beijing-kids.com - Beijing's essential expat family resource

Getting it Right the First Time

beijingkids — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0800

I came across an article in The Australian that made my heart turn into flowery, romantic mush. It was about first loves reuniting after years and lives apart. Whether it was 20, 40 or even 60 years since they’d last seen each other, the couples all spoke about how lucky they were to have a second chance at first love.

beijingkids January-February 2009

beijingkids — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:14:28 +0800

beijingkids 2009 Best Family Eats Hits the Stands

Dine out all year long with beijingkids! This month we bring you the city’s 54 best restaurants for families. Our team of reviewers rated restaurants on everything from whether the aisles are stroller-friendly and if they have playrooms to whether the non-smoking sections are really non-smoking.

Separation Anxiety

beijingkids — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:44:15 +0800

I recently returned from a six-week sojourn in the States, where I was caring for my ailing mother. This time was the longest I’ve ever spent apart from my young family.

Stateside was, as you can imagine, gloomy. Aside from a few long weeks spent in the hospital, my time there was overshadowed by news of the recession. I found my main solace in talking with my wife via cheap trans-Pacific phone cards and Skype video. Being able to call home at just about any time was a real boon, though I still missed my family.

Have Sex, Save Money

beijingkids — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:53:00 +0800

A recent survey conducted by charity organization YouGov found sex to be Britons’ most popular free past time. In this time of economic doom and gloom, sex ranked above window shopping and gossiping as the best way to while away the penniless hours. Without sounding smug, I think I could’ve told you that and saved the researchers the trouble of interviewing 2,000 Brits.

Not only is sex good for your wallet, it’s apparently good for your health too. The general rule is that sex gives your heart a good work out, but an article in Forbes online had a biological shopping list of benefits. Sex is good for everything from keeping colds at bay to reducing depression and improving your sense of smell.

Counting Down in the Capital

beijingkids — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:00:00 +0800

The blowout bash that is Chinese New Year doesn’t occur until the end of January, but don’t be fooled into believing that December 31st is just an ordinary night in Beijing.

This city’s clubs, hotels and restaurants certainly know how to lay out a multi-course spread and throw a great party. To bring in the New Year in Asian style, head to Huang Ting at the Peninsula Hotel, where for RMB 588 (adults) or RMB 288 (kids), families can enjoy an eight-course set dinner accompanied by the musical delights of a traditional Chinese ensemble. Guests are invited to Jing Restaurant, also within the hotel, for after-dinner dancing and the countdown to midnight.