And now, a public service announcement from our sister publication, the Beijinger:

This Sunday, the Beijinger brings back our annual Charity Super Quiz to raise funds for the Ping An Medical Foster Home. We thought we’d take this opportunity to show you what your participation in Sunday’s quiz will do, by telling you a bit about what Ping An does and what we’ve been able to give to them in past years.

This marks our eighth year supporting Ping An Medical Foster Home. Our holiday fundraisers have included several Christmas Funk Parties, a Fun Wine Auction and in more recent years, our Charity Super Quizzes.

Over the years, the funds raised by our events have helped a number of children. Dang Tianle was born with a cleft lip and palate; donations from the Beijinger helped pay for an operation to reconstruct her mouth. In 2009, proceeds went to help put Dang Jia Le through his second heart surgery.

Click here for all the deets.

Photo by Judy Zhou

Christmas trees are up there with Santa, Nativity scenes and snow as the most iconic, traditional aspects of Christmas but getting real trees in Beijing can be tough. Not this year. Local NGO Bethel China Foundation is providing Christmas trees from their farm. Who can turn down the scent of fresh pine especially when it’s for a charitable cause? Here’s how you can get hold of one.

The not-for-profit organization that provides foster care, education and professional training for Chinese orphans who are blind or visually impaired, is selling trees from their farm in Beijing’s southeast Fangshan District. You can either head down to the farm yourself (it’s about an hour and a half drive from the city center) or they will deliver the tree to your door.

Trees come in medium (four to six feet) and large (six feet+) and cost RMB 700 or RMB 1,000 for pick-up and RMB 850 or RMB 1,200 for delivery, respectively. If you want to hold on to your tree for next year, you can also arrange for post-Christmas pickup and replanting of your tree (medium RMB 200, large RMB 300).

Sales began on November 21 and the tentative dates for home delivery are Nov 24, Dec 1 and Dec 8, but those dates are still subject to change depending on amount and location of orders.

If you won’t be in Beijing over the holidays to enjoy a Christmas tree in your home you can sponsor a tree to be placed in the houses and school of Bethel’s children.

To pre-order your Christmas tree, email matthew@bethelchina.org or call 135 223 66 343 for more information.

Photo courtesy of Bethel

This blog post originally appeared on our sister site, the Beijinger. For more Christmas content, stay tuned for our December 2012 issue, due out on December 3.

As the temperature plunges, Beijing residents are usually left pulling out the extra blankets and space heaters until the city-wide warm air starts blowing. This year, though, we’re getting an early start. Authorities have announced that the heating will come on nearly two weeks ahead of the standard schedule.

The heating will begin this Saturday, November 3 at midnight. In fact, if you’re already feeling a little more warmth in your apartment, it’s due to the testing of the system that began yesterday.

In previous years, November 15 has been the day to look forward to, with intermittent testing starting from November 7. Back in November 2009, a particularly cold winter pushed the heating date up to November 1.

This news was reposted from the Beijinger.

Photo: English.sina.com

However you choose to celebrate Independence Day, there are plenty of options in town. There are pub quizzes, parties, drink deals and plenty of barbecue on offer. If you want to continue the fun (or delay gratification), AmCham is holding their annual event on July 5.

July 4

Fourth of July Mexican BBQ
Barbecued ribs, full Mexican menu and red, white and blue. 5pm-close. Q Mex

Kro’s Independence Day
Get American beer buckets with an assortment of Brooklyn, North Coast and Rogue for RMB 140 (5 beers). To wash down all that beer, Kro’s is offering beef wieners plus curly fries or onion rings and iced tea or Tsingtao for RMB 65. Deals apply at both locations. 11am-midnight. The Kro’s Nest

July 4th at Nola
Celebrate N’Orleans style with all-you-can-eat crawfish (RMB 130). No American party is complete without ice cream at the end. Choose from an assortment of scoops, go for their apple tart with SoCo ice cream or grab an ice cream sandwich. RMB 130. Nola

USA Independence Day Special Cooking Class
Join The Hutong for a culinary tour of America’s heartland. Chef Ali will teach three classic American dishes: Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup, Great Lakes Fish Boil, and Apple Pie. RMB 280. 7pm. The Hutong

Independence Day V.A. Open Mic
Celebrate the Fourth with some songs. We’re hoping for some American classics like "American Pie" and "Surfin’ USA." All other types of music are welcome, though. 9pm. VA Bar

Home Plate Bar-B-Que
Our mouths water at the very mention of their pulled pork. Given how regularly packed this joint is, we’d suggest making it an early dinner to ensure you still have your choice of barbecued meats. Also expect deals in beer throughout the night. Home Plate

Blue Frog
While not offering any special deal, their burgers (voted the readers’ favorite in our Burger Cup last year) offer a great way to indulge in some American food. Sweeten the deal by getting there for happy hour from 4-8pm. Blue Frog

Tim’s Texas BBQ
What’s more American than a plate of ribs and barbeque? Get that along with their weekly pub quiz at 8pm, happy hour from 4-8pm and live music. Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q

Union Bar and Grille
While you can’t grab a burger, you can still show up for their extended happy hour from 4pm-close. Union Bar and Grille

July 5

AmCham China’s Independence Day: Hometown Cocktail Celebration
Join AmCham China for traditional American food, beer, wine, and the live band Overdrive, as well as lucky draw prizes. RMB 450, RMB 300 (AmCham members). Download the ticket form from AmChamChina.org. 5pm. Eudora Station

Want to celebrate the 4th at home? Check out this guide on where to get all your barbecuing supplies from the grill to the meats.

Need ideas of what to wear? Check out Get the Look in our July issue for some holiday-appropriate garb.

Photo: blog.timesunion.com

This blog is adapted from thebeijinger.com

Unless living in Beijing is part of an overall master plan that included language and cultural classes in college, there’s probably a lot that you may not know about the city. How about the duality of Confucianism? Or politics behind contemporary art? Whether you’re visiting or just want to know more, read Lauren’s blog on the Beijinger here for some new walking tours with Context Tours everyone can check out. For now, offered tours might be more suitable for older children and teens. For younger children, inquire about custom tours.

Or check out our previous posts on exploring 798 on your own here.

A recent New York Times article suggests that China is on the precipice of a revolution. Apparently, the Chinese are now ready to take to the streets and exercise their rights for fancy fitness centers and swanky gyms.  Is this fitness revolution really happening, and even if the parts are there, is that really making China fitter?

To read more, head over to thebeijinger.com.

The Angry Birds video game has been a global hit, but no one has taken that obsession as far as China. When it comes to the Angry Birdification of your clothes, food and entertainment, there’s no bounds to what China is capable of wholeheartedly embracing – and coming up with themselves.

The most timely merchandise on Chinese shelves is the Angry Bird mooncakes. The app-inspired treat is out just in time for this weekend’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Rovio, the game developer, launched the mooncakes in Hong Kong; although you can’t find them in Beijing stores, these lotus-seed-paste-and-egg-yolk-filled pastries are up for grabs on Taobao.

Rovio has also released a seasonal version of the Angry Birds game, specifically aimed at the Chinese market. The Moon Festival edition, available at the AppStore, sends the Birds "to China for the mooncake festival! The 3000-year-old harvest festival is one of the most important Chinese holidays, and the pigs think they can hide themselves in the midst of all the celebrations. Help the Angry Birds as they chase the pigs through 30 brand new levels filled with pagodas, rabbits, and red lanterns, lit by a dazzling harvest moon."

Another licensed item from Rovio is a new line of sneakers. The shoes come in seven different colors, each featuring a different character. Supposedly, they are only available in China through LeTao.com.

While Rovio is certainly focused on the Chinese market, they’re still not providing enough goods to meet China’s demand. Just about every article of clothing can be found online or in Beijing markets emblazoned with the video game characters, including an Angry Birds bra (see photo, above) that gives equal time to furious bird and smug pig.

The game has even moved off the small screen. Game booths that allow you to test out your throwing arm have been spotted in Guangzhou arcades, but the best large-scale gameplay experience recently opened in Changsha, featuring a life-sized set up with plush birds and a slingshot to send them flying.

This article is excerpted from thebeijinger.com.

The weather is starting to cool, which makes it a great time to get out for a day of hiking on the Great Wall. Unfortunately, new renovations at Hefangkou and continuing work at Simatai are hampering choice, but there are plenty of other options in and around Beijing where you can stretch your legs, whether you want a piece of the Wall (so to speak) or simply want to expand your horizons.

If you’re looking for a group to take you hiking around Beijing – and not just to the Wall – check out the following groups:

Beijing Hikers
Treks go out Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The cost of each trip includes transportation, food, water and a handful of guides per group. All hikers are rated for difficulty on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the hardest). The Beijing Hikers also organize weekend and week-long adventure trips around China to places like Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Zhangye.

Dandelion Hiking
Day hikes are available through the week; overnight hikes are offered most weekends. Dandelion also offers cycling trips at the Wall, excursions that last from one to four days. They also organize cultural trips within the city as well as longer excursions around China.

CNA Hiking Club
Hikes take place every Saturday. The cost covers any fees and transportation (but not lunch). CNA offers only day hikes, but their groups are small enough that you can expect to recognize familiar faces each week.

Great Wall Adventure Club
Serious hiking enthusiasts should check out this group. Their Wall treks range from day trips to 12-day itineraries. The American and Chinese based Club also offers trips around China, including Tibetan tours to Everest Base Camp.

Looking to stay closer to Beijing? Beijing’s Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP) has released a selection of heritage trails in the city, starting with Yonghegong and Gulou. If you’re the type of person who hasn’t ventured much beyond Sanlitun, try out CHP’s walks to expand your view of the city.

Anyone who’s been here long enough may consider the hutongs of Yonghegong and Gulou to be well-worn paths … so how about adding a twist to your walks? Check out the Beijinger‘s August issue for a list of art walks. You can re-immerse yourself in familiar neighborhoods and see them with new eyes – or check out some artsy neighborhoods that are a little further-flung.

For more suggestions and a few tips on how to hike sustainably, check out "Happy Trails: Tips for Responsible Rambling" from the Beijinger‘s July 2010 issue, available online here.

This article is excerpted from thebeijinger.com.

Asia seems to be dropping the ball when it comes to marriage and babies. In Beijing, a sleazy professor with a school-age mistress causes outrage. Abroad, Chinese-made fake handbags cause controversy … but not in the way that you’d think.

The Economist recently took a look at demographic trends in Asia regarding marriage and children, and they’ve turned up some interesting numbers. While it’s a global trend that the average marriage age has increased and fertility rates have decreased, particularly in developed countries, Asians are outdoing Westerners on all accounts. In simple terms, East Asian women are not marrying on average until 30, and an increasing number who are unmarried in their 30s can be expected to never marry. In comparison, the average age of marriage in the US for women is 26. Moreover, in many Western countries, cohabitation is taking the place of marriage, including its role of producing offspring, whereas in Asia cohabitation – let alone starting families outside of marriage – is nearly non-existent.

The article is a trove of fascinating statistics about divorce, literacy, education, income, marriage satisfaction and fertility rates. For example, in the late 1960s, the average East Asian woman could expect to have 5.3 children during her lifetime; nowadays, the fertility rate is 1.6 children per woman. If women are no longer marrying as early (or at all) and are culturally frowned upon for having children outside of wedlock, this doesn’t bode well for the ability of a society to replace its population. This trend (along with the consequences of the one-child policy) will leave China with its last remaining female about 1,500 years from now.

To read more, head over to thebeijinger.com.