The second Beijing International School Battle of the Bands is happening Jan 31-Feb 1 at Culturopolis!

This year’s competition brings together an incredible roster of young musicians from 12 of Beijing’s international schools, including the French International School, Dulwich College, ISB, Daystar Academy, Tsinghua International School Daoxiang Lake, Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA), HD Beijing School, and more.

Every band that takes the stage will walk away with goodie bags featuring dining vouchers, Beijinger merch, along with other awesome swag.

Top prizes last year for the winning performers included coveted awards including RMB 1,000+ restaurant vouchers from sponsors, professional studio time, songwriting courses, and celebration parties just to name a few.

This year’s bands will be netting prizes from Susu Vietnamese Restaurant, burger barons Side Street, Dastaan Indian Restaurant, plus more Beijinger favorite restaurants yet to be announced!

More importantly, think of the accolades: bands will be competing not only for the Best Band award, but other group and individual recognition such as Best Vocalist, Best Guitarist, Best Bassist, Best Drummer, Best Keyboard, Best Stage Presence, and more.

Think of how THAT will look on that college application!

BTW, we are still looking for expert judges, sponsors and volunteers for the event — Contact eloisewester@yahoo.com or WeChatID: TBJButler for more information

We also have space for one more band. Interested in winning some of these awards? Sign up with this: 2026 International High School Battle of the Bands Sign Up Form.

Now, let’s meet just a few of the bands to light up the stage:

The Cyclops
From The French International School of Beijing

The Cyclops is a Grade 11 student band from the French International School of Beijing, and a veteran of the last Battle: They won second place at the 2024 Beijing International High School Battle of the Bands, with bassist Andreas winning the award for Best Bassist. Rounding out the lineup are Leila on vocals, Tate on drums, Eric on guitar, and Chloe on keyboard.

The Wednesday Underground
From Tsinghua International School Daoxiang Lake (THISDL)

Brought together by vibrancy, passion, and a hint of rebellious underground spirit, The Wednesday Underground are a group of talented, imaginative young musicians playing music together, from pop to rock, breaking boundaries and amplifying their own voices. Through the dynamic collaboration of co-vocalists Jonie Liu and Catherine Li, keyboardists Mia Wang and Vera Jiang, guitarist Paola Piao, bassist Yolanda Han, and drummer Freddy Peng, they aim to share their distinct energy.

Cyber Pirates
From HD Beijing School

Cyber Pirate, a student band from HD Beijing School, has been building its sound for over three years. They have become a familiar act at charity performances and international school events, delivering rock covers ranging from Paramore’s “Misery Business” to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” The band sees music as a universal language of emotion and aims to use their performances to support meaningful causes. Looking ahead, their shared goal is to channel their experience into creating original music. The lineup features Kazy Chen on vocals, Andy Ye on drums, Tiger Li and Max Zhu on guitars, Tom Chen on keyboards, and Jacob Guo on bass.

Pretty Ugly
From Dulwich College Beijing

Pretty Ugly is a six-piece rock and pop band from Dulwich College Beijing. Formed three years ago, they are veterans of the 2024 Battle of the Bands, where they walked away with the Audience Favorite award. The group features shared vocal duties by Evie and Kezia, with Ethan on bass, Noah and Grace on guitars, and Johnson on drums. Seeing the audience smile and vibe with their music is what drives them to keep improving. Follow them on Instagram @pretty_ugly_beijing.

Studio 55
From Beanstalk International Bilingual School Haidian Academy (BIBS HDA)

Studio 55 is a high-energy, student-led ensemble from multiple grade levels, guided by mentor Dean (Mr. M) Mongerio. Featuring vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and electronic wind instruments, the band creates a dynamic sound built on groove and strong stage presence. Their setlist, including crowd-favorites like “Time Zone” and “Uptown Funk,” highlights tight coordination and expressive energy. Through collaboration and rehearsal, their goal is to deliver polished, engaging performances that connect with every audience.

Just the Six of Us!
From Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA)

“Just the Six of Us” is a six-member band formed by a shared passion for music and collaboration. Their name originates from the first song they ever performed together, “Just the Two of Us,” symbolizing their growth from a simple beginning into a cohesive ensemble. The group is led by bassist and captain Nicole Zhang and features vocalists Chloe Dugal and Serafina Zhang, pianist Edward Tang, guitarist Seongmin, and drummer Hamm He. Their sound blends emotive harmonies with dynamic instrumentation, aiming to connect with audiences through authentic performance. They are grateful for the opportunity to compete and excited to finally share the music they have been crafting together.

Images: Courtesy of bands, The Beijinger

The International High School Battle of the Bands is happening this May 5 at Modernista, one of Beijing’s most distinctive live music venues.

One of the faces behind the success of this 12-year-old venue is Nuria Cimini, Modernista co-owner and event organizer. Originally from Barcelona, Cimini has been living in Beijing since 2006, when she arrived to complete her studies in Chinese language. After some years, in 2011, she opened Modernista along with three other friends, driven by her love for music and creative entrepreneurship. She has organized, and mostly witnessed, more than 3500 live music shows at Modernista.

Cimini has been essential to the success of this event and has also agreed to serve as one of our panel of judges for the contest. As a veteran of booking and enjoying hundreds of bands over the past 10 years, she’s in a perfect position to do so.

1. Can you give a brief history of Modernista? What makes it one of Beijing’s most unique establishments?

Modernista started in 2011 as a casual endeavor among friends. We were just a group of friends wondering what it would be like to expand our living room space into a bigger playground where we could keep exploring and nurturing what Beijing had to offer in the years after 2008.

I think it’s a pretty accurate expression of the place and the time where it was born, and of the people who have been part of it. It’s nothing you can easily reproduce; it’s unique and has a lot of personality, because it was a project conceived a lot more as a personal life changing experience, much less as a business.

Over the past 12 years, Modernista has become a cherished part of the people who called it home. It has grown from a small bistro to a two-story cocktail bar and restaurant, hosting daily performances and employing two dozen people.

2. How has live music evolved in Modernista?

We always had live music in our minds when we started, but our resources were very limited in the beginning. We only had a very small, intimate stage next to the entrance window. Our neighbors wouldn’t allow anything like a drum set (not that it could fit anyways), so bands who were playing at that time had to figure out a lot of things. Live music was a part of the scene but not Modernista’s centerpiece.

When Modernista expanded to the bigger space in 2014, we had more resources and more experience: We built the space as we had imagined at the beginning, with a full round balcony that puts the stage at the center of the space, in the style of traditional theaters and cabaret houses in Europe. We paid a lot of attention to how things sound and how both the audience and the performers would experience the space. The work we did at that time helped develop a richer live music scene and really put the artists in the spotlight, creating some unforgettable experiences for both the musicians and the audience.

3. Given the sheer number of shows you’ve watched over the years, can you offer some advice on how a band can deal with stage fright or technical issues during their performance?

When you’ve witnessed many shows, you can see a lot of things going on the stage which most people in the room wouldn’t notice. Sometimes equipment fails, musicians are nervous or a bit lost, or there are disagreements on stage. In those cases, most of the audience can’t really tell.

I remember an extreme case once when half of the band just decided to stop playing in the middle of a song because of some argument they were having and everyone noticed something was going on, of course.

Some technical issues can really disturb a performance if not handled properly. That’s why it’s important to have technical professionals that musicians can trust to assist them as much as possible. We have that here at Modernista, and I believe that really makes musicians more comfortable when playing here.

4. What are some of the factors that make a band stand out from the crowd and impress the audience?

Music has the advantage in that it can be communicated without words, so when musicians interact with their audience, they can choose to do it in many different ways.

Each band’s style varies and the energy also depends on the audience you have.

There are so many shows that have created a memorable impression both on us and the public, and all for different reasons. Some musicians aren’t necessarily great stage performers, but their craft is incredible, and they are cohesive and smooth. The experience is well thought and put together nearly perfectly. That’s more than enough to really impress the audience.

On the other hand, some bands are really good at the interactive and stage presence part of the experience. They are full of fun ideas and very creative, they know how to put a show together and get everyone to have a blast, even without being technically perfect. Often a combination of both elements works best.

Then there are times when there is just a talent so inspiring or the music is so beautiful that it just hits you and you can’t really explain how.

5. Tell us about some of the more memorable shows you’ve witnessed at Modernista.

I remember specifically a night when Trinidad and Tobago singer KC covered Prince’s hit Purple Rain. The entire room just held its breath and tears while watching.

Another was a particularly mind-blowing Miles Davies tribute by the J. Kyle Electric Band. It was so powerful that the musicians finished the show and left the stage in silence, with the room in silence too. That alone was truly impressive.

On a different note, our most shocking experience was Zimbabwean dancehall performer Winky Di. He had a room full of crazed fans waiting for hours on end, just for him to appear suddenly around midnight, jump directly on the stage from the back of a car and give a frenzied hour-long performance. I don’t believe he had time to breathe even once. He disappeared exactly the same way he came, just like a magician. I’ve never seen people so angry, then so happy.

Finally, sometimes it’s also the audience who build a memorable impression alongside the band, simply because the interaction during a performance always goes both ways. For example, the energy shown in our long-standing Brazilian nights which date back to 2012, including bands such as Mama Funker, Templo do Samba and more recently Quebra Cavaco. Or the vibrant energy that emerges every time cult band Gong Gong Gong has played. This is because of the way these bands and their audience interact so intimately and casually at Modernista in comparison to other big stage venues.

Don’t miss this chance to witness Beijing’s 12 best high school bands battle it out at Modernista on the afternoon of Sunday, May 5 – and raise money for a good cause at the same time! Tickets will go on sale later in March, stay tuned to Jingkids & the Beijinger for announcements.

The event is sponsored by Modernista, Our Learning House, Jingkids, the Beijinger, Home Plate BBQ, Confident You, and Brevity of Motion Sounds.

We’re also looking for additional sponsors and volunteers. If you are a sponsor, you will get tons of exposure and a chance to connect with international school students, parents, and administrators. If you are a volunteer, you will have a blast and gain valuable experience. If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please send an email to 25eloisew@wab.edu.

Images: Modernista

What can you win?

As an 8th grader at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), my class often “sizes up” the incoming underclassmen at the beginning of each year. This year, there was a 6th grader who stood out from the rest – Noa, whom I noticed navigating the halls of Middle School with a white cane, carrying a laptop that looked quite different from the standard-issue Macbook most WAB students carry.

Noa uses his fingertips to read Braille on his BrailleNote Plus

Noa uses a cane because he’s been visually impaired since birth, however, with tools and a support teacher to assist when needed, he’s just like any other middle schooler at WAB.

We’ve eaten lunch together a few times, and each time he always has something fun to say. A few weeks ago, Noa participated in a literature festival hosted by the US Embassy in Beijing, reading two children’s books in braille. Interested, I sat down with him to find out what it’s like to be visually impaired.

Children gather to listen to Noa reading a braille storybook at the recent American Literature Festival

Noa and his family arrived in China less than two years ago, when he was in 5th grade. He says he enjoys WAB so far and is beginning to learn some Chinese. The school’s mission resonates with him as well. “I like WAB because we’re actually encouraged to make a difference, and I like the way WAB teaches us to do that.”

Noa is from the US but considers himself a citizen of the world. “I’d say that I’m really from everywhere,” he explains. “My dad’s French and my mom was born in the US, but she’s half Thai, half Latvian.”

Noa has been visually impaired since birth. “I am fully blind, except that I can see light versus darkness,” he says. However, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a voracious reader, which he has accomplished using the braille system, a reading system he started learning at age 3. “[Braille] is basically a 6-dot system where any combination could make a number or letter,” Noa explains. “Some people would even call it code.”

Noa shows a crowd how to use a braille typewriter

Nowadays he uses the braille computer that he carries to school, which looks like a laptop, but instead of a standard QWERTY keyboard, has a special row of touch keys capable of presenting an ever-refreshing line of braille. This allows him to read anything from websites to Harry Potter.

Just like other laptops, his gets upgraded as new features are released. “I’ve had successive generations of a braille computer known as the BrailleNote (the BrailleNote, then the BrailleNote Touch, and most recently the BrailleNote Touch Plus),” he explains. “I use my computer like any visual computer – and the most recent versions include a touchscreen allowing my teachers to see my work at the lift of a lid.”

Instead of a screen, Noa’s laptop has a row of keys that can display letters in braille

Books in braille are easy to find – both digital and hard copy – through resources such as bookshare.org, a website designed for people with visual impairment and other barriers to reading, and the National Library Service for The Blind and Physically Handicapped, a division of the US-based Library of Congress. He’s also an audiobook listener, and WAB’s online library has plenty to choose from. “Graphic novels are probably the one genre of books that doesn’t translate well. “My computer would only display them as one ‘image’ after another.”

As for his favorites? “I mostly like reading mystery books such as Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.”

A huge group of kids gathers around Noa as he shows them how to type on a braille typewriter

In addition to understanding how he reads, I wondered how he plays sports, given that so many of them require vision.

He likes a sport called goalball – one of the official games of the summer Paralympics – which is suited to both blind and sighted players and involves getting the ball into the opponent’s goal while blindfolded.

Whether it’s sports, reading, or surfing the web, Noa’s life is more similar to his sighted classmates than you may think.

“It’s very inspiring to see Noa be optimistic, determined, and enjoy his school life despite the extra challenges he faces,” said one of Noa’s fellow WAB students, 8th grader Angelina.

KEEP READING: SENIA to the Rescue: Resources for Working With Differently Abled Children

Images: Uni You, Mike Wester

My mom’s Chinese and my dad’s American. Even though I’m technically an American citizen, I’ve always considered China my home. And with this cross-culture, comes all the different holidays that are celebrated. The one holiday that has always been highlighted the most in the Chinese side of my ethnicity has been Chinese New Year. In elementary school, I would be taught in art class how to make Chinese lanterns that we could hang up, we would be taught all the Chinese New Year vocabulary in English class. In Chinese, we would learn about the Chinese lunar calendar and the different animal zodiac year rotations. In short, Chinese New Year has always been a big deal.

Our family, a mix of Chinese and American never really go all out to celebrate, but when the time rolls around every year, we always stay in China, and manage to keep a few traditions alive, such as when we make dumplings the night before Chinese New Year, and when we watch the annual Chinese New Year gala special on TV. And of course, hongbaos have also regularly made appearances during Chinese New Year celebration, but to be perfectly honest, I’m not a huge fan of them.

Although they are a nice gesture, I sometimes feel awkward or uncomfortable when on the receiving end of it, and it’s hard for me to know how to act when receiving one. Because of this, I find the WeChat red packet function really fun to use during Chinese New Year. I enjoy the light-hearted communication that happens over text, and I feel that it’s much easier to share part of my culture with others that don’t celebrate it as much. I especially enjoy it because it brings my family that all live in different places together. During this time of year, almost every member of the Chinese side of my family goes online, and together, we exchange words of good luck, fortune, and happiness by sending each other red packets. It gives us a great excuse to call with family, and I’m so excited to do it again this year, now that we haven’t had the opportunity to visit them because of COVID-19.

I love Chinese New Year. It’s one of the few times a year where I can get to spend great family time together and repeat yearly traditions. I always feel closer to friends and family during this time, and I’m always excited to celebrate the Chinese traditions and culture that come with living in China and being half Chinese.

KEEP READING:

Images: Unsplash

The Women Empowerment Awards in China were created by the Women’s Advisory Council, which was initiated by SCHS Asia and AmCham China. The awards seek to recognize trailblazing individuals and innovative companies that have demonstrated a robust commitment to promoting women in the workforce in order to encourage greater gender equality and drive stronger business outcomes in China. The winners for the awards will be announced at the 2021 Women’s Economy Summit in April, so make sure to nominate the person or company of your choice that you think has done the best job empowering women in workspaces!

To learn more about the cause, Ms. Su Cheng, the founder, and CEO of SCHSAsia was able to take time from her busy schedule to allow me to interview her.

Beijingkids (BJK): Firstly, could you briefly introduce yourself?

Sue Cheng (SC): I am the Founder and CEO of SCHSAsia with over 25 years of experience in China. I have served on the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham) for a number of years, and I am the co-chair of Women Professional Committee of AmCham.

I have been actively involved in the Beijing business community, managing projects and serving the needs for a number of destinations, not-for-profit organizations, community organizations, and bilateral associations in the areas of strategic consulting, event management, fundraising, public and media relations, promotion and marketing.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, I was engaged in the corporate arena and held management positions at The Boeing Company, United Technologies Corporation, and The Capital Club in Beijing.

BJK: Could you briefly explain what SCHSAsia does and what you do in your position as the company’s head?

SC: Officially launched in 2009, SCHSAsia is a consulting company focused on consulting on Diversity and Inclusion with a focus on Empowering Women. In addition, we support companies on their special projects in the area of education and philanthropy. SCHSAsia has served the needs of destinations, not-for-profit organizations, community organizations, and bilateral associations.

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide clients with specific, individually tailored management solutions. We also believe in being socially responsible in making a positive impact in our community via supporting many non-profit organizations.

BJK: Could you please clarify the relationship between SCHSAsia and the Woman’s Advisory Council?

SC: The Women’s Advisory Council was initiated by SCHS Asia and AmCham China in 2019. Our current members are: BP, Chayora, Coca Cola, Dow, ExxonMobil, HPE, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Mars, Microsoft, and SCHS Asia.

This advisory council aims to support women in the workplace as well as women entrepreneurs to grow both personally and professionally. We bring together a dedicated group of powerful women and men to support and sponsor the growth and sustainability of women leaders and women entrepreneurs.

BJK: What drove you to decide to participate in/initiate the Women Empowerment Awards in China?

SC: I have worked on empowering women with AmCham for many years. As a board member, I deeply believe that it’s important that women’s voices are at the table and heard.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, women were more negatively impacted than men. Studies have shown that the pandemic has burdened women with more responsibilities including childcare and household chores, while some of them working from home.

However, in times of crisis, we may not focus our attention on the trend that women are more negatively impacted. This is why we want to bring more awareness about how companies and individuals are supporting the efforts of empowering women. And more importantly, we want to ensure that this work continues and more resources are put in place to support women to succeed both personally and professionally.

BJK: Please briefly explain the nomination system and criteria to someone that has had little to no knowledge on the topic of Women Empowerment Awards in China.

SC: The purpose of these awards is to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion in businesses in China and to celebrate those that are taking the lead. The Awards were launched at the 2020 Women’s Economy Summit, which is the largest gathering of women leaders in the AmCham China community, Its mission is to raise awareness of the key role women play in global economic development.

The Women Empowerment Awards in China are divided into three individual awards and three company awards. Both women and men, and multinational companies and small and medium enterprises are eligible for nominations.

To learn more about the criteria and different awards, check out their blog dedicated to introducing the different awards.

BJK: Is there a criterion for people that can nominate someone else? More specifically, I’d like to know the age range for selecting someone!

SC: You can nominate anyone, including yourself, for the individual category awards, as long as they are part of a business or organization that has a local office in China. As for the age limit, there are no age requirements for the awards “Outstanding Woman Leader of the Year” and “Male Ally of the Year”. As for the “Innovative Young Woman Leader of the Year” Award, we are recognizing young women leaders who are under 35 and advocate for gender equality. They aspire to and have the potential to be future senior leaders.

BJK: What do you think is the best way for our readers to take action to support women and feminism?

SC: The key is to be aware of our own stereotypes and biases towards women and men. We need to be aware of what we are teaching our children and have conversations about gender stereotypes and biases. Both men and women should help and support each other. We need male allies and women leaders that are positive action-oriented role models to encourage girls and young professional women to continue to strive for their dreams of becoming leaders in our companies and communities!

I believe we all know someone, both men and women, who are walking their talk in supporting women empowerment, so I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to nominate that person for the Women Empowerment Awards in China, this is one small step everyone can take to help keep women at the table and their voice heard!

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Images: Unsplash, AmCham website

In the US, it’s common to see teens pick up all sorts of jobs; lawn mowing, babysitting, working at a restaurant, and so much more. But here in Beijing, China, things tend to work a little differently. There are classic part-time jobs that teens pick up here, like babysitting and tutoring, but ever since elementary school, I’ve noticed the kids find many other ways to make money on the side.

Babysitting, Tutoring, and Internships

Everyone’s heard about the stereotypical part-time jobs: babysitting, lawn mowing, raking the lawn, tutoring. But in Beijing, a giant metropolitan area where a large chunk of residents have ayis and live in apartment buildings with no yard, many of these job opportunities don’t exist for teens. Not to say that all of the job opportunities are taken away through – babysitting and tutoring are still popular in Beijing. One of my closest friends babysits her neighbors all the time, and I’ve even gotten opportunities to tutor some of my mom’s friends’ kids. It’s hard to find these sorts of jobs from their listings, but it’s easy to pick up a job like this if you have good connections with friends and neighbors!

HongBao and Gift Savings

Even though saving isn’t a source of income for teens, I’ve noticed that kids pay a lot of attention to it in the world of finance. I’ve saved up every hongbao that I’ve gotten since I was old enough to keep them for myself, so much so that now whenever my mom needs cash, she turns to me and borrows the money that I’ve saved from each Chinese New Year. And I’ve noticed this tendency to save in many others my age, in different forms. Something super common in my school is asking for cash directly every time there is an opportunity to get a gift. During the Secret Santa exchange this year, at least a good half of our class asked directly for cash, in hopes of saving up as much as possible.

WeChat Businesses

WeChat is the most common way of communication in China, with over 1.15 billion active users worldwide, and is the main social media that many teenagers like me use. And teens have used that to their advantage. Now when scrolling down moments, it isn’t uncommon to see one or two posts marketing something that a kid may be selling. And some people may even go full out and start an entire store worth of that product. In our grade, many even go as far as to create group chats to promote what they are selling: whether it’s selling second-hand items or food, or sometimes even hand-crafted objects that might catch one’s interest.

Overall, even though part-time jobs aren’t something commonly seen in Beijing, many kids still find resourceful ways to make money. With the way technology has been introduced to the current generation, it isn’t surprising that many kids make money online, and I won’t be surprised if I start noticing this even more in the future.

KEEP READING: How Do You Teach Your Kids About Money? 

Images: Pexels

Whenever the Christmas season rolls around, I face the same problems: Who should I shop for? When should I start shopping? Where do I find the right spots to shop? How much do I spend, and how many gifts should I buy? This year, I came up with a couple of rules and ideas to save some money and make my gifts memorable when I shop for my friends and family. 

Hand-Craft Something for Friends and Family

 As a teen, it’s hard for me to buy what my friends or family want with the limited amount of money that I have, so crafting or making something always comes to my mind when Christmas time rolls around. As a birthday gift from earlier this year, my friends made a video showing all of their favorite moments of us caught on camera and a compilation of many of my close friends wishing me a happy birthday. That gift was by far the best birthday gift that I have ever received, and I was touched by the amount of thought and effort that went into making that gift. The thrill that comes with unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning is irreplaceable. Still, I think that knowing that a gift, or a video, or anything of the sort that was customized or personalized for them can touch someone’s heart.

 Personalize Gifts

It’s always a priority for me to find something to gift or buy that has some sort of meaning behind it, whether it’s an inside joke or just something that the person I’m giving it to likes or wants. I can’t spend that much money on gift shopping, so to make up for that, I try to put meaning behind everything I buy to give myself a valid reason to spend my money on getting it. This makes shopping a strenuous task, but as long as I have a good idea of what I want to buy for one person, I can find it on Taobao nine times out of ten.

 Buy Ahead of Time, or Plan a Time to Go to the Mall!

As a yearly tradition, my best friend and I will go to the mall before Christmas and help each other brainstorm and get gifts. We will list out all the people we plan to get gifts for and what we’re getting for them during this time, ensuring that the presents we gift don’t clash. To be realistic, we only get one or two people gifts at most at the mall. But the real value in going together is to get ideas for what to get people on our list and go home and shop online. It’s always super fun to do with her each year, and I find that it’s a tradition that gets me in the Christmas mood.

Try New Ways of Gifting During Christmas Instead of the Traditional Gift-Giving 

Because my best friend and I shop together each year, we always agree not to buy each other gifts. It’s hard to keep what we shop for from each other and because we are both people who don’t value physical gifts highly. Instead, we agree to do something that we both want to do. This year, we are going to get our ears pierced together for Christmas! This tradition gives us something to spice up the regular Christmas feeling and just gives me something to look forward to Christmastime even more.

Plan How Much I’m Going to Spend on Each Person

Quite honestly, I don’t successfully budget how much I spend on each person. But for me, I think spending anywhere between RMB 30-100 is reasonable for a friend’s gift. For close friends or family, I usually spend anywhere from RMB 30-200 on a gift. When I’m buying for my family or my group of friends, I consider buying a gift for all of us, like a set of matching socks that we can wear together, or some sort of present that we can all use while spending time together.

Gift shopping is always a challenging task. But I think the key to buying the right gift is still the thought you put into it, whether it’s purchased, hand-crafted, or just something you do together. I’m looking forward to Christmas this year, but in the meantime, I’m going to need to do some last-minute shopping. Hopefully, I’ve learned my lesson and do my shopping earlier next year!

KEEP READING: Brush up on Chinese Gift Giving Faux Pas

Whenever we make a health-related resolution that involves exercise, one of the biggest reasons we don’t follow through is that, well, we get bored. But there’s one guy in Beijing who’s been making fitness fun for grownups since 2005 and recently adapted his workout to include kids.

Founded in Beijing in 2005, D’Jack Tchinda created Jindafit, a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout incorporated into African movements and music. A great way to introduce African music and dance to the Beijing community, it not only educates people, but provides a judgment-free space to have fun, exercise, and relax with fun modern music originating from places all around Africa. With their interesting backstory, ambitious goals, and friendly yet professional instructors, Jindafit is a great program to check out if you want to let go of your worries and enjoy yourself with others.

D’Jack Tchinda

 “I would like to say that there is a difference between African dance and African dance workouts. Jindafit is an African dance workout” Tchinda tells beijingkids, “I’m a fitness instructor, so I create and instruct in Jindafit with the fitness aspect of it in my mind.”  Jindafit incorporates parts of the body that helps posture and also a HIIT, made to ensure that the training burns fat during and after the workout. The playlists are different every time, based on how advanced the students are, as well as the songs. “I don’t just choose music. Music has to speak to me. People sometimes listen to a popular Afrobeats song and think that I have to use it. If the music doesn’t speak to me, I don’t use it.” Tchinda also mentioned that he chooses the songs if he has ideas on how to choreograph them. “Each move that I choreograph has a meaning behind it.”

Tchinda began dancing at the young age of five. Being a regular DJ, he had a great experience with music, rhythm, and had also been around fitness his whole life, providing him with the perfect background for creating something like Jindafit, combining all three. The inspiration came when he had walked into a step class, looking for an experience that was different from his normal scene. He walked in with high hopes, hoping for a mentor who could introduce him to step and give him guidance, but came out of the class disappointed. The teacher hadn’t given him an ounce of attention. The trainer was only focused on the technical aspect of the class. “I went home that day and thought to myself; there must be something better out there. I want to create something where coaches will care about teaching students, instead of just focusing on themselves.” Says Tchinda. And soon enough, Jindafit was created.

Alessia Chizzoniti with her class

Every company faces many difficulties, but the biggest one that Tchinda faced when he started Jindafit is different from others. “Nowadays it’s easier because people are more familiar with African dance. But when I first started Jindafit, people wouldn’t look at me or take me seriously when I told them that I was teaching African dance fitness. Nobody was interested.” But now, as African dance and music become more mainstream, it’s become easier for Jindafit to attract more customers. And he’s been able to teach a lot in Beijing whether it’s in hotels, gyms, or other various spaces, but that was before COVID-19 struck. During COVID-19, he hasn’t been able to train as much. In fact, because of that, Tchinda’s goal for Jindafit’s development this year is to expand as much as possible in Beijing. He says that he wants to get out of the COVID-19 period with vengeance.

Tchinda’s main motivation is to create the kids’ program of Jindafit, Jindafit BANA. Tchinda wants to reach everyone and everything with Jindafit. Jindafit and Jindafit BANA are two different programs. Tchinda teamed up with Alessia Chizzoniti who now teaches the Jindafit BANA classes. Before meeting Chizzoniti, Tchinda admits “if a kid freaked out, I wouldn’t know what to do!” But Chizzoniti, a mother of three, educator, and doula is the perfect person for the job. Chizzoniti admits that “I went in dreading the class, but when I finished, I thought to myself: why didn’t I try this before!” She and Tchinda created Jindafit BANA together, with the goal in mind of introducing African culture to kids from six years old and up!

Nothing beats a morning workout with friends

Jindafit BANA is fun! There were many different stories relating to the different dance moves and beats/music, but I have to admit that I was slightly lost, as this was my first time participating. I still had a great time listening to the catchy afro beats that Chizzoniti played while dancing. The choreography was fun, with moves that were easy to remember (especially with the explanations for movements before we started dancing) and I felt like I got a nice workout without being exhausted. I was fairly surprised about how relaxed and fun the music and dance moves were.

Overall, Jindafit BANA is a great way for kids aged six and up to be more culturally aware while having fun and staying healthy. As a person who doesn’t know much about Africa and its culture, I thought this was a great chance to understand it better while having fun.

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Images: Courtesy of Alessia Chizzoniti

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue