There is a place where donated toys wait for new adventures, where clothes hang ready to warm a stranger, and where a single, simple act of sorting can ripple into a story of hope.

This is Roundabout, Beijing’s very own version of Salvation Army, and it is powered by people like you.

At Roundabout, we believe that kindness is not just about giving. It is about the care we take in preparing that gift. Every item that arrives has a story. Your role? To get them ready for the next chapter.

Roundabout is looking for volunteers who want to show up, lend a hand, and be part of something steady and meaningful.

This opportunity is open to adults and teens alike. For teenagers, it is a chance to build responsibility, contribute to the community, and experience the quiet satisfaction of work that truly matters. For adults, it is a space to step away from daily routines, connect with a warm community, and make a tangible difference—sometimes in just a few hours a week.

So what does it take to volunteer at Roundabout? No prior experience is needed. Only three things matter:

1: A caring heart that believes that small actions add up.
2: A sense of attentiveness
3: The willingness to give time either regularly or occasionally, at a rhythm that suits your life.

As a Roundabout volunteer, you will be a part of the team where you will help sort, organize, and prepare donated goods so that they can be sold or distributed to support those in need. You will work in a bright, welcoming space alongside friendly fellow volunteers. There is sunshine, conversation, and the shared sense that together, we are making something beautiful happen.

If you want to know what it’s like to volunteer at Roundabout, check out Margaret Yang’s first hand accounts. 

Find it:
Monday to Saturday
Morning: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Afternoon: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
(You are welcome to choose shifts that work for you.)
Shunyi Villas and Pinnacle Plaza area
Cathy View Plaza, 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Shunyi District
顺义区香江北路2号

How to Join:

Images: Roundabout

The holiday season should be about more than getting everything on your wish list. It’s the perfect time to give back to the community and those in need. We spoke with Ola about the annual Santa Food Drive, a heartwarming initiative born from a simple desire to channel the community’s kindness into tangible support for the city’s stray dogs in need. What began as a small rescue effort among friends has blossomed into a crucial campaign, providing tons of food, warm shelters, and vital supplies to overcrowded and underfunded sanctuaries.

Read on to learn about the inspiring shelters they support, the profound impact of every donation and how you can help spread comfort and joy to hundreds of dogs in need this season.

Tell us about yourself, your annual Santa Food drive and how it started.

First, I am very thankful to jingkids for giving me this opportunity to introduce our Christmas animal charity.

My name is Ola, and over the years, partnering with two like-minded friends Polly and Mariana, we’ve cared for countless animals together as “Layers of Love” and met so many kind people who offered help in all kinds of ways.

As our rescue circle expanded, we sought to create more opportunities for others to join in. That’s how the annual Santa Food Drive began. Thanks to generous donations at Christmas and even on Valentine’s Day, we’ve been able to buy wooden houses, heaters, mattresses and several tons of food for local shelters. There are so many shelters out there – overcrowded, underfunded and often forgotten. Every bit of support truly makes a difference.

Is there a particular dog’s story or a shelter’s situation that personally inspired you to help?

Every day, every shelter struggles with the same challenge of how to feed all its permanent residents. We know that there is a way to help, to take action.

Which shelters is the money going toward helping?

I’m honored to introduce four shelters that will benefit this Christmas. Zhong Xiaosong’s shelter cares for over 340 dogs, including many that are old, sick or disabled. Miss Weili’s shelter houses nearly 500 animals, including dogs, ducks, cats, goats and chickens. Rose Garden has faced multiple relocations, carries huge debts and cares for 270 animals. Finally, Miss Fang’s shelter in Langfang continuously rescues dogs from meat trucks.

Where did all these dogs come from?

Honestly, it might be easier to say where they didn’t come from! The hardest part is that most of these dogs are incredibly friendly and loving toward people. They would make amazing pets despite some of their difficult pasts. Adopt, don’t shop!

What’s the fundraising goal, and how did you come up with this amount?

This year, we’re aiming to raise RMB 30,000, which will provide 3 tons of nutritious dog food directly from the factory. But if anyone feels inspired to donate any other food, old bedding, toys or other pet supplies, they’re more than welcome to join us by scanning the code to enter our group. Any help will be very appreciated.

What’s the plan to ensure transparency on how every donation is collected and distributed?

For the past three years, we’ve maintained a dedicated group where I provide daily updates on every transaction during our Christmas charity events, including purchase receipts, delivery details and other information to ensure full transparency.

Now, please tell us the steps on how we can help these pups in need.

Join our group or scan the code on the poster to share the festive spirit with those who need us the most.

Images: Ola

It’s that time of the year when we start thinking about creative and spooky costumes. While there are many options for purchasing new costumes on Taobao, there are also great alternatives for those looking for a more sustainable choice. After all, it’s a whole outfit that you’ll essentially only wear for a few hours anyway.

There are two excellent places to find secondhand Halloween costumes in Beijing. One’s our favorite secondhand store, Roundabout, and the other is a WeChat group that’s dedicated to costumes.

Why is Roundabout so great? Well, first of all, their warehouse is HUGE! There are plenty of amazing treasures just waiting to be discovered year-round, but during October, they become one of the best places to find Halloween decorations and costumes in person.

Roundabout takes in donated items, sells them and uses the proceeds to assist those in need. So, not only can you get a great costume, but you can also contribute to a worthy cause. They’ve already got their Halloween decorations out in the store, so find some time to stop by and browse through their huge selection for this year’s costumes.

Find it:
Cathay View Plaza, 2 Xiangjiang Beilu, Shunyi District (behind Didi’s Market at the intersection with Jingmi Lu)
顺义区香江北路2号
Mon-Sat, 9.30am-6pm
Tel: 137 1877 7761 (English), 137 1805 3814 (Chinese only)

Then there’s the BJ COSTUMES EXCHANGE, a WeChat group that’s just for people in Beijing to sell and trade their costumes. It’s quiet most months of the year, but when the leaves turn orange and Halloween season creeps around the corner, the group comes to life once again. To join, scan the QR code below.

Images: Roundabout

It’s back-to-school time, which means it’s time to declutter and restock your home library. Don’t miss out on the next Roundabout book fair this Saturday from 10am – 1pm at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).

Head to the primary school gym and browse through about 10,000 recently donated, gently used books for the whole family.

Paperback books are RMB 10, hardcover books are RMB 20, and kids’ books and unique books start from as low as RMB 1.

Bring your family and enjoy the Roundabout book fairs.

Feel free to bring your book donations that day, too. They will show up at one of the following Roundabout book fairs. All books at Roundabout Book Fairs are donated.

Pro Tip: Bring your own shopping bags to reduce unnecessary waste.

Find it:
10 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区来广营东路10号

If you’d like to volunteer to help out on the day, please get in touch by scanning the QR code below:

Images: Roundabout

Roundabout’s book fairs are truly a hidden gem. These fairs offer an incredible opportunity to discover secondhand books at astonishingly low prices, with some being as cheap as RMB 1.

Paperback: RMB 10
Hardcover: RMB 20
Kids books and unique books are priced starting at RMB 1

Not only does Roundabout provide a haven for those seeking literary treasures on a budget, but it also serves a great cause. The money spent at Roundabout goes back to charity, making your purchases a contribution to a worthy endeavor. It’s a win-win situation where you can expand your personal library while also making a positive impact on the community.

The next book fair will be held next weekend on Saturday (June 7) at Keystone Academy from 10am to 3pm. Please bring your own shopping bags on the day. If you’ve got additional spare bags at home, feel free to bring those along with you to donate to Roundabout.

All the books sold at Roundabout book fairs are donated and then sorted with the help of their hard-working volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer at Roundabout, scan the QR code below.

If you’ve got unwanted books at home, bring them with you on Saturday and donate them to help a great cause.

If you’d like more information about Roundabout book fairs or if you’re looking for ways to help out, please scan the QR code below.

Find it:
11 Anfu Jie, Shunyi District
市顺义区安福街11号

If you love Roundabout bookfairs as much as we do, mark these dates in your calendar!

Images: Roundabout

Grade 10 student Monica Cao is proving that you’re never too young to make an impact. This year, she’s spearheading a Children’s Day Online Charity Auction to support the Beijing Cherish Autistic Rehabilitation Center. The auction is live and will run until Jun 1 at 6.30 pm. This digital fundraiser invites everyone to scan the QR code and bid on great prizes, turning compassion into concrete help for those in need.

珍爱孤独症儿童康复中心 (Beijing Cherish Autistic Rehabilitation Center) is a center in Beijing for kids and adults with autism and other disabilities, like cerebral palsy. It started in 2007 in Tongzhou, and has helped over 200 people with therapy, special classes, and adult care. There are 50+ teachers doing one-on-one lessons, group activities, and therapy. The organization also has a place in Tangshan for older kids to learn skills and art. The group’s mission is to help people and make families happy.

We spoke to Monica to find out more about the charity auction.

What inspired you to organize this event, and why focus on children with autism? 

I was inspired to organize this online charity auction due to my school’s six-year commitment to supporting the Beijing Cherish Autistic Rehabilitation Center, as well as my family’s personal contributions in the past. This cause means a lot to us. The center’s dedication to providing essential therapy, education, and support for children with autism motivated me to contribute further. With the help of my father, “The Foodie Emperor,” we were able to get quite a lot of awesome auction items from the local F&B community. Also, participating in a school charity club trip to the center was an eye-opening experience. Witnessing firsthand the impact of the center’s work on these children inspired me to raise funds for food and supplies to keep their mission going forward. Because it really is a great cause!

How are the auction items selected? Are there any standout donations? 

Dad asked his friends in the F&B industry. And they are the unsung heroes in Beijing as they ALWAYS support the local community and were happy to help. The standout prize has to be TRB’s donation of dinner for two at one Michelin-starred TRB Hutong or lunch for six pax at Iberico by TRB, which was worth over RMB 5,000.

What has been the community’s response so far?

It started out slow since most students don’t have a lot of funds to spend, but then my parents started to push it out to friends, and then their friends pushed it out. So, it has gained a lot of traction in the past couple of days.

Can people participate if they don’t want to bid but still want to contribute? 

Absolutely! Anyone who wants to donate can add 宋宝玲 from (珍爱孤独症儿童康复中心). She’s the boss of the organization, and she’s an amazing woman. If you look at her moments, she is always transparent about any donations that she receives, and you can see that everything goes directly to the kids. You know what you donate is going to a good place and for a good cause.

What is your fundraising goal? 

I would have been pleased with RMB 10,000 total. But today it went a little viral, and we are over RMB 12,000  already and still have a few days to go. Since this has been so successful thus far and we have had such amazing feedback, I plan to continue this online auction every Children’s Day going forward. Hopefully, I can get some more students involved and we can make it even bigger next year.

Do you have a personal connection to autism advocacy, or was there a specific moment that motivated this initiative? 

Going to Beijing Cherish Autistic Rehabilitation Center and seeing the kids was a shocking and eye-opening experience. Once you have been there, reality hits you hard. Really hard!

What has been the most rewarding part of organizing this auction? 

Helping the kids and giving back to the local community! I’m looking forward to working with Ms. 宋宝玲 and finding out what the children need. Then I will order the food and deliver it to the center before the end of the school year.

What message would you like to share with potential bidders and supporters? 

If you would like to bid in the auction, it has a deposit of RMB 100, which you will get back after the auction. The auction will end on Jun 1 at 6.30pm. If you win, please pay within 24 hours; otherwise, it will go to the next highest bidder. If you would like to support Beijing Cherish Autistic Rehabilitation Center, you can add Ms. 宋宝玲’s WeChat and donate directly. They accept all donations, including food (especially rice, flour, and oil). And if you could, please tell your friends and share this auction and cause with them!

Images: Monica Cao, TRB Hutong, Preston Thomas, freepik

Roundabout’s book fairs are truly a hidden gem. These fairs offer an incredible opportunity to discover secondhand books at astonishingly low prices, with some being as cheap as RMB 1.

Paperback: RMB 10
Hardcover: RMB 20
Kids books and unique books are priced starting at RMB 1

Not only does Roundabout provide a haven for those seeking literary treasures on a budget, but it also serves a great cause. The money spent at Roundabout goes back to charity, making your purchases a contribution to a worthy endeavor. It’s a win-win situation where you can expand your personal library while also making a positive impact on the community.

The next book fair will be held next weekend on Saturday (May 10) at Beijing International Bilingual Academy from 10am to 3pm.

Please bring your own shopping bags on the day. If you’ve got additional spare bags at home, feel free to bring those along with you to donate to Roundabout.

All the books sold at Roundabout book fairs are donated and then sorted with the help of their hard-working volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer at Roundabout, scan the QR code below.

If you’ve got unwanted books at home, bring them with you on Saturday and donate them to help a great cause.

If you’d like more information about Roundabout book fairs or if you’re looking for ways to help out, please scan the QR code below.

Find it:
1 Yumin Dajie, Houshayu, Shunyi District
市顺义区后沙峪裕民大街1号

If you love Roundabout bookfairs as much as we do, mark these dates in your calendar!

Images: Roundabout

Music has the power to heal, unite, and inspire change. This Saturday, bring your family to Pinnacle Plaza for some community spirit, and rock out for a noble cause at Rock Against Cancer.

This concert is about more than just great music – it’s about making a difference. All proceeds will go to Happy School, a project run by Roundabout that provides education, joy, and emotional support to children battling leukemia.

For children undergoing long-term leukemia treatment, life often pauses – school, friendships, and everyday joys are put on hold. Happy School brings light into the lives of these children by offering educational classes to keep their minds active and engaged, workshops and activities like sports, field trips, movie nights, and reading sessions that restore happiness and normalcy, and emotional support to help them face adversity with courage, hope, and love.

As the organizers say: “Happiness is a magical medicine. We want these children to learn to love – themselves, others, and life itself – even in the toughest times.”

Helping build brighter futures for these brave kids together with the Beijing community this Saturday.

No concert is complete without great food and drinks! Llama Mexican Pub will be serving up mouthwatering burgers, hot dogs, and ice-cold beers to keep the energy high throughout the day. Come enjoy live music while supporting children in need. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy incredible music while making a real impact. Grab your friends, come hungry, and rock out for a cause! All proceeds will go to Happy School.

Find it:
Sat, Apr 26, from 1pm to late
Shunyi Villas and Pinnacle Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu Development Zone, Shunyi District
顺义区天竺开发区裕翔路99号

Images: Pexels, Roundabout