Simon Elegant is an award-winning journalist, novelist, and screenwriter with an extensive career covering Asia. He served as Bureau Chief for TIME magazine in both Southeast Asia and China and worked as an editor and correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review. His journalism provided in-depth insights into the region’s political, social, and economic landscapes, earning him a distinguished reputation in the field.
As a novelist, he has written A Chinese Wedding, which explores the cultural complexities faced by an American woman marrying into a Hong Kong family, and A Floating Life, a historical novel centered on the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. The latter was praised by The New York Times for its evocative portrayal of both the legendary poet and the world he inhabited, offering readers a blend of rich historical detail and universal human experiences.
Beyond writing, Elegant is also a founding partner of the acclaimed Temple Restaurant Beijing, a venture that merges fine dining with a deep appreciation for Chinese heritage.