The Xing family is a family of five. Dad Ming, Mom Mia, 27-year-old Mirabel, 18-year-old Isabel, and 17-year-old Annabel. The family is originally from Qingdao, Shandong but Isabel and Annabel were born in and raised in Canada. The family’s favorite thing to do together is to travel and before Covid-19 put a damper on things, the Xing family has traveled to over 30 countries together. Ming and Mia believe that traveling creates priceless learning opportunities for their daughters to develop and grow.
The three sisters’ favorite thing to do in Beijing is visiting cool coffee shops located in the hutongs. Coffee shops in Beijing have great ambiance, so our moods tend to be lifted when we stay in them. The beauty in many of them is also how they are hidden in small hutongs; we feel like we’re exploring secret parts of the city!
Mirabel, Isabel, and Annabel’s favorite thing about their parents is how unconditionally loving they are. Dad is adventurous and open-minded, while mom is giving and affectionate. They are both super family-oriented and view their daughters as their greatest treasures.
What Ming and Mia love about their daughters is how they each shine in their unique ways. Outspoken and charismatic, Mirabel is always the star of the show. Isabel is passionate and free-spirited; she is capable of influencing others with her inner strength. Annabel is the only introverted one; she is sensitive and caring towards everyone.
One of the sisters’ favorite brunch spots in Beijing is The Rug. With a nice and cozy atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to go on a lazy Sunday morning. There is a variety of delicious food options available to suit all sorts of cravings; from the classic eggs benedict to fusion dishes like the mapo tofu tortilla chips.
Ming and Mia’s favorite restaurant in Beijing is Peking Chamber. It is famous for its’ delicious Beijing cuisine and is always packed with people.
Isabel and Annabel’s favorite memory in Beijing is working as teacher assistants at Tsinghua University’s English summer camp in 2018. Every day, they experienced on-campus life and enjoyed biking through campus. Helping the top students in China with English was an honor for them; they learned from the impressive work ethic students there had. What’s best is, they also made meaningful friendships.
This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 March issue
