Haidian District is located in the northwest part of the city. In this district, you will find Chinese areas rich in culture and affordable in price as well as more foreigner-accessible hubs. There is a good reason why Haidian is known as the education district: the vast majority of the city’s universities are housed here including Peking and Tsinghua — the Chinese equivalents to Oxford and Cambridge. In addition to several of China’s famous tourist attractions, Haidian is also home to Zhongguancun, a subdistrict often dubbed “China’s Silicon Valley”. Further west of the city’s main thoroughfare Chang’an Avenue and just before the West Fourth Ring Road is Wukesong roadway interchange, an affluent scene full of family-friendly fare including many night markets and restaurants. 

Residential Compounds

Huaqingjiayuan is a sprawling apartment complex located in the heart of Wudaokou. Popular with foreigners, this complex has its own swimming pool, kindergartens, and modest import store. Hongshan International Apartments is another option as this complex is right next door to Holiday Inn and a stone’s throw away from Qinghuadongluxikou station of Beijing Subway Line 15. Up the road, Liudaokou offers a cheaper alternative to Wudaokou. Furunjiayuan, a sought-after compound, is located seconds away from Line 15’s Liudaokou station and is within walking distance of a number of grocery stores.

Schools

Both Muffy’s International Kindergarten and Eduwings Kindergarten have Haidian branches. For older children, Tsinghua International School offers education for students aged 6-18 (Grade 1-12). There is also the option of Beijing Kaiwen Academy, a private bilingual school for children in Grade 1-12. Over in Qinghe Saint Paul American School is situated close to a beautiful canal and provides schooling for children aged 13-18 (Grade 7-12). Meanwhile, Haidian Foreign Language Academy offers a comprehensive one-stop service for children aged 3-18.

Shopping

No Haidian shopping guide would be complete without mentioning D-Mart. Best described as Haidian’s answer to Jenny Lou’s, this store is well-stocked with imported food, beverages, skincare items, and cleaning products. There is also a well established Carrefour in Zhongguancun. In terms of shopping for non-consumable items, the array of malls peppered across the district has that area well covered. Golden Resources Shopping Mall, often nicknamed “Great Mall of China”, is located near the Fourth Ring Road and was at one time the world’s largest mall. Although it no longer holds this title the sheer scale of the place with its 1,000+ shops means that one is almost certain to find whatever they may be looking for here. Dreamport Mall is another renowned establishment. Here you will find high street stores such as Gap and H&M side by side more upmarket brands such as Ugg. There is also a generous sized Walmart thrown in for good measure. For bulk buys one can make use of either Metro (an international Cash & Carry) or Sam’s Club. Cadillac Center, the venue formerly known as Huaxi Live (and before that, MasterCard Center and LeSports Center), hosts large-scale events, games, and concerts.

Dining

In recent years eateries that were formerly found only on the east side of town have made their way over to Haidian. These include Blue Frog (Zhongguancun) and Element Fresh (Bagou). Owing to the relatively high number of foreigners residing in this area, Wudaokou has a large concentration of restaurants serving international cuisine. Eateries such as Lush, Tous Les Jours, and Steps have long been a part of the Wudaokou scene. There is also Ganges, Tube Station Pizza, and Khan Baba, a Pakistani restaurant with a good value weekday lunch buffet.

Where to Play

Where to begin? Haidian is a great base from which to explore the great outdoors. The Purple Bamboo Park, the Beijing Botanical Gardens, Fragrant Hills, the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, and Haidian Park are a few of the well-known places of tranquility that call this district home. In the summer months, Liu Lang outdoor swimming pool offers lake-like pools and a designated children’s swimming pool with engaging apparatus. Over in Huoqiying, there is Kukutu outdoor adventure playground. On polluted days or in the cold winter months, Haidian’s numerous malls provide a multitude of options for fun indoor children’s activities. Both the Golden Resources Mall and the Dreamport Mall have large ice skating rinks and entire floors dedicated to kids play. At the Cadillac Center complex, you’ll find Wukesong Cultural & Sports Square full of play areas for children of all ages. Yuyuantan Park, adjacent to the old CCTV Building, is good for nature tripping.

Photos: Pamela Djima

Harrow Beijing Swimming Gala
Harrow Beijing Year 1 and Year 2 students competed in the annual Key Stage 1 House Swimming Gala on May 9. The competition itself was a fantastic event to celebrate the amazing progress that the youngest swimmers have made.

3e Raises Funds for Roundabout
3e International School raised valuable funds for Roundabout at the annual 3e Charity Community Day on May 12. Families spent an enjoyable morning shopping for bargain toys, books, and other treasures, while children were entertained with various arts, crafts, and other activities.

BSB Sanlitun’s Royal Wedding Street Party
To celebrate the wedding of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The British School of Beijing (BSB) Sanlitun held a Royal Wedding Street Party on May 19. The event kicked off with a bake-off, a choir performance, and a traditional British tea party.

ISB Spring Fair 2018
The International School of Beijing (ISB) held its annual Spring Fair on May 19, drawing over 5,000 people from the Beijing community to a day of family fun in the sun!

Congratulations, DCB Class of 2018 Graduates!
Dulwich College Beijing honored its 95 graduates with a beautiful graduation ceremony on May 21.

BWYA May Fair 2018
Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA)’s annual May Fair took place on May 26 with the entire BWYA community coming together at the Wangjing campus for a day of fun. This year’s theme was traveling forwards in time and fundraising activities were split between The Chunhui Children Foundation and Educating Girls Of Rural China.

CISB Grade 12 Graduation Ceremony
On May 29, Grade 12 students walked across the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) stage to accept their high school diplomas as they closed the door on one chapter of their life and opened the door to the next. The graduates of 2018 have been accepted into 80 colleges and universities worldwide.

Beijing Institute of Education Visits YCIS Beijing
As part of their ongoing outreach programme with local schools, Yew Chung International School (YCIS) Beijing welcomed 40 teachers from the Beijing Institute of Education to their campus in May.

BSB Shunyi Summer Fayre
More than 2,500 parents and friends from the community came to The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi for some summer fun! There were plenty of fun games, food and drinks, shopping and amazing students’ musical performances.

Graduation Ceremony for Grade 9, Grade 12 Students of BJ No. 55 HS
On June 8, Beijing No.55 High School International Students Section held a graduation ceremony for Grade 9, and Grade 12 students. Leaders, guests, and parents gathered together to witness this joyful and festive celebration.

Congratulations, WAB Class of 2018
The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) community congratulated their Class of 2018 graduates at the historic and symbolic Confucius Temple. The 120 students will be heading off to universities around the world, specialized programs, and further adventures.

BCIS Early Childhood Center Summer Olympics 2018
Beijing City International School (BCIS) celebrated their version of the Summer Olympics as an annual tradition of fun and games at their Early Childhood Center. Students had an opportunity to spend a sunny day outdoors running around and spreading smiles to every person in the vicinity!

Daystar’s Got Talent
Three fourth graders of Daystar Academy spearheaded “Daystar’s Got Talent,” the student body’s way of raising money to help victims of natural disasters. After three months and 60 audition videos, thirteen acts took the stage, including singing, K-pop dancing, a magic show, a kung fu act and a Rubik’s Cube challenge.

World Studies in HoK: Footsteps from the Past on the Path to a Successful Future
Grade 3 students at House of Knowledge Schools and Kindergartens (HoK) recently completed a popular topic as part of their World Studies class. Over the course of approximately eight weeks, students explored the exciting historical world of dinosaurs!

Eduwings Preschoolers’ Sleepover in a Farm
Preschoolers from Eduwings Kindergarten slept over on a farm. They packed their own luggage, set up their tents with the help of their teachers, and used firewood they collected to make a bonfire. In the evening, they roasted marshmallows and sausages and they slept in their tents.

Photos: courtesy of featured schools

Keystone Welcomes “Suspended Iceberg” Installation
In March, Keystone Academy welcomed artist and art educator Terri Moore as the school’s Artist-in-Residence. She also unveiled her installation “Suspended Iceberg” in Keystone’s Performing Art Center. “Suspended Iceberg” captures the shifts and changes in our relationship with the environment, and explores the contrast of what is above and below the horizon.

CISB Holds First Charity Ball
On March 31, Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) hosted its first Charity Ball and raised RMB 300,000 to support children from a mountainous area in Yunnan.

ISB Students Wow Crowds at Annual Grade 2 Circus
On March 15, International School of Beijing’s (ISB) Grade 2 pupils showed off their amazing juggling, pogoing, and balancing skills in their annual Grade 2 Circus.

The Seussical Musical at YCIS Beijing
The Yew Chung International School (YCIS) Beijing community thoroughly enjoyed the Seussical Musical on March 27, and congratulate the primary school actors and team on a fantastic performance!

2018 Harrow Ducker
On March 16, Harrow Beijing held the annual Harrow Ducker, a traditional running race that commemorates the contribution of John Lyon, the founder of Harrow School. All students and staff communities enjoyed a day of outdoor exercise together.

Easter Celebration at HoK
House of Knowledge Schools and Kindergartens (HoK) celebrated Easter with a fabulous Picnic and Sports Day in both Shunyi Campus and Chaoyang Park Campus on March 30.

BSB Primary Students Perform Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies
The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi’s Primary students gave three performances of Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies in March. For many of the actors, it was their first time in a play! The production was a huge success, with all the students having fun and displaying great teamwork.

BSB Sanlitun Year 2 Performance Pirates Vs Mermaids
Year 2 students of The British School of Beijing (BSB), Sanlitun performed a musical production of Pirates Vs Mermaids on March 21, featuring Brave Pirates and Sassy Mermaids, a very Chatty Parrot, and a Mermaid-Eating Crocodile. All the children entertained the audience with singing, dancing, and acting.

Anything Goes at Dulwich College Beijing
The student cast and production team of Anything Goes at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) thrilled the audience during the performance on March 22. From the stage set, to the music, the dancing, the acting, the risqué word play, the exuberance and the confidence, this was a musical of the highest quality.

WAB Presents: Les Misérables
Western Academy of Beijing’s (WAB) middle and high school students put on three stunning performances of the award-winning musical Les Misérables on March 29. The production was broadcast live online around the world and performed in front of three sold-out audiences on campus.

Reading with Visiting Author Julia Cook at JOY EL
JOY EL International Academy hosted a visit of the well-known children’s author Julia Cook to the school on March 20. Cook held lively presentations full of real-life examples and stories, that kept the students, parents, and teachers entertained and inspired.

MSB Hosts Annual Science & Exhibition Fair
The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) hosted its annual Science and Exhibition Fair on March 29. The activity encourages students to delve deep into concepts that arouse their curiosity, and provides students with an opportunity to investigate their favorite areas.

BCIS Celebrates Mother Tongue Week
“Mother Tongue Week”, which took place on April 10 this year, is a very special feature on the calendar of Beijing City International School (BCIS), reinforcing their China connections with the world. This annual tradition is a way to celebrate the presence of cultural and linguistic diversity at the school.

BWYA’s Around the World without Leaving the Classroom
Young learners at Beijing World Youth Academy’s (BWYA) Primary School campuses got a taste of international travel without having to leave their classrooms, thanks to the BWYA Enrichment Office and the parent volunteers who coordinated the annual International Day on March 23.

Easter Spring Fair at 3e
3e International School‘s Parent Council organized their annual Easter Spring Fair on March 24. Over 130 children enjoyed the warm spring weather with egg hunting, scavenger hunting, arts and crafts, and games, including the popular parent/child sack race!

Eduwings Open House Day Party
On March 17, Eduwings Kindergarten held an open house day party with a theme of “The United Colors of Eduwings.” Teachers prepared many fun colorful activities for the whole family. It was snowing when the party was held, which let the kids enjoy drawing under the snow.

AnRic Children Visit Equueus Horse Ranch
Children from AnRic Little Montessori Room visited Equuleus Horse Ranch on March 30. Children loved seeing the horses in the stables and enjoyed feeding them with carrots. Some of the kids even rode ponies.

Imagine Holds 4th Snowsports Competition in Chongli
On March 2-4, Imagine held its sixth annual International Schools Snowsports Championships China (ISSCC 2018) at Wanlong ski resort in Chongli. Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) and Harrow Beijing won the Elementary Schools Trophy and Senior Schools Trophy respectively.

Photos: Courtesy of featured schools
This article appeared on p58-63 of beijingkids May 2018 issue

Arts and Culture

Little Architect Course, Mar 17-Jun 6
Ages 4-12. Pingo Space’s The Little Architects course contains kid-friendly hands-on architectural projects. Kids will have the chance to build a bridge, design a house, make a blueprint, and much more! With a focus on solving real-world problems, this course shows kids how architects help shape and support strong communities. With tons of activities, kids will be soon building their dream! RMB 4,880 for 12-week courses. Pingo Space (WeChat ID: pingocs; service@pingospace.com).

Chinese Summer Camp, early Jun to late Aug
Ages 8+. That’s Mandarin once again runs a Chinese summer camp from June to August, with a variety of programs to choose from. It provides a fun and safe environment for your children to experience China for the first time. Kids will be guided by top teachers to get a chance to participate in engaging Mandarin classes and join in cultural activities. That’s Mandarin (8448 9799 or info@thatsmandarin.com).

The SLab’s [Movie Making] Summer Camp, June 18-Aug 10
Ages 8+. Green T. House in Shunyi is hosting The SLab’s [Movie Making] Summer Camp programs, in which they will work with students on the entire process of shooting a short film. Students experiment with scriptwriting, filming, directing, acting, and editing, exploring their creativity through a variety of teamwork activities. Professional equipment is provided, but students should bring in iPads or computers if possible. Limited to 10 students per class. RMB 4,888 (lunch included). The SLab (156 0120 1550; j.pohland@hotmail.com).

Fashion Design Camp at the SLab, July 2-Aug 3
Ages 7+. The SLab is running weekly Fashion Design camps: in [Sewing 101], students will learn how to design, operate sewing machines, and construct a bag; in [Fabric Printing, Embroidery, & Decorating] camp, students will be able to experiment with creative ways of embellishment; the [Accessories Design] workshop explores a wide array of ways students can design and create their own jewelry and accessories through leatherwork, beading, and wire-wrapping. RMB 2,888 per week. The SLab (156 0120 1550; j.pohland@hotmail.com).

Claude Monet and the Impressionist Movement, June 19-22, Jul 16-20
Ages 5+. Oscar-Claude Monet (known just as Claude Monet) was one of the most important French painters associated with the Impressionist movement. During this camp, kids will discover Monet and his place in art history, learn all about the Impressionist movement, and develop different techniques to create impressionist artworks. RMB 1,800 (ages 5-8), RMB 2,200 (ages 9+). Atelier Shunyi (5886 4243; shunyi@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: ateliershunyi).

Henri Rousseau and His Post-Impressionist Jungle World, July 9-13, Aug 13-17
Age 5+. French artist Henri Rousseau is mostly known for his richly colored and detailed paintings of lush jungles with wild beasts and exotic flowers. During this week, kids will discover the wonderful world of Rousseau. Each day, inspired by one artwork of the artist, they will learn new painting techniques and drawings skills, and discover how to create a painting and to improve creativity. RMB 1,800 (ages 5-8), RMB 2,200 (ages 9+). Atelier Shunyi (5886 4243; shunyi@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: ateliershunyi).

Explore Patterns through Art History and Architecture, July 2-6, Aug 27-31
Ages 9+. This is an Atelier Signature Camp, a unique creation of Atelier Art School and Atelier Fablab combining art and engineering. Students learn how to use the laser cutting machines to create stamps and paper-cuts, and develop their personal projects following their inspiration. During this camp, students will explore art history and architecture to learn and experiment different ways to create and use patterns. RMB 4,000. Atelier Sanlitun (6416 1614; contact@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: atelier_apas).

Academic

Marine Science STEAM program, July 16-27
Grades 3-5. Keystone Summer Archway Marine Science STEAM Program is a bilingual program, and students’ learning is inquiry-based: they will work with the teachers to observe closely, ask good questions, investigate actively, and find answers to their own questions. During two weeks, 30 students will learn a lot about marine organisms and join interesting activities including diving and a sleepover in the aquarium. In doing so, they will achieve an understanding of the importance of environmental conservation. It is an important goal for the program that participants become more aware of these issues and more environmentally friendly in their lifestyle. RMB 12,900. Keystone Academy (8049 6008 ext. 2777 or summer@keystoneacademy.cn).

Summer Archway English Immersion Program, July 16-Aug 3
Grades 3-11. Keystone English Immersion program is designed for non-native English speaking students currently at or interested in attending a local private school or going abroad. During this 3-week program, 130 students will be divided into 9 classes, to develop a strong proficiency in their academic English ability in the arts, sciences, and humanities. By participating in activity-based learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom, students will be well prepared for Keystone Academy and its peer institutions, and also develop and strengthen a genuine interest in learning as a personal quality. RMB 16,900. Keystone Academy (8049 6008 ext. 2777 or summer@keystoneacademy.cn).

BIBA STEAM Summer Program, starts from early Jun
Grades 1-5. Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) is implementing their very first summer program, exclusive to BIBA elementary students this July 2018. BIBA has invited innovative and highly trained teachers from High Tech High Elementary in San Diego, US, where the film “Most Likely to Succeed” was filmed, to run a highly creative and educational STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) summer program. The students will experience 2 weeks of fun in a project-based learning environment. RMB 6,000 per student per week. BIBA (8041 0390; madison@bibachina.org).

Microcosmos: An Adventure in the Insect World, June 25-29
Ages 9+. During this week of camp, the students will discover different habitats and which kind of insects lives in there. Inspired by the 5-time award-winning movie Microcosmos, People of the Grass, they will recreate it through modeling diverse landscapes and make electronic moving insects interact in those habitats. The students will have the opportunity to visit an insect museum and learn more about all kinds of bugs. After observation and learning about insects, students will create simple moving insect robots to test on different terrains. RMB 4,000. Atelier Sanlitun (6416 1614; contact@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: atelier_apas).

Harrow Beijing Summer Programme 2018, July 23-Aug 3
Ages 6-11. Harrow Beijing integrates STEM and leadership classes into the summer school curriculum and continues to offer the Harrow experience with a focus on English. The summer program is designed for age 6-11 students who would like to improve their English proficiency and have a taste of international/British education in Harrow Beijing campus. RMB 18,600 per person for day students (lunch and materials included). Harrow Beijing (6444 8900 ext. 6851; harrowsaturdays@harrowbeijing.cn).

2018 CISB Summer Camp, June 25-Aug 3
Grades 5-12. The Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) once again offers English and Chinese camps this year. Under the “Summer Enhancement program,” a separate entity, CISB will offer SSAT training for middle school students and SAT training for high school students. RMB 24,800-25,800. Canadian International School of Beijing (6465 7788; summeradmissions@CISBeijing.com).

Hyde Academy Summer School, July 16-Aug 10
Grades 1-9. Hyde Academy’s Summer School is designed to give students a short-term international immersion experience. All classes are taught in English (with support from bilingual speakers as needed) and the daily schedule includes a variety of academic classes. Both elementary and middle school students have an opportunity to work on a range of projects, discussions, and assessments that hone their critical and creative thinking skills in a positive and supportive environment. RMB 9,600 for two weeks (full-day); RMB 18,000 for four weeks (full-day). Hyde Academy (8046 3886; registration@hyde-education.com).

Da Vinci and Mechanical Engineering, July 9-13, July 16-20
Ages 6+. Leonardo Da Vinci may be famous for his Mona Lisa, but he spent more time working on scientific and technological inventions. During this 5-half-day camp, students will discover the wonderful world of mechanics through Da Vinci’s experiments and discoveries. Students will learn how to make different types of mechanisms, imagine the inventions that could change the course of history and create their own moving machines. RMB 2,000 (ages6-8), RMB 2,500 (ages 9+). Atelier Shunyi (5886 4243; shunyi@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: ateliershunyi).

Isaac Newton and Laws of Gravitation and Motions, June 19-22, Aug 20-24
Ages 6+. Isaac Newton is one of the most famous scientists of all time; most people know him for the fundamental laws of mechanics. During this camp, students will learn about Newton’s discoveries, the laws of mechanics, and build their own water-propelled rocket in a mix of theory and experimentation. RMB 2,000 (ages 6-8), RMB 2,500 (ages 9+). Atelier Shunyi (5886 4243; shunyi@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: ateliershunyi).

Thomas Edison and the Basics of Electronics, July 2-6, Aug 27-31
Ages 6+. Thomas Edison is a famous inventor and businessman, considered to be the greatest inventor of the US. During this camp, students will discover his life and famous inventions, like the telegraph and the light bulb. After an introduction to the principles of electricity, students will start to build electronic circuits, and design a telegraph and a light bulb. RMB 2,000 (ages 6-8), RMB 2,500 (ages 9+). Atelier Shunyi (5886 4243; shunyi@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: ateliershunyi).

Sports

South America Football Academy Summer Football Training, June 17-Jul 23
Ages 10-13. SAFA has two 9-day clinics coming up this summer. The clinic will offer the children who enroll a chance to train in Spain with experienced professional Real Madrid Foundation coaches, which provides an inside look at the daily life of an Academy player. The clinics in June and July will be divided into the following components: training with Real Madrid Foundation coaches at top facilities; playing competitive friendly matches; attending professional matches; touring professional stadiums and facilities such as Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and sightseeing and visiting cultural attractions. South America Football Academy (8572 2785; info@nanmei-fa.com.cn).

Lax for Kids Spring and Summer Season, Until July 31
Ages 7+. Lax for Kids is a youth development program to grow the game of Lacrosse in China. They train kids the fundamentals to play in a real lacrosse game environment. Coaches are bilingual and the course will be taught mostly in English to help children improve their English speaking. RMB 4,500 (Starter package: 8 sessions); RMB 7,500 (Season package: 15 sessions); RMB 13,000 (Lax pro package: 30 sessions). Each package and session can be used until December 31, 2018, and comes with a lacrosse stick, a lacrosse ball, and a training jersey. Check the website for registration.

Falcons Basketball Summer Camp, June 25-Aug 3
Ages 5-7. This summer, Falcons are offering 6 weeks of basketball camp at The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi. The camp will introduce the fundamentals of the game and provide a positive, competitive environment to excite kids about the game of basketball. FIBA-licensed coaches from Euro, Canada and US will be working with players during the summer camp. RMB 2,400-4,600. BSB, Shunyi campus (WeChat: jordantuhui; hui.tu@beijingfalconsbasketball.com).

Flips & Kicks Summer Camp, July 2-Aug 10
Ages 4-12. Adventure Zone and Kerry Sports, together with Flips & Kicks Plus, are offering Breezy Summer Camp to energize the body and mind of kids. Boost your skills in this multi-sports program offering fun sports such gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, fencing, and more. Their expert English-speaking coaches will guide and train kids to be the best they can be while ensuring that they are having a fun and safe experience. Then, Adventure Zone playtime awaits with giant slides, ball pit, suspension bridges, multi-level challenges, and more! RMB 3,200-4,500. Kerry Hotel (8565 2460; adventurezonebeijing@thekerryhotels.com).

Rising Warrior Kung Fu Training Camp, Jul 28-Aug 5

Being a warrior isn’t about how many fights you’ve had or how tough your skin is. It’s about facing all of life’s challenges head-on, staying strong in mind, body and spirit at all times and never giving up, no matter what obstacles you face. That’s exactly what parents and children will get the opportunity to do with the Rising Warrior Kung Fu Camp, held at the Tagou Martial Arts Academy in Dengfeng, Henan. As well as learning Shaolin martial arts, this program also features plenty of social and cultural activities, making it suitable for children and parents alike! RMB 10,888 per parent-child pair. CK Martial Hearts (info@ckmartialhearts.com, www.ckmartialhearts.com.

Fun and Outdoors

3e Summer Camp, June 17-22
Ages 6-12 years. Paris, one of the world’s foremost art and cultural capitals, provides the perfect location to ignite children’s learning and creativity, and further reinforce 3e’s core value of experiential learning. This exclusive tour provides children and families with a once-in-a-lifetime, behind-the-scenes experience! EUR 2,573 per person (excluding insurance, international flights, and visas). 3e International School (6437 3344 ext. 107; community@3einternationalschool.org).

Imagine Festival: The Outdoor Week, June 25-29
Ages 8+. Three day-trips and one overnight camp, all in one week! Over five days, kids will experience tons of Imagine’s most exciting activities in wonderful locations all around Beijing. For the first three days, they take kids on buses from Beijing out to nature, back in time for dinner at home each night. Then on Days Four and Five, students will camp overnight, returning on Friday afternoon. The activities include water sports and strategy games, bubble football, a water fight, a Pirate Treasure Hunt, long-range archery, parkour, trampolining, an obstacle course, and a Survival Day and Civilization Game. RMB 4,000. Imagine (5739 4933 or info@imagine-china.com).

Summer Camp in Eduwings, July 2-20
Aged 2-8. This year’s summer camp at Eduwings Kindergarten will be all about the rainforest. They offer many exciting and fun hands-on activities about the animals living in the rainforest, as well as its vegetation and climate. Outdoor play and field trips will be an integral part of the program. RMB 2,400 per week. Eduwings Kindergarten (6450 8384; eduwings2016@126.com).

IDEAS 2018 U-Motion Camp, July 15-28
Ages 15-17. The IDEAS 2018 U-Motion camp is jointly organized by IDEAS Camp Education and UWC Changshu China. It will take place at the United World Colleges China campus in Changshu, Suzhou. The campus is located at Kuncheng Lake in Changshu. U-Motion camp offers a challenging experiential learning opportunity, as well as an immersive living environment for excellent global youth to learn about the world, to gain the ability of interdisciplinary learning and cross-cultural collaboration, to improve proactivity and productivity, and to maintain a global social network. RMB 22,800 (pay by March 31 to get RMB 1,000 off). IDEAS Camp (185 1070 5119).

The Children’s House International Montessori Kindergarten Summer Day Camp, July 2-Aug 4
Ages 1.5-6. The Children’s House Summer Camp at its Lufthansa Center, Central Park, Upper East Side, Sun Palace, and Easy Home campuses will be holding its summer day camp in Chinese and English, helping children build communication skills through sports, team games, and activities, as well as introducing camping and nature walks. Daily programs include nature arts and crafts, music, story tales, and lots more. RMB 2,000 (morning program), RMB 2,500 (half-day program), RMB 3,500 (full-day program). The Children’s House International Montessori Kindergarten (138 1083 8492; info@montessoribeijing.com).

Pingo Space Survival Camp, July 23-Aug 3
Ages 7-14. This five-day, four-night camp at the scenic area in Huairou District is for kids who want to unplug and immerse in nature right near Beijing city center. Activities include raft building, shelter building, fire making, building an animal trap, water filtering, first-aid knowledge, and a lot more! RMB 7,980 (RMB 1,000 discount registering by March 31). Pingo Space (WeChat pingokefu).

2018 IDEAS Changshu Camp, July 29-Aug 11
Age 7-10. Campers will come to Changshu, a famous city with more than 3,000 years of history, and visit historic sites, including the Square Tower, the Tomb of Yanzi, the ancient city wall, and the Yan Park, to have a better understanding of the cities of the Wu Yue area. Campers will also experience traditional Chinese cultural activities including the tea ceremony, Chinese zither, calligraphy, and tai chi. Campers will participate in the Changshu Challenge in teams, in which they will compete to answer questions about the city along the way. RMB 18,600. IDEAS Camp (185 1070 5119).

Exploring Hawaii Summer Camp, July 2-6, Aug 6-10
Ages 5+. Well known for its extraordinary beauty and tropical climate, Hawaii is also a home of ferocious volcanic activity, which has had a major effect on the islands’ wildlife, as well as the culture and beliefs of the original Hawaiian people. During this camp, kids will explore all these different facets of Hawaiian life, discover Hawaiian art and culture, and create a body of work that conjures up the environment and spirit of the islands. RMB 1,800 (ages 5-8), RMB 2,200 (ages 9+). Atelier Shunyi (5886 4243; shunyi@atelier.cn.com; WeChat: ateliershunyi).

Photos: Courtesy of featured camp organizers

This article appeared on p54-56 of beijingkids April 2018 issue

CISB Annual Chinese Family Fun Night
Canadian International School of Beijing’s (CISB’s) annual Chinese New Year Family Fun Night was held on February 6, in which students, parents, guardians and staff joined together as one big family to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year. Students participated in a variety of traditional Chinese games, arts, and crafts, as well as dragon and lion dance performances.

Keystone Antarctica Exhibit Draws Crowds
In early February, Keystone Academy’s The Last Pure Wilderness on the Planet exhibition attracted visitors from near and far. The exhibition showcased images curated by the student-faculty delegation which recently traveled to the remote continent of Antarctica. All proceeds from the sale of postcard sets featuring voyage highlights have been donated towards the protection of Antarctic species.

YCIS Beijing’s Winter Warmer Concert
As a part of the Winter Concert Series at Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing), secondary students recently treated their families and the greater YCIS Beijing community to a showcase of the performing arts. Choral selections, instrumental soloists, orchestral arrangements, rock band rock-outs, and interpretive dances made up a diverse selection of performances during the concert held on February 7.

BSB, Sanlitun Chinese New Year Temple Fair
The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun hosted its Chunjie Temple Fair on February 4: a wonderful experience for everyone, with various Chinese-themed activities and demonstrations including candy blowing, a kung fu show, a traditional opera performance, and much more. The main attraction of the day once again was the Lion & Dragon Dance.

Juilliard Artist Erin Wight visits BSB, Shunyi
Juilliard artist Erin Wight visited The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi), and interacted with students and teachers in January. BSB Shunyi’s music curriculum was designed in collaboration with the world-renowned Juilliard School. It gives students a unique opportunity to connect regularly with Juilliard practicing musicians.

WAB Rings in the Year of the Dog
Students of Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) celebrated the coming Year of the Dog in temple fairs on campus, leading up to Chinese New Year. With the help of volunteer parents and the China Studies Department, students enjoyed traditional craft making and learned to make snacks as part of the cultural celebrations for the Spring Festival.

Dulwich Technology Expo 2018
Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) held the inaugural Dulwich Technology Expo on January 25-26. Teams of 9- to 11-year-old students from seven Dulwich Colleges collaborated in fun competitions linking to entrepreneurship and real-world STEAM challenges.

MSB Comes Alive with Chinese New Year Festivities
The International Montessori School of Beijing‘s (MSB’s) students had two weeks of engaging and interactive Spring Festival activities from egg painting, writing couplets, dumpling making, and more. The students’ art work, such as lanterns made from red envelopes, Chinese scripts, and others, adorned the hallways to make the entire environment more festive.

BWYA Evening of Arts
The depth of Beijing World Youth Academy’s (BWYA’s) artistic talent was on display once again on February 2 at the latest BWYA Evening of Arts event. The Evening of Arts takes place every semester and gives BWYA’s artists, performers, and musicians the opportunity to showcase their latest work to the School community.

Daystar Robotics Team at First Lego League Competition
Daystar Academy’s Cosmobots team has prepared since September to participate in the robot design competition held in Shanghai on January 27-28. Teams from international schools throughout China gathered to demonstrate their programming skills and understanding of core values. The Daystar team competed for the first time and enjoyed the entire experience.

Harrow Beijing Folklore Experience Week
Spring Festival was in full swing at Harrow Beijing. Students participated in a range of traditional Chinese cultural activities on February 5 to celebrate the Year of the Dog

Tribe’s Top of the Morning!
On February 3, TRIBE Solana celebrated its first birthday by going “Top of the Morning!” with an early morning kids’ dance party, DJ set, organic breakfast buffet, face-painting, crafts corner, glowstick gear corner, photo-booth and lots and lots of fun for the entire family.

APAC Basketball at ISB
Broadcasted by ISB Live, The International School of Beijing proudly hosted this year’s APAC Basketball from February 1st – February 3rd.

3e Grade 1 and 2 Author Celebration
In December, 3e International School’s Grade 1 and 2 students invited their families to attend an Author Celebration event at their new Elementary campus in December. Students’ hard work over the past several months, writing and reviewing their English and Chinese stories and drawing accompanying pictures, were shared with the audience.

AnRic LMR Hosts Annual New Year Party and Art Auction
On January 21, AnRic Little Montessori Room families and friends got together for AnRic’s Annual New Year Party. Adults and children enjoyed a scrumptious dinner, joined in for some song and dance, and children’s individual and class artworks were put up for auction. All proceeds went to AnRic’s Financial Aid Fund.

Third Annual Chinese Calligraphy Competition at BCIS
Beijing City International School held its third annual student-led Chinese calligraphy competition in the campus gym on February 1. Students and staff members set off on the numerous tables to create their masterpieces and submit them after completion. Participants were allowed to write whatever they desired on their canvases.

Eduwings German Carnival Party
On January 26, Eduwings Kindergarten celebrated a German tradition called Fasching. Children dressed up and spent a fun day doing interesting crafts and taking part in exciting games, including the classic “Hit the Pot” and “Candy Snatching.”

Chinese New Year Celebration at HoK
To celebrate the Spring Festival, House of Knowledge Schools and Kindergartens held a Chinese New Year celebration in their Chaoyang Park and Shunyi campuses with student presentations, traditional temple fair festivities, and lion dance performances.

Chinese Culture Celebrations at JOY EL
JOY EL International Academy students enjoyed the school’s first Chinese New Year celebrations with a great demonstration of energy, creativity, traditions, and fun!

Photos: YCIS; BSB, Sanlitun; CISB; Keystone Academy; BSB, Shunyi; WAB; DCB; MSB;  BWYA; Daystar Academy; Harrow Beijing; Uni You

This article appeared on p58-63 of beijingkids March 2018 issue.

Becca Zhang, 5 (China): Spending a whole day with mom

Ayanvitta Kalsi, 6 (India): The colorful rainbow

Anna Zhang, 6 (China): I like ice cream, even if mom does not allow me to eat too much!

Ami Li, 6 (China): My favorite moview Up

Alan Zhang, 5 (China): I super love numbers!

Karen Zhang, 6 (US): Rainbows and flowers

Fiona Lee, 6 (China): Swimming with my sister

Lina Shi, 5 (China): When mom and I go to a farm

Olivia Peng, 5 (China): Being with my family!

Mia Zhang, 5 (China): My fifth birthday party

Photos: Courtesy of Eduwings Kindergarten
This article appeared on p30-31 of beijingkids March 2018 issue.

Childhood, more than any other time of life, is filled with rites of passage. Every birthday marks a significant stage, and there are physical changes such as the loss of milk teeth and the onset of puberty, and social markers like the first sleepover or running an errand for the first time.

Perhaps most significant though are the transitions between educational environments. More than any change of job in adulthood, these events mark sudden and drastic changes in a child’s lifestyle, friendship groups, and the expectations placed on them.

The move from kindergarten to elementary/primary school is often the first, and in some ways the most challenging, of these educational earthquakes. What happens in those crucial months has a huge impact on the child’s later life. According to a UNICEF report, “School readiness is linked to improved academic outcomes in primary and secondary school and positive social and behavioral competencies in adulthood.” Yet all this takes place at a time when the child’s ability to understand what is happening is limited, and their world view is still being formed.

To find out how the young minds of Beijing’s international community are prepared for this pivotal stage in their lives, we talked to educators from two very different kindergartens, about their philosophies and practices in this critical area.

Eduwings offers trilingual education, in German, English, and Chinese, to 165 children aged from 1-6 over two campuses, in Shunyi and Haidian. Principal Stephanie Janusch explained their underlying principles to us.

“We always say we try to give the kids ‘roots and wings’,” she told us, “a safe, home-like environment, and at the same time abilities and tools and social skills which can help them to be thinking individuals, to go out there and make a way for themselves.”

“The biggest thing kids have to deal with is being socially developed, being able to get on with peers, understand how to listen,” added Jade Sackett, Lead Teacher for the Experts Group. “Our job is to make sure they’re having fun, enjoying themselves while learning. If the communication is good, and children are comfortable, it’s easier to get them to focus.”

3e International School has students aged from 2 to 12, and Kindergarten Principal Amy Loveday-Hu agreed that academic achievement is, at this stage, secondary to developing social skills and a passion for learning.

“The focus on 21st century schools and learning for both international and Chinese families means recognizing the importance of collaboration, emotional understanding, and respect for differences,” she told us. “We teach them to question respectfully, to be able to move between different cultures. This also means different cultures of school and areas of learning. We want them to ask questions, to be passionate learners, influencing their own learning.”

Xu Hong is a kindergarten teacher at 3e who worked for twenty years in Chinese public schools, and she sees a real difference in the international school’s ethos. “The difference is that at 3e you hear kids asking why, not being annoying but inquisitive. That’s not heard a lot in local schools. The desire to learn things is really important. Teachers don’t know everything; sometimes students will learn new things at the same time as their teacher. If a decision has been made and they don’t think it’s fair, we encourage them to ask in an appropriate way why that decision was made, and have a conversation about it.”

She sees resilience as a key trait in making a successful transition.

“One of the biggest challenges is that in school they will meet disappointments, quite regularly. This is a demographic who mostly haven’t met many in their life up to that point.”
“Kindergarten is still a play-based level,” Loveday-Hu explained, “but first grade and above move away from that quite quickly. Their days become lesson-focused, their free time significantly less. In kindergarten they can naturally bounce from thing to thing, but at school the teacher is generally deciding what they’re doing. It can be a shock, quite tough for some children.”

Discipline is also a new challenge, Xu told us.

“At kindergarten there’s more flexibility for helping children to understand boundaries; at elementary school there’s an expectation of them already being on board. There’s less of a ‘buffer zone’.”

Janusch also talked about the social aspects of transition as being critical.

“One of the biggest challenges,” she said, “is the move from a small, familiar, family-like environment to a bigger class, more students, a lower teacher-student ratio, and usually less individual care being given. They’ll have a new peer group, new friends, new teachers. Some of our students came to us when they were still really babies: aged 1, or 18 months. By the time of the transition to primary they have been with their friends for four years.”

The work of preparing for transition does not just take place in the final year, Loveday-Hu said.

“It begins right from when they come into school. Even nursery is part of the process. Throughout school we’re scaffolding the children’s understanding.”

Janusch talked about the importance of developing good habits early.

“We have routine activities every day, themed activities where all the kids sit in one classroom and do an activity together, so they already have the habit of sitting down, focusing on an activity.”

“They do activities to gain early literacy skills,” she continued, “and work on phonics, easy maths concepts, and small maths operations. But the groundstone for that is already set, because even in the younger age groups, at 2.5 to 3.5, in a playful way we raise their phonic awareness, introduce concepts like nouns and numbers, so that by the time they reach preschool, they have already formed the ideas in their head. It’s not so much about academic knowledge, more about making kids ready for school.”

“Some kids enter 1st grade without having learned anything apart from writing their name maybe, but the most important thing is that kids are self-confident, feel they can do things on their own without being scared of making mistakes,” Sackett said. “We give them a safe environment where they can try things out, make experiences, be independent. We start that at the youngest age group. They learn that there are different languages, different ways to pronounce words. The kids have fun without learning pressure, and get introduced to daily routines.”

At 3e preparation for transition begins in earnest in the second semester.

“Round about April or May,” Loveday-Hu said, “we have a child-led conference, where the children demonstrate to the parents what they’ve learned. Then we start to talk in earnest about what happens next. We do it with all age groups, but for older children it might mean writing homework about the next step, what might happen, what they’re anxious about.”

However she emphasizes that kindergarten has its own value, and is not merely about preparing for school.

“It’s important for the preparation to be the long term responsibility of the teacher, and that there’s no pressure on children. Each stage is valuable in its own right. We’re developing them as kindergarteners but also having a conversation about what happens next.”

This conversation includes being introduced to their new environment.

“We have a Transition Day,” Loveday-Hu said, “where we split the children into two groups. Those who are staying, we take them to the new campus, and give them an opportunity to discuss, and ask questions.

“We try to have them involved in a way that suits them. The kindergarten children want to touch everything, to find out what every button does, where every door goes, and you have to open it and show them. I took them to the running track, and we had a race, because that’s what it’s for. When we came to the astroturf, they were lying down on it. That’s how children at that age experience things, very directly.

“For those who are not staying, we had their teachers talk to them, give them a chance to ask questions too without feeling left out.”

Eduwings also arrange classroom visits, Janusch said.

“Usually in Spring we take the children to the schools which they might go to, while the parents are still deciding.”

“We try to arrange it so that they can sit down with students and participate in activities,” Sackett added, “so they can really get the feel of being in a 1st grade class.”

Children from Eduwings move on to a variety of different settings. Many 3e students, on the other hand, will stay on there for 1st grade, though not all, as Loveday-Hu told us.

“It depends on the parents’ path. We have a mixture: some families who know they’re going to stay on in China, and for them English and Chinese will both be important. They’ll often stay at 3e because we teach 50:50 in both languages. Families who know that they’re going back home will often choose to go to an international school which supports an easier transition to the home country. Sometimes one more year of Chinese isn’t the best thing for them. Respecting what is happening next in families’ lives is important; it’s not all about the bottom line.”

Whether students are staying or moving on, their new teachers are given extensive information about their progress at kindergarten.

“If they’re moving internally,” Loveday-Hu said, “we have a detailed portfolio system, which includes not only report cards, but work samples, and individualized plans. If children choose to leave us that goes with them, and their new teachers will see a really good set of examples from all areas of the school day. We give our contact details, so teachers can always call us, but they already have access to a lot of information.”

Perhaps because many of the students will be staying with their current peer group, graduation from 3e’s kindergarten is relatively low key.

“We don’t tend to do a formal ceremony, but we do small things,” Loveday-Hu told us. “The students get work that’s not in their portfolio, they take their family pictures home, and get a yearbook, with pictures of everything that’s happened during the year. They get a different backpack for the next school year, which acknowledges they’re moving to a different stage in their lives.

“On the last day we have a sports day, but it’s quite informal. It’s not competitive, because we have children aged from 2 to 12! The idea is that their parents come and pick them up, and we collectively engage in sports outside and just have a good time as we close this year and move onto next one.”

At Eduwings, on the other hand, the end of students’ time there is marked with traditions which reflect both the school’s German heritage and its international setting.

“We have an end of year party and performance, where the children moving on have a graduation ceremony. They also do traditional German cone-making.”

(Schultüten – literally “school bags” – have been popular throughout the German-speaking world since the early nineteenth century. They’re cones made of paper or card and filled with things to help the child start at their new school. In the past this usually meant candies, but these days the emphasis is more on stationery, pens, books and so on.)

“At the summer party the parents and kids watch the children perform and we always end with oldest kids. The teachers will say some nice words about the students who are leaving. In another tradition, each class says their goodbyes to students with a small party in the classroom. The kids also have a small goodbye present for each other. For example, one class made a shirt for each child, on which they all put their fingerprints with paint, and wrote their names. Another group made a recipe book with hand drawn pictures of the children. Different years have different gifts, but they’re all special.”

All the educators agreed that ultimately, the skills which will enable children to thrive at school are the same which will enable them to succeed in life.

“The main goal is to get them socially developed, comfortable learning, getting on with their peers, and ready for a new environment,” Sackett told us.

For Loveday-Hu allowing each child to develop at their own pace is critical:

“There’s no competition. Do your best and be the best you can be is all we expect, then you can confidently move through the system.”