Do you have an upcoming family-friendly event that you want to be included in our listings? Maximize the reach of your event and promote it on beijingkids’ social platforms!

Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page. 

The Beijinger Hot & Spicy Festival 2019, Apr 20-21
The carnival of capsaicin, the jamboree of jalapeño, the party of pepper, and the terror of your taste buds that is the Beijinger Hot & Spicy Festival 2019 is returning to Galaxy Soho, on the weekend of April 20-21. China’s only spicy food festival is shaping up to be an absolute knockout, featuring a massive two-day Chili Pepper eating contest, a hot and spicy dating tree, a spicy sauce testing station, a chili roulette game for the risk-takers, two full days of floor shows and entertainment, and a pumping dance floor at night. All ages. 11am-8pm. Galaxy Soho.

BritCham Morning Briefing: Empowering Chinese Students to Study in the UK, Apr 17
The British Chamber of Commerce in China (BritCham) invites educators and education industry professionals to an informative morning briefing fon the infrastructure around sending students to the UK with advice and updates on visas, flights, housing, and guardianship. See the full briefing agenda here. Adults. RMB 150 (BritCham member), RMB 300 (non-members). Visit this page to register. 9.30-11.30am. The British Center, 1001 China Life Tower, 16 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (185 1065 2986, andrew.whitestone@britishchamber.cn)

HoK Parents Education Workshop III: Setting Rules for Children – Why and How?, Apr 18
House of Knowledge (HoK) is arranging a series of workshops for parent education, to share the 21st-century educational spirit and methods to help them understand child behavior more clearly and build effective communication with their children. The third part of the series is themed “Setting Rules for Children – Why and How?” and HoK co-founder Farshad Danicek will explain what rules and boundaries mean to children, why they are important for their well-being and healthy development, and how children learn responsibility through rules. Adults. Free. 9.30-11.30am. House of Knowledge Xinglong Campus. (6430 2161 ext. 803, marketing@hokschools.com)

Seussical Jr. at Dulwich College Beijing, Apr 18-19
With a cast of over 40 and a live onstage band, Dulwich College Beijing’s (DCB) Junior School is bringing to life all your favorite Dr. Seuss characters in Seussical Jr., a musical perfect for the whole family, from age 3 to 300! Scan QR code for tickets. All ages. RMB 50-80. Starts 7pm. Dulwich College Beijing. (RSVP: rsvp@dulwich-beijing.cn)

TNT Theatre Britain: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Apr 18-20
Shakespeare’s most popular comedy deserves its reputation, for here the “lunatic, the lover and the poet” combine with a magical world to create a perfect mix of comedy and romance. This production by the TNT Theatre Britain combines music, dance, and song with a powerful conflict that demonstrates not just the joy but also the pain and madness of love. All ages. RMB 80-380. Starts 9.30pm. Nine Theater 9个剧场.

Learning to Read: English Literacy Foundations, Apr 19
3e International School’s Tea Talk for April provides parents with a sequential understanding of the English reading process from Pre-Kindergarten through Elementary. The session will assist parents with advice and guidelines to help children establish strong English literacy foundations, and further understand the process to support them during these formative years. The activity will be presented by 3e educators Jovita Yenata (Pre-Kindergarten English teacher), Amanda Boarman (Kindergarten English teacher), and Katherine Crawford (Elementary Principal). Adults. Free. 9-10.30am. 3e International School. (community@3einternationalschool.org)

Samajam: Kids Show 2, Apr 19-21
Dubbed as a “200 percent participatory musical show”, Samajam Kids Show returns to Beijing. Young audience members will join in with the performing musicians as they will receive several musical instruments during the show, helping them learn music while having fun. There will also be a live interactive video game! All ages. RMB 180-380. 10.30am-7.30pm. Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. 

Roundabout Family Fair, Apr 20
Roundabout welcomes everyone to the 2019 Roundabout Family Day on April 20 at Cathay View Plaza. A whole day of fun is in store for families. Enjoy performances and activities, including a dance session with Yongyan Fitness Dance Center. If you’re up to getting good Easter finds, head over to the Roundabout bazaar, which features a fantastic selection of vendors selling food from around the world. For families wanting to be the forever loving home of rescued animals, there is a pet area where you can get in touch with veterinarians and pet food vendors. All ages. Free admission. 10am-3pm. Roundabout Cathay View Plaza.

Roundabout Book Fair at Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy, Apr 20
Elsewhere in the city, Roundabout is holding a book fair at the Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy, concurrent with their Family Day on the same date. Find your treasures from any of the 10,000 recently donated, gently used books. Paperbacks cost RMB 10, while hardbacks are RMB 20 each. There are tons of kids’ books and special books starting from RMB 1. Bring your unwanted books with you on the day to donate if you would like to help. All proceeds from Roundabout book fairs will be used to change someone’s life. All ages. Free admission. 10am-3.30pm. Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy.

Beijing Interschool Chess Tournament & Qualification Matches, Apr 20
Calling all chess players ages 6-17 – the next round of the Beijing Interschool Chess tournament will be held at the International School of Beijing (ISB) on Saturday April 20. Qualification matches for any players who know the rules, and full tournament for advanced players. Scan the QR codes on the poster for more details or to register. Ages 6-17. Tournament time from 9am to 5pm. Qualifying matches time from 9am to noon. International School of Beijing. (Registration: 138 1007 2846)

“The Best of British” Celebrating 400 Years of Dulwich College, Apr 20
With the 400th anniversary of its founding school in London, Dulwich College Beijing’s annual charity gala is taking on a special meaning this year! Enjoy an executive chef dinner, exciting prizes, great entertainment, and free flow of wine while supporting the New Hope Foundation. Adults. RMB 1,100 RMB per ticket, RMB 10,000 for a table of 10. Starts 6pm. Dulwich College Beijing. (RSVP: rsvp@dulwich-beijing.cn)

Beijing High School Clothing Swap, Apr 20
The International School of Beijing’s We for She Club will be hosting the first Beijing High School Clothing Swap to celebrate Fashion Revolution Week. From 11 am to 1 pm, high school students from any Beijing high school may drop off their clothes at ISB’s Gym 3 and receive vouchers for the number of clothing items they bring. Clothing items include clothes, shoes, accessories, outerwear.  From 1 to 4 pm, students can try on clothes and swap for “new” items. Come and get some “new” clothes, make friends, and support a great cause! All leftover items will be collected at 4 pm by Roundabout. Ages 12+. Free admission. 11am-4pm. ISB Gym 3.

Live With Less Youth Edition, Apr 21
Live With Less is a program designed to reduce excessive waste. For Earth Day, they are holding a special youth edition co-organized by Inspire Citizens’ student leaders (aged 7 to 16). This activity involves ten vendors, such as The Green Room, Sew Gorgeous, Roundabout Boutique, Fashion by Jenny, and more. At the same time, the Wild Women on the Wall 2019 will hold a special Bake Sale, in support of good causes including Agape Family Life House and Five Loaves and Two Fish. All ages. Free. Noon- 4pm. Scan QR on the image for more details. Crossboundaries office, 2F, 4 Gongti Beilu, Bldg 10, Electrical Research Institute Compound, Chaoyang District. (WeChat ID: Crossboundaries)

The Bookworm Eco Spring Fair 2019, Apr 21
The Bookworm and The Bulk House will honor Earth Day by holding a free Pop-Up Eco Market, with the goal of spreading the word about green consumption and zero waste. 35 vendors of fine art, handicrafts, fashion, and organic food, and charities from the local community will join the market and show how one can produce and consume the green way. Ages 16+. Free. Noon-6pm. The Bookworm, Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District. 北京市朝阳区三里屯南街4号 (158 1071 3743, mr_j.c.zhang@hotmail.com)

Plus Size Eco Fashion & Swap Day, Apr 21
It’s a party of epic proportions! All plus-size ladies in Beijing are invited to this eco-fashion swap day, a fun-filled event that brings everything that plus-size women need under one roof. Go there to clear out or spice up your closet! Everyone is invited to the party, but attendees who wish to join the swap are asked to bring gently used plus-size clothing and accessories, bags and shoes, and other items. Note that ladies shoes range from 42-44 (US 10-12). Adults. 1.30-6pm. 16 South Liangmahe Road, Chaoyang District. Contact Sammy Sibanda at 15101517496 for more information.

Rice Clay Figurine Making – a CK Cultural Treasures Workshop, Apr 21
There is no easy way to say 捏面 (nie mian) in English! It means ‘pinch flour’ but in fact, this folk-craft, which dates back to the Han Dynasty, involves a lot more than just pinching. The ‘clay’, actually dough, was traditionally made of glutinous rice and colorings made from different foods. The final product, beautiful though it was, could be eaten. Today, certain additives such as honey and paraffin might be added to improve the longevity of the final product, and they definitely can’t be eaten! You can learn to make a Sun Wu Kong (Monkey King) figurine and more using traditional techniques at this workshop at Culture Yard on April 21. All ages. RMB 288 (adults), RMB 258 (kids under 16). The price includes an English-language presentation on the history and culture of rice clay figurine making and the Monkey King; a two-hour workshop with an expert teacher, snacks, and drinks. 2-5pm. Culture Yard, 10 Shique Hutong. (RSVP: events@culturalkeys.cn WeChat: AJDonnelly)

School Open Days

House of Knowledge Open Day – Xinglong Campus, Apr 17 
Xinglong campus is the third campus of House of Knowledge (HoK), following the success of the Shunyi and Chaoyang Park campuses. Early Years learners follow the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), a research-based curriculum focused on the social, emotional and cognitive development needs of children age 2-5. It maintains the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-centered and personalized learning. HoK invites prospective families to their Open Day to get a real feel of the school’s learning practices and learn more about what the Xinglong campus has to offer. All ages. Free. 9-11.30am. House of Knowledge Xinglong Campus. (4006507747, admissions@hokschools.com)

Beijing BISS International School Open House, Apr 17 and 25
Beijing BISS International School (BISS) opens its doors for prospective families who would like to visit the school and communicate with BISS principals to learn more about its educational strategies and get a feel of the school community. The open house is held concurrently with exhibitions by the BISS students on April 17 (Grade 5 exhibition) and April 25 (Grade 10 exhibition). All ages. Free admission. Visit this page to register. 9.30-11am. Beijing BISS International School. (RSVP: 6443 3151, admission@biss.com.cn)

Beijing No. 55 High School Admission Open House, Apr 18
Beijing No. 55 High School International Students Section will hold an open house for recruitment and admissions on April 18 from 9am to 11am. Staff members will tour parents around the campus, answer questions, and give a lecture about the IB Curriculum. All ages. Free admission. 9-11am. 3e International School. (RSVP: bj55iss@bj55.cn)

BSB Shunyi Open Day, Apr 22
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) invites prospective parents to see their school in action. Parents will be able to visit the school’s Primary, German Primary, and Secondary classrooms, and other facilities; talk to teachers; and learn about the enhanced English National Curriculum and IB Diploma Programme. BSB Shunyi benefits from collaborations with some of the very best organizations including MIT, The Juilliard School, and UNICEF. All ages. Free. 9-11am. BSB, Shunyi. (RSVP: admissions@bsbshunyi.com)

Photos: Uni You via the Beijinger (featured photo), courtesy of event organizers

Do you have an upcoming family-friendly event that you want to be included in our listings? Maximize the reach of your event and promote it on beijingkids!

Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page.

Our apartment complex just experienced a minor face-lift. A new courtyard recreation area was built this past fall equipped with a covered “game-playing” zone for adults, an essential to all residential blocks. Yet, each time I bring my son outdoors to play during the daytime hours, the table is empty.  

That’s because around the corner, nestled up next to a stack of recyclable cardboard, huddled around a make-shift table (a piece of plywood on top of some stacked cinder blocks), and surrounded by old folks perched on their own versions of chairs, is the official and long-standing chess/poker playing zone.

This particular building’s entrance is right next to what used to be a small variety store long before I moved in eight years ago. I’ve often wondered if it will ever re-open. (How convenient would that be?)

During the mornings, it’s populated by the old ladies who play poker with loud-slapping cards as their butts are perched on cushions they’ve carried under their arms from their personal apartments for the occasion. When they’re finished, they’ll take them back home with them until the next day.

In the afternoon, the men are huddled, serious and scowling over their chess pieces. Even though I hovered there for several minutes, my toddler son curious and staring, they paid us no mind. “They are not easily distracted,” I thought.

The newly built game center so obviously not in use is likely to forever be part of the “kid zone” rather than used by these old "gamers." Clearly they’re loathe to re-locate. They’re cozy in their corner and, to their games, the face-lift was, and is, irrelevant.

I envy their carefree, cardboard-cornered life of leisure.

Photos: Courtesy of Ember Swift

Chinese chess or xiangqi (象棋, literally “elephant game”) is one of the most popular board games in China. Although it is commonly believed that Western chess and xiangqi both originated from an Indian game called chaturanga, some claim that chess is actually Chinese in origin. Regardless, there are some very important differences between Chinese chess and the Western version we all know and love.

Ages: 8 and up
Type of game: Board
Number of players: 2

Basic Rules
As in Western chess, the game represents a battle between two opposing forces. In order to win the battle, one must capture the enemy’s general. Unlike Western chess, the pieces are not placed within the squares of the board, but rather on the intersections of board lines called points. The horizontal lines are referred to as ranks, whereas the vertical lines are called files. There is a square zone centered bounded by ranks 1-3 that is located on both sides of the board. This location is known as gong (宮), which translates to “palace” or “fortress.” During the course of the game, generals and advisors must stay within the confines of this area.

Between the fifth and sixth ranks lies the river (河). The river’s main function is to serve as a distinction between the two sides of the board; it only has an effect on a few pieces. Elephant pieces are unable to cross, whereas soldier pieces have the ability to move sideways after crossing the river.

Pieces are placed in their respective positions, and the game begins. Although red is usually the first to move, this can vary by region. Just like Western chess, players take turns moving pieces from one point to another; it is generally prohibited to move through a point already occupied by another piece.  When a player moves his piece onto a point occupied by an opponent’s piece, the enemy piece is removed from play.

For a detailed comparison of xiangqi and Western chess, as well as explanations of placements, pieces, and their abilities, see this handy guide by Chess Variants.

Game Over
There are two ways to win a game of Chinese chess. The first is the same as in Western chess: checkmate your opponent. This occurs when you attack the enemy general (placing it in check), and there are no possible moves your opponent can take that will allow the general to escape.

Unlike Western chess, a player can also win the game by stalemating his opponent. A stalemate occurs when a player has no legal moves left.  Instead of ending the game in a draw, as is the case in Western chess, a stalemate in xiangqi results in a loss for the player receiving it. As such, players will sometimes try to check or chase pieces in such a manner as to make their moves fall in a cycle, giving the opponent no choice but to draw the game. If neither side can force a checkmate or a stalemate, the game ends in a draw.

To learn about other Chinese games, check out our other blog posts on Dou Dizhu and San Guo Sha.

Photo by No Dust via Flickr