Gabriel Monroe

Date Night: Patara
With the little ones tucked away for the night, sink into one of the wood and wicker booths against the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a warren of hutongs, and straddle the border between Beijing and Bangkok. As the lamps of lemongrass oil diffuse tropical fragrance throughout the dining room, a bottle of well-matched wine or a green mango margarita sets the tone for an evening of relaxation. With decorations, key ingredients, and most essentially, a chef imported from Thailand, this branch of the Bangkok-based Patara chain delivers an authentic Thai culinary experience. House specials like the lemongrass-marinated rack of New Zealand lamb with papaya salad (RMB 198), and the shelled crab claw in mild yellow curry (RMB 168) highlight an impressive menu offering skilled Thai interpretations of sumptuous ingredients. Finish off with Thai coffee and milk tea along with a choice of delectable desserts, such as the poached pear in coconut syrup (RMB 58). A plethora of set-meal options are available, including lunch (RMB 58, 88 and 158), supper (RMB 198), and ultra-deluxe (RMB 280-RMB 999/person). Gabriel Monroe

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The cloning of animals for purposes of medical research presents many difficult ethical and philosophical questions. Highly divisive debates swirl around the issue, sparking spirited debate in religious and governmental centers around the world. The discussion inevitably touches upon the very value of life and the laws of nature. Four students from Yew Chung International School of Beijing dauntlessly tackle some of the issue’s mind-bending controversies. Gabriel Monroe

Leopold Waldersee, 15, Germany, has lived in Beijing for four years

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Flight
China Eastern Airlines operates one daily flight aboard a 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 to Luzhou (泸州), Sichuan, which despite being in a separate province is just two hours away from Chishui by car. A wider and cheaper range of flights serves Chongqing, five hours away, and Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou - an arduous eight to ten hour drive away.

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Canadian James Aitken has been a news presenter at CCTV’s international channel, CCTV9, for the last four and a half years. Although he admits he was shy as a kid, Aitken grew up to become an award-winning broadcast journalist in his native Canada before bringing his smooth, earnest delivery across the Pacific. For almost 20 years now Aitken has presented and hosted for television and radio, as well as live stage events, always at home in front of the microphone. He answered questions from Grade 5 students at the Canadian International School of Beijing and reveals some of the perks, pitfalls and all of the hard work behind the authoritative face of the news.

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Spend 4 days in villas by the sea

 

 

When the blazing Beijing summer heat threatens to permanently melt your patience, just ask yourself “What would Mao do?”

 

 

He would do what you want to do - bust out to the beach. Relatively close to Beijing, Beidaihe is an oasis of sandy dandy fun in the sun, and has been a favorite getaway of China’s highest-ranking officials since the 1950s. These days Mao Zedong’s favorite beach resort is as jumpin’ as ever in the summer months. Boasting yellow sandy beaches, convenience, and a colorful history as the perfect picturesque retreat for backroom deals, Beidaihe is probably the most famous ocean resort town in China.

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Three-day-weekend at the Commune

 

 

Inspired by its majestic natural setting and the pertinacious engineering of the Great Wall itself, the Commune by the Great Wall is one of China’s most successful and distinctive architectural projects. The collection of 11 modern villas and a clubhouse (known as Walnut Valley) and the 31 villas (Rock Valley) were each designed by one of 12 prominent Asian architects. The structures convey a palpable sense of place and integrates seamlessly with its environment. Combining scenic drama with luxury and a chance to bask in an ambiance of architectural innovation, is the perfect weekend retreat. For those of us who think about paying for things like food and rent, however, a daytrip to tour the project – which is in effect a museum of modern architecture – is more feasible (RMB 120).

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Indo-Vietnamese French Alain and Corinne of Brittany, France met in Beijing and have been together for six years. Their daughter, Maelle, was born at Beijing’s Fuchan Hospital in late 2005, while their 21-month-old son, Yoann, was born during one of their summers in Brittany. After more than half a decade in Beijing, the family is always game for a Beijing adventure, whether long bike rides of exploration within the city, or excursions into the countryside. Here are their family favorites.
Want to share your Beijing favorites? E-mail editor@beijing-kids.com

Homesick Cure
If we want to eat something, we can make it. We go back home to France every year in the summer and sometimes to India during the winter. Also we like to get out of the big city into the countryside, or go to the sea. As Corinne is from Brittany, being by the sea is a great cure for homesickness.

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Can't Drown a Fish
Follow-up research confirms that “the earlier the better” rule holds true for starting children in swimming lessons. A study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine suggests that kids who start swimming lessons between 1 to 4 years are less likely to drown than those who start swimming at age 5 or later.

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Guangxi
Serene scenes, ancient means, and adventure extreme

 

 

Flight
Guilin, less than three hours by plane from Beijing, is the portal to Guangxi’s many pleasures.

 

 

Climate
Check the weather, but try to stay optimistic about rain. The lush green fields and limestone karsts of this unique landscape are nurtured by consistent rainfall. Remember, mists and a delicate drizzle are poetic and evocative. Such humidity means that the comparative chill of winter (averaging 8-10 degrees Celsius) feels colder, and the summer heat (averages 25-28 degrees Celsius) swelters. Thus, late spring and autumn are the best times to visit.

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