The fleeting Beijing spring has already left us, and summer is here again. For me this brings back memories of when we first arrived in the city, at the beginning of last August: those first few weeks of jetlag, stunned by the summer heat, dazzled by an alien environment and struggling with the simplest tasks. It’s hard to believe that was less than a year ago, now that we are settled and happy, busy at work and school, the children chatting cheerfully in Chinese.

And already my brief stint as interim Managing Editor is coming to an end, as I hand over the reins to Vanessa Jencks for the next issue. I’m not leaving the magazine though; I’ll be returning to my substantive role as Contributing Editor, as well as hopefully finding some time for my other writing and teaching activities. I’ll be traveling with my family too, venturing out into the Gobi desert and to a Tibetan horse racing festival. Look out for tales of our adventures on the new-look beijingkids website!

In this issue you’ll find lots of ideas for getting outside and making the most of the sunshine. Whether you want to splash around in a pool (p28) or lounge on a terrace with a cool drink (p23), we know all the best places to go. And on page 44, find out from three families the secrets of their favorite Beijing parks.

Beware of too much dolce far niente though. Mary Jew, Head of Keystone Academy Primary School, warns us of the danger of “summer fall back” (p48). Fortunately, we have the answer in our comprehensive listing of summer camps. Whether your kids are budding actors or artists, soccer stars or marine biologists, you’ll find details of the perfect camp for them!

Keep yourself and your family healthy this summer, with advice from our medical columnists on sun safety (p19) and staying hydrated (p22). And I’ve been looking into the science of “skeeters”, to find out what makes mosquitoes tick and how best to keep them away (p20).

Let’s not forget that June brings Father’s Day too. We’ve got a special Dad make over in this month’s Indulge (p16), and there’s suggestions for gifts and treats for the Dad in your life on page 18. Just in case my wife should read this, I think I’d look rather dapper in a bespoke suit…

This article originally appeared on page 7 of the 2016 June-July Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

Photos: Dave’s Studio and Vanessa Jencks

Upon hearing the word “hutong,” many expats will automatically think of the areas surrounding Andingmen, Yonghegong, or Gulou Dongdajie. And yet, there’s a quiet stretch of hutongs between Chaoyangmen Neidajie and Dongsishitiao that is also home to authentic siheyuan (courtyard homes), time-honored brands, and lao Beijing restaurants. Dongsi is less developed – but also less gentrified – than its neighbors to the north, making the area ripe for exploration. Dongsi is best seen on foot or by bicycle, with an open mind, lots of time to spare, and a camera on hand. You won’t find many English menus here, so it’s best to brush up on your Mandarin before setting out.

Ease into the day with a dose of culture, courtesy of the National Art Museum of China (1). To get to the museum, take subway Line 5 to Dongsi station (东四地铁站) and get out at exit A. Walk west along Wusi Dajie for about 10 minutes; NAMOC will be on your right. Admission is free, but you’ll have to show a copy of your passport as a form of ID to obtain a ticket.

With 17 exhibition halls spread out over 18,000sqm, you could easily spend the entire day at NAMOC. The main exhibition hall typically features traditional artwork by Chinese artists, including heroic Communist-era paintings, delicate shanshui (literally “mountain and water”) landscapes, and looping calligraphy scrolls. For the most part, abstracts and painting descriptions are in Chinese only.

Once you’ve had your fill of Chinese art, exit the museum and cross Wusi Dajie to pick up some supplies for your own artist-in-residence. There’s a row of art stores offering everything from custom framing to masonite boards. The largest one is called Gehua Baihua (2) and is easily spotted by its red-on-white Chinese sign. You’ll find everything from paintbrushes and paint tubes to plaster busts, origami paper, technical pens, drawing pads, and more.

At this point, you might be feeling a bit peckish. Cross the street again and backtrack east along Wusi Dajie until you reach Meishuguan Dongjie (美术馆东街). Walk north about 80m and take a right on Longfusi Snack Street (3). Like Wangfujing Snack Street, Longfusi has its share of creepy crawlies on a stick, including scorpions, crickets, and starfish. Eschew these novelty snacks in favor of roujiamo (肉夹馍, a Shaanxi snack resembling a mini-burger), lamb skewers, or stir-fried noodles.

After you’ve satisfied your chuan’r craving,walk east along Longfusi Dajie until you reach Dongsi Beidajie (东四北大街), one of the area’s main thoroughfares. A series of narrow lanes branching off this street form the backbone of Dongsi’s hutong network. Running from east to west, they are numbered in ascending order: Dongsi Toutiao (Dongsi First Street), Dongsi Ertiao (Dongsi Second Street), and so forth until Dongsi Shitiao (Dongsi Tenth Street) in the north.

There isn’t much to do from Dongsi Toutiao (东四头条) to Dongsi Santiao (东四三条), but don’t let that stop you from wandering through the hutongs. You’ll glimpse old men playing xiangqi, garlic vendors hawking their wares from flatbed bicycles, old ladies gossiping in the street, and more.

Things get a bit more lively at the western end of Dongsi Sitiao, where you’ll find Chinese restaurants from Yunnan and Shanxi, as well as a couple of Western-style cafes. Near the corner of Dongsi Sitiao and Dongsi Beidajie, you’ll come across venerable Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacy Yong’antang (4).

Along with Tongrentang, Yong’antang is one of the oldest and most respected pharmacy chains in China. Ask to see their mind-boggling apothecary of TCM ingredients, get the pharmacists to mix up a custom herbal brew, or simply pick up over-the-counter medication for life’s recurrent ills. Though the store keeps regular opening hours, ailing customers can drop by anytime to pick up prescriptions via a window slot.

If you’re hungry, stop by Xian Lao Man (5) on the corner of Dongsi Beidajie and Dongsi Liutiao for some authentic lao Beijing cuisine and some of the best dumplings in the city. There’s a minimum of two liang (两), or five dumplings, per type of filling. For two adults and two children, you’ll probably need about eight liang or 40 dumplings if you don’t order any other dishes. If you like spicy food, Xian Lao Man makes a surprisingly satisfying koushuiji (口水鸡) for RMB 30. The menu is completely in Chinese, and the bill should come up to RMB 100-150 for a family of four.

If you have babies or younger children, it’s worth taking a quick trip across the street to Da Baobei (6). This boutique is packed with cute and affordable clothes for ages 0-5. Most products were unbranded, but some of the pieces looked like factory surplus from Zara and other Western brands. Prices averaged RMB 90-100 for sweaters, RMB 50 for cardigans, and RMB 30 for pajama tops and bottoms.

Just a little further north, you’ll find a shop called Bluehat (7). Don’t be fooled by the name; Bluehat carries products by Kodo Life, the home decoration chain with a flagship store in Nanluogu Xiang. You’ll find the same adorable tea sets, jewelry, canvas bags, vases, flower pots, ceramics, and wooden storage accessories that made the original so popular.

For the last stop of your Dongsi tour, stop by a local laozihao (老字号) or “time-honored” brand Jude Huatian (8). This snack shop is venerated for its lao Beijing desserts, which you can eat on the spot or take away. Kids will love the unhealthy but delicious naiyou zhagao (奶油炸糕), a deep-fried puff pastry dipped in white sugar. At RMB 1.5, it’s easy on the wallet too. There is also twisted mahua (deep-fried twisted dough), ai wowo (glutinous rice balls), and more. After that, getting home is easy as pie; just walk north to the corner of Dongsi Shitiao and Dongsi Beidajie to find Zhangzi Zhonglu (张自忠路) subway station on Line 5.

 Addresses:

National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) 中国美术馆
Daily 9am-5pm (last admission at 4pm). 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District (8403 3500) www.namoc.org 东城区五四大街1号

Gehua Baihua Art Supplies 歌华百花美术用品有限公司
Daily 9am-6pm. 12 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District (Art Supplies: 6522 2511, Paper and Stationary: 6523 9483) 东城区五四大街12号

Longfusi Snack Street 隆福寺街
Longfusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

Yong’antang 永安堂
Daily 8.30am-9pm, 24hr window service. 434 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District (6404 1974) 东城区东四北大街434号

Xian Lao Man 馅老满
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. 316 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District (8402 5779) 东城区东四北大街316号

Da Baobei 大宝贝儿童服装
Daily 9am-9pm. 371 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District (6402 8091, 379710938@qq.com) 东城区东四北大街371号

Bluehat 蓝礼儿室
Daily 10am-10pm. 421-1 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District (6400 2683) 东城区东四北大街421-1号

Jude Huatian Xiaochi Dian 聚德华天小吃店
Daily 6am-9pm. 214 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District (6202 4587) 东城区东四北大街214号

This article is excerpted from beijingkids October 2012 issue that appeared for the first time on beijingkids October 28, 2012.

Chinese New Year is upon us and our February issue hits the shelves this week. This month we focus on Chinese Culture and spotlight how Chinese families celebrate Chinese New Year, a roundup of the temple fairs you might want to check out for those staying in the capital over the holidays, and a look at the capital’s cultural activities.

Dining
If you’re interested in trying out Chinese food, we have gathered a list of family friendly Chinese restaurants that are worth a visit. Six-year-old Angelia Germain is this month’s food critic of Yi minority cuisine restaurant Asiniuniu. The Lyu-Sochi family share their sweet fried fish recipe.

Playing
Beijing has said it’s fair share of goodbyes to markets, we give you a list of the last standing markets. We have a dragon craft from Daystar Academy to try out.

Living
When French-designed children’s clothes meets Chinese flair is Beijing based Tang’Roulou’s signature style and this store is featured in this month’s Talking Shop. Le Kindergarten can be your next birthday destination spot that offers cooking, craft, and more. Mom of four, Alice Niven is this month’s mom makeover. 

Learning
Keystone Academy’s Chinese Thread is a key component of their curriculum, students share their learning experiences in Schooled. Western Academy of Beijing students offer words of wisdom on understanding China. We showcase artwork from British School of Beijing, Shunyi students on Blank Canvas.

Health
We gathered Traditional Chinese Medicine tips to staying healthy during winter. Dr. Melissa Rodriguez breaks down myths are grains and Dr. George Hu touches on how to integrate into Chinese culture as a family.

Parenting
Our parent columnists, Ember Swift and Jennifer Ambrose write about the love affair with China and the meaning of "Thank You" respectively.

Essentials
Take a look at cute babies in our New Arrivals sections and mark down your calendar for some of the events taking place over the month.

Can’t find the print edition? Send an email to distribution@beijing-kids.com or, check out the PDF version below or at Issuu.com.

The dropping night temperatures and occasional sneezing marks the change in season and autumn is here. October is going to be a very busy month for us with the upcoming 9th Halloween Costume Party. The latest issue has all you need to know about Halloween, autumn, and change. We feature trailing spouses who changed careers and have found a new beginning in professions they now love.

We have a list of places to watch the leaves change both around the CBD and out of town, a glimpse at five of Beijing’s most spookiest places, a checklist of putting together a Halloween party, and a teacher-student duo from the Canadian International School of Beijing show us how to make a mask for  halloween. 

The hair and makeup geniuses at London Loft Salon transforms Germans Sabine and Erat Erhard in this special couple’s makeover, for the record WOW! Take a look at Calin Fashion Academy’s fashion centric birthday party for that haute theme while you can grab fashion accessories, in particular jewelry from Flora and Fauna that’s unique are they draw inspiration from world cultures.

The Smokeyard offers filling grilled and smoked meats such as their signature ribs at their new Sanlitun location. New residents, the Winterhofs share with us their healthy, fruit-based Halloween treats that can be a new addition this year.

Physical and emotional challenges during the first six weeks after birth is scary especially when living so far from your family and close friends, here’s changes most mom go through during that time in our health feature. Dr. Melissa Rodriguez share the benefits of honey as an alternative source of sugar. Dr. Dorothy Dexter give advice on getting health makeover both physical and mental.

Parents Ember Swift and Jennifer Ambrose share their halloween and Oktoberfest expectations for this year.

Daystar Academy welcomed Design for Change educator Kiran Bir Sethi to talk about her award-winning project and how to implement the four steps to get successful, all rounded students. YCIS Beijing students ask founder of Principle M, bespoke tailored suits and image consultants provider, Justin Kwok all the trendy fashion questions. We feature artwork from Etonkids International Bilingual Kindergartens’ Central Park campus in our blank canvas.

Can’t find the print edition? Send an email to distribution@beijing-kids.com or call 5820 770. You can also check out the PDF version online at Issuu.

September is finally here! This is one of our favorite months as fall sets in and the balance of hot and cold temperature is just right. As the season changes, more doctor trip season starts as well as kids will get stomach bugs, the flu, and other ailments. So this month’s issue is health heavy focused as we look at the state of local hospital, insurance breakdown, and what’s China’s vaccination schedule is like.

In our health section Dr Melissa Rodriguez gives six reasons to have a well put together salad and Dr. George Hu touches on suggestion to parents on how to support good mental health. Take the trip to Beyou World with the kids to try out different role play or head out of town to one of the organic farms to enjoy the harvesting period as highlighted in our playing section.

After or before heading off to check out Beyou World and farms you can try the Derwent family’s banana-oat cookies for that yum snack. If cooking is taking a lot of time from the busy family, try out TRIBE’s specially crafted meals plans for kids that will be delivered to your home.

Schools and organizations share their latest developments in our Noticeboard column. Also, in the living section we spolight start up technology company Origins Technology that’s makes air purifiers and monitors indoor air quality. The Hutong as a mixed birthday party theme option of cupcakes and martial arts. Shaking things up in our mom makeover is Rebecca Shook who moves to a more smart casual look.

Beijing’s summer exodus means kids were enjoying their time some place else, so here we let the students at Tsinghua International School tell us what they did this summer. ISB students debate the pros and cons of getting vaccinated in our new restructured roundtable format. Ivy Academy’s art teacher describes her students’ art work from their inspiration to their interpretation in our learning section.

How to restart life after the kids have flown off to start a new chapter in their lives? Here’s a close look at expat nest syndrome as written by our Shunyi correspondent Sally Wilson. Ember Swift shares with us her daughter’s curiosity to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in our parenting section.

Due to the September 3-5 holiday, distribution of our magazine will be delayed at our usual drop off points. Pick up your copy from tomorrow and in the meantime take a look at our online version here.

Among one of the top reasons most people come to China is the rich history that seeps from every province in the country; Beijing is at the top of the list with places like the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, historical residences, and more.

In our August issue, we asked some of the city’s tour experts to give a sneak peak at some of their walking tours. Schools are back in session this month as well as those dreaded routines, so find out how families can be better equipped to cope with transitioning from holiday mode to class ready. We compiled a list of the places where you can get stationery to really hit it home that holiday is over.

A visit to one of the child friendly museums is a good place to expanding your knowledge on the China’s enormous history. Take a day off at Equuleus International Riding Club as with any sport , horse riding does have its risks. Get family tested tips on Melbourne for your next holiday destination from the Kanbur-Yin family.

Sweet and salty do go hand-in-hand as Big Bear’s signature cookie has a balance of the opposing flavors so find out the inspiration from owner and baker Jon Ellis in Talking Shop. Make your own candy can be your next birthday party themed idea as the folks over at Papabubble provide just those exact activities. Our Indulge mom is a ray of sunshine after her makeover at Laurent Falcon.

The Red Wall Garden Restaurant serves up a kids menu in a beautiful courtyard setting. Get a shellfish recipe from the Yu-Huo family in this month’s Food for Thought.

The back-to-school packed lunches cheat sheet as brought to you by Melissa Rodriguez is what the nutritionist ordered. Dr. Dorothy Dexter shares a back-to-school checklist and Nelson Chow shares with us about the opening of the LIH Olivia’s Place Pediatric Clinic, formerly known as Eliott’s Corner.

August for most high seniors means getting head start on working on application forms for universities, we take you through applying to US  colleges from the Schlueter triplets. Keystone elementary students get to quiz Lars Ulrik Thom on Beijing’s history and high school students from YCIS show us their creative artistic process in our Blank Canvas.

Christopher Lay is having trouble pinning down a school as he relocates to settle and Jennifer Ambrose is on the hunt for relics around her neighborhood.

Can’t find the print edition? Send an email to distribution@beijing-kids.com or call 5820 770. You can also check out the PDF version online at Issuu.

Another month bites the dust! So does half the year. Kicking off the second half of this magazine year is the water centric issue we put together. There are lists of places to cool down and have summer fun for both new comers and long term residents. Water scarcity in Beijing is very real and we feature non-governmental organization Thirst that’s teaching kids the importance of water conservation. Find out what water sports and activities are readily available for different age groups. 

In our health feature, we take a look at the how to maintain a healthy and safe summer as the temperatures continue to soar. Dr. Melissa Rodriguez and Dr. George Hu talk about juices and helping kids cope with change respectively.

We spotlight catering services I Crepe you NOT! offering dutch pancaking making party services for Birthday Bash. Two African American ladies start up a WeChat shop focusing on natural and organic hair products in  Talking Shop as they tell us their inspiration and challenges. Mom of one Pensive Tatenda is get a makeover then dances in the rain.

Take a trip to the west side of Beijing to the Water cube for some aquatic fun or a visit to the Spaview Hot Spring World opposite Ikea for relaxing benefits. Take a trip to Guilin and Yangshuo based on the recounted memories and experience by the Anderson-Fizpatrick family in our family travels.

The Windy City offers by the water mid-western food for the family to tuck into. The in demand smoothies are just what the doctor ordered, so find out how to make one from Brewer-Elsayed family for Food for Thought.

In our Learning section, we take a closer look at BCIS and WAB students’ different ecological conservation projects that they were involved in during their recently concluded school year. BSB high schoolers share their thoughts on water issues. We feature the creative process of different artworks from BWYA students.

Christopher Lay and Ember Swift give their latest parenting challenges and how they are dealing with them.

Can’t find the print edition? Send an email to distribution@beijing-kids.com or call 5820 770. You can also check out the PDF version online at Issuu.

In our June issue, we featured vegetarianism pegging it to the growing trend of cutting down on meat. Let’s face it eating vegetables is a chore for kids and getting to even consider it take a lot of convincing. So parents around the world have come up with fun ways to make normal veggies more visual appealing. More after the jump

Cucumber
This vegetable is easy to make and one way parents can try to do is cut the cucumbers in strips then make a salad with it. Check out the cucumber ribbon salad.

Peas
Well this is one of those vegetables that’s very versatile. For kids though keep it simple. Boil peas, add mint and lemon peels for a refreshing taste. Here’s the minty peas recipe.

Carrot
Apart from the sweet crunchy taste of carrots. Parents can try to make crinkly carrot fries. However, don’t be deceived by the name the suitable cooking method is baking and no use of oil. Get the recipe here.

Roasted Veggie
Take a look at what’s in your fridge and pantry then mix in what your child likes add a little olive oil, and balsamic vinaigrette put in an open baking dish and put it in the oven. The trick is to use different colored veggies.

Here’s a few more suggestions on vegetable recipes.

Photo: martindelisle31

Spring is here, so is our April issue that features different blended families from members of our community from a single gay dad to siblings living abroad without their parents to one dad’s mom relocating to be with her family to a single adoptive working mom. The families share the ups and downs of raising a child in the city, and the support network that they have. 

Students from BWYA debate on our theme of family and what society defines that to be or not to be in Roundtable under the learning section. Schooled this month focuses on cooking with children and eating healthy food from Michelin-starred chef Marc Frosh and Mosto’s executive chef Daniel Urdaneta. Spring artworks by the students from Side by Side. 

The flowers are blooming and the strawberries await your tastebuds as pick-your-own-produce farms are open for spring. Find out where to watch which flower festival and the locations of the farms. The Lau family travel to charming Spain in our family travels. 

In our health section check out Dr. Melissa Rodriguez’s advice on multi-vitamins and Dr. George Hu’s take on the blended family. We take a look at CPR in the capital and why it’s important to know first aid. 

The Westin Chaoyang’s sushi making class might just be the birthday themed activity of choice in our birthday bash section. Shanghai based delivery crafts, started by two teachers want to bring the hands on crafting experience back in our talking shop as per norm the editors did assemble most of the crafts in the box. Nisha Budhev looks ready for spring as Laurent Falcon gives her a fresh new look in this month’s Indulge. 

 Can’t find the print edition? Send an email to distribution@beijing-kids.com or call 5820 770. You can also check out the PDF version online at Issuu.