A native Melbournian, Richard Shaw is a photographer and writer, based for much of the past six years in China. Since 2006 he's been in Beijing documenting this megatropolis' every move. Covering a variety of subjects from travel and lifestyle to art and music, Richard's words and photos can be seen in a variety of publications from Qantas' Australian Way magazine to the Melbourne Age.

What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday?

I love heading down to Nanluogu Xiang, just near Beijing's beautiful Houhai area. This quaint old hutong (street) is lined with scores of cool cafés, restaurants and boutiques — perfect for a lazy Sunday.

How would you spend a long weekend?

I love to escape the city and hit up the gorgeous hills that surround Beijing. Whether scrambling along deserted sections of the Great Wall or stopping for lunch in a little-visited old village, this area is worlds away from the frantic pace of the big city.

What's your idea of a good night out?

After tucking in to some lamb kebabs and cold beers at a Xinjiang restaurant, my favourite night would see me pounding the pavement to one of the cool venues about town that showcase the raw talent of Beijing's emerging rock music scene.

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