beijingkids Dec 2013

December 2013 Snow on the Yellow Brick Road Beijing Playhouse’s The Wizard of Oz hits the stage Laying Down Roots An early winter outing at the Beijing Institute of Botany

Beijingle All the Way Celebrating Christmas in the capital

That’s the Spirit Volunteering with women’s and children’s organizations

December 2013 Contents

68

32

22

Features 56

Snow Place like Home

Health 24

Four Beijing families share their holiday observances

62

Looks like December

Eastern and western treatments for common winter ailments

28

Where to get Christmas trees, decorations, turkey, and more

68

Pay It Forward

Just What the Doctors Ordered The Natural Path Melissa Rodriguez mulls the latest data on air pollution

29

Volunteer for women and children-related causes

The Doc Is In Dr. Richard Saint Cyr tackles cold and flu season

Living 17

On the Blog

Dining 30

Beijing’s five best markets for porcelain and ceramics

18

Noticeboard

Winter has come at Dongbei restaurant Liulaogen

31

Indulge

32

Helen Aris has blonde ambition

22

Talking Shop

23

Birthday Bash

Eater’s Digest Tried-and-tested dishes around town

Community news and announcements

20

Dining Out

Food for Thought Do-it-yourself pizza with InterContinental Beijing Financial Street

Buttery British pastries from Paddington Bakery New City Center combines fun and community

Playing 34

What’s Fun In Learn about the birds and the trees with EcoAction

38

Family Travels Harrow students do extreme sports in Minakami, Japan

40

Playing Inside Taking stock of Beijing’s youth theater scene

December 2013 Contents

44

38

16

Learning 44

The Season for Giving Three teens sound off on the rewards of charity work

48

When I Grow Up Charlene Wang throws a tea party at BISS

50

Blank Canvas Artwork by Etonkids students

Directories 76 76 78 78 80 80 83 83

Family Dining Family Health Family Life Family Travel Fun Stuff Schools Shopping Sports

Parenting 52

Beijing Baba Will Christopher Lay ever travel again? He is not so sure

53

The Echo Chamber Ember Swift feels the Christmas pressure

Essentials 9 10 12 14 16

Editor’s Note December Calendar Top 10 Things to Do in December December Events New Arrivals

84

The Circuit

Say hello to Beijing’s smallest Happenings in the Beijing family scene

96

Family Favorites The De Kesel-Zhang family

ON THE COVER: Eight-year-old Eilyn Amarashanti Daue is a student at Le Lycée International Français de Pékin. Born in Malaysia, she lived in Thailand, New Zealand, and India before moving here.

In her spare time, Eilyn likes to cycle and play guitar. She has a 12-year-old brother named Yan and has lived in Beijing with her family for three and a half years. Photo by Mishka Family Photography. Special thanks to Fiona’s Prince.

《中国妇女》英文刊

WOMEN OF CHINA English Monthly Sponsored and administrated by ALL-CHINA WOMEN’S FEDERATION Published by WOMEN’S FOREIGN LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS OF CHINA Publishing Date: December 1, 2013

Adviser 顾 问

2013 年 12 月（下半月）

WOMEN OF CHINA English Monthly 中华全国妇女联合会主管/主办 中国妇女外文期刊社出版 本期出版时间: 2013年12月1日

彭 云 PENG PEIYUN 全国人大常委会前副委员长 Former Vice-Chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee

Adviser 顾 问

顾秀莲 GU XIULIAN 全国人大常委会前副委员长 Former Vice-Chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee

Director and Editor-in-Chief 社长 · 总编辑 Chief Editor 主编 Managing Editor School Editor

Wei Liang 位亮 Sijia Chen Aisling O’Brien

Staff Writer

Oscar Holland

Web Editor

Nimo Wanjau

Shunyi Correspondent Staff and Special Project Writer Editorial Assistant Contributing Writers

Editorial Consultant 编辑顾问 Director of Sales Department 广告发行经营部主任 Tel Legal Adviser 法律顾问 Advertising Agency 广告代理 Advertising Hotlines 广告热线

Yun Pengju 恽鹏举

Fax 传真 Printing 印刷 Address 本刊地址

Dana Cosio-Mercado Clemence Jiang Morgan Shang Christopher Lay, Melissa Rodriguez, Dr. Richard Saint Cyr, Ember Swift

ROBERT MILLER (Canadian) 罗伯特 · 米勒 (加拿大) XIA WEI 夏巍 6522 5376 LI XUESEN 李雪森 Immersion International Advertising (Beijing) Co., Limited 深度体验国际广告(北京)有限公司 5820 7700 / 5820 7883 58207895 C&C JOINT PRINTING CO., (BEIJING) LTD. 北京华联印刷有限公司 WOMEN OF CHINA English Monthly 《中国妇女》英文月刊 15 Jianguomennei Dajie, Beijing 100730, China 中国北京建国门内大街15号 邮编:100730

国际标准刊号

ISSN1000 9388

国内统一刊号

CN11-1704/C

The beijingkids Board A Publication of

True Run Media 出版制作

Jacquie Golding Van Wyk

A proud mother of four, Jacquie has lived in Beijing for five years. She is a businesswoman and writer who actively assists her husband with his adventure business. Find out about their tour packages at www.ultimatewildsurvival.com.

Advertising Agency

Immersion International Advertising (Beijing) Co., Limited 广告代理

深度体验国际广告（北京）有限公司

Charlotte Moreau

Charlotte is the former beijingkids Shunyi correspondent.

Originally from Michigan, this on-the-go mom of two girls juggles freelance writing, substitute teaching, and CrossFit. After more than six years in Beijing, her family will move back to the US in June 2014.

Tel/电话: 5820 7100 / 7700 Fax/传真：5820 7891 Advertising Hotline/广告热线：5820 7700 /5820 7883 General Manager Michael Wester Operations Director Toni Ma

Victor Wong

Victor is a tech geek, serial entrepreneur, and the proud father of two boys. His latest venture is connecting parents and kids through mobile learning apps. Learn more at www.SmarTots.com.

Editorial Director Jerry Chan

Yanhong Wheeler

Managing Editor Sijia Chen School Editor Aisling O’Brien Staff Writer Oscar Holland Web Editor Nimo Wanjau Shunyi Correspondent Dana Cosio-Mercado

Yanhong is a mother of two, a La Leche League leader, a Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) instructor, and the author of ten Chinese books on breastfeeding, parenting, and education (under the pen name Xiao Wu, or Wee Witch). Visit her blog at blog.sina.com.cn/weewitch.

Staff and Special Project Writer Clemence Jiang Editorial Assistant Morgan Shang Marketing Manager Shana Zhang

beijingkids Brand Manager Lia Tjahjodihardjo Art Director Susu Luo Production Manager Joey Guo

Johanna Selth

Johanna is one busy mom. When she’s not looking after her two kids, Johanna supplies Beijing parents with must-have imported baby gear from her store, BabyGro. Contact her at johanna@babygro.com.cn.

Principal Designer and Illustrator Sun Zheng

Christopher Lay

Advertising Designer Yuki Jia Photographers Mitchell Pe Masilun, Sui, Ken Sales Manager Ivy Wang Sales Team Sheena Hu, Maggie Zhang, Amy Sun, Anna Rudashko, Wendy Lv, Winter Liu, Betty Li Finance Judy Zhao HR & Admin Cathy Wang, Siyu He Distribution Cao Yue

Christopher’s many jobs include dad, writer, photographer and all-round nice guy. Catch him in beijingkids’ Beijing Baba column or visit his blog, www.alive.tom.com/chrislay.com.

Liu Nan

Liu Nan, also known as Chu Chu, is a native Chinese mother.

When she is not out with her baby girl in search of food and fun, she sells imported baby products on Taobao. Check out aibaimm.taobao.com.

General Inquiries 5820 7700

Michelle Liu

Editorial 5820 7700 ext 887 Distribution 5820 7700 ext 866 Fax 5820 7895

Contact: General info: info@beijing-kids.com Editorial: editor@beijing-kids.com Sales: sales@truerun.com Marketing: marketing@truerun.com Distribution: distribution@truerun.com Directories: listings@beijing-kids.com

www.beijing-kids.com weibo.com/beijingkids @beijingkids www.facebook.com/beijingkids www.pinterest.com/beijingkids

After living in the US for 15 years, native Beijinger Michelle is happy to be living in her hometown again, where she works at an architecture firm. As a parent, she embraces both the Chinese and Western perspectives on culture and education.

Contact her at mtliu123@yahoo.com.

AJ Warner

AJ is father to two boys who attend Daystar Academy. These days, he is valiantly trying to balance his company and his family. Weekends are dedicated to the boys, while weekdays focus on helping Chinese college students gain admission to graduate schools in the UK and US. Learn more at www.touchdown.org.cn.

Want to Join?

If you think you’d make a valuable contribution to the beijingkids Board, email editor-kids@beijing-kids.com.

IKEA Opens Second Store in Beijing, Shoppers (and Sleepers) Rejoice (tinyurl.com/lwcdj6t) Seven years after IKEA opened its third largest store worldwide in Siyuanqiao, a second branch opened next to Daxing District’s Xihongmen station (Line 4) in early November. That makes Beijing the only city in the world to have two Ikea stores.

WEB ROUNDUP For more, visit the beijingkids website at www.beijing-kids.com

Air Pollution Causes Lung Cancer, Says WHO (tinyurl.com/mod7ws6) A recent study by the World Health Organization has finally confirmed what many have long suspected: air pollution is a carcinogen. Check our blog to find out all the details.

ON THE FOR

UM

ne About Me: O Passionate Battle Weight Loss g k 0 4 ’s m u M 2n6n8d) (tinyurl.com/p se

lo r struggle to om shares he nal io ot em d fin One Beijing m portantly, im t os on m y d, or an st weight inspiring Paula Zhou’s balance. Read our blog.

Where to Ge t Ice Skatin g Lessons? (tinyurl.com/m pdd5rr)

User beijing42 asks: “Does an yone knows which ice rin ks in town of fer lessons fo kids? No lang r uage preferen ce desired.”

Share your ad vice with this user by loggin onto our Foru g m.

Editor's Note

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for anta

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the fi

Spending Christm as with our closes t family friends, the Zhangs

The Great Santa Industrial Complex

I

n Grade 4, my class started a letter-writing campaign to Santa. It was a national initiative led by Canada Post to encourage literacy skills in children. In 1982, the mail carrier pledged to reply to every letter for Santa. Since then, it has received 21.8 million envelopes addressed to the North Pole. Each year, an army of volunteers – as many as 15,000 active and retired Canada Post employees – help write replies to kids across the country.

But I wasn’t aware of all this in the winter of 1996. I just knew that Santa reportedly spoke every language (including Braille) and that his address was “North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada.”

Some of the kids asked for toys and trips to Disneyland while others hoped for baby brothers and good grades. Many – myself included – hedged their bets by burying their requests in flattery.

“Dear Santa,” I wrote. “How are you? I bet it’s hard work to visit so many children all over the world. You mustn’t overwork yourself. If you want, I can pet-sit your reindeer when Christmas is over. Do they play catch? My mom won’t let me have a dog. By the way, I would like a purple dress with a collar like this.” I included a drawing of the dress.

We received replies shortly before Christmas. When I got home, I tore open the envelope to find a letter neatly printed on festive stationary.

“Dear Sijia,” it read. “Mrs. Claus and I have really enjoyed reading all the letters from good boys and girls like you. The elves are hard at work preparing Christmas presents, and I can hear the pitter-patter of the reindeer on the roof as they practice take-offs and landings. You already know how important it is to be kind and generous to others during this time, but I hope that the spirit of Christmas will stay with you throughout the year. Your friend, Santa Claus.”

I lowered the letter and stared indignantly at my reflection in the front hall mirror. That was it? He didn’t even mention my purple dress.

“What’s that?” asked my popo (maternal grandmother). She laughed when I told her. “Santa Claus doesn’t exist,” she said. And just like that, I stumbled onto the biggest conspiracy theory of my young life.

kplace istmas parties at Dad’s wor One of many company Chr

Previously innocent Christmas traditions took on a ludicrous, even sinister tone. For one thing, leaving out milk and cookies for a man who essentially broke into your house on Christmas Eve seemed like questionable behavior. Every adult had a hand in the great Santa industrial complex, especially the nice mailman from Canada Post.

“He knows whether you’ve been bad or good,” came the frequent Big Brother-esque warning.

I was a 10-year-old Winston Smith who was determined to expose Christmas. Unfortunately, my parents wholeheartedly adopted the holiday when they moved to Canada. Every Christmas was a multi-family affair with cars haphazardly parked around our driveway, a dining table groaning with Chinese potluck dishes, and an unholy mess of presents piled around the tree.

That year, like so many before, I sat on the couch with childhood friends eating candy canes and watching Ciné-Cadeau (the annual Frenchlanguage Christmas special). We always made a big show out of unwrapping the presents, posing for photos, and publicly thanking each gifter. I softened as I watched these familiar proceedings. Santa didn’t bring any of these presents, but Christmas went on without him.

We’re are all grown-up now, and we’ll most likely never recapture that feeling until we have kids of our own. However, my parents currently live in Shanghai and my sister is visiting at the end of the month. As long as they’re close, I’m never too far removed from the true meaning of Christmas.

Sijia Chen Managing Editor December 2013

beijingkids

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DECEMBER Mon

TUE

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Upload it at www.beijing-kids.com/events by December 16.

WED

THU

FRI

45 6 1112 1617 20 2425 1 Deck Your Halls

All ages. What’s Christmas without all the trimmings? Find out where to get the tree, the wreath, the tinsel, and more in Feature (p62).

Kindergarten Open Morning at YCIS Beijing

All ages. YCIS Beijing holds a kindergarten open house with tours and hands-on classes. See Dec 11 listing.

Ages 3-6. HoK’s holiday camp fuses learning and fun. See Dec 16 listing.

Santa Claus Is In Town

All ages. Listen to Christmas carols and have fun around Beijing. See Dec 25 listing.

Happy New Year

All ages. Spend the first day of 2014 with family at the Great Wall. See Jan 1 listing.

10

beijingkids

2013 December

2013 International Culture Carnival and Christmas Market

All ages. Now in its sixth year, the International Culture Carnival and Christmas market has shopping, dining and playing. See Dec 11 listing.

All ages. Donate your time rather than your money this holiday season. See Feature (p68).

For adults. An International SOS expert teaches participants how to manage back pain. See Dec 17 listing.

All ages. Don’t feel like cooking?

Eat out for an indulgent family meal on Christmas Eve. See Dec 24 listing.

All ages. Join in the shouting at Beijing Playhouse’s cheeky Christmas play, The Wizard of Oz. See Playing Inside (p40).

Lend a Helping Hand

Seminar: Understanding the Realities and Solutions to Back Pain

Christmas Eve Festivities

All ages. Kick off the Christmas season by listening to carols and witnessing a tree lighting ceremony. Rumor has it Santa will be there. See Dec 5 listing.

Catch a Christmas Pantomime

photos: flickr users andrewmalone, milleniumpromise, lornawatt and a1404, courtesy of little flower and ncc, sui

HoK Christmas Camp 2013

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Traders Upper East

KEY

Playing

Food/Dining

Sport

Culture/Education

SAT

Community/Networking

SUN

7 8 14 15 21 22 28 29 4 5

Cookie Monster Charity Bake-Off at The Hutong

Equuleus and Camelot Show Jumping Club Tournament

All ages. Bakers from around Beijing compete and show off their baking skills for a good cause. See Dec 7 listing.

Ages 3+. The best riding clubs in Beijing compete in an indoor showjumping tournament. See Dec 8 listing.

The Hutong Christmas Fayre

Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds

All ages. The Hutong returns with its traditional last-Christmas-bazaar-of-theseason. See Dec 14 listing.

Ages 3-12. Kick start holiday learning with a Christmas art workshop featuring clouds. See Dec 15 listing.

A Worm’s Eye View

Pudding and Pies

All ages. Learn about flowers and trees at the Institute of Botany. See What’s Fun In (p34).

All ages. Order British-style goodies from Paddington Bakery to complement your Christmas dinner. See Talking Shop (p22).

A Wangjing Birthday

You Wanna Pizza Me?

Ages 3-10. Check out the New City Center, a combined event venue, cafe, indoor playground, and community center. See Birthday Bash (p23).

All ages. Make your own parma pizza at home with the kids. See Food for Thought (p32).

Dig In the Dongbei Way

Keep the Winter Blues at Bay Little Jeep (in Chinese)

All ages. Dongbei cuisine is made for winter; get a taste at local favorite Liulaogen. See Dining Out (p30).

All about TCM? For ages. ages Curious 3-12. The Little JeepSee is our the side-by-side comparison of common Chinese version of Thomas the Tank EnTCM westernonly. treatments comgine. and In Chinese See Janfor 1 listin mon winter illnesses in Health (p24).

December 2013

beijingkids

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Essentials Top 10

December Top 10 !

1

Want your family-friendly event to appear in our next issue?

Upload it at www.beijing-kids.com/events

by December 16.

Hit the Ice with Santa

The end of the year is upon us, which means that the annual beijingkids Santa on Ice event is here again. Treat your family to an afternoon of skating, seasonal treats and cozying up to Santa. There will be free family portraits and gifts handed out by ol’ Saint Nick himself. Registration required. To buy tickets, email events@beijing-kids.com or call 5820 7700 ext 886. For full details, see Dec 15 listing.

2

Create a Winter Wonderland

Get into the holiday spirit by decking out your home in seasonal decorations and feasting on gourmet foods. Best of all? They are neither pricey nor hard to find.

For a list of stores and caterers, see Feature (p62).

3

Puns, Songs and Cross Dressers! Oh, My! From December 6-22, Beijing Playhouse returns with its annual Christmas pantomime at the British School of Beijing, Sanlitun. This year’s performance is a satirical version of The Wizard of Oz featuring young actors, double entendres, audience interaction, and recycled pop songs. For full details, see Ongoing listings. For the inside scoop on youth theater and The Wizard of Oz, see Playing Inside (p40).

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, Paddington Bakery has British-style puddings and pies for the entire family. To find out more, see Talking Shop (p22).

There are also a host of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining events around town. For ideas, see Dec 24 and 25 listings.

5

No Grinch-ing Allowed

The holidays are a time to be with family and reflect on those who are less fortunate.

Make charity a year-long endeavor by volunteering to help some of Beijing’s most vulnerable groups. For profiles of five women and children-related projects, see Feature (p68). To read about student-led charity initiatives, see Learning (p44).

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beijingkids

2013 December

Photos: nature zhang, horia varlan (flickr), courtesy of beijing playhouse, ken

4

Drift into a Festive Food Coma

Top 10 Essentials The Root of the Matter

6 7 8 9 10

Many educators believe that kids learn best through actions, not words. What better way to instill environmental responsibility than through a hands-on outing led by a botanist at the Beijing Institute of Botany? For details, see What’s Fun In (p34).

An Absolute Play-sure

Wangjing and Lido residents, rejoice! There is a neighborhood party venue for your birthday boy or girl. Founded by expats, the New City Center blends the family feel of a community center and the warm coziness of a cafe. For more information, turn to Birthday Bash (p23).

A Herb a Day…

Winter brings with it cold weather ailments such as dry skin, a runny nose, flu and colds. We asked a western medicine doctor and a traditional Chinese medicine doctor for their recommendations. To compare, flip to Health (p24).

Due North

Hearty Dongbei (or northeastern Chinese) food is heavily influenced

by Manchu cuisine and is perfect for long, cold winters. We head to the Dianping-recommended Liulaogen in Qianmen to sample authentic shazhu huicai and pickled cabbage. For the review, see Dining Out (p30).

Take a Crack at Porcelain

Porcelain is so closely linked with China that it is sometimes named after it. Our writer scoured the city to find Beijing’s best markets for porcelain and ceramic products. To start shopping, turn to On the Blog (p17).

December 2013

beijingkids

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KEY

Essentials Events Playing

Food/Dining

Sport

Culture/Education

Community/Networking

Readers are encouraged to double-check event details with the organizers, as dates and locations may change.

Thu, Dec 5

member child) and RMB 150 (nonmember beijingkids club child), RMB 50 (parents’ rentals to get from Le Cool). 1.30-4pm. Le Cool Ice Rink (events@beijing-kids.com or 5820 7700 ext. 866)

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Traders Upper East All ages. Kick off the Christmas season by listening to carols at Traders’ Upper East’s tree lighting ceremony. Rumor has it that Santa will be there. Free. 6-8pm.

Traders Upper East Hotel (5907 8888)

Mon, Dec 16 HoK Christmas Camp 2013 Ages 3-6. House of Knowledge’s Christmas Camp has fun activities for kids during the holidays, including Christmas crafts, traditional songs, festive baking, Santa Claus vs.

Reindeers snowball fights, and more.

RMB 1,760/week (full day), RMB 1,080/week (half day without lunch).

9am-3pm. House of Knowledge International Kindergarten (6538 2624, info@hokschools.com)

Fri, Dec 6 Gourmet Chef and Brewer Charity Dinner for China Little Flower For adults. The Cut and Great Leap co-host an evening of gourmet food, a silent auction, and dancing to support children’s charity Chunmiao Little Flower. Reservations required.

RMB 900. 7-9pm. The Cut, Fairmount Beijing Hotel (8511 7777, andreas.block@fairmont.com)

International School of Beijing (8583 3731, info@bj.ycef.com)

Thu, Dec 12

Sat, Dec 7 Cookie Monster Charity Bake-off at The Hutong

2013 International Culture Carnival and Christmas Market

All ages. The Hutong invites Beijing’s most avid cookie monsters to support a non-profit called Bridging Education and Mobility (BEAM). RMB 100, RMB 50 for members and children under 13.

2-5pm. The Hutong (6404 3355, info@the-hutong.com)

See Dec 11 listing.

Equuleus and Camelot Show Jumping Club Tournament Ages 3+. Equuleus hosts students and trainers from different riding schools for a show jumping tournament at its new indoor venue. Free. 1-6pm. Equuleus International Riding Club (135 2233 9691, equuleushorse88@aliyun.com)

Wed, Dec 11 2013 International Culture Carnival and Christmas Market All ages. From December 11-15, find vendors selling jewelry, home wares, gifts, toys, books, crafts, beauty products, clothing, and more.

The outdoors has a range of food and market stalls, entertainment and children’s rides. Free. 10-6pm.

Sanyuan Bridge Galleria Beijing, Capital Paradise Clubhouse (8046 1454)

All ages. YCIS Beijing holds a kindergarten open house with a presentation followed by a discussion about the bilingual curriculum. Parents and their children are then given a tour of the kindergarten classrooms and playground, and can take part in some of the classes to get feel for how a bilingual classroom works. RSVP required. Free. 9am-noon. Yew Chung

Sat, Dec 14 The Hutong Christmas Fayre All ages. The Hutong continues its tradition of hosting the last Christmas bazaar of the year with hot cups of vin brulé. A chance to shop for some handmade handicrafts, photography, jewelry, and unique cards and papers.

Free. 11am-3pm. The Hutong (6404 3355, info@the-hutong.com)

Traditional Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea All ages. A Ritz-Carlton tradition, Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea serves several varieties of teas and a special menu. All kids get a gift. Reservations required. RMB 388, RMB 288 (ages 3-12), free for kids under 3 (prices are subject to 15% service charge).

2.30-5pm. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing (5908 8180)

A Fun and Warm Christmas Open House at Art Bug Ages 6-14. Art Bug hosts a Christmas Open House with crafts and the launch of the students’ end-of-year art exhibition. RMB 88, RMB 66 (members), free for parents. 3-5pm. Art Bug (5900 0270, info@artbug.com.cn)

The Great Canadian Christmas 2013 All ages. The annual Great Canadian

2013 December

Migrant Children’s Foundation Charity Dinner For adults. The Migrant Children’s Foundation Christmas Dinner provides an opportunity to meet the mother of a child who is supported by the organization. RMB 250. 7-11pm.

The Pavilion Grill (6551 6680)

2013 International Culture Carnival and Christmas Market See Dec 11 listing.

Sun, Dec 15 Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds Ages 3-12. Kids can kick off the first week of the holidays by learning how to use different media to render clouds. Price TBA. 9.30-11.30am.

Atelier (www.atelier.cn.com)

2013 International Culture Carnival and Christmas Market See Dec 11 listing.

A Fun and Warm Christmas Open House at Art Bug See Dec 14 listing.

Traditional Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea

Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the clouds See Dec 15 listing.

Tue, Dec 17 Seminar: Understanding the Realities and Solutions to Back Pain For adults. Visiting Physiotherapist Kyle Wild holds a seminar on how to reduce the risk of back pain, with tips on pain management and activities to avoid.

Reservations required. Free. 10-11am.

International SOS (seminar@internationalsos.com)

Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds See Dec 15 listing.

HoK Christmas Camp 2013 See Dec 16 listing

Wed, Dec 18 Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds See Dec 15 listing.

HoK Christmas Camp 2013 See Dec 16 listing

Thu, Dec 19 Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds

See Dec 14 listing.

See Dec 15 listing.

beijingkids 2013 Santa On Ice

HoK Christmas Camp 2013

Age 5+. The beijingkids Santa On Ice is back again this year. It will be held at Le Cool Ice Rink where parents and kids will skate for 90 minutes, get Santa hats, a framed portrait with Santa, holiday treats and goodies and presents for kids. Ticket prices are non-inclusive of parents skating rentals. Advance ticket reservation required. RMB 100 (beijingkids Club

See Dec 16 listing

Fri, Dec 20 Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds See Dec 15 listing.

HoK Christmas Camp 2013 See Dec 16 listing

Photo: nomadiclass (flickr)

Kindergarten Open Morning at YCIS Beijing

beijingkids

2013 International Culture Carnival and Christmas Market See Dec 11 listing.

Sun, Dec 8

14

Fri, Dec 13

Christmas offers an atmosphere filled with warmth and laughter as Santa Claus arrives with gifts. There is also food and entertainment. Price TBC. 4-9pm. Canada-China Business Council (8526 1820/21/22)

Sat, Dec 21 Traditional Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea See Dec 14 listing.

Christmas Workshop at Atelier: Head in the Clouds See Dec 15 listing.

Sun Dec 22 Traditional Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea See Dec 14 listing.

Mon, Dec 23 Traditional Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea See Dec 14 listing.

Tue, Dec 24 Aroma Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet All ages. Celebrate Christmas with a variety of cuisines. Diners also have a chance to win presents from Santa Claus and take home lucky draw prizes. Reservations required. RMB 1,388, RMB 698 (ages 6-12), free for kids under 6 (all prices subject to 15% service charge). 6-10pm. The RitzCarlton, Beijing (5908 8161)

Christmas Eve Buffet at Cafe Noir All ages. Indulge in a variety of dishes

for lunch and/or dinner at Cafe Noir.

Afterwards, expect a magic show, lucky draws, gifts, and a special choir performance. RMB 988 net, RMB 498 (children). 6-10pm. Traders Upper East Hotel (5907 8888)

Christmas Eve at Crowne Cafe All ages. Celebrate Christmas Eve with a festive buffet, including seafood, turkey, honey-glazed ham and more.

There is a live band and Santa Claus with his bag of goodies. RMB 588, RMB 299 (ages 6-12), free for kids under 5.

6-10pm. Crowne Plaza International Airport Beijing (XOXO)

Christmas Eve Buffet Feast at City Wall Bistro All ages. Expect live entertainment and a festive lucky draw. RMB 668 (includes complimentary house wine, beer, and soft drinks), 50 percent off for children from 0.9m-1.2m and free for children under 0.9m. 6-9.30pm.

Marriott Beijing City Wall (5811 8255)

Kranzler’s Christmas Eve All ages. Celebrate the night before Christmas with an indulgent buffet and free-flowing wine, beer and selected cocktails. Kempinski’s house jazz band keeps the Christmas spirit grooving.

Reservations required. RMB 798, RMB 399 (ages 6-12), free for kids under 6 (subject to 15 percent service charge).

6-11pm. Kempinski Hotel (6465 3388 ext 4222, restaurant.beijing@ kempinski.com)

Christmas Eve at the Great Wall All ages. Celebrate Christmas with a traditional dinner and carol singing at

the Great Wall. Free hot chocolate and Christmas goodies for all carolers. RMB 248, RMB 89 (ages 4-12) and free for kids under 4. 7-9pm. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (6162 6506)

Wed, Dec 25 Christmas Day at the Great Wall All ages. Kids make cookies in the Canteen while the grown-ups kick back in the Smithy. Whenever you’re ready, sit down to a Christmas supper. RMB 248, RMB 120 (ages 4-12), free for kids under 4. 7-9pm. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (6162 6506)

Christmas Day Family Brunch at the Kempinski All ages. This Christmas Day brunch buffet features live lobster, foie gras, American turkey and European desserts paired with free-flowing wine, beer, soft drinks, selected cocktails and live jazz. Reservations required. RMB 558, RMB 279 (ages 6-12), free for kids under 6 (prices subject to 15% service charge).

11.30am-4.30pm. Kempinski Hotel (6465 3388 ext 4222, restaurant. beijing@kempinski.com)

Christmas Day Brunch and Dinner at Kerry’s Kitchen All ages. Enjoy a brunch or dinner at Kerry’s Kitchen with a brunch buffet.

The dinner starts off with a festive semi-buffet followed by ten a la carte options and champagne. RMB 388 (brunch), RMB 288 (dinner). 6-10pm.

Kerry’s Kitchen (8565 2088)

Festive Set Dinner at Wu Li Xiang Chinese Restaurant All ages. Celebrate Christmas with a touch of Chinese culture, including an eight-course set menu offering Cantonese, Huaiyang and Sichuan specialties. Minimum four people. RMB 358/588/888 per adult. 5.30-10pm.

Traders Upper East Hotel (5907 8888)

Wed, Jan 1 New Year’s Supper at the Great Wall All ages. Start the New Year with an outing to the Great Wall. The Schoolhouse has live jazz for adults, a playroom for kids, and supper for everyone. Bus service is available to and from the city. RMB 298, RMB 128 (ages 4-12) and free for kids under 4. 11am-8pm. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (6162 6506)

Ongoing Beijing Playhouse’s The Wizard of Oz All ages. Beijing Playhouse’s production of The Wizard of Oz runs from December 6-22. Performed in English with Chinese subtitles. RMB 260 (advanced), RMB 300 (door), half price for students and children under 12. Mon-Fri 7.30pm, Sat-Sun 2pm. The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (8532 0884, performance@ beijingplayhouse.com)

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Essentials New Arrivals

o t o l l e H Say t s e l l a m S Beijing’s

n Ryan TsubonasOcat 19Btooo Haga

Singaporean. Born Boon at New Michiko and Teck Koon Children’s Hospital.

Century Women’s and

Arika Junna Sanders-Minami

American/Japanese. Born on Jul 12 to Shizuka Minami and Jeff Sanders at Beijing United Family Hospital.

Xiao Shu

Chinese. Born on Oct 13 to Wang Danqing and Yang Xi at New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

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Frederick Str obel German. Born

on Oct 28 to Svenja Schmid Daniel Strobe t and l at Beijing Un ited Family H ospital.

Want to share your new arrival with our readers?

Email a photo (at least 1MB in size) of your little one with his or her full name, nationality, birth date, hospital, and parents’ names to editor@beijing-kids.com. Due to space constraints, we will only publish photos of babies born in Beijing after June 1, 2013.

Yilin Liu

Chinese. Born on Jun 14 to Yan Hu and Xin Liu at New Century Women’s and Children’ s Hospital.

g Haolin Zhon 20 to Gui

Chinese. Born on Sep ng at New Wang and Xiaorong Zho en’s Hospital. ildr Ch and n’s Century Wome

On the Blog Living

5 Local Markets for Chinese Pottery and Porcelain

A selection of porcelain wares at Panjiayuan Antique Market

T

he art of ceramics is so entwined with Chinese culture that porcelain is also called “china” in English. Although modernday Beijing has become a center of economics and politics, we can still find markets where this old art flourishes.

Ceramics can be categorized into industrial products like bricks and tiles, and artisan products such as handmade pottery and fine porcelain. Chinese ceramics can also be classified as being from the north or south due to the difference in raw materials resulting from contrasting geological conditions.

Here’s our list of the best places in the capital to find pottery and porcelain. As you and your family explore these markets, your kids can also take the opportunity to get acquainted with Chinese history and culture. For example, the word “china” actually comes from the transliteration of Changnan, the old name for Jingdezhen until the Song dynasty (960–1279), where some of the country’s best porcelain is still made. Happy exploring!

photo: choollus (flickr)

Panjiayuan Antique Market 潘家园旧货市场 Within walking distance of Beijing Curio City, Panjiayuan Antique Market is packed with Chinese folk culture. Ceramics take up most of the space in the northwestern section, and the market seems to have something for everyone, from window shoppers to serious buyers. Even Hilary Clinton has visited. You will also find Chinese paintings, calligraphy, shadow play, and ancient coins. Daily 6.30am-4.30pm. 18 Huawei Li, Chaoyang District (6774 1869) 朝阳区华威里18号

Liangma Collection Market 亮马收藏品市场 This market is similar to Panjiayuan Antique Market but is much more conveniently located near the Liangmaqiao embassy district. Prices are a bit higher, however – probably because it is popular with foreigners. Daily 9.30am-6.30pm. 27 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (6462 1625) 朝阳区亮马桥路27号

Minlong Pottery Market 闽龙陶瓷市场 This large-scale market sells pottery, cloisonné, porcelain, and more. A wide variety of goods are displayed at the front of the market, with additional wholesale goods stored in the back. This market is also popular among locals for building materials such as floor tiles. Daily 8am-6.30pm. East part of Shilihe Lu, Chaoyang District (6747 1113) 朝阳区十里河建材一条街东段

Beijing Curio City 北京古玩城 Find historic and artistic ceramic pieces in this four-storey building, among many other antique goods like Chinese paintings, antique furniture, bone carvings, pearls, and jade. If you are lucky, you might find high-quality Jindezhen porcelain and tri-colored glazed pottery, (tangsancai, 唐三彩) among the numerous counterfeits.

Daily 9.30am-6.30pm. 21 Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6774 7711) 朝阳区东三环南路21号

Beijing Ladies’ Street 女人街 Located near the Lufthansa Center, Ladies’ Street sells modern and antique porcelain products, pottery vases, sculptures and teapots in addition to women’s clothes and accessories. After you are done shopping, why not reward yourself with a manicure or a massage? Daily 10am-7pm (for most of the stores). 9 Maizidian Xilu, Chaoyang District (6462 6636) 朝阳区麦子店西路9号

This article was adapted from a post on www.beijing-kids.com by Clemence Jiang.

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Living Noticeboard

What’s Happening in Beijing Students Celebrate the Life of Terry Fox Many paid tribute to Terry Fox, who made a 5,373km run across Canada for charity in 1980 after losing his right leg to bone cancer.

The International School of Beijing (ISB) marked its 20th anniversary by welcoming his sister, Judith Fox, to address members of the school community about Terry’s cause.

The reception was followed by an informal discussion with middle school students about her brother’s fight with cancer and school career.

Meanwhile, students and staff at Beijing City International School (BCIS) gathered on the school field to take part in the 2013 Terry Fox Run. Taking place for the ninth year at BCIS, the charity run consisted of 20 minutes of laps, with a five-minute rest in the middle. The school has so far raised RMB 120,000 in pledges, with money still coming in and being counted.

BJU Expands Emergency Department Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics (BJU) has completed the expansion of its emergency department, which houses 14 independent rooms and 24-hour pediatric emergency services.

The improved facilities also include a “green channel” for any maternity patients who require emergency care. The hospital marked the completion of the expansion with a grand opening on November 11.

Art Bug will hold its end-of-year exhibition from December 14 to 31 with crafts, paintings, and sculptures by the art center’s students. Parents and children are welcome to attend the free exhibition at Art Bug’s CBD center from 9am-6pm. For more information, visit www.artbug.cn or call 5900 0270.

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photos: courtesy ofisb, bcis, art bug and bju

Children’s Art Exhibition at Art Bug

Noticeboard Living YCIS Kindergarten Students Raise More than RMB 9,000 for Charity Yew Chung International School of Beijing raised a total of RMB 9,653 through sponsorship of its “Trike-athon” event in October. Kindergarten students took to their tricycles and bicycles (with training wheels) to raise funds for the school’s Seeds of Hope program, which helps build schools for underprivileged children in rural China.

The proceeds will go towards the charity’s fourth school site, following completed projects in Shandong, Sichuan, and Hebei.

That’s Mandarin Opens Language Camps to Parents

photos: courtesy of ycis beijing, that’s mandarin and hummingbird

Language school That’s Mandarin recently announced a new family camp program that allows parents to participate in learning sessions alongside their children. While the kids take part in the camp’s usual morning classes, family members can join other adults for small group classes before meeting with their kids for activities and excursions. The family program is available at the school’s summer and winter camps. For more information, visit www.thatsmandarin.com.

Hummingbird Spreads its Wings in Park Avenue Hummingbird Spa has opened a new branch at Park Avenue with a nail salon and treatment rooms for massages, facials, waxing, and more.

The spa also provides house calls to members, allowing them to enjoy massages from home. Hummingbird is marking the opening with gift vouchers for new members and winter discounts on a variety of treatments. For more information, visit www.hummingbird.net.cn.

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Living Indulge

Blondes Do Have More Fun Helen Aris lightens up her look photos by Little Ones Kids & Family Portrait Studio

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A

Indulge Living

hairtastrophe ensued when Ukraine native Helen Aris last attempted to go blonde four years ago in Beijing. The crown of her head was badly burned by the strong bleach, leaving her with brittle, downy hair around her hairline. Former owner of The Treehouse Family Cafe and Playground and mom to 6-year-old Lucas, Aris now teaches salsa and hosts events at the Latin American Cultural Center (LACC) owned by her Cuban husband, Giovanni. On a clear late November day, Aris arrived at Catherine de France in high spirits and ready to try going blonde again. She had a successful restyle at Catherine de France five years ago, so she was very happy with our choice of salon – especially since Founder Catherine Colin was on hand to perform every step of the makeover. “Being blonde is really exciting for me and I really trust them here,” said Aris with a smile. Aisling O’Brien

before

Catherine de France 法式美容美发沙龙 Tue-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun-Mon 11am-6pm. 1/F, East Avenue Bldg, 10 Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District (8442 5120, 135 2147 3492) www.catherinedefrance.com 朝阳区新东路10号逸盛阁首层

Get the Look:

1

Colin created a haircut with volume on top and a dramatic side-swept fringe Aris had never tried before.

She maximized Aris’ natural curls by feathering the ends of each layer with thinning scissors. The cut was designed to look flattering with any kind of part and easy to maintain. Simply towel dry and add some mousse or wax, instructed Colin. “It’s best to let curly hair dry naturally,” she explained.

2

Colin took Aris’ hair color from a warm gold to a cooler ash blonde. She used a technique called balayage that involved a brush, comb and cotton wool pads instead of tin foil. “The advantages of balayage are that there are no obvious roots, the stylist can control the application, and it gives a sun-kissed effect,” said Colin. After the color was applied, she covered Aris’ head with cling wrap to heat up the dye and make it take effect faster.

3

For the makeup stage, Colin began by applying a cream concealer under Aris’ eyes, and around her nose and mouth. She mixed two liquid foundations to match her skin tone and applied the foundation with her fingertips, blotting with a tissue for a natural finish. Colin fixed the foundation with a dusting of loose translucent powder and shaded bronzer over the brow and temples, and under the cheek bones and jawline. Aris’ eyelids were covered in a pale bronze-green, with a tobacco-bronze shadow applied to the lash line and crease.

Colin lined Aris’ eyes with a dark brown kohl pencil, and filled in her brows with a brown eyebrow pencil using soft feathery strokes. She then applied two coats of black MAC mascara and blended a coral pink blush from the apples of the cheeks to the temples. Finally, Colin used a dusky pink lipstick, blotting and re-applying several times to build up a denser tone. (All products from Sephora unless otherwise stated.)

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Living Talking Shop

See a Knead, Fill a Need Christmas comfort food from Paddington Bakery

by Dana Cosio-Mercado

F

riends Lottie Murphy and Wendy Chow have always been surrounded by baked goods, from enjoying them as children to learning how to make them as adults. Two years ago, they turned a personal passion into a thriving business, bringing comfort food from their native UK to people from all over in Beijing.

The journey began when Lottie (who has been in Beijing for three years) and Wendy (who has been here for six) started talking about how difficult it was to get good mince pies in the city. That got them reminiscing about other favorite baked treats and they eventually decided to make a few pies for their families. When friends got wind of the duo’s kitchen capers, they asked the pair to make more for their families as well.

So, they got busy kneading. They

scheduled the baking around their children’s naptimes and often took the kids with them when it was time to sell the goods at bazaars.

As their customer base expanded beyond the city’s British community, what started out as a personal project born from homesickness turned into a small business.

They named their venture “Paddington Bakery” after Paddington Bear, the popular children’s book character from the UK. Initially, Paddington Bakery sold a modest selection of puddings and pies. Since then, the business has expanded to include fudge, biscuits, and Christmas cakes (RMB 250 for a gift-wrapped individual cake, RMB 280 for a medium 1.3kg cake, and RMB 380 for a large 2kg cake).

Paddington Bakery’s bestsellers remain British goodies like shortbread, gingerbread men (RMB 20 per biscuit or RMB 60 per pot of biscuits), and crisp, buttery mince pies (RMB 15-20 each).

While the bulk of the business’ products are made from family recipes, they also like to experiment with new flavors. Last year they introduced chili cheese biscuits and a luxury nut range, which have proven popular at bake sales and bazaars. There are even China-specific flavors like Sichuan pepper cashew nuts (RMB 60 per pot or RMB 50 per pot for bulk purchases). Lottie and Wendy also sell gingerbread kits containing gingerbread mix, a cookie cutter, and a handwritten recipe. Look out for them at Christmas bazaars around town.

Paddington Bakery Place your order by sending an email to paddingtonpies@yahoo.com.

Or, call Lottie at 137 1857 5931 or Wendy at 132 6424 7764.

photos: ken and dana cosio-mercado

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Birthday Bash Living

Out with the Old, In with the New City Center Wangjing community center makes birthday wishes come true

by Dana Cosio-Mercado

photos: courtesy of ncc

C

alling all princesses, pirates, mermaids, and magicians! Specializing in parties for children under 7, New City Center organizes everything from planning to cleaning up. Party packages include decorations, games and activities, prizes, and child-approved food.

Events are held in a bright, airy room that is transformed into your child’s domain for the day. Early birds are greeted with activities like coloring and clay modeling.

Your child and their friends then get to do one craft activity and three party games, all designed to match the chosen theme. The kids can also decorate and eat their own cupcakes. The party ends with free play at the indoor playground, which includes a ball pit and a slide with a climbing frame. All equipment is clean and well-maintained.

If you want more substantial food, the center’s Corner Cafe makes delicious and healthy dishes. The cafe offers pizza (RMB 150, choose from pepperoni, Hawaiian or

barbecue chicken flavor), Caesar or garden salad (RMB 100/120), and tomato pasta (RMB 120) in party portions. New City Center can also prepare sandwiches or wraps (RMB 30/35), a variety of desserts (RMB 12-23), and a decorated birthday cake (RMB 200, choose from chocolate, vanilla or carrot cake).

Be sure to discuss the party menu when you reserve.

New City Center has both English- and Chinese-speaking staff on hand to host the party and assist you and your guests. Aside from birthday parties, the center offers a Mommy and Me Club, After School Kids’ Club, and English Corner for parents. As a community center, New City Center can host events like conferences and weddings, and it puts on seasonal events like the annual Christmas Carnival (Saturday, December 14 from 11am1.30pm).

The playground is within view of the Corner Cafe, so you can drop in with the kids and kick back with a cup of coffee while keeping an

eye on them (RMB 100 for ten visits or free admission with every purchase of RMB 30 or more at the cafe).

New City Center 新城文化中心 RMB 1,000 (party package for up to eight kids), RMB 1,300 (party package for up to 12 kids). For groups of 12 or more kids, call for a quote. The price includes the use of a decorated party room for up to two hours (or three if you get the party catered by the Corner Cafe). Tue-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 1-6pm. 2/F, 112 Lize Xiyuan (above Yuan Art Museum), Guangshun Beidajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District (6475 1066, Chinese: 150 1035 8799, English: 131 2661 1088) 朝阳区望京广顺北大街利泽西园112 号楼2层（元典美术馆上面） www.thenewcitycenter.com

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Just What the Doctors Ordered A comparison of Western and traditional Chinese remedies for common winter ailments

by Oscar Holland

W

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photo: patrick denker (flickr)

inter has arrived, which means the return of the usual host of seasonal ailments. But as well as the colds, fevers, and sniffles we are all used to, Beijing’s air creates other problems like dry skin and dry hair. Add to these the risk of over-eating at the Christmas table and you are likely to find yourself at the pharmacy more often than usual, especially if you have kids.

But in China there is not a single, unified approach to these common health complaints. Although there remains some skepticism within the scientific community about its effectiveness, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remains hugely popular locally, both on its own and in combination with western treatments.

Chinese medicine shops have spread across Europe and North American and western pharmaceutical companies are committing increasing resources towards researching, developing, and marketing these natural treatments. Whether this is because of their power to heal or the potential for profit is difficult to ascertain, but many people in Beijing, both local and expats, continue to turn to the herbal remedies and traditional treatments advocated by TCM practitioners.

So as the days get shorter, colder, and more germridden, we asked two Beijing-based doctors – one pediatrician and one TCM expert – what they considered to be effective cures for winter ailments. *Some of these answers have been abbreviated and may not always include every recommendation made by each doctor. ** We asked both doctors to provide child-appropriate treatments, but you should always read the label or consult a health professional before giving children medicine. Because TCM remedies are tailored to each patient, Dr. Huang also recommends consulting an expert before embarking on any course of treatment.

Many people in Beijing, both local and expats, continue to turn to the herbal remedies and traditional treatments advocated by TCM practitioners December 2013

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Health

Ailment

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Western Medicine As told by Dr. Xiaoping Meng, GP and chief pediatrician at Hong Kong International Medical Clinic, Beijing

Chesty cough

“A cough often happens because of a respiratory tract infection or an allergy. Mucosolvan [an ambroxol-based brand] can effectively alleviate this symptom. Drink more water and eat light [meals] at ordinary times. See a doctor if the cough has still not [cleared up] after one week. ”

Sore throat

”Some mouth lozenges may be taken to ease a sore throat. The weather in Beijing is very dry, so using an air humidifier to keep air moist is very important. Other ways to reduce the chance of getting a sore throat include drinking more water, quitting smoking, drinking less [alcohol], and avoiding spicy food. If the sore throat is accompanied by a high fever, see a doctor.”

Runny nose

“The most common causes of [a] running nose are [the common] cold and rhinitis.

Many comprehensive cold medicines (such as [acetaminophen-based brand] Tylenol Cold) may alleviate this symptom. If the symptom [persists] for more than two weeks, see a doctor.”

Fever, aches and pains, flu-like symptoms

”Paracetamol or ibuprofen can effectively alleviate influenza-like symptoms such as fever and aches. Patients should drink more water, [get] more rest, and see a doctor if the fever lasts longer than three days.

Dry skin

”It is dry in autumn and winter. [You] can effectively relieve dry skin by using some mild moisturizing cream after getting out of the shower. Drinking more water and using a humidifier can have certain [positive] effects as well.”

Dry hair

”Do not frequently perm and dye your hair. Using hair conditioner or a hair mask can keep the hair soft, shiny, and manageable. Do not use a hair drier too close to your hair or blow it too dry. Avoid [lengthy periods of] exposure to the sun.”

Digestion problems (from overeating)

”You can effectively [cure] the dyspepsia caused by gastrointestinal disturbance by taking [bacterial remedies such as] Biofermin and other medicines. In addition, some [relief] can be achieved with a moderate abdominal massage and taking a walk after meals.”

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

”This disease possibly relates to the amount of light exposure and is [characterized] by depression, anxiety, [listlessness], and so on. It usually happens more often in autumn and winter. Phototherapy [light therapy] is very effective. Spend more time with family members and friends, go outside, and do some simple exercise. Also getting more sunlight is helpful.”

Preventative medicine

”Avoid going to crowded public places. Get regular exercise, keep a healthy diet, reduce the intake of alcohol and cigarettes, drink more water, wash [your] hands frequently, and get adequate sleep. Be sure to keep warm.”

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Health Traditional Chinese Medicine As told by Dr. Frank Huang, TCM expert at Oasis International Hospital

“In Chinese medicine we would treat all of these symptoms as part of the same problem. There are some herbal treatments I would suggest – purple perilla, ledebouriella seseloides, and mulberry leaf – but it depends on the condition of each patient. We normally perform a physical examination. Each person is different, so we might ask whether they want warm or cold water to assess their [internal temperature].”

Acupuncture may also help. Dr. Huang points to a number of acupuncture points, including some on the back of the neck and the wrist. There are further TCM treatments that he recommends for specific symptoms: “For a sore throat, we can bleed [from the skin around the nail on] the thumb and forefinger with a 0.3cm needle. Cupping can be used to treat a cough if the patient has had it for a long time, say [persistently] for a year.”

“Keeping the skin warm can help, as can [the herb] Angelica sinesis.

Also, try making a soup with pig or sheep bones, caraway, Chinese green onion, ginger and a little pepper. The inside of the bones contains fat that can help the skin produce oil.”

“Hair [is linked] to the kidney and is closely associated with how it functions. Temperature [is also important], and the hair will be a little warmer [and drier] if the skin underneath is too hot. Try taking some fleeceflower root.”

“This type of stomach issue can happen if the hydrochloric acid level is too high and the PH level is not right – you want it at about one to two [on the PH scale]. I suggest hawthorn for digestion problems. Herbal laxatives can also help; you can make an [effective treatment] by preparing a tea from the hair found on [a cob of] sweet corn.”

“We have lots of sunshine here, which is a big help. It’s good to be awake for a long time [during daylight hours]. It is important that you always do something – stay active and exercise. Cyperus is a good herbal treatment and acupuncture can also help with a sad heart and angry [feelings] – we can use acupuncture points on the chest and feet.”

”You can strengthen your immune system through [measures like] healthy eating and sleeping, and going to the toilet regularly. Regular habits are, along with healthy thinking, the two parts to remaining well.”

Resources Oasis International Hospital 明德医院 Dr. Frank Huang operates from the TCM Department at Oasis International Hospital, where he provides a variety of treatments, including acupuncture, cupping, and herbal remedies. Doctors can, upon request, co-manage patients with the hospital’s western medicine specialists in fields like fertility, insomnia, pain management, and orthopedics. Dr. Huang offers consultations in Chinese and English, though the hospital can arrange for a translator for other languages at no additional cost.

Daily 24hrs (emergency care), MonFri 9am- 6pm, Sun 8.30-12.30am. 9 Jiuxianqiao Beilu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District (400 876 2747) www.oasishealth.cn 朝阳区朝阳区酒 仙桥北路9号 Hong Kong International Medical Clinic, Beijing 北京港澳国际医务诊所 Dr. Xiaoping Meng has been working at Hong Kong International Medical Clinic since 2004, and has experience in diagnosis and treatment of child diseases, immunization, nutrition and child development. The clinic the first joint-venture medical organization in Beijing to offer a 24hr helpline with medical support in English, Chinese, and Japanese, with other languages on request. A basic consultation costs RMB 680 with direct billing for over 50 international insurers.

Daily 9am-9pm (nurse on duty after 9pm). 9/F, Swissôtel Office Tower, 2 Chaoyangmen Beidajie, Dongcheng District (6553 2288 ext 2345/6/7, 6553 9752) www.hkclinic.com 朝阳门北大街 2号港澳中心瑞士酒店办公楼9层

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Health The Natural Path

Airing on the Side of Caution

R

ecently, the World Health Organization officially classified air pollution as a carcinogen. This puts it in the same category as other cancer-causing agents like asbestos, plutonium, silica dust, UV radiation, and tobacco smoke. Fortunately change seems to be in the air, with new regulations supposedly taking effect in the near future. In the meantime, here’s what you can do to offset the harmful effects of air pollution.

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables constitutes the foundation of cancer prevention. The more colorful, the better. A single apple contains thousands of antioxidants. Try carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, leafy greens like Chinese broccoli or jièlán (芥蓝), pineapples, papayas, grapes, or Chinese bayberries or yángméi (杨梅) – the list is endless.

When we breathe in the free radicals that float around in polluted air, they cause damage to our lungs, hearts, and other internal organs.

Studies show that supplementing with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium can help “deactivate” free radicals. The antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is particularly beneficial to the lungs. Consult a nutrition expert for specific dosages and recommendations.

Studies show that supplementing with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium can help “deactivate” free radicals Some naysayers argue that air purifiers do not make a difference because unclean air can still leak into the home. That is true, but even if the air purifier reduces airborne pollutants in your home by only 20 percent, isn’t that better than nothing?

The benefits of plants cannot be underestimated. NASA studied the effectiveness of plants to sustain life in a confined environment and purify the air of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde. The agency’s experiments used six to eight large plants per person. You may not be able to fit that many in your home but, again, aren’t a few plants better than none?

Check AQI levels and plan accordingly. One of the most reliable sources for AQI readings, especially if you live in the Liangmaqiao area, is iphone.bjair.info. Levels can vary dramatically throughout the day, so check often. Avoid outdoor activities when readings are high (my cutoff point is 230-250 AQI). If you must be outside, wear a mask and use a model like the N95 that can remove 95 percent of pollutants.

Our body has a way of naturally removing toxins from our system.

This process is known as detoxification. There is not enough space in this column to get into the “how,” but readers should speak to a health professional if they would like to find out more about detoxification.

Got a question?

Melissa Rodriguez is a mom of two and a wellness consultant. She also works as a naturopath at International Medical Center. Check out her website at www.drmelissarodriguez.com.

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Health The Doc Is In

Cold and Flu Prevention: Nothing to Sneeze At

O

nce again, it is cold and flu season. The most common-sense preventive measure is handwashing. The effectiveness of this simple step has been proven for almost 200 years, ever since pioneering British surgeon Dr. Joseph Lister demonstrated that washing your hands with an antiseptic dramatically cut down on surgical infections. Simple soap and water does the trick but I also like alcohol gels, as they work more rapidly and wipe out a larger percentage of viruses and bacteria.

Another preventive measure is daily gargling with salt water throughout the winter. People who gargle up to three times a day show a 40 percent decrease in respiratory illnesses and symptoms. Gargling also helps loosen up mucus and alleviate the pain and swelling that accompanies sore throats.

Common herbal treatments such as echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc are considered “possibly ineffective” Vitamin D supplementation can help prevent colds and flus for all ages. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily dose of 400 IU year-round for children. Studies show that school-aged kids who took a higher dose of vitamin D during flu season had a 42 percent decrease in influenza infections. In Beijing, I also recommend vitamin D for adults because air pollution cuts down on the amount of sunlight that reaches our skin.

Getting a good night’s sleep can decrease the risk of infections.

People who sleep only six to seven hours a night are three times more likely to get cold symptoms than those who get eight or more hours of sleep.

There is also good data on the effectiveness of herbal treatments to prevent colds (check out the Natural Medicines Database at tinyurl.com/ bvalz5). American ginseng was listed as “possibly safe and effective,” the database’s highest rating. Garlic, alpha-lipoid acid (ALA), and lactobacillus had “insufficient evidence.” You might be surprised to find that common herbal treatments such as echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc are considered “possibly ineffective.”

And of course, there is the flu vaccine, which is recommended for everyone older than 6 months. It is not 100 percent effective, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. Those who have frequent contact with newborns and infants under 6 months should seriously consider getting the vaccine, as this demographic is most vulnerable to the flu but is not yet eligible for the vaccine.

Last but not least, don’t forget the basic building blocks for a healthy immune system: exercise, a good diet full of antioxidants, and not smoking.

Need more info?

Dr. Richard Saint Cyr is a family doctor at Beijing United Family Hospital, and the director of clinical marketing and communications. He runs the blog www.myhealthbeijing.com.

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Dining Dining Out

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ortheastern Chinese cuisine (also known as dongbei cai, 东北菜) does not fall into the country’s bada caixi (八大菜系) or eight major cuisines, but this does not stop Beijing’s Liulaogen from serving up some delicious family-friendly fare.

One dish that kids will find difficult to resist is guobao rou (锅包 肉) or fried pork in sweet and sour sauce (RMB 69). The starch-coated meat is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and crunches like popcorn upon first bite. During the shoot, our photographer had to stop to let the model finish a piece because he found it “too yummy to concentrate on the camera.”

For something really authentic, shazhu huicai (杀猪烩菜, RMB 69) tells you everything you need to know about Dongbei cuisine.

This dish was traditionally served during festivals because pork was considered a luxury. Many rural households still make shazhu huicai around Chinese New Year by tossing meat, blood, and whatever else they can find in a big stew. (You can request for it to be made without blood at Liulaogen.)

A consistent ingredient is pickled cabbage, usually cooked for hours on low heat, leaving a mildly sour flavor and soft texture. Liulaogen’s shazhu huicai is modestly-sized and good for a family of three or four with other mains.

The two-story theater-style restaurant is owned by Dongbei native Zhao Benshan, China’s most popular sketch comedian. Both the service and the atmosphere are outstanding. Waitresses in colorful traditional dress provide high chairs without being asked, bathrooms feature western toilets, and the 60-page menu contains English translations and photos for almost every dish.

“P” Is for Pickled Cabbage

December 30 Ryan Looibeijingkids (age 5, attends Ivy2013 Academy) tucks into a plate of fried pork in sweet and sour sauce

by Clemence Jiang

photo: sui

Liulaogen 刘老根东北菜 Daily 11am-9pm. Liulaogen, 34 Xiaojiang Hutong, Qianmen Donglu, Dongcheng District (6702 6666) 东城区前门东路 小江胡同34号

A lesson in northeastern Chinese cuisine at Liulaogen

Dining Eaters’ Digest Dishes tried-and-tested by Sijia Chen, Oscar Holland, Clemence Jiang, and Nimo Wanjau. Want to take a bite for yourself? See Directories for restaurant listings. Got a suggestion? Send us a photo and a description to editor@beijing-kids.com.

Guizhou Changwang Noodles Reviewed in: Hepingli You may feel you’ve had your fill of noodles in the Middle Kingdom, but chances are you haven’t tasted Guizhou changwang noodles (RMB 30), which combine the chewy texture of Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles, the spiciness of Sichuan’s dandan noodles, and the pungent scent of Hubei’s hot-dry noodles. A popular snack in Guiyang, changwang noodles are served with pig’s blood, intestines, and chicken oil in a hot and sour soup.

The most authentic version can be found at Beijing Guizhou Mansion.

Paris Spring Reviewed in: Dongzhimen Haagen-Dazs serves a rich selection of tasty ice creams, including the romantically-named Paris Spring (RMB 108). Featuring a scoop of strawberry ice cream and a strawberry macaroon, it’s a touch of spring on a plate.

Cheeseburger with Chopped Salad Reviewed in: Sanlitun The burgers at Great Leap’s Xinzhong Lu branch gained a devoted following in a very short period of time – and for good reason. The massive cheeseburger (RMB 50) delivers a one-two punch of double beef patties and oozing cheese layers, with pickles providing just the right amount of crunch. Fries can be substituted for a salad for RMB 6, and the weekday lunch special gets you RMB 10 off all burgers and salads (Mon-Fri 11.30am-2pm).

Katsu Curry with Pork Cutlet Reviewed in: Beixinqiao The Japanese may be known for their intricate culinary techniques, but there is something satisfyingly simple about this katsu curry with pork cutlet (RMB 35).

Served in the homely setting of Suzuki Kitchen’s newest branch in Beixinqiao, the dish comes garnished with seaweed and a tomato relish.

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Well-Rounded Easy-peasy homemade pizza with InterContinental Beijing Financial Street

Ingredients Serves 1 180g basic pizza dough (see next page for recipe) 180克披萨生面团（详述见 下页） 80g tomato sauce (canned is OK) 80克 番茄酱（罐装也行） 15ml olive oil 15毫升橄榄油 100g mozzarella 100克马苏里拉奶酪 5g fresh basil, trimmed 5克新鲜罗勒， 切好 50g of parma ham or smoked salmon 50克帕尔玛火腿或烟熏三文鱼 A handful of fresh arugula 一小把芝 麻菜

photos: mitchell pe masilun

beijingkids December 32 Ela Kanti (age 10, attends the2013 International School of Beijing) and Executive Sous Chef Emile Wang with a plate of parma ham pizza

Food for Thought Dining

1 Basic Pizza Dough 披萨生面团 Flour the food preparation surface. Turn the basic pizza dough in mid-air, then flatten slowly with your hands. Add flour as needed to prevent sticking. 板子撒点面粉，面团双手拿 起，转着圈都捏平，粘的话 加面粉。

1. Mix all the ingredients well. 以上配料搅拌均匀 2. Roll the dough into a small ball. 面团揉成小球 3. Cover with plastic wrap in a bowl and leave to rise for 30 minutes at room temperature. 放到碗里，保鲜膜包好，常温 放置30分钟，等待发酵

1kg bread flour 1千克面包粉 450 ml warm water 450毫升温水 30g yeast 30克酵母 10g salt 10克盐 10g sugar 10克糖 5ml olive oil 5毫升橄榄油

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3 Spread the tomato sauce and basil over the dough, then sprinkle the mozzarella on top. Leave a rim around the edge for the crust to rise. 面团上撒些番 茄酱和罗勒，再在上面撒些 马苏里拉奶酪。但是面团最 外围一圈要留下，什么都不 要洒，到时膨胀起边。

Put the dough in a round pan. Carefully score it with a knife to prevent the yeast from forming bubbles in the baking process. 面团放进圆 的平底锅。烘焙时，假如产 生了泡泡（酵母作用），用 小刀划开。

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5 Plate the pizza. Add fresh arugula and parma ham or smoked salmon just before serving. 披萨装盘。加一些 芝麻菜、帕尔玛火腿或烟熏 三文鱼，即可享用。

Put the pizza in the oven and bake at 250°C for 1520 minutes until crispy. 披 萨放入烤箱，250度高温烤 15-20分钟，或至香脆。

Emile Wang is the executive sous chef for InterContinental Beijing Financial Street. Born and raised in Beijing, he holds 20 years of professional cooking experience. He finds creativity in combining Chinese and Western approaches, and specializes in Italian and French cuisine. In his spare time, Chef Wang enjoys sports and travel.

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Playing What's Fun In

Knock on Wood Sowing the seeds of environmental awareness text and photos by Clemence Jiang

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The Institutebeijingkids of Botany’s Bodhi tree, is seen in Asian culture as a symbol of the Buddha 2013which December

What's Fun In Playing

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ver 70 percent of travelers stated that they would make green choices if given the chance, according to a 2012 survey by TripAdvisor. Your children may not yet understand the concept of environmental protection and why one might choose to take the bus instead of driving. What better way to instill this value than through an eco-friendly fa mily outing?

We are meeting up with EcoAction, a company founded by scientists and experts seeking to promote environmental responsibility among local and international families. We are getting a taste of one of its tours, which are designed for small groups of six to 12 people. The time for viewing autumn leaves might have already passed, but it is not too late to learn from botanical experts on this early winter tour.

EcoAction takes us to a quaint and oftenoverlooked garden tucked inside the Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is located directly across the street from Beijing Botanical Garden in Haidian District.

Although the garden is actually open to the public (RMB 10 for admission), most visitors who visit the Fragrant Hills area just head to the botanical garden, which is over 20 times larger.

But despite its modest size, the Institute’s garden houses 6,000 plant species – roughly as many as its more famous neighbor. There is

also a greenhouse for tropical and subtropical vegetation, which costs nothing to enter.

Before the trip, EcoAction sends participants some basic reading materials about the major plant families and how to identify them.

Guests are also told what to pack and how to dress for the outing, with directions for public transportation and carpooling arrangements (if needed). Drinking water is available for free from the Institute’s cafe, so participants are encouraged to bring a reusable bottle.

The tour is led by EcoAction CEO Luo Peng, who has a biology background and a Master’s in Ornithology, and Botanist Yingbao Sun from the Institute of Botany.

The Insitute’s intimate, European-style garden is quiet, clean, and easy to access.

The plants are divided by type, such as lilacs, crepe myrtles, peonies, and Chinese medicinal plants. As we walk through each garden, Sun explains how to identify each family, such as using parallel lines on leaves to differentiate between lilacs.

As we pass several trees with red leaves, Sun quizzes us about the most common type of tree in Fragrant Hills to have leaves that change color in autumn. To our surprise, the answer is not maple but Cotinus coggygria (better known as the smoke tree), a type of bush with foliage that turns a striking redviolet in the fall.

In the rose garden, Peng tells us about

the rose’s many names in Chinese – yueji, meigui, and qiangwei – and the subtle differences between each. In Chinese, yueji (月季) means “monthly,” indicating a type of rose that blossoms every month.

Compared with the greenhouse at Beijing Botanical Garden (which is billed as “the biggest display greenhouse in Asia”), the Institute’s conservatory is tiny in size. The greenhouse gets very few visitors even on weekends, allowing children to get a close look at the many specimens on display.

Among the various tropical plants was a Bodhi tree, which we are told was given as a present by Indian Premier Jawaharlal Nehru to Mao Zedong in the 1950s. The name “Bodhi” originates from Bodh Gaya in northern India, but the tree’s botanical name is Ficus religiosa.

It was under a Bodhi tree that Siddharta Gautama meditated for 49 days and attained enlightenment. For this reason, it has become an object of worship to Buddhists.

When the two children (ages 8 and 11) on our tour start to get tired, we head to the canteen at the western end of the Institute. It sells Chinese dishes such as fried rice, noodles, and mala xiangguo (麻辣香锅, dry hotpot).

Rice noodle soup with beef (niurou mifen, 牛 肉米粉) costs RMB 12 and comes in a stone pot to keep the food warm.

After lunch, participants usually do two or three activities focusing on birds and plants.

The main gate of the neighboring Beijing Botanical Garden

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1. rose garden 2. cafe 3. greenhouse 4. smoke trees 5. canteen

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photo: judy zhou

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beijingkids 2013 December To view the location of these attractions, consult the map on the opposite page

What's Fun In Playing botanical drawing is respecting the original size and scale. To get the structure of a maple leaf right, the kids learn how to count the number of lobes and veins, not forgetting the small stipules at the base of the stalk.

“I have drawing classes at school too,” says 8-year-old Xiangchen Liu. “The teacher tells me what to draw and how to draw it, but does not explain why we should draw this way.”

The children are also asked to think about why trees need leaves. The term “photosynthetic” is difficult for them to grasp but Xiangchen is able to tell us after an explanation from Sun that plants rely on leaves to turn sunlight into food and oxygen.

Children learn best through hands-on activities. When they gain first-hand knowledge from nature, they also begin to understand the environment is worth respecting and protecting.

For more botanical fun, join EcoAction’s next trip on December 21. The tour features bird

Air-Purifying Plants

watching at Beijing Botanical Garden with British bird watcher Terry Townshend and Chinese ornithologist Zhu Le. The trip is designed for a group of six to 12 people with children, but outings can be tailored to each group’s specific requirements. Five percent of all proceeds go directly to EcoAction’s fund to support nonprofit projects for conservation within the local community. To reserve your spot, call 6486 2035 or email info@ecoactionnow.com. To find out more about EcoAction, visit the company’s website at www.ecoactionnow.com.

Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences 中国科学院植 物研究所北京植物园 Daily 8am-5pm. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan Lu, Haidian District (6283 6063) 海淀区香山南辛村20号 (近北 京植物园)

Office

Both Chinese and Western families can get involved with the help of an interpreter. On our tour, however, we skip this part because the group was too small.

In the middle of the garden, there is a small cafe where you can fill up your water bottle and shop for seeds, plant food, and tools. This presents a good opportunity to sit back and learn more about the garden’s storied past.

We discover for example that Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, briefly grew flowers in the garden towards the end of his life.

After the stories, the children draw leaves in the cafe with Sun’s guidance. The botanist, who also specializes in technical drawing, explains that illustration is especially important in his field when a new species is discovered because a photograph does not capture minute differences between plants as well as drawings can.

Before the children start their task, Sun tells them that the most important part of a

Greenhouse

3

4 Museum

5 2 Entrance of the Institute

Oak Trees Laboratory Building

Rose Garden

1 Tree Display

Myrtle Garden TCM Herb Garden

Wild Orchard Garden

Cypress Garden

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Playing Family Travels

A slippery walk through the canyon

The Great Outdoors Harrow sixth form students take on the forces of nature in Japan

by Carol Yeung Nina Yang (Year 13) takes the plunge

Harrow International School Beijing

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2013 December

A leap of faith for Jake Zhang (Year 13)

photos: courtesy of harrow

Travelers: Teachers Carol Yeung, Sharon Ringrose and Nick Rickford, and 23 sixth form students (Years 12 and 13) Destination: Minakami, Japan Dates: September 21-28, 2013 Travel plans: The group flew from Beijing to Nagoya with Etihad Airways. They then made the six-hour trip to Minakami by coach. The group stayed at Blue Monkey Lodge and Alpine Lodge, the accommodations owned by Canyons, the outdoor holiday company that organized the trip.

Cost: The school’s tailor-made program cost approximately RMB 10,000 per person. Visas were around RMB 1,000 for Chinese passport holders and free for most other nationalities. Prices for other outdoor packages can be found at www.canyons.jp/en.

Family Travels Playing

Taking on white water rapids

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e traveled with a group of 23 students to Minakami, a beautiful, clean, and friendly town on Japan’s largest island, Honshu. We took part in a host of outdoor activities, including canyoning (using various techniques to travel through canyons), canoeing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and geocaching, which is essentially a treasure hunt where the students navigate themselves through GPS. The organizer, Canyons, ran the trip very professionally and everything went smoothly from start to finish. Safety was a priority; even though we tried a lot of different sports, we were briefed and wellequipped by the competent staff.

The students all had a fantastic time. Here are some of their reviews of the trip: “The thing I enjoyed the most would have to be canyoning, particularly as I wasn’t entirely sure what this was and it was really fun to try. Secondly, I really enjoyed canoeing as this is something I have long been fond of but hadn’t had a chance [to do] in a while. I also really enjoyed the barbecue night and the large amounts of meat we cooked!” - Jim “Canyoning, mountain biking, and rafting were the three things we enjoyed the most during the Japan expedition. Not only were they were fun, but we also had chance to challenge ourselves.” - Billy and Ivy “The three things that I most enjoyed were (1) pulling Ms. Yeung into the river, (2) jumping from a 5m-high cliff into the water, and (3) playing pool with friends.” - Felix “It was the most enjoyable of all the expeditions we have done in previous years (Years 8-11) and other sixth form [trips]. It allowed us to do some extreme sports without our parents nagging us about it.

You can also buy ‘Made in Japan’ stuff in supermarkets and the airport that was cheaper and better-quality [than in China].” - Jessie More importantly, many of the students overcame personal barriers to complete the outdoor activities. Many of them challenged themselves by jumping into the water from high rocks, navigating around waterfalls, and hiking through difficult terrain.

“It was so scary to fall down from the 20m-high waterfall, but the guide told me that he was holding a rope and so I tried.” - Yukika “For me it was a challenge going down hills while hiking. During the last expedition, I fell really hard downhill and twisted my ankle.

This time I succeeded.” - Dorothy “I used to be afraid of cold water. After this trip, I felt much more confident.” - Yang For some however, the challenges were not of the outdoor variety.

According to Jim: “I was most challenged when it came to eating our katsu curry mega-portions. Unfortunately I can’t say I overcame it, but it was delicious even in failure.”

Travel Tips • Japan is a very safe country for travelers and this trip is perfect for families with teenagers.

• The best time for canyoning is from June to September, when the weather is warm and the water is not too cold.

• The area around Minakami is also very famous for its hot springs, so you might consider building this into your trip.

• The six-hour journey from Nagoya airport to Minakami was a little long for the students. You can cut this in half by flying to either of the Tokyo airports (Narita or Haneda) instead.

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photos: courtesy of beijing playhouse

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Three actors beijingkids from Beijing Playhouse’s Wizard of Oz, with requisite cross-dressing 2013 The December

Inside Playing

The complete cast

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nyone who saw director Michael Gralapp’s pantomime interpretation of Snow White last Christmas can attest to the fun and absurdity he injected into the classic tale. But unbeknown to the audience and – right up until the opening performance – the cast, the 59-year-old American was undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and coming to terms with an ominous prognosis.

Given as little as two years to live and secretly being sick during almost every rehearsal, Gralapp credits the process of putting the show together with giving him the strength to withstand the treatment’s side effects. But after experiencing his own Christmas “miracle” and being given the all-clear this year, the veteran expat director is back.

“The people here and the play got me through it more than anyone else,” he explains. “It gave me the strength to survive and I’ll never forget that show. It’s more than just community theater.”

This month, he returns to Beijing’s drama scene with renewed vigor and a new production – an unashamedly overblown version of The Wizard of Oz. It promises to be as audacious as one would expect from the pantomime genre.

“I want it to be better, funnier, bigger, and louder, and I want more audience participation because that’s what people have come to expect from these shows,” he says. “They expect to be dazzled.”

Pantomime, a typically British tradition, features performances characterized by singing, unrestrained tomfoolery, audience interaction, and, more often than not, men in women’s clothes. Familiar stories from screen and stage are merged with popular songs (with re-written lyrics), dancing, and bold costumes to form a staple of British Christmases.

This festive art form is also renowned for being mildly risqué, and its appeal to both parents and children lies behind its long-lasting success, according to Gralapp. As such, his latest production will be laden with all of the double entendres and innuendo that have come to define the genre.

“There’s still a lot of adult humor, perhaps more than in previous years. That will go completely over children’s heads but there’s a lot

of slapstick. Who doesn’t love to see someone get a pie to the face?” he says.

“What’s more, the parents love [all the audience participation] because they don’t need to tell their kids to be quiet!”

After selling out last year’s performance, which was reportedly as popular with local Chinese families as it was expats, tickets are already moving quickly. But as well as making up a large swath of the audience, children also have pivotal roles in the cast, with 13 actors aged 5 to 16 chosen from over 150 who auditioned. Most (due, in part, to their height) will play munchkins.

“I absolutely love working with the kids,” Gralapp says. ”It reminds me of Christmases past and they are all so smart. A few years ago, one of the kids got sick and couldn’t go on stage so I asked ‘Which one of you knows the lines?’ and loads of them did. They listen to everything; they even know the adults’ lines.”

Standing in the Spotlight A number of the children featured in this year’s production came straight from the drama camps held by Beijing Playhouse, the theater group behind the pantomime production. Its two-week programs allow kids aged 6 and over to paint sets, design costumes, and perform to a crowd of (sometimes hundreds of) friends and family at the end of the course.

As a result, many gain the confidence to audition for bigger productions, according to founder Chris Verrill. But while a select few will make it to the big stage, he feels the value of drama can be felt by children of all abilities.

“Only the most talented kids were able to get involved [in The Wizard of Oz] but if you’re the other 90 percent, then a show like that isn’t the best option,” he explains. “The purpose of our camps is not the quality of the show at the end; it’s about exposing children to all facets of education.”

“Some kids come to us because they are really passionate about drama and have been taking theater at school. You also have parents December 2013

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photo: courtesy of dreamaker

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beijingkids 2013 December A young member of Dreamaker Drama Academy gets into character

Inside Playing

sending their children to us because they’re really shy and getting on stage to perform is a way to get them out of their shells. Then we have a lot of Chinese parents whose kids read, write and understand English pretty well, but they can’t speak [confidently]. And then sometimes people come to us because they want their children to just be kids and have fun!”

But while the number of opportunities for kids to get involved in drama in China may be on the rise, it is a relatively recent phenomenon. Indeed, the very concept of English-language theater is still in the early stages of development, as Verrill discovered when he first arrived in the capital seven years ago.

After selling his online business and traveling the world for two years, he found himself broke in Beijing. Having watched performances throughout his journey, he decided to audition for a play but found limited options available.

“There wasn’t anywhere to audition so I thought ‘I’ll do a show’,” Verrill recalls. “This was perhaps the silliest idea I’ve had in my life, but here we are seven years later still doing it.”

From the first performance, he faced growing calls from frustrated parents wanting someone to fill the void of youth drama. The Beijing Playhouse began its children’s camps shortly after and now also helps run theater programs within schools, an experience that has highlighted the disparity in drama education in the capital.

Although many of Beijing’s international schools have dedicated drama departments and modern facilities (for instance, the British School of Beijing’s Shunyi campus has a theater big enough to host The Wizard of Oz for the first few nights of its December run), there remains a shortage of extracurricular opportunities. This is especially a problem for those in local schools because, while Beijing Playhouse has worked with a handful of Chinese schools, the theater group has found that there is often no place for drama in the local curriculum.

This facet of the Chinese education system is all too familiar for the South African-born Education Director of Dreamaker Drama Academy, Francine Booysens. Through her company’s in-school, evening, and weekend drama programs for Chinese students, she has found that the idea of creative expression through performance is an “abstract concept” for many of the parents.

“There’s so much pressure on kids to be academic rather than to express or understand themselves,” she explains. “But whether they are going to be lawyers, architects, or doctors they are going to need the sort of life skills that [drama] offers. We use performing arts to develop communication, creativity, and confidence.”

The culture may be slowly changing though, and there are certainly more opportunities for kids to act in Beijing. In the last year or two, public funding for arts programs has also begun to emerge.

“There are starting to be arts funds available,” Verrill notes. “The fact that this is even a concept means that China is perhaps turning a corner when it comes to performing arts.”

Beijing Playhouse’s The Wizard of Oz runs from December 6-9 at the British School of Beijing in Shunyi and December 12-22 at the National Olympic Sports Center Theatre. For tickets, call the box office at 6538 4716 or email performance@beijingplayhouse.com.

Pantomimes: What to Look Out For The panto is a British tradition that may be unfamiliar to families from outside of the UK. If you are not quite sure what to expect from a performance, here is a quick guide to the classic elements of these fun Christmas capers.

Cross dressing. Young male characters played by female actors and old ladies played by men (normally of the rotund, hairy variety).

Audience participation. Characters claiming “Oh no it isn’t!” should always be challenged with a chorus of “Oh yes it is!” Creeping villains should instigate warnings of “He’s behind you!” And remember, there’s no such thing as a rhetorical question in panto. Be sure to answer and answer loudly.

Double entendres. The wordplay should fly right over the children’s heads but don’t be surprised if references to “Dick Whittington” and “beanstalks” are not quite what they seem.

Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Re-written lyrics. Songs you know, lyrics you do not. We have been informed that a Queen song will feature in Beijing Playhouse’s The Wizard of Oz. Slapstick. Mild violence for the entire family.

“Celebrities.” In Britain, the regional pantomime scene has become a graveyard for washed-up, Z-list celebrities.

Unfortunately, we can’t promise any in Beijing this Christmas.

Resources Beijing Playhouse Beijing Playhouse runs theater camps at various times throughout the year. The programs are two weeks long and take place at venues across the city. Late enrollment for winter camp opens on December 15, with the sessions beginning a day later. There are also regular productions for a variety of theatrical pieces.

For more information, visit www.beijingplayhouse.com or call 139 1005 2384.

Dreamaker Drama Academy Dreamaker runs drama courses using the renowned Helen O’Grady curriculum. Currently, the programs are mainly attended by children for whom English is a second language, the Academy welcomes all children and hopes to expand into providing mixedability/language drama.

Room 505, 5/F, Gao He Rui, Bldg 609, Wangjing Yuan, Guangshun Nandajie,Wangjing, Chaoyang District (400 678 1872, nicole.hangyu@dreamaker.com.cn) www.dreamaker.com.cn 朝阳区望京广顺南大街望京园609楼高和睿5层505室

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The Season for Giving Three students helping those in need

by Aisling O’Brien

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photo: elf kids photography

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hristmas is the season of gift-giving, indulgence, and plenty, but is also a time to count our blessings. Many of the world’s religions celebrate major festivals during the winter holidays, and the days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are often a period for reflection, gratitude, and resolutionsetting. With this in mind, we interviewed three students who founded their own charities about their attempts to bring together like-minded teenagers and help those less fortunate than themselves.

Schooled Learning

Helping others is the most selfish thing you can do because that’s how you get feelings of kindness and happiness, and bring out positive characteristics in yourself

Helen Hong (age 14, American), Grade 9 student at Beijing City International School and founder of Root of the Mind

Helen Hong (age 14) started a charity to help migrant children

This year, I did a project on migrant children in Beijing and found that [many of these kids] needed help and we decided to start something to help them get a better education and not have to struggle as much.

At the moment we’re paying for one kid’s Grade 2 tuition in Heilongjiang through Project Hope (www.projecthope.org/where-we-work/ china). The girl we sponsor is a migrant. Her family is originally from Heilongjiang but her dad is out working and her mom has a mental illness, so she lives with her grandma. They don’t have [much of an] income.

We don’t want to just financially support her; we want to understand what her life is like. This way, [we] get to see a different lifestyle that we’re not [experiencing] because we’re in the city and we go to a really nice school. It makes us feel lucky that we have all these facilities and think more about how we can use them as best we can.

Currently, we can only afford to help one child but I’m planning on doing a lot more by contacting the school and communicating directly on what they need and how we can help. [We can better understand] what they need as a whole community instead of just the individual needs of different people.

I’d like to connect [BCIS and the school in Heilongjiang] to each other. We’re looking to send [the school] supplies they need, like clothes and [other daily-use items]. I hope that students at BCIS can sponsor the [migrant children] as a long-term thing.

Last year, we did a sports day with the migrant children and they got to come here

for a day to use our gym and play all kinds of sports. Sharing is caring.

We’re currently looking at running events like the BCIS Christmas Bazaar. We’re a team of eight or nine students from Grades 6, 7 and 10 that meet Friday after school for half an hour or so. We meet every other week to talk about things and plan what to do. We’re thinking of selling food – popcorn, drinks, brownies, Christmas stuff – on the day of the bazaar. I have a team of eight or nine people from Grades 6, 7 and 10. I coordinate the group’s activities.

Volunteering doesn’t take up very much time.

We raised RMB 1,600 from the Halloween party, so our target for the Christmas bazaar is about the same. I really hope people will read this and visit us during the bazaar.

Volunteering is creative. It’s a platform for students to develop any [project] they want to raise money from. They can make things, hold events, or pretty much do anything they can think of.

This semester is almost over. If we make enough money, I could find another student to sponsor at the school [in Heilongjiang]. I could also buy them supplies. RMB 500 [covers the cost of one semester], so it’s really not that much money.

I see people who are struggling. If I have the ability to help them, then why not? I try to really think about how my actions will benefit others now and in the future. After you help someone, you have a gut feeling that “I’ve done something good.” You feel accomplished.

If I could teach people one thing, I’d teach them to share what they have.

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Learning Schooled

photo: sui

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Saida Mirzalimova and Diana Tyan (age 16, Kazakh), Grade 11 students at the Canadian International School of Beijing and founders of Red Ribbon (dianatyan.wix. com/redribbon)

Saida: Last year, my father – who lives in Kazakhstan – [paid for] some people with disabilities [to come to] to Beijing for treatment. Three or four families came to Beijing from Kazakhstan. Because they didn’t speak Chinese, it was really hard for them. Diana and I went to visit them at the hospital and help them settle in the city. It was our first charity work; we did that for all of last year.

In August, Diana and I decided that we should have our own organization and so we started Red Ribbon.

Diana: We try to go wherever people need our help, be it orphanages, retirement homes, or hospitals. We also thought about getting involved with animal shelters, but it was too much so we decided to focus on people who need our time and energy. Since we [live] in China, we focus on [local work]; when we go back home for the holidays, we want to continue doing charity work in Kazakhstan.

Saida: We began by visiting orphanages. One of the most memorable was The New Hope Foundation (www.hopefosterhome.com), where they help children with disabilities.

We went there just to spend time with [the children]. Because of their physical disabilities, it’s harder for them to get adopted. So these children suffer more than others and stay at the orphanage for much longer.

Diana: We got a list of all the orphanages in Beijing and started calling them. Surprisingly, not all of them wanted visitors or students to come. The New Hope Foundation agreed, so we gathered all our Kazakh friends and went there with our Chinese tutor, Linda. We also went to the Shizhentang Hospital (时珍堂中 医院) to visit Kazakh and Russian [patients].

Since we understand Chinese, we helped them get around in the city, [interact] with doctors – whatever they needed.

Saida: We took people from different hospitals on trips to the zoo and to Beijing World Park in the south of Beijing.

Sixteen-year-old Saida Mirzalimova (left) and Diana Tyan, co-founders of Red Ribbon

Diana: Both of us have very happy, healthy, big families. We thought that we should share some of our luck with others who didn’t have [the same] opportunities.

Saida: We [wish we could] do more. We’re currently doing the IB Diploma Programme and after-school activities, so we can only [go on visits to orphanages and hospitals] twice a month.

Diana: We try our best to bring as many people with us [as possible], so we try to organize a time when everyone can come. We have to plan ahead as people have different schedules, so it takes some effort to put it together.

Saida: We went to a talk by Craig Kielburger.

He’s the founder of the Free the Children. He inspired us. He said that helping others is the most selfish thing you can do because that’s how you get feelings of kindness and happiness, and bring out positive characteristics in yourself.

Diana: You’re like “Oh my God, I have e v e r y t h i n g .” I ’ m n o t a s e n t i m e n t a l person; I don’t cry at movies. But when I went to the orphanage... They’re so poor; they don’t have anything. People don’t really think about poverty but when you actually see it for yourself, then you realize. The [poor] don’t have a home to live in, blankets to keep warm, or money for treatment. They need the basics.

Saida: Our first notion was that this was about helping people, but meeting with Craig Kielburger gave our project a second wind.

We found that [helping others is] really good for us too. If I could teach people one thing, I’d teach them compassion. People aren’t bad; they just don’t know. Join our organization.

Contact us, visit our website. We are happy to welcome new volunteers who are willing to help.

Diana: I agree, and I’d also say you have to educate yourself, because if you don’t even know what’s happening around you, you can’t help. Before when I lived in Kazakhstan I really didn’t care about charity. I knew I was lucky, and I knew that people were suffering, but I wasn’t educated enough, and I hadn’t seen actual poverty on the streets. So I think it’s really important to first teach yourself so you can grow as a person.

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Learning Blank Canvas

Students from

Etonkids International Kindergarten fill December’s Blank Canvas Frank, 5, Chinese: See these red, yellow and green balls? See the star at the top of the tree? These are Christmas decorations.

And the blue sparkly dots are snow.

Eva, 5, Chinese: I like to draw animals. I already drew a horse, a monkey, a cat, a dog, a mouse, a bird, a tiger, a caterpillar... and a polar bear, because polar bears are white, like winter.

Niu Niu, 4, Chinese: I like Santa because he brings presents to children.

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Angela, 4, Chinese: I put glue on the snowman’s body.

Then I put shredded paper everywhere.

2013 December

Lisa, 4, Chinese: I love snowy winters. It’s like magic! Bling bling.

Bo Yuan, 4, Chinese: The top present is mine, the rest are for my friends.

Winnie, 4, Chinese: I first used crayons to draw the houses and windows, then I used dark blue paint to paint the night. I painted all over the houses; you can still see them because paint doesn’t stick to crayons.

Mimi, 4, Chinese: It’s the sky in winter.

The white things are snowflakes. It’s snowing on a sunny day.

Tedrick, 5, Chinese: It’s colorful. I like colorful!

Helen, 4, Chinese: I used bubble wrap stamps, dipped them in paint, and pressed them onto the paper. Ta-da!

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I Want to Be a Tea Expert Charlene Wang provides tea and sympathy

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merican Charlene Wang served for six years as a diplomat with the US State Department in Bangladesh, China, India, and at the UN Security Council Policy Office. Three years ago. she created a Beijing-based social enterprise called Tranquil Tuesdays to introduce China’s highest-quality teas to the world. Her business combines her passion for tea with a mission to provide steady employment, and vocational and life skills training to disadvantaged Chinese women. She recently visited Grade 6 and 7 students at Beijing BISS International School to talk about the finer points of tea. Aisling O’Brien

photos: ken

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When I Grow Up Learning

“You could have a handmade leather boot or you could have a boot off a factory line, with a very different quality. It’s the same for tea” Ms. Shrimpton, School Counselor, US/UK How do you control the quality of tea?

The number one factor in China is when it was picked.

The early season usually [yields] higherquality leaves than later in the season.

Secondly it’s the leaf itself and how it was grown. You could have a handmade leather boot or you could have a boot off a factory line, with a very different quality. It’s the same for tea. The really cool thing is that the majority of Chinese tea is still produced in small family farms.

Another big factor in quality is leaf size.

There’s a big difference between drinking dirtlike tea [from a tea bag] and drinking whole leaf tea; it’s like having powdered Tang and then fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Prochchhanno, 12, Bangladesh How is English tea different from Chinese tea?

No European countries produce tea; they import it from subtropical and tropical regions.

Carlo, 12, Italy What is your favorite type of tea?

It depends on the season.

When it’s cold, I like Qimen black tea or Pu’er tea but when it’s hot, I like white teas and green teas.

Ing, 12, Thailand How do you produce so many teas from one plant?

The main [factor] is oxidation. When you bite into an apple and leave it out, then it changes color – that’s oxidation. The tea maker’s job is to control that process. If it’s not oxidized, that’s green tea; fully oxidized tea is black.

Bowen, 11, US How do you make money?

I find tea that I like, drink it to make sure that it tastes great, teach people about enjoying tea, and sell them the tea that I find. You have a good business mind! Do you want an internship? Because I like the way you think.

Pim, 13, Thailand How do you know when the tea leaf is ready to be picked?

On the top of the tea plant is a bud and two leaves. [Generally] you pick [that part], and it takes one or two weeks for the next batch to come up. Some teas, like silver needle white tea, are made only from the bud, and others like Tieguanyin oolong are made only from the leaves.

Huijun, 13, Korea How many different types of teas are there?

There are six main categories: white, green, yellow (which is very rare), oolong, black, and post-processed tea like Pu’er. Within each category, there are hundreds more. For example, there are hundreds of green teas and oolong teas in China.

Ashley, 12, Hong Kong Can you tell us a little bit about yellow tea?

Yellow tea is rare; it’s produced in only four places in China. It’s green tea [with an extra] step; you put it in a covered bag or box and you let it ferment for a couple of hours. That makes the flavors a little bit softer, sweeter, and not as grassy. That’s also what makes it yellow.

Maria, 11, Spain How many years have you been working with tea?

I have been crazy about tea since I was in third grade, I’ve been traveling around and going to tea gardens on my own for at least ten years and I’ve had my company for three and a half years.

Janvi, 11, India How many places are famous for tea?

The five most famous places are China (the oldest and biggest), Japan (mostly green tea), India (in Darjeeling and Assam), Sri Lanka (black tea), and Rwanda or Tanzania.

The British brought tea to India, Sri Lanka and Africa since they were all post-colonial [places]. They wanted to control the tea [trade] so they sent a Scottish spy dressed up as a Chinese guy to steal tea plants and bring them to India. I’m not joking, look it up!

His name was Robert Fortune, and there’s a whole book on the subject called For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose.

Manoli, 12, Germany When was tea invented?

There are records from as early as 1,000 BC of tea cultivation in China, but the number one story the discovery of tea is about Emperor Shennong, a mythological character whose name means “sacred farmer.” The story is that he was outside and a [tea] leaf fell in his cup. But that’s not necessarily the most historically-accurate account.

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Parenting Beijing Baba

A Vacation with Twins? Sounds Like Hell to Me A Beijing baba recalls the golden days of travel

by Christopher Lay

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n a simpler, more nimble time in our lives, my beloved and I could drop everything and go traveling, from glorious extended trips to outlandish weekend getaways.

It all began with our marriage. When Savvy was on exchange in France, we sealed our nuptials in her host town and spent the next four weeks traveling in southern France and Spain. I somehow convinced my employer that this was a good idea even though I didn’t have anywhere near that much holiday saved up. Later, we lived in Japan, Israel, Cambodia, and finally China. Each new place provided unique opportunities and challenges for creative travel.

Though we barely had any money while living in Cambodia, we still managed to see some interesting places in the country. One of our most memorable trips involved hiring a makeshift rail raft to take us down the train line to a remote village. The “rafts” were made from little more than four wheels on axels, a bamboo floor, and an outboard motor with a belt linked to one of the axels.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts”

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Christopher Lay comes from the sleepy town of Ashland, Oregon, USA. Father to 6-year-old Reina and twins Bryson and Ryder (born August 2012), Christopher has worked in Beijing for five years as a photographer and writer. View his work at www.chrislay.com.

illustration: sun zheng

After a two-and-a-half hour ride, we arrived at the village that served as a jump-off point for an additional one-hour motorbike ride to an isolated waterfall. All this just to have a picnic and a quick dip in the river before turning around and doing it all in reverse to reach our hotel before nightfall.

Mark Twain wrote in The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” I have taken these words to heart and done my best to challenge my own prejudices.

But what Mark Twain failed to mention was that children can be fatal to travel – at least temporarily.

By the time Reina was born in 2007, our travel experiences became more routine. We embarked on an average of two trips a year: one back home to visit family, and one outside of China to keep our curiosity in check. Although traveling with a child slowed us down a bit, we didn’t find the experience too daunting and Reina’s passport quickly filled up.

Even though she didn’t always remember the trips, we had plenty of photos to prove where she’d been and her appetite for long plane rides grew. To this day, she finds a three-hour plane trip “too short.”

All of this changed with the birth of the twins in August 2012. Sure, we took the mandatory trip home to share the love with family, but the experience was exhausting. We almost relished returning to Beijing, where we had professional help to assist with the onslaught of diaper changes and feeds.

Even now when we venture out as a family, Savvy and I spend most of our time feeding, changing, and coping with two boys who get more and more cranky if they miss their nap time. Although we attended the beijingkids Halloween Party this October, we barely got to experience any of it and came away with the certainty that there would be no traveling this holiday season.

And yet, the boys will soon respond better to voice command and be fully potty-trained (God willing). If all goes according to plan, we will once again venture to the USA next July to show off the grandkids and feast our eyes on the lush greenery of western Oregon. Either that, or Savvy and I will ditch all the kids at home and head for Thailand.

The Echo Chamber Parenting

Holidazed

One mom’s quest to keep the spirit of Christmas alive

by Ember Swift

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illustration: sun zheng

or years, Christmas annoyed me. The incessant carols piping out of shops, the enforced gift-buying and commercialism that left everyone broke by January, the unspoken familial stresses resulting in strained smiles and sloppy, drunken dinner parties – what was there to like? Except for the great feasting and the time off work, I found the holidays to be draining at best.

Then I moved to China.

I never knew how much affection for Christmas melodies lay dormant in me until I couldn’t hear them anywhere. I found myself shyly downloading classics like Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and playing them on repeat. I would never have predicted insisting to my Chinese husband that we eat mashed potatoes for my first Christmas in China, hang stockings our second, and decorate a mini-Christmas tree our third – all while listening to those same Christmas carols. I declared these activities mandatory.

This is what I’ve become: the Christmas enforcer.

Since having a child in 2012, Christmas has taken on yet another dimension. We may be raising Echo in Beijing but “her Canadian cultural half must be acknowledged,” I proclaimed to my husband and in-laws (probably a little too emphatically).

But you see, my insistence is a cover-up. The truth is, I’m not quite sure what I want this holiday to mean. As the only Western parent, I have to make decisions about how our family celebrates Christmas – and fast. At nearly 2, our daughter is already excitedly pointing out stars, angels, and Santa’s maomao (hat) whenever she spots him in her few holiday storybooks. However, these elements only make up the holiday’s symbolism. Alone, do I have the power to conjure up the magic that comes with Christmas – a magic I knew as a child?

Especially without the help of a larger surrounding culture?

“As the only Western parent, I have to make decisions about how our family celebrates Christmas – and fast” I’m not sure I do. Another thing I’ve realized since becoming a mother is just how much work Christmas can be. There are cookies to bake, a big meal to plan, gifts to purchase for my little girl (then wrap up and put under the tree), stockings to hang for the whole family, stocking stuffers to collect, music to procure and blast from speakers as often as possible, singing and teaching Echo the lyrics to Christmas music – the list is endless. Is it worth the effort, especially when I’m the only parent invested in its results?

The answer is “yes.”

This year, our family is lucky to be back Canada for the holidays.

I’m looking forward to being in a part of the world that will stand still on December 25 rather than continue to bustle around us. Living in Beijing for the past five years, I’ve missed that feeling.

And this year, Christmas will be more special than usual: December 25 is my son’s due date. We’re hoping he’ll be either mercifully early or late for the sake of future birthday parties, but if he’s on time, I’ll put a bow on him and present him to my family as a very special Christmas gift that took nine months to make. Fittingly, Echo’s Christmas education will begin with the birth of a child.

But if he’s late, I’ll have to rally family and friends to roll out the cookie dough because big-bellied Christmas enforcers are notoriously slow-moving and under-motivated. How ironic that I’ve considered ordering Chinese take-out to save me from cooking!

Ember Swift is a Canadian musician and writer who has been living in Beijing since late 2008. She and her husband Guo Jian (国 囝 ) , who is also a musician, have expanded their family to include a daughter born on January 2, 2012. Her name is Echo Swift (国如一).

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photo by Mishka Family Photography

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his month, Beijing is abuzz with holiday activities: baking, charity bazaars, Christmas shopping, rehearsing for winter performances, and more. For all its tumult, December leads up to the quintessential family holiday: Christmas.

We caught up with four families to find out about their personal rituals for Christmas and Hanukkah. Not sure where to buy seasonal decorations and food? We have you covered with a roundup of shopping venues downtown and in Shunyi. Last but not least, we profile five Beijing-based women’s and children’s organizations in need of volunteers. After all, charity starts at home. Here’s wishing you and your family a safe and happy New Year.

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lthough Christmas in China may have felt like any other time of year 30 years ago, the festive bug has caught on. Seasoned expats will have seen the yearly spread of trees and tinsel in the streets, shops, and windows of Beijing. Nonetheless, this is the time when many still need to create their home away from home in the capital. beijingkids spoke with four very different families about how they keep their festive traditions alive away from their homelands. Whether reconciling their Christmas (or Hanukkah) festivities with their new surroundings, or accommodating their own diverse backgrounds, these families all find their own ways to recreate the customs of their youth and keep their own children in touch with their roots.

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“We will have a plastic Christmas tree, lots of candles, and some other ornaments. Emma is helping us decorate the tree, as well as making her own Christmas decorations.”

“We will talk a little bit about different religions but the decision, if any, is for Emma to make when she grows up. Having said that, we still attend services in Sweden as well as China.”

“Santa comes after the cartoons at around 4.10pm.

He will enter with a sack of gifts and ask if there are any ‘nice and kind’ children before distributing the presents.”

“It will be a fusion between East and West. We will also be making our own Swedish-style meatballs, baby sausages, Swedish baked goods and cheese.”

How will your celebrations in China be different compared to at home?

First of all, we will miss the rest of my Swedish family – my parents, my siblings and their kids. Second, there will most likely be no snow here, so this means that we cannot go out skiing and playing in the snow after all the food.

You and your husband have very different backgrounds. How has he adapted to your traditions?

Well, since my hubby is a Beijing ren, he didn’t really celebrate Christmas before meeting me. Now he is a pro at wrapping presents and making glögg, a [Swedish] red wine drink with raisins and almonds similar to German gluwein.

photo: sui

How will you celebrate Christmas?

We actually celebrate Christmas the Swedish way on December 24 with friends. This is when Father Christmas will come and deliver presents to everyone who has been kind throughout the year. We will also watch the same cartoons that every Swede watches on Christmas Eve (December 24).

Then on December 25, we will have our Chinese family over for a Christmas dinner and possibly a dance around the tree.

The Wramner-Wang Family Swedish Marketing Director Sara Wramner has been in China since 1995. She lives with her husband Wang Shouhua (not pictured), a Beijing-born project manager. Their daughter, 4-year-old Emma Wramner-Wang, was born in the capital, though this year will be her first Christmas in China.

Are there any other rituals or traditions that you partake in every year?

First of all, we will all try to dress in something red. We will also finish off the day by eating rice porridge in which there is a hidden almond. The one who gets the almond is granted a wish. And of course there’s the drinking of glögg.

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“We could not find our usual huge star lantern in Beijing, so we settled for just a Christmas tree. Back home, we have the house outlined with lights but this year we will have a simpler [display].”

“Since we are Catholics, this is the time to reflect how Christ’s birth impacted our faith. We also try to emphasize the concept of sharing our blessings with others who are less fortunate, as it’s not just about receiving presents.”

“We usually let the children open their presents on the morning of Christmas Day. Although our children now know who Santa is, we still have stockings and they can put their ‘requests’ inside.”

The most popular dish during Christmas is lechon [suckling pig]. This is usually the centerpiece of the menu, along with Chinese noodles or pasta, vegetable spring rolls, and the kids’ favorite – lengua estofado [Fillipino-style ox tongue].

The Valdez Family HR professional Renee Valdez and her computer engineer husband Joseph relocated from the Philippines to Beijing in January this year, along with their kids JV (age 18), a university freshman, and Nikka (16), Jio (13), and Thea (10), who all attend the British School of Beijing.

Although they will be returning home for Christmas day, the Valdez family will still been getting into the festive spirit before leaving Beijing.

Are there any other rituals or traditions that you do every year?

We usually start decorating our house the weekend after All Saints’ Day [November 1]. To instill the concept of sharing, we used to bring the children to orphanages to share gifts and participate in games with the orphans when they were younger. In the last few years we haven’t had the opportunity to do this, so we keep candies or biscuits in our cars to give to street children instead.

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Is there anything about Christmas in the Philippines that our readers may not be familiar with?

The Christmas season in the Philippines can start as early as September, when Christmas songs can be heard on the radio or in malls. Some people even start their Christmas shopping then to avoid the holiday rush.

We attend mass for nine straight days, with the tenth day falling on Christmas Eve. The mass is usually held at 4 or 5am, and there are food stalls outside the church selling traditional rice cakes and hot chocolate afterwards.

Other traditions include the giving of aguinaldo [a gift of coins or money] to our godchildren, and one of our native provinces – Pampanga – is known for holding a yearly lantern parade.

photo: vivaxiao photography studio

How will you get in a festive mood in the build-up to Christmas?

Here in Beijing, the Filipino community, especially those of us working for the same company [Nestlé], are quite close. We organize celebrations in one of our houses, do potlucks and have games for both adults and children.

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“We have a few statues, stuffed animals and Santa Clauses. My husband usually tries to make some homemade decorations such as small Christmas trees or figurines.”

“Religion does not play a role in our family celebrations and we do not attend services. We have not as of yet taught our son the story behind Christmas.”

You and your husband have very different backgrounds.

How do you celebrate Christmas differently?

In Cuba, Christmas is not an official holiday and its celebration was suppressed for years. For over a decade now, people have slowly begun reviving it by buying plastic Christmas trees and setting up decorations. But I actually grew up in Ecuador, where I celebrated Christmas with my family Ecuadorian-style. My husband comes from Iceland, where his family celebrates in a more traditional way.

My husband is big on upholding traditions; they are all very dear to him. I, on the other hand, place much less emphasis on them and could very well do without.

photo: Little Ones Kids & Family Portrait Studio

How do you accommodate both of your approaches to Christmas?

I support [Haflidi]’s efforts to make Christmas special for my son, and I am happy to follow the Icelandic tradition.

“In Iceland they have 13 Santa Clauses or ‘Yule Lads’ who visit children 13 days before Christmas, one each evening. My son places a shoe on the windowsill and impatiently waits for morning to collect Santa’s little gift.”

“According to Icelandic tradition, we‘ll have smoked salmon as an appetizer served with toast, butter, and mustard-dill dressing. We’ll follow this with smoked pork and, for dessert, caramelized pears with vanilla ice cream or a Cuban favorite, flan.”

There are similarities between both traditions though. Both in Ecuador and Iceland, Christmas is celebrated on December 24 with a family get-together and a big dinner.

In Ecuador we roast a turkey, while in Iceland they traditionally eat roasted pork. In China, we tend to prepare an assortment of meals and meats.

Also, presents are usually exchanged after dinner in both countries. The family sits together and each person takes turns |opening a gift, with any cards attached to them read out loud.

Is there anything about Christmas in either of your countries that may differ from what our readers will be familiar with?

In Iceland, most families visit the cemetery to pay their respects to deceased relatives. On December 23, many families have dinner in which the delicacy skata [preserved ray] is served, although we don’t do either of these activities in Beijing.

The Garcia-Saevarsson Family Cuban-born Beatriz Garcia, who recently opened a capoeira studio near Gongti, will be spending her third Christmas in Beijing with her Icelandic husband, Haflidi Saevarsson, and their son, Ymir Haflidason Garcia, who turns 5 this month.

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“A menorah in the window is all that is required. The lit candles bring light to the world. If we go up to our cottage in Miyun for a weekend during Hanukkah, we bring the menorah with us and light them there.

“The Jewish religion is important to my boys and I. There are generally a few community celebrations that we attend, so on the first or second night we may join the community for [an event], then on the other nights we will do the candle lighting at home.”

“Presents are generally given on each night of Hanukkah: chocolate coins, small toys, video games, books, and so on. Again, the best gift that I can give my family is to fill them with awesome food and lots of love.”

“Hanukkah was in November [this year] so we’ve already done a turkey dinner. I often cook my late Bubbie [grandmother] Birdie’s spaghetti, which helped us win CCTV’s Dragon Boat Festival cooking competition in 2009. We also do homemade latkes [potato pancakes] with apple sauce.”

T h e R u ben stein - L iu Family This year marks the 17th consecutive Hanukkah in Beijing for Canadianborn Joseph Rubenstein, co-founder of technology firm UMBRA Technologies.

He has spent each one with with his wife Kane Liu (not pictured), general manager at a dental and medical products company.

Their two sons, 13-yearold David and 11-year-old Michael, have also been in the capital for each of their Hanukkah celebrations, which fall in either November or December every year.

photo: ken

How will your celebrations here differ from when you were at home?

Before coming to China, I only celebrated Hanukkah with my family when I was a kid. As a young adult, I did not do it on my own but would visit either [side of the] family and join their celebrations – or skip them altogether. [Now] with a family of my own, doing it at home has become a cherished tradition; [so has] joining the parties in Beijing’s Jewish community.

You and your wife have very different backgrounds. How did you accommodate both of your traditions?

We respect each other. Kane decided to not convert to Judaism but has been supportive of my observance and of our sons’ decision to independently convert to Judaism. She knows a lot about Jewish culture and also cooks our favorite matzo ball soup (the best anywhere). At the same time, we accompany her to Buddhist

temples and, while we don’t bow down and pray to the statues, we support her as well.

Will you be having any friends, families or others around to your house over Hanukkah?

It is an eight-day holiday so there will always be friends that casually drop by. As the boys get older, it is usually their buddies or my business partners, friends, and their families. We make a dinner of it. I love to cook, so it is a doubly festive event.

Are there any other rituals or traditions that you do every year at this time?

We light a menorah [a traditional nine-branched candelabrum].

We start with one candle on the first night and then add a candle each night. This is to commemorate a time when the Jews found oil in a destroyed temple. There was only enough to burn for one night but ended up lasting for eight.

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Where to get all your yuletide trimmings in Beijing

by Sijia Chen and Dana Cosio-Mercado

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any families will gather on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to feast, exchange presents, and reflect on the year’s blessings.

But before that, there is much to be done. To help take the guesswork out of your holiday preparations, we round up places to buy Christmas trees, decorations, seasonal foods, and go ice skating both downtown and in Shunyi. Happy holidays!

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Deck (Out) the Halls In Shunyi, most fruit and vegetable vendors and larger grocery stores will have a hodgepodge of Christmas decor for sale. Tai Tai Shop carries greeting cards, tree ornaments, and Christmas crackers. Radiance has some unique gift itemss and tree ornaments. Stella’s Woodcarving has quaint hand-carved nativity scenes. However, the biggest selection of Christmas products can be found at Beidong Floriculture Garden with everything from Christmas lights to spray-on snow, fake holly, dancing Santas, and festive tableware.

In the city, look no further than Tianyi Market (see p67) in Fuchengmen, Liangma Flower Market, Laitai Flower Market, or Ladies’ Street (all in Liangmaqiao), or Ikea, which carries the adorable bird ornaments pictured above (RMB 49 for a pack of three).

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

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photos: courtesy of ikea and wikimedia commons

The Christmas craze has firmly caught on in China, though plastic trees tend to be of the distinctly tacky variety. Home retailers HOLA and Ikea carry more tasteful plastic trees during the holidays, as well as Christmas decorations, festive tableware, and wrapping paper.

Besides big-box stores like Carrefour and WalMart, fake trees can also be bought in Shunyi at the Jenny Lou’s in Pinnacle Plaza and Beidong Floriculture Garden. Live pines are available from the flower vendors by the pedestrian entrance of Capital Paradise on Yuyang Lu. In the city, Liangma Flower Market carries real, potted Christmas trees from northeastern China that range in height from 1.5m to 4m. The smallest ones go for around RMB 185, while the largest can cost over RMB 3,000. Delivery can be arranged to anywhere in Beijing for a modest fee. Simply stroll down to the market or call friendly Mr. Si at 135 5239 9404 (Chinese only) to place your order.

How the Cookie Crumbles For many, the smell of baked ginger goods is inextricably linked with the holidays. For all the crafty folks, Ikea has a four-piece gingerbread house cutter set for RMB 49. In addition, Paddington Bakery has gingerbread cookie kits for sale (see Talking Shop on p22).

If you would rather leave the gingerbread house to the professionals, there are plenty of options: Hilton Beijing, Comptoirs de France, Grand Hyatt, South German Bakery, and Kempi Deli, to name a few.

photos: kermitfrog and mariacasa (flickr)

Go Figure Eight In Shunyi, Dragon Bay Villa has ice skating and chair skating available for some outdoor fun on the frozen lake. Last month, Dulwich College Beijing also opened an indoor ice skating rink open to the entire community.

In Guomao, beijingkids will once again host Santa on Ice at Le Cool on December 15. Santa Claus will be on hand to pose for photos and give out presents while Mrs. Claus will hit the ice with the kids. Snacks and refreshments will be provided by Fairmont Beijing.

There is also All Star Champion Skating Club in Solana, which was founded by an Olympic ice skating gold medalist. The 800sqm ice rink offers classes and coaching as well as recreational skating.

The outdoor rink at Houhai Lake is also a perennial favorite when it is frozen over, but be sure to bundle up. Winds can be biting in winter and kids are likely to take a few spills on the lake’s relatively uneven surface. Bring your own skates if you can; the ones for rent can be pretty shoddy.

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Eat Your Heart Out Whether you are looking for glazed ham, roast turkey, entire takeaway meals, or simply little additions to your holiday table, Beijing has it all.

In Sanlitun, French butchery Boucherie Michel sells pre-cooked turkey for RMB 98 per kilogram (must be ordered a week in advance). Roast chickens are available daily for RMB 58 per bird.

In the Chaoyang Park area, Chef Too offers whole, fully-cooked turkeys to go. A 5-6kg turkey costs RMB 1,280 while a 8-9kg turkey costs RMB 1,980. The price includes side dishes such as mashed potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and an apple or pumpkin pie. Chef Too requires one week’s notice and a deposit of RMB 500.

Also near Chaoyang Park, the German Food Center carries cooked and uncooked turkeys ranging from 6-10kg. An uncooked turkey costs RMB 58 per kilogram. Roast turkeys must be reserved at least three days in advance.

You can also pick up turkeys, hams, and other seasonal foods from Deli de Luxe, Culinary Capers, Village Cafe, Grandma’s Kitchen, The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, Traders Upper East Hotel, Fairmont Beijing, Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, Lily’s American Diner, Nola, Jenny Lou’s, and BHG Marketplace.

In Shunyi, ready-made holiday food is available at a variety of local restaurants. Pinotage makes a delicious roast beef, The Yard offers festive ham, Piazza Cafe can whip up a whole western or Chinese feast to take away or prepare in your own kitchen, and Peter’s Tex-Mex has roast turkeys to go.

Busy parents can turn to online food wholesaler Baode Home Delivery. Browse beef, poultry, pork, lamb, seafood, and other imports on their website. Delivery is free for orders of RMB 500 and over within Fifth Ring Road and Shunyi. Otherwise, the delivery fee is RMB 30. Allow at least one day for arrival, especially during the holiday season.

photos: bazzadarambler and supefantastic (flickr)

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Holiday shoppers browse the packed aisles at Tianyi Market

One-Stop Shopping to Rule Them All

photo: mitchell pe masilun

Online retailer Kookus (www.kookus.com) has everything from Christmas trees to hanging decorations, Christmas villages, Santa hats, greeting cards, wrapping paper, and fake snow. A live tree costs RMB 230 (1.3-1.5m), RMB 500 (1.8-2m), or RMB 700 (2.3-2.5m) not including shipping while fake ones range from RMB 130-999 for a 1.5m-tall tree.

As can be expected from the largest wholesale market in Beijing, Tianyi Market is packed with plastic Christmas trees, ornaments, decorations, reindeer antlers, and Santa hats during the holiday season. However, it is not for the faint of heart; you will want to haggle hard and buy in bulk to get the best prices. The Christmas shopping peak hits around December 15, so try going after the middle of the month for additional discounts.

Addresses and contact information for all the venues mentioned in this article can be found on our website (www.beijingkids.com), which also contains the most up-to-date list of Christmas and New Year’s events. For unique gift ideas and more seasonal resources, check out our Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/beijingkids.

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D R A T W I R Y O A F P W

ith the holiday season in full swing, many expats will be reaching for their checkbooks to complete the annual round of charity donations. However, those who have the time, or the means, should consider volunteering

instead.

Besides feeling good, some evidence suggests that the benefits of volunteering could extend to physical health as well. According to a study published this August by the journal BMC Public Health, volunteers have “lower self-rated levels of depression” and are “a fifth less likely to die within the next four to seven years than average.” Though it is believed to be particularly good for older people because it gets them to spend more time out of the house, a separate American study suggests a link between volunteering and better cardiovascular health in high school students.

Volunteering can also help you understand the often complex issues surrounding a given cause, which in turn allows you to become a more effective advocate for society’s weakest groups – the most vulnerable of which are women and children. With this in mind, we profile five Beijing-based social enterprises, schools, and charities that focus on helping infants, children, teens, and abused women.

Bethel China 爱百福

Current notable projects Bethel China runs four foster homes and education projects. One of these projects provides primary education for children aged 0-6. When they graduate, they move to Beijing to attend the Beijing School for

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photos: courtesy of bethel china

Bethel’s mission is to help children with visual impairments live life to the fullest. The organization provides full-time care and education in a safe and loving environment for orphans with visual impairments who come from orphanages across China. Bethel was founded in 2003 when French couple Guillaume and Delphine Gauvain welcomed three visually-impaired orphans into their own home. Now, Bethel cares for 70 orphans ranging in age from infant to adult (the majority being under 13) at four project sites. This month, the organization marks its 10th anniversary.

Feature

TH I W OUT G S N LPI E ROUP H G BY LE B F A L E R S LNE VU YOUR HELP G’S MOST N BEIJI CHEN JIA

BY SI

the Blind and learn independent living skills under Bethel’s care. Bethel has a separate project for children with multiple disabilities (including but not limited to visual impairment and autism).

As well as foster care, Bethel runs an outreach and education project for families with a visually-impaired child. The aim is to encourage and assist these families by distributing educational materials, holding training workshops, and organizing support groups.

Types of volunteers needed • Full-time volunteers (three months to one year) can live onsite at Bethel and work with the kids in a classroom setting. This is a great opportunity for gap year students.

• Consistent part-time volunteers can commit to tasks like teaching the kids or working at the office in administration, events, or special projects once a week.

• From time to time, Bethel needs photographers, “IT nerds” (as they put it), web designers, videographers, graphic designers, researchers, translators and advocates. Those interested in pro bono opportunities can request to be added to a list of potential volunteers.

Preferred time commitment The longer, the better. Bethel values consistency and commitment.

That being said, each volunteer’s skills and schedule will be taken into consideration. Volunteers in administration roles must complete projects within a given time frame while part-time volunteers must ideally commit for a minimum of six months.

Can kids and teens get involved?

Yes, if they are consistent and committed. Bethel has had some great teenage interns in the past who have helped with projects like graphic design, videography, translation, teaching, and fundraising.

Other ways to help Groups are welcome to visit one of Bethel’s project sites to meet the kids or even take them on a trip. Previous outings include ice skating, adventure parks, swimming pools, the Braille library, and the Great Wall. Schools, families, and companies can also volunteer for a day by working on Bethel’s farm or doing another service project.

Another way to help is to buy Bethel’s 2014 calendar. Each month features a different piece of artwork to show that children can be creative even without their sight. Each calendar costs RMB 50 or RMB 30

for orders of 1,000 and more with your company or school logo.

Finally, if you are considering adoption, Bethel has “some of the most amazing kids in the world who would jump into a family with both feet.”

Most-needed donations Bethel’s Child Sponsorship program financially covers all aspects of the children’s lives, including accommodations, nannies’ salaries, education, food, activities, and medical care. For RMB 300 a month, you will get matched with a sponsor child and receive regular updates about their lives. If you live in Beijing, you can even visit and get to know them.

Bethel’s most pressing material needs include rice, milk powder, diapers, baby wipes, cleaning supplies, craft supplies, and toys and clothes for children aged 0-12.

English-speaking staff members?

Yes, ask for Chloe Banks.

Contact: 8031 0383, info@bethelchina.org, www.bethelchina.org

Volunteer Testimonial “My experience at Bethel was amazing. In nine months, I did a little bit of everything but focused my time and energy on the preschool class. Each of [the students] had a different personality and every day was a challenge. They had to learn English with a [Spanish-speaking] girl – believe me, it was challenging for them too! But we learned together and we had fun.

I am so happy to see how much [Bethel is] growing and helping the blind population in China. Each person who works there is important and I know this is just the beginning.

Bethel is an amazing place for anyone who is willing to give the little ones the love they deserve – but [especially for those who are ready to] receive their love. When I first arrived, I had many expectations but never thought that I would fall in love with each of them and watch them grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually. They are all so sweet, smart, and full of energy that you will never get tired [of them].”

– Priscilla (Costa Rica), primary school teacher

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Chunmiao Little Flower 春苗小花 Chunmiao Little Flower is a non-profit organization that provides specialized care to abandoned children in China. One of the recipients of this year’s Chi Fan for Charity, Little Flower reaches out to “those without a voice – infants and children of all ages who have been rejected, discarded, and orphaned.” It does so through direct care, support, and education.

The organization was founded in 1995 by Americans Brent and Serena Johnson, who met in China in 1990 as exchange students. It was registered in the US as a non-profit in 1998 and received 501(c)(3) status (an IRS code denoting a non-profit organization) in 2000.

Since then, Little Flower has expanded to other areas of northern China. Last year, the organization changed its name from “Little Flower Projects” to “Chunmiao Little Flower” after partnering with Beijing Chunmiao Children’s Aid Foundation. Little Flower now operates as Chunmiao’s Orphan Care Division in parallel with the Medical and Social Work Divisions.

This partnership empowers Little Flower to not only provide critical medical care to abandoned children, but to prevent abandonment at the source by providing medical treatment to children from poor families.

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photos: courtesy of little flower

Current notable projects • Special Care for Infants: Little Flower’s infant homes provide intensive care for abandoned babies with complex medical needs.

These include preemies, babies with club feet, and those born with birth defects and other illnesses that require ongoing nursing.

These infants stay with Little Flower until they are strong enough to be adopted.

• Hospice Care for Orphans: The hospice program provides comfort, love, and care to orphaned children who are dying. Although it is difficult to watch little ones suffer from a terminal illness, Little Flower considers it a privilege to care for these children and fill their short lives with happiness.

• Group Educational Foster Care: These homes allow physicallydisabled school-age orphans to live in a supportive family environment while attending school and acquiring independent life skills. The children have a wide range of physical disabilities, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, limb deformities, speech difficulties, deafness, and visual impairment.

• Long-Term Care: This program is designed for older disabled orphans with severe mental and physical impairments who cannot

be adopted or live independently as adults. This work is “not for the faint-hearted and the rewards can be subtle,” but Little Flower considers this work to be “the most profoundly human.”

• .Early Education Center: This Montessori-based early education center for disabled orphans (ages 3-9) provides an individualized curriculum to each student. The aim is to build a solid academic foundation for lifelong learning.

• Special causes: Little Flower is often approached for help with special situations. These might involve individual orphans, children at high risk for abandonment, or impoverished families with a particular financial need. Special causes have included requests for life-saving surgery, school tuition, and foster care for children with pending adoptions.

Type of volunteers needed Currently, the organization needs volunteers for its English Language Development and Marketing team. Specifically, Little Flower is looking for volunteers with web development, graphic design, marketing, blogging, and video skills. Tasks include helping to improve the website’s functionality, designing visual materials (flyers, brochures, posters, logos, graphics, and more), writing stories for the blog, and filming, editing, and producing video content.

For now, Little Flower is not in need of volunteers to hold or play with the children. However, if you think you can contribute to the baby home and make a long-term commitment, contact the organization and the medical team will see if your skills correspond with its requirements.

Preferred time commitment Little Flower is all about commitment when it comes to volunteers, especially for those who come into contact with the kids. The ideal volunteer is extremely dedicated, passionate about what they do, and committed to being consistent with their role. All volunteers give a regular time commitment, ranging from a couple of days a week to full-time work.

Can kids or teens be involved?

Yes, kids and teens can get involved by organizing fundraisers in their neighborhood. Little Flower depends on donors, but spreading the word is also important.

Other ways to help Fundraising is not just for kids and teens. It is the single best way

for people to get involved because it hits both of the organization’s goals in one go: raising money and awareness. For more information on organizing your own fundraiser, visit www.chunmiaolittleflower. org/fundraise.

Most-needed donations Little Flower’s most pressing needs are always financial, since covering the nannies’ salaries and the children’s medical expenses are round-the-clock endeavors. If you are interested in giving material donations, check the organization’s most current needs on its website (www.chunmiaolittleflower.org/current-needs-list).

English-speaking staff members?

Yes, there are some English-speaking Chinese staff members, as well as the English Language Development and Marketing teams.

Contact: 8047 7137, info@chunmiaolittleflower.org, www.chunmiaolittleflower.org

Volunteer Testimonial “I started volunteering at Little Flower at the beginning of the year. My husband and I were looking for a place to give our time after moving to Beijing. As soon as I walked into Little Flower, I knew that they saw the importance of all the children they cared for.

As a volunteer, I’ve helped toddlers learn how to crawl, hold and feed babies who need physical touch and bonding, and spend time with children who are terminally ill so they are not alone in their final days.

My newest task at Little Flower is to provide ‘kangaroo care’ for premature babies. This entails holding the baby skin-to-skin so they are able to regulate their body temperature, breathing, and heart rate more easily. It also helps them develop physically, mentally, and emotionally.

It is truly an honor to spend time loving and serving babies who have been given up and who need people to care for them.

Little Flower gives me the opportunity to make a difference in their lives during our time in China.”

– Kendra Spring (US), baby home volunteer

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Beijing Dandelion Middle School 北京市大兴区蒲公英中学 Founded in 2005, Dandelion is the first and only non-profit middle school designed for children from low-income migrant families. Driven by a mission of “access to quality education for migrant children,” Dandelion has had 800 graduates over the years who would otherwise have likely ended up on the streets. Instead, most of these graduates are now studying in high schools, vocational schools, and universities both in China and overseas.

Current notable projects Dandelion’s major projects include Duke Engage, a volunteer program sponsored by Duke University; Eco-campus sponsored by Cummins, which involves all students and teachers to make the campus environmental friendly by using recycled materials; Scholarship program by Kouk Foundation that provides scholarship for 98 students.

Types of volunteers needed The school needs many volunteers to teach or tutor students in English.

Music and art are also in demand.

Preferred time commitment The time commitment can be quite flexible depending on volunteers’ individual schedules. It can range from just a few hours to days, months, a semester, or even an entire year.

Can kids or teens get involved?

Of course! Kids and teens can lead activities related to subjects such as art, music, PE, and reading with their Chinese peers.

Other ways to help Readers can also make monetary donations of any size, participate

in Dandelion’s annual fundraising event, or buy products from the Dandelion Social Enterprise store, whose proceeds directly benefit the school.

Most-needed donations Food and money to cover the students’ after-school activities and the teachers’ research.

English-speaking staff? Yes. Contact: Beijing Dandelion Middle School, Shoubaozhuang Village, Xihongmen Township, Daxing District (Ms. Kan Zhao: 150 0125 7340, zhaokai_pgy@163.com) www.dandelionschool.org 大兴区西红门镇 寿宝庄村

Volunteer Testimonial “[The two weeks I volunteered with Dandelion] were incredibly life-changing – teaching, learning, laughing, singing, dancing, eating handpicked grapes, taking embarrassing videos, and making beautiful memories [with the students]. [I saw the students’ commitment to themselves and to their studies] over and over again.”

I was fascinated by our ability to connect despite the language barriers and cultural differences. What made it possible for us to form such bonds and a sense of community? As part of the Dandelion School, we are familiar with the saying, “It takes a lot of love to live.” I really think that was the answer to my question: love. Without my love for the students and the love they had for me, the formation of this second family would not have happened.

– Tom Jeon (US), volunteer music teacher

photo: courtesy of dandelion

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New Life Centre (NLC) New Life Center (NLC) is a locally-registered residential learning center.

It was founded by Ginny Bai, who first came to China in the early 1990s to study Chinese language and culture. After noticing that there were many uneducated and uncared for children, she rented a space with her own money in 2001 and started taking in at-risk youths.

NLC currently provides care and education for 15 boys and girls (ages 8-19) and four others studying in vocational colleges. Until last January, NLC had 50 children. However, many of the older ones wanted to start working despite being underage; with their parents’ permission, they took up factory jobs in different parts of China.

Current notable projects NLC has two main projects: the Back to School project and the Teen Education Projects. The former offers impoverished youth the chance to get a primary and middle school education, while the latter sponsors poor teenagers to attend technical vocational schools or universities.

In addition, the center offers music enrichment classes.

As each student’s individual talents emerge, they are encouraged to take specific courses at local institutions. Training includes internships at various companies and introductions to future employers. Past courses have been in fields such as IT, law, engineering, animation, accountancy, computer design, web design, hotel management and tourism, and electrical wiring.

Types of volunteers needed “Volunteers are priceless,” says Bai, particularly as there “no culture of volunteering” in China. As a result, she has been hiring local teaching staff. NLC is looking for part-time volunteers to teach English and music during the week, and play games, do crafts, and draw with the kids on weekends.

The school also needs volunteers to help man tables at various bazaars, pitch fundraising ideas, network with potential corporate sponsors, and tell their friends about NLC.

photo: courtesy of NLC

Preferred time commitment Ideally, volunteers would be able to commit for at least six months.

Can kids or teens get involved?

From Bai’s experience, children and teens do not necessarily have the focus to teach others and require a lot of supervision. However, they can still help NLC by organizing donation drives and spreading the word about the school’s mission.

Other ways to help Readers can also sponsor NLC’s children. For RMB 150 per month,

you can buy a child one hot meal per day while RMB 800 per month covers their education and full care. The center provides regular reports so donors know how their funds are being used and how the child is doing.

Most-needed donations It costs RMB 40,000 per month to keep NLC in operation, so the school’s most pressing needs are always financial. Regular funds would cover rent, staff wages, utilities, food, and other operating requirements.

In terms of material needs, fans are much appreciated during the summer. Air conditioning units, though the more obvious answer, would only add to the electricity bill. NLC would also benefit from a photocopier, a printer/scanner, and white board markers. For a full list of physical needs, visit the center’s website.

English-speaking staff? Yes, Bai is a native English speaker.

Contact: 139 1177 9630, newlife.centre@yahoo.com, www.thenewlifecentre.wix.com/thenewlifecentre

Volunteer Testimonial “Volunteering with the New Life Centre was an amazing experience. My love for language and communications aside, it was a pleasure to teach English because of the impact it made to the lives of these students, who come from backgrounds with few or no opportunities.

Whatever field one chooses, fluency in English gives an extra boost on one’s resume. It is my hope that I was able to give these children an advantage in higher learning and – eventually – in their careers.

The students were all bright and eager to learn. Though we all have our “off days,” they seemed to understand the importance of education and together we always found ways to make class fun. The students’ enthusiasm and friendliness made teaching a joy.

I’m truly grateful to have found this opportunity and I hope that others will take similar steps to help improve the lives of these children through education.”

– Wren Howard (US), volunteer English teacher

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Starfish Project 海兴公司 In 2006, a group of people witnessed the reality of exploited women trapped within their communities. With a desire to offer these women jobs that honored their dignity and value, a socially responsible jewelry company called Starfish Project was born.

Starfish also provides alternative employment, vocational training, and a variety of holistic care services to exploited women. The project’s mission is to restore hope to these women through ethical and sustainable business practices, and empowering them to achieve their potential through educational opportunities and an integrative approach.

Currently employing 30 women ranging in age from early 20s to early 50s, Starfish has offices in Beijing and two other Chinese cities.

The organization also regularly reaches out to over 700 women still trapped in exploitative situations.

Types of volunteers needed As a growing social enterprise, Starfish is always in need of long- and short-term volunteers with experience in fields like marketing, communications, business development, human resources, and event planning. Opportunities are also available in holistic care and vocational training programs.

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photos: courtesy of starfish

Current notable projects Starfish is always looking to expand its jewelry operations and Holistic Care Department. The latter provides vocational training (language learning, computer skills, health and nutrition, parenting, and marriage counseling), counseling, and oversees the shelter where some of the women live.

Over the past season, seven women have joined the company. As a result, the Riverside branch is preparing a new working environment with more space and more vocational training and holistic care activities.

Starfish is launching two new courses at its headquarters in Beijing (address available upon request): a professional writing course and a computer course that will certify the women in commonly-used office programs.

In addition, the company has just introduced its Asia Advocates of Hope program, which enlists supporters to raise awareness in their communities by sharing the Starfish story and selling Starfish jewelry.

For those interested in sales, the Advocate of Hope program gives volunteers an opportunity to earn a commission by advocating for Starfish Project and selling Starfish jewelry from their own homes and communities.

Preferred time commitment Depending on the nature of the activity or project, commitments can range from one day to full-time positions. Volunteers can spend a day raising awareness about Starfish by participating in a bazaar, a few weeks planning a charity event or fundraiser, or several months working in the sales and marketing team.

Can kids or teens get involved?

Definitely. Kids and teens are encouraged to get involved with Starfish Project by hosting fundraisers, jewelry parties, or awareness campaigns in their communities. Teens can also apply for the high school internship program, which provides hands-on business experience at a real live social enterprise.

Other ways to help One of the best things that readers can do is throw a jewelry party.

Spend an evening with friends, family, and coworkers, and share the vision and mission of Starfish Project. The organization can provide “party packs” complete with catalogs, an instructional booklet for the host, a DVD telling the story of Starfish Project, and more.

Readers can also spread the word by buying and wearing the jewelry.

Staff will be present at charity bazaars and other events throughout the holiday season, so look out for the Starfish booth.

Starfish is also hiring. As the enterprise expands, it seeks qualified and passionate individuals with experience in areas such as IT, sales, and marketing.

Most-needed donations Starfish Project’s most pressing needs are financial. Monetary donations would help cover the development of its vocational training and holistic care programs, as well as its expansion into new locations. Donations can be made on the official Starfish Project website.

Another way to financially support the enterprise is by buying jewelry. Profits from each piece of jewelry go towards covering the

women’s salaries, housing, healthcare, educational grants, vocational training, and counseling.

English-speaking staff? All of the project’s staff members – local and international – speak English.

Contact: volunteer@starfish-project.com, www.starfish-project.com

Volunteer Testimonial “‘What am I doing with my time in Beijing? I want to engage, but just don’t know how.’ I had those thoughts when I first moved here. But then, I was introduced to the Starfish Project. The beauty of the jewelry first caught my eye and drew me in at a bazaar; the Project’s mission kept me coming back.

Upon leaving Starfish’s table that day with new jewelry in hand, my heart was stirred. While I wasn’t sure what I could offer, I asked to become more involved. Starfish then had an immediate need of packaging jewelry for the busy holiday season.

I agreed to come in and place price tags on the jewelry.

As I sat in that workroom peeling and sticking, I listened to the ladies giggle, sing and talk. I found myself greatly admiring them: their courage to walk away from one life and put their trust in Starfish for another, their commitment to their new jewelry work, and to personal healing and growth.

Packaging jewelry soon led to jewelry parties in my home, selling jewelry at bazaars, and supporting the women’s lessons in English, computer skills, sewing, cooking, and design – all building [their] earning power.

Over the years, I’ve been privileged to hear stories of hope and courage, and to catch glimpses of true beauty. It is inspiring, deeply impactful, and real. Consider a way you could respond.

You may be amazed at the next chapter of your story.”

– Shannon Allen (US), Starfish jewelry vendor and vocational training volunteer

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Directories Family Dining

theyardbeijing@yahoo.com) http://www. yardbeijing.com 庭院餐厅, 顺义区天竺镇裕翔路 99号欧陆广场3层

African Pinotage Probably the only South African restaurant in town, Pinotage is in the Lane Bridge Compound on northeast Fifth Ring Road and offers dishes like Cape Malay bobotie (a type of casserole made from meat and rice) and South African wines. 1) Sun-Thu 12am9pm, Fri-Sat 12am-10pm. Lane Bridge Villa Compound, Laiguangying Donglu (Take the Airport Expressway and exit at Beigao (Exit 4). At the first light, turn left and keep going until the next light, where you turn right into a complex. The restaurant is across the bridge in the Clubhouse.), Chaoyang District. (6430 7010); 2) Sun-Thu 12am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12am-11.30pm, bar opening hours: daily 12am-2am. Unit 2-105, Bldg 2, Sanlitun Soho, 8 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. (5785 3538/9) 1) 朝阳区来广营东路９号; 2) 朝阳区工体北路8 号三里屯Soho2号商场2-105室 Secrets from Africa Daily 9am-6pm. Complex 3, Jingmi Lu, Shunyi District. (137 1795 5973) 顺义区京密路来广营东路路口东大容汽修旁红木 大院内A-1号

American

Chinese Liulaogen Dongbei Cai Daily 11am-9pm. 34 Xiaojiang Hutong, Qianmen Donglu, Dongcheng District. (6702 6666) 刘老根东北菜, 东城区前门 东路小江胡同34号

Indian & Pakistani Ganges Indian Restaurant This is a good restaurant for the gastronomically adventurous.

Spicy dishes can be cooked without the heat upon request (probably a good idea for the young ones). There’s a play area with two kids’ tables and chairs, plus books and crayons mixed in with other toys. For smaller diners, there are a few highchairs available.

In a nutshell, this is delicious Indian food in a comfortable environment that won’t break your budget. Winner of “Best India/Pakistani” in the Beijinger’s 2011 Reader Restaurant Awards. Daily 10am-11pm. 1) Stall 202, 2/F, Bldg 1, Shimao Department Store, 13 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6416 0181); 2) 6/F, Wudaokou U-Center, Chengfu Lu, Haidian District.; 3) 2/F, Paddy O’Shea’s, 28 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6417 0900); 4) 138A, B1/F, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6587 2999); 5) 5/B, Hairun International Apartment, 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. (5135 8353) www.gangesrestaurant.com 恒河印度餐厅, 1) 朝阳区工体 北路13号世贸百货1号楼2层202; 2) 海淀区成府 路五道口U-Center6层; 3) 朝阳区东直门外大街 28号爱尔兰酒吧2层; 4) 朝阳区光华路9号世贸 天阶地下1层138A; 5) 朝阳区将台路2号海润国 际公寓底商5号

Japanese

TGI Friday’s This American casual dining chain serves standard Western fare, such as hot wings, salads, soups, steaks, ribs, pasta, burgers, and pizza. Daily 11.30am-11.30pm.

1) 1/F, Grand Skylight CATIC Hotel, 18 Beichen Donglu, Chaoyang District. (8497 0650); 2) 9-2 Jinchengfang Jie, Xicheng District. (6622 0880); 3) 1F VIP Building, Friendship Hotel, 1 Zhongguancun Nanlu, Haidian District. (6849 8738); 4) 1st Floor, Mansion D, World Town, 9 Jinhui Lu, Chaoyang District. (8590 3033); 5) Block C, Beijing International Mansion, 19 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District. (8526 3388) fridays.com.cn 星期五餐厅, 1) 朝阳区 北辰东路18号凯迪克格兰云天大酒店1层; 2) 西 城区金城坊街9-2号; 3) 海淀区中关村南大街1 号友谊宾馆贵宾楼1楼; 4) 朝阳区金汇路9号世 界城D座1楼; 5) 朝阳区建国门外大街19号北京 国际大厦C座

Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar Watch and listen to your food as it sizzles and cooks to your preference. Haru impresses with sleek decor and the quality of the food. Kids will be entertained by the chefs flaming hot plates, and the large portion servings mean this is a great place to spend a few extra kuai on a family night out. Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30pm-10pm.

1) Unit N4-30, 3/F, Sanlitun Village North, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District. (6415 2112); 2) 902 Pinnacle Plaza, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District. (8046 5112) 尚 水长廊铁板烧餐厅, 1) 朝阳区三里屯路11号院 （Village北区）能号楼三层N4-30单元; 2) 顺义区 天竺镇开发区荣祥广场902

Russian

Bakeries, Delis & Desserts Paddington Puddings and Pies Paddington Puddings and Pies was started

by UK natives Lottie Murphy and Wendy Chow in October 2011. After finding a dearth of quality baked goods in Beijing, the duo decided to make their own. Murphy and Chow specialize in freshly-baked cakes, biscuits, and pies for all occasions, including mince pies, shortbread cookies, and Christmas puddings. Everything is made to order using only quality imported ingredients.

Biscuits start from RMB 10 and cakes start from RMB 200. Paddington Puddings and Pies is based in Dongzhimen and can deliver. (135 2101 4945, 137 1857 5931, paddingtonpies@ yahoo.com) Piazza Café Daily 11am-9.30pm. South gate of Capital Paradise, Shunyi District. (8046 7788 / 2020) 翰风餐厅, 顺义区名都园南门外 The Yard Daily 11am-10pm. 3rd floor, Europlaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu Zhen, Shunyi District. (8049 9449 / 135 2188 6500,

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Dacha Located near Ritan Park, Dacha serves features truly global cuisine, from sushi to pizza. Try Russian classics like borscht and traditional beet salad, or opt for European standards such as pasta Carbonara and rack of lamb. Most entrees range from RMB 45-100, while appetizers and salads are in the 20-60 RMB range. The restaurant caters to families with a smoke-free environment and kids’ playroom with toys.

Shisha is also available. Daily 10am-3am. 1 Ritan Lu (on the north side of Ritan Hotel), Chaoyang District. (8563 5765, dacha.asia@ mail.ru) www.dacha.asia 别墅西餐厅, 朝阳区 日坛路1号（日坛宾馆北侧）

2013 December

Family Health

contact@hmcare.org) www.hmcare.net 和美妇 儿医院, 朝阳区北苑路小关北里甲2号

Clinics & Hospitals

Beijing New Century Harmony Pediatric Clinic As a satellite clinic of renowned Beijing New Century International Children’s Hospital, Beijing New Century Harmony Pediatric Clinic has a strong team of experienced pediatricians and nurses from China and overseas. Multilingual services are offered on a 24hr basis, consultations 9am-9pm. Harmony Business Center, Liyuan Street, Tianzhu Zhen, Shunyi District. (6456 2599) www.ncich.com.cn 北京新世纪荣和儿科门诊部, 顺义区天竺镇丽苑 街荣和商业中心

Beijing United Family Hospital Rehabilitation Hopsital Beijing United Family Hospital’s newest facility offers everything from physical and occupational therapy to pediatric, neurological, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and TCM in a state-of-the-art facility featuring hydrotherapy facilities, an ICU, individual therapy rooms, hyperbaric and atmospheric oxygen chambers and an international team of specialists. 24 Hours. 1 Yaojiayuan Bei Erlu (South gate of Dongfeng Park, northwest corner of Yaojiayuan North 2nd Road and Qingnian North Road intersection), Chaoyang District. (8558 1800, bju.rehab@ufh.com. cn) http://beijing.ufh.com.cn/en/locations/ rehabilitation-hospital/ 北京和睦家康复医院, 朝 阳区朝阳区姚家园北二路1号（姚家园北二路与青 年北路交叉口西北角，东风公园南门） Amcare Women’s & Children’s Hospital Amcare Women’s and Children’s hospital provides families international medical services in Chinese cultural background. Services include obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, family planning, and psychological consulting. The new 6,000 sqm Yayuncun branch has 50 wards, private gynecological clinic and a neonatal intensive care unit. 1) Daily 24 hours. Bldg 5 Anhui Beili Yiyuan, Chaoyang District. (400 100 0016, contact@amcare.com.cn); 2) Daily 8am4.30pm. 9 Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District.

(6434 2399 24hr hotline, 800 610 6200, contact@amcare.com.cn); 3) 9-9 Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang District. (contact@amcare.com.cn) www.amcare.com.cn 北京美中宜和妇儿医院, 1) 朝阳区朝阳区安慧北里逸园5号楼; 2) 朝阳区 芳园西路9号; 3) 朝阳区将台西路9-9号 Beijing 21st Century Hospital Beijing 21st Century Hospital is a comprehensive healthcare facility, providing health screening services, medical care and health management for the international community in Beijing. This hospital’s team of internationally experienced physicians and nurses provides world-class medical care in a comfortable, clean and quiet setting. The hospital uses a Japanese management style, modern medical equipment and supporting electronic data systems to continuously improve quality and efficiency of health care services. Beijing 21st Century Hospital also works closely with different hospitals and their medical specialists in China and Japan, providing tele-medicine and international medical transfer. Direct billing with international insurers is provided. Languages spoken: English, Japanese, Korean, German, Chinese. Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; 24-hr house call service. 1-2/F, 21st Century Plaza, A40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District.

(8444 6168 (English/Chinese), 8444 6169 (Japanese/Korean)) http://www.21-hospital. com 朝阳区亮马桥路甲40号21世纪大厦1-2楼 Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, was established on February 25, 1958. The Hospital, subordinated to Beijing Bureau of Public Health, is the third clinical college of Capital University of Medical Sciences. As a hospital officially identified to be at the top grade in China, it conducts medical treatment, teaching, scientific research and disease prevention. 8 Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (8523 1000, http://www.bjcyh.com.cn/ english/) 北京朝阳医院, 朝阳区工体南路8号 Beijing HarMoniCare Women and Children’s Hospital (HMC) Beijing HarMoniCare Women and Children’s Hospital (HMC) is a strategic partner of PHMI and cooperates with Teaching Hospital of Harvard Medical School, Boston Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Located in a 13,000 sqm facility next to the Olympic Forest Park it offers JCI (Joing Commission International)-standard medical services to Chinese and Western families. Also offers Gynecology and Pediatric services. Daily 8am-5pm. A2 Xiaoguan Beili, Beiyuan Lu, Chaoyang District. (6499 0000,

Beijing New Century International Children’s Hospital (NCICH) This hospital provides affordable pediatric care at international standards: qualified doctors and nurses, private and safe family rooms and imported equipment. English speaking staff offers a full range of children’s health care services on a 7/24 basis. Mon-Sun 8am-5pm.

56 Nanlishi Lu (next to the East Gate of the Beijing Children’s Hospital), Xicheng District.

(6802 5588) www.ncich.com.cn 北京新世纪国 际儿童医院, 西城区南礼士路56号 (北京儿童医 院东门南侧) Beijing New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital (NCWCH) With state-ofthe-art park side facility, New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital (NCWCH) is established to operate with international standards. Backed by strong ties to Beijing Children’s Hospital and Beijing Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, the experienced and friendly medical staff of NCWCH provide fi¬rst-class gynecology, obstetrics, pediatric, NICU and urgent care services for women and children (0-18 years old). 51 Wangjing Beilu (Wanghu Park south gate), Chaoyang District. (5178 3366) www. ncich.com.cn 北京新世纪妇儿医院, 朝阳区朝阳 区望京北路51号院（望湖公园东门南） Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics (BJU) offers international-standard care to thousands of Beijing’s expatriate and Chinese families. BJU features an international team of doctors from more than 20 countries and since 2005, it has been consistently re-accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Since 1997, BJU’s multilingual staff has provided professional expertise with heartfelt care. The hospital and clinics offer a full range of medical services. In addition to departments of family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and dentistry, BJU has attracted top medical professionals in cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, dermatology, psychological health, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, integrative medicine, ophthalmology and ENT. Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm. 24-hour emergency care. 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. (5927 7000, 5927 7120 (ER ), fax 5927 7200) www. ufh.com.cn 北京和睦家医院, 朝阳区将台路2号 Beijing United Family Rehabilitation Hospital Daily 24hrs. 1 Yaojiayuan Bei’er Lu, Chaoyang District. (8558 1800) www.ufh.com. cn 北京和睦家康复医院, 朝阳区姚家园北二 路1号 Chiropractic and Rehabilitation with Dr. David Zhang Dr. David Zhang is an American National Board Exam Certificated chiropractic doctor, a Texas licensed acupuncturist and herbalist and a licensed Chinese Medical Doctor in China. Dr. David Zhang has developed postchildbirth recovery program for conditions such as back pain, heel pain, weight-loss, C-session scar reduction, etc. Medical services 24hrs; Dental services 8.30am-6pm (Mon-Fri), 8.30am-12pm (Sat); Integrated medical service 8.30am-5.30pm (Mon-Fri). 3/F, 32 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6433-6232) 北京国际医 疗中心, 朝阳区金佰健康会馆，亮马桥路32号高 斓大厦附楼三层 GlobalCare Women & Children’s Hospital Formally know as the famous Beijing Wuzhou Women’s Hospital. Global Care, now provides a full range of health care services from gynecology, pediatrics, obstetrics, dentistry,

Directories general practice, dermatology, basic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine. With over 12,000 square meters and 80 beds, the hospital provides first class comprehensive health care services to expatriates and internationals.

Being one of the first hospitals in Beijing to offer membership healthcare programs, Global Care Women and Children’s Hospital also offers luxury VIP services at its beauty boutique and healthcare facilities at an affordable price. If your new in Beijing or still don’t have your health insurance taken care of; the hospital can provide you with a free insurance consultation.

Currently, Global Care, has direct billing relationships with many international insurance providers. The hospital provides healthcare for women, children, and men. Special offers are given for group packages. Mon-Sun 8am8pm, 24h emergency services. 24 Dawang Xilu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District.

(8776 9899, 800 810 8911, 6770 5558) www. globalcarecn.com 北京五洲妇儿医院, 朝阳区 望路西大24号 Hong Kong International Medical Clinic, Beijing Beijing’s first joint-venture medical organization operates according to international standards, has a high-quality international administration system, high-level medical staff, and warm service. A 24hr helpline offers medical support in English, Chinese and Japanese, and other languages on request.

A basic consultation costs RMB 680. Direct billing with over 50 international insurers. Daily 9am-9pm (after 9pm nurse on duty). 9/F, office tower of the Swissôtel, 2 Chaoyangmen Beidajie, Dongcheng District. (65532288 ext 2345/6/7, 6553 9752) www.hkclinic.com 北 京港澳国际医务诊所, 东城区北京港澳国际医 务诊所，朝阳门北大街2号港澳中心瑞士酒店办 公楼9层 International Medical Center (IMC) IMC was the first expatriate medical institution in Beijing. A multilingual clinic with a full range of medical services including Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Endoscopy and Surgery & Orthopedics. Other services include Dental Services, TCM & Acupuncture, Physiotherapy and Psychological services. The department of Emergency Care at IMC is open 24/7 with all board certified foreign doctors on site.

Daily 24hrs. S106, S111 Lufthansa Center, 50 Liangmahe Lu, Chaoyang District. (6465 1561/2/3, 6465 1384/28, marketing@imcclinics. com) http://www.imcclinics.com/ 北京国际医 疗中心, 朝阳区亮马桥路50号燕莎中心写字楼 1层S106 International SOS One of the world’s leading international healthcare, medical and security assistance company with 66% of the world’s Fortune 500 companies choosing International SOS. Since 1989, International SOS has led international-standard medical care in China, with a 24/7 alarm center hotline, a dedicated air ambulance, four international quality clinics staffed with expat and foreign doctors and 200+ network of medical service partners. International SOS Beijing clinic is the city’s leading family practice and specialist services clinic, represented by 15 nationalities, including English, French, Japanese, German, Spanish, Korean and Chinese-speaking doctors.

Offers 24/7 Emergency Services, GP, Pediatrics, Gynecology, specialists, Pharmacy, Psychology, Physiotherapy, Dentistry and Orthodontics, Optometry. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am6pm. Suite 105, Wing 1, Kunsha Building, 16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang District. (Clinic: 6462 9112, 24hr hotline 6462 9100, china.inquiries@ internationalsos.com) www.internationalsos. com, www.clinicsinchina.com 北京国际救援中 心, 朝阳区新源里16号琨莎中心一座105室 OASIS International Hospital OASIS is a full-service private hospital. Their international medical team provides patientcentered care in a modern facility designed for comfort, safety and privacy. OASIS offers attentive service in a soothing environment and expert medicine backed by leading technology, including the most advanced MRI and CT scans available from a private

hospital in China. The hospital currently provides services in family medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, general surgery, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and dentistry. Direct billing is available for many insurance providers. Daily 24hrs (emergency care), Mon-Fri 9am- 6pm, Sun 8.30-12.30am.

9 Jiuxianqiao Beilu, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District. (400 UR OASIS (876 2747)) www.oasishealth.cn 明德医院, 朝阳区 酒仙桥北路9号 United Family CBD Clinic The United Family CBD Clinic is United Family Healthcare’s (UFH’s) sixth satellite clinic in Beijing and will be staffed by bilingual doctors and nurses who are committed to providing the high-quality, international-standard care unique to United Family. Mon-Sat 9.30am6.30pm. Suite 3017, Bldg AB, Vantone Center, 6 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5907 1266) www.ufh.com.cn 和睦家朝外诊所, 朝阳 区朝阳门外大街6号万通中心AB座2层3017室 United Family Home Health Daily 8:30am5:00pm. New Hope Oncology Center, 2/FNo. 9-11 Jiangtai W. RdNear Fangyuan W.Rd, Chaoyang District. (5927 7333, homehealth@ ufh.com.cn) homehealth.ufh.com.cn 和睦家家 庭医疗, 朝阳区和睦家家庭医疗和睦家启望肿瘤 中心二层地点：丽都将台西路9-11号近芳园西路 United Family Jianguomen Health and Wellness Center United Family Jianguomen Health and Wellness Center is a satellite clinic of BJU located in the St. Regis complex in the heart of Beijing’s Central Business District.

The clinic makes high-quality healthcare accessible to CBD residents and employees. It offers integrative medicine, family counseling services, and provides health checkups for immigration purposes. Mon-Fri 8.30am12pm,1pm-3.30pm. B1/F, The St. Regis Residence, St. Regis Hotel, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (8532 1221; 8532 1678 (immigration clinic)) www.ufh.com.cn 和睦家建国门保健中心, 朝阳区建国门外大街21 号北京国际俱乐部饭店公寓楼地下1层 United Family Liangma Clinic United Family Liangma Clinic serves Beijing’s diplomatic area, providing internationallyaccredited Family Medicine services. A multinational clinic staff of experienced doctors and bilingual nurses will ensure that you and your family receive the highest quality medical care available. Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm. 2/F, Grand Summit, 19 Dongfang Donglu, Chaoyang District. (5927 7005) www.ufh.com.cn 和睦家亮马诊所, 朝阳 区东方东路19号1号楼会所27号（外交人员公寓 B区官舍16号） United Family New Hope Center The United Family New Hope Center offers a unique new concept in international-standard cancer treatment. New Hope’s goal is to provide patients with the most up-to-date treatment options from a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, specialist physicians, and healthcare professionals. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

9-11 Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang District. (5927 7008) www.ufh.com.cn 和睦家启望中心, 朝阳 区朝阳区将台西路9－11 United Family Shunyi Clinic United Family Shunyi Clinic serves Beijing’s suburban area and international school district with internationally-accredited family medicine, pediatrics, rehabilitation (physical therapy), psychological counseling, Traditional Chinese Medicine, laboratory, and pharmacy services.

A multinational clinic staff of experienced doctors and bilingual nurses will ensure that you and your family receive the highest quality medical care available. The Shunyi Clinic is a satellite facility of BJU. Like other BJU satellite facilities, the Shunyi Clinic strictly adheres to Joint Commission International (JCI) and international infection control standards. Mon-Thu 9.30am-7.30pm, Fri-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm. Unit 806, Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District. (8046 5432, fax 8046 4383) www.ufh.com.cn 和睦家顺义诊所, 顺义区天竺 开发区荣祥广场806号

December 2013

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Directories

Vista Medical Center Medical services including family and internal medicine, OB/ GYN, pediatrics, dentistry, ophthalmology, dermatology, ENT, TCM, physiotherapy, psychiatry, imaging laboratory and pharmacy service. Also offers pre- and postnatal care and infant health check-ups. English-speaking staff onsite 24hrs a day. A consultation with a GP costs RMB 660. Direct billing with more than 40 international insurance providers. Daily 24hrs.

3/F, Kerry Centre, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (8529 6618, fax 8529 6615, vista@ vista-china.net) www.vista-china.net 维世达诊 所, 朝阳区光华路1号嘉里中心3层

Dentists Beijing 21st Century Hospital Dentistry Beijing 21st Century Hospital Dentistry provides general dentistry (cleaning, crowns, fillings, etc.), periodontal disease treatment, children’s dental care, implants, orthodontics, and cosmetic dentistry. Experienced, multilingual specialists from Japan and China provide worldclass care, consultations and treatment for various dental problems, using imported and modern dental equipment. Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; 24-hour house call service.

1-2/F, 21st Century Plaza, A40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (84446168(English/ Chinese)8444 6160 (Japanese)6468 6021(Korean)) http://www.21-hospital.com 朝 阳区亮马桥路甲40号21世纪大厦1-2楼 Beijing United Family Hospital Dental Clinic Provides comprehensive dental services for families, including cleaning, crown and bridges, dental implants, fillings, tooth whitening and more. 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. (5927 7058) www.ufh.com.cn 北京和睦 家医院牙科, 朝阳区将台路2号 Beijing Vista Dental Clinic Provides comprehensive dental services including teeth cleaning, whitening, gum treatment, white filling, crowns and bridges, root canal treatment, wisdom tooth extraction, orthodontics and implants. Daily 8.30am6pm. Level 3, Kerry Centre, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (vista@vista-china.net) www.vista-china.net 朝阳区光华路1号北京嘉 里中心三层 United Family Shunyi Dental Clinic United Family Shunyi Dental Clinic is located in Pinnacle Plaza, just around the corner from the United Family Shunyi Clinic. A multinational clinic staff of experienced doctors and bilingual nurses will ensure that you and your family receive the highest quality dental care available. Like other BJU satellite facilities, the Shunyi Dental Clinic strictly adheres to Joint Commission International (JCI) standards, which enables the Shunyi Dental Clinic to be officially recognized as an internationalstandard dental clinic. Mon-Thu 9am-7.20pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5.30pm. 818 Pinnacle Plaza, Tianzhu Real Estate Development Zone, Shunyi District. (8046 1102) www.ufh.com.cn 和睦家顺 义牙科诊所, 顺义区天竺开发区荣祥广场818

Family Life Community Groups and Organizations Beijing Playhouse China’s English community

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theater presents contemporary live semiprofessional theater productions, performed in English with Chinese subtitles. Professional acting experience not necessary and nationality not important, though ability to perform in English is required. Balizhuang (E 4th Ring Rd)100025 Chaoyang5 Houbalizhuang, Yew Chung Int’l School, East gate of Honglingjin Park, Chaoyang District. (13718908922, performance@beijingplayhouse.com) www. beijingplayhouse.com 北京剧场, 朝阳区八里庄 东四环中路后八里庄5号

Crowne Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun “Crowne Plaza Beijing Zhongguancun is surrounded by the universities and technology companies of Haidian, Beijing’s intellectual and scientific hub” ... Features 293 guest rooms and ten suites, as well as f&b venues like Mixs Italian Grill and Rouge Chinese Restaurant. 16 Zhichun Lu, Haidian District. (5993 8888, 400 886 2255) http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ cp/1/en/hotel/pegzg?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/ cp/1/en/hotelsearchresults 北京中关村皇冠假日 酒店, 海淀区北京中关村皇冠假日酒店

Dreamaker English Language Drama Classes offered for Elementary aged students. Foreign teachers and foreign curriculum. Daily 10am8pm. Rm 10C13, 10/F, T2. Xihuan Guangchang, Xizhimen, Xicheng District. (5830 1872) www. dreamaker.com.cn 卓美教育, 西城区西直门西环 广场T2座10层10C13

East Gate Plaza East Gate’s 2 bedroom Service Apartments provide space that is adequate for 4 people while the 3 bedroom has space for 6 people. Each unit is set up with furniture imported from Italy, along with complete sets of kitchen utensils, washer/dryer, and other necessities. TV satellite, broadband, and the fitness center are also included in the rental.The Business Service Apartments are equipped with plasma screen TV, fax machine, study room and other essentials. 19 Dongzhong Jie, Dongcheng District. (6417 1188) http:// eastgate.yinda.com/ 东环广场, 东城区东城区 东中街19号

Supermarkets Jenny Lou’s We keep coming back to these grocery stores, despite their high prices and occasional lack of fapiao, because, along with the usual staples, they feature fresh meat and cheese, unusual pasta shapes, unsweetened yogurt, fresh herbs, unblemished veggies ... we could go on and on. The Shunyi shop offers the neighborhood’s widest variety of alcohol, cheese and bread, as well as services including gardening, ayi’ing, house-sitting and cakes to order. What will they think of next? 1) Daily 8.30am-9pm. Pinnacle Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu, Shunyi District. (8046 2500); 2) 8am-10pm. 101, Bldg 17, Central Park International Apartments, Chaoyang District.

(6533 6792); 3) Daily 8am-10pm. Laiguangying Donglu (opposite Heping Hospital), Chaoyang District. (8470 1557); 4) Daily 8am-10pm. Bldg 4, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. (5869 2253); 5) Daily 8am-9pm. Inside East Lake Villa Clubhouse, Chaoyang District. (6467 8018); 6) Daily 8am-midnight. 4 Ritan Beilu (opposite to Fancaodi Primary School), Chaoyang District.

(8563 0626); 7) Daily 8am-10pm. 6 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District. (6461 6928); 8) Daily 8am-midnight. South of Chaoyang Park’s West Gate, Chaoyang District. (6501 6249) www.jennylou.com.cn 婕妮璐, 1) 顺义区荣祥 广场,天竺开发区裕翔路99号; 2) 朝阳区新城国 际17号楼101; 3) 朝阳区来广营东路和平医院对 面; 4) 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho4号楼; 5) 朝阳区东湖别墅会所里; 6) 朝阳区日坛北路4号 （芳草地小学对面）; 7) 朝阳区三里屯北小街6 号; 8) 朝阳区朝阳公园西门南侧

Villas Dragon Bay Villa Area 21, Wenyu River Villa District, Houshayu Town, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District. 龙湾别墅, 顺义区后沙峪镇温榆河别 墅区21号

Family Travel Hotels, Hostels and Resorts Crowne Plaza Beijing Popular with tourists and foreigners adopting kids in China, the recently renovated Crowne Plaza’s appeal lies chiefly in its location just north of the main Wangfujing drag and within walking distance of the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen. Rooms overlooking the streets are preferable to those on the atrium. RMB 2,760-6,610. 48 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District. (6513 3388) www. crowneplaza.com 国际艺苑皇冠假日酒店, 东城 区王府井大街48号 Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U Town boasts over 3000 square meters of flexible event space with 11 fully-equipped meeting rooms, including the Crowne ballroom with 1,029 square meters of space. OPENING JANUARY, 2011. 3 Sanfeng Beili, U-Town, Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5909 6688, 400 886 2255) http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/ hotel/pegut?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/cp/1/en/ hotelsearchresults 北京朝阳悠唐皇冠假日酒店, 朝阳区朝阳区三丰北里3号

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Fairmont Beijing Hotel Mon-Sun 24hrs.

8 Yong An Dong Li, Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100022, Chaoyang District. (86 10 8511 7777, beijing@ fairmont.com) http://www.fairmont.com/ beijing/ 朝阳区北京市朝阳区建国门外大街永 安东里8号 Grand Hyatt Though it will always be overshadowed by the more glamorous Grand Hyatt Shanghai (in the Jinmao Tower), this hotel remains one of the most upscale in China - with prices to match. Great for shopping, business and sightseeing, with comfortable, sleekly lit and furnished rooms, the Grand Hyatt now also has a stunning new meeting venue, The Residence, in addition to their award-winning Chinese restaurant (Made in China) and indoor pool done up like a tropical grotto. RMB 3,500-34,200. 1 Dongchang’an Jie, Dongcheng District. (8518 1234) www.beijing. grand.hyatt.com 东方君悦大酒店, 东城区东 长安街1号 Grand Millennium This 521-room luxury hotel in the shadow of the CCTV Tower boasts contemporary rooms, a residential complex (Millenium Residences), a Cantonese restaurant (Yao Chi), brasserie and two jazz bars. 7 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District.

(8587 6888) www.grandmillenniumbeijing.com 北京千禧大酒店, 朝阳区东三环中路7号 Great Wall Sheraton One of Beijing’s oldest five-star establishments, the Sheraton has seen a lot of history from its location near the business and diplomatic districts. For RMB 1,500 per night, guests enjoy standard luxury with Internet access and fitness facilities, including an indoor pool. While the lobby and hallways seem a bit dim, the restaurants and multilingual staff liven the atmosphere. Suites and Starwood Preferred Guest rooms available.

10 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District.

(6590 5566) www.sheraton.com/GreatWall 喜 来登长城饭店, 朝阳区东三环北路10号 Hilton Beijing Located along the east Third Ring Road, the Hilton Beijing offers easy access to Sanlitun, the CBD and the embassy district, as well as the Airport Expressway. Experience a higher realm of pampering and prestige with exclusivity, personalized service and upgraded amenities in the newly built nine-story Executive Tower and relax in the Executive Lounge. There are also 12 meeting rooms, as well as a fully equipped Business Center.

Also has five restaurants and bars, including Pan-Asian cooking at Elements restaurant, contemporary American cuisine in One East or creative cocktails in Zeta Bar. Daily 24hrs.. 1 Dongfang Lu, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District. (5865 5000) http://www1.hilton.com/ en_US/hi/hotel/BJSHITW-Hilton-Beijing-hotel/ index.do 北京希尔顿酒店, 朝阳区东三环北路 东方路1号 Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Just minutes after clearing Customs you could be taking

a snooze in your room, attending a business meeting or relaxing in the spa. This stylish departure from typical airport hotels offers five-star comforts and unique convenience for people in transit, business travelers, trade fair visitors and event organizers. One minute away from Terminal 3 by 24-hour hotel free airport shuttle bus, the city center just 16 minutes away by direct rail, and the most popular tourist sites within a 40-minute drive, it’s also the perfect base for tourists. Terminal 3, Beijing Capital International Airport, Chaoyang District.

(6458 8888) http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/ hi/hotel/BJSCAHI-Hilton-Beijing-Capital-Airport/ index.do 朝阳区北京首都机场三号航站楼 Hilton Beijing Wangfujing “Recently voted the ‘World’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel’ for the second year running at the prestigious World Travel Awards, the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing hotel offers some of the largest hotel rooms in the city.Set in the heart of Beijing’s shopping district, indulge in some retail therapy or visit nearby Beijing attractions. The iconic Tiananmen Square is just a ten minute walk from the hotel. After a busy day sightseeing, treat yourself to a holistic massage in the hotel’s Spa, swim laps of the rooftop pool or work out in the fitness center.Hold a conference in one of the 8 fully equipped meeting rooms then relax and enjoy stunning city views in the Executive Lounge or take advantage of the hotel’s Business Center. Sample delicious Macanese cuisine at Vasco’s restaurant or sip an expertly mixed cocktail in stylish Flames bar at the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing hotel.”

8 Wangfujing Dongjie, Dongcheng District.

(5812 8888) www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ BJSWFHI-Hilton-Beijing-Wangfujing/index.do 东 城区北京王府井希尔顿酒店 InterContinental Beijing Beichen Recognized as the only award-winning international luxury hotel in the northern part of Beijing, InterContinental Beijing Beichen is connected to the China National Convention Center (CNCC), one of Asia’s largest convention centers. The hotel stands out for its scenic location next to the National Stadium and the Water Cube, with easy access to Beijing International Capital Airport, the Great Wall, historical sightseeing spots, and major business centers. Bldg 4, 8 Beichen Xilu, Chaoyang District. www.intercontinental.com/bjbeichen 北京北辰洲际酒店, 朝阳区朝阳区北辰西路8号 院4号楼 InterContinental Beijing Financial Street InterContinental Beijing Financial Street has a full-service spa, an indoor pool, and a sauna. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas. This 5-star hotel features business amenities including a business center, small meeting rooms, and limo/town car service. The hotel offers 3 restaurants along with a coffee shop/café and a bar/lounge. The staff can provide concierge services, wedding services, and event catering.

Additional amenities include a 24-hour fitness facility, multilingual staff, and coffee/tea in the lobby. For a surcharge, guests have access to a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request).

Complimentary valet parking is available onsite for guests. 11 Financial Street, Xicheng District.

(5852 5888) 北京金融街洲际酒店, 西城区金 融街11号 JW Marriott Standard rooms are elegantly appointed and super luxurious. Downstairs, the loungy Loong Bar aspires to the metro-chic networking set, while restaurants Asia Bistro and CRU Steakhouse maintain a high standard.

Rooms RMB 1,500-2,500. 83 Jianguo Lu, China Central Place, Chaoyang District. (5908 6688) 北京JW万豪酒店, 朝阳区华贸中心建国路83号 Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center Located in the heart of Beijing’s central diplomatic and business district, the Kempinski Hotel Beijing boasts a blend of European style with elements of Beijing’s rich cultural history. In addition to 526 guestrooms and suites, including four executive floors and eight no-smoking floors, the hotel also has eight fully equipped banqueting/conference facilities accommodating up to 1,300 people.

Directories The hotel also has seven restaurants and bars, including the Paulaner Bräuhaus boasting the city’s finest Bavarian food and microbrewed beer, and Kempi Deli, renowned for its gourmet European cakes and pastries. On the 18th floor overlooking Beijing’s skyline is the swimming pool of Pulse Health Club, which also includes a fitness centre, tennis courts and squash courts.The Kempinski also manages a neighbouring eight-storey complex offering 12,500 square metres of office space, 42 shops and showrooms and 170 fully furnished one to four bedroom apartments. Facing the Liang Ma River, the complex also contains a 24-hour serviced international medical centre, dental clinics and fully equipped children’s park and nursery. Beijing Lufthansa Center, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6465 3388) www.kempinski.com/beijing 凯宾斯基饭 店, 朝阳区亮马桥路50号 Kerry Hotel Beijing This Shangri-La property is noted for its modern design, business-friendly amenities, kid-friendly restaurant (Horizon) as well as the city’s most popular cocktails (at Centro). The Horizon Club’s executive floor will be upgraded in the coming months The Kerry’s sports center wins kudos for its big pool, two indoor tennis courts, basketball court and rooftop track. RMB 1,300-23,000. 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6561 8833) www.shangri-la.com 北京嘉里大饭店, 朝阳区 光华路1号 Legendale Hotel Located on Jingbao Jie near Wangfujing, the opulent Legendale boasts a 390-room hotel, 79 full service apartments and 126 private residential apartments.

F&B venues include Camoes Portuguese restaurant, Le Pont wine bar, Macau Chinese Restaurant and Petrus French restaurant. 90-92 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng District. (8511 3388, reservations@legendalehotel.com.cn) http:// www.legendalehotel.com 励骏酒店, 东城区东城 区金宝街90-92号 Courtyard by Marriott Beijing Northeast Located a few minutes from the Olympic National Stadium and 15 minutes from new China International Exhibition Center and Beijing Capital International Airport; just 1 km from Airport Express Station and Subway Line 10 - the contemporary Courtyard Beijing Northeast offers a perfect combination of the green and peaceful area. The hotel offers spacious guest rooms, marble bathrooms, 32-inch HDTVs, high-speed Internet and IP phones. Dine at the MoMo Cafe, serving a variety of international fare, or stop by MoMo 2 go for sandwiches, pastries, power shakes and get a drink in our new trendy “101 Lounge”.

And recharge at the 24-hour fitness centre, indoor pool and whirlpool or with a massage.

Six daylight meeting rooms will help you to organize different type of events. 101 Jingshun Lu, Chaoyang District. (5907 6666， 400 888 5551) 北京人濟萬怡酒店, 朝阳区朝阳区 京顺路101号 Novotel Beijing Xinqiao Located in the former legation quarter, the Novotel Xinqiao offers easy access to Beijing Railway Station, Hongqiao Market and the Temple of Heaven as well as the French Chamber of Commerce located on the sixth floor. RMB 1,750-4,550. 2 Dongjiao Minxiang, Dongcheng District. (6513 3366) www.accorhotels.com/asia 诺富特新桥饭 店, 东城区东交民巷2号 Raffles Hotel Beijing Ideally situated at the crossroads of famous Chang An Avenue and the district of Wangfujing, Raffles Beijing Hotel is in the heart of the prestigious business and commercial districts and a few minutes from the mystical Forbidden City, historical Tiananmen Square, the Silk Market and other famous sights. It is also a short 15-minute walk from Beijing railway station and less than five minutes from Wangfujing subway station.

Raffles Beijing Hotel epitomises elegance and exclusivity, as guests luxuriate in 171 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, which are some of the most expansive and decadent in Beijing. The inimitable Raffles experience is taken a step further with sumptuous culinary creations to delight every palate, state-of-the-

art meeting and banquet facilities and a Fitness Centre complete with its own indoor swimming pool. Raffles’ afternoon tea service was voted “Outstanding Afternoon Tea” in the Beijinger’s 2011 Restaurant Awards. 33 Dong Chang’an Dajie, Dongcheng District. (6526 3388) http:// www.raffles.com/en_ra/property/rbj, http:// www.raffles.com/en_ra/property/rbj 东城区东 长安大街33号 Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel The five star hotel in the Shuangjing area south of the China World Trade Center (Guo Mao) “offers 2,300 sqm of modern, innovative and well equipped meeting space and 531 stylish and spacious guest rooms, including 41 luxuriously appointed suites, each equipped with a plug-in connectivity panel that allows guests to turn their 42-inch flat-screen LCD into a personal entertainment center.” Wining and dining options include Fat Duck, Fratelli Fresh, The Lounge and D Bar. 61 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu (north of Viva Mall by Fuli City), Chaoyang District. (5863 8888) http://www.marriott.com/ hotels/travel/bjsbc-renaissance-beijing-capitalhotel/ 北京富力万丽酒店, 朝阳区朝阳区东三环 中路 61 号 Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street Another top-range hotel on Beijing’s “Wall Street.” With a striking glass and chrome exterior, the hotel boasts 253 guest rooms appointed with flat screen TVs, cordless phones and high-speed Internet and fax connections.

The hotel features three restaurants (including the award-winning Cepe) and a lounge and bar serving Chinese, Italian and all-day cuisines.

RMB 1,500-48,000. 1 Jinchengfang Dongjie, Financial Street, Xicheng District, Xicheng District. (6601 6666) www.ritzcarlton.com 北京 丽嘉饭店, 西城区金融街金城坊东街1号 The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu This renovated elementary school proves there is more to Mutianyu than just the Great Wall. Located 90mins northeast of Beijing (via Jingcheng expressway) and offering a restaurant with fresh local ingredients, art glass studio and art room and is a creative way for the family to escape the city. Daily 9am-9pm.

Mutianyu Village (for detailed directions, see website), Huairou District. (6162 6506) www. theschoolhouseatmutianyu.com 慕田峪小园餐 厅, 怀柔区慕田峪 (具体路线请查看网站信息) Shangri-La Hotel Haidian District’s most upscale hotel is distinguished by its gorgeous garden, spacious rooms and arguably the west side’s fanciest bar (Cloud 9). Cafe Cha serves a bountiful buffet, with an accent on pan-Asian specialties – wear your stretch pants. RMB 1,208-15,000. 29 Zizhuyuan Lu, at Xisanhuan Lu, Haidian District. (6841 2211) www.shangrila.com 北京香格里拉饭店, 海淀区西三环紫竹 院路29号 Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel Opening in July of 2011, the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel features 441 contemporary guest rooms, suites ranging from 43 to 240 square meters, four restaurants, spa and fitness center, swimming pool and meeting facilities. 36 Dongcheng Beilu, Global Trade Center, Dongcheng District. (5957 5184) www. sheraton.com/beijingdongcheng 北京金隅喜 来登酒店, 东城区东城区北三环路36号，环球 贸易中心 Sofitel Wanda Despite an ominous exterior, Sofitel’s new Asia flagship hotel is sure to dazzle with its sophisticated blend of modern comfort and classical Chinese elegance. Floor-to-ceiling windows profit iconic CBD skyline views from west side rooms, specially designed feather beds, Wi-Fi, broadband and flat screen TVs complete a high-tech vision of luxury. The hotel’s F&B outlets include Le Pré Lenôtre and Farm House (see Restaurants). Rooms RMB 1,088-4,986. Tower C, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (8599 6666) 北京万达索 菲特大饭店, 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场C座 The St. Regis Beijing With more marble than an Italian quarry and more wood than an old growth forest, the St. Regis is one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. At any hour round the clock, guests can summon their personal butler

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Directories or a professional masseur; to fight jetlag, there is always the gorgeous pool, spa or putting green. The restaurants, notably the Astor Grill, will sat-isfy discriminating palates, and the buzz around town is that the bartender whips up a mean tequila Bloody Mary at the Press Club Bar. RMB 1,750-51,170. 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6460 6688) www.stregis. com/beijing 北京瑞吉酒店, 朝阳区建国门外 大街21号 The Opposite House This chic boutique hotel owned and operated by Swire properties (the same group behind adjacent Village at Sanlitun) boasts a prime location, cuttingedge contemporary architecture by Kengo Kuma, creative units ranging from studios to penthouses fitted with rain showers, LCD TVs and nespresso coffee machines, chic bars, lounges and restaurants (Sureno, Punk, Mesh), and much more. Taikoo Li Sanlitun North, Building 1, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District. (6410 5240, answers@ theoppositehouse.com) www.theoppositehouse. com 朝阳区三里屯路11号太古里北区1号楼 The Peninsula Beijing Located near Wangfujing and Tian’anmen Square, this award-winning hotel has rooms with hardwood floors, Chinese rugs, elegant furniture and 42-inch plasma TVs. Its fusion cuisine and funky open-plan design have won Jing, one of the hotel’s restaurants, favorable reviews. The Peninsula’s shopping arcade is home to such fashion royalty as Dior, Chanel and Hermes.

The hotel can also arrange hutong tours with a Tsinghua University professor and visits to unrestored sections of the Great Wall. RMB 1,388-50,000. 8 Jinyu Hutong, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District. (8516 2888) www. peninsula.com 王府半岛酒店, 东城区王府井金 鱼胡同8号 The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing Old World elegance, plush comfort – everything you’d expect from this hallowed name, including impeccable restaurants such as the internationally themed Aroma and Yu (Cantonese/Sichuan). An in-house wedding chapel sets this hotel apart, but the 109sqm executive suites with innovatively partitioned living and entertaining quarters are where the Ritz really shines. 83A Jianguo Lu, China Central Place, Chaoyang District. (5908 8888) 北京丽 思卡尔顿酒店, 朝阳区建国路甲83号华贸中心 The Sandalwood Marriott Executive Apartments 168 rooms with recreational facilities like a pool indoor, kids club, gym/ fitness facilities, sauna, steamroom. 23 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (85578888) http:// www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/ travel/bjssw-the-sandalwood-beijing-marriottexecutive-apartments/ 北京紫檀万豪行政公寓, 朝阳区朝阳区建国路23号 The Westin Beijing Chaoyang Fantastic location and first class amenities make the Westin Chaoyang one of Beijing’s premiere luxury hotels. All 550 guest rooms and suites are oversized and feature quality contemporary furnishings including the signature Heavenly Bed® and rainforest shower as well as wireless High Speed Internet Access. The Westin Executive Club Floor guest rooms and suites provide the ultimate comfort and convenience.The Heavenly Spa by Westin™ offers a range of treatments for the renewal of the body, soul, and mind. Facilities include an indoor pool, hydrotherapy centre, and WestinWORKOUT® gym. The business centre, located on Level 3, provides secretarial and business support while the gift shop features a selection of premium souvenirs and gift items.Find a journey of culinary delights and moments to savor in our restaurants, bars, and lounges as you enjoy offerings from China, Europe, and Asia. With a total of 1,100 square meters of function space, our hotel has the capacity to accommodate events of various sizes. The Jinmao Ballroom and seven meeting rooms feature the latest in audiovisual technology and five-star service. 7 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District. (5922 8888) 金茂北京威斯 汀大饭店, 朝阳区东三环北路7号

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Traders Hotel, Beijing Well situated and connected to the China World Mall, the Traders Hotel (Guomao Fandian) is a less-expensive alternative for business travelers than its sister establishment, the China World Hotel. Traders Hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6505 2277) 国贸饭店, 朝阳区建国门 外大街1号

through the arts. The center offers courses in a wide variety of subjects, including drawing, sculpture, photography, speech and drama, and performance arts. Rm 753, Tower A, Chaowai SOHO (north of Central Park), 6 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5900 0270) www.artbug. com.cn 朝阳区朝阳区朝外大街乙6号朝外SOHO写 字楼A座753 （新城国际北侧）

V- Continent Beijing Parkview Wuzhou Hotel V-Continent Beijing Parkview Wuzhou Hotel is conveniently located in north Beijing, within walking distance of the city’s Olympic Green park and National Stadium – The Bird’s Nest. The hotel is only a short ten-minute drive from both Shangdi Hi-tech Zone and Zhongguancun electronics center, and is just 25 minutes from Beijing Capital International Airport. The hotel’s 472 well-designed guest rooms all feature the very best in accommodation, along with plenty of room to relax. The hotel offers nine multi-function meeting rooms and a spacious ballroom, seating anywhere from 10 - 1,100 guests in a variety of configurations. The V Ballroom is one of the largest natural light, pillar-free ballrooms in Beijing. Six restaurants and bars provide both local and international guests with a cosmopolitan dining experience. Yue Feng Ge Chinese Restaurant presents classic Cantonese cuisine along hint of Beijing flavors. The chefs at Brazilian Churrascos will stimulate your taste buds with a variety of delicious meats and sausages, carved at your tableside. Café Asia offers an extensive international buffet with a touch of Asian mystique. Jade Hot Pot is a freestanding Hong Kong-style restaurant set within the surroundings of the hotel’s attractive park grounds.The hotel also provides an array of health-oriented leisure options, including a fully-equipped gym, heated indoor swimming pool and beauty salon. 8 Beisihuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. (8498 2288, reservation@vcontinent.com) www.v-continent.com 五洲皇冠 国际酒店, 朝阳区北四环中路8号

Places

The Westin Beijing Financial Street This mega-hotel on Financial Street (West Second Ring Road) has spared no expense in meeting the high expectations of its well-heeled clientele, from its vast lobby and elegantly appointed rooms to its opulent spa and pool.

The Westin also boasts seven restaurants and bars – including Senses, which offers what many cognoscenti consider to be Beijing’s most decadent Sunday brunch. RMB 1,500-21,100.

9B Jinrong Jie (Financial Street), Xicheng District. (6606 8866) 北京金融街威斯汀大酒店, 西城区金融街乙9号

Beidong Floriculture Garden Find plants, seeds, garden ornaments, pots and related curios. Daily 8.30am-6.30pm (summer); 9am5.30pm (winter). 150m south of Sundahe Qiao, Jingshun Lu, Shunyi District. (8459 3093) 孙和 大北东花艺苑, 顺义区京顺路孙大河桥南150米

Play Centers The New City Center The New City Center has a coffee shop with a closed in playroom that includes a ball pit and slide. Programs available for all ages, including “Mommy and Me”, Phonics, Math and Art Classes as well as language lessons for adults. It also offers services including food, games and access to the playroom for birthday parties. A conference room is available to be rented. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. 112, Lize Xiyuan, Guangshun Beidajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District. (6475 1066, info@thenewcitycenter.com) www. thenewcitycenter.com 朝阳区望京广顺北大街丽 泽西园112号

Theme Parks Happy Valley Amusement Park Beijing’s best amusement park sprawls out across a square kilometer of land outside the East Fourth Ring Road and offers 40 rides, an IMAX theater, more than 100 games and seven cinemas.

The park is divided into a number of themed areas inspired by such civilizations as Mayan Central America, Minoan Greece and Shangrila – the little kiddies play in Ant Kingdom. The roller coasters are world class, the park is well maintained, and the lines for rides are fairly reasonable. RMB 160 (April 1-Nov 14); RMB 120 (Nov 15-March 31). Half price for kids 1.21.4m, free for kids under 1.2m. Daily 8.30am10pm. Wuji Beilu, Dongsihuan Lu, Chaoyang District. (6738 9898 ext 0, 6205 0088, happyvalley@bjoct.com) http://bj.happyvalley. com.cn/park/ 北京欢乐谷, 朝阳区东四环路小 武基北路

Schools

Travel Agencies

Educational Services

Planet Travel Planet Travel provides quality service for leisure family holidays and business trips at reasonable prices. Rm 2090, Bldg 5, Shoukaibojun, Yard 8, Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District. (6409 4255, info@planettravel.cn) www.planettravel.cn 星球旅行社, 朝阳区新东路 8号院首开铂郡5号楼2090

Dragon Show Dragon ShowFounded in 2004, Beijing Dragon Show Culture and Arts Exchange Co. Ltd. designs culture-related school assembly programs, educational trips, and extracurricular activities for international schools. E-805/806 Shang8 Culture Zone, Gaobeidian, Chaoyang District. (65447057/58, info@dragonshow.com) www.dragonshow.com 朝阳区高碑店陈家林甲2 号尚巴里文创园E座805-806

Sunflower Travel 22D, Bldg B, Ginza Mall, 48 Dongzhimenwai Dajie(8447 6361, tours@ sunflowertravel-cn.com. www.sunflowertravelcn.com, Dongcheng District. (8447 6361) 东城 区东直门外大街48号东方银座B座22D) TUI China Travel Co. Ltd. With its extensive international network, this German-Chinese joint venture can arrange personalized tours to destinations both domestic and worldwide. Unit 921-926, Bright China Chang An Bldg, Tower 2, 7 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District.

(8519 8800, private-tours@tui.cn) www.tui. cn 途易, 东城区建国门内大街7号光华长安大厦 2座921-926

Fun Stuff Art Schools ArtBug Singaporean art center ArtBug aims to make art accessible for everyone, with programs catering to children from ages 2-12.

ArtBug focuses on nurturing a child’s creativity, communication skills, and self-confidence

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The Edge (Beijing) Now in mainland China, The Edge is Hong Kong’s premier educational counseling service. The company provides students and families with insider knowledge of the overseas college and boarding school admissions process, as well as customized and comprehensive educational services. 14/F, 2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. (400 608 3070) theedge.com.hk 朝阳区朝阳区工体北路2号14层

Language Schools Beijing Mandarin School Established in 1998, Beijing Mandarin School has students speaking 60 percent of the time in class and focuses on communication for everyday life.

Over the years, thousands of students from over 50 countries and over 70 companies and embassies have studied at the school. Beijing Mandarin School offers weekly Chinese cooking classes (RMB 150/two hours) and other cultural activities. Visa help and accommodations are also available. Call for a free trial lesson. 1) Rm

709, 7/F, 42 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District.

Contact Skype ID: beijingmandarinschool1998 (8441 8391 /186 1052 0622, info@ beijingmandarinschool.com); 2) Room 904-905, 9/F, E-Tower, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District.

Contact Skype ID: beijingmandarinschool1998 (6508 1026/1126, info@beijingmandarinschool. com) www.beijingmandarinschool.com 北京普 通话学校, 1) 朝阳区亮马桥路42号光明饭店709 室; 2) 朝阳区光华路12号数码01大厦9层904 That’s Mandarin Featuring a loft-style space in Dongzhimen, That’s Mandarin was established in 2005 and features friendly, qualified staff with experience teaching kids and teens. Language learning is tailored to each individual, whether it’s basic survival level, exam preparation, or just a desire to learn. There are one-on-one and small group options (arranged by age and level) for each program. Students can also take the Intensive Chinese Program, which includes morning lessons or part-time classes to fit around their schedule. That’s Mandarin has its own curriculum and has an inhouse team of education researchers who work on the latest teaching methodologies. Support is available for students working towards the YCT and other overseas examinations. In addition to classes, there are tailor-made group packages for individuals and institutions and the Chinese Summer Camp, which runs from June to August (open for registration as of April).

Age range: 7-18. Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat-Sun 8am-7pm. 1/F, Office Bldg B, Xinzhong Yuan, Xinzhong Jie, Dongcheng District. (5218 6432, info@thatsmandarin.com) www.thatsmandarin. com 东城区新中街新中园写字楼B座1层

Schools 3e International School Founded in 2005, 3e International School has grown into an institution of over 200 studentsfrom Nursery to Grade 4. The school aims to develop critical thinkers through a specially-developed, research-based curriculum. Classes are taught inEnglish and Chinese with half of the day devoted to each language. Within this inquirybased program, a balance of child-initiated and teacher-directed activity is provided to supportchildren’s development across the entire curriculum. Age range: 2-10. Tuition fees (2012-2013 academic year): RMB 93,800 (Half-day Nursery); RMB 103,800 (Full-day Nursery); RMB 136,900 (Pre-K); RMB 140,600 (Kindergarten); RMB 150,700 (Grades 1-4) 9-1 Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang District. (6437 3344 ext 100, admissions@3einternationalschool.org) www.3einternationalschool.org 3e国际学校, 朝 阳区将台西路9-1号 American International Academy of Beijing (AIAB) Founded in 2012, AIABprovides a bilingual Montessori-based teaching approach to preschool that also incorporates elements of the Chinese National Curriculum. School facilities include Montessori classrooms, adance studio, library, music room, baking room, meeting room, clinic, and outdoor playground. Age range: 18 months-6 years.

Tuition fees (2013-2014 academic year): RMB 82,500/11 months (full day); RMB 50,600/11 months (half day); RMB 5,000 per Session (optional summer camp, Session 1: Jul 15-26, Session 2: Jul 29-Aug 9) Bldg 5, 78 Baiziwan Nan’erlu, Chaoyang District. (8776 0606, apaiacademy@gmail.com) www.aiab.com.cn A 派国际双语幼儿园, 朝阳区百字湾南二路78 号院5号楼 Beijing 21st Century Experimental Kindergarten Founded in 1995, Beijing 21st Century Experimental Kindergarten is the only municipal-level, private model kindergarten and early childhood education center in Beijing. With a total investment of more than RMB 100 million in the kindergarten program.

Beijing 21st Century now has 18 branches and more than 5,000 studentsin Beijing. All foreign teachers recruited at the kindergarten’s international department are qualified teachers in their home countries; experienced Chinese teachers discuss andpresent courses in tandem with their expat counterparts. The school helps students develop independence, social skills,

Directories courage, and teamwork through experiencebased learning, weeklytopics, international courses, Chinese culture courses, sports, and arts. Age range: 2-6. Tuition fees (2013-2014 Academic Year): RMB 2,000 (application fee); RMB 114,000 (Nursery); RMB 100,000 (K1-K3) 46 Enjizhuang (within 21st Century International School), Haidian District. (5613 5819, yucinlybnu@gmail.com) 21.bjkid.com 二 十一世纪幼儿园国际园, 海淀区恩济庄46号二十 一世纪国际学校内 Beijing 21st Century International School Established in 1993, Beijing 21st Century International School aims to cultivate world citizens while maintaining deep roots in Chinese culture. The school’s education system integrates the Primary EP (Elementary Placement) Curriculum, Junior IP (Intermediate Placement) Curriculum, Senior AP (Advanced Placement) Curriculum. It also offers HSK testing preparation for foreign students. Age range: 6-18. Please call school for exact tuition fees. 46 Enjizhuang, Haidian District. (8811 5515/2970/2082, 8813 6671) www.21cis.com. cn 北京市二十一世纪国际学校, 海淀区恩济 庄46号 Beijing BISS International School (BISS) With a diverse student body, Beijing BISS International School’s mission is to foster international relationships to educate and empower students to attain personal excellence and positively impact the world. BISS offers the IB Diploma Program, serves as an SAT Test Center, caters to children with learning needs, and offers counseling, student enrichment programs, universitysearches, and transitional education services to third-culture kids and their parents. Age range: 3-17. Tuition fees (20122013 Academic Year): RMB 18,000-23,000 (refundable deposit); RMB 3,800 (registration); RMB 99,000 (Kindergarten); RMB 146,400177,500 (Grades 1-12); RMB 20,000 (ESOL) Bldg 17, Area 4, Anzhen Xili, Chaoyang District.

(6443 3151, admissions@biss.com.cn) www. biss.com.cn 北京BISS国际学校, 朝阳区安贞西 里四区17号楼 Beijing City International School (BCIS) The school motto of BCIS is “Empowering and inspiring throughchallenge and compassion.”

This non-profit, independent co-educational day school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Associationof Schools and Colleges (WASC).

BCIS offers an international curriculum for Nursery through Grade 12 students under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system and isauthorized to teach all three IB programs (Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma). The campus culture is characterized by a warm and inclusive nature and an emphasis on personalized rigorousacademic inquiry through the extensive use of information technology in the classroom. Age range: 3-18.

Tuition fees (2012-2013 Academic Year): RMB 2,000 (registration fee); RMB 5,000 (new student fee); RMB 132,600 (Nursery); RMB 144,500 (Pre-K); RMB 154,000 (Kindergarten); RMB 186,300 (Grade 1-2); RMB 188,700 (Grade 3-5); RMB 195,300 (Grade 6-8); RMB 199,100 (Grade 9-10); RMB 206,600 (Grade 11-12) 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Lu, Chaoyang District. (8771 7171, admissions@bcis.cn) www.bcis.cn 北京乐 成国际学校, 朝阳区百子湾南二路77号 Beijing Collegiate Academy International School Located on the east side of Chaoyang Park, Beijing Collegiate Academy was founded in 2012 and caters to local and international students aged 5-18. The school has a combined Canadian and Chinese curriculum to provide students with bilingual fluency, knowledge of world cultures, and a dual high school diploma. The staff is composed of teachers from British Columbia and China. Beijing Collegiate Academy occupies new, purposebuilt premises totaling 34,000sqm with sports facilities, SmartBoard technology, two libraries, two theaters, a gym, a pool, three soccer fields, four ICT rooms, six science labs, and 10 music rooms. The school has a capacity of 1,000 students. Grade 11 and 12 students have the option of taking AP classes. ASAs include art, soccer, tennis, drama, music, tae

kwon do, dance, and choir. Tuition (2013-2014 Academic Year): RMB 142,000 (kindergarten), RMB 173,200- RMB 197,100 (Grades 1-12), RMB 2,000 (application fee), RMB 5,000 (new student fee), RMB 5,000 (annual lunch fee), RMB 8,500-9,500 (bus) 10 Upper East Side, Dongfeng Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (5681 2555, admissions@bj.ccaschools.cn) www. ccaschools.cn 常春藤国际学校, 朝阳区东风南 路阳光上东10号 Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) Opened in September 2006, CISB offers a Montessori Nursery and PreKindergarten program, as well as a Canadianstyle curriculum for K-12 students. CISB is a three-program IB World School: IB Primary Years Program, IB Middle Years Program and the IB Diploma Program. The student body currently represents over 60 nationalities and has the capacity for 1400 students. Age range: 18 months to 18 years. Tuition fees (20132014 Academic Year): RMB1,800 (Application Fee); RMB76,600 (Half-Day Montessori Nursery); RMB121,800 (Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten); RMB158,800 (Grade 1-5); RMB160,400 (Grade 6-8); RMB179,800 (Grade 9-12) 38 Liangma Qiao Lu, Chaoyang District.

(6465 7788, admissions@cis-beijing.com) www. cisb.com.cn 北京加拿大国际学校, 朝阳区亮马 桥路38号 Daystar Academy Daystar Academy, a Kindergarten-Grade 6 school, offers a balance of Montessori-based English education and the Chinese National Curriculum. Students spend half of their day in each language environment. As part of their curriculum, they are developingan integrated, capabilitiesbased character education program that unites all areas of the school and community.

This approach connects two cultures and implements the strongest attributes of both Western and Eastern teaching methodologies.

Sibling discounts availabe. Age range: 3-12.

Tuition fees (2013-2014 Academic Year): RMB 105,000 (Kindergarten full day); RMB 57,000 (half-day, for 3-year-olds only); RMB95,000 (3 years old); RMB 105,000 (4-5 years old) RMB 110,000 (Elementary, Grade 1-6); RMB 10,000-30,000 (additional one-time entry fee) 2 Shunbai Lu, Chaoyang District. (8430 2654 ext 8009 or 5603 9446 (Heather Zhao in Admissions), heatherz@daystarchina.cn) www. daystarchina.cn 启明星双语学校, 朝阳区顺 白路2号 Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) Dulwich College first opened its doors to students in Beijing in August of 2005. Since then, the school has grown to include approximately 1,400 students ranging in age from 12 months to 18 years. DCB is a 21st-century school that couples outstanding ICT facilities with a modern approach. The school features a one-to-one laptop policy for students in Year 8 and above and utilizes a Virtual Learning Environment for the entire faculty. DCB is accredited by the Council of International Schools and Western Association of School and Colleges, and was named International School of the Year in 2011.

The school aims to provide students with a well-rounded environment to grow, develop, and learn in. Ages: 12 months – 18 years.

Application Fee: RMB 2000 – non-refundable; Placement Deposit: RMB 18,000 – refundable subject to terms and conditions; Early Years: RMB 66,200-168,000; Grades 1-12: RMB 168,000-219,200 1) Legend Garden Campus and Legend Early Years Campus: Legend Garden Villas, 89 Capital Airport Road, Shunyi District. (6454 9000, info@dulwich-beijing.cn); 2) Beijing Riviera Campus: 1 Xiangjiang Beilu, Jingshun Lu, Chaoyang District. (8450 7676, info@dulwich-beijing.cn) www.dulwich-beijing. cn 北京德威英国国际学校, 1) 顺义区机场路 89号丽京花园; 2) 朝阳区京顺路香江北路1号 香江花园 Eduwings Kindergarten The culmination of two former schools, Der Kingergarten and Jin Yi Kingergarten, Eduwings Kindergarten is divided into English/Chinese and German departments that are each split into three age groups (2-3, 3-4, 5-6 years) and one infant group (2 years and under). All of the lead and language

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Directories teachers are native-speakers and educate children individually following the school’s philosophy: “Every child needs to have roots and wings – roots to know where they are from and wings to explore the world.” Eduwings also offers Montessori education, swimming, music and art activities, a library, climbing facilities, as well as an outdoor playground and yard. All afternoon activities are included in the tuition fee. Age range: 2-6 (infant group for under 2 years old). Tuition fees (2010-2011 Academic Year): RMB 52,000 for half day program; RMB 72,000 for full day program (afternoon activities and lunch included in the tuition fee).

Merlin Champagne Town Clubhouse, 6 Liyuan Jie, Tianzhu, Shunyi District. (6450 8384, mariaseemel.eduwings@gmail.com) www. eduwingskids.com 金翼德懿幼儿园, 顺义区天竺 镇丽苑街6号美林香槟小镇俱乐部 Etonkids Bilingual Kindergartens Part of the Etonkids Bilingual Kindergartens’ division of the Etonkids international education group, the Central Park campus features a bilingual Montessori program designed to develop “independence, initiative and creativity.” The school caters to children from 1 to 6 years of age and are divided into nursery school (18 months-3 years) and “Casa” (a.k.a. “Early Childhood Community,” 3-6 years) divisions with lessons promoting intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth (nursery) as well as coursework in language arts, mathematics, everyday living skills, sensory awareness exercises and culture (Casa stage).

Check the website for additional EtonKids Bilingual Park Campuses. Tuition fees (20102011 Academic Year):Monthly payment plan - Morning session (8.30-11.30am) RMB 6,250; Full-day session (8.30am-4.30pm) RMB 8,500; Yearly payment plan - Morning session (8.30-11.30am) RMB 62,500; Full-day session (8.30am-4.30pm) RMB 85,000 1) Central Park Campus: Bldg 19, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District.

(6533 6995, Peking House Campus: xuyan@ etonkids.com or zhoudan@etonkids.com, Central Park Campus: cpadmin@etonkids.com, Palm Springs Campus: psadmin@etonkids.com, Midtown Campus: gcadmin@etonkids.com); 2) Midtown Campus: Bldg 21, Guangqujia Yuan, Guangqumen Waidajie, Chongwen District.

(6749 5008, Peking House Campus: xuyan@ etonkids.com or zhoudan@etonkids.com, Central Park Campus: cpadmin@etonkids. com, Palm Springs Campus: psadmin@ etonkids.com, Midtown Campus: gcadmin@ etonkids.com); 3) Palm Springs Campus: Palm Springs International Apartments, 8 Chaoyang Gongyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (6539 5967, Peking House Campus: xuyan@etonkids. com or zhoudan@etonkids.com, Central Park Campus: cpadmin@etonkids.com, Palm Springs Campus: psadmin@etonkids.com, Midtown Campus: gcadmin@etonkids.com); 4) Peking House Campus: 20 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District. (5870 6778/9, Peking House Campus: xuyan@etonkids.com or zhoudan@etonkids. com, Central Park Campus: cpadmin@etonkids. com, Palm Springs Campus: psadmin@ etonkids.com, Midtown Campus: gcadmin@ etonkids.com) www.etonkids.com 伊顿双语幼儿 园, 1) 朝阳区朝阳门外大街6号新城国际19号楼; 2) 崇文区广渠门外大街广渠家园21号楼; 3) 朝 阳区朝阳公园南路8号棕榈泉国际公寓; 4) 朝阳 区西大望路20号 Etonkids International Kindergarten CBD Global Trade Mansion Etonkids International Kindergarten is one of the oldest schools in Beijing’s Etonkids franchise (a nationwide educational group). The school provides a community-centered American-style education led by Montessori-certified teachers and an educational philosophy based on the Three C’s – Creativity, Character and Culture. Coursework includes lessons in practical life, “sensorial,” math, language, culture and science. A variety of programs are also available including Reggio Baby and Kindermusik. The staff meets regularly for training under the EXCELS school improvement planning program, which is designed to share new teaching practices, the Montessori method and current educational trends. Age range: 1.5-6 years old. Tuition

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fees (2010-2011 Academic Year): Annual Registration fee RMB 2,000 Yuan (inclusive the materials and uniforms)RMB71,800-112,000/ year 1) CBD Campus: 3/F, Block D, Global Trade Mansion, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District.

(6506 4805, Lido Campus: lidoadmin@etonkids. com, CBD Campus: gtmadmin@etonkids.com); 2) Lido Campus: Rm C103, Lido Country Club, Lido Place, Jichang Lu, Chaoyang District. (6436 7368, Lido Campus: lidoadmin@etonkids.com, CBD Campus: gtmadmin@etonkids.com) www. etonkids.com 伊顿国际幼儿园, 1) 朝阳区光华 路世贸国际公寓D座3层; 2) 朝阳区机场路丽都 广场C103室 Fangcaodi International School Fangcaodi is a state-run primary school that has been accepting foreign students for over 40 years.

Classes are in Chinese, with the exception of English language classes. The school uses the same textbooks as other Chinese schools in the municipality and places a strong emphasis on math and Chinese. Fee-based after-school activities include badminton, arts and crafts, wushu and rollerblading. Grades: 1 to 6. Price range: RMB 16,000-48,000 plus RMB 20,000 capital levy. 1 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District.

(8563 9140, fcdyy@hotmail.com) www.fcd. com.cn 芳草地国际学校, 朝阳区日坛北路1号 German Embassy School (Deutsche Botschaftsschule Peking) The German Embassy School offers instruction in German and uses a curriculum and textbooks that adhere to standards set by the German Board of Education. Approximately 150 students are enrolled in the kindergarten classes, and 560 in the elementary and upper school. Grades: Kindergarten to grade 12. Price range: EUR 7,300-10,100 (plus a EUR 2,600 admission fee, EUR 1000 bus fee). 7.55 am-5.15 pm.

49A Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District.

(6532 2535, info.dsp@dspeking.net.cn) www. dspeking.net.cn 北京德国使馆学校, 朝阳区亮 马桥路甲49号 Harrow International School Beijing Harrow International School Beijing prides itself on high academic standards that are maintained within a close-knit school community. All students are assigned a personal tutor who looks after their overall welfare and serves as a liaison between school and home. High academic standards and leadership skills are promoted school-wide, with a range of enrichment activities to help students develop teamwork and creative thinking skills, as well as independence and responsibility. Graduates from Harrow Beijing have been accepted at universities across the world, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Princeton.Harrow Beijing follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales, culminating in the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE and IGCSE’s), and A Levels.

Its curriculum is fully accredited by all British Examination Authorities and it is an accredited SAT center. Harrow Beijing is also a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and, like all Harrow International Schools, undergoes regular accreditation visits by CIS and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in the US. Harrow Beijing is also a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Southeast Asia and East Asia (FOBISSEA), which enables students to collaborate in music and sports with other schools across Southeast Asia.

Age Range: 3-18. Tuition Fees (2012-2013 Academic Year): Nursery: RMB 119,800; Reception: RMB 149,300; Years 1-2: RMB 177,700; Years 3-6: RMB 189,100; Years 7-9: RMB 207,600; Years 10-11: RMB 217,600; Years 12-13: RMB 231,700. 287 Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang County, Chaoyang District.

(6444 8900, enquiries@harrowbeijing.cn) www. harrowbeijing.cn 北京哈罗英国学校, 朝阳区崔 各庄乡何各庄村287号 The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China (RDFZ) Founded in 1950, the education philosophy of RDFZ is to respect individuality and develop the students’ personal development. Led by Liu Pengzhi, RDFZ boasts more than 50 international faculty members and over 200 international students.

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Students can choose to study Mandarin as part of the Chinese language program or take classes with regular middle and high school students. More than 85 percent of the student body has been accepted to top universities like Peking University and Tsinghua University.

RDFZ has launched reforms that combine traditional Chinese education and international curricula, including elements of A-Levels, the IB program, and AP classes. RDFZ has a network of 46 partner schools worldwide, including Escola-Hamelin Laie Internacional, Spain; Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology; Phillips Academy Andover; Raffles Intitute; Eton College; and Mahidol Wittayanusorn. Department of International Students, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, 37 Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian District. (6251 3962, guojibu3962@ sina.com) www.rdfz.cn 中国人民大学附属中学 （简称人大附中）, 海淀区中关村 大街37号人 大附中国际部 House of Knowledge International Kindergarten (HoK) House of Knowledge (HoK) boasts a unique curriculum that includes aspects of Montessori and Reggio Emilia, with special emphasis placed on the latter approach.

Students are treated as competent learners with boundless potential. With this in mind, the curriculum helps kids acquire critical thinking and collaboration skills by teaching them how to “learn to learn” in a multilingual environment (English, German, Chinese). Age range: 10 months to 6 years. Tuition fees (2013-2014 Academic Year): RMB 2,000 (registration fee); RMB 5,000-15,000 (refundable deposit based on withdrawal policy); RMB 66,780-136,680 (school fees based on choice of program).

1) Victoria Gardens Campus: 15 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District. (6538 2624, info@hokschools.com); 2) Quanfa Campus: North gate of Quanfa compound, 15 Maquanying, Chaoyang District. (6431 8452, info@hokschools.com) www.hokschools.com 好 思之家国际幼儿园, 1) 朝阳区朝阳公园西路15 号维多利亚花园公寓; 2) 朝阳区马泉营15号泉 发花园北门 The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) As the first and only fullyregistered international Montessori school in Beijing, MSB has been serving the city’s expatriate children since 1990. During that time, it has earned a glowing reputation for its steady commitment to the growth, education, and well-being of its pupils. The school is both an affiliate member of the American Montessori Society(AMS), which upholds the MACTE Montessori education standards on an international level, and the International Montessori Teaching Institute, which provides ongoing training to all of MSB’s lead teachers and teaching assistants. In August 2012, the school expanded its Riviera campus to cover all of its pre-kindergarten through elementary programs, and counts spacious classrooms, an indoor pool, and a multi-purpose auditorium among its facilities. Parents, in particular, are fond of the campus’s twoCoffee Stops, where they can mingle with a cup of coffee and a freshly-baked treat, courtesy of the school’s dedicated parent association. Age range: 1-12.

Tuition fees (2012 Academic Year): 3 Day Toddler (Age 1): RMB 41,000; 5 Day Toddler (Age 1): RMB 65,000; Morning Nursery (Age 2): RMB91,000; Full-day Nursery (Age 2): RMB 135,000; Morning Kindergarten (Ages 3-4): RMB 95,000; Full-day Kindergarten (Ages 3-4): RMB 140,000; Reception (Age 5): RMB 157,000; Elementary (Ages 6-12): RMB 163,000. Bldg 8, 2 Xiangjiang Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6432 8228, admissions@msb.edu.cn) www.msb.edu.cn 北京蒙台梭利国际学校, 朝阳 区朝阳区香江北路2号院8号楼 International Montessori Teaching Institute (IMTI) The International Montessori Teaching Institute ( IMTI ) provides training for new and experienced teachers. The Early Childhood Montessori Teacher training course is designed for teaching 2 and a half to 6 year olds and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society ( AMS ) with accreditation

by MACTE, therefore it is an internationally

recognized qualification. We offer a flexible year-round training schedule designed with Adult learners in mind. It is delivered with Chinese/ English bilingual synchronous translations and includes English or Chinese manuals. Our training facilities are well equipped with Montessori materials to ensure ‘hands on’ experience is delivered. IMTI offers a suite of Professional Development workshops to increase the knowledge and skills of teachers and parents. They include Art, Music and Movement , Infant and Toddlers, Preparing for Chinese New Year and Designing Classroom materials just to new a few. 688 Glory Palace, No.2 Shunfu Road, Renhe Town, Shunyi District. (8949 6877 ext 288, snowzhang@ imti-china.com) www.imti-china.com 蒙台梭利 教学法国际交流中心, 顺义区仁和镇顺福路2号 御墅688号 International School of Beijing (ISB) Building on its 33-year tradition of academic excellence, ISB is embracing the challenges and rewards of the future of education. Through a tailored, connected, real-world curriculum known as Learning21@ISB, the experienced and passionate teachers provide students with opportunities to grow as individuals, scholars, and contributing members of the community. The school’s curriculum and culture are grounded in the core values of global-mindedness, integrity, respect, balance, creativity, and service. ISB has superior facilities and offers opportunities in sports, service, and the arts. In the school’s welcoming community, students find a balance of rigorous academics and enriching personal growth. Tuition fees (2013-2014 academic year): RMB 75,860 (EC3 half day); RMB 138,710 (EC4 full day); RMB 162,560 (K-Grade 5); RMB 174,430 (Grade 6-8); RMB 191,840 (Grade 9-12). Application fees and capital levy fees also apply. 10 Anhua Jie, Shunyi District. (5149 2345, admission@isb. bj.edu.cn) www.isb.bj.edu.cn 北京顺义国际学 校, 顺义区安华街10号 Ivy Academy Ivy Academy is a pre-school and kindergarten created in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate School of Education Researchers that accepts students of ages two through six. The school offers an English speaking environment taught by a team of highly qualified early childhood educators who customizes the Multiple Intelligences theory influenced curriculum according to the children’s interests. Age range: 2-6 years old.

Website: www.ivyschools.com. 1) Central Park Campus: Bldg 24, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmen Waidajie, Chaoyang District. (5738 4599, East Lake Villas Campus: Info-el@ivyschools.com, Central Park Campus: Info-CP@ivyschools. com); 2) East Lake Villas Campus: Rm C101, East Lake Villas, 35 Dongzhimen Waidajie, Dongcheng District. (8451 1380, East Lake Villas Campus: Info-el@ivyschools.com, Central Park Campus: Info-CP@ivyschools.com) www. ivyschools.com 艾毅国际幼儿园, 1) 朝阳区新 城国际校园：大街6号新城国际公寓24号楼; 2) 东城区东湖校园：东直门外大街35号东湖别墅 C座101室 Jiade Montessori Bilingual Kindergarten Jiade Montessori Bilingual Kindergarten is located in one of the most beautiful residential compounds in the CBD area of Beijing, with convenient transportation and city parks amidst. Jiade combines Chinese culture with an international blend of English classes and an international faculty team. The vision of Jiade is to be a community in which the education of the child in its fullest sense is nurtured and the child’s potential is realized. We emphasize the development of basic skills and the strong foundation in language, mathematics and cultural subjects which are essential for higher learning. At the same time, we foster the development of the child as a happy, responsible, motivated, confident, thinking person who is well equipped for life. Bldg 221 Balizhuang Beili, Chaoyang District. (8591 8288, Tinatoh@jdmotessori.com) www.jdmontessori. com 北京市朝阳区嘉德蒙台梭利双语幼儿园, 朝 阳区八里庄北里221号楼 Keystone Academy Keystone Academy

Directories will open in Shunyi District in the fall of 2014.

Keystone promises to be a unique and exciting school option for families in China – offering Chinese and American instructional techniques of inquiry-based learning, critical-thinking, and creative problem solving in a rigorous intellectual environment. The academic program will be international in scope, with a central curriculum thread that focuses on Chinese identity, language, culture, and history.

Keystone will serve students grades 1 through 12, with a bilingual curriculum in the primary years and more intensive instruction in English as students progress through the program.

There will be a boarding school option for Grade 7 and 8, and mandatory boarding in Grade 9-12. Houshayu Town, Shunyi District.

(5825 6008, admission@keystoneacademy.cn) www.keystoneacademy.cn 北京鼎石国际学校, 顺义区后沙峪镇 Lycée Français International de Pékin (The French School) The French International School of Beijing (LFIP) is part of a network of 480 French schools established in 130 countries. It is administered in accordance with the official guidelines established by the French Ministry of Education, while remaining open to the Chinese language and culture and promoting the use of English in an international context. The LFIP offers its education in 3 languages (French, English, Chinese), from Kindergarten to the final year of High School. Non-native French-speaking students will have their language abilities assessed, and are given special support according to their results. Located in Sanlitun, the LFIP welcomes around 1000 students from about 50 different nationalities. Ages : 3-18 years old. Tuition fees for the 2013-2014 academic year: one time registration fee EUR 850; Kindergarten and elementary School EUR 7,020 – 8,770; Middle School: EUR 8,100 – 9290; High School: EUR 12,590 – 14,440 1) High school: Chaoyang Community College, 17, Beisanhuan Donglu, Chaoyang Shequ Xueyuan, Chaoyang District. (6444 1136, secretariata@lfip.net.cn); 2) Elementary school and Middle school: 13 Sanlitun Dongsijie, Chaoyang District. (6532 3498, secretariata@lfip.net.cn); 3) Kindergarten: 4 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District. (6532 7881, secretariata@lfip.net.cn) http://www.lfip.net. cn/ 北京法国国际学校, 1) 朝阳区朝阳社区学 院, 北三环东路17号; 2) 朝阳区三里屯东四街 13号; 3) 朝阳区三里屯路4号 Springboard International Bilingual School Springboard offers kindergarten through 6th grade in a 75% English, 25% Chinese bilingual environment. The newly renovated building sports brightly-colored classrooms designed for no more than 15 students per class flanked by large common areas that are dotted with toys on the first floor and well-stocked bookshelves on the second. Behind the school there’s a large football pitch and basketball courts, plus indoor play areas, a ballet studio, and art studio and a library in an adjoining building.

Springboard’s annual tuition for grades 1 through 6 is RMB 90,000 annually. Gucheng, 15 Houshayu Lu, Houshayu Town, Shunyi District. (office@sibs.com.cn) http://www. sibs.com.cn 君诚国际双语学校, 顺义区后沙峪 镇火沙路古城段15号

Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme.

Families are eligible for a 5% discount by paying yearly tuition fees in full. Age range: 2-18. Tuition fees 2013-2014 Academic Year: RMB 1,600 (Application fee); RMB 16,000 (Security deposit, payable upon acceptance); RMB 107,286 (Pre-Nursery & Nursery mornings); RMB 160,944 (Pre-Nursery & Nursery full day); RMB 173,600 (Reception); RMB 193,217 (Year 1-2); RMB 206,273 (Year 3); RMB 209,339 (Year 4-6); RMB 227,796 (Year 7-9); RMB 234,734 (Year 1011); RMB 246,057 (Year 12-13). 1) Sanlitun Foundation Stage: 7 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District. (8532 5320, admissions@ britishschool.org.cn); 2) Sanlitun Primary: No.5 XiLiuJie Sanlitun, Chaoyang District.

(8532 3088, admissions@britishschool. org.cn); 3) Shunyi Campus: 9 Anhua Lu (south side), Shunyi District. (8047 3558, admissions@britishschool.org.cn) www. britishschool.org.cn 北京英国学校, 1) 朝阳区 三里屯北小街7号; 2) 朝阳区三里屯西六街5号; 3) 顺义区安华路9号南院 Western Academy of Beijing Western Academy of Beijing is an International Baccalaureate World School that boasts a “challenging and caring educational environment in which students are active participants in the learning process.” WAB provides a learner-centered atmosphere that nurtures a strong sense of community among its 1,550 students from 55 countries, with the mission to “Connect, Inspire, Challenge: Make a Difference.” Campus facilities are extensive and include a lake and model wetlands that are the foundation of its environmental science center.Age range: 3-18 years old. Tuition fees (2010/2011 Academic Year, combined total includes capital levy and tuition): Nursery RMB 85,000; PreKindergarten RMB 141,000; Kindergarten RMB 165,000; Grades 1-5 RMB 165,000; Grades 6-8 RMB 181,000; Grades 9-10 RMB 198,000; Grades 11-12 RMB 204,000 10 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District.

(5986 5588, wabinfo@wab.edu) www.wab. edu 北京京西学校, 朝阳区来广营东路10号

Home Accessories and Gear Beijing Torana Clean Air Center Air purifiers from Blueair and Alen Air, pollution masks from Totobobo. Free home assessments and delivery. 1) Daily 10am-8.30pm. Unit LB09, 1/F, Europlaza Mall, Shunyi District.

(8459 0785); 2) 10.30am-6.30pm. Unit 308, Pinnacle Plaza, Shunyi District. (8046 1091) www.toranacleanair.com/index.html 1) 顺义区 天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场LB09; 2) 顺义区天竺 镇花梨坎村南“荣祥广场308室

Lily’s Antiques Furniture Lily’s Antiques is the most famous furniture dealer in Beijing, offering quality Chinese antiques, but also imported traditional and modern styles from all over the world, from Ming chairs and Tibetan rugs to Indian trunks, Spanish design and Italian sofas. The service is the best in town, with a one-year guarantee and delivery. 1) Daily 8.30am-6pm. Gaobeidian Showroom, 69 Gaobeidian Furniture Street, Chaoyang District. (8579 2458); 2) Visit

by Appointment. Factory and Warehouse Address, Baimiao industry area, Songzhuang town, Tongzhou District. (138 0139 6309) www.lilysantiques.com 华伦古典家具, 1) 朝 阳区高碑店家俱一条街69号; 2) 通州区工厂地 址,通州区宋庄镇白庙村工业大院 Radiance Tue-Sun 11am-7.30pm. 1) 7/8 South Bank of Roma Lake, Shunyi District.

(8049 6400, radiancebazaar@aliyun.com); 2) 118A, Shunhuang Lu, Sunhe Xiang, Chaoyang District. (8459 4931, radiancebazaar@aliyun. com) 瑞氏东方, 1) 顺义区罗马湖南岸左堤路 7/8号; 2) 朝阳区朝阳区孙河乡顺黄路甲118号

IQ Air While little can be done about outdoor air pollution, you can certainly make a difference with the air you breathe in your home or office. IQAir has been the top-rated air purifier brand for more than a decade. The Health Pro 250 is their most popular product and is considered by most to be the best all-around air cleaning system available. With their HyperHEPA technology, you are guaranteed near perfect levels of efficiency for the life of your machine.

IQAir China specializes in bringing clean air

Vogmask® China Vogmask is a fusion of fashion and function. The leading antipollution mask available in China, Vogmask uses a revolutionary microfiber filtration fabric to remove 99.978% of damaging particulate matter (PM) such as tiny PM 2.5 particles.

Vogmask meets US FDA requirements for N99 testing; meaning Vogmask outperforms standard N95 masks. Vogmask fits babies, young children, teens and adults. They require no filter changes, and can be used for hundreds of hours without replacement.

Rm 1801, Air China Plaza, No.36 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District. (6477 7300, info@ vogmask.cn) www.vogmask.cn 威隔口罩, 朝阳区霄云路36号国航大厦1801室

Photography Studios & Services ELF kids Photography Daily 9.30am5.30pm. 5-2-101, 33 Shiyun Haoting, Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District. (8776 9877, 152 0110 0176, 1824019404@qq.com) www. ielf.cn 爱儿菲亲子摄影工作室, 朝阳区广渠路 33号石韵浩庭5-2-101 Littleones Kids & Family Portrait Studio This Western photography studio specializes in newborn, children, family, and maternity photos. Photo shoots are tailored to each family. Daily 9am-6pm. Swan Bay Building 16, suite 2203, Chao Yang Bei Lu, Chaoyang District. (8577-9987, service@littleones.com. cn) www.littleones.com.cn 美国乐童万色儿童摄 影机构, 朝阳区朝阳北路天鹅湾南区16号楼2203

Shopping

Sunwaykids International Kindergarten South Yile Road, LiYuan, Tongzhou District.

(6052 3333, sunwaykidsbj@sunwaykids.com) www.sunwaykids.com 尚慧国际幼儿园, 通州 区梨园怡乐南路 The British School of Beijing (BSB) The British School of Beijing, established in 2003, has campuses in Shunyi (primary & secondary) and Sanlitun (primary). It is the only school in Beijing approved by the UK’s Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). BSB offers an enhanced English National Curriculum to 1,500 expatriate students from more than 60 countries. Our Shunyi campus currently offers IGCSE and A-level examination programmes and from August 2014 will offer the International

solutions to both residential and commercial users. 1) B1/F, 03A Europlaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu, Shunyi District. (6457 1922, info@iqair-china.com); 2) Daily 10am10pm. 5/F, Household Appliance Area, Youyi Shopping City, 52 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (158 0136 1601, info@iqair-china. com); 3) 10am-8pm. 6/F, Parkson Plaza, 101 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District.

(157 1286 8485, info@iqair-china.com); 4) Daily 10am-10pm. B1/F, Parkson Plaza Taiyanggong, Bldg 1, 12 Qi Sheng Zhongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Chaoyang District.

(157 1286 8454, info@iqair-china.com); 5) Daily 10am-10pm. 5/F, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (5738 2401, info@iqair-china.com); 6) Daily 9am-6pm.

Rm 1801-03, Air China Plaza, 36 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District. (8447 5800, info@iqairchina.com); 7) Daily 10am-9pm. 4/F, 417 Seasons Place, 2 Jinchengfang Jie, Xicheng District. (6622 0179, info@iqair-china.com); 8) Mon-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.

B1/F, Golden Resources New Yansha Mall, 1 Yuanda Lu, Haidian District. (157 1286 9044, info@iqair-china.com); 9) 10am-10pm.

B2/F, Scitech Plaza, 22 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing, Chaoyang District. (188 1020 5987, info@iqair-china.com) www.iqair-china.com 1) 顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场地下一层 03A; 2) 朝阳区亮马桥路52号燕莎友谊商城5层; 3) 西城区复兴门内大街101号6层百盛复兴门店 家电部; 4) 朝阳区七圣中街12号院1号楼B1百盛 太阳宫店生活家电区; 5) 朝阳区建国路87号新 光天地5层生活家电区; 6) 朝阳区霄云路36号国 航大厦1801-03室; 7) 西城区金城坊街金融街 417号四层; 8) 海淀区远大路1号金源新燕莎商 城地下1层; 9) 朝阳区建国门外大街22号赛特购 物中心地下二层

RGF Pro-active Air Purification System F11, North Tower, Daheng Technology Towers, 3 Suzhou Street, Haidian District.

(400 818 6660, www.dahengit.com) 美国艾洁 弗主动式空气净化器, 海淀区苏州街大恒科技 大厦北座11层 Tai Tai Shop and Stella’s Woodcarving Daily 10am-6pm. Tianbei Lu, Baixin Zhuang, Shunyi District. (136 9334 0571, woodcarving@vip.163.com) 木雕张, 顺义区后 沙峪白辛庄天北路

Mishka Family Photography This husband and wife team speak Russian, English and Chinese. Offers professional portraits, actions shots, and specializes in photographing children. 1) C3, Fuli City, Shuangjing Qiao, Chaoyang District. (maxim@mishka.pro); 2) Rm 1910, CAMEO Center, Guangshunnan Dajie, Chaoyang District. (maxim@mishka. pro) www.mishka.pro, www.mishka.cn 1) 朝 阳区双井桥富力城C3; 2) 朝阳区广顺南大街嘉 美中心1910 VivaXiao Photography Studio Formerly known as Small World Photo Studio, VivaXiao is a professional photography studio based in Shunyi. Providing services both in and out of the studio, VivaXiao aims to create memorable photos that evoke emotions, capture memories, and awaken the imagination. Tue-Sun 10am-7pm. Rm 509510, 5/F, Euro Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Shunyi District. (80461603 (Chinese), 13691091046 (English)) www.vivaxiao.com 小小世界专业 摄影, 顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场五层 509-510

Sports Skiing & Snowboarding Genting Resort Secret Garden Located three hours northwest by car from Beijing, Genting Resort Secret Garden is a resort that offers all-year activities, including summer sports in the warmer months and skiing in the winter. Wutong Dadao, Taizi City, Chongli County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, Outside Beijing. (400 168 1234) www. secretgardenresorts.com 密苑云顶乐园, 北京 市外河北省张家口市崇礼县太子镇梧桐大道

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The Circuit The Circuit is a chance to sneak a peek at what’s happening on the family and school scene. Want to see your event on these pages? Send an email with the date of your past event and a brief description to morganshang@beijing-kids.com by December 16.

Bavarian Day at HoK On October 14, House of Knowledge International Kindergarten’s Victoria Gardens campus celebrated Oktoberfest with a Bavarian cultural day. The event, which was sponsored by the Kempinski Hotel, featured games, live music from a German band, and traditional food like pretzels and white sausages.

photos: courtesy of hok

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The Circuit Halloween at WAB The Western Academy of Beijing’s elementary school was filled with superheroes, witches, and other supernatural beings on Halloween (October 31).

photos: courtesy of wab and ken

Keystone Halloween Party On October 26, around 90 families participated in Keystone’s first annual Halloween Spectacular held at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing and organized by beijingkids.

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The Circuit Eduwings Gets in the Halloween Spirit On October 31, Eduwings’ kindergarten students celebrated Halloween with costumes, facepainting, and games.

Fall Fun at Jack & Jill On October 20, Jack & Jill Children’s Center hosted a series of autumn-themed activities for children and their families, including straw painting with fall colors and frying pumpkin seeds.

photos: courtesy of eduwings and jack & jill

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The Circuit PKU College Celebrates Halloween On October 31, children and families at PKU College Beiyuan International Bilingual Preschool did a variety of Halloween crafts, including making wands, spooky slime, and scary masks. Teachers also led a treasure hunt and classroom trick-or-treating.

photos: courtesy of pkuc and ysa

They’re Off at the Starter’s Gun On October 16, Young Starters Academy held its first Sports Day in Chaoyang Park. Students and parents participated in events ranging from tirerolling to tug-of-war.

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The Circuit Barbecue Time at Daystar On October 20, Daystar Academy hosted a welcome back barbecue for over 300 parents, students, and staff.

CISB Students Pop in for Pop Art On November 6, Grade 11 and 12 students from the Canadian International School of Beijing went to see the Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys exhibition at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. As well as seeing original artworks, the students learned about the artists’ lives and cultural significance.

photos: courtesy of daystar and cisb

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The Circuit Session on Infant and Child Feeding at NCWCH On September 15, New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital held an International Infant Feeding Sharing Salon at its Pregnancy College. More than 30 families attended to hear speakers discuss how to develop family eating habits, French children’s dietary culture, and the latest theories on infant feeding.

photos: courtesy of ncwch and 3e

3e Families Go Global On October 19, the Parent Council at 3e International School held its annual “Families Around the World!” event. Members of the school community explored each other’s customs and traditions as they tasted different foods and played games.

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The Circuit Trick-or-Treating at BIBA On November 1, students from Beijing International Bilingual Academy took part in a range of Halloween activities including trick-or-treating, bake sales, whacky costumes, and fun games.

AnRic’s Flower Power Field Trip On October 18, kids at AnRic Little Montessori Room visited the Beijing Garden of World Flowers to examine and compare the variety of plants on display. They also brought some samples back to school for observation.

photos: courtesy of biba and anric

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The Circuit Halloween Crafts at Children’s House For Halloween, parents and kids at The Children’s House International Montessori Kindergarten’s Yosemite Campus participated in crafts, pumpkin decorating, cookie baking, and trick-or-treating.

photos: courtesy of children’s house and rotary club beijing

Rotary Club Kicks Off Bazaar Season On November 9 and 10, the Rotary Club of Beijing held its annual charity bazaar in the ballroom of the Kempinski Hotel with shopping, performances, a raffle, and a silent auction.

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The Circuit Fall Fun at MSB On October 11, The International Montessori School of Beijing held its annual fall picnic for its students’ families. The event featured an array of fall-themed activities, as well as food provided by Pie Squared and The Filling Station.

DoubleTree Hotels Help out at Blind Children’s Center In October, more than 30 volunteers from DoubleTree by Hilton took part in a charity event at Bethel China. As well as providing cookies for the kids, hotel workers did some deep cleaning, repaired facilities, and donated USD 5,000 for a sustainable farm project.

photos: courtesy of msb and doubletree by hilton

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The Circuit Halloween Open House at Art Bug On October 25 and 26, Art Bug welcomed over 50 kids and their parents to the center for its Halloween open house with snacks, crafts, painting, dancing, and storytelling.

photos: courtesy of art bug and sibs

Clean Sweep for SIBS Soccer Teams On October 14, soccer teams from Springboard International Bilingual School (SIBS) took first and second place at a BSB’s first annual junior soccer tournament. Despite being the smallest school in the competition, SIBS’ Grade 1 and 2 teams swept to victory against a number of Beijing’s other international schools.

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The Circuit Talent on Show at BCIS On October 31, students took to the stage for Beijing City International School’s talent show, BCIS Idol. Over 30 students entered the competition which featured bands, solo singers, modern dance troupes, and classical ballet. The winners, split across two categories – music and dance – were solo drummer Halim Park (Grade 10) and dancer Jessica Duhon (Grade 9).

YCIS Beijing Celebrates Founder’s Day On October 11, Yew Chung International School of Beijing held its second annual Founder’s Day to mark 81 years since the YCIS school group was established. Students and staff enjoyed a day of sports and activities in honor of the school’s foundation in Hong Kong in 1932.

photos: courtesy of bcis and ycis

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The Circuit ISB Students Bring Down the House Between October 24 and 28, high school students at International School of Beijing (ISB) put on three stage performance’s of Kaufman and Hart’s classic play You Can’t Take It With You. Over 40 students helped recreate 1930’s America, using comedy to tell the serious tale of the Great Depression.

photos: courtesy of isb and dcb

Spider and Pumpkin Day at Dulwich In the last week of October, witches, fairies, Spidermen, and Batmen descended on Dulwich College Beijing’s halls for two Halloweenthemed events – the junior school disco and a Spider and Pumpkin Day for early years students. Parents also put on a performance The Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.

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Family Favorites

The De Kesel-Zhang Family Tine De Kesel works for OSK Public Relations consulting and has been living in China for eight years. She and her husband Junyi Zhang married in both Belgium and China and now have a daughter named Zoë, who turned 1 this year. Zhang, who speaks English and German as well as Chinese, runs a soccer school called Coerver. We caught up with this multilingual family to find out their most-loved Beijing spots. Ellis Friedman

Favorite Places to Shop We hardly shop in China due to the high prices, but if we do it’s in Sanlitun and Tai Koo Li to pick up small pieces of jewelry or clothing. For Zoë we go to Solana.

Favorite Family Restaurant Let’s Burger in Tai Koo Li is very family-friendly.

Favorite Dessert/Snack Anything with cheese. We buy different cheeses at Jenny Lou’s or indulge in cheesecake from April Gourmet.

New Discoveries Xian Bar at EAST Beijing and Indigo Mall Favorite Winter Activity We like to go home to Belgium for Christmas. In Beijing, we enjoy going for a walk, meeting friends for coffee, and letting the little ones play together.

Favorite Neighborhoods We love Sanlitun and Lido, but for Zoë we prefer Shunyi.

Family Ritual We have lunch with Junyi’s parents every weekend in Shunyi.

Date Night We usually see a movie at Megabox in Sanlitun, get a massage at Dragonfly, or have a nice dinner at Hatsune or Grange Grill at The Westin Chaoyang Beijing.

photo: sui

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