Even though traveling is one of the best things to do in the world, some people may find it stressful.  Especially for us kids. Going through the train station or airport to reach another country or simply another city can be very intimidating!

Luckily, this article will help you become a more experienced traveler. Use some of these tips to boost your traveling confidence.

First things first, make sure your passport is valid before exiting a country, so you do not have to renew it. My mother and I were once on our way to Vietnam last summer, but unfortunately, we discovered my visa to Vietnam had expired! We were in the airport in Hong Kong when the airline worker told my mother that I would not be able to fly due to my expired visa. It was a stressful few hours; I would not want the same to happen to you. Avoid this same incident where you are not permitted to travel because of your expired Visa or passport! Be helpful and ask your parents if your Visa/passport is valid before traveling.  Sometimes, parents forget, too!

Another thing you can do to stay sharp while traveling is pay attention as you go through security, immigration, and customs! This will also spare your parents the burden of having to worry about you getting lost or being left behind. Remember Kevin from the movie Home Alone? It would be helpful for you and your parents if you watch closely as your passport gets scanned by the immigration officer or when you have to place some of your belongings inside carts to go through security. It’s good to make sure, after you put some of your belongings inside the security carts, that you have all of them again.

You can also ask questions as your parents lead you through the airport, so you can know yourself what is going on without having to always rely solely on your parents. Not only will you be able to navigate yourself when it is needed, but knowing what’s going on at the airport will prepare you for when you grow up and begin traveling by yourself. After some time of paying close attention, you will become an airport expert.

Pack just the right amount of things you will need. Although packing a lot of items to be very prepared may seem like the right thing to do, you may find that overpacking will serve as an inconvenience when traveling due to the heaviness of your bag. My family always tries to pack carry-ons to avoid waiting at baggage claim. There is nothing worst then waiting at baggage claim after a long flight, I would rather go straight to my adventure or take a long nap at the hotel.  However, do not underpack either; pack appropriately, and if you still have enough space, you can even pack a stuffed animal or toy as a reminder of home.

It is also important to keep yourself entertained during the flight by downloading movies or shows. Though some long flights have entertainment options, you can never be sure, so if you plan on watching a movie during your flight, download some before you enter the airport, just in case. Make sure all your devices are completely charged up, your Kindle or iPad!  If you worry that your movies will not work, you can pack some playing cards to play with your neighbors on the plane to enjoy yourself. You can also download some podcasts to listen to as you look out the window and enjoy the scenery. (Unless you are sitting in a middle seat or aisle seat).

There is another one of Clark Yap’s articles for you. As always, stay tuned, and stay reading!!!

Images: Clark Yap

Winter break season is here, and while your friends may be traveling off to other cities or distant countries, you may find yourself with a problem that happens to almost everyone. You get bored. If you are not traveling, or maybe you have a week at home before you begin your winter break adventures, you might discover you have nothing to do. If you need ways to entertain yourself during your time at home, here are some tips so that you can prevent yourself from turning into a boredom zombie.

Are you an artistic person? If you are, then this one is for you. YMM Art Education, 汤旅级艺术教 is a wonderful place where you can test your art skills to the limit. You can find YMM at Indigo Mall, they also have a Solana Mall branch. This art studio can also prepare you for art competitions. Each class is typically one hour and a half long, art competition classes are four hours long. Like everything in Beijing, their class package can be very expensive; however, if your mother is a shrewd negotiator, you may be able to bargain for a good deal. If you really enjoy creating art, these classes may be worth the price!

Secondly, if you like the feel of being in the water and enjoy swimming. Fire Dragon Swim Club runs private and group lessons throughout the week at the Canadian School and East Hotel. You can take group classes which are based on your swimming ability, from beginners to advanced!

At Fire Dragon, you will be taught stroke mechanics with different drills and even diving and flip turn skills. The more intense coaches will have you do stretches before you swim, and there are benches near the pool where your family can sit and watch you as you swim. What my parents like about this swim club is that it is affordable. One group session is a reasonable RMB 190 for one hour, they also offer private lessons at the East Hotel is over RMB 300. The best thing about this swim club is that you do not have to really commit to a set of classes, instead of having to buy a huge package all at once, you can register for a class 24hrs in advance to reserve your spot.

Winter break is also a perfect time for doing some shopping. Sanlitun Taikooli is a good choice for window shopping and get some good ideas.  But a warning, do not bother coming here for Page One Bookstore, this location is permanently closed much to our disappointment!  There are other Page One branches throughout Beijing you can visit. Sanlitun Taikooli is also home to a new French handbag brand, Polene.  My mother was thrilled when she discovered this storefront! This store interior is very nice, staff are super friendly and helpful, and they sell very good quality leather handbags. Don’t have to fly to Paris for your own Polene!  After your shopping time, you may get very hungry. Though there are many restaurants in this area, there is one particular restaurant that is my favorite-Pink.  This is a Vietnamese restaurant that serves legit Vietnamese cuisine. If you are craving an authentic bowl of pho, this place is just right for you.

If you want to keep your Chinese skills sharp during the winter break, you can sign up to go to the Bridge School at Guangming Hotel, where you can learn Chinese at your own pace. You will be assigned a teacher, and you can have a fixed time and a fixed day of class.  A package of 26 lessons at the Bridge School is RMB 160i per class.  Teachers are nice and flexible with time scheduling.

Lastly, being bored is not always a terrible thing. Being bored is a good way to explore your creative juice and indulge in your hobbies. You can order some supplies and do some arts and crafts!  For example, I spent a lot of time hand-drawing Christmas cards for families and friends. With this week free from school and afternoon activities, I was able to do some into creative writing.  It’s also a good opportunity to learn a new skill too, I am hoping to learn how to knit or crochet! This is also a chance to spend some quality family time by grabbing lunch with your working parent. I don’t get to eat lunch with my father during the weekday,s so it is nice to be able to catch lunch with him during this winter break! Anyhow, the possibilities are endless.

So there’s another article from Clark Yap! Happy Holidays Jingkids Families! And as always- Stay tuned, stay reading!!!

Find it:
Fire Dragon
Contact: Kelvin
Weixin ID: dfkhua

Find it:
Bridge School=
Contact Lily
Weixin: TheBridgeSchool2021

Images: Clark Yap

Have you ever been deeply moved by an idea or felt your blood stirred by a brilliant argument? Do you long to stand at the debater’s podium, conquering the audience with logic and language? The Beijing City International School Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest is precisely that stage, where you can articulate with 礼 (courtesy), enlighten with 情 (empathy), refute with 度 (measure) and debate with 节 (propriety)!

Beijing City International School, in collaboration with the Beijing City International School Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest Organizing Committee, cordially invites students from all schools to participate in the 2026 Beijing City International School Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest – an intellectual feast for critical thinkers!

About the Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest

The Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest is more than just a competition; it’s an outstanding platform designed to ignite critical thinking, facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster connections among participants. Co-hosted by Beijing City International School and the Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest Organizing Committee, its primary goal is to inspire students from various schools to engage in deep reflection on social issues and to encourage intellectual dialogue across schools. We firmly believe that debate is not merely a clash of words but a rigorous exercise for the mind and a testament to personal growth.

This year, the Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest will focus on “Diverse Interpretations and Social Evolution of Gender Issues” as its core theme, aiming to guide the younger generation in addressing contemporary social realities through thoughtful and empathetic discussions.

Categories and Debate Topics

Group A (Senior | Under 19)

Preliminary Round: The popularity of “feminism” labels is more beneficial than detrimental/more detrimental than beneficial to promoting gender equality. （“女性主义”标签的流行，对推动性别平等利大于弊 / 弊大于利）

Semi-finals & Finals: To achieve gender equality, changing social perceptions is more important than improving institutional safeguards/improving institutional safeguards is more important than changing social perceptions. 实现性别平等，改变社会观念比完善制度保障更重要 / 完善制度保障比改变社会观念更重要）

Group B (Junior | Under 14)

Preliminary Round: Do short videos “princess filters” empower female images or represent a new aesthetic discipline?​（短视频“公主特效”（皇冠/柔光）是对女性形象的赋能，还是新的审美规训）

Semi-finals & Finals: Is contemporary women’s pursuit of “external beauty” an assertion of self-will or an internalization of social pressure?（当代女性追求“外表美”，是自我意志的彰显，还是社会压力的内化）

Event Schedule and Location
Date: Apr 25-26, 2026
Location: Beijing City International School Main Campus (北京市朝阳区百子湾南二路 77 号)

Eligibility
Group A: Participants must be under 19 years old by May 9, 2026.
Group B: Participants must be under 14 years old by May 9, 2026.
Team Composition: Each team should consist of four to ten debaters and be accompanied by one to two adult guardians.
School Participation: Multiple teams from the same school are welcome to register. Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged!

Registration Fees

Early Bird: RMB 150 per person for registrations before Mar 1, 2026.
Standard: RMB 210 per person for registrations after Mar 1, 2026.
Guardians: Guardians attend free of charge.

Awards

Team Awards
Champion: RMB 1,666 prize money + trophy + medals + certificates
Runner-up: RMB 888 prize money + trophy + medals + certificates
Third Place: Medals + certificates
Individual Awards: Awards for “Best Debater of the Tournament” and “Best Debater of Each Round.”
Participation Certificate: All participants will receive an electronic certificate of participation.

Why Participate in the Speak Up Debate Contest?

The Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest is not just a competition; it’s a unique platform for self-expression, active listening, and the development of critical thinking skills. Here, you will:

• Engage in intellectual sparring with talented debaters from various schools.
• Enhance your logical reasoning and expressive abilities through cross-examination, rebuttal and summation.
• Forge lasting friendships with like-minded individuals and create unforgettable debate experiences.

How to Register

Please scan the QR code below to fill out the registration form. The deadline for registration is Apr 10, 2026.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at debate@bcis.cn or reach out to Liu Fengru (Ella) at 2023133090@bcis.cn.

Think ceaselessly, speak articulately. The Speak Up Chinese Debate Contest 2026 looks forward to hearing your voice!

Images: Ella Liu

Whether you are trying to have your child develop their confidence or just trying to find them a hobby that can also help them understand our world on a deeper level, the upcoming theatrical production, Constellations: Reimagined by Kids, will be for you. The original Constellations production revolves around the theme of mortality, illness, and infidelity, while this adapted version is an interactive play directed by comedy and drama tutor Donnie Fan, along with professional drama teachers, and revolves around the theme of friendship, family, and adapting to a new environment, making it suitable for teen actors and actresses.

Donnie Fan is a professional stand-up comedian, director, screenwriter, and playwright who is experienced in both adult and children’s theatrical productions. He directed the Pride and Prejudice high school production, was part of the iQiyi International Comedy Special, and directed the ART (children’s production) this year, and also directed multiple children’s theatrical productions in previous years.

Q: Tell us about Constellations and how it relates to children’s growth and development.

A: Constellations is a story that takes place across multiple timelines, exploring how small choices can completely change outcomes. While the original play is written for adults, we’ve adapted it to reflect the pre-teen and teenage experience. For children, this becomes a powerful metaphor: their everyday decisions shape who they are becoming. It’s a playful yet meaningful way to show young people how choices and consequences are part of their growth and development.

Q: How do you think dramatic productions like Constellations show the audience the charm and psychological side of the development of children and teens?

A: Theater allows us to see children at their most vulnerable and most resilient. In Constellations, we’ll watch young actors stumble, make mistakes, and then learn to recover — just as kids do in real life. Their peers in the audience may think, “that’s exactly how I feel right now,” while parents will recognize echoes of their own adolescence. This dual perspective creates empathy and understanding, shining light on the psychological journey of growing up.

Q: What kind of kids should get involved in this project? What if they don’t have any previous experience?

A: Any child who enjoys theater, storytelling, or simply has a strong imagination should get involved. Kids don’t need prior stage experience. In fact, some of the best performances come from those who bring fresh, uninhibited perspectives. In our last production of Yasmina Reza’s ART, one actress had almost no theater background, yet gave a fantastic performance. This project offers kids a chance to take on meaningful roles that they may not otherwise get in a school play. The only requirement is an open mind and a willingness to explore.

Q: What will the experience be like for kids?

A: Each week, students will dive into different characters and scenarios, exploring motivations and emotions while building confidence in performance. They’ll collaborate with peers, experiment with improvisation, and gradually shape their scenes for the final production. By the time we reach show week, with costumes, makeup, and stage lights, the kids won’t just feel prepared, they’ll feel like they’ve grown through every step of the process. It’s designed to be fun, fresh, and full of discovery.

Q: Finally, what roles do students get to take on in the production process of Constellations, and how do they sign up for it?

A: We have a maximum of ten spots, and about half are already filled. Each young actor will have an equal share of stage time. Because Constellations explores the dynamic between two characters, every student will perform a unique scene within one of the timelines. These scenes stand alone but also connect to the larger themes of the play. Families can sign up by contacting me directly at Donniefancomedy.

If you want to sign your child up to be part of this production, the Early Bird payment is RMB 18,998 for August and September, with a non-refundable deposit of 20% to secure the payment.

Curious what the experience is like for kids? Check out what these past students have to say about it.

“Doing “Art” with Donnie and the cast was a very immersive and engaging experience. Everyone did their part and worked really hard, and the final performance of the show was a reflection of the outstanding hard work the team put together. Overall, it was a memorable time.” says 14-year-old Wei Yafei.

“My experience as an actor for the play “Art” by Yasmin Reza, reimagined by kids, was pretty good. I have a distinct memory of forgetting some of my lines (other people too), and still having a lot fun.”, says Arthur Legarand.

Images: Donnie Fan

On Jul 31, my mom and I left our home in Zhuhai for Beijing. Beijing was our home for eight years, while I was still a student back at Beijing City International School. My family and I moved to Zhuhai a little over half a year ago, but we are already missing it really badly.

So, why do I keep going back to Beijing? Two reasons – Model United Nations (MUN) and the food.

Model United Nations is something that I started to do back in the sixth grade, and since then, I have been attending conferences and always trying to improve myself in that realm. From a nervous delegate who did not even know what she was going to say in speeches to a chair who is capable of fluently chairing conferences that are of HMUN and THIMUN procedure, I have enriched my experiences even more with this trip to Beijing. This time, I am chairing for Yale Model United Nations’ World Health Organization committee at the WE Model United Nations EXPO, held at the Beijing International Convention Center from Aug 1 to 4. Not only did I chair with high school students, but being able to sit alongside students from Yale University and lead the debate of the committee with them was an absolutely memorable experience.

The first day when I arrived in Beijing, I immediately ordered 炸酱面 (zhájiàngmiàn, fried sauce noodles) from my favorite  方砖厂69号 (a 炸酱面 chain in Beijing that is recommended by Michelin). After finishing the noodles, I fell into a serious food coma. I tried to fight through it until 5pm, and I slept until past 7pm when I woke up from a glorious nap. As the name indicates, I was already 23 minutes late to my assistant director training.

I immediately messaged the secretary general that I would be late, and thankfully, she forgave me. When I arrived at the meeting, I was very surprised that everyone was much older than me, meaning that they were at least students who had finished the tenth or eleventh grade. I arrived at the meeting just in time to make my self-introduction, and I stuttered kind of badly, but I realized that my nerves only presented me as not confident enough to talk and work with others, so I decided to shift my mindset and my actions, and be more confident in who I am starting from my first day chairing.

The following days in Beijing were spent chairing two- to three-hour-long committee debate sessions. That was quite a challenge for me because in the past Model United Nations meetings I have been to, the committee sessions were a maximum of two hours long. However, this conference taught me the real value of focusing.

The second day in Beijing, my mom and I spent the morning running errands in the city as the conference officially started at 5.30pm in the afternoon, so I had plenty of time in the morning. I went skating at Yuetan Sports Center, and then I went to the dentist and the ophthalmologist. In the afternoon, when the time for the opening ceremony rolled around, I sat down nervously in the third row of the ballroom. Just as I thought I would be left there with no one to talk to, another assistant director sat beside me and started to talk to me. Then another joined, and I finally felt like I was not alone anymore. After the opening ceremony ended, I walked up to the chairs and they were not the college students that I had imagined – arrogant, introverted and not willing to start conversations – rather, they offered to take me and the other assistant director in our committee to dinner, which happened on another night. During the dinner break, I had another food that I had missed from Beijing – the vegetable-stuffed pancake from 西少爷 Xī Shàoye. Instead of your regular 肉夹馍 ròujiāmóu, the filling was mixed vegetables with a super crispy and flaky pancake. I enjoyed that a lot and finished that before going to the first committee debate session, which ended the night.

The next day, the morning was also free, as committee sessions start at 2pm. Breakfast was something that I have been missing since I left Beijing: 庆丰包子 Chuángfēng Bāozi. Not to exaggerate, but 庆丰包子 makes the best vegetable baozi, and I ate them throughout my eight years of living in Beijing. My mom ordered a portion of that, along with some soy milk, and that was the world’s best breakfast. I spent my morning reviewing the position papers written by delegates, and thankfully, I finished them. That took the entire morning, so lunch time rolled around pretty soon. In my article on eleven foods I miss in Beijing, I wrote that 煎饼果子 jiānbing guǒzi from a grocery store called 果蔬好 Guoshuhao was something that I missed because of the fact that I ate it every weekend when my family and I went to the grocery store. Even though the 煎饼果子 I had for lunch was not from that exact grocery store, I got it the traditional Tianjin way – a soft pancake skin with lots of dark soybean sauce and a 油条 (yóutiáo, fried dough) stuffed in the pancake. The one from the grocery store had the same texture of the pancake skin but with thin fried crisps in them and not 油条, which is more of the Shandong way. Even though the 煎饼 was pretty big, I finished it easily.

The afternoon of Aug 2 was essentially a long 3.5-hour committee session, and when it was dinner time, the directors, along with the other Yale committees’ director and assistant directors took me and my fellow assistant director, as well as the secretary general of Yale Model United Nations, to dinner in the mall beside the convention center. There were quite a few choices in the mall, however, we ended up going to 和府捞面 Héfǔ Lāomiàn, which is a chain noodle bar in China. I got noodles with tomato soup and beef, and everyone else got different noodles and snacks. We had a great time chatting and getting to know everyone, and even though I felt that college students may be a bit challenging when it comes to socializing with them and trying to be friends with them, that dinner made me realize that usually the very elite students are not only students who study hard but also are great friends who know how to socialize with others around them. That night ended with another late committee session, and even after that, I stayed behind with the other directors and assistant director to discuss our plans for the next day and the day after. I was incredibly tired afterwards, but fulfilled by the fact that I got to work with people who are truly dedicated and passionate in what they do, which means more to me than anything else.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast at the hotel, it was immediately committee session time, and that lasted the whole morning. My mom got lunch for me again, and this time, it was from the neighboring hotel. It was a set meal that had mushrooms, a beef and potato stew, rice and another cold dish that my mom finished. The food was delicious, but it was making me miss 老乡鸡 lǎoxiāngjī, which is a Chinese home-style dish chain that does not have any stores in Zhuhai. That night, dinner was simple – just some fruit and a matcha Frappuccino from Starbucks that I got for a meeting. I had not had Starbucks in a century, and even though the Frappuccino was really sweet (and I did get allergic afterwards), simply being able to have it was already amazing. That night, there was a gala, which was filled with performances and music (I have not been in a nightclub before, but I’m pretty sure that the gala, with all the music and the density of the people, was 99.9 percent like a nightclub). To be completely honest, some of the performances were fire, like the girl who sang “Cornelia Street” on the guitar, the two boys who performed “Baby” with the rap, and the secretary general of the conference who performed “Always Remember Us This Way.” The gala ended at 10pm, but I left at 9.23pm as I could not stand the loud music afterwards (I was simply afraid that it would damage my ears, nothing else).

The next morning, the committee session was a big bonding event – we played Hot Seat, let the delegates fill out a superlative form and signed placards while we beat the other committee in a karaoke of the song “See You Again.” One of the directors, Lishore, even taught one of the delegates how to confess to a girl that he liked, which was incredibly fun to watch.

The lunch I had on the last day was, of course, 老乡鸡. My mom got me some rice, their famous edamame chicken stew, and eggplant (I would say that the flavor of the eggplant had changed quite a bit – maybe because of the store location, or simply their change of recipe – but it was not as good as the ones I had before).

MUN helps shape my use of language, diplomacy and my way of communication. The debates on common global issues makes this a great chance for me to educate myself on current global affairs. I strongly recommend more people to get involved in it and to feel how this activity is like. If you want to get involved in an upcoming conference, you may want to sign up for the Harrow Hengqin Model United Nations happening from Nov 15 to 16 on the campus of Harrow Hengqin. You can sign up via email at HHQMUN@harrowzhuhai.cn.

This trip back to Beijing was a blast, and meeting Lishore and Sahra, the directors of our committee, as well as Jasmine, my fellow assistant director was even more special. I would never forget Lishore’s humor that enlightened everyone’s mood in the committee room when we were all stressed from debate, Sahra’s patience and professionalism that made the committee welcoming and safe for every delegate, and Jasmine’s hard work on typing up caucuses and speakers on MUN Command – all of which made this conference experience so unforgettable.

See you, Beijing. See you, WEMUN!

Images: Margaret Yang

Those who are familiar with the TV show Time Bandits may have watched the episode where Qin Shi Huangdi famously said, “There’s a waaaaaalllll here.” His one layer of bricks is not a wall. This guy needs to buy a dictionary. However, the Great Wall of China is one of the seven wonders of the world. Built on top of a mountain, the marvelous wall surrounds a large section of China. We have already visited two sections of the Great Wall: Gubeikou and Mutianyu! This time, we ventured off to another section: Badaling. On our last few visits to the Great Wall, we had hiked during the day, but this time our intention was to see Badaling during the evening and catch the sunset.

My dad booked the Yueli Great Wall View Homestay for the night.

I was impressed to see that our room had a clear view of Badaling. Our room was split into two bedrooms – one for me and one for my parents. Our large bathroom came with two sinks, a toilet, and one huge shower. The hotel provided conditioner, shampoo, and body wash. However, there was one problem with the shower: It smelled a bit funky! Fortunately, it only began to stink when we were packing up to go home.  The hotel had some positives. Above the hotel, there was a nice rooftop terrace, but instead of the typical rooftop garden, it was a random plank and deck over some water. Honestly, I would have preferred a garden.

The hotel also had a cute cafe called The Corgi Cafe, and yes, they did have corgis.

By The Corgi Cafe there was a shallow but nice pool where you could take a swim to cool off. Breakfast was included; however, the options were limited. We opted to sit outside in the garden because the dining room had a rather stuffy smell.

The Yueli offered a discount you can purchase to go to the Badaling Great Wall. The regular price for the night tour is RMB 298, but we got the discounted price of RMB 200. After settling into our hotel and doing a little work, we headed out into the town to get some dinner.

We went to a very popular Thai restaurant for dinner near the homestay. The restaurant was in a remote part of the town, with barely any parking spaces. However, you can find free public parking down the road, near the riverfront. Inside, the restaurant was beautifully furnished with what seemed to be traditional Thai furniture. It was a bit stuffy inside the ornate restaurant, so we requested to move to the back garden. It was very cool and breezy back there! After we placed our order, we went exploring.

The garden was very inviting. There were some stone stairs that led to another part of the upper hidden garden. Trees arched over the path, and sweet little flowers grew along it. There was also a rushing waterfall that ran down into the stream that passed our table. What’s more is that, in the garden, there were adorable hobbit houses, with yellow walls and circular blue doors. Exactly like the hobbit homes from the famous movie and book series, The Lord of the Rings.

I ordered some yellow chicken curry served in a big bread bowl. My mom ordered some pad Thai, and my dad ordered pineapple fried rice. My curry was not the best; the chicken was fine, but the curry tasted a bit too much like soup. I prefer my curry to be thicker and spicier! My mom’s pad Thai tasted quite good, though, so I feasted on that instead. Of course, Mom complained, but we must follow the family motto: “A wise man (me) once said, ‛Food tastes better when it is stolen.’” Mother’s (stolen) noodles were no exception; they were delicious.

After all that, we went to the cable cars for the night tour, well satisfied from dinner.

The entrance fee excludes the cable car tickets, so my dad purchased our ride at Badaling Great Wall Funicular for RMB 100 each, one way. The cable cars, instead of the common gondolas, were like small buses attached to rails, which were pulled up the mountain. I was fascinated by how the cables on the ground pull the car up along the hillside. The sun was near setting, and the trees that covered the mountain were a golden shade of green. It was amazing to be able to look over the horizon and gaze at the stunning view. Although aged over the years, the bricks of the Wall were still firm and not loose. It is astonishing how this man-made creation stays up after so many disasters. After walking along the Great Wall, we stopped for a break to rest to watch the sunset. While we sat, we snacked and spent some good family time taking silly photos. Many other families were doing the same. Once the sun had set, and all was dark, lights began to illuminate the wall. I had packed my own little flashlight and had fun using it to make shadow puppets along the wall. To me, the Great Wall looked like a glowing Chinese dragon snaking up the mountain.

When exiting the Great Wall, I noted many traditional performances and shows inside the Badaling Great Wall.

Pro Tip: Though more convenient to bring your own food, there is no problem getting dinner after the night tour. I could not enjoy these beautiful performances or food due to my cranky, sleepy self. So, Super Mom ordered some rice and beef takeout to eat in the car. It was a one-and-a-half hour ride back to Beijing.

So, there you have it, another Yap family adventure. Stay tuned for our next one!

Find it:
Yueli Great Wall View Homestay
12 Shifosi Village, Badaling Town, Yanqing District
6.9 miles from Badaling Railway Station, 15 mins by car

Images: Clark Yap   

In my family, celebrating milestones is very important. I just completed fourth grade at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).

Our family loves to explore the world! When my dad asked, “Where would you like to go when school’s out?” I wasn’t sure at the moment, but a few days later, I had the perfect answer: camping.

I enjoy living in the city, but just like how many children like candy, if they have too much candy, then they get sick of it. It was the same with city life. So I decided it would be nice to explore the countryside. But there was only one problem . . . MOM.

My mom can’t go a single night without the following objects: bathroom, hair dryer, skin care, and other stuff that she insists are essential, while I find myself questioning, “But are they really?” There is nothing wrong with this; it is the way of the world. But believe me when I say that it is the toughest thing in the world to convince the lady in my family to go camping. So instead of dragging my mom kicking and screaming, we came up with a compromise. Dad booked a glamping (glamorous camping) site for us, fully furnished with our own bathroom and toilet. Perfect to convince my mother to come along.

Beijing Toye Glamping is only a 1.5-hour car ride from Beijing. There are many glamping choices to choose from, ranging from basic tents, deluxe recreational vehicles, space capsule starships, to large tents.

Our campsite was a large tent on a wooden plank. It looked over the treetops and mountain ranges, giving the perfect view of the horizon. Beautiful sunsets could be clearly seen over the rustic balcony. We had a nice private bathroom and conveniently provided chairs and a table. The campsite also had a playground, a lake and many other things that would make visitors have an enjoyable time.

The campsite also had a cute little garden cafe that sold nice coffee and drinks. The garden made me feel like it was straight out of Alice in Wonderland. With cute tea tables, lovely benches, and water features, it was perfect for enjoying a nice summer day. Overall, the campsite was a lovely place to enjoy a break from the chaos of Beijing.

My Dad had reserved this glampsite because it was near many historical places, making it easy to go sightseeing. But let’s rewind: Before we even got to the camp, we visited the Ming Tombs.

The Ming Tombs, the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming dynasty, are a collection of mausoleums built by the Ming emperors. It is a UNESCO heritage site and the ticket price is RMB 98 per adult and RMB 22 per child. This gets you access to everything there. At the Ming Tombs, there was a long walkway with marble statues of different animals along each side of the path. This is the Sacred Path. If you are not a history person, as I am, skip this one.

We also visited the Longqing Gorge, roughly 25 minutes away. This gorge includes a boat ride, toboggan sledding, and gondolas. If you are visiting in winter, there will Ice Lantern Festival similar to one in Harbin. To get to the top of the dam, there is an escalator in the shape of a dragon. The top of the dam is where you can begin your boat ride adventure. The entrance fee was RMB 140 per adult and RMB 100 per kid, which included the boat ride, but not the gondola. That was another RMB 68 per person for both kids and adults.

At the end of the gondola ride, you will be near the highest peak of the gorge. There is a nice hike up the mountain. Along the hike, you will encounter a temple, a convenience store and a piece of Chinese history. There is a magic basin on the side of the temple. This basin is special because it is said that the water was provided by the gods, and that is why, even in the worst droughts, the water never drains or evaporates. In all, nature lovers are recommended to come here.

But my favorite sightseeing place was the Guyaju cave dwellings. These caves had been hand-carved out of the mountains! The Guyaju cave dwellers are a bit of a mystery because nobody knows who lived in the caves. Though the Guyaju caves were grand and magnificent, beware the hike. The hike took approximately 30 minutes! My piece of advice: Bring an umbrella and lots of water. Luckily, there are many little tables along the mountain for a rest stop. Also, the cave dwellings are the perfect place for little story makers. I tried making a short story based on the mystery of the cave dwellers. These caves are a perfect way to explore the history of China.

So, there you have it! Our memorable trip through isolated China. And in case you’re wondering, my city-loving mom actually enjoyed the glamping!

Find it: 
Get in touch with Toye Clamping on WeChat at WeChat ID: ty15652031788. As is the case with anything travel-related, prices may vary depending on the time of year.

Images: Clark Yap

As my final exams conclude, I honestly feel that my skills have improved a lot in terms of the way I learn. Before, I used to simply read over my notes and try to remember what was on that page by memorization, but that usually resulted in me being unsure about the content, and that would make me nervous about what I was writing in the exam. However, after this semester’s exams, I can safely say that I have concluded some of the most effective study tips that will turn your child into a top student.

Writing From Memory

This first method is essentially listing down all the things you know about the topic. You will first, of course, need to know what topics are being tested in the exam, then use that list of topics to write down everything you have learned about those topics. For example, in chemistry, we learned about the reactivity series, so I wrote down the reactivity series, their element formulae, and why carbon and hydrogen are in the series, which is everything we have learned this semester on the reactivity series. If I have missed something, I don’t look back immediately when I am writing. I wait until I have finished listing all the content for all the topics of the exam, then I revise. I revise with the notes I have taken in class and additional information online or from other resources. If anything does not match or if anything confuses you, you should ask a teacher or anyone who has knowledge on the validity of information and the content for the exam. You should be doing this seven days before the exams and consecutively until the night before (or ideally, the day of the exam as well, if you have enough time). I took a picture of my notes for my teacher the night before the exam and asked her if my notes were comprehensive and accurate. And after she verified my list, she said that it was no problem, which reassured me that my exams would go well. You can use this method to test how well you know the content of the test, and know how much more you need to improve on.

Set Questions for Yourself

This was also what I did for my finals. I made questions for myself on the parts I was unsure about, and I did them the next morning to see if what I had learned the previous night was actually grasped by me. It could be any type of questions: directly asking questions and writing out the answer, fill in the blanks, or even multiple choice questions that include choices that you originally misunderstood. This method may take some time to put together, but when you are in the exam, you may encounter a question on the same knowledge point, and that is the moment you realize what the question is asking you to do and what it is testing. Once you get all the questions you have set correct, that is when you know you have fully understood all the parts you didn’t grasp at first. This was how I got a 91 out of 100 on my Chinese midterms when memorizing the facts about authors and poem lines. Even though a lot of what I tested myself on was not included in the test, this is a very efficient way of knowing what you still need to improve on for the exam, and it makes you ready for whatever is coming up.

Teach to Others

When I was revising for my physics exam, there was a student in the class who did not pay attention to the teacher for the entire semester and was incredibly worried about her grade and what she knew. Before teaching her, I was quite confident that I knew everything about what was being taught, and I thought that I was able to explain everything with ease. However, after she asked me a lot of questions on the subject and after teaching her the concepts, I soon realized that there were still a lot of small details that I was not sure about, and those details were actually big key points in the exam. Thus, teaching another person is never a waste of time, but rather a great way to let yourself know what you need to improve on and whether you have completely grasped the subject.

Those are the three biggest revision methods I used this semester, and they helped me improve a lot in the sciences as well as in Chinese, which are all subjects that require us to memorize a lot of information. The key point here is to not passively read and look over everything, but to actively test yourself and seek help when you need to. I hope these methods will help your child improve their skills during the summer and make them a confident student in the future.

Images: Pexels

We have all seen those bullies on TV – the ones who physically attack innocent new kids in the school. Well, in the playgrounds of parks and compounds, some kids are lethal in terms of their verbal and physical abuse of other children. On TV, you often see parents disciplining their own child but not other people’s children. In China, however, most parents do try to educate and correct other people’s children if they have wronged their own child. But should they be doing that?

Speaking from experience, I know what it is like to be cyberbullied. I remember clearly that once during PE class, we were playing tag, and when I chased a girl down the field, I accidentally tripped her, and she scraped her knee. She got really mad, and even after I apologized to her, she swore and then walked away to the teacher, saying that she needed to go to the nurse. I thought that was it and the issue was over. However, little did I know, she publicly started insulting me in Chinese on her WeChat Moments, saying that she wanted to cut off my legs and other physical threats. Luckily, I had a friend who had her WeChat and took a screenshot of the Moments post and asked me what had happened between us. After I told her what had happened, she was the only friend who empathized with me throughout the process and cared about what had happened.

That evening, my mom asked in a parent group chat which member was the parent of the girl who bullied me, and after we added her, my mom sent her mom the screenshot of the girl’s Moments. Later, we were in a call together and the girl apologized to me (or at least I think she did). It doesn’t matter to me if she actually felt sorry, but it surprised me how ugly things can be and how lethal teenagers my age can be.

In terms of physical abuse, I unfortunately also have an experience. It was back in first grade, and it was during recess. The elementary school principal was playing soccer with me and the other first graders, and the team that I was on won. I celebrated my victory, but then got hit in the legs or somewhere by a boy in my class. I did not know what to do because I was the new student in the grade, and I did not yet have any friends around me who would speak up for me. The principal saw me getting physically abused by that boy, and fortunately, the boy later apologized to me.

But the boy was infamous for physically abusing others. He had already gotten himself into trouble multiple times before for hitting other people at school, but the main reason for the occurrence of his actions was because of domestic violence in his family, which resulted in him using similar methods of violence on his peers. Even though all the parents of the children in my grade knew that his family was going through a rough time in terms of the relationship between his father and mother, the parents whose children got abused by him did not hesitate when it came to bringing up the issue to his parents and trying to educate that boy.

Before writing this article, I did not know that in some countries other than China, parenting other people’s children may not be as common, because from my experience, my parents never hesitated to put another kid in their place. I had a friend back in kindergarten who asked me which university I wanted to go to in the future, and I said that I wanted to go to Harvard (like every other child when they were in kindergarten). She immediately responded, “Only smart kids can go to Harvard.” I was silent because I didn’t know what to say, but my mom replied, “So, do you think you are smarter than Margaret?” which made her go silent.

So, what do you think? If your child is getting bullied at school, would you step in or let them deal with it on their own? If you’ve been bullied and want to share your experience and how you handled it, get in touch with our editor Mina Yan, at Wilhelmina87 on WeChat to share your story. You can remain anonymous if you want. It’s important for you to know that you can speak up and for others going through something similar to know they’re not alone.

Images: Pexels,  Freepik