The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park was the site of the rowing, canoeing, and 10km open-water swimming events during the 2008 Beijng Summer Olympics. Audiences roared as canoes raced neck and neck, rowboats zoomed around the track, and swimmers vied for first place. The Water Cube, also previously the site of aquatic Olympic sports, has been able to enjoy a certain amount of prosperity. But how does the Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park stack up to its bubbly brother?

Unfortunately, there really isn’t much of a comparison; while one can usually hear the sound of childish laughter emanating from the Water Cube, the only sound coming from the bubble-blasted edifice’s silent sibling is the empty echo of lost opportunity. Although various events have been held at the site, such as a celebration of the 2012 Dragon Boat Festival, it doesn’t seem that the Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park has yet found a consistent purpose. It frequently sits derelict, water drained from the once sparkling tracks.

Other attempts to enliven the area have also resulted in failure. After the end of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Shunyi District made the decision to invest RMB 300 million to build various motor sport facilities. But though the venue opened in October of 2010 and hosted a round of the 2010 Superleague Formula season, said round was a non-championship one. This was due to the track failing to gain the required FIA Grade 2 status required in order to host a championship event.

On the bright side, the area has found new life as a venue for sailing lessons. Clubs like Beijing Aofan Sailing Club and Imagine.Watersports have taken of the legacy of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and turned it into a selection of courses and memberships geared towards both individuals and families. Visitors can also take part in other water sports, such as kayaking, rafting, and more. 

Although the government previously planned to convert the area into a resort of some sort, such plans have apparently been dropped – at least for the time being. For now, you can still hear the sounds of merriment as kids and teens drop in for an afternoon sailing lesson.

This post first appeared on July 26, 2012 and has been slightly modified. 

Photos (in order of appearance): Gerry Boudens via Wikimedia Commons and Feng

Bebot
(USD 1.99, iOS 3.0+, ages 4+)
Who doesn’t know Bebot by now? This synth app allows users to produce a wide variety of unique and versatile sound effects through the interface of a cute, tuxedo’ed, and retro-looking cartoon robot.    

Bloom HD
(USD 3.99, iOS 4.3+, ages 4+)
Bloom HD is a revolutionary app that gives you the ability to play music, compose a song, and make a work of art, all at the same time. And you don’t have to be a musician to use it; everyone can make something amazing simply by touching the screen. If that sounds like too much work for you, you can also just let the app run idle, randomly creating beautiful works of art for your enjoyment.

Falling Stars
(Free, iOS 4.2+, ages 4+)
Falling Stars is both a hybrid music/drawing app that allows you to trace lines onto the screen, after which notes fall from the sky and roll along the contours of your drawing. It’s a simple concept, but incredibly addictive and fascinating. 

LaDiDa
(USD 2.99, iOS 4.0+, ages 4+)
Let’s face it: Not everybody can sing. But luckily, with LaDiDa, talent doesn’t matter! LaDiDa provides auto-tune and professional vocal effects to make you the best singer you can be. And all with minimal effort: LaDiDa automatically changes the key and chords depending on your voice, so all you have to do is belt out your favorite song. 

Ocarina 2
(Free, iOS 5.0+, ages 4+)
Ocarina 2 gives you the power of pure music, right at your fingertips. Blow into your phone and play the notes to discover some of your favorite songs in an all new way, from Bieber to Bach (though hopefully Bach). Adjustable difficulty settings make this a game that anybody can play.

Sing Something
(Free, iOS 5.0+, ages 12+)
The concept of Sing Something is simple: Just sing a song from the category and have your friend guess what it is. If they guess right, you both get coins. Then it’s their turn. Hundreds of popular songs are available, going back as far as the 80s. Rock out!

Virtuoso Piano 3
(Free, iOS 4.0+, ages 4+)
Unfortunately, pianos aren’t portable. Virtuoso Piano 3 solves this problem by giving you the ability to practice on the fly. With incredible sound quality, this app would make Mozart proud. Choose from two pianos: a broken pub piano and a classic grand.

This post coincides with the release of beijingkids’ August issue, which is all about music. For features on music and development classes, private music lessons, buying instruments, and more, download your free PDF copy here.

San Guo Sha (三国杀 or “Killers of the Three Kingdoms”) is a popular Chinese board game set in the Three Kingdoms period. The rules of the game follow the rules of Bang!, a world-famous card game inspired by spaghetti westerns. How’s that for East meets West?

Ages: 8 and up
Type of game: Card/board hybrid
Number of players: 2-10

Basic Rules
Each player plays one of four roles: lord, loyalist, rebel, or spy. As the game begins, each player must randomly draw a “role card” to determine their role. Whoever draws the “lord” card must reveal their role card to the rest of the players. Those who draw other roles must keep them hidden until they are defeated over the course of the game. Different roles have different victory conditions:

• The lord must survive and defeat all rebels and spies;
• The loyalist must prevent the lord from dying, and kill all the rebels and spies;
• The rebel must kill the lord;
• And finally, the spy must kill all the loyalists and rebels, then the lord.

Over the course of the game, each player is dealt three “hero” cards. Each hero has a different ability and is loyal to one of the three warring states of the period: Wei, Shu, or Wu. After the players have each selected one hero from the ones they have drawn, players draw cards in an effort to defeat players from the opposing team. Some cards are weapons, some are utilitarian, some allow you to attack, some allow you to defend, and so on.

Game Over:  Each character has 3-5 health points. Every time you are successfully attacked, you lose a health point. If you run out of health, you are defeated and thus taken out of the game. As mentioned above, each role has its own victory conditions. The game also ends immediately if the lord is killed or all the rebels and spies are killed.

For more Chinese game spotlights, check out our posts on Dou Dizhu and Chinese chess.

Photo via paopaoche.net

Chinese chess or xiangqi (象棋, literally “elephant game”) is one of the most popular board games in China. Although it is commonly believed that Western chess and xiangqi both originated from an Indian game called chaturanga, some claim that chess is actually Chinese in origin. Regardless, there are some very important differences between Chinese chess and the Western version we all know and love.

Ages: 8 and up
Type of game: Board
Number of players: 2

Basic Rules
As in Western chess, the game represents a battle between two opposing forces. In order to win the battle, one must capture the enemy’s general. Unlike Western chess, the pieces are not placed within the squares of the board, but rather on the intersections of board lines called points. The horizontal lines are referred to as ranks, whereas the vertical lines are called files. There is a square zone centered bounded by ranks 1-3 that is located on both sides of the board. This location is known as gong (宮), which translates to “palace” or “fortress.” During the course of the game, generals and advisors must stay within the confines of this area.

Between the fifth and sixth ranks lies the river (河). The river’s main function is to serve as a distinction between the two sides of the board; it only has an effect on a few pieces. Elephant pieces are unable to cross, whereas soldier pieces have the ability to move sideways after crossing the river.

Pieces are placed in their respective positions, and the game begins. Although red is usually the first to move, this can vary by region. Just like Western chess, players take turns moving pieces from one point to another; it is generally prohibited to move through a point already occupied by another piece.  When a player moves his piece onto a point occupied by an opponent’s piece, the enemy piece is removed from play.

For a detailed comparison of xiangqi and Western chess, as well as explanations of placements, pieces, and their abilities, see this handy guide by Chess Variants.

Game Over
There are two ways to win a game of Chinese chess. The first is the same as in Western chess: checkmate your opponent. This occurs when you attack the enemy general (placing it in check), and there are no possible moves your opponent can take that will allow the general to escape.

Unlike Western chess, a player can also win the game by stalemating his opponent. A stalemate occurs when a player has no legal moves left.  Instead of ending the game in a draw, as is the case in Western chess, a stalemate in xiangqi results in a loss for the player receiving it. As such, players will sometimes try to check or chase pieces in such a manner as to make their moves fall in a cycle, giving the opponent no choice but to draw the game. If neither side can force a checkmate or a stalemate, the game ends in a draw.

To learn about other Chinese games, check out our other blog posts on Dou Dizhu and San Guo Sha.

Photo by No Dust via Flickr

The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park was the site of the rowing, canoeing, and 10km open-water swimming events during the 2008 Beijng Summer Olympics. Audiences roared as canoes raced neck and neck, rowboats zoomed around the track, and swimmers vied for first place. The Water Cube, also previously the site of aquatic Olympic sports, has been able to enjoy a certain amount of prosperity. But how does the Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park stack up to its bubbly brother?

Unfortunately, there really isn’t much of a comparison; while one can usually hear the sound of childish laughter emanating from the Water Cube, the only sound coming from the bubble-blasted edifice’s silent sibling is the empty echo of lost opportunity. Although various events have been held at the site, such as a celebration of the 2012 Dragon Boat Festival, it doesn’t seem that the Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park has yet found a consistent purpose. It frequently sits derelict, water drained from the once sparkling tracks.

Other attempts to enliven the area have also resulted in failure. After the end of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Shunyi District made the decision to invest RMB 300 million to build various motor sport facilities. But though the venue opened in October of 2010 and hosted a round of the 2010 Superleague Formula season, said round was a non-championship one. This was due to the track failing to gain the required FIA Grade 2 status required in order to host a championship event.

On the bright side, the area has found new life as a venue for sailing lessons. Clubs like Beijing Aofan Sailing Club have taken of the legacy of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and turned it into a selection of courses and memberships geared towards both individuals and families. Visitors can also take part in other water sports, such as kayaking.

Although the government previously planned to convert the area into a resort of some sort, such plans have apparently been dropped – at least for the time being. For now, you can still hear the sounds of merriment as kids and teens drop in for an afternoon sailing lesson.

Just in time for the 2012 London Summer Olympics, this post is part of a series called “Where Are They Now?”, which explores what became of four 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics venues: The Bird’s Nest, The Water Cube, the Beach Volleyball Ground at Chaoyang Park, and Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. This is the final installment of the series.

Photos (in order of appearance): Gerry Boudens via Wikimedia Commons and Feng

The Beijing National Aquatics Center (北京国家游泳中心), better known as the Water Cube, stands as a monument to the swimming competitions of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. It was in the confines of this immense bubble-covered structure that thousands of fans cheered on as Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and beat the world record for the 100m butterfly event.

But now, with the sounds of cheering long gone, what has become of “the fastest Olympic pool in the world”? Even with all its speed, has the Water Cube been able to out-swim the curse of irrelevance so frequently visited upon other former Olympic venues?

The answer, quite fortunately, is yes. The Water Cube has been in almost constant use since 2009, when it was opened to the public on certain days of the week. From ordinary swim tests to lavish weddings, The Water Cube has seen it all. Formerly filled with the graceful moments of professional swimmers, the bubble-clad behemoth has even been host to grace of a different kind: a stunning production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.  More than a few jewelers and other artists have taken the graceful curves of the foamy edifice as inspiration for a plethora of souvenirs.

The Water Cube’s stint as a performance hall didn’t last long; the frothy structure was closed to the public in October of 2009 in order ready the complex for yet another transformation. This time, a fragment of the complex would become a water park.  Reopened in early August of 2010, on the 2-year anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the redesigned facility became Happy Magic Water Cube Park.

Where Olympic athletes once gathered to discuss strategies, smaller, slightly less professional swimmers now giggle and splash as plastic bubbles and jellyfish float through the air. The park takes up 12,000sqm of the former Olympic venue and features 13 water slides and rides, not to mention the wave pool and a lazy river. In addition, 60 or so lifeguards watch over the enormous park. As if that weren’t enough, there is even a spa area for exhausted parents. The Olympic pool has been left intact for swimming matches, and other areas of the park are available for exercise and various events.

Just in time for the 2012 London Summer Olympics, this post is part of a series called “Where Are They Now?”, which explores what became of four 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics venues: The Bird’s Nest, The Water Cube, the Beach Volleyball Ground at Chaoyang Park, and Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. This is the second installment of the series.

Photos (in order of appearance): Sophie Zhu (1) and Dina Mao (2 and 3)

So the kids are fed up with studying Chinese and keep begging you for a break. You want them to have fun, but you also hope they actually learn something. What better way to solve this problem than to teach them how to play a Chinese card or board game? We spotlight a series of local games, starting with the classic Dou Dizhu (斗地主). Dou Dizhu, or literally “Struggle Against the Landlord,” is one of the most popular card games in China.

Ages: Approximately 10 and up
Type of game: Card
Number of players: Dou Dizhu is usually played by three people with one pack of cards. 

Basic Rules
Players first shuffle the cards, placing one card face up in the middle of the stack. This will determine who has the choice of becoming the “landlord.” Players then take turns drawing cards from the top of the deck, counter-clockwise, until each person has 17 cards. The player who picked up the face-up card has the choice of becoming the landlord; if he or she chooses to pass, the choice will fall on the next player in counter-clockwise order. If none of the players decide to become the landlord, the cards are re-shuffled. 

When the landlord is decided, he or she picks up three extra cards from the deck and takes the first turn. They have the option of playing one single card or any legal combination of cards. The other players, in counter-clockwise order, must either pass or play a higher combination of the same number and type of cards. There are only two exceptions to this rule: A “nuke” can beat any combination, and a “bomb” can beat any combination except a higher nuke or bomb. The play continues for as many turns as necessary, until two players in a row pass. The played cards are then turned face down and put aside, and the person who played the last card begins again, leading any card or legal combination.

For a detailed chart of card hands, see Dou Dizhu’s Wikipedia page.

Game over: Whoever gets rid of his or her cards first wins. Since the two non-landlords play as a team, they both win if either player runs out of cards. 

For more Chinese games, see our other blog posts about San Guo Sha and Chinese chess.

Photo by BekiPe via Flickr

As you meander down the charming cobblestone streets, the scent of fresh Italian cuisine greets your senses. You hear a French ballad being sung somewhere nearby, accompanied by the dulcet tones of an accordion. Your children happily skip along beside you, enjoying the sweet gelato you just purchased at a nearby vendor. Surely, you must be in Europe! Think again: You’re in the Italian Concession of Tianjin, one of China’s “five central national cities.”

Formally opened to foreign trade in 1860, Tianjin is still filled with remnants of various foreign concessions built between 1895 and 1900. Located on the east bank of the Haihe River and recently restored in 2010, the Italian Concession is a must-see for those visiting Tianjin.  Numerous Western restaurants offer a variety of dishes, from Italian pasta to French desserts. The combination of architecture is fascinating; numerous Italian villas dot the landscape as an enormous skyscraper looms overhead.

On the western bank of the Haihe River, in contrast to the Western influence evident in the Italian Concession, Guwenhua Jie (or the Ancient Culture Street 古文化节) features numerous products unique to Tianjin. As you roam from store to store, you can purchase Zhang’s clay figurines (泥人张), Zhang’s Peanuts (崩豆张) – intricate clay figurines and flavor-blasted peanuts, respectively. Both of these boast 180 years of history. One can also purchase tasty snacks, such as goubuli baozi (狗不理包子), guifaxiang mahua (桂发祥麻花) – a traditional type of twisted fried dough snack – and erduo yanzhagao (耳朵眼炸糕), a sticky rice dish been fried in hot oil.

Other attractions include Tianjin Water Park (天津水上公园), the largest water park in Tianjin, and the Tianjin Zoo (天津动物园), where one can find approximately 3,000 animals of around 200 species. There’s also the Tianjin Eye, the only ferris wheel in the world built over a bridge, and the Tianjin Cultural Center, which includes a library, the largest museum in Tianjin, and a theater. The center also contains Tianjin Sunshine Park, which contains lots of entertainment for children and teenagers, such as an “adventure world,” a photography and animation world, and a cinema.

Getting There
High-speed trains leave from the Beijing South Train Station every 20 to 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from the South Train Station for about RMB 110 roundtrip. The train ride itself only takes about 30 minutes.

Photo by gill_penney via Flickr

Ready to swim with the predators of the deep? On July 28 and 29, SinoScuba will once again be holding their annual Shark Weekend at the city’s very own Blue Zoo Beijing aquarium! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to interact with six different species of sharks in a safe and fun environment.

The three-hour-long program will start off with a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium. Learn about the toothy underwater hunters and how they fit into the oceanic ecosystem. After that, take the plunge and go for a swim with your newly-made friends. Note that divers must be at least 10 years old.

The When and Where:
There will be four sessions: Two on July 28 at 10am and 1.30pm, and two on July 29 at 10am and 1.30pm. Participants must register in advance and there’s a maximum of four divers per session. The program costs RMB 650 per diver (RMB 600 for students with ID) and RMB 90 per non-diver. Remember to bring your own swimsuit, towel, and shower supplies. Other supplies and equipment will be provided by SinoScuba.

Worker’s Stadium South Gate, Jingguang Qiao, Chaoyang District (6591 3397) 朝阳区工人体育场南门

For more information, see the event listing here or contact SinoScuba at steven@sinoscuba.com or 186 1113 3629.

Photo: Jeff Kubina via Flickr