Ellis Pugh
Ellis Pugh has been a resident of England, Wales, Hong Kong and most recently Beijing before heading back to England to attend university at Durham. He will be reporting regularly on life in college for beijing-kids.
The Melting Pot: How much should cultures mix?
The opportunity of living in a world away from the familiar comforts of home, engaging with an alternative culture and picking up the most spoken language in the world are among the main reasons why expatriates decide to make the move to Beijing. Whether or not we achieve these aims when we arrive, however, is a rather different matter. Living in foreign-dominated compounds, hanging out with a circle of expat friends and the difficulties of learning a new language means that foreigners don’t integrate as well as they would like. A group of students from Beijing City International School discuss the pros and cons of integration.
I Want to be a Kung Fu Master
Dropped off on the bus to the Shaolin temple in Henan by his father (himself a kung fu teacher) at the tender age of 8, Xie Qingtuan became a 32nd generation Shaolin Martial Monk, former member of the acclaimed Shaolin international performance team and a First Grade National Athlete. After leaving the temple to study physical
education at Beijing Sports University, he now teaches kung fu to over 100 students at a number of international schools in Beijing. He is currently working on setting up his own Kung Fu club for international school students aged 6-14 in Beijing in order to share his passion. Xie wowed the students at Dulwich College Beijing with some spectacular moves and answered questions on Chinese kung fu, life in the temple and the real reason why Shaolin monks are all bald.
Digging for Dinosaurs
Professor Xu Xing is a bit of an enigma. The world-famous paleontologist has contributed to naming no less than 27 dinosaur species (including the famous Microraptor, Gigantoraptor and the Guanlong genus), has won awards from the Chinese National Excellent Youth Fund and the National 100 Excellent Ph.D. Dissertations, and has had his papers published in globally renowned journals such as Nature – all before the age of 40. Yet the Xinjiang native credits his best discoveries to sheer luck.
Life after Exams: What happens when high school ends?
Another summer of exam results have come and gone, and for a select few of Beijing's international student body it’s time to swap the comforts of school for the challenges of college. But is university always the right choice? What about going straight into the work force, or getting life experience during a gap year? And are exam results really the be all and end all? beijingkids looks to the future with students from St Paul American School.
Effie Harker, US, 17, has lived in Beijing for seven months
Beijing Buzz
Two-for-one at The Spa
beijingkids readers can enjoy two-for-one treatments at The Spa in the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, daily between 10am-3pm. Simply bring a copy of the October issue of this magazine, or present this ad to receive your free spa treatment. Valid Oct 1-31, 2009. For details and conditions, call 5812 8888 ext 8560. Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, 8 Wangfujing East St, Dongcheng, Beijing.
Pumpkin Carving at the Hilton
On Nov 1, from noon to 3pm, carve pumpkins, win prizes and get goodies for trick-or-treating! Included Fizztastic Champagne Brunch. RMB 368+15% (kids under 12 half price, under 6 eat for free). For reservations, call Hilton Beijing Wangfujing at 5812 8888 ext 8411 or e-mail wangfujing@hilton.com
Life after Exams
Another summer of exam results have come and gone, and for a select few of Beijing’s international student body it’s time to swap the comforts of school for the challenges of college. But is university always the right choice? What about going straight into the work force, or getting life experience during a gap year? And are exam results really the be all and end all? beijingkids looks to the future with students from St Paul American School.
Family Travels
Trekking in Thailand
The Travellers: Jens and Cordula Von Greunigen with their daughters Hanna (4) and Luise (14 months).
The Destination: Koh Samui, Thailand
The Plan: The Von Gruenigens wanted a relaxing seaside holiday with a dash of excitement, so they chose Thailand because of its pristine beaches and delicious food. While in Koh Samui, they stayed at the Thai House Beach Resort, approximately 30 minutes from Koh Samui airport. At the resort, they swam in the children’s pool and lounged in the Jacuzzi, but the Von Greunigens made sure they spent plenty of time away from their hotel. With a taste for adventure, they packed in elephant trekking, road trips around the island in their rental jeep, and plenty of beachside fun.
The Truth About Getting Old(er)
It’s been a while since I wrote my last college confidential, and if I’m completely honest, I wasn’t sure if I would ever write one again. Depressing maybe, but also wholly logical for three very good reasons. First, over the past two years my life and Beijing have been steadily going their separate ways. My family has just relocated back to the UK after a formidable five-year stint in the capital, and without a family to visit or the money to fund it, my trips to Beijing are set to become increasingly less frequent. Second, and more importantly, in approximately eight months I will no longer be a university student. Gulp. But the third and final reason requires a little more explanation.
Tiantan Park
Tiantan Park, also known as the Temple of Heaven, was completed in 1420 AD. Its distinctive circular pagoda makes it one of Beijing’s most recognizable tourist attractions, after the Great Wall and Forbidden City. Located about 6km south of the city center, it has an area of 2,700,000 sqm - significantly larger than the Forbidden City but smaller than the Summer Palace. It may originally have been a place of sacrifice for good harvests, but now the park and its immediate environment (which includes Hongqiao market and Toy City) offer a tranquil day away from the hustle and bustle of central Beijing. Alongside the austere Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests – famously built without a single nail or screw – this itinerary also incorporates the more lighthearted echo wall, jewlery and toy markets and a chance to see some of Beijing’s expert public performers in action.
