Ho-ho-no… Beijing has issued a second red-alert bad air warning, this time lasting for four days, taking effect from tomorrow Saturday December 19 at 7am through until midnight on Tuesday December 22.
School Closures
Expat children attending international schools may have already begun their winter holidays, but those attending local schools will be unexpectedly home with their parents early next week. The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education has called for all schools to close on Monday and Tuesday. Just like last time, they’ve instructed teachers to issue homework so that at-home learning can continue on those days. Schools must also provide in-school supervision for children who are unable to remain at home due to parental work commitments.
Entertaining the Troops
Whether or which your kids are on holidays, or home-schooling next week, there’s an entire four-day period to get through with them cooped up indoors. Here’s our pick of indoor events and activities, Dec 19-22.
Farm to Neighbors’ Christmas Market
When: Dec 19-20, 12-6pm
Where: Fat Dragon Cafeteria on the B1 floor of The Grand Summit in Liangmaqiao
All ages. A two-day Christmas Market in Liangmaqiao. Alongside more than 50 vendors selling food, drink, and handmade gifts, there’ll also be workshops where you can make a unique gift. There’s even an onsite gift wrapping service for purchases made at the market.
Gingerbread House How-To with Chef Grace
When: Dec 19-29, 4pm
Where: Domain @ EAST Beijing
All ages. Join this weekly class and build a gingerbread house with a pre-prepared kit including walls, roof pieces, frosting, handmade sugar candy Santa, Christmas trees, snowmen decorations, and an assortment of candy. Take home kit RMB 160. Workshop (including kit) RMB 220.
Children’s Theater with A Short Long
When: Dec 19, 10am and 3pm; Dec 20, 10am
Where: Drum Tower West Theater
Ages 18-months to 7. Specifically created for children, and taking the artwork of Russian Abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky as it’s inspiration, this dance performance and workshop invites the audience to create stories and forms from abstract elements such as geometric shapes and lines in play with their own bodies. RMB 150.
Cookie Decorating at Capital M
When: Dec 19-20, 11:30am to 12:30pm
Where: Capital M
All ages. Decorate delicious gingerbread cookies during brunch service. Open to all children who are having brunch with their family at the restaurant.
English Language Phantom of the Opera
When: Dec 18-Jan 3, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Where: Tianqiao Theater
All ages. Although it’s a pricy option, there are still tickets available for matinee shows this weekend, and evening shows next week. RMB 790-1,330.
Star Trek: The Exhibition
When: Dec 12-Feb 22, 10am-10pm
Where: The Place
All ages. It may not be the sci-fi franchise everyone is talking about right now, but The Place is exhibiting the largest collection of authentic Star Trek artifacts ever put on public display, featuring sets, costumes, priceless museum pieces and props from all five Star Trek television series and 11 Star Trek feature films, including the 2009 blockbuster film directed by J.J. Abrams. Not sure how filtered the air will be! RMB 100 per person; RMB 220 for groups of three.
Photos: Courtesy of Wikimedia commons, pixabay.com, Farm to Neighbors, Domain @ EAST Hotel Beijing, Feitong Yiban Theater Company.
