As the holiday period draws to a close, try out some near places that are bound to have fewer people and hopefully have some last minute fun before the hectic working and school days resume.

Tiantan Park, also known as the Temple of Heaven. This peaceful park can be splendid as long as you come prepared. The immensity of the grounds demands a battle plan, especially if little legs are on the march. Allot for about four hours, dividing your time equally among absorbing Chinese history, snacking on delightful baked goods and shopping for new clothes and toys.

Start your day at the South Gate of Tiantan Park. From this point, you’ll be entering the site just as China’s emperors did in times past. Once in, the chaos of Beijing evanesces and serenity sets in. You’ll be greeted by the Circular Mound Altar of Heaven (1), a three-tiered platform upon which emperors would meditate before proceeding to pray to the gods for good harvest. The view from the top is impressive, making it a great photo spot for your own little emperors.

Walking down the other side of the altar, continue through the imperial-red gates towards the north. The next stop is the Imperial Vault of Heaven (2), where the ceremonial tablets were stored. A faint whispering can be heard on along the ground’s circular wall. Nicknamed "The Echo Wall," its shape allows for sound to travel much farther than is normal. Stand at each end facing opposite directions and talk politics (okay, you can pick your own subject).

Find out what other places you can explore here.

Photos: star5112, Keith Roper, Travelourplanet (flickr)

The following article is excerpted from beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide 2011. Download a PDF copy here or visit this page to order a free print copy for home delivery.

Be warned: The toughest thing in Beijing to make a clean break from will be your car, especially since the new license lottery has taken effect. Nowadays, person-to-person sales can only take place when the buyer already has a car permit. Don’t let this discourage you though. It’s worth trying to find someone for a person-to-person sale, as you will have a better chance of selling your car for the price you want. Put your car on the market as soon as possible. You can advertise the sale on the Beijinger and beijingkids classifieds.

Another alternative is going through a used car dealership. HuaxiangUsed Car Market is Beijing’s largest used car market with over 300 dealers and over 3,000 cars on any given day. Places like this are both good and bad; you will probably sell your car, but you’ll have to negotiate like crazy and in the end, will probably end up selling at a less than desirable price. If you do end up at a used car lot, bring a translator and don’t give off the impression that you’re desperate to sell. Michael Connors

RESOURCES

Huaxiang Used Car Market 花乡二手车交易市场
111B, Nansihuan Zhonglu, Fengtai District (135 2050 6800)
丰台区南四环中路B区111

the Beijinger Classifieds
www.thebeijinger.com/classifieds

beijingkids Classifieds
www.beijing-kids.com/classifieds

The following article is excerpted from beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide 2011. Download a PDF copy here or visit this page to order a free print copy for home delivery.

You don’t want to leave Beijing regretting not having lived it up. You’ve probably done all the big hits by now, so we’ve concentrated our must-see list on some lesser-known activities designed to take your family down narrow hutongs and into the heart of Beijing.

eat weird street food
If someone back home asks if you ate any of weird street food in Beijing, you should be able to say, "But of course!" Head to Wangfujing Snack Street to sample deep-fried, well, anything: starfish, beetles, scorpions, centipedes, testicles. Dare to try at least two morsels, then tell everyone back home about the weird foods you didn’t try – showing them you still have some standards. The night market also makes for some amazing photo-album-worthy family snaps.

Wangfujing 王府井
Daily 10am-10pm. 277 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区王府井大街277号

make and fly a kite
In some parts of the world, telling someone to go fly a kite is insulting.In China, it just sounds like a good idea. You and your family can make your own kites – the China Cultural Centre (CCC) offers a class about once a month – and afterwards, head to nearby Chaoyang or Si’de Park to fly your new creations. Plus, these kites will make great souvenirs for your kids’ rooms.

China Culture Center
Kent Center, 29 Anjialou, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (6432 9341) www.chinaculturecenter.org
朝阳区亮马桥路29号安家楼肯特中心

family cooking class
Knowing your way around a wok can only broaden your culinary horizons. It may also give you ideas on how to spice up your own home cooking. Plus, cooking classes are a great family activity. The Hutong offers a slew of regional-Chinese cooking classes, as well as market tours.

The Hutong
1 Jiudaowan Zhongxiang Hutong (southeast of Beixinqiao subway station), Dongcheng District (6404 3355) www.thehutong.com
东城区九道湾中巷胡同1号(北新桥地铁站东南边）

do kung fu
Imagine your whole family dressed up as kung fu legends – this can be a reality. Various schools offer kung fu courses that can be tailored to your skill level, from black belt to little tiny belts. Try Jinghua Wushu Association, run by kung fu master Liu Xiaoyun and his experienced team. Classes are available at various international schools and clubhouses for both children and adults.

Jinghua Wushu Association
Beijing Riviera: Mon 4.30-5.30pm (ages 4-7), Wed 5-6 pm (ages 4-7). Kempinski Pulse Club: Thu 5-6.30pm (ages 7-9), Sat 3-4.30pm (ages 7-9), Sat 4.30-6pm (ages 7-9), Sun 4-5.30pm (ages 4-6). Adult classes and private lessons also available. RMB 700/ten classes. (135 2228 3751 English/French, 131 4107 2677 English/Chinese) www.jinghuawushu.com

dine at the top of the town
Make one last romantic memory with a dinner to remember at one of Beijing’s high-end, high-up restaurants. Grill 79 is Beijing’s highesteatery at the near-top of the World Trade Centre. Known for excellent-but-simple steaks and seafood, there is more than just novelty to this glitzy restaurant. Not far away is the China Grill at the top of Yintai Centre, which offers elegant takes on traditional Chinese dishes and serious cuts of beef. If dining at China Grill, we recommend Mom and Dad hire a babysitter and head over to China Bar (located on the same floor as China Grill) for post-dinner cocktails with a view. Alternatively, go a few floors down to Xiu for a nightcap out on what is arguably the best inner-city patio in Beijing.

China Bar
Sun-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am. 65/F, Park Hyatt, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (8567 1838/40)
朝阳区建国门外大街2号柏悦酒店65层

China Grill
Daily 6-10.30am, 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm. 66/F, Park Hyatt Beijing, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (8567 1234)
朝阳区建国门外大街2号柏悦酒店66层

Grill 79
Mon-Thu and Sun noon-2am; Fri-Sat noon-4am. 79/F, China World Summit Wing, China World Trade Center Phase 3, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6505 2299 ext 6424)
朝阳区朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸大酒店79楼

Xiu
Sun-Wed 6pm-2am, Thu-Sat 6pm-3am. 6/F, Park Life (entrance across from the Park Hyatt hotel lobby), Yintai Center, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (8567 1108)
朝阳区建国门外大街2号柏悦酒店6层银泰中心悦生活6层

KTV superstardom
It’s time to bust out your best rendition of "Don’t Stop Believing" with your kids doing backup vocals. KTV might not sound like a family affair, but trust us when we say that it is seriously fun for all ages and will give you something to laugh about for years to come. If you’re going to do karaoke, it’s best to do it right. Wain Wain in CBD offers sleek private rooms, a 35-story view, and perhaps the best selection of English songs in Beijing. Booking an afternoon or early evening session will help you avoid the too-cool-for-school twenty-somethings and cashed-up businessmen – it’s cheaper, too! 

Wain Wain 和饮轮饮
Daily 11am-2.30am. Rm 3512, Bldg A, Soho New Town, 88 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (8589 4383)
朝阳区建国路88号Soho现代城A座3512室

children of the revolution
Relive the idealism and kitsch of the height of the communist era by visiting the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Follow this up with dinner at the Red Capital Club – a restaurant that "wraps yourself in the dream of the 1950s." The dining experience will resemble that of a Communist Party banquet, with ornately carved vegetables alongside some of Mao’s favorite dishes.

Red Capital Club 新红资俱乐部
Daily 6pm-midnight. 66 Dongsi Jiutiao, Dongcheng District (6402 7150) www.redcapitalclub.com.cn 东城区东四九条66号  

english corner at renmin university
Locals who have a thirst for English conversation head to the open-air English Corner at Renmin University. This is a great opportunity for your kids to ask locals questions about life in China, or simply try an informal language exchange session.

Fridays 7-10pm. In a garden inside the east gate of Renmin University (Haidian District) 人民大学东门花园 (海淀区)

take a bike tour to the great wall
Everything looks better from the seat of a bike. Visit the Great Wall and other Beijing-area attractions with an organized bike tour. Bike Beijing is a well-known club that offers a variety of trips – from family-friendly two town tours to serious seven-day adventures.

Bike Beijing 康多
Trips to the Great Wall start at RMB 950 (adult) and RMB 600 (child). 34 Donghuangchenggen Nanjie, Dongcheng District (133 8140 0738) www.bikebeijing.com
东城区东皇城根南街34

hutong home-stay
No stay in Beijing is complete without experiencing life in a traditional Chinese hutong. Templeside Delux Hutong House Hotel is quaint, charming and centrally located. Sip tea in the courtyard or rent a bike and explore the surrounding hutongs.

Templeside Deluxe Hutong House Hotel
2 Baitaxiang, Zhaodengyu Lu, Xicheng District (6617 2571)
西城区赵登禹路白塔巷2号

The following article is excerpted from beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide 2011. Download a PDF copy here or visit this page to order a free print copy for home delivery.

There are a couple of options for getting rid of your big things. Host a moving sale, invite friends and make a day of it! Or, advertise online on the beijingkids’ or The Beijinger’s classifieds. Roundabout Charity Store and Freecycle Beijing are good places to pass on your large items as well.

Otherwise, you can actually hire one of the locals to take it off your hands and onto the back of their bikes. They’ll even pay you for your old appliances and furniture. To go about this, ask around your compound for a man with a bike trailer. They can also move furniture for you. This will cost you, but you can negotiate a fair price. Alternatively, find out whether your ayi needs, or knows someone who needs, some furniture.

RESOURCES

beijingkids Classifieds
www.beijing-kids.com/classifieds

the Beijinger Classifieds
www.thebeijinger.com/classifieds

Roundabout Charity Distribution Store
Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm. Opposite the East Gate of the International School of Beijing, 10 Anhua Jie, Shunyi District (137 1801 1124 English, 137 1805 3814 Chinese only) www.roundaboutchina.com 顺义区北京顺义国际学校东门的对面，安华街10号

Freecycle Beijing Yahoo Group
www.freecycle.org
groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleBeijing/

The following article is excerpted from beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide 2011. Download a PDF copy here or visit this page to order a free print copy for home delivery.

It’s amazing how easily we accumulate stuff. This is the lesson we learn when it comes time to move and you face the prospect of transporting all that stuff. Here is a guide to purging your junk before you take off.

Getting rid of the little things in your life (toys, clothes, gadgets) will really take the weight off your shoulders. It’s recommended that you start this process two months in advance.

There’s nothing wrong with going the old-fashioned route and hosting your own garage sale. If convenient, you can host one from your apartment or apartment garden if suitable. Otherwise, many schools have garage sales. To find out the latest events, visit beijingkids.com.

Or give your small things a new lease on life and donate them. Roundabout Charity Distribution Store accepts toys, clothes, home electronics, kitchen supplies – pretty much anything that can be carried. The charity asks that everything should be in good, clean working condition.

There is also Freecycle Beijing, a Yahoo group open to all who want to pass on their goods to others in the community. Everything posted must be available for free.

Regarding recycling, people will actually pay you for your excess cardboard, paper and plastics. They won’t pay you much, but at least they’ll take it off your hands. Simply seek out one of these people on the street and arrange for them to come and get your stuff, or ask your HR department if they can help arrange a collection for you.

When Barbara Strother, co-author of Living Abroad in China moved to Beijing 14 years ago, something from her childhood came back to haunt her: dinosaurs. "I didn’t realize just how much China was affecting me until one night I had a nightmare that I often had as a child," recalled Strother. "Dinosaurs were outside the house and it was unsafe to go out."

Strother found having this dream both amusing and confronting. "It revealed to me what I had dealt with as a shy child and what I was dealing with in adjusting to the culture in China – those dinosaurs represented the strangers that scared me."

the honeymoon period After the initial allure of living abroad, we often succumb to feelings of anxiety, fear and unease. This is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of. It’s part of culture shock. After your honeymoon phase in a new country is over – that stage when you see everything in a romantic light – your new surroundings can feel unsettling, overwhelming, and undesirable.

Experts who study culture shock refer to this as the negotiation phase. It’s a time when apparent differences in culture – the same ones that were once endearing – begin to seem strange and offensive. Yes, the honeymoon is over, and it will take some effort to get over  those cross-cultural hang-ups.

you have to want it "Once I realized what was going on with my emotions, I set out to do something about it," said Strother. "One day when putting my kids down for their afternoon nap, I happened to put in their favorite Raffi tape. It had a song that went something like this: ‘I’m gonna take a walk outside today; gonna see what I can find today.’ I found confidence in those joyful lines. Though Raffi was singing about finding squirrels and naming them Earl, I determined to get out and interact with people with the same joyful confidence that Raffi felt for nature." Realizing what’s going on in your mind is the first step to dealing with culture shock. The second step is overcoming your fears. "Ironically,what I most love about China now is the way it is so easy to interact with strangers," says Strother. "I love starting conversations with someone sitting next to me on a bus, or a taxi driver, or a street vendor. I love how interested they are, and how delighted they become when a foreigner wants to engage them in a conversation." What Strother did was both obvious and brave – she communicated. Experts agree that communication is crucial in dealing with culture shock. That might be easier said than done in a land as foreign as China, but communication can take many forms, and it just means interacting with others to the best of your abilities – smiles, hellos and goodbyes go a long way.

"Having kids really helps you integrate into the culture," says Jenni Johnson about her 3-year-old son Nate and her 4-year-old son Noah. "It’s like a magnet for integrating with Chinese people." Johnson and her husband TJ, both from South Arkansas in the US, admitted that at first they had some things to get over – they even considered going back home – but now the couple are in their element in Beijing. "I thought the crotchless pants thing was a joke. Then I found out it was true. I thought, ‘My son slides down the same slide that that kid does.’ Great." Now, the Johnsons are delighted that their children have the chance to play with kids of all different cultures, and feel that their perseverance has rewardedtheir family with a fantastic international experience.

kids and culture shock "The biggest cultural adjustment our kids faced was the attention," says Strother. "China is great for kids who like attention all the time, but can be misery for kids who want to be left alone." Children will most likely experience less culture shock than their parents – they may be annoyed by something new or miss something old, but they are generally more adaptable. "Parental attitudes towards culture are the biggest predictors of how much culture shock the younger kids will experience," stressed Strother. Experts encourage parents to maintain an open and decidedly positive dialogue with their children about their new environs.

overcoming the shock Bad toilets, persistent spitting and sticky sidewalks might be annoying, but it’s important not to fixate on the things you can’t change. The telltale signs of culture shock include excessive concern over cleanliness, irritability, and stereotyping of host nationals. All of these behaviors only serve to reinforce the divide between you and the locals. What follows is a rejection by – and a rejection of – the new culture.

Another sign of culture shock is a sense of helplessness, which may stem from feeling a loss of purpose. When we move, we may have to give up a stable identity and this can create anxiety. It’s important to find new activities to replace the ones we left at home. Try your best to not oversleep – this is one of the most common forms of withdrawal.

Rapid social change, as experienced with a big move, takes some getting used to. There will undoubtedly be periods where irritability bubbles to the surface. It’s important that you don’t give up trying to adapt. "It’s about being open to change, and change is a very scary thing for most of us," says Strother. "If you feel like an outsider on a temporary assignment, there’s not enough incentive to navigate that uncharted emotional territory. You have to want it. Without anticipation of the rewards at the other end, people give up."

"We could see ourselves living here for a long time," says the Johnsons. The family does miss home and family at times, but their weekly Skype chats keep them in the loop and have helped smooth out the bumps. "Get out of the country when you need a break," urges Strother. "Going home for a spell can help. A little bit of Bali doesn’t hurt either!" Everybody experiences culture shock in different ways – it can be a daunting learning process. It is the confrontation of all that you know put up against a completely new reality. It is a test you have to accept. You may be in China for one year, you may be here for ten. Whatever the case, what you feel and how you react to these feelings is part of your self-growth. Just remember, experiencing culture shock is completely normal, but it only happens under amazing circumstances, so get out there and live it up.

China values education, and this starts at a very young age. Recently, a lot of kindergartens have been exposed as ‘inadequate’. According to China Daily, the government has admitted that young education is ‘the weakest part of our country’s education,.’

The perceived lack of good schools coupled with parent’s desire to give their children the best learning experience possible has created a scenario where schools squeeze parents with ‘enrollment’ and ‘sponsorship’ fees, and parents willingly pad their pockets in an attempt to guarantee admission. No one will call it bribery, but no one will call it fair either.

The rules of the enrollment game might change though, as several ministry-level departments have prohibited parents’ enrollment and sponsorship fees in an attempt to level out the playing field. Complimenting this, the central government’s 2011 budget has allocated three billion yuan (USD462 million) to "support the development of rural preschool education in central and western regions and ethnic minority areas".

On average, Chinese families spend around 14 percent of their annual income on education, with that number hovering around 18 percent for families who earn less than RMB80,000 per year. To compare, American’s spend three to four percent of their annual income on education, according to 2006 figures.