China.org: Will Smith in Beijing for Kung Fu Kid
"Oscar-nominated American actor Will Smith was spotted in Beijing on Wednesday with his wife and children. But this time, he was not the biggest star. Smith was escorting Jaden, his 11-year-old son, to meet the crew of the upcoming Sino-American film "Kung Fu Kid", which will feature the award-winning child actor, Sohu.com reported. The Smiths also met with Jackie Chan, who will play Jaden’s mentor. Will Smith will play the antagonist and is also one of the film’s producers."
NY Times: Beijing’s Violin Mecca
"Violin fever has hit this drab rural township with hundreds of residents, young and old, picking up the bow as Donggaocun tries to position itself as the string instrument capital of China. Once known primarily for its abundant peach harvest, the town, about an hour’s drive from downtown Beijing, has become one of the world’s most prodigious manufacturers of inexpensive cellos, violas, violins and double basses. Last year the town’s 9 factories and 150 small workshops made 250,000 instruments, most of them ending up in the hands of students in the United States, Britain and Germany."
Cctv.com: Free Heart Screening
"Beijing will screen children under the age of six living in the municipality for congenital heart disease. Those with household registration in Beijing can enjoy the service free of charge. All suspected patients are entitled to the “green passage” medical service arranged by Beijing Municipal Health Bureau."
Wanderlust and Lipstick: Househunting in Beijing
"In the midst of these front-page stories, my family embarked on its long-awaited house-hunting trip to Beijing. While our daughter’s new school is located in the suburbs, we had initially fantasized about living in the city; however, as reality set in, we reconsidered. First, we thought about our daughter’s new schedule: Beijing school days are long – our four-year will be in class from 8:30 to 3:15 every day except Wednesday. Second, friends and acquaintances warned that Beijing’s legendary traffic meant her commute from the center could take up to an hour each way. And so – not for the first time – we resigned ourselves to suburban life."
echinacities.com: Is it Time for Adoption Reform in China?
"China has led the world in the number of babies, particularly girls, adopted internationally over the past 10 years. As an expat, I have often seen couples with their newly adopted baby girls, a nervous bundle of formula, diapers, burp cloths and toys, pushing strollers, looking wide eyed and a bit bewildered as they navigated the streets of Beijing, rushed to catch flights back home, or showed up at the local coffee shop desperate for a much needed latte. In China and America, these babies are considered the lucky ones. And while in adoption circles most of those in the know will caution prospective adoptive parents as seeing adoption as a way of “saving” a child, there is no doubt that these kids will grow up with something they lacked before: a home, a family. Right?"
