The color of food serves as a great compliment in culinary art, but in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it can also act as a guide to eat accordingly in different seasons for health reinforcement.

In TCM, food is categorized into five colors according to its nature and complimentary function. Usually, Black foods are best for winter, green for spring, red for summer, yellow for late summer and white for autumn.

As we might have noticed, Beijing’s autumn can be quite dry and easily bring damage to our digestive system and cause coughing and sore throat. The following are some of the most popular white foods that are believed to be the best remedies to not only relieve coughing but also help to nourish our skin.

Pear
If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, you may also consider to add a pear in autumn. In TCM, autumn is a season to nourish the lung when the lung energy becomes dominant. Pear is considered to have a cold and nourishing nature that helps to balance the yang in our body and prevents dryness. Eat it raw if you like but it functions better in treating coughing when cooked in soup.

White fungus
White fungus is also called snow fungus. It is similar in texture to the black fungus which is commonly used in Chinese cold dish and hot pot. White fungus is commonly cooked in sweet soups, with pear or papaya. The taste is refreshing and women love it because it also helps to nourish the skin. It is worth mention that white fungus can help reduce lung damage from smoking too.

Lily bulbs
Beautiful lily is more than just an ornamental flower. Lily bulb, which is typically gathered in the autumn, cleaned, then sun dried, is one of the most suitable autumn recipes.  The moisture nature of lily bulbs can help calm the uneasiness sprit during seasonal change. It can be cooked sweet together with other ingredients such as white fungus and honey, or quick fried with celery and garlic.

Lotus seed
Lotus seed can be purchased in both Chinese grocery stores and pharmacies. It has similar function with the above ingredients but with a stronger cold nature. If you have a fever or a sour throat from eating spicy food, lotus seed can quickly suppress the heat, but it may cause diarrhea from having too much.  For general health care in autumn, we suggest you adding less than a handful of lotus seeds and make a sweet soup with pear, white fungus and lily bulbs. The trick is to use crystal sugar (cold nature) instead of regular sugar, and to cook slowly with gentle fire.

Lotus root
Yes, lotus does us tremendous benefits. Its root is not only edible, but also delicious. You can cook lotus root in many ways: steam it, stew it, or fry it.  It has strings in it after you slice it off, which looks like spider net to me. The best dish that I like it to be cooked is stew it with chicken.

Yam
Yams with peel look like a rusty, yet wooden rod, that’s why many Chinese people would call it “Iron Rod Yam”. It is usually steamed to eat. The texture is starchy, without quite any flavor, but many Chinese people love dipping it with sugar to eat. When you peel it, be very careful of its mucus, it can cause you irritated skin and make you feel very itchy.

White Bean
This kind of bean is much bigger than regular beans that we see every day. It tastes very starchy. People boil it with pepper and aniseed, the flavor is ok. You can take it as staple food.

Water Chestnut
Indigenous to Southeast Asia, fresh water chestnuts need to be peeled from its muddy coating, or you can use it in stuffing. It’s good for clearing your lung. Very good for smokers. You can take it as fruit.

We hope you enjoy a better autumn with the white food. However, do not get obsessed with only the white. The fundamental theories about TCM are all about balance, and life is supposed to be colorful.

Though we often try to wean our children (and ourselves) off of technology, connecting to others is the usually the first step when moving to a new place. Living in a new country without access to a mobile phone can leave you feeling helpless, and even desperate. The good news is that many services are but a phone call away in Beijing – but first, you need a phone.

Does My Mobile Phone Work in China?
In the past, most mobile phones bought outside the Chinese mainland wouldn’t work here. Fortunately, that changed when smart phones started to dominate the market. Your old smart phone should work here with a local SIM card, as long as it’s unlocked (not tied to a payment plan from your home country). If the new SIM card you bought needs to be cut to fit your phone, service providers can help.

Buying a Mobile Phone
If you need a new phone, rejoice! Like the rest of Asia, Beijing is obsessed with new technology and has phones for every need. Though they’re sold everywhere from shops to supermarkets, we recommend going to an established chain such as Dazhong, Gome, Wal-Mart, Suning, or Sundan (see Directories under Shopping), where prices are reasonable and authenticity is guaranteed. Though iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices dominate the market, basic Nokia models can still be found for under RMB 300.

Bargain markets like the Silk Market and Yashow Market offer cheap phones at negotiable prices, but they don’t come with any warranties or after-sale service. Zhongguancun has the largest electronics market in Beijing and used to be called “China’s Silicon Valley,” but has lost considerable ground to online shopping sites like Jingdong (JD.com) and Amazon China. The latter launched an English
interface earlier this year and offers a “Cash on Delivery” option, making Internet shopping a cinch for those who can’t read Chinese.

If you go straight to the source (China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom) to buy a phone, be sure to bring your passport. You’ll find all the big-name brands in different price ranges, and many monthly payment plans come with a phone. If you just want to buy an iPhone, head to one of the official Apple Stores.

SIM Cards
Prepaid SIM cards can be found at the airport, newspaper stands, and tobacco stores. You can also go to one of the larger branches of China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom, where there is often an English-speaking member of staff on hand. Generally, China Mobile is known for its better network coverage while China Unicom offers 3G service.

Chinese people are very superstitious about numbers; many are willing to spend more to get a phone number that includes the number 8 and excludes the number 4. If that’s not an issue, you can get a SIM card for under RMB 100 with prepaid phone credit. Prepaid SIM cards usually charge RMB 0.60 per minute for incoming and outgoing calls, and RMB 0.10 per SMS.

If you need to buy an iPhone-compatible SIM card separately, bring your passport to any branch of China Unicom and take a number. If you already have a SIM card that needs to be cut to fit your new iPhone, China Unicom can also help. Many authorized Apple resellers also offer a cutting service. If you need to buy an iPhone-compatible SIM card separately, bring your passport to any branch of China Unicom and take a number.

Topping Up
Recharge cards can be bought in denominations of RMB 30, 50, or 100 at local newspaper stands and convenience stores. The shopkeeper will ask for your provider, but always double-check that the card matches your phone network. If you have a monthly plan, most service providers offer online payment with a Chinese credit card or bank card. Note that online banking must be enabled in advance at your bank for the latter payment option.

International Calls
For overseas or roaming calls, go to a China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom branch with your phone and passport. Once the agent has registered your phone into the system, they’ll enable your SIM card to receive international calls. You have to prepay at least RMB 500 to activate this service. International calls range from RMB 0.3 to RMB 4 per minute depending on your location in China.

You can also buy an international IP card from a newspaper stand to take advantage of local rates when making international calls. These range from RMB 30-40 and will cost you only RMB 0.15-0.30 per minute depending on your location in China.

Of course, most people use Skype on their computer or smart phone nowadays. The Skype website (www.skype.thom or www.skype.com) contains pricing for international calls, including unlimited calling between two countries for a reasonable monthly fee.

Chinese social media app WeChat is the newest star in international telecommunications. The free app allows users to bypass SMS charges, leave each other voice messages, and even communicate walkie-talkie style. The latest version supports international phone calls between two WeChat users.

The Complete Package
Of the three main service providers, only China Unicom currently offers 3G service for iPhones. Though China Mobile has already rolled out 4G services, the consensus is that the network is still very unstable. At the time this article was written, China Unicom was also planning to offer 4G and had started promoting the service on its website, but no dates have been announced.

China Unicom’s 3G packages range from RMB 66 to RMB 866 per month, depending on the number of text messages, minutes, and amount of data included. For example, the RMB 96 package gets you 340MB of data and 240 minutes per month. A free SIM card is included in the plan. You have a pay a deposit and register with your passport.

Though their legality is disputed, many songs, movies, and videos can be enjoyed for free in China from your phone. Baidu Music and QQ Music are popular music streaming and downloading apps, while TV Sohu and Youku are great for watching videos and movies. Enjoy!

This article originally appeared in the beijingkids Home & Relocation Guide 2014. To get your free copy, email distribution@truerun.com or view it online at Issuu.

When in China, do as the Chinese do. You’re embarking on a utilities journey that will most likely be in stark contrast to your previously smooth and efficient daily routine. Beijing’s complex system of top-up cards and specialized ATMs can be confusing even for hardened expats. Here are some tips to point you in the right direction.

Electricity
After you’ve signed the lease, you’ll get an electricity card from either your landlord or your agent. In newer buildings, it’s one card per meter and one meter per apartment. The electricity meters are usually contained in a closet on the hallway of each floor. If there’s no shared entryway, the electricity meter will typically be on the first or top floor; just ask your landlord.

Each meter box is labeled with an apartment number. The meter should say in red digits how much money you have left. Some landlords can help top up the electricity meter if you give them a certain amount each month. But most of the time, you’ll be responsible for recharging the electricity yourself at a bank.

Older hutong houses, on the other hand, often have several electricity meters per dwelling; you can spot dense networks of these outside many siheyuan (courtyard homes) in neighborhoods like Gulou and Andingmen. Topping up electricity is a different process; usually, you just take the meter number directly to China Postal Savings Bank and tell the clerk how much money you want to put on it. (Don’t ask us why.) You can only pay in cash.

The electricity bill can vary wildly per month depending on the season and type of housing you live in. For example, old and badly-insulated hutong houses with electric radiators usually eat up a lot of electricity in the winter. However, prices are reasonable; many electric radiators can also be set to crank up the heat late at night, when electricity costs the least. Make a habit of tracking your monthly electricity consumption and over time you’ll develop a much better sense of how much to put on the card.

How to Pay for Electricity at the Bank
You have two options: Get help from a bank clerk or top up your card through one of the ATMs. For the first option, take a number and wait. Once you get to a service window, give the clerk your electricity card and some money; it should be obvious what you’re here for.

To top up your card at the ATM machine, you’ll have to go through a Chinese-language menu. Every bank is a bit different, and not all banks have this option. At China Merchants Bank, for example, you access the menu by selecting “No-Card Option.” You’ll then be prompted to enter your China Merchants Bank card number and insert the electricity card. You can then specify how many units of electricity (not RMB) you want to put on the card.

Keep the receipt. Generally, this is a good habit to get into in China. Sometimes, the landlord will ask you for proof of payment – best to keep a record, just in case.

Should you lose your electricity card, don’t panic. Call the hotline of Beijing Electricity Corporation (95588), which has an English service. That said, keep your electricity card safe; replacing it is more trouble than it’s worth.

Gas
Picture this: It’s a sunny Saturday morning and you’re finally getting to sleep in. Suddenly, there’s a loud, heavy knock on the door; it’s a woman with a shiny work badge from the gas company pinned to her chest. She barges straight into your kitchen, where she declares that you forgot to pay the gas bill.
Like many Chinese families, you’ve just been served. At the beginning of every month, the gas company usually leaves a discreet white notice on the bulletin board of each building. Many locals fail to see this and receive an abrupt visit like the one we just described. In some compounds, the management office takes care of this.

The most common way to pay gas is with a card. The latter is provided by the landlord and can be inserted into your gas meter to recharge it. You can put money on the card using a special machine at any Bank of Beijing branch. The price of gas varies costs around RMB 2.28 per unit or RMB 2.84 per unit in fancier compounds. That’s because high-end complexes tend to use “commercial gas” – the same you would find in shops and restaurants. RMB 100 buys you just over 40 units of gas, which should cover the average family for about a month.

Once the card is charged, insert it in the gas meter and hold it for a few seconds; you’ll hear a “beep” when it’s synced. The number on the meter should then be updated with the number of units you just bought. Put your card in a safe place and away from magnetic objects. If you lose or damage it, call Beijing Gas at 96777 (Chinese only).

Many hutong homes have propane gas tanks that must be switched when they’re empty. Don’t worry; the process is much simpler than you think:

• Call Beijing Gas at 96777.
• An automated menu will play. Press 2.
• There will be an agent at the end of the line. They don’t speak English, so you’ll have to ask a Chinese-speaking friend or learn to say the following: 要一罐燃气，送上门 (yao yi guan ranqi, song shang men). That means, “I need a propane tank to be delivered to my door.”
• The agent will ask for your account number, which the landlord should have given you when you moved in.
• Once the agent finds your account number, they may or may not ask you what time you want the tank delivered. If you don’t specify a time, note that it may take several hours.
• That’s it! Now just sit back and wait. The propane tank should cost around RMB 120.

Water
As with gas, someone from the water company will check your water meter every month and may sometimes ask for the money directly. Be careful; some families have been swindled by such people. Sometimes, the person will claim that giving the money to them is the same as giving the money to the bank. Ask them to give you a bill and pay for it at the bank yourself.

You can’t drink tap water here, so most people buy a water dispenser and order 4L jugs of water. Reliable brands include Nongfu Spring (农夫山泉), Nestle (雀巢), and Watson’s (屈臣氏), which has English service. You can order them through a bottled water company, a supermarket, or an online shopping site. Buying in bulk usually saves money; for example, you can pre-pay ten jugs of Nongfu Spring for around RMB 200 and the company will throw in a bottle for free. When the jug is empty, the delivery man will exchange your old bottle for a new one and collect one of your water coupons (水票, shuipiao).

Internet
As you may already know, there are three network providers in Beijing: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. Each company is considered to have its pros and cons. For instance, China Mobile has better coverage nationwide while China Unicom has Internet and landline combo packages. China Telecom isn’t particularly popular, perhaps due to a lack of advertising.

For broadband Internet, make sure there’s a landline in your apartment. You can arrange to have one installed by going to China Unicom with your landlord, who will need to bring their Chinese ID. Some branches accept photocopies of their ID, but be sure to bring your own passport either way.

Once the landline is in place, call China Unicom’s hotline at 10010 (press 9 for English service). Broadband prices range from RMB 1,500-3,000 per year depending on Internet speed, which vary from 4MB to 100MB. Don’t be fooled, however; you’re lucky to reach speeds of 20MB in Beijing, so don’t overpay for a service that won’t be delivered. Get 12 months for the price of ten if you pay the Internet fee upfront, or pay monthly at no discount.

Once Internet is set up at your house, you’ll no doubt want to install Wi-Fi. You can purchase a router at any electronics market or on websites like Amazon China or JD.com. For some reason, they’re not directly available from China Unicom. Recommended brands include TP-Link, Net-Core, Net-Gear, TENDA, and Buffalo. Follow the instructions to configure the router and set up a password; if they’re in Chinese, simply Google English instructions for your specific model.

Because you didn’t purchase the router from China Unicom, you’ll have to call the seller or a third-party company if it malfunctions. We recommend JD.com for the quality of their after-sales service. If the router breaks within the warranty period, JD.com will often replace it for free rather than repair it.

This article originally appeared in the beijingkids Home & Relocation Guide 2014. To get your free copy, email distribution@truerun.com or view it online at Issuu.

The following article was written by Elva Li, the deputy managing editor of JingKids (beijingkids’ Chinese-language sister magazine). She and former beijingkids staff writer Oscar Holland recently had a chance to sit down with Chinese sports hero Yao Ming at the opening of his eponymous basketball school in Wukesong – the NBA Yao School.

When writing these interview questions, I fixated on a picture of Yao Ming and wondered about the defining moment of his life. Was it when he joined the Chinese national basketball team at age 18, was voted FIBA Asia Championship MVP at age 21, served as the flag bearer at the Olympic opening ceremony at age 24, or bought the Shanghai Sharks – his first club team – at age 29?

It wasn’t until I met Yao Ming at the MasterCard Center in Wukesong that I got a hint of an answer. As he stooped down to give his full attention to his younger fans, completely unfazed by the flashes of cameras going off all around him, I realized that becoming a father was perhaps the most significant moment of Yao’s life.

Our interview took place at the opening of his long-awaited NBA Yao School, which offers basketball programs for kids and teens from both the local and expat communities. The core values of the school are teamwork, respect, persistence, a positive attitude, punctuality, and efficiency, he said in a speech to the various media outlets and families in attendance. “We hope that the kids can develop social skills and a strong sense of teamwork, and feel the joy that sports can bring,” he said.

We got a chance to catch up with Yao after the speech and ask him about his aspirations for the school, as well as what it means to be father to 3-year-old Yao Qinlei.

What is the goal of the NBA Yao School?
It’s not about training professionals, but getting kids to enjoy playing basketball and achieve all-round development. We wanted to give this chance to a broader group of students; although China has a population of over 1.3 billion, we only have 1,000 to 2,000 registered basketball players.

In addition, students’ fitness levels have been declining in schools over the past few years, which allows the NBA Yao School to play a complementary role in boosting kids’ physical well-being. I have always held the belief that physical education is an important part of a well-rounded education; it completes education just as art does. Physical education not only promotes fitness, but also cultivates strong will.

What is the school’s educational philosophy?
If an excellent basketball player emerged from my school in the future, I would definitely be proud of them. However, the NBA Yao School is more like a “life school.” We want to cultivate kids with communication skills, a desire to make friends, team spirit, a winning attitude, and leadership qualities. NBA Yao School aims to lay the foundation for the skills that best prepare kids for university and higher education.

What will be your role?
Personally, I will take part in selecting basketball coaches, designing the best courses, promoting and operating the school, and evaluating the kids after they go through the program. But the day-to-day work will be overseen by professionals.

In your speech, you emphasized that kids should make more friends. Why?
Most kids nowadays opt to stay within the small circle of their classmates. I had an additional circle when I was young: the friends I played basketball with. As we grow up, we’re thrust into a world of opportunities. We never know who we’ll run into, but when we meet someone for the first time, we should take an open attitude and talk to them on a human level.

Now, kids tend to adopt this attitude [pretends to play on his phone]. Their communication skills gradually deteriorate. It’s only when people are face-to-face – when they can perceive each other’s body language, expressions, even the slightest muscle movement on another’s face – that they can build a more solid friendship. An iPad or an iPhone can never replace sports in this sense, so we believe that the NBA Yao School will be a great platform for developing communication skills.

Three hundred million people play basketball in this country, yet at the Olympics China didn’t win a game. What needs to change in the way that kids are taught basketball to start translating numbers into success?
We have to change the [reason]why they play basketball. Right now, a lot of people – especially the professionals – play the game not because they like it, but because they have to. Their motivation has to shift into real interest…I can’t say [this is the whole reason], but there needs to be more balance.

What has changed the most since you’ve become a father?
Patience. [When my daughter was born], that was the first time I had to be with a child for such an extended period. We were all kids once, but we gradually grew up and matured, learning to do everything at a fast pace and becoming less patient in the process. But when we talk to a child, we have to regain this patience by reviewing what we ourselves learned as kids and pass it on to them. We come to recall the times we were taught by our own parents and pass on this torch of love.

Tell us a bit about your home life. Do you get to spend much time with your daughter?
My wife has more time with our daughter. [Qinlei] is interested in every toy right now; she is really active and won’t stop moving around – but I don’t mean to say she’s good at sports. [Laughs] She’s just over 3 now, and often speaks Mandarin or Shanghai dialect at home and English at her kindergarten. She’s sometimes lost in her own world, talking to little dolls in English – it’s so funny.

Having lived in the US, can you share with us your opinion on your daughter’s education?
First, I hope to preserve her curiosity; that’s what keeps us engaged when exploring and studying. Secondly, I believe in employing the right learning methods and techniques. I think these two factors will allow her to progress on this exciting but arduous journey.

I also believe that sports promote development. I recently spoke with a professor who studies sports theory at a sports university. He told me about an interesting theory: in the course of human evolution, physical activity contributed to the development of our thinking abilities.

Our primitive ancestors had to run in order to hunt, thus developing a system of logic and contributing to the evolution of human intelligence. When they learned to use tools such as wooden sticks or flint, this opened up another way of thinking, and they evolved, step-by-step, into what we are today. Whether in hunting or farming, these basic forms of sport – and more advanced forms like basketball – make us better and smarter. This actually isn’t a new theory, but it sounds novel because we place so much emphasis on studying.

The old saying goes: “All brawn and no brains.”
Don’t forget, it was lazy people who created escalators and washing machines.

I understand that you attended a basketball summer camp in the US at the age of 17?
I was in France at 17, the US at 18. My English wasn’t very good back then; communication was hard despite there being an interpreter present. I had an innate desire to communicate, whether it was in France, the UK, the US, or Africa.

Did you feel culture shock?
It wasn’t that much of a shock because I was too young to understand at the time. Living in Shanghai also gave me the advantage of having exposure to many foreigners, so I wasn’t that shocked to see more. It was also 2000 when I was 18; society was more open by then.

Do you plan to send your daughter to a local public school or an international school?
I believe it would be a combination. I’d like her to get a solid foundation in Chinese culture and language, then experience a more diverse upbringing.

If your daughter decides to become a basketball player in the future, will you be supportive?
She’s too young right now. But I think she needs to do sports; they’re part of well-balanced education. Team sports teach kids how to communicate, be a leader, stay fit, and also face failure. If she eventually makes the decision [to become a basketball player], I will be behind her the whole way.

In China, Yao Ming is said to have “three highs”: high stature, high IQ, and high EQ (emotional intelligence). After talking to him in person, I found that this wasn’t just a media fabrication. He occasionally flashed one of his signature smiles and revealed an easygoing but thoughtful personality. It was clear that he believed IQ plays a decisive role in how a person does something, while EQ plays a decisive role in whether that person will succeed.

During the interview, Yao told us that the first lesson that he learned after becoming a dad was patience. He also spoke about his mixed feelings about the prospect of his daughter inheriting his career and his concerns for kids in the digital age, emphasized the relationship between sports and education, and told us about his philosophy of being the gateway to emotional intelligence.

He gave eloquent answers to our questions while remaining tactful and measured in his responses. At the same time, he had no trouble exchanging banter with the other reporters. If Yao was a teacher, he would make a good one; he has discerned the important of emotional intelligence in a child’s development, which has often been neglected in modern education. Yao is also the ultimate cool dad. Of all his crowning achievements, his daughter ranks the highest.

To find out more about the NBA Yao School’s basketball programs, visit www.nbayaoschool.com.

Photos: MISHKA FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY, and courtesy of NBA CHINA

This article originally appeared on p44-47 of the beijingkids April 2014 issue. Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com

1. Paralyzed Chinese Gymnast Welcomes Baby Boy
During the 1998 Goodwill Games in the US, rising Chinese gymnast Sang Lan (桑兰) shocked the country when she fell during a vault routine and became paralyzed from the waist down. Confined to a wheelchair ever since, she made the news again recently after giving birth to a healthy baby boy on April 14. Congratulations, Sang Lan! (Perhaps you’d like to submit his photo and details to our New Arrivals column?)

2. NLGX Food Stalls Shut Over Public Health Concerns
Perenially-crowded Nanluoguxiang (NLGX) has tons of little snack stalls with lines snaking out the door. We weren’t too surprised to find out that they were recently shut down over hygiene concerns. The reason? Too much garbage littering the streets. According to official figures, the number of food stalls has been reduced from 80 to 22. The extra space will be taken up by more “eco-friendly” shops.

3. One Hundred Doraemons to Descend on Beijing
From April 19 to June 22, 100 Doraemons will descend on Joy City Chaoyang. In case you’ve never heard of him, Doraemon is a cult figure from a Japanese animated series of the same name; he’s a blue robot cat from the future who can pull out fantastical tools from the pouch on his belly. Each of the 100 Doraemons in Beijing will have such a tool, including the “dream-come-true machine,” “door-to-any-destination,” “bamboo copter,” and time machine.
 

Chinese Social Media Roundup is a regular column that spotlights hot stories in the local media that may be of interest to expat families. It is written by Morgan Shang, beijingkids editorial assistant and born-and-bred Beijinger.

Photos: sohu.com, bj.people.com.cn

Dumplings, or jiaozi, are considered to be the food for Chinese New Year’s Eve (everyday as well) when the whole family gathers around one dining table. Jiaozi are both delicious and nutritious. Let’s take a look at how to make dumplings so you can prepare your own traditional feast.

First, prepare the filling. The filling can be vegetable, meat, sea food, or almost anything. (If you fill the dumplings with sweet things, it would be called tang yuan, dumplings most popular in the south part of China). The usual filling combinations are: pork and Chinese cabbage, scallion and beef, or Chinese chives and egg. Of course, you need to chop them into pieces first, and mash them, together, then mix in some salt, oil, ginger, and a small amount of water.

Next, make the wrapping. (If you don’t have the patience for making the wrapping, which can be an arduous process if you haven’t done it before, go to a local market and buy a stack of the wrappers, called jiaozi pi.)Get a big bowl of flour and add in water gradually while mixing them together to form a soft dough. Knead the dough for about ten minutes, then cover the dough with a clean piece of thin cloth for about 40 minutes.

When the dough is ready, scatter a little dry flour on a dry chopping board, knead and roll the dough on it into a long, round shape, and cut it into small pieces. Press the pieces into thin, round pieces so that they can hold the filling. Be careful not to make the skins too thin, otherwise they will burst upon boiling.

Finally, hold the round wrapping piece in one hand, and add in the filling with a spoon, and wrap it into semi-circle shaped, and knead it together, sort of like crimping together the crust of a pie. After this, you can put the dumplings into boiling water.

When the dumplings come to the surface, add a bowl of cold water to the pot. When the dumplings come to the surface again, they should be done. The whole process should take about 10 minutes.

Dip it with some vinegar and sesame oil, or even chili oil if you like, and enjoy traditional Chinese cuisine!

This post first appeared on February 12, 2013.

Photos courtesy of flickr users johnsember and kattlebelletje

For Beijingers, visiting a temple fair for Spring Festival is as traditional as making dumplings. Originally the site of sacrifices to village gods, the city’s temple fairs date from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). During the Liao Dynasty (916-1125 AD), the events also came to symbolize the arrival of spring. Over time, merchants and peddlers started selling their wares to the devotees who burned incense and paid tribute to the gods.

There are annual temple fairs both large and small in Beijing. During Spring Festival, revelers can expect cultural performances, vendors, scrumptious snacks, and traditional handicrafts. Folk performances include lion dances, cross talk (a form of Chinese comedy), kung fu demonstrations, puppet shows, and yangge (a type of harvest dance). You can also find clay figurines and paper cuts to decorate your home with.

This year, Spring Festival begins on January 31 and marks the Year of the Horse. There will be temple fairs scattered all over the city. To help you narrow down your options, we profile some of the more prominent ones.

The Busiest: Ditan Park Temple Fair 地坛庙会
The site of the oldest and most bustling temple fair in the capital, Ditan Park is a must-see for first-time attendees. Located by North Second Ring Road, this is where the imperial families of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties offered sacrifices to the god of the earth. A re-enactment of this ceremonial ritual is widely considered to be the highlight of the fair.

Walking through a sea of people and red lanterns in the park, you will come across folk performances, ancient costume displays, art exhibitions, snow sculptures, and venders selling traditional handicrafts. There are also snack stalls featuring specialties from Beijing, Sichuan, Tianjin, and Xinjiang, with vendors yelling in different dialects. However, note that this is not the best food you will ever have and prices are relatively high. Last year, a lamb kebab from the Xinjiang stall cost RMB 20. That being said, the temple fair’s lively ambiance is hard to beat. 

RMB 2. Jan 30 to Feb 6 8am-5pm. Ditan Park, A2, Andingmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District (6421 4657) 东城区安定门外大街2号地坛公园

The Most Regal: Yuanmingyuan Royal Temple Fair 圆明园皇家庙会
Once known as “the Versailles of the East,” Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace) was a bustling Spring Festival venue for the royal family during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Despite the site’s checkered past (it was pillaged and burned down by French and British forces during the Second Opium War), the administration office of Yuanmingyuan decided in 2010 to establish a temple fair. Although there has been debate on whether such a site should remain quiet as a reminder of its ill-fated history, the annual event remains popular among locals.  

The fair has activities like ice skating performances, a palace-themed culture exhibition, and a royal market, which offers imperial-style snacks, calligraphy, paintings, crafts, and more. Attendees can learn about the cuisine and costumes of the Qing Dynasty. Locals can also be spotted attempting to solve lantern riddles and practicing calligraphy.

RMB 10. Jan 31-Feb 6 7am-7:30pm. Yuanmingyuan, 28 Qinghua Xilu, Haidian
District (6261 7801) 海淀区清华西路28号圆明园

The Most Eclectic: Shijingshan Temple Fair 石景山庙会
Located at the crossroads of Xi Chang’an Jie and West Fifth Ring Road, the European-style Shijingshan Amusement park promotes itself as “the Disneyland of Beijing.” During the winter the park stays relatively quiet until Spring Festival, when it puts on a temple fair that seems more like a carnival parade than a traditional cultural event at times.

Besides traditional performances like lion dances and stilt-walking, the temple fair is known for its various exotic performances, ranging from Japanese fan dances to a Korean drum dances, Latin dancing, and Russian dances. This year, organizers are planning to have 41 Chinese food stalls, ten Western food stalls, and up to 20 stalls selling folk art, music, and snacks. The amusement park will continue to operate rides during the temple fair.

RMB 10. Jan 31-Feb 6, 9am-5pm. Shijingshan Amusement Park, 25 Shijingshan lu, Shijingshan District(6887 4060) 石景山区石景山路25号石景山游乐园

The Most Literary: Daguanyuan Temple Fair 大观园庙会
Daguanyuan is based on an aristocratic garden described in the masterpiece A Dream of Red Mansions by Qing Dynasty author Cao Xueqin (1715-1763). The garden was built in 1983 to serve as a backdrop for the CCTV television series of the same name; it was opened to the public in 1989.

At Daguanyuan’s temple fair, visitors can get a sense of the grandness of the Red Mansions and the luxurious lifestyle of an upper-class Chinese family. Refined dishes from the novel will be available to try and actors will re-enact some of the novel’s classic passages. However, you do not have to be a Chinese literature buff to enjoy the event. Kids will find yummy snacks, jigsaw puzzles, magician sets, and toys for sale.

RMB 40. Jan 31-Feb 4, 9am-5pm. Daguanyuan Temple, 12 Nancaiyuan Xijie, Xicheng District (6354 4993) 西城区南菜园西街12号大观园

The Most Authentic: Dongyue Temple Fair 东岳庙庙
Despite the name “temple fairs,” this is one of the only annual celebrations located in an actual temple. Founded during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Dongyue is a small Taoist temple was dedicated to the god of Mount Tai, one of China’s five Taoist sacred mountains. Despite its small size, Dongyue’s temple fair is considered the most traditional and is a favorite among locals. Many visitors attend especially to pray and burn incense. 

Entertainment usually includes kung fu shows, shadow puppetry, and Taoist music performances and exhibitions. Local calligraphers will be on hand to demonstrate the art of duilian, a couplet written on vertical strips of red paper especially for Spring Festival and given to visitors for free.

RMB 10. Jan 31-Feb 6, 8am-4.30pm. Dongyue Temple, 141 Chaoyangmen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6551 0151) 朝阳区朝阳门外大街141号东岳庙

Photo from Flickr user LMOON.TONG

This article originally appeared on p28-31 of the beijingkids January 2014 issue.

Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com

For the coming weeks, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from our upcoming 2014-2015 School Choice Guide, which comes out in early February 2014. Scroll down for more information on how to participate in our annual school choice fair in March 2014.

Jack and Jill Children’s Center is a full-day childcare and education provider. The child-focused teaching practices are the cornerstone of a dynamic learning process designed to build up students’ curiosity and enthusiasm for knowledge. The curriculum is designed and implemented by a professional teaching team. Based on various curricula, influences include HighScope, Reggio Emilia, and Chinese culture. In an environment where children are the “real owners,” they will strengthen mind, body and spirit as they explore the world around them, develop communication and social skills, and learn to think proactively and independently, judge and solve problems.

Founding date: October 2012

School type: Local early childhood education center

Grades offered: Nursery and kindergarten

Tuition fees (2013-2014 academic year): RMB 70,000

Registration fee: RMB 2,000

Lunch fee: RMB 600/month

Lunch offered: Organic, nutritionist-approved Chinese and western food

Age range: 2-6

Number of students: 50

Nationality of students: China, US, Malaysia

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching languages: English and Chinese

Class size: 18-20

Teacher/student ratio: 1:4

School hours: 8.30am-4.30pm

After-school activities: Western and Chinese holiday events, out-of-campus activities, extracurricular courses (cooking, comics, and more), winter and summer camps

School facilities: Library, multi-function room, cooking classroom, park

Total area: 800sqm

School nurse or doctor available? Yes

Contact: Rm 105-108, Bldg 1, Chevalier Apartments, 2 Shangjialou Lu, Chaoyang District (8436 1861, 139 1188 6574, shuang.p@jacknjill.cn) www.jacknjill.cn 朝阳区尚家楼路2号院裘马都1号楼105-108室 

Word from a Parent:
“During our first visit to Jack and Jill Children’s Center, we were deeply impressed with the warm service and lovely facilities, all of which are designed especifically for children. Our 3-year-old daughter fell in love with it at first sight. Teachers respect Szeen and give her freedom to play, which is particularly important to us. She enjoys Jack and Jill’s out-of-campus activities: visiting a hypermarket, seeing the process of baking bread, taking part in a bread-making course, dressing up as a fairy for Halloween and visiting the fire department – all of these are memorable things that she has shared with us.“ Chea Hooi Khor and Ban Fong Lim (Malaysia), parents of Szeen (3)

For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide email editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail  schoolchoicefair@truerun.com.

Photo courtesy of Jack and Jill Center