"Moderation. Small helpings. Sample a little bit of everything. These are the secrets of happiness and good health," were Julia Child's wise words. With the announcement of City Weekend's Readers' Choice Bar and Restaurant Awards 2007, though, we're going to have to disagree with the "moderation" part, no disrespect to the queen of the kitchen intended. To celebrate the best of eating and drinking in Beijing and Shanghai, we've crafted weekend itineraries for serious gluttonfests with the crème de la crème of this year's winners. So now you'll not only know the hottest bars and most decadent restaurant in your city, but also in China's other great expat magnet.

Voltaire once said that nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. After spending a weekend tackling the best restaurants and bars of Beijing (pg. 12), City Weekend’s newest Beijing editor, Jennifer Thomé, definitely appreciates this, as well the efforts put forth by restaurateurs to make eating and drinking in Beijing an experience rather than a chore. "Now that I know how much goes into our meals,” comments Thomé, “I can't help but have a new-found appreciation for Beijing's restaurateurs, who are striving for perfection in a less than fertile environment."

Shanghai's fashion scene is on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with again, thanks to new designers like the ones our freelance writer Jennie Ma interviewed (Shanghai Entertainment Guide, pg. E12). "The designers are all amazingly talented and I had a great time going to their studios and getting the first insider's glimpse at their latest collection," says Ma. The designers featured in the article never actually designed and produced fashion goods until coming to Shanghai. "It's swelling with opportunities and possibilities for those who are willing and daring to dream big,” says Ma. “And these designers are our city's perfect success stories.”

"Being City Weekend’s new Web editor will certainly be a challenge for me,” says Steven Lee, “but I love challenges so this will be perfect.” A self-professed computer geek and power user, Lee brings his vast Internet experience to the City Weekend website; developing ideas that will make the site easier to use as well as provide a richer user experience. Originally from Hawaii, Lee misses the tropical weather and blue skies of the islands, but is excited about his new post. “Look forward to more up-to-date listings, exclusive Web-only articles, more blog posts and many other new features that will make www.cityweekend.com.cn an even better site!”