Changchun website a platform for expats

The website allows expats and Chinese in the city to know each other and have fun together, says Roman. They always post activities such as New Year's parties, Western food dinners, poetry nights and the like for anyone interested in joining.

The lecturer says that although Changchun is small compared to Beijing and Shanghai, life there is more relaxed.

"The community is large enough to meet new faces. It's also small enough to meet friends easily," Roman says. And people in the city are known for their friendliness. They are willing to help anyone on the street who needs help. That was one reason he decided to live in Changchun.

Despite their different needs and lifestyles, the community they've established and the conveniences of life here have inspired both men to make long-term plans to stay - especially Ridealgh, who says the city is his "adopted home".

Ridealgh is impressed by the city's baijiu culture.

When he arrived in Changchun in 2006, the dean of the English department he worked for invited him to dinner on Christmas Eve. It was a large round table that could seat 25 people. On the table was a Christmas turkey paired with baijiu.

"One Chinese gave me a bottle of Maotai (very expensive baijiu) and said 'Merry Christmas'. It was fantastic and worked for me," Ridealgh says, adding he was drunk after baijiu for the first time.

From then on, he quickly became good friends with those Chinese who drank baijiu with him. They hang out for dinner and go fishing. It's a good way to become familiar with each other.

When Ridealgh visits his Chinese father-in-law, he is invited to drink . Now the guy from Leeds in England can drink up to 250 grams of baijiu.

But for Roman, the gentleman lecturer, baijiu is "too dangerous". Beer is his favorite. When he goes out with his friends, Chinese and foreigners, his pet phrase is "give me one more".