10 Great Things to Do This Month
1 Take a Ride on Line 5
Finally, a quick and easy way to traverse the city from north to south! Opened officially on October 7, Beijing Subway Line 5 passes through 22 stops across five city districts, including many cultural and commercial areas such as Tiantan, Chongwenmen, Wangfujing, Dongdan and Dongsi. Transfer stations are at Chongwenmen, Dongdan, Lama Temple and Lishui Qiao stations, making it easy to change trains between Lines 1, 2 and 13. Jump on the train and head in any direction in Beijing: Now you’ll save time, trouble and money. English translations and pinyin signage for all subway stops. No English spoken at ticket counters.
2 Children’s Music Day
Come and join Kindermusik for a day of Children’s music. From guitars to guiros, you’ll hear it all! And there’ll be lots of other great family fun including games, making your own instruments and a storytelling corner featuring the talents of Kindermusik educator Barbara Menezes. Also not to be missed is the Children’s Specialty Products bazaar – table fees and raffle proceeds will be donated to local children’s charities – offering instruments, clothing, home baked products, some very hard-to-find children’s books and much more. Nov 11, noon-5pm, Canadian International School of Beijing. English spoken. Free. For more information see www.kmwithsarah.com.cn or www.kindermusik.com.
3 Break a Sweat in the Freezing Cold
There are always those few bone-chilling days in November, when it seems too cold to do anything to lift the spirits. And it’s at times like these that nothing works better than a steamy, spicy hot pot dinner! Gather the family around a pot of tasty soup and toss in fresh meats and veggies as it boils. If you’re worried that a big boiling pot isn’t safe for your toddler, head to Ding Ding Xiang, specializing in huo guo with individual cooking stations, so your little ones won’t burn their fingers. A meal for four usually costs RMB 300-500. English menus available. See Ding Ding Xiang in our directories under Family Dining (p62).
4 A Sweet Taste of Winter
Winter is rapidly approaching, but even though the splendor of autumn seems to be fading by the day, don’t get depressed! The coming cold only means it’s the season for tang hu lu. This famous Beijing snack not only tastes delicious, it also looks splendid against the grayness of winter: red hawthorn fruit dipped in melted sugar, leaving a shiny red glaze, then skewered along a bamboo stick. These tasty candies are also said to be good for your health: According to Chinese medical theory, the sour hawthorns can help with digestion and the sweet sugar soothes the stomach and liver. Also try different fruits like bananas, strawberries, oranges and grapes, and even chestnuts. Pass the long winter quickly with these enchanting little snacks. RMB 1-2 on average per skewer.
5 Stock up the Closet
It’s approaching that time of year to load up the drawers with gear you need to protect your little ones from another freezing Beijing winter. Stock up on stylish winter accessories such as footwear, gloves, hats and scarves (check out what winter accessories are in style this year in our Keep Warm, Stay Cool feature on p55), or get all you need to battle the cold weather in one shopping trip at Ito Yokado (see What’s Fun In: Xizhimen on p14). Get into the spirit of the season early by donating old clothes to NU2YU in the baby shop’s intake drive (see Events). Keep warm this winter and make shopping fun!
6 tbjkids.com Goes Live
After almost unbearable anticipation, the tbjkids website has finally gone live! For everything you and your family could possibly need in Beijing, expect in the coming weeks to be able to catch up on content from previous issues, including crafts for your kids, family-friendly travel destinations and insightful columns. Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Have a question about parenting in Beijing? Want to share a good tip? You’ll be sure to find someone who’s been there, done that, or is wondering how, on the Kids in Beijing forum from www.thebeijinger.com relocated here. Suggestions are welcome; e-mail them to simonfowler@tbjkids.com. Get online and see what’s happening at www.tbjkids.com.
7 Harvest Family Feast Thanksgiving
Environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall will be appearing at the Harvest Family Thanksgiving Feast in support of the Roots & Shoots Environmental Education Program in China. The evening will include cocktails, a charity raffle buffet dinner and a chance to hear Dr. Goodall. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available from The BookMark and Lohao City in Shunyi and The Bookworm and Beijing City International School in central Beijing. For more information contact Erika Helms at 6778 3115. English spoken. RMB 500 (one adult and one child), RMB 400 (one adult), RMB 200 (kids under 12). November 23, 5.30pm. JW Marriott Hotel, China Central Place, 89 Jianguo Lu
8 WAB Community Bazaar
Shopaholics rejoice! WAB’s annual PTA Charity Bazaar is the perfect chance to stock up on all those quirky little knick-knacks. With around 70 stalls run by locals, professionals and groups of students and teachers, you’ll find photographs, handicrafts and other potential holiday gifts. There’s also plenty of food! For more information e-mail pta-charitybazaar@wab.edu. English spoken. Free. November 24, 10.30am-3pm. Western Academy of Beijing Elementary School
9 Raising a Global Tribe Talk
Expert on expat life Robin Pascoe will be giving a presentation at Yew Chung International School. Robin has written four books on relocating to foreign countries and making the necessary adjustments. Her new book, Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World, details her experiences of packing up and moving with her family around the world, something that will resonate with many expats in Beijing. More information on Robin and her work is available at www.expatexpert.com. To register, e-mail Kasia at kasiab@bj.ycef.com by November 9. Free (space limited). November 13, 10-11.30am. Yew Chung International School Auditorium
10 tbjkids Pizza-Making Party
Come and join tbjkids for a fabulous pizza-making party at The Kro’s Nest. What interesting combinations will your kids come up with? A pie with no cheese and extra anchovies? Or perhaps pepperoni and carrot with chili peppers? Parents can sit back while kids craft pizzas to suit their own standards and tastes, or take part in the fun. E-mail marketing@tbjkids.com or call Nancy Ding at 5820 7700 ext 853 to reserve your spot! Individual places are available, or get a group of five together for your own table. Price TBD. Nov 17, time TBD. The Kro’s Nest, Inside Workers’ Stadium North Gate (next to Vics), Chaoyang District
