1 Wax Poetic About Mid-Autumn Festival
Falling this year on September 30, Mid-Autumn Festival or Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) is one of the most important festivals in China. The holiday’s most famous icons are mooncakes and the moon rabbit, but did you know that Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time for matchmaking? In some parts of China, dances are organized for young people to find partners. Girls throw their handkerchief into the crowd, and whoever returns it becomes her potential beau. For ideas on where to buy mooncakes and celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, see Events.
2 Score a Touchdown with NFLX
Fans of American football, rejoice! The NFL Experience (NFLX) is coming to Beijing for the first time on September 8, an event that coincides with the NFL’s kickoff weekend. Experience games, sponsor zones, flag football clinics, exhibition games with community teams, performances by the New England Patriots cheerleaders, and a special appearance by an NFL Hall of Fame inductee.
Free. 10am-7pm. Western Academy of Beijing, 10 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District (nfl.experience@momentumww.com) 朝阳区来广营东路10号北京京西国际学校
3 Lend Your Ear to An Evening of Madrigals
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, International Festival Chorus (IFC) is holding an outdoor musical performance on September 8 to raise money for charity. Taking place at the garden of the British Ambassador’s Residence, families with kids aged 12 and up are welcome to bring their own picnic and drinks. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Half the Sky, a charity that provides support for Chinese orphans.
RMB 300 (advance only). 5-9pm. British Ambassador’s Residence, 5 Guanghua Lu (east of Ritan Park South Gate), Chaoyang District (nicksmithbeijing@gmail.com) www.beijingifc.org 朝阳区光华路5号（日坛公园南门东侧）英国大使馆邸
4 Chill Out on Slow Food Saturday
Slow Food Saturday returns to Bohai Township for a third time! On September 22, foodies and locavores will gather for a smorgasbord of workshops, classes, talks, demonstrations, tastings, and more. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about local beekeeping, rainbow trout farming, traditional corn milling, noodle making, and more. Online registration can be done through Slow Food Saturday’s website from September 1 at 9am until September 21 at 5pm. Visit the official website at www.slowfoodsaturday.org for the latest updates.
5 Catch the Beijing International Triathlon
On September 16, our fair city will host its first-ever international triathlon in Qinglong Hu Park. Organized by IMG Worldwide and the Fengtai Sports Bureau of Beijing, the race consists of three sports (cycling, swimming, and running) across individual, relay, and paratriathlete events. Local and foreign participants will
compete for USD 100,000 in prize money. Join the excitement and cheer on world-class triathletes like Chris McCormack, Javier Gomez, Bevan Docherty, and more.
Free. 7.30am-1.30pm. Qinglong Hu Park, Fengtai District (beijingtri@imgworld.com) www.beijinginternationaltriathlon.com 丰台区青龙湖公园
6 Open Your Eyes at Beijing Design Week 2012
Is there a budding designer in your household? Spoil them with a trip to Beijing Design Week. From September 28 to October 6, you’ll find exhibitions, talks, forums, interactive displays, and pop-up shops relating to a variety of design fields: architecture, fashion, industrial design, urban planning, and more. For more information, visit www.bjdw.org.
7 Spread the Word about Rabies
September 28 marks World Rabies Day. In China, rabies is the leading fatal infectious disease; more than 95 percent of rabies infections are caused by dog bites. The good news is that rabies is 100 percent preventable. To raise awareness about this situation, ICVS is holding an educational seminar on September 29 and a vaccination drive for pets from September 28-30.
Free. 11am-noon (seminar), 8am-8pm (vaccination drive). International Center for Veterinary Services, 13-16 Rongke Ganlan Chengshang Jie, Futongxi Dajie,
Wangjing, Chaoyang District (8456 1939/40/41, icvs_china@yahoo.com)
朝阳区望京阜通西大街融科橄榄城商街13-16号
8 Turn Back Time at Fahai
Located in Shijingshan District, Fahai Temple is one of Beijing’s lesser-known attractions. This Ming Dynasty Buddhist temple sits at the foot of Cuiwei Shan and was completed during the reign of Emperor Zhengtong in 1443 AD. The site is notable for the extensive and well-preserved frescoes of Buddhist imagery. Peace, art, and living history – what more could you ask for? For a complete guide, check out Day Tripper.
9 Shopping Galore
This month’s issue is all about shopping, shopping, shopping! We scour Beijing for the best in children’s and teens’ clothing, baby products, maternity apparel, and birthday gifts. Can’t find it in stores? Learn how to navigate Taobao with our handy guide to online shopping. Put on your walking shoes, top up your wallet, and turn to Feature (p55) to start your retail adventure.
10 Watch the Seasons Change in Chongwenmen
September’s mellowing temperatures make this month the perfect time to revisit popular tourist sites like the Temple of Heaven or Tiantan (天坛). Huge and impeccably-manicured imperial gardens make for a charming day out; once you’re done, head out to the surrounding area to find lao Beijing eats, massive stroller-friendly sidewalks, ancient tree-lined hutongs, tucked-away shops, and so much more. To start your walking tour, flip to What’s Fun In.
This article is excerpted from beijingkids September 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
