She then decided to play all her passion for the city out as a full-time designer of cultural and creative products with Beijing features.

Canvas bags, refrigerator magnets and key rings were among her design works and are sold both online and offline.

Liuba recently exhibited her work at a new year fair. A postcard themed on the National Stadium, also dubbed as "Bird's Nest," made Mariana, a British visitor, reminisce her visit to the stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"The memories were so vivid and the postcard just filled me with nostalgia for the old days," Mariana said.

Liuba plans to publish a book of illustration on Beijing, featuring observations and amusing anecdotes about the lives of foreigners, just like herself, in the international metropolis.

"Beijing has never failed me in inspiring my artworks and I hope to pass on this enthusiasm to more people around the world," Liuba said.