Canadian pub opens in unlikely Chinese city

The Chinese city of Wenzhou is off the beaten path for most.

Its an industrial city of 10 million better known for making lighters than welcoming tourists.

But thanks to a pair of Vancouver expats, Canadians will probably feel right at home.

Those expats are Natalie Nathanson and Tim Kryzanowski, and they are co-owners of The Maple Pub, a new bar thats more Canadian than a moose covered in maple syrup.

The walls are covered in advertisements for ski hills, a giant maple leaf is painted on the wall and its got enough billiards to rival any Legion Hall.

Few Canadians in Wenzhou

Nathanson and Kryzanowski came to Wenzhou in 2009 to teach English. They planned on staying for a year, but wound up making it their home.

But as Canadians, they were a bit of an oddity. They estimate there are only about 400 expats in the city, and fewer than 10 are Canadian.

Its really funny because [locals] walk in and they say, where are you from? And theres a giant Canadian flag behind them! Nathanson told On The Coasts Stephen Quinn.

Kryzanowski said people in Wenzhou even their fellow expats are pretty clueless about Canada.

So what better place to begin their education than a bar?

The menu features poutine with an international twist, including Mexican, Italian and Russian flavours (its called the Vladimir Poutine).

Theres plenty of Canadian whisky and the fridge is full of Moosehead.

No word on if theyve been able to get Nanaimo bars, however.

Where do you get Clamato in China?

But getting all these Canadian goodies is challenging in a place like Wenzhou.

Were trying to make Caesars but you cant get Clamato here, Nathanson said. We have to make the Caesars with actual clam juice. Its kind of hard to get the portions right.

The Maple Pub only had its soft open a week ago, but its building a reputation, especially among the expat community.

Next up for Kryzanowski and Nathanson is a Thanksgiving potluck, and once hockey season begins, they want the Maple Pub to be the hot spot for NHL action.