After hours of combing through our archives, we feature some places worth a visit over the holiday period to get the most out of Beijing before the cold has us shuddering at the thought of having to go outside. These place are action packed and hopefully the weather and air quality index permit a day out. Avoid the crowds at places like Tiananmen as even walking 200 meters will take an eternity.

Enormous not only in size, but also in educational fun, the China Science and Technology Museum 中国科技馆 will satisfy the thinker in children and adults alike. You can easily spend up an afternoon walking through four themed floors and nine different galleries. Once you’ve had your fill of the museum itself, check out the massive children’s play center  Science Paradise. Containing countless hands-on exhibits and displays, the museum provides children with a healthy mix of information and entertainment that will leave them wanting to know more. Mind-boggling exhibits and topics on the third and fourth floors can even kindle the Einstein in parents as well. Perfect on cold and dreary winter’s day, the museum is a fun indoor haven for the whole family.

After emerging from the Olympic Green subway exit (Line 8), make your way northeast through the Olympic Green park towards the museum, a rectangular white building. The west entrance of the China Science and Technology Museum lies just off Datun Beilu. Purchase your tickets at the outdoor ticket booth or opt for the automated ticket machines (in Chinese only) once you enter through the main door. If you have young children, make note of the neon sign reading “Science Paradise” to your left, as you may want to return to this immense play center later.

he busiest gallery in the museum is The Glory of China (1). Check out ancient Chinese technological innovations, taking in the technology of looms, plows, iron casting and more. Kids can turn a life-size waterwheel and watch the powerful effects. While en route,  admire the sailing ship commandeered by legendary Chinese admiral Zheng He. Take the small wooden set of stairs adjacent to the ship up to the traditional Chinese medicine exhibit. There, inspect models of diseased tongues and acupuncture charts. Head back down the stairs and keep looping around the circular path to discover the astronomy exhibit, where kids can gaze upon the stars. After fulfilling their astronomical aspirations, head to the age of ancient scientific exploration. Experiment with Pascal’s Triangle, Tangram puzzles, and blocks. Don’t spend too much time puzzling these conundrums though, as you have three more floors to scale.

Continue to find out what’s in store you here.

Check out the museum’s cinema review here.

Photo: Oscar Holland

The weather is getting warmer and warmer in Beijing and while it’s nice to go out in summer dresses and t-shirts, the heat can be annoying and even dangerous, especially for children and elderly. To prevent the risk of dehydration and heat illness always remember to take these simple precautions:

Drink that H2O
It may sound banal, but it’s important to drink a lot of water during summer in order to compensate for the loss of water due to sweating. Avoid drinking coffee and alcohol as they promote dehydration.

Keep it light
Wear comfortable and thin clothes. Choose light colors, especially white, as light colors absorb less heat than darker colors and can keep you cooler.

Take another shower
Showering is refreshing and helps to cool down the temperature of your body. If you are having problems falling asleep because of the heat, try to take a cool shower before going to bed.

Go for the fruit bowl
Avoid eating heavy food, fried food, and protein-rich meals as these take longer to digest and will keep your body temperature higher. Instead, try eating sandwiches, salads, lots of fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits will not only refresh you, but also give you a lot of nutrients and water content.

Avoid the sun
Especially between 12pm and 4pm, when the day is at his hottest, avoid spending too much time in the sun. If you are outside, try to walk in the shade or rest at regular intervals. If there’s not much shade to be found, try going a bit more local and carrying an umbrella or parasol to shield yourself from the sun’s direct rays.

Wear sunscreen and sunglasses
Always remember to protect your skin and eyes by putting sunscreen on your skin and wearing sunglasses. Even if it’s a cloudy (or smoggy) day, your skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays, and damage can occur even if you don’t get burned. Remember to reapply sunscreen frequently (every two hours) and liberally. When the family goes out for a day outside, it’s also a good idea to have your children (and even yourself) wear a hat.

This post first appeared on May 24, 2013.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Source: Tips to combat summer heat and Humidity

Stuck indoors and feeling a bit legarthic from all the outdoor activities, give the following crafts a try. From our archives, these crafts are an easy way to pass time whilst still having fun.

Knead Your Heart Out

Homemade dough is an easy way to pass the time when it’s cold and dreary outside – and making it is half the fun.

Difficulty Level: Medium [adult supervision recommended]

Materials:
1 ½ cups (180g) flour
1 ½ cups (180g) salt
1 tablespoon (15ml) cream of tartar
Cooking pot
1 ½ cups (350ml) water
1 ½ tablespoon (22.5ml) vegetable oil
Wooden spoon or fork
Spoon
A bowl for each color
Food coloring
Plastic airtight containers

Time: 
20 minutes

1.  Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a cooking pot.

2.  Mix water and oil in a separate bowl.

 3. Pour water and oil into cooking pot and stir with a fork or wooden spoon.

4. Turn on the stove and continue stirring. Heat the mixture for three to four minutes or until the material becomes a lumpy dough. Break up clumps in the pot, but it’s fine if the dough has the consistency of mashed potatoes.

5. Spoon equal portions of dough into bowls and let rest for a few minutes. Add food coloring into the dough and use a spoon to distribute throughout.

6. Knead the balls until they each have uniform coloring. Each ball will keep for weeks if stored in an airtight container.

Find more crafts here

This post first appeared here and was written by Rebecca Kanthor

Photo courtesy of Wonderyot (Flickr)