Now, I’m not talking about the summer blockbusters that Hollywood likes to shove down our throats year after year. (Does anyone really care about the millionth installment of Spiderman?) I’m talking about the movies that seem to capture the excitement of these golden days in the sun. Maybe you have your own favorites, but here is a personal selection of three films that make me feel young, and give you the urge to eat a popsicle or icecream in front of the TV for a couple of hours.

Grease (1978)

Looking too impossibly old to be teenagers, this movie actually takes place at the end of the summer (forgive me), but it’s still worth a mention here. John Travolta sports a pair of sideburns that even a Norse god would be proud of, and along with Olivia Newton-John, sings their way to our hearts. It’s worth digging a copy out and introducing your (perhaps slightly older kids) to one of the best musicals of our time.

The Sandlot (1993)

Playing outside is a must in summer time, but what do you do when you lose your dad’s signed (by none other than Babe Ruth) baseball? Well, you get your pals together and you try and rescue it from the scary neighbor and his killer dog, that’s what! The Sandlot is the perfect mix of schoolboy antics and summer fun, and if your children ever have ideas about chewing tobacco, the scene at the theme park will be enough to set them straight forever.

The Goonies (1985)

The undisputed heavy-weight champion of summer movies, The Goonies is something that every child in the world should (nay, be forced to) watch. It has everything: adventure, gadgets and a morbidly obese child shaking his belly in what is known as the shuffle truffle (see what I meant about everything?). The best thing about The Goonies is that it has a really strong moral at its center: the kids rally together to go in search of pirate treasure so that their parents won’t be evicted from their homes. Combining their unique skills the kids march off into a cave and discover One-Eyed Willie’s treasure.

What are your favorite summer movies?

As far as recreational activities are concerned, Beijing is a city that serves its expats well. But when Rick Pointon upped sticks and moved to Beijing from London, he was disheartened to find there was nowhere within commutable distance from the capital where he could indulge his passion for sailing. A committed mariner since his teens, Rick knew that there was plenty of suitable coastline but was frustrated to find none of it nearby was being utilized for sailing. So rather than waste hours on trains and planes going back and forth to Qingdao, he concocted a plan to build a sailing center of his own.

During his search for like-minded individuals to join his venture, Rick came across Simon Liu, a Chinese man with a wealth of sailing experience. Simon had a clever idea for the perfect place to set up a sailing center: Nestled between the cities of Qinghuangdao and Beidaihe was the venue for the 1990 Asian Games sailing events. The expert construction had remained unused in the years since and was now home to a few overgrown weeds and a few pleasure cruisers.

Rick and Simon spent their time installing an infrastructure to create the perfect sailing environment: a clubhouse with facilities for those content to watch the boats going by, brand-new equipment imported from the UK and a teaching staff equally equipped to divulge the intricacies of a reef knot in English and Chinese. All that remained for the pair to do was encourage Beijingers to sail in a place less than two hours away by train. The sailing environment itself is self-contained, offering protection from the elements on more tempestuous days.

The weekend sailing course for kids is designed to get them confident with the equipment and have them sailing solo by the end of the first day. Rick is a qualified Yachtmaster with the Royal Yachting Association and has created a course that gives students a grounding in theory but also ensures they spend as much time out on the water as possible – even for those who come with no previous sailing experience.

The first session of the day is spent in the classroom, getting to grips with the fundamentals of turning the boat and learning the mechanics. Then it’s time to put these basic skills into practice. Courses run every weekend and also during the week. Level 1 covers the very basics and hopes to get people sailing a boat comfortably around a triangular course under supervision. Level 1 is ideal for beginners or those looking to refresh those long-forgotten seafaring skills. Level 2 aims to get the participant fully qualified in maneuvering the boat without supervision. Once Level 2 has been completed, participants are welcome to return to the center and hire boats for solo sailing. 

The selection of equipment at the sailing center is varied enough to suit children of most ages and sizes. The Topaz Omega is a competition boat and is used to compete at international levels. Smaller dinghies are also available for the younger kids, and there’s something heartwarming about seeing them setting off into the sunset in something no bigger than a bathtub. Safety is of the utmost importance – before you hit the water, the center provides instruction on what to do if you encounter trouble, and all relevant safety equipment is provided.

This summer, Rick plans to offer weeklong sailing courses, available to schools or interested parties who can gather enough people. By the end of this residential course, kids will have completed both Level 1 and 2 but will also have had a lot of fun on the water, playing games specifically designed to hone their skills. Those who absorb enough salt water into the veins can take the plunge and purchase their own boat, which they can store at the center. With the arrival of the Olympics, Rick hopes to provide a place for Beijingers (both temporary and permanent) to set sail on the open sea.

Beijing Sailing Centre (open May-Oct)
22 Wenti Road, Haigang District, Qinhuangdao
0335 856 0916, www.beijingsailing.com
秦皇岛市海港区文体路22号

Sometimes it slips the mind that Beijing is home to one of the world’s most exciting contemporary art scenes. Places like 798 in Dashanzi and Shangyuan Village house work from both up-and-coming and established artists from across the globe, and these artists utilize varied media to offer a unique and dynamic view of life.

For Guy and Myriam Ullens, art collectors with over 1,500 works and a particular interest in Chinese art, there was a need to create a platform from which the best of modern Chinese art could be presented to the public. Thus, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) was founded in November of 2007 to present exhibitions of emerging and established artists, and to develop a trusted platform to share knowledge through education and research.

When it comes to cultivating a love and appreciation for art in young people, UCCA takes the teaching aspect of its mission seriously. “Our education program aims to make our exhibitions, facilities and events accessible to schools and universities,” says Elisa Cousseran, International Communication Director of the UCCA. “We want to offer creative learning resources, lectures and tours that inform, stimulate and challenge.” School groups are invited to attend organized tours from the center’s curators, and art-based lesson plans are available to download for free from UCCA’s website.

Currently, the center runs two youth programs, each lasting half a year and focused on nurturing creative talent in the community. Young Critics for Contemporary Art (YCCA) helps young Chinese writers who want to improve their critical writing. Through a series of talks and seminars with major critics, the course hopes to give students a chance to have their work published by UCCA. The other course focuses on giving aspiring filmmakers a chance to get their works made.

But the most insightful resource open to young people with a passion for contemporary art is the student club, open to high school and university students. Held two to three times a week, the group meets for talks, discussions, art-based activities and workshops to increase understanding of artists and their work. Through the club, students have the chance to go behind the scenes and meet the curators, artists and collectors that comprise the UCCA. They also offer internships to interested students, to increase their knowledge of art and also to give them a chance to specialize in a particular area that interests them.

Contemporary art may often give the impression of being elitist and indecipherable, but with the help of non-profit organizations like the UCCA, young people can feel more personally involved in one of Beijing’s most vibrant and important scenes.

Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA)
Tue-Sun 10am-7pm
798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (8459 9269)
朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区
For more information on UCCA, the student club, school tours or internships, visit www.ucca.org.cn.

Avast, me mateys! tbjkids is calling all little pirates and salty treasure seekers for lunch and a park-wide treasure hunt at Ritan Park. If it’s a pirate’s life for you, then come eat, enjoy the sunshine, and play games to win gifts and other exciting prizes. Don’t worry, we won’t make you walk the plank! The fun takes place on Saturday, April 19. 11.30am-2.30pm. For families with kids ages 3-10, RMB 70 per person. Tickets are required. Space is limited to the first 100 children that sign up before Wednesday, April 16. For more information, contact Nancy Ding at 5820 7700 ext 853 or e-mail marketing@tbjkids.com.

2 French Film Panorama

As the mercury in your thermometer creeps higher and higher, seek refuge in a cool and air-conditioned movie theater! The fifth annual French Film Panorama is being held in April, and this year it will feature movies, animated tales and documentaries well-suited for kids. From Gallic classics like Asterix at the Olympic Games to Let’s Say … (a documentary about a group of children who take on their parents’ jobs), there will be plenty of visual inspiration to justify keeping your kids in a darkened room on a sunny day. Films are screened from April 11-13 at Star City Cinema. Full details of times, prices and the movies showing can be found at www.ccfpekin.org or www.b-cinema.cn.

3 Museum Madness

Beijing is not regarded as the cultural hub of China for nothing! In addition to the countless monuments and historical buildings scattered across the city, Beijing is home to over 140 museums (a few of which we’ve featured in “Creative Spaces”) and one of the most inventive modern art scenes in the world. With its open exhibitions, inviting galleries and outdoor sculptures, the 798 Art District is a not-to-be-missed destination in Beijing. And now that admission to at least 30 Beijing museums is free (check www.beijingmuseum.gov.cn for updated information), there’s no excuse not to delve into the cultural richness of the city.

4 Bend it Like Beckham

Strap on those shin-pads and get ready to kick some grass as ClubFootball’s training courses come out of hibernation this month! Along with the usual games and courses open to kids of all ages, there is now a special girls-only Sunday course, meant to encourage equal participation in the “world’s game.” After fine-tuning their skills, participants will be selected to take part in an inter-academy tournament at ISB. Players may also be selected to represent the ClubFootball Academies at the Sports Beijing Tournament on May 31-June 1 at ISB! Courses are open to students in Grades 3-9. RMB 750 (with uniform) or RMB 650 (without uniform). For details on times, locations, or information on other courses offered this spring by ClubFootball, check out www.clubfootball.com.cn.

5 “Art by Chance” Workshop

UCCA, located in Beijing’s 798 art district, encourages youngsters and their families to engage with contemporary art through art-based activities and hands-on learning. Throughout April and May, UCCA will be offering family workshops in conjunction with their current exhibition, House of Oracles: A Huang Yongping Retrospective. In these workshops for children ages 5-12 (must be accompanied by an adult), kids can interact with artists and experiment with different mediums. The workshop is free but limited to 15 children with advanced registration. Contact 8459 9269 or e-mail eventbooking@ucca.org.cn for details. www.ucca.org.cn

6 Spring out with Style

Once you’ve cleared the closet of those heavy winter coats, is your child’s wardrobe selection looking a little bare? Or are they perhaps still wearing the same tattered T-shirt, jeans and sandals from two years ago? If so, perhaps it’s time to do some clothes shopping! Let tbjkids help you find the best look for your child this year. Our “Spring is in the Air” feature will show you all the latest fashions for kids ages 1-15, and where to find them in Beijing.

7 Beijing Playhouse Kids Camp

Anticipating that your kids will be itching for a creative outlet this spring break? The Beijing Playhouse is gearing up for a performance of the fairy tale classic Snow White, and they are inviting kids ages 6-18 to sign up for their camp. Aspiring actors, singers and dancers are welcome, and all will be cast in the play regardless of English or acting ability. Student registration and auditions are on April 27 at 5.30pm and the course will last from April 28-May 3. Tuition RMB 2,520. For details, check www.beijingplayhouse.com or e-mail performance@beijingplayhouse.com.

8 Getting enough Iron?

The event of a genuine blockbuster on the cinema screens in Beijing is rare, and if it seems like ages ago since the last time you hugged a bucket of buttery popcorn in the comfortable darkness of a movie theater, Iron Man is coming to your rescue. The film is based on the Marvel comic book character, the alter ego of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. After a terrible accident, Stark builds himself an iron suit to keep himself alive. But what does he do when he realizes that the new suit gives him superhuman powers? Fight crime, of course! Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges. Catch Iron Man when it hits theaters across town on April 30.

9 Spring Fair at ISB

In addition to offering a fun family day, the 2008 ISB PTA Spring Fair also provides an opportunity for ISB internal student groups and ISB-approved student-sponsored charities to raise money for their organizations. The fair is a way for the PTA to raise funds to support its student curriculum enhancement, and spirit- and character-building programs such as visiting authors and booster club. It will also host activities and programs aimed at serving the ISB community, such as International Day, Teacher/Staff Appreciation, and the Guest Speaker Series. All families are invited to come enjoy the fun. April 19, 10am-4pm. E-mail isbptaspringfair@gmail.com for more information. The International School of Beijing, www.isb.bj.edu.cn

10 Pet Orientation Sessions at ICVS

Are you cnsidering adopting a pet? Or perhaps you’ve already adopted one and now need advice on how to bring them to your home country. If so, the International Center for Veterinary Services invites you to join their “Pet Owner Orientation Sessions.” Learn about the latest dog registration regulations for Beijing; free rabies vaccinations for legally registered dogs; protecting pets from heartworm, fleas and ticks; boarding and kenneling pets when traveling; and how to take your pet out of China. Sessions are all free. April 10 and 24, 7-8pm and April 12 and 26, 2-4pm. International Center for Veterinary Services, www.icvsasia.com

For five days a week, Panjiayuan is a sleepy shopping spot with a handful of calligraphy stalls and jewelry stores dotted around the perimeter of a forgotten square. But come the break of dawn on Saturday until early Sunday evening, people arrive from all corners of China, it seems, and head to this famous marketplace to pore over its curios and obscure objects of desire. You can easily spend a day sifting your way through the trinkets and “antiques,” and get a glimpse into one of Beijing’s oldest and best-known cornerstones.

Books
Located along the south side of Panjiayuan is a row of book dealers that stretches the entire length of the market. Tucked in between the dog-eared copies of forgotten Chinese-language classics you’ll find a few gems: For art lovers, there are numerous books covering the works of great masters; for photo enthusiasts, there are plenty of books on landscapes or city scenes. You can find encyclopedias on birds or rock and roll, science fiction or comics, and a selection of old magazines available at reasonable prices (RMB 10-15). Book prices vary depending on type and quality.

Puppets
They may look cute enough, but when a dexterous hand is inserted into one of these Peking Opera-style puppets they become transformed into awesome fighting machines! With each one wearing the traditional operatic dress, they also hold a small spear or sword in their hand. Like a lot of the things in Panjiayuan, they are perfect for decorating the mantle piece. Find them at stall D35.

Kites
There’s rarely a Beijing day that isn’t blustery enough to fly a kite, and the ones on offer here are far more aesthetically pleasing than the plastic factory-made ones available at most supermarkets. At his stall, Song Jie offers a cornucopia of ornithological delights, including eagles, falcons and other winged wonders. No fixed location but call Song Jie on 136 5134 5499 (no English spoken).

Artwork
Although some of the artwork available is a little on the risqué side, there are still some excellent deals to be had from the line of stalls located along Panjiayuan’s Row 2. Copies of old posters featuring Shanghai sing-song girls or reproductions of communist propaganda posters are definitely cool enough to adorn a teenager’s bedroom walls. Those with an interest in contemporary Chinese art are also well catered for, though the authenticity of the works can be questionable. If you’re looking for work by original artists, however, check the stalls housed in the buildings by the walls of the market.

Calligraphy and Chops
Solidify your time in China by getting your name written in Chinese on a scroll or carved into a stone stamp, or chop. There are plenty of stalls in Panjiayuan that can help you do this for around RMB 30.

Tin Toys
It’s astonishing to find a representation of 1950s Americana in a Chinese antique market, but the tin toys found at Jin Changqing’s stall (Stall 26, Row 1, Area 3) will send those who remember a time before electronic games into a nostalgic rapture. These replicas and reproductions look fantastic, and every wind-up toy is in working order. The toys make for great gifts for older family members and youngsters with a good sense of kitsch. Small toys like clockwork robots start from RMB 35 (depending on your haggling ability) while larger toys like the windup table tennis match figures cost around RMB 70.

Jewelry
You can find almost anything you want jewelry-wise at Panjiayuan. The Tibetan folk sporting hefty fur hats peddle their local wares and can be found throughout the market on weekends. From these stalls, expect to find silver bracelets and beads in a rainbow of colors. Careful examination is needed to find the real gems, and don’t be afraid to go off in search of the same product elsewhere if the price doesn’t suit you. Many of the items can be found at the various stalls, so patience can save you having to pay over the odds.

Tugsoo Enthtaiven from Mongolia is in Grade 10
American Anthena Zhu is in Grade 9
Tom Zeng is from China and in Grade 9
South African Nebrashka Veltman is in Grade 10

The Internet is perhaps the greatest resource for information available to children and is an essential part of their education, but with this wealth of information comes the temptation to attribute other people’s hard work as their own. Plagiarism is rife at all levels of the education system, and with increased pressure to get good grades and secure placement at a good university, the temptation will most likely only continue. tbjkids sat down with four students from the Beijing City International School to talk about their feelings on Internet cheats, the pressure of deadlines and the importance of your own ideas.

What is plagiarism?

Nebrashka: I think plagiarism is when people take information that isn’t theirs and don’t cite where they got the information.
Anthena: Yeah, but it has a little more to do with if you copy an idea, you should refer to who you are getting the idea from.
Tugsoo: Yes, but you also have to put quotation marks on something that you haven’t said. You aren’t allowed to take credit for it.
Tom: If you establish an idea from someone else’s idea and you don’t say where it’s from, then that could be considered plagiarism.

How would you feel if one of your friends plagiarized some of your work?

Tugsoo: I’d feel bad because it’s one of my own pieces of work and they have just copied it and said that it’s their own work.
Tom: Yeah, you’ve done all the work but they get the credit. It’s not fair.
Anthena: I’d be really upset with them because if they were my friend then why the hell would they copy from me?

Is it hard to draw the line in using someone else’s ideas and plagiarizing outright?

Nebrashka: Sometimes it’s OK. For example, I’m from South Africa and I know that Nelson Mandela was the president of South Africa. I don’t have to cite something like that because I know it from my own knowledge.
Tugsoo: Well, everybody knows that, so you don’t have to cite it.

Why do you think people
plagiarize?

Tugsoo: Students plagiarize because they have so many deadlines.
Tom: And they wait until the last minute to do their work.
Tugsoo: So they are left with no choice other than to plagiarize from the Internet.

Do you think the Internet plays a big part in people using other people’s work?

Tom: Wikipedia isn’t available in China, but in other countries you can get most of the information on any subject you need from there. You can just copy the information directly from it.
Tugsoo: When people are stressed and have an overwhelming amount of homework, or they procrastinate and they are unable to finish their homework, then that’s when they are tempted to just copy things from the Internet.
Anthena: I think it was a big problem but now teachers can just copy a sentence from your work and search for it on the Internet. If a teacher finds out, then you’re in a lot of trouble, and you might have to redo the assignment or even worse.
Tugsoo: Internet users are getting larger in numbers than before and there are more ways to get around this.

Do you think that because school life is getting so much more competitive, people are plagiarizing more?

Tom: Especially in China. The amount of people going to college every year is so high but the spaces are limited. There are just way too many people wanting to go to college. They have to beat each other to get into the places so people will do anything they can to get in.
Anthena: Personally, I wouldn’t do that because once you get into college you have more papers to write and if you keep it up you’re eventually going to get caught. You’ve learned nothing if you’re just copying all the time.

I think this list is interesting for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s very Anglo-centric (not that that’s a problem for me), but I’m sure there must be some lesser known classics from outside of the UK that are easily the equal of some of these. I suppose that’s what I get for choosing a list from a British newspaper.

As far as the number one choice goes, I’m a little uncomfortable having a Christian allegory there. I’m sure the majority of people don’t get the religious connotations of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when they read the book, but don’t like the idea of spoon-feeding kids that kind of message.

1. Nicobobinus (Terry Jones and Michael. Foreman)
2. Jennings’ Little Hut (Anthony Buckeridge)
3. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowling)
4. George’s Marvelous Medicine (Roald Dahl)
5. Albert Herbert, the Naughtiest Boy in the World, and the Olympic Games (Frank Dickens)

1. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (Tim Burton)
2. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Robert Stevenson)
3. The General (Buster Keaton)
4. Big (Penny Marshall)
5. Duck Soup (Leo McCarey)

If you’re a good DVD hunter, you should be able to find most of these titles across Beijing. What do you think of my list?

Last week at the diving competition, 13-year-old Tom Daley finished seventh in Beijing’s diving World Cup. This means he’ll become the youngest-ever diver to represent the UK at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Check out The Guardian’s video of Tom in action.