Literary Madness
Book lovers, you’re in luck! This month, the Bookworm Literary Festival runs from March 7-21 and the Capital Literary Festival from March 16-23. Both lineups include workshops and talks with authors of children’s and young adult books. For the full list of events, check out www.bookwormfestival.com and www.m-restaurantgroup.com/capitalm.
International Women’s Day
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8) is “Equality for Women Is Progress for All.” The event draws attention to the economic, social, and political accomplishments – and struggles – of women worldwide. The Bookworm will have special events centered on IWD and the feminist movement. If you are interested in joining a local women’s organization, look up VIVA, 85Broads, or Lean In Beijing.
Sky’s the Limit
Kite flying is a traditional activity associated with the arrival of spring.
Stop and Smell the Cherry Blossoms
Starting from the last week of March, the 26th annual Yuyuantan Park Cherry Blossom Festival will mark the arrival of spring. Every year, locals turn out in droves to sit under the blossoming red, pink, and white cherry trees – from Japan with love.
Birds of a Feather
Beijing boasts more than 450 species of birds thanks to its status as a major stop on avian migration routes. Birding enthusiast Terry Townshend takes us to Olympic Forest Park for an introduction to the art of spotting these diverse creatures.
Open Season
Some of you will have attended the beijingkids and JingKids Spring School Choice Fair on March 1-2 to find out more about Beijing’s education options. If not, several international schools – including WAB, Harrow, and YCIS Beijing – are holding open houses this month for prospective students and their families.
Reap What You Sow
Intimidated by gardening? Don’t think you have enough space in your apartment? Think again. Even urban dwellers can grow a basic vegetable garden.
Hit the Trail, Jack
Shake off those winter blues with an out-of-town hiking trip to the Great Wall and beyond. If you would like some guidance, look up hiking clubs like Beijing Hikers, China Travellers, Dandelion Hiking, and the Beijing Outdoor Adventure Club.
Respect Your Elders
Tomb Sweeping Festival, also known as Qingming Jie (清明节), falls on April 5 and is a time to pay one’s respects to departed family members. Observances include only serving cold dishes, sweeping and decorating an ancestor’s tomb, making offerings of food and flowers, strolling in the countryside to celebrate the arrival of spring, and flying kites.
Become a Locavore
Language barriers can make it hard to figure out those strange-looking fruits and vegetables at your local supermarket. Wonder no more – we put together a guide to Beijing’s seasonal calendar, complete with pictures and translations.
Want your family-friendly event to appear in our next issue?
Upload it at www.beijing-kids.com/events by March 10.
Photos: Flickr user Wonderlane, TW Chang; Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; Rolands Lakis
This article originally appeared on p12-13 of the beijingkids March 2014 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com
