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idMASK Announces New Kids Masks

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Every year ladies from my community pile up in a van to travel all the way to Shunyi to search out Christmas gifts and deals at WAB and BCIS Charity Bazaars. This year, the whole group fell in love with idMASK, and four of the women in our group bought masks that day, while several others ordered theirs later. So we were super excited to hear that they’ve just announced a kids-sized version.

I tried one adult-sized idMASK on and was amazed by how easy it was to actually breathe through the mask. I felt no air restriction at all, and I thought this would be the perfect mask for my active family and myself. We’ve found any activity above a light jog is a genuine problem with any mask. And if you didn’t already know, benefits from exercise far outweigh the risks of pollution, so we feel not exercising isn’t an option.

During the warmer months of the year, I like to cycle 20km into the city from my suburban home in Daxing district. When I have to wear a mask, which really should be any day I’m riding on Beijing’s dusty roads, my Vogmask is disgustingly soaked by the end of my thigh-ripping ride.

If you’ve never worn a sweaty, wet mask, you’re not missing much, except for a lung punishing experience making you wonder why you even bother with cloth on your face. “Does a wet mask actually filter particles?” was often a question I uneasily tried to ignore as I assured my conscious that wearing a wet mask was better than no mask.

Though most likely sweat is going to form around the soft, face-fitting-plastic seal, idMASK sits off of your face, so lung restriction is solved since there’s a pocket of air inside the mask that’s already filtered.  This genuinely makes it the perfect mask for athletes. Or for people who feel claustrophobic and want to actually breathe deep.

I planned to buy a whole family set as soon as my kids could have a mask. I don’t like being the parent who has a mask on while my kids aren’t wearing one, and though my children would have had Vogmasks, idMASK looks obviously more hardcore. Another friend of mine joked with one of the women who bought a mask at the bazaar that she looked like beast in Predator. Well, at least her lungs are clean.

These masks protect from asbestos, viruses, soot, pollen, mold, heavy metals, cement, and bacteria. It’s also obvious when its time to change the filters, once they turn grey.

There are two ways to wear the mask, either shielded with a shatter-resistant cover (for those kids who find themselves skipping, jumping, and falling as part of natural play) or without the cover for more breathabililty while exercising.

The new kids masks are available for pre-order at RMB 299. If you order now (see the QR code below), you’ll receive a free pack of the replaceable filters (typically RMB 99). The adult masks run for the same price, but filter sets are cheaper (RMB 59).

Henry Sung was inspired to start idMASK after experiencing a personal, devastating shock. His grandmother, living in Beijing, experienced a stroke and later a heart attack, attributed to the damage most likely caused by heavy pollution in the city. Sung’s big heart shines through this company, because for every mask that’s sold, a mask will be donated to a needy child in China’s most polluted regions.

Connect with idMASK on WeChat or visit their website.  Longpress the QR code below to pre-order the kids mask. The mask is made to fit most 6-12 years old. Some smaller children might fit the kids mask, but best to try on the mask in person at their booth at one of Beijing’s popular bazaars and markets.

Photos: idMASK


DiCaprio Brand Ambassador for Chinese Car that Filters PM 2.5 Air

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On a recent Hitch ride I took, a man in my neighborhood picked me up early one morning on my way to work. I had stood outside for a solid ten minutes waiting for him, so the chill was bone-cracking cold. Seeing how cold I was, he was very embarrassed that he couldn’t figure out how to make the heat work since the main service panel was a touch screen. Some of the nobs below the service dashboard would change things, but he still wasn’t getting heat. I told him I would have helped him if I could read Chinese, and he again mentioned that he was really so sorry, that this was his wife’s new car.

As were were merging into traffic, I told him, “Really, it’s not a problem, I’m more worried about you watching the road than looking at the screen.” He laughed and said he was an experienced driver, but then he finally stopped worrying about the heat.

As we continued down the road, I noticed a label on the dash in Chinese that included PM 2.5. When I pointed to this and asked him about it, he turned on the filtering function for me (though the air was beautiful that day).

Called Xinshang, this car with seemingly-super-power air-filtering-functions turns out to be manufactured by BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of electric cars. They’d be a perfect buy for families during these red alert days (or spoiled breaks) when the air prevents most from wanting to venture out.

BYD just recently announced Leonardo DiCaprio as their brand ambassador, and he’ll be promoting the brand in China through 2017.

My suggestion for an ad campaign would be DiCaprio driving a Xinshang through the streets of Beijing during a red alert day with a crazy egg air monitor and happy, carefree children in the backseat. I wonder if he’ll pass the infamous China paper driving test on the first try?

Photos: Vanessa Jencks, BYD Official Weibo Account

Location Matters: Does Distance to School Factor in When Picking a School?

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When picking a school, I’m reminded by the opening monologue by House of Cards’ Frank Underwood, “location, location, location!” A school’s location can sometimes play a vital role in the family picking their preferred school. In the lead up to the 7th Beijing International School Expo 2017 (BISE 2017) we spoke to families from the Springboard Bilingual International School (SIBS) and Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) who share with us their commuting account.

SIBS parent, Lily Xu, Chinese, is a stay-at-home mom, and her husband runs his own wooden products company. Xu and her family lived in Sweden for three years when they decided to head to Beijing in 2015. The family’s search for their school wasn’t as smooth as most people would hope for. They wanted to enroll daughter Du Xin Yu, Grade 5 at the Swedish School of Beijing but wasn’t able to due to the school closing. Then Xu picked New Talent Academy, but her daughter wasn’t able to adapt. The family finally found SIBS.  Their choice was based on the school providing them with a very cozy environment and delicious food.

YCIS Beijing parent, Eike Westerholdt, German, is the owner is Wan Lin Bicycle Tours while her husband is the general manager at an international company. The family has called Beijing home for two-and-a-half years and picked YCIS Beijing because of the family atmosphere, close-knit community, and not a large commercial school. The two children both attend YCIS Beijing, Anna in Year 6 and Paula in Year 1.

More from School You'll Meet at BISE 2017
http://www.beijing-kids.com/blog/2016/12/05/what-parents-want-from-schools-at-bise/
Making the Switch: Moving from BSB, Sanlitun to BSB, Shunyi
http://www.beijing-kids.com/blog/2016/11/22/making-the-switch-moving-from-bsb-sanlitun-to-bsb-shunyi/
Ringing the Changes: Keystone’s Counselors Help With School Transition
http://www.beijing-kids.com/blog/2016/11/28/ringing-the-changes-keystones-counselors-help-with-school-transition/

How did the distance to the school factor in when choosing a school?
Xu: It is a big factor for us to choose a school. We want to choose a school near to my home. Previously, we lived in Olympics village in 2015, later we rented a house at Houshayu near SIBS.
Westerholdt: When we were doing our research about Beijing, we knew we wanted to live somewhere central thanks to our previous experience living abroad in Tokyo and from previous visits to Beijing. Our main factor wasn’t proximity but rather a strong bilingual focus in Chinese and English as well as a small school community. Once we had found where we wanted to live, we looked for schools that satisfied those requirements, which YCIS Beijing certainly does! I think even if YCIS Beijing was further away than it happens to be, we probably still would have sent our kids there due to its curriculum and atmosphere.

What type of transportation method do you prefer your child uses? And why?
Xu: We have our own car that we use to drop and pick up my daughter everyday.
Westerholdt: Our kids take the school bus. It’s not only very convenient, but the kids also really love it. When we first moved here, my younger daughter was only three years old when she started taking the bus. I know some parents might worry about such a small child taking the bus, but it worked well and she loved it. Both my daughters love chatting and playing with their friends in the morning on the bus. Of course the option is there to take them to school myself and pick them up in the morning, but this is more convenient and the kids love it.

How did your family adjust to the commuting?
Xu: We used to live near the Bird’s Nest and the traffic was horrible, and we had to wake up very early and this was very tiring. After moving to Houshayu, we now take only 8 minutes to get to the school and we have more time before and after school.
Westerholdt: In Germany, we had a carpool with another family who lived close by to get Anna to school. There wasn’t much of an adjustment here to taking the bus. It was an easy transition as the kids really do enjoy it!

What safety concerns do you feel are addressed by the school when it comes to using school transport?
Xu: I driving my own car is more convenient for me than school transport because it allows me flexibility with our schedule.
Westerholdt: Safety is obviously very important to us. The bus can’t enter our compound as there’s no space, so it’s important that the bus Ayi and bus driver make sure the kids cross the bike lane to the school bus safely, which they do on a consistent basis. Once on the bus, the Ayis do a good job to make sure the kids buckle up and are safe during the trips to and from school.

Find your right school at 7th Beijing International School Expo (BISE) hosted by beijingkids and JingKids on February 18-19, 2017 from 10am-4pm at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town. Find out more information about the event here.

We suggest you take advantage of one of the few events in Beijing for families that are actually free – register now for a quick and painless breeze through the check-in line.

 

Photos: courtesy of SIBS & YCIS Beijing, wisegeek.com

Chai to the Tea

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There are a lot of things I miss here in Beijing, decent skincare, “normal” toilets, and my friends and family of course. But MOST of all I miss my home cuisine, and the ingredients that are easy to buy in Western supermarkets. I wanted to recreate some foods that my family in Beijing misses, share my recipes, and where to get the ingredients. If you see a blonde lady on a bike with a toddler and bags of groceries, that’s me, on the hunt for little pieces of home.

Hummus was the first recipe last week, this dip got lots of discussions going. I have been asking around for what kinds of foods and dishes people missed from home. Chai tea is something that came up quite a few times. My colleague drinks a Chai masala tea mix in the morning, and it makes the office smell “happy.” I have to admit that I have asked for a Chai tea latte at the Starbucks a few times in Beijing, but no such luck. When Chai tea latte is available at Starbucks, I ask on hot summer days for a “frappuccino Chai tea.” It will blow your minds! Of course Starbucks Chai tea latte has got nothing on homemade Chai tea.

Masala Chai literally means “mixed spice tea.” It is a flavored tea beverage with a mixture of Indian spices and herbs. The way families make Chai can differ widely per region and country. There has been a growth in interest in Chai all over the world, and I have tried many recipes myself. It warms the soul, and the house will smell delicious. I did not invent Chai tea myself (though I wish I did), but did put together this recipe. Different spices can be used. Not everybody will agree with my way but hopefully we can have some exchange of recipes. If you like an ingredient, add extra, if you dislike an ingredient, omit it.

Where and how to find the ingredients in Beijing: fresh ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and black peppercorns are all available at Carrefour supermarkets. They have scoop it yourself bins with all kinds of dried spices, so you can pick exactly how much you need. Cardamom pods can be found at the Sanyuanli market, as stall 77 sells little bags of pods. A sweet Chinese lady explained to me when I arrived in Beijing that I should always use the same vendor on a market. They will get to know you and give a sweeter price. Vanilla extract can be found at Jenny Lou’s. I use the extra strong tea bags from Mark’s & Spencers, because I like my Chai with an extra bit of kick, but any kind of black tea will do. Before I add the tea bags, I keep some of the liquid aside so I can offer some to my toddler with milk.

Chai Tea

1 liter water

1\2 liter milk

3 cardamom pods

10 cloves

4 black peppercorns

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

fresh ginger

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 star anise

1 sliced piece of fresh ginger root

1/3 cup honey

  1. Bring the water to a boil. Add all the dried spices and fresh ginger. Turn down to a simmer and let simmer for 30 min. Boiling the spices will turn the liquid bitter.
  2. Add the milk and bring back up to a boil, and immediately turn off the heat.
  3. Add the tea bags and let steep to whichever strength desired.
  4. Strain the mixture.
  5. Add honey to taste.
  6. Drink warm or over ice.

 

 

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for Beijing Kids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

 

 

Get Up and Gobi, Part 1: Sleeper Cell

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(This summer Andrew Killeen traveled around Mongolia with his wife and two children: Noah, 10, and Joseph, 7. In this series of posts he shares tips and tales from their adventures.)

It’s the 21st century, and flights from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar only take two and a half hours. Why on earth would anyone spend 28 hours going there on a train, as we did?

Well, for one thing it’s cheaper (though not by as much as you might think). More important however is the romance. I’ve written before about the excitement of traveling with children on a sleeper train. And this train goes on all the way to Moscow, on the tracks of the legendary Trans-Siberian express. It’s one of the world’s most celebrated railway journeys.

As with most train travel in China, tickets are released 60 days before the day or travel. However, you can’t buy international tickets from Beijing Railway Station, and its handy English-speaking window 16. The ticket office you need is the China International Travel Service, hidden away in Beijing International Hotel. And you can’t use cards, you have to pay with cash. However service there is quick and courteous, and there’s an ATM in the hotel if you’ve forgotten to bring money with you.

Tickets cost around RMB 1500, depending on the class, and children travel cheaper. We opted for soft sleeper, but if I was doing it again I’d fork out the extra for luxury soft sleeper. Not only do you get an en suite shower, but (more importantly) a power socket, the need for which I will explain later. Hard sleeper is only recommended for the particularly money conscious, those inured to Chinese mattresses, and those without personal space issues.

Don’t forget you may also need visas. Holders of US passports don’t, for visits of up to 90 days, but most other nationalities do. They’re not expensive at USD 53, but have to be obtained in person at the Mongolian Embassy.

Trains depart from Beijing Railway Station. Shortly after departure staff will collect your tickets and replace them with a token, for no reason that I can discern, since the tickets are returned to you at the end of the journey. You’ll also get vouchers for meals – don’t make the mistake we made, of saving one for the next day! They’re for specific mealtimes only, and no use if you miss it. The dining car on the second day is Mongolian-run, and you’ll be given different vouchers for it.

When traveling with kids, the great advantage of train travel over flying is the amount of space you have. A four person compartment is cosy for a family, and of course the kids can lie down and nap whenever they need. However, one downside is that you are on the train for a long time, including the time you spend asleep. We brought games, cards and books, but by the end were all gathered around my laptop watching a movie. That’s why the power socket alone might justify spending the extra money for a luxury compartment.

When you arrive at the Mongolian border, at around 9pm, there’s a lengthy stop at Erlian, where you can stock up on supplies. The train then enters a shed. Mongolian rails are a different gauge to Chinese ones, so the “bogies” have to be changed, as well as the engine and dining car. At first this is dramatic and mysterious: the huge echoing space, the quiet of night interrupted by the thunderous clang of metal, the sudden jolts as carriages are coupled and uncoupled. It’s a lengthy process though, and after a while I gave up and went to bed.

Even then though your sleep will not go uninterrupted. Border guards will inspect your passports and visas, and will insist that children are woken up (although one of our children is a heavy sleeper, and when he didn’t respond to repeated shaking and calling they eventually took mercy and left him in peace.)

When morning finally dawns, you’ll be crossing the wide grasslands of Mongolia. It’s still several hours to your destination though, so don’t leave it too late to get to the dining car for your lunch. You’ll need all your strength when you arrive in Ulaanbaatar, which will be the subject of my next post.

 

Photos: Karen Killeen

Where to Buy Real and Fake Christmas Trees in Beijing

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Haven’t kitted your house out with a Christmas tree? Don’t worry, neither have we, we’ve just been too busy getting our Christmas shopping done and trying to figure out where to go for dinner this year. Our next task is finding a luscious tree, and this is where we’ll be browsing.

Liangma Flower Market (pictured above)
This is the best place to get real trees (unless you want to be cutting them down from along the Airport Expressway, we did spot some growing along there too), but Liangma Flower Market also sells fake trees. We went to check out this market last week, see our full review of what we found here. Real trees cost between RMB 400 and 1,000.

RELATED: Twinkle, Twinkle, Christmas Lights: Where to Find Them in Beijing This Year

Christmas at Liangma Flower Market

Ladies Street Market
As usual, Ladies Street Market has it all, selling fake trees of every proportion and plenty of decorations to ensure your Yuletide is tacky and shiny, which in our books, means cheerful. This market is also known for its pets and flowers, so why not pick up some of those to complete the homely vibe, too?

Real, actual trees (on the Internet)

Taobao/JD.com
And of course, there’s always the Internet, perfect for those of you who want a bargain or love to gamble (with your Christmas trees … Disclaimer: You’ll never know what you have actually ordered until it arrives). JD.com has a crazy assortment of fake Christmas trees in all different sizes in every price bracket and even some shops selling real ones.

Taobao also has its own range of decent shrubbery, including this shop which sells trees of all sizes (look at that beaut above!).

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Images: Kyle Mullin, JD.com, Taobao

This post was previously featured on our sister-site TheBeijinger.

Capital Consumption: You’ve Heard of Beijing’s 798 … But What About 998?

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Ahh, Wukesong, home to the LeSports Center, the PLA General Hospital, and a colossal shopping mall affixed with the following three digits: 998. Seems reminiscent of 798, doesn’t it? Well, if Dashanzi, as the aforementioned arts center is also known as, is supposedly the artistic capital of the capital, then Wukesong, with its god-knows-where-it-came-from numeric designation, is gunning to be its consumption capital.

So why haven’t I heard of this place before? Well, partly because much of it is still under development, and lamentably, because it also happens to be in Wukesong.

A bird’s-eye view of 998

In its current state, 998’s only real draw is the gigantic Charter Shopping Mall (卓展 Zhuō zhǎn in Chinese). However, soon-to-open entertainment zone, HI-UP, constructed over what was once the Wukesong Baseball Field, is expected to bolster 998’s appeal, making Wukesong the epicenter of all things trendy (their marketing words, not mine). To back up the claim, Chinese-South Korean boy band, UNIQ, is slated to perform at HI-UP’s yet-to-be-determined grand opening.

For the time being, however, Charter is the standard-bearer for 998. With 340,000 square meters of retail space, the mall houses everything from high-end luxury brands to labels more suited for the lǎobǎixìng. Additionally, there’s an abundance of dining options; Charter features both a basement-level food court and a top-floor al fresco-esque restaurant area.

The following are just a few gems that make this West Fourth Ring Road shopping mall standout:

Venchi
Italian chocolatiers Venchi have been plying their trade since 1878; yet, their sole Beijing storefront rests on the ground floor of the Charter Mall. Their exquisite, albeit pricey, assortment of chocolates may be what they’re famed for, but it’s their very reasonably priced gelato, Italian coffee, and hot chocolate that are to kill for.

The La Giandujotta is an especially rich cup of hot chocolate; RMB 36

Head-scratchingly, Venchi doesn’t get as much foot traffic as Starbucks – and yes, there are multiple Starbucks in Charter Mall – however, their coffee is priced cheaper and arguably much better. (I guess when comes to coffee culture in China you simply can’t get any higher than the mermaid’s broth.)

Be prepared to spot Jackie’s charming visage pretty much everywhere

Surprisingly Jackie’s cafe doesn’t accept cash; only WeChat wallet

Jackie Chan Cinema
Yes, Jackie Chan has his own movie theater, and yes, it’s totally decked-out in all things Jackie Chan. Expect to find a souvenir shop dedicated to the aged action star, props and posters from his previous films, and even his own coffee shop. The cinema, located on the fifth floor of the Charter Mall, has a total of 17 theaters and enough seating for 3,500 people.

DXRacer
Consider yourself a gamer? If so, you’ll love DXRacer; as they sell one thing and one thing only: gaming chairs. Also located on the fifth floor, right next to an Alienware shop, their wares are comfy, ergonomic, and optimized for those who don’t mind sitting in front of a PC for hours on end.

Bianca Gelato
With only one store in operation, Bianca Gelato serves up scoops from tubs that are so ornately presented, one could venture calling it borderline ice cream art. Furthermore, this second-floor dessert parlor runs the gamut of interesting flavors: from durian and purple taro to Baileys and even Ferrero Rocher.

The Verdict

Admittedly, 998 is still a work in progress; aside from HI-UP, an impressively long, and completely underground retail corridor, which will link the Wukesong subway station to the Charter Mall, has also yet to open. Nevertheless, even in its unfinished state, 998 is still a quality pick to do shopping – well, at least shopping the old fashioned way, as opposed to doing it online.

Photos: Scott DeVoy Su

This post originally appeared on our sister-site theBeijinger.

Pictures in Review of 10th Annual Halloween Party

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Though most have received their photo from the party, we would like to surprise some parents with extra pictures of their kids. Saturday and Sunday October 29 and 30 marked the 10th Halloween Anniversary party at the Canadian International School of Beijing. Almost a thousand kids, parents, and care-takers attended the party. The crowd enjoyed trick or treating, a haunted house, and fun activities. Halloween marks the start of a two month season that goes hand in hand with lots of sugar and surprises:Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. (Parents only a few more days until we can go back to normal, no or low sugar diets!)

Photos By: Uni You

 


Where to Stock Up on Sweet Treats for Christmas

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Turkey may be the main event at Christmas dinner but for us, the Christmas season is all about the sweeter things: gingerbread houses, Christmas pudding, chocolate Santa Clauses, and cinnamon-spiced EVERYTHING. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to get your hand on seasonal sweet treats, whether your tastes run to the traditional or the more modern.

Jiang Mai Tang
French-influenced bakery Jiang Mai Tang, which has outlets in Shunyi and Central Park, is one of our favorite places to pick up breads and pastries at any time of the year.

Treats from Jennie’s Oven at a recent Christmas market

Jennie’s Oven
Expat Jennie makes American-style baked goods such as pies and cookies. We first came across her at one of the many pre-Christmas craft markets and were impressed with her brownies and her seasonal peppermint bark (others rave about her pecan pie). Since Christmas fayre season is pretty much over at this point, you’ll need to add her on WeChat at jennieannchow to place your order from now on. She is still baking ginger cookies (RMB 30 for 6), brownies (RMB 70 for six), chocolate caramel shortbread (RMB 80 for six), the aforementioned pecan pies (RMB 150 for a 9-inch pie), and all manner of other baked goods. Best to order as far in advance as possible.

Just a few of Comptoirs de France’s offerings

Comptoirs de France
With dozens of different Christmas products on offer, Comptoirs de France isn’t just about the French-style patisserie – there is something for everyone. Their offerings include chocolate Santas, gingerbread houses, mince pies, stollen, Christmas cookies, and yule logs. They do still have traditional French desserts such as the galette de rois, a flaky puff pastry stuffed with almond frangipane, eaten at epiphany (Jan 6).

Vai Milano
Just because the weather is cold, doesn’t mean that there’s no place in your diet for a bit of ice cream. Vai Milano have introduced three Christmassy flavors of their unctuous Italian gelato: chocolate-hazelnut-caramel, Christmas panettone, and mascarpone and walnut. The gelatos are available in small, medium, and large portions (RMB 29/42/53) to eat in or take away. They are also selling their Christmas panettone for RMB 108 each.

RELATED: The 2016 Beijing Christmas Dining Guide

Honorable mention: Pantry’s Best Christmas Surprise Cake (pictured at top)
Local bakery Pantry’s Best are back again this year with their truly fabulous festive surprise cakes. From the outside, they just look like ordinary frosted cakes, but once you cut into them, they reveal either a colorful Christmas tree or a cute snowman (see above). The Christmas tree is matcha cream cheese inside a red velvet cake, while the snowman is made of different flavors of mousse. Order online or through their WeChat Pantrysbest.

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos: Vai Milano, Pantry’s Best, Comptoirs, Jennie’s Oven

This post originally appeared on our sister-site thebeijinger.

2017 BISE: Take a Peek at the Schools Already Confirmed

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Not satisfied with your child’s current schooling situation? Thinking about making a change and finding a better fit? Regardless of the reasons, if you’re on the lookout for various schooling options, then consider Feb 17-18’s Beijing International School Expo (BISE) as an absolute must-attend event.

Organized by us, beijingkids, and our sister publication, JingKids, the 2017 BISE gives parents the opportunity to personally meet representatives from over 50 international schools and have candid conversations with school officials that know best.

The following is a partial list of schools (both Beijing-based and overseas), extracurricular program providers, and children’s activity area sponsors that have already committed:

Confirmed Schools

  1. Keystone Academy 北京市鼎石学校
  2. Huijia Private School 北京市私立汇佳学校
  3. Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) 北京加拿大国际学校
  4. The Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) 北京耀中国际学校
  5. Yew Wah International Education School 耀华国际教育学校
  6. The British Schools of Beijing (BSB) 北京英国学校
  7. Ivy Education Group 艾毅教育机构
  8. Hyde Academy 海德京华国际双语学校
  9. House of Knowledge School (HOK) 好思之家学校
  10. Etonkids International Bilingual Kindergarten 伊顿国际双语幼儿园
  11. HD School 赫德国际学校
  12. Springboard International Bilingual School 君诚国际双语学校
  13. Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) 海嘉国际双语学校
  14. Beijing Kaiwen Academy 北京凯文学校
  15. Beijing New Talent Academy 北京市新英才学校
  16. Beijing Limai Foreign Languages School 力迈中美 (国际) 学校
  17. Beanstalk Education Group 青苗教育集团
  18. Beijing City International School (BCIS) 北京乐成国际学校
  19. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy 凯斯国际幼儿园
  20. Tsinghua International School 清华附中国际部
  21. Tsinghua University High School International 北京市朝阳区清华附中国际学校
  22. Peide School 培德书院
  23. JOY EL International Academy 北京天悦国际学校
  24. iHommy International Daycare 艾荷美国际日托中心
  25. Beijing AIDI School 北京爱迪学校
  26. Beijing No.4 High School International Campus (JiaLian School) 北京四中国际校区暨佳莲学校
  27. Beijing Royal School 北京王府学校
  28. Central Conservatory Preparatory School 中央音乐学院鼎石实验学校
  29. Asia-Pacific Experimental School of Beijing Normal University 北京师范大学亚太实验学校
  30. Beijing No. 80 High School 北京市第八十中学
  31. The Branch of Beijing No.5 Middle School Dachang Branch 北京市第五中学分校-大厂分校
  32. Haileybury International School 黑利伯瑞国际学校
  33. Ying Sheng Art School YSAU英圣艺术联盟学校
  34. Muffy’s International Kindergarten 博识梦飞国际幼儿园
  35. BFSU International Course Centre 北京外国语大学国际课程中心
  36. Beijing SMIC Private School 北京市中芯学校
  37. Aurora Academy International 明悦成均教育
  38. Olive International School 橄榄国际学校
  39. Beijing Valley International Academy 北京市山谷学校
  40. Innova Academy 鸿誉学校
  41. UAL Foundation (Beijing) 伦敦艺术大学北京预科
  42. Camford Royal School 昌平凯博外国语学校
  43. Branksome Hall Asia 加拿大布兰克森女子学院韩国 [济州岛]
  44. Saint Paul American School 北京圣保罗美国学校
  45. Confucius International School 孔裔国际公学
  46. CAN-REACH (PACIFIC) 太平洋出国
  47. Spring Street International School
  48. North Cedar Academy
  49. Lu He International Academy 北京潞河国际教育学园
  50. U.S.A. Veritas Prep School China Campus 美国威力塔斯学校
  51. Beijing Linchuan International School 北京临川学校国际部
  52. Beijing Collegiate Academy(BCA) 常春藤国际学校
  53. Beijing 21st Century International School 北京市二十一世纪国际学校

Extracurricular Program Providers

  1. Foundation Global Education 范迪信国际教育
  2. Galenite Academy 岩实学院
  3. Beijing new channel school 北京新航道学校
  4. Art & Creativity Global ACG国际艺术教育
  5. IQbar Education 桥吧教育
  6. Hantong International Education 北京汉通国际教育
  7. KidsBang Training International 北京童行天下信息咨询有限公司
  8. FirstLeap 励步英语
  9. VIPKIDS 美国小学在家上
  10. Go Youth Global Education 久宇思国际教育
  11. Vanke Music Kids 万科启蒙万科爱乐启蒙课
  12. Touchdown Summer Camp 拓达夏令营
  13. Global Canlink Learning Center 北京康联环宇国际文化交流中心
  14. YESSAT
  15. Beijing Kentrexs Enterprise Ltd. 樱知叶教育集团
  16. Keystone Summer Archway 北京市鼎石暑期学校
  17. Prestige Education Centre 北京慧德嘉源教育咨询有限公司
  18. Diligence & Delight Learning Center (DDC) 天乐勤教育
  19. 51camp 营天下

Children’s Activity Area Sponsors

  1. BIBS 青苗国际学校
  2. Huijia Private School 北京市私立汇佳学校
  3. Ivy Education Group 艾毅教育机构
  4. Clubmed 地中海俱乐部

Avoid unnecessary queuing by registering ahead of time for this free event (click here).

The 2017 BISE will be held on February 18-19, 2017 from 10am-4pm at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town. Find out more information about the event here.

How To: Polar Express Party

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Our family waited eight months for our shipment, which finally arrived last week. I decided to throw a little party for all our new friends and kids. (Exactly one week after the movers dumped 50 boxes on us) It seemed like a bright idea, and as I looked through all our boxes, it dawned on me that the last party we had was eight months ago when we celebrated our daughters third birthday and our farewell party all in one go. I am a bit like Martha Stewart,I love parties and turning my house into a home. So eight months was too long ago.

After watching the “Polar Express” in the summer, in a bid to cool down. I was committed to having a “Polar Express” party in our new home with our old things. My daughter could not have been more exited and wanted to change the theme to “Paw Patrol.” But I did not give in, as this is not her birthday. I also secretly already made a “Polar Express” Pinterest board.

This is a last minute party, thrown together with things that I already had in the house, a trip to Jinkelong supermarket, and Jenny Lou’s. In each store, I try to source some thing, like cool straws, paper plates and muffin cases. These things don’t go bad and can be transported across the globe like I just did.

A simple step by step guide to a painless last minute kids party

1.Invite Parents and Kids to the Party

This is very easy by creating a WeChat group and sending a pin with your location. Always invite extra people. You don’t want to end up with an empty party as families are prone to cancel due to unforeseen emergencies, last minute sickness, pollution bombs or any other kids related tragedies.

2. Make a Menu

Don’t try to make food you never cooked before. This is asking for a disaster. Just find the cookie cutters that are appropriate for the theme of the party and cut all the food in cute shapes.

This is was menu for the “Polar Express” party:

Tree Cheese Bites, Movie Popcorn, Star Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Oat Muffins, Fruit Salad (for the healthy parent, nobody will eat it and ill use it for smoothies the next day!)

Hot Chocolate Bar with toppings like, whipped cream, mini marshmallows and sprinkles

3. Plan and Activity

It does not have to be complicated. See above, decking your hot chocolate, for the kids.

4. Get your Groceries and Supplies.

Make a list and check it twice. Go out and get them. Making sure you have a mask and grocery bags.

5. Cook the Food

Make sure to cook in advance, this is the key to everything. Bake and cook everything the night before and do the finishing touches in the morning. I put food in serving bowls so we just have to remove the plastic film.

6. Go the Extra Mile

Be that mother who goes the extra mile (or not) and creates a something cute for the kids that goes together with the theme of the party. I decided to make some “golden” train tickets and some red bracelets with bells. this took me half an hour.

7. Party

Get ready to have your home trashed by kids, and enjoy the smiles on their chocolate covered faces. They are only small once, and creating memories is essential to a happy childhood.

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for Beijing Kids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

 

DIY Pollution Stopper

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Ever since I got my Laser Egg in 2015, I’ve been a little obsessed with the pollution levels inside my apartment. When we moved to our current apartment over the summer I was thrilled to see that on a “good” day of between 100-200, the Laser Egg would routinely read 4-16 US AQI in all rooms of our apartment. I was not thrilled to see that my living room filters struggled to keep up when it got above 200 outside. After some investigation with the Laser Egg, I found leaks at both patio doors and the main apartment door. We sealed the living room patio door with packing tape, but we need to access the kitchen patio on a regular basis, so sealing it for the winter wasn’t an option. I ended up putting a towel across the threshold to cut down on the pollution. It helped quite a bit. Until today we have been putting a long towel down to block the airflow of the front door, but it gets moved easily and is difficult to fit snugly against the door.

My family is visiting us and in the midst of reorganization projects, I realized that I had a long amount of spare fabric from an unfortunate purchase at Muxiyuan. My mother-in-law helped me measure and plan out a draft stopper. We measured the fabric against the door and decided to make it 3-4 cm wider than the door on both sides. Then we folded it over and tried to determine how big we wanted it once it was filled with rice. I measured it and marked the fabric down the length of it to make a guide-line for sewing. Folded, it was about 10 cm from the fold to the guide-line, making it roughly 20 cm in circumference. My MIL then put a few tack stitches in down the length of the fabric so it wouldn’t come unfolded at the tailors. The kitchen door one was a bit tricky, but we managed to get one to the right length after leaving about 2.5 cm length in extra fabric to allow us to sew.

I explained to my ayi what we wanted done, and she went off to the market to buy rice and have the tailor sew it. Our intention was to fill it and sew it shut when she got back, but she came back it was completely done. We put them in front of the doors and put the Laser egg down to test. I’m pretty pleased with the results!

 

I don’t remember how much I paid for the fabric years ago, but the sewing was 5 RMB and the rice was around 30 RMB for enough to fill both tubes. Well worth the cost as I’m currently typing this in an apartment with 37 US AQI when it is 420 outside!

For those less craftily minded, Taobao finally has a draft blocker available. Search in English for “Twin Draft Guard dust door stop” and there are several options that come up. They are only 90 cm wide, so it wouldn’t have worked as well for my door that is about a meter wide.

Beijing Unmasked: How to Protect Yourself Against Beijing’s Pollution

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I was planning to take my children out to watch a play last weekend until I saw the news via The Beijinger: “Red Alert Declared for Beijing’s Air, Dec 16-20.”

Crap. Here we go again, I thought to myself. Pollution isn’t uncommon in the capital, but a “red alert” announcement was. Worried even more than usual, I decided to cancel our playdates.

The general rule of thumb is to NOT let the AQI (Air Quality Level) go beyond 50 while at home. My air purifier will go on full blast if I see the AQI level on my egg approach 100, which is the maximum for what is considered as “healthy” for my kids. (If you’d like to understand this more, click here.)

Based on the new regulations, a “Red Alert” status means one of three things. The first is that the AQI level will reach over 200 for at least 4 days. The second is when the AQI level is above 300 for two days in a row. The third is if it becomes higher than 500 over any 24-hour period. It is definitely the second, and not just for two days in a row. (Update: I just read earlier today from Shanghai Expat Official that some places reached 1000 yesterday.)

As I shared in in a past Nihao Beijing post, living in Beijing has its perks as well. But the white wall of Particulate Matter (a.k.a. PM) reels in that traveler in me. So on those high AQI days, the kids and I stay at home.

Unfortunately, hiding within the four corners of my home isn’t enough. One needs defenses against the wretched white fog. Two must-haves for all Beijing homes are air purifiers and the Laser Egg.

Blue Air is the most popular choice for those who can afford and are willing to shell out a few thousand RMB’s. The much, much cheaper alternative, Xiaomi, is currently being hounded by allegations of failing quality inspection according to The Waijiao. Simply put, there’s a hefty price tag on clean air here in Beijing.

The Laser egg is an air pollution meter device invented by former Beijing expats (take note: former). Some expats I’ve spoken to carry their egg (as it is fondly called) around everywhere just to see what exactly they’re breathing in. It is small enough to be held in one hand but might not fit into a lady’s purse. It’s quite reliable, and one of the things I will definitely bring home with me when I move back.

laser egg
One of the rare days my egg reached single digit without the help of an air purifier.

For cab-goers like myself, the state-owned Shouqi Yueche cab service has their own purifiers. As you might have already expected, they also cost a bit more than your average Beijing taxi.

Oh wait, let’s not forget the masks. It’s very hard to find masks for very young children, and experts generally discourage newborns and very young toddlers from using masks for risk of suffocation. An interesting new air purifier that is now on Kickstarter is the Wynd, which describes itself as “the smartest air purifier for your personal space”. From the looks of it, it’s as high as your typical Starbucks insulated mug cup (the taller one anyway) which means it can be easily inserted in, say, a baby pram, or even put alongside your egg.

For kids three and up, there’s a mask called the Coco Koala Respirator. It comes in two colors, blue and pink, and size #2 is for kids 3-7 years old. The one I just got (which I see many expats sharing online) is the one that cost RMB 198. By the way, there’s a RMB 10 shipping fee. Again, breathing clean air is quite the commodity here.

Adult masks vary, but the trick is to find one that suits your needs (and is really tight enough that it actually covers your nose and your mouth). There are the disposable ones like 3M, the fashionista ones like Vogmask, and there are the cloth ones that really don’t do much. My husband prefers the disposable ones for hygienic reasons, but I see quite a lot of people in my neighborhood using the pricier Vogmask nowadays.

Parents will also often exchange information on which places have air purifiers and which don’t. Not many malls have air purifiers, so in my opinion staying home is still the better option.

For this same reason, many parents whose schools do not have air purifiers will be asked to keep their children at home. For this particular red alert, schools were closed in certain districts. Fortunately, most international schools had just started the holiday break, which means the kids don’t have to go to school anyway. My daughter’s school has air purifiers as well, but I chose to just keep her at home. So though my daughter knows pollution is bad, she finds that it oftentimes works in her favor.

I’d like to end this post by saying that it’s not always this polluted. Though rarer now, we’re not perpetually in a warzone-like state. But for the days like today, you need to get your anti-pollution gear ready. For your health’s sake, put your air purifiers on full blast until the pollution finally dissipates.

Beijing Pollution

This post originally appeared on Bringing Up the Parks.

A Visit from Saint Nicholas (Beijing Mix)

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With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore. And my colleagues. And Santa. And, erm, everybody.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Beijing
Nothing was different, not one little thing.
The cars sat in traffic, all tooting their hooters,
And alarms beeped out from the rows of parked scooters.
The smog it hung heavy, the AQI soared,
And in our apartment the kids were all bored.
But they hung up their stockings by the air con flue
In the hope that Saint Nick would visit their xiaoqu.
We finally got them all snug in their beds,
With visions of iPads filling their heads,
And at last the wife and I sat down to watch
A movie from Netflix (with a large glass of scotch),
When outside the window there came such a clatter
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
And out on the ring road, though stuck in first gear,
Was a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer!
But Saint Nick was stressed, yes, Santa was pouting
And even from here I could hear he was shouting:
“No Dasher, watch out, there’s a bus cutting in!
Oh Dancer, be careful, just look what you trod in!
That woman just stepped in the road right in front of us!
That bike with no lights is headed straight for us!”
I knew that if Santa Claus couldn’t move faster
His whole Christmas schedule would come to disaster
So I fired up my laptop and called on, of course,
Beijing’s essential international family resource.
There was only one hope of preventing this fuss:
It was down to the beijingkids team to save Christmas.
And out from his grotto, before things could fester
Came that funny old man with a beard, called Mike Wester.
He sized up the problem, saw it was worrying,
Called on his minions, and brought them all scurrying:
“Now, Vanessa! now, Nimo! now, Pauline and Annie!
On, Aliyah! on Jasmin! on, Ruth, Kyle and Andy!”
The beijingkids elves were not fazed by pollution;
Vanessa told Santa she knew the solution.
“From this gridlocked highway we’ll help get your sleigh off
(‘Cause even though it’s Christmas, we don’t need a day off)
But there’s only one way to bring gifts in this city-
What we need here is a red-nosed kuaidi.”
So the kuaidi came rattling along on his trike
And delivered the presents, as quick as you like.
And I thanked beijingkids, always meeting our needs,
And away they all flew like cottonwood seeds.
But I heard them exclaim, ere they drifted from sight,
“HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!”

 

Photo: Michael Coghlan, via Flickr

Helping Children Connect: Forest School in Beijing

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Parents can meet schools that provide additional educational needs help like the Forest School at the 7th Annual Beijing International School Expo (BISE). The 2017 BISE will be held on February 18-19, 2017 from 10am-4pm at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town. Find out more information about the event here.

When I was young we lived in a house with a forest behind it. Let me clarify: my brothers and I would open the garden gate to the forest! I never knew how lucky I was until I lived with my toddler and husband in London with no forest in sight.

I took her to Forest School playgroups in parks to do the things my brothers and I would do so many years ago in the forest behind our home. I watched with wonder how she played with sticks and leaves. It’s hard to find sticks and leaves in Beijing parks so she treasures them like they are family. Yes, she pretends sticks are her brothers and sisters. (I wonder if she is trying to tell me something.)

Karen Killeen is a Learning Support Teacher at Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing)  北京耀中国际学校, and we asked her what Forest School means.

She explained,“Forest School is a methodology. It started in Scandinavia in the ’70s, and now there are lots of kindergartens in Europe where children spend all day outside, learning and discovering. It is gaining popularity in the UK and many primary schools have access to a Forest School area which they use. It’s about using nature, or the ‘forest’ as your classroom and your resources. Playing outdoors supports physiological development in children and connecting with nature supports positive emotional well being.”

 

Killeen has been running Forest School programs for seven years. She started in the UK running a French Forest School.

“Kids remembered the words much easier because they could recall what they were doing and where they were at the time they learned the word. This boosted kids’ self-confidence and self-esteem which is all linked in to positive emotional well-being. This in turn increases resilience and is something kids can draw upon when faced with other challenges back in the classroom when they’re presented with a difficult task.”

Killeen just completed a 12 week program where she takes six YCIS students outside in Honglingjin Park for two and a half hours per week. The activities she designs encourage teamwork, motivation, self-regulation, empathy, communication, and self-awareness. The kids climb trees, build little houses, watch birds, have bug hunts, and create things using natural resources.

 

High AQI days means sometimes they are forced to stay inside, so Killeen has taught the kids to sew, and they have made bookmarks and purses. She also takes out hammers, and they make pictures with nails.

Killeen explained to me that many children don’t walk through woodland and walk around parks. “My students tell me that they spend most of their time out of school either doing more academic work or inside on screens.”

This is why my daughter and I try to find sticks whenever the AQI lets us, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for Beijing Kids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.


The End of an Era: Goodbye to Counting Sheep

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Long time Beijing expats will be sad to hear that Counting Sheep, which evolved out of the once popular secondhand shop, NU2YU, has closed down.

We reached out to Karen Patterson, one of the original co-founders of the boutique, and Eyee Hsu, who joined together with her business partner, Michelle Hemsin, to purchase Counting Sheep.

First, a bit of history of how Counting Sheep came from NU2YU. Patterson says, “I started NU2YU Baby Shop with a friend in 2005, out of a need for expats in Beijing.” Before WeChat, expats needed a way to sell their stuff whether downsizing or leaving Beijing, and there were customers who wanted or needed quality brand names but couldn’t buy them in Beijing.

“The closest port was Hong Kong and not everyone wanted to fly to Hong Kong to buy a stroller or Babybjorn,” she laughed.

The business was modeled after a successful chain in North America called Once Upon A Child. “I believe that we were the first and only gently used baby stuff store in China. However, we weren’t allowed to sell used clothing, but everything else was fine. We did manage to sell used clothing, just didn’t advertise it.”

Patterson adds, “It was a labor of love, but it quickly caught on and with no competition or direct competitors, and it took off.”

Counting Sheep started out of customer demand. “A funny thing happened, customers began to order certain items that I couldn’t find locally, so I would start bringing in items from Hong Kong and then it sort of grew.”

The item that inspired it all was the Tripptrapp chair made by Stokke in Norway. Patterson’s friend in the airline business would bring one to three chairs every month. “I would buy them from him and then sell them to customers in Beijing who were dying for one of these chairs. It worked. I then was entertaining the Stokke rep from Hong Kong in Beijing and talking being a distributor. However, he wouldn’t let me sell new Tripptrapp or other Stokke items unless I opened a new boutique, since it couldn’t be sold to a second hand shop. So, Counting Sheep was born!”

NU2YU remained as the only secondhand shop for a time alongside of Counting Sheep, which had a handful of competitors. “This was until a very generous woman from Scotland opened a charity shop, plain and simple, no profit, but she would accept donations and send to orphans around the country. This pretty much killed my business model for NU2YU Baby Shop. So, I shut down NU2YU and just focused on Counting Sheep.”

Patterson pointed out that Counting Sheep had a good six years of business with Hsu and Hemsin. My partner Carline Van Tilburg, who came on in 2008, sold to them in the summer of 2010. Patterson reminisces, “I visited the flag ship store just before it opened in Nov 2012, in the big swanky shopping mall, Indigo, and I felt really proud at that time.”

“We decided to sell and not close because we had a loyal customer base, and we had put so much time into that we really wanted to find a buyer and not just close. When you close, you lose what you have built up, and we felt that someone, somewhere would want to buy it, and so our name and brand would continue.”

“We interviewed and were approached by several parties, even the competition, to buy us, and we decided that the best fit was [Hsu] and [Hemsin]. They had been customers of ours earlier, so it was the right time, right place, right fit.”

“[Hemsin] is a long time entrepreneur in China, and so she picked up Counting Sheep pretty much for the same reasons that I started it, which was to serve a certain community in Beijing (and herself as she was a new mom, as was Hsu),” she added.

Patterson doesn’t think Michelle or Hsu had mismanaged the business in any way, “But more that it possibly indicates a change of the Internet. We struggled a little bit with that just before selling, such as many Chinese customers would come to our store to ‘see’ the product, but then buy somewhere else on line. We were constantly changing our prices compared to Taobao.”

Hsu echoed this when we spoke with her about their reasons for closing.

“We knew that customers were coming in to try on the product in the store, but then would turn around and find a better price on Taobao. But we focused on what Taobao couldn’t offer, a mission to focus on the customer, a very Western approach to the business model,” Hsu said. “Our customers knew that if there was ever a problem, we would resolve it immediately.”

But over the years, even Taobao retailers have needed to differentiate and focus on customer service, as feedback is public and returns for no reason are allowed within seven days.

“We also decided to go through the official channels of procuring products and abiding by the price controls set by distributors,” Hsu added. “We thought about getting into online shops, but we just decided that wasn’t for us. Maybe that was a mistake, but it’s a different ballgame. It’s impersonal.”

Another factor of the boutique closing was the raise in rent and they typical mall contract cycle.

“Often you’ll find that stores that open with the mall, which often become really the cornerstone and the draw of a mall, they’ll close down when rent prices are raised. But then the atmosphere of the mall is totally changed,” Hsu noted.

“I imagine soon only food and beverage and service businesses will be able to survive in a mall with online shops so swiftly undercutting boutique and store prices.”

Hsu and Hemsin initially wanted to use Counting Sheep for much more than just a boutique. “We wanted to offer classes and services, but we were limited because of the cost of rental space. We were bootstrapping this on our own; we paid out of our own pockets. We were encouraged to look for investors and others approached us about franchising, but we really looked at this more as a hobby, and it’s hard to stay up to date about the most innovative baby product when your children are eight and nine years old.”

Hsu added, “I remember [Parker] and [Van Tilburg] saying the same when we were closing on the deal, that their children had grown, and they weren’t in the baby stage anymore.”

Though Hemsin will be staying in Beijing to focus on Boda (to our knowledge), Hsu will be moving back to the US next year, and has already finished taping her last episodes hosting the popular CCTV NEWS show, Crossover. “We’re looking forward to taking a break and exploring the next chapter in our lives. We will be relocating to a location where we can focus on family and an active lifestyle (and fresh air!) before taking on the next professional challenge.”

Photos: beijingkids

Sand and Snow: Dump winter slumps by swimming and skiing under bluer skies

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Ever wondered where to go for the perfect winter break, action-packed, and fun-filled for kids and parents alike? Check out this year’s deals at locations only a short flight away from Beijing.

HARBIN
Famous for its ice sculptures and skating on the frozen river, Harbin is also a convenient place to go skiing from Beijing.
Where to stay?
Club Med, Yabuli: 200km from Harbin city is Yabuli ski resort, the largest ski resort in China. Club Med Yabuli does a great family package deal with activities including Nordic walking, flying trapeze and yoga as well as use of facilities such as the spa by beauty brand L’OCCITANE.
DEAL: The package (including accommodation, open gourmet food and bar, ski passes and lessons, evening entertainment, and kids activities, including activities like making craft masks, cooking pizza, playing group games, and kids ski lessons) starts from around RMB 5,700 per person for 5 days in December. Skip the January peak season for better prices in 2017.
Getting There
Flights are only 2 hours from Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), or you can take the Beijing-Harbin High-speed Railway (6-7 hours).

JAPAN
Japan is home to some of the most famous ski resorts in Asia, and boasts high quality powder snow, which has earned Japan an international reputation among skiers and boarders alike. There are over 500 resorts to choose from, featuring luxury hotels, onsen hot springs (the perfect post-ski pastime!), lively restaurants, and friendly locals. The most renowned resorts are located in the north of Japan, on the island of Hokkaido. Family-friendly packages are often discounted at early-bird prices, and there is plenty to do – most of these resorts have a variety of activities such as sledding and play zones for young children, some even with childcare rooms, as well as activities for adults aside from snowboarding and skiing.
Where to go?
Niseko is known internationally and has been voted the best overall resort in Japan by the powderhounds.com. Sub-arctic Siberian winds mixed with the warmer Sea of Japan create the perfect climate for regular, light powder snowfall throughout the whole winter, and the view of nearby Mount Yotei, a dormant volcano, and the Shiribetsu River also make it the perfect destination for photographers. This resort is also one of the few places in Japan that offer top-quality off-trail skiing. These areas are accessible through special gates and guided tours – helicopter tours even allow you to ski off-piste on the volcano Yotei!
Niseko is made up of three main resort areas and an all-inclusive ski pass allows you to access all of the slopes on the mountain (Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri).
DEAL: A 5-day pass for peak season (December 10, 2016 – March 20, 2017) is approximately RMB 1,470/880 for adults/children.
Grand Hirafu is the largest of the resorts at Niseko, and is adjacent to the town Hirafu at the foot of the mountain. Here is the most popular place for night skiing, as well as having a Snow School, Snow Park for children, and hiking tours available around the snowy slopes. This resort also has a Kids Room where parents can safely leave their children to be cared for while parents zip around.
Hotel Niseko Alpen, Grand Hirafu: this simple hotel is only a short walk away from the main Hirafu ski lift, the perfect location for making the most of your skiing experience. Guests can choose from Japanese-style with tatami mats or Western-style rooms with beds, or a mixed style combining the best of both worlds.
DEAL: Prices start from RMB 400 per person per night including breakfast, access to hot springs and a perfect location for skiing.
AYA Niseko: newly opening in December 2016 is the AYA Niseko, a ski-in ski-out serviced apartment complex right at the bottom of the slopes. For those looking for a more independent holiday, this may be the perfect option. Guests are able to enjoy services such as the yoga room, natural onsen hot springs, art gallery, kid’s club and ski school as well as 24-hour reception.
DEAL: Rates start at around RMB 1,000 per person per night for a 47sqm Studio in January.
Hilton, Hokkaido: there are also many other resorts in the surrounding area. For those looking for a more luxurious stay, look at the Hilton branch in Hokkaido. Ski-in/ski-out access, a fitness centre, golf course, and hot air ballooning are only a couple of examples of the amazing amenities. Crowned Japan’s Best Ski Hotel by the World Ski Awards (2013, 2014 and 2015), there isn’t much that beats the location or view of the ‘sea of clouds’ blanketing Mount Yotei from the Hilton. Expect spectacular panoramic views of the slopes, and top quality hospitality.
DEAL: December rates start from ~ RMB 1,800 per room per night for 2 adults and 1 child in a King Deluxe Family Suite.

Club Med also provides a relaxing stay, offering horse-rides, hot springs and various activities for kids as off-slope pastimes.
DEAL:  December is peak season, but discounts are available for February/March 2017.

Getting There
Flights go from BCIA to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport. Resorts will run shuttle buses with around 2.5 hours travel time, and most packages will have the option to include airport transfers.

CAMBODIA

Why Cambodia? The majestic temples, phenomenal food and perfect climate to get away from the Beijing cold are only a few reasons to visit this beautiful country. November to February is the best time to go – the weather is relatively dry and the temperature is ideal for either lounging by the pool or wandering around the temples. Whilst it is therefore busy at this time of the year, there are still plenty of family deals for you to enjoy. Travel in the first week of December or late January to avoid peak airline fares and tourist crowds. Optimum weather continues in February so Chinese New Year is still a perfect time to travel! Here are a few options for a spacious but well-located base from which to explore Siem Reap.
Where to stay?
De Sarann Villa: for those looking for a unique family experience at great value and in one of the most beautiful cities, this boutique villa complex may be the perfect fit. Family suites and tailored tour guides are available on request.
DEAL: Rates start at RMB 2,000 per night for a Royal Family Suite Villa (with Private Pool), 3 persons, December 2016 to January 2017.

HanumanAlaya Villas: the Hanuman travel group has set up a beautiful, spacious and perfectly located holiday spot. The villas are only a short walk or tuk-tuk ride away from the major sights, yet set in a quiet and private environment. Whilst areas like the Old Market and other tourist spots may be heaving in peak season, nearby areas such as Wat Bo or along the river near the villas are more relaxing yet beautiful places to explore. The HanumanAlaya Villa complex also works with its sister company, Hanuman Tourism, to bring reliable guides and well-organized tours of Cambodia to its guests. Tickets and tours can be arranged through the resort this way, which saves parents the stress of finding all activities themselves whilst taking care of children. The space available in these villas is ideal for families, and the perfect oasis in the busy city for children to relax and enjoy their holiday.
DEAL:  The Pool View Suite is recommended, fitted with 2 queen-size beds and a balcony. Rates for a Deluxe Suite Room start at RMB 1,580 for December 2016 to January 2017.
Getting There
As there are no direct flights to Siem Reap from Beijing, plan at least a day for travel, maybe two, depending on your family’s constitution and organizational ability. Stopover options include Kunming, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou. If you can’t make a day of the layover, we suggest Hong Kong International for its views, Hongqiao in Shanghai for the children’s rest area, and Seoul Incheon for the many free perks, from shower areas, massage chairs, transit tours, to rest lounges.

SANYA
The closest tropical resort to Beijing, Sanya is located on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. With beautiful beaches and an abundance of water-sports and resorts to enjoy, Sanya is very well known as an ideal holiday getaway from the mainland. Yalong Bay in particular is popular due to the large concentration of luxury hotels – almost all international 5-star brands will have a branch there. However, this does mean the beach can get crowded in places – it is recommended to find somewhere with a private pool as another option, or a spacious villa complex in which a family can have more privacy instead of having to mix with tourist crowds. Some families also rent apartments nearby other beaches, perfect for social family gatherings.
Where to stay?
The Mandarin Oriental, the international luxury 5-star brand, combines “contemporary design with laid-back beach chic” in Sanya.  This hotel consciously caters for families. Their services include the CoCo Kids Club and they provide any complimentary amenities you may need such as baby cots, highchairs, bottles and sterilisers, as well as kids’ bathroom items including bathrobes and slippers, available on request. There is a range of rooms, suites and villas with sea views or private pools to choose from, as well as extensive dining and spa facilities.
DEAL:  Rates start from RMB 1,550, with complimentary round-trip transfers for villa guests.

A luxurious gem on the Yalong Bay PGA International Golf Course, the Grand Metropark Resort Sanya is a spacious villa complex ideal for families and large groups. They have spacious villas and activities for all ages, from a playground and kids club for the younger ones to (non-motorized) water-sports, hot tub and a private beach for teenagers and adults to enjoy.
December rates start from RMB 800 for a Deluxe Room per night for 2 adults, and approximately RMB 2,500 for a Deluxe 2-Villa Bedroom per night including tax and service fees (4 adults).

Getting There
Deals on the four hour flights from Beijing to Sanya dip to a low RMB 540 (one way), but cost per person is typically in the RMB 2,000 – 4,000 ranges. Train sleepers range from RMB 850 – 2,900, but the trip isn’t for the faint of heart or the easily bored child, as the wheels keep turning for an astonishing 39 hours.

11 Beijing Events: Peter Pan’s Adventure Island and More

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Did you know we have a family events WeChat group? Join two hundred other internationally-minded families for the latest information on what’s going on in Beijing. Send an email to editor@beijing-kids.com with your WeChat id or add vanessajencks on WeChat. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are cancelled or scheduled as planned.

Unique 
Peter Pan’s Adventure Island, Dec 17 to Dec 31 
All ages. Chidren’s drama Peter Pan’s Adventure Island has premiered in Beijing in an immersive theatrical format. The play, with art direction by renowned Broadway producer Randy Weiner, is the latest work by a team of Broadway veterans. RMB 580 (1 person), RMB 880 (2 people), RMB 1280 (3 people). 10.30am-3pm. Xie Dao Dui Cun Resort (蟹岛度假村).

New Years Eve Dinner at Bistrot B, Dec 31 
All ages. Kick things up a notch with dinner at Rosewood Beijing’s Bistrot B, where they will be serving a five-course fine dining menu, including Alaskan king crab salad, duo of Australian wagyu beef, and Bûche de Noël. RMB 920, RMB 1,380 (with wine pairing). 6.30-10.30pm. Bistrot B.

Immortal Valley Loop Hike, Dec 31 
Adults. Join the Beijing Hikers on their New Years Eve hike through the Immortal Valley. This hike is intense so may not be for the average sunny day hiker. RMB 380 (non-members), RMB 340 (members). 8.30am-6pm. The Great Wall (Immortal Valley Loop).

Sunset Hike Over Huanghuacheng, Dec 31
Adults. The Bejing Hikers will also be hosting a sunset hike over Huanghuacheng. This hike is a bit of a challenge, so perfect for those looking for a little bit more intensity in their hike. RMB 420 (non-members), RMB 380 (members). 11am-4pm. The Great Wall (Huanghuacheng).

Sound of Veinna: Beijing New Year Concert 2017, Dec 31 
All ages. In 1992, New Year concerts began in China. Since then, people in Beijing are used to celebrating New Year in festive orchestral atmosphere with Strauss music. Listen to the exciting sounds of Austrian Strauss Legacy Philharmonic Orchestra as they play some of their most beautiful melodies. Prices range from RMB 120 to RMB1680. 7.30pm. The Great Hall of the People.

Gubeikou Great Wall Loop, Jan 1
Ages 12+. The Bejing Hikers will also be going on a hike to Gubeikou on the Great Wall. Bring your hiking shoes and gear for a wonderful afternoon with great scenery and even better company. RMB 450 (RMB 405 for members, RMB 200 for under 12’s). 9.30am-4pm. The Great Wall.

New Years Day Brunch at Bistrot B, January 1 
All ages. Kick things up a notch with dinner at Rosewood Beijing’s Bistrot B, where they will be serving a five-course fine dining menu, including Alaskan king crab salad, duo of Australian wagyu beef, and Bûche de Noël. RMB 920, RMB 1,380 (with wine pairing). 6.30-10.30pm. Bistrot B.

Best of Next Week

Safari Song Time, Jan 6
Ages 3-18 months. All babies – from the quietest to the most vocal – love singing and rhymes! Every Friday a group will host a Safari Song Time at the Bookworm to take your little one on a fun safari as he/she learns songs and rhymes from around the world, that you can also practice at home. RMB 60. 10.30-11.30am. The Bookworm.

Legally Blonde: The Musical, Jan 12 and Jan 14
All ages. This January, the Yew Chung International School of Beijing will wow audiences with a performance of the critically acclaimed show: “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” Featuring students from across their Secondary School, this fun and upbeat production will have you clapping and singing along! Free. 7.30pm (Thursday, Jan 12), 2pm and 7.30pm (Saturday, Jan 14). YCIS Beijing Auditorium.

Chinese New Year Workshops: Surrealism, Jan 23 to Jan 30
Ages 5-12. Through exploring surrealist techniques such as collages, exquisite corpses, 3D works, etching, automatic writing and drawing students will discover new artists such as Magritte, Dali,  De Chirico, Escher, Ernst and their impressive and imaginative art works. RMB 1,800 (RMB 1,500 for both Atelier’s students and who registered before the 10th of January). 10am-Noon (5-8 years old), 1:30-4:00pm (8-12 years old). Atelier Art School.

Chinese New Year Workshops: Modern Revolution, Jan 30 to Feb 3
Ages 5 – 12. Students will learn about the Modern Revolution, a period during the 19th century when many artists started to make art about people, places, or ideas that interested them, and of which they had direct experience. Challenging the notion that art must realistically depict the world, some artists experimented with the expressive use of color, non-traditional materials, and new techniques and mediums. RMB 1,800 (RMB 1,500 for both Atelier’s students and who registered before the 15th of January). Atelier Art School.

And Just Like That, I’m That Brat Again

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As I was collecting my old things in my parents’ study room, I happened to venture to a far corner where papers and some plastic envelopes were gathering dust. Out of curiosity I opened the envelopes and discovered that my old papers weren’t absolutely gone, after all.

And as my eyes scanned the words and my lips turned upwards as I recalled the stories, I was instantly transported to a time when being self-centric was a privilege we children took very lightly.

And oh how the stories I found went on and on! The first that I found was a conversation between my two friends and I as we passed around a sheet of paper we Filipinos call the “intermediate pad”. Though the sheet itself was a letter kept between us three, the names mentioned are in code, and so it makes me wonder now who in the world it was we called Ferrari and who the other characters in our pass-the-paper conversation really are.

And next up were some letters in the bag of trash that had yet to be thrown out. One was from my neighbor and the other is from an old best friend. How random and fun to be suddenly transported to a time we were the children, we were the ones who had parents worrying about us all the time and having crushes was still the norm?

And oh I, my stories! I actually got to find one! Back when there was no internet and before Windows existed, we had those old computers where the keyboard letters were so high that every press came out quite loud. Oh, how I loved writing on those! There were none of the distractions we have today. No double-checking my grammar, no going on Google to make sure that my phrases were all correct. I can still remember reading magazines then and writing the names of the different types of clothing and different types of cars and different types of whatever it was I needed for my next story in a notebook. I would refer to said notebook from time to time whenever I needed help with details. I really had a thing for details back then!

Here’s the first page of one of my stories then entitled “Happy Grove High.”

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I wrote this during those days when my generation and I adored Sweet Valley novels! Oh, I remember wishing I were more like Jessica, but knew I probably leaned more to Elizabeth’s character.

I can’t help but look back and think of those days fondly. Suddenly, I’m back to being that brat that irritated a few teachers. Suddenly, I was the kid my mom was so frustrated at because I preferred to write and play basketball—not your typical characteristics or expectations of a local Chinese-Filipino girl. Suddenly, I’m a little girl still living in the present without a care in the world.

It is such a blessing to find something I thought I had lost. 🙂

This post originally appeared on Jackie Park’s blog Bringing Up the Parks.

A Dutch Delicacy From Beijing

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There are a lot of things I miss here in Beijing, decent skincare, “normal” toilets, and my friends and family of course. But MOST of all I miss my home cuisine, and the ingredients that are easy to buy in Western supermarkets. I wanted to recreate some foods that my family in Beijing miss, share my recipes, and where to get the ingredients. If you see a blonde lady on a bike with a toddler and bags of groceries, that’s me, on the hunt for little pieces of home.

This time I searched for a true Dutch delicacy, stammpot (mash pot). This is a traditional Dutch dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables, literally mashed together. The Dutch eat it with brown gravy, sausage, and sometimes bacon. I decided to cook my favorite variation: boerenkool stammpot (farmer’s cabbage, kale). Boerenkool stammpot is the ultimate comfort food. Dutch people ate kale long before it got hip in the rest of the world. Its our staple vegetable.

In the Netherlands, prepared stammpot can be bought in supermarkets and at the butcher. Kale and other stammpot vegetables are found cut and washed in bags at the grocery store, especially in the winter. An array of smoked sausages can be found anywhere in The Netherlands (never sweet like in Beijing) but always nice and salty. I think the best smoked sausage in the Netherlands comes from Hema, my favorite department store when I visit home. My first job as a 14-year old girl was at Hema department store. I worked behind the meat counter and at the end of the night, we would eat all the left over warm smoked sausage.

In search for kale I found a lady at the Sanyuanli market who sells fresh kale. One day she asked what I was doing with all this kale, and I explained to her, with hand and feet that I mash it up in potatoes. When she sees me, she points at the kale and laughs.

I found a Dutchman in China who sells authentic smoked sausage and brings the  taste of Dutch comfort food to China. Smoked sausage can be found on his online store http://www.dutchysnacks.com/

Boerenkool Stammpot can be prepared two ways: one way is to put the kale in a big pot with peeled potatoes on the top or underneath the kale, cook both until tender and mash them together. The other way is cooking the kale and potatoes separate then when both are cooked mash them together. I prefer the last one, since the kale and potatoes need different cooking times. Half of the Netherlands will disagree with my recipe, but try it and you will see that the kale will taste so much better not cooked to death.

 

Boerenkool Stammpot

1/2 kilo Kale

1 kilo Potatoes

250 grams bacon sliced into cubes

50 grams butter

50 ml warm milk

Salt and pepper to taste

  1. Clean the kale. Trim the leaves and cut them.
  2. Peel and cut the potatoes to similar sizes.
  3. Boil the potatoes in water with salt until tender. Drain the water.
  4. Mash the potatoes with the milk and butter.
  5. In another pot render the bacon and remove from the pot, leave the bacon fat.
  6. In the bacon fat sauté the kale till tender, about 10 minutes.
  7. Fold together the mashed potatoes, kale, bacon and then heat up together.
  8. Serve with smoked sausage and brown gravy.

 

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for Beijing Kids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

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