Getting to the end of a year in Beijing tends to leave you with more questions than answers, and when you’re not searching in vain for that long-gone jianbing seller, you’re dealing with quiet closures, noisy neighbors, and if you’re really lucky, surprise laduzi. One thing’s for sure: there’s never a dull day in China’s capital, and we hope for nothing less from 2020. For now, however, let’s take a look back at the year that was 2019.

The biggest Beijing book news this year was arguably the closure of our beloved Sanlitun bookstore and hangout, The Bookworm. Yet while this certainly left a big hole in our community, when it comes to actual books, 2019 still offered plenty to be happy about. We look back on a selection of the Beijing and China-related books that caught our eye this year, and made waves both here and abroad.

Long Peace Street: A Walk in Modern China by Jonathan Chatwin

Over two long, hot August days, British journalist Jonathan Chatwin walked the breadth of Beijing with a seemingly simple mission: follow Chang’an Jie, or as he translates it (and from which the book title comes), Long Peace Street, all the way from old steel factory of Shougang in the far west to the Sihui subway station in the east before the road peters out into suburbia. Describing the sites that he encounters on his way (as well as those long gone, and a few slight detours), Chatwin is able to weave together a compelling history of modern China, in the proud tradition of the ‘flâneur,’ a narrative technique that dates back to the work of French writer Charles Baudelaire. The book is interwoven with personal observations as Chatwin trudges onwards in the oppressive heat, yet this is not memoir: Chatwin is no slouch when it comes to history, and his thorough research combined with skillful storytelling makes this a compelling read and a great place to start for anybody interested in the way Chinese history has shaped the capital, and vice versa.

Recipes From the Garden of Contentment by Yuan Mei, translated into English by Sean J.S. Chen

While the original Recipes From the Garden of Contentment missed the ‘new releases in 2019’ list by about two centuries, this new English translation by Canadian Chinese biomedical engineer Sean J.S. Chen caught the eye of our dining expert Robynne Tindall early in the year. Known in Chinese as Suiyuan Shidan (隨園食單), at its core is a treatise and cookbook written in the late 18th century by the Qing dynasty poet, official, and old-school foodie Yuan Mei. This new edition is broken into several chapters ranging from gastronomic principles, recipes, and different categories of ingredients, as well as a biography of Yuan Mei himself. The book is also accompanied by beautiful illustrations throughout. Read our interview with Chen here.

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to China-Africa Relations by Lina Getachew Ayenew

Author and social entrepreneur Lina Getachew Ayenew, who was born in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, has spent the past five years documenting China’s emergence as a key player in Africa’s economic development, distilling her findings into her new book The Complete Beginner’s Guide to China-Africa Relations. Reflecting specifically on the period between 2014-2018, during which time China’s Belt and Road Initiative was kickstarted and implemented, the book covers topics like China’s role in Africa’s debt, how Trump’s America and China are battling for influence in Africa, China’s impact on African wildlife, Africa-China race relations, and China’s continuing expansion of artificial intelligence in the continent. As such, this wide-ranging book is a must-read for anybody interested in relations between these two global titans. Read our interview here.

The Penguin Zhejiang series

This collection of Penguin shorts was released in collaboration with the Zhejiang Writers Association of China, and presents five works by Chinese authors from the 20th and 21st centuries that were recently translated into English. In Professor Su Jing’an in His Later Years by Dong Ju, an aging scholar struggles with the realities of growing old; in The Road Home by Ai Wei a young schoolboy becomes fascinated with gunpowder; and in The Postman by Bi Yu brings to life a brutal 1936 Shanghai murder and investigation. That criminal theme continues with the story of a conman who can’t outrun his past in Fleeing Xinhe Street by Zhe Gui, and a man struggling with the morality of debt-collection in The Debt Collector. Diverse stories indeed, but one thing unites all of them: they’re all about men. Whether this was by design or due to an unfortunate oversight, the books still represent a nice collection of modern Chinese fiction.

Under Red Skies is a multi-generational memoir by Chinese writer and former New York Times researcher Karoline Kan. Born in Tianjin in 1989 as an illegal second child under the one-child policy, Kan went on to pursue higher education in Beijing before scoring a job as an English language journalist for That’s Beijing. Kan then represents the generation of young Chinese who have grown up with great economic growth and upheaval, while her parents and grandparents represent the past from which China is in many ways, continuing to distance itself. Including conversations and anecdotes from her childhood friends and family members, Kan’s memoir skillfully highlights the great changes that China has experienced in just a few short decades, and the even-larger cultural gap that has emerged between the great cities like Beijing and the rest of China.An American Bum in China by Tom Carter

Just sneaking onto this year’s release list, An American Bum in China is about, well, an American bum in China. Author Tom Carter uses real-life laowai-Iowan transplant Matthew Evans as the protagonist for his narrative non-fiction as he bounces around between China, Myanmar, and Hong Kong at the time of the Umbrella Movement as he – in the words of reviewer Mike McCormack – “ambling through scenes of historical significance without realizing what the hell is going on.” American Bum is a fun read, but if you already hold an unfavorable opinion of low-skilled Americans teaching English in China, this book is unlikely to do much to change that. Read the full review here.

Beijing Pictoral History: Beijing Ordinary Life in 70 Years by Beijing Publishing Group

Released to coincide in the 70th year of the CCP, Beijing Pictoral History is less a book than a collection of photographs, which in the words of Qu Zhong, general manager of Beijing Publishing Group, is intended to show “ordinary people’s perspective and stories … [as well as] the vivid process of the people in the capital moving towards a happy life under the leadership of the party.”

Despite the obvious propaganda, the large tome’s focus is on the ‘ordinary people’ and should therefore provide an interesting, albeit manicured, insight into the great changes this city and daily life has undergone over seven decades. A selection of 100 of the photographs is currently being displayed at the Beijing Local Chronicles Museum until Dec 31.

READ: Plague, Fires, an Airport, and Other News That Kept Beijing Rapt in 2019

More stories by this author here.
Email: annahartley@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @its_annahartley
Instagram: @its_annahartley

Images: Amazon, Beijing Publishing Group

The teens have seized control once again! Since we started doing this in 2017, this has become one of my favorite issues of the year. This is also what I feel sets beijingkids apart from the other publications in the city focused on family life and education. The Teen Takeover is also the one issue we do annually where the focus is deep collaboration with Beijing’s international school students, making it the perfect opportunity to experience exactly what’s on their minds.

But, what is on the minds of international teens in the capital? You might think it’s all T Swift, bubble tea, or the new fall line at Uniqlo. While these things are likely in their mental stratosphere, in this issue, they go beyond these critical items and drop some knowledge about what’s important to them in these complicated times and in this very unique place.

Within the pages of this Teen Takeover issue, you’ll find simple tips for getting into shape even if you are a busy international school student (p26), recipes that will allow you to occasionally divert from your waimai habit and act a little more sustainably (p30), and finally we’ll journey to the dusty heart of Gulou for a deliciously creative set of hamburgers at Side Street (p34).

Make sure to also check out Homeward Bound (p52) from Lian S, of the German Embassy School. She wrote about the horrors of the Yulin Dog Meat Festival and the role this one network of animal lovers are playing to help these pets find loving families in countries around the world.

For many of our writers, the one thing that’s just over the horizon is college. This year, we were bombarded with news at just how much a role money and privilege pay in getting into top universities. And, while this may be of no surprise to many, it was only a matter of time before this cash trail would send the story to Beijing. Rylie X from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) jumped at the opportunity to share her feelings on the matter and how privilege often trumps academic ability on the journey towards higher education.

We ultimately aren’t the only game in town, providing an outlet for student writers. I would like to use this moment to give massive props to independent publications like UNIT-E and INKBEAT Arts, who are also cultivating the next generation of creative writers and reporters. We also try to poach these groups for potential writers, every year when we tackle this issue.

Also, we would like to say that this issue would be nothing without the help of faculty from Beijing’s international schools. They are instrumental in providing us access to their talented student writers and giving us the space needed to help develop the following pieces for our readership. If you or anyone you know, young or old, are interested in contributing to beijingkids, feel free to send us your pitch at magazine@beijing-kids.com. While we may be a trusted resource for Beijing-based families, we are nothing without our readership. We value your generosity in consistently sharing your experiences and wisdom with us, and, of course, your feedback.

This article appeared in the beijingkids July-August 2019 Teen Takeover issue

Many expats wouldn’t dream of moving without knowing that their beloved family pet could go with them, but the logistics and paperwork involved in relocating an animal to or from Beijing – coupled with the potential language barrier – are enough to worry even the most efficient planner. Many hire a pet relocation company, but whether you choose to outsource the process or go it alone, rest assured that relocating with pets can be straightforward with research and preparation.

There are two sets of processes: one for when exiting China with pets and another for rehoming animals. The timeline below shows a summary of the things to do for both actions as early as a year before the departure date.

Pet Relocation Resources

International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) 北京新天地国际动物医院 has a pet import and export service center. The vet hospital also holds free monthly information sessions. Open 9am-6pm daily. (8456 1939/40/41, www.icvsasia.com) Rm 13-16 Rongke Ganlan Chengshang Jie, Futongxi Dajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang. 朝阳区望京阜通西大街, 融科橄榄城商街13-16号

Doctors Beck and Stone Health Care Center 思威 （北京） 国际动物医院 is a chain of animal hospitals staffed with Western and Chinese vets and staff. Branches double as emergency centers with ambulances available. www.doctorsbeckandstone.com

Globy Pet Relocation helps relocate pets from anywhere in the world, including obtaining required papers, arranging flights, and delivering pets. Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm. (8762 5020, www.globypetrelo.com) Rm 26B, Block 2, Bauhinia Court, 30 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区东三环北路30号紫荆豪庭2座26B

Beijing Guanshang Animal Hospital 北京观赏动物医院 is open daily 8.30am-10.30pm. Its 24hr emergency services are available after 5pm (including holidays). (6237 1359, Chinese only: 6204 9631/9742, www.chinapet.com.cn) 7 Beisanhuan Zhonglu, Xicheng. 西城区北三环中路7号

This article appeared in the beijingkids June 2019 Home & Relocation Guide issue.

Time to start counting down to this year’s Beijing Burger Festival, the juiciest weekend of the summer! It’s also your opportunity to guarantee a place at China’s biggest burger-related event ahead of time. That’s right, early bird tickets for the Jun 22-23 festival are now on sale which are not only much cheaper but will also get you some awesome burger loot!

This year, we’re offering early birders two options:

• Pay RMB 50 now and get yourself a ticket, Beijing Burger Festival T-shirt, and bandana (this package will cost RMB 120 on the day) or…
• Pay RMB 20 for a ticket and a bandana (this package will cost RMB 60 on the day)

To buy your early bird tickets right now, click here.

This year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever, with 15,000 burger fiends scouring 50 booths for the best burgers, booze, and bites as well as two full days of music, entertainment, and competitions. This year’s Burger Festival will also be our most vegan and vegetarian-friendly yet so that you can come a gorge on burgers no matter your dietary persuasion.

Our trendy bandanas come in handy as headscarf… or as a napkin should you need it

Watch out for a full rundown of who will attend this year’s festival, but for now get your juices flowing with a look at some of last year’s highlights:

Excited? Grab your tickets now!

Photos: Uni You

If you are trapped in Beijing this summer, don’t fret as there are still plenty of great activities going on for kids. Here are just a handful of camps happening throughout these months that are focused on pushing your child to new heights academically, athletically, and even creatively to prevent that undesirable summer slide that comes with too much idle time on smartphones, tablets, and video game consoles.

Atelier Creative Summer Camps, Jun 17-Aug 30

Ages 5-18. Atelier’s creative team has concocted a series of colorful and adventurous cultural workshops. Meet artists, visit countries, explore the oceans, become an architect, and awaken ecological awareness. There are six topics, such as Le Tour de France, Eco-Cities, a Drawing & Painting Masterclass, Journey to Traditional Culture, and Under the Sea, open to students five and up. Visit www.atelier.cn.com for more details and pricing.

2019 CISB Camp, Jun 24-Aug 2

Ages 6-15.  The Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) offers English and Chinese language summer camps here in Beijing, and will also introduce a New One-Week Specialty Program for students aged 10 to 15 at the Discovery Adventures Park at Moganshan in Zhejiang province. Under the “Summer Enhancement program”, CISB will offer SSAT training for middle school students and SAT training for high school students. RMB 27,300-28,300. Canadian International School of Beijing (6465 7788; summeradmissions@CISBeijing.com)

DDC Summer Talented Youth Program, Jun 24-Aug 2

Ages 6-17. DDC (Diligence & Delight Learning Center) is offering their tailored educational summer programs dedicated to the development of highly talented students at The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi campus from June 24 to August 2. This includes STEM, Humanities, Arts and Drama programs to students from Grade 1 to 11. All classes are taught in English. 9am-4pm. The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi. (RSVP: contact@dd-learning.com)

Camp Greenwoods, Jun 24-Aug 31

Ages 7+. Camp Greenwoods is the first ever fully American-style campsite built in China, incorporating all the true elements of American camping from campfires to camp Olympics. Children spend their one or two week sessions in the great outdoors developing new skills and making new friends. There are four camps to choose from across China (Beijing, Shanghai, Qiandaohu, and Kunming). RMB 8,800 per week. (6417 3809, WeChat: lufang0105, helen@ymcegroup.com)

Keystone Academy China Discovery Program, Jul 15-Aug 2

Keystone’s Summer Archway is a language immersion program, helping western students master their command of Mandarin Chinese. In three weeks, they will explore the past, the present, and the future of this exciting and influential city while simultaneously strengthening the communication skills of Chinese language learners. Grades 3-11. Keystone Academy (8049 6008 ext. 2777 or summer@keystoneacademy.cn)

White Cloud Volleyball Camp, Aug 5-9, Aug 12-16

Including playing for the Bayi women’s volleyball team and the Chinese national team, Bai Yun has dedicated herself to teaching and coaching volleyball to children, hoping to pass on her skills and knowledge to more young people and inspire a passion for the game. Volleyball players of all ages are welcome to register to develop and fine-tune their skills, develop teamwork, and increase their physical abilities through a safe and fun sport. Inquire for group discounts. RMB 4,281 (includes coaching fee, lunch & jersey). 9.30am-4.30pm. International School of Beijing. (RSVP: cloudflying11@sina.com)

This article first appeared in the beijingkids April 2019 Exploring Beijing issue.
Photos: Courtesy of organizers