chat with talented students who will some day become great storytellers.
Kissinger was a statesman, powerbroker, and architect of U.S. foreign relations during the Cold War era, especially with respect to Washington's relationship with China. But a complicated legacy indeed. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing August 8, 2008.
November 30, 2023 at 2:15 AM
Kissinger was a statesman, powerbroker, and architect of U.S. foreign relations during the Cold War era, especially with respect to Washington's relationship with China. But a complicated legacy indeed. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing August 8, 2008.
I was honored to attend Ambassador Burn's reception this evening in honor of the Philadelphia Orchestra's return to Beijing 50 years after its historic tour of China, including to meet extraordinary Davyd Booth, a violinist who was on the orchestra’s first tour in 1973. Music diplomacy at its best!
November 8, 2023 at 12:42 PM
I was honored to attend Ambassador Burn's reception this evening in honor of the Philadelphia Orchestra's return to Beijing 50 years after its historic tour of China, including to meet extraordinary Davyd Booth, a violinist who was on the orchestra’s first tour in 1973. Music diplomacy at its best!
I am hosting my Beijing office Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday for about 28 people. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder to find imported turkeys. No Butterballs!!! Our local "German" butcher only has domestic birds (Tianhu brand, which claims to be around since 1980)! We’ll give it a go!
November 6, 2023 at 8:56 AM
I am hosting my Beijing office Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday for about 28 people. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder to find imported turkeys. No Butterballs!!! Our local "German" butcher only has domestic birds (Tianhu brand, which claims to be around since 1980)! We’ll give it a go!
Wonderful dinner last night in Beijing for the 15th annual Chi Fan for Charity event. Attended dinner at the amazing Georgian Feast restaurant. Awesome food, fantastic Gerorgian wines. Fabulous diner group organized by John and Jenifer Sullivan. Across the city 46 restaurants participated.
November 5, 2023 at 1:44 AM
Wonderful dinner last night in Beijing for the 15th annual Chi Fan for Charity event. Attended dinner at the amazing Georgian Feast restaurant. Awesome food, fantastic Gerorgian wines. Fabulous diner group organized by John and Jenifer Sullivan. Across the city 46 restaurants participated.
I enjoyed the book talk this morning at Peking University’s Yenching Academy, meeting in the historic buildings of the Jing Yuan ancient Imperial Garden. Meeting students and other eager minds is always a joy!
November 4, 2023 at 9:21 AM
I enjoyed the book talk this morning at Peking University’s Yenching Academy, meeting in the historic buildings of the Jing Yuan ancient Imperial Garden. Meeting students and other eager minds is always a joy!
I look forward to my book talk this coming Saturday, November 4, 11 am at Peking University's Yenching Scholars' Forum. The event is open to the public but DM or WeChat me if interested in attending since the university has a registration process.
October 30, 2023 at 1:18 AM
I look forward to my book talk this coming Saturday, November 4, 11 am at Peking University's Yenching Scholars' Forum. The event is open to the public but DM or WeChat me if interested in attending since the university has a registration process.