June, 2010

1. Happy Fathers' Day
Make Sunday, June 20 a special day for Dad with scrumptious food at one of Beijing's finest brunches. Choose from dim sum at Shangri-La's Kerry Centre Hotel, snow crab and champagne at Westin Financial Street, a wine buffet at Hilton Beijing, an outdoor Great Wall barbecue at The Roadhouse and more.

2. Make a Splash
The Beijing heat can be sweltering, but don't let this take the fun out of summer. Careen down water slides, wade in pools, float on water tubes, and lounge in hot tubs - it's the number one way to cool off. Try Tuanjiehu Park  with its waterslides and lap pools, or visit Crab Island for the mock beach experience.

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How fondly I remember that day one year ago when I cavalierly said to my wife Savvy, "I'll do it." How hard could it be to figure out Reina's education options and choose a school? We're talking about kindergartens. It's not like picking a university, right? Foolish, foolish Baba.

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With the 2008 melamine milk powder scandal still fresh in our minds, many Beijing residents prefer to purchase foreign-brand products. The trouble is they're often hard to find and come with sizeable price tags. Unfortunately, we're left to choose between skimping on quality to save a buck or paying large sums for imported goods. Luckily the ease of online shopping means your favorite brands can be delivered straight to your door at prices that won't break the bank.

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The idea of having another child had been on the cards for sometime, so last summer, while on holiday in Europe, my husband and I decided to expand our family. I have survived two relatively easy pregnancies in Australia. How different could it be in China?

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What happens when an NGO collaborates with a community sports organization? You get Football for Life, a soccer program that trains, educates and inspires some of Beijing's poorest students. CAI has a long history of providing educational services to migrant children in schools across the capital - courses focuse primarily on the arts, including photography, drama and music, as well as basic physical education. What they were lacking was exactly what ClubFootball (CF) specializes in: professional coaching that teaches children more than just a sport. In the autumn of 2009, the two organizations came together to establish Football for Life (FFL), now a thriving soccer program that has already touched the lives of hundreds of children.beijingkids spoke with Judy Shen, the founder of CAI, and Keith Bradbury, the general manager of CF, to find out more about the "beautiful game" and why it's more than just a sport.

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The Travelers
Keith Westberg, his wife Kathryn and their twin son and daughter, Kyle and Kelly (8).

The Plan
The Westbergs booked their trip through Tripadvisor.com, in addition to making lots of Skype calls to South Africa. They flew with United Airlines from Beijing to Johannesburg via Singapore, then flew South African Airways to Hoedspruit. The total travel time was 21 hours. Kwa Mbili Reserve, located just outside Kruger National Park (safaris@kwambili.com), is a short 30-minute drive away from the Hoedspruit airport and airport pick-up can be arranged.

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The Travelers
Ron Cune, his wife Tina Zheng, their son Tymo (3) and daughter Miya (almost 2).

The Plan
The family won a two-person trip to Bali at a charity auction. With part of their trip covered, the total out-of-pocket cost was RMB 20,000. Additional tickets, hotel reservations and airport pick-up were arranged by MTMC travel agency. They stayed at Waka Gangga and The Kayana and flew with Korean Air and Garuda Air. (For more information, contact Paula Cao from MTMC at 6510 2010 ext. 810 or paula.cao@mtmc-china.com.)

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11. Fundazzle
Fundazzle makes young kids squeal with delight, while it makes their parents wince (because it smells of feet), then gasp (at the size of the plastic-ball-filled pool) and finally sigh (as they realize that for a few precious hours, the furniture in their home is safe). This cavernous, indoor playground has a huge two-story jungle gym, trampolines and a toddler area with small cars, swings, seesaws, toy houses and so on.

RMB 30 (kids); adults free (Mon-Fri), RMB 15 (Sat-Sun). Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun and holidays 9am-7pm.
Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6593 6208) 朝阳区工体南路

12. Horse Riding The Asgard Horsemanship Club near Shunyi is run by husband-and-wife team Daisy and Ren Yake. In addition to stables, Asgard features a soccer field, children's playground, a fishing and duck pond, petting zoo and a fruit orchard. Accommodation is available for RMB 300 a night.

RMB 380 for a 45-minute single lesson. Memberships available for RMB 2,400 (10 sessions), RMB 6,600 (30 sessions) and RMB 9,800 (50 sessions). Tue-Sun 7am-7pm. Shunhuang Lu (just west of Danshui Restaurant), Chaoyang District (8459 5908); 亚萨园乡村俱乐部.朝阳区顺黄路淡水餐厅西边

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Boracay, Philippines

The Best Part
The kids probably won't care which particular patch of sand they're playing in, but parents will enjoy exploring the beaches around this beautiful island, especially Pukka, which is less frequented by tourists than the world-famous White Beach. We recommend hiring a boat to go snorkeling. If you're lucky, the little ones will eventually fall asleep and you'll be able to have some mom-and-dad snorkel time. The boat crews will be more than happy to watch over your kids.

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1. Goose 'n Duck Ranch
 Better suited for younger kids than teens, the ranch's activities include swimming, archery, horseback riding, fishing, soccer, basketball, badminton, softball and paintball. You can stay for a day or spend the entire weekend in one of the cabins. Shuttle buses depart from Goose 'n' Duck Pub. Single-day packages (RMB 260, half price for kids 4-12) include food, beverages and round-trip transportation; two-day packages (RMB 600, half price for kids ages 4-12, free for kids under 4) include the above, plus accommodation. Dogs are welcome. Reservations are required.

Daily 24hrs. Huairou Beizhai, Huairou District (6067 1097)                                            www.gdclub.net.cn 鹅和鸭, 怀柔区北寨

2. Star Trooper Laser Tag
Indulge your trigger-happy children in a very trippy atmosphere. This is a great option for birthdays or large groups (kids must be taller than 1.3m). Each game lasts 15 minutes. Groups of six or more can rent the entire venue for RMB 1,680 per hour. Pizza delivery is available.

RMB 40 (first game), RMB 30 (additional games). Wed-Fri 2-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8pm. B1, 316 Wangjing Xiyuan Sanqu, Chaoyang District (6475 8329, info@startrooper.net) www.startrooper.net 朝阳区望京西园三区316号楼，地下一层

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The Travelers
Alex Key, and his wife Jacqueline Renee Cohen, their son Nathaniel (4) and daughter Saskia (3).

The Plan
The Cohens flew to Bangkok from Beijing via Hong Kong and then flew Bangkok Air to Koh Samui. Bangkok Air tickets are easy to book online, although they are expensive. When the kids are older, the family hopes to return, but travel by train or boat instead.

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Crab Island
The Crab Island resort reportedly sprawls over 1 million square meters. What's not in question is the wealth of family fun that if offers: a lake with paddle boats, fishing ponds, go-karting, grassland carting, a zoo, and an "organic" farm complete with egg picking. There are two amusement parks: one with a carousel and bumper cars, the other with a big playground, aqua bumper boats and a swinging boat. The zoo features ostriches, camels, llamas, bunnies, exotic birds and deer.

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Dali

This town in central Yunnan combines natural beauty with exotic local flavor. Dali has a striking physical location and an interesting history as a former capital. The Bai people have inhabited the area for thousands of years, and their cultural influence is immediately evident in the food and romantic legends of the region.
If your family is feeling adventurous, renting bikes is a great way to explore the area and avoid the tour buses. Since the town is small, it's no hard task to navigate its thin, cobblestone roads and ancient walls. Its small-town charm has attracted a fair-sized foreign community, which means that decent Western cuisine such as pizza, coffee and pancakes can easily be found. History aficionados will find the Dali museum and its three main pagodas particularly interesting, while hikers can explore Mt. Cangshan - an exquisite mountain famous for strange cloud formations. The nearby Erhai Lake, one of the seven largest lakes in China, is surrounded by tiny villages.

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Inner Mongolia

The trek to Inner Mongolia may lead some travelers to question whether or not they are still in China. The flowing grasslands and desert expanses of this exotic land are a far cry from Beijing, and the capital city Hohhot offers exposure to mystic traditions and delicious cuisine. While organized tours are available in and around Hohhot, families with older children may want to visit more remote towns and villages. Spend a night in a traditional nomadic yurt and visit the mausoleum of Genghis Khan. Culture-seekers can soak up traditional Mongolian singing and dancing, while adventurers can try horse and camel riding. Due to the normally harsh climate in this part of the country, visiting between June and September is recommended.

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Countryside Daytrip: Italian by
The Great Wall
Where: Mutianyu
Age: 3 and up
Cost: RMB 800-1,000 for family of four (includes parking, tickets, lunch)
Time: 5-8 hours
Transportation: Car
Good to know: Not pram-friendly. Parking is no problem.
Address: The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu. Daily 7-10am, 3-5pm. Mutianyu Village (see website for detailed directions), Huairou District 怀柔区慕田峪 (具体路线请查看网站信息)
Contact: 6162 6506, www.theschoolhouseatmutianyu.com

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Summer in Beijing has it all: sunny days, pretty parks, hidden villages and if you know where to look, a swimming pool or two. We took the hard work out of planning holiday activities so your kids will stay entertained all summer. Check out our easy reference chart designed to help you plan the perfect hot weather day. 

City Day Trip: Picnic at the Zoo
Where: Beijing Zoo and Aquarium
Age: 1 and up
Cost: Beijing Zoo: Apr-Oct: RMB 15, RMB 8 (students). Nov-Mar: RMB 10, RMB 5 (students), free (kids under 1.2m). RMB 5 for Panda House.
Beijing Aquarium: RMB 120 (includes zoo), RMB 60 (kids under 18), free (kids under 1.2m).
Time: 4-8 hours
Transportation: Taxi or car
Subway: Line 4, Beijing Zoo station
Good to know: Pram-friendly. Clean, modern toilets.

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Soft-baked chocolate chip cookies are hard to come by in the capital, probably because ovens are not a standard household item in Beijing. Nevertheless, Lin Zhong, founder and CEO of The Fig Tree, remains undeterred in her quest to bring the craft of European baking to Beijing residents. The Fig Tree is a pastry school specializing in Western treats, the first of its kind in Beijing. It is a unique spot where families can spend an interactive day together in the kitchen.

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Summer is upon us and days that begin covered in sweat are best spent getting wet. Tuanjiehu's water park, a glistening oasis of waterslides and fake sand beaches, is the best place to spend hot days. There's also a roller-skating rink, paddleboats, grassy lawns, and a brilliant population of koi fish waiting to fight over any crumbs you care to drop them. Outside the park, Tuanjiehu's boxy pink apartments and shady tree-linedstreets offer a great example of Beijing life. Family-run restaurants and small boutique shops are everywhere. Sitting on stoops in the scorching heat, shop owners chat amongst themselves or peer out from doorways to watch the stream of old men and their tiny dogs stroll by. Located within walking distance from Sanlitun, it's the perfect place to while away a lazy summer day.

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Like most natural therapies, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is eyed with caution by many people. For the uninitiated, TCM is a holistic medical practice incorporating multiple treatments with a simple philosophy: Your body and mind are directly affected by your environment and vice versa.

Developed in China by scholars more than 2,000 years ago, TCM has been left behind in recent decades. The radical modernization of China has pushed TCM and its traditional practitioners into relative obscurity. Though many TCM doctors are currently practicing both in China and around the world, very few practice this complicated art as it was intended. A report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) found serious flaws in the teaching of TCM and concluded that current graduates were essentially unfit to practice. In addition, many Western studies have analyzed the effectiveness of TCM, particularly in relation to the placebo effect, and the overall results have not been good.

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This year, Beijingers only saw a sliver of spring and experienced the chill of a prolonged winter instead. Whether climate change is the culprit is debatable, but we can no longer deny that sea levels are rising, ice caps are melting, volcanoes are erupting and earthquakes are brewing. The students of Yew Chung International School of Beijing expressed their growing concern about climate change, why they think it is real and what developed countries can do to lessen their impact on our planet.

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Munkhzul Baatar
Where are you from?
Mongolia
How old are your children?
My daughter is 5 years old and my son is 1 year old.
How long have you been living in Beijing?
Two years
Where do you like to shop?
I like shopping at Yashow and Sanlitun Village. I like Uniqlo, Mango and ONLY.
Do you have a favorite spot in Beijing?
We like Chaoyang Park and Tuanjiehu Park.
Where is your outfit from?
My cardigan and jeans are from Vero Moda and my shoes are from Yashow.
Do you have plans for the summer?
We will go to Ulaan Batar in Mongolia.
Do you miss winter?
I like summer; the weather is nicer.

 

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After leaving her demanding position as an insurance actuary, Marina Sieh Ho is now a stay-at-home mom. Her two daughters, Sophia (6) and Allegra (3), keep her so busy that she barely has time to dry her hair in the morning, let alone apply any makeup. Brazilian-born Marina, who had never dyed her hair before, was convinced that adding a touch of color was a bad idea - until she met colorist to the stars, Cat from Salon Vajra. After a lengthy consultation she decided to give it a shot with amazing results. To cap off the day, Dragonfly Therapeutic Retreat generously supplied Marina with a 90-minute massage voucher.

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Daniel Eichelberger, 11, US
 

Vivian Lee, 12, Korea
 

Seulin Choi, 19, Korea
 

Angel Lin, 18, Taiwan
 

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That was one really, really long winter. The snowstorms, the freezing cold, the layers upon layers of movement-hindering long underwear. Now, finally, summer is here. Break out the barbecues and the swimsuits, please. And why not try for the perfect barbecue? I'm not talking about what usually happens, when you're rushing in and out of the kitchen, your hair half-done, the potatoes half-cooked for the salad, and the meat half-marinated. No. I'm talking about the fantasy kind where your guests arrive, you greet them, cold drink in hand, with hair so perfect a 1950s housewife would be impressed. A spread of salads and cold dishes are already laid out, and a platter of gourmet marinated meats is ready for grilling.

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