Simon Fowler
Casting Off
A nautical oasis near Beijing
As far as recreational activities are concerned, Beijing is a city that serves its expats well. But when Rick Pointon upped sticks and moved to Beijing from London, he was disheartened to find there was nowhere within commutable distance from the capital where he could indulge his passion for sailing. A committed mariner since his teens, Rick knew that there was plenty of suitable coastline but was frustrated to find none of it nearby was being utilized for sailing. So rather than waste hours on trains and planes going back and forth to Qingdao, he concocted a plan to build a sailing center of his own.
Engaging the Abstract
UCCA gives students a chance to go behind the scenes
Sometimes it slips the mind that Beijing is home to one of the world’s most exciting contemporary art scenes. Places like 798 in Dashanzi and Shangyuan Village house work from both up-and-coming and established artists from across the globe, and these artists utilize varied media to offer a unique and dynamic view of life.
For Guy and Myriam Ullens, art collectors with over 1,500 works and a particular interest in Chinese art, there was a need to create a platform from which the best of modern Chinese art could be presented to the public. Thus, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) was founded in November of 2007 to present exhibitions of emerging and established artists, and to develop a trusted platform to share knowledge through education and research.
10 Great Things to Do in April
1 tbjkids Treasure Hunt
Avast, me mateys! tbjkids is calling all little pirates and salty treasure seekers for lunch and a park-wide treasure hunt at Ritan Park. If it’s a pirate’s life for you, then come eat, enjoy the sunshine, and play games to win gifts and other exciting prizes. Don’t worry, we won’t make you walk the plank! The fun takes place on Saturday, April 19. 11.30am-2.30pm. For families with kids ages 3-10, RMB 70 per person. Tickets are required. Space is limited to the first 100 children that sign up before Wednesday, April 16. For more information, contact Nancy Ding at 5820 7700 ext 853 or e-mail marketing@tbjkids.com.
Panjiayuan
Hidden treasures in Beijing’s favorite antique market
For five days a week, Panjiayuan is a sleepy shopping spot with a handful of calligraphy stalls and jewelry stores dotted around the perimeter of a forgotten square. But come the break of dawn on Saturday until early Sunday evening, people arrive from all corners of China, it seems, and head to this famous marketplace to pore over its curios and obscure objects of desire. You can easily spend a day sifting your way through the trinkets and “antiques,” and get a glimpse into one of Beijing’s oldest and best-known cornerstones.
Catching the Copycats
Problems with plagiarism in the digital age
Tugsoo Enthtaiven from Mongolia is in Grade 10
American Anthena Zhu is in Grade 9
Tom Zeng is from China and in Grade 9
South African Nebrashka Veltman is in Grade 10
The Internet is perhaps the greatest resource for information available to children and is an essential part of their education, but with this wealth of information comes the temptation to attribute other people’s hard work as their own. Plagiarism is rife at all levels of the education system, and with increased pressure to get good grades and secure placement at a good university, the temptation will most likely only continue. tbjkids sat down with four students from the Beijing City International School to talk about their feelings on Internet cheats, the pressure of deadlines and the importance of your own ideas.
Multiple Identities
Defining Nationality in an International Community
Sameena Hakimi is 13 years old and Afghani-American
Sydney Struack, 17, is German but was born in Australia
Nanami Hasegawa is 15 years old and from Japan
Markus Tsang, a citizen of Canada, is 16 years old and from Hong Kong
Living in the international community in Beijing is like having the world at your doorstep. You can be exposed to a multitude of different languages and cultures, and a single household may accommodate three or four different national backgrounds. But what does this mean for kids growing up here? tbjkids gathered together four students from the Canadian International School to discuss national identity, what it’s like to live in Beijing, and where in the world they want to be in the future.
10 Great Things to Do This December
1) tbjkids Meet Santa
Santa Claus is coming to Beijing on Dec 9! In a pre-Christmas visit, Santa will join tbjkids for a day of family fun at Le Cool Ice Skating Rink at the China World Shopping Mall. Enjoy a complimentary sandwich and cup of hot chocolate after a swirl on the rink. Plus, all kids will receive gifts! RMB 50 per person for 90 minutes of skating (includes skate rental). Ages 3 and up. Tickets are required and limited to the first 160 people that sign up before Dec 6. Event starts at 11am. Call Nancy Ding at 5820 7700 ext 853 or e-mail marketing@tbjkids.com to reserve a spot.
Hit the Slopes at Qiaobo Snow Dome
Experience Beijing’s first and only indoor ski resort
Ski season: It’s coming. The freezing winds and low temperatures will soon force the water vapor in the high reaches of the atmosphere to freeze, condense and fall onto the rolling hills of Beijing’s ski resorts. The lifts will start running, and revelers will come in droves and queue up to take nosedives into mounds of soft, white, powdery snow. But before you dig those salopettes out of the closet and head for your nearest ski resort, it might be best to fine-tune your skills in a more controlled environment, and the perfect place to do so is Qiaobo Snow Dome.
The Spirit of Giving
A thin line between commercial and considerate
As Christmas trees and decorations begin to adorn the most unlikely of places around Beijing this yuletide, it does beg the question: Has the commercialization of the holiday season gotten out of hand? Debate Club decided to sit down with four lower sixth students from Harrow International School Beijing to discover their feelings on gift-giving, generosity and Scarlett Johansson.
Playing the Part with Katrina MacGuire
Getting students at Dulwich College in touch with their dramatic side
Katrina MacGuire was encouraged to take up drama by her mother as a way of overcoming her shyness and stepping out of the shadows of her eight brothers and sisters. Having taught for four years at a drama college in England, Katrina sought out a new challenge and eventually found her way to Dulwich College in Beijing. tbjkids sat down and talked to Katrina about her love for shopping, dumplings, and why she still hasn’t gotten around to taking Chinese lessons.
Where are you from?
I’m from Blackpool in England. Before coming to Beijing, I spent four years in Doncaster at a drama college. It was quite different from what we have at Dulwich because we had seven drama teachers, and now it’s just me.
