What’s behind the government clampdown on city farms and gardens? That, the introduction of the newest member of our team, and more in this month’s What’s New.

Iconic Toy Store to Open in Beijing

Toy-lovers of all ages are rejoicing at the news that FAO Schwarz is opening a branch in China World Mall. The iconic New York store is best known from the movie Big, in which Tom Hanks famously dances on its floor piano, but the Fifth Avenue location closed down suddenly in 2015. Now it’s reopening, not only in the Big Apple, but also in Beijing and Shanghai. The store is expected to be in business by March 2019, so start practicing your “Chopsticks”!

Disaster for Dolce & Gabbana in China Racism Row

Chopsticks were the cause of a disastrous PR snafu for fashion company Dolce & Gabbana. An ill-judged advertisement depicting a Chinese model struggling to eat pizza with chopsticks caused some offense, but it was comments allegedly made by founder Stefano Gabbana (pictured left, together with D&G co-founder Domenico Dolce) on his Instagram account when asked about the advertisement that triggered a major backlash. A fashion event in Shanghai was canceled, and D&G products have been removed from stores across China. While they engage in a damage limitation exercise, a Beijing hotel manager has also been forced to apologize, after a post complaining that Chinese men missed the urinal was taken amiss. It’s worth remembering that anything posted on the web is public, and whatever frustrations we might occasionally feel about life in the capital, any venting is probably best done in private.

Beijing Authorities Close City Farms and Gardens

Following the “Great Brickening” which closed so many cafes and bars in the hutong area, the latest government clampdown has been on city farms and gardens. In October, Green Cow City Cafe was ordered to get rid of all its livestock. This was followed by the news that Thomas Holly, known as the Herb Whisperer, has lost his botanical garden due to compulsory purchase by the government. In the south of the city, the owner of The Roots western restaurant, Antoine Mansuy, was devastated to lose 80 percent of the herb garden he had lovingly grown on waste ground to supply fresh herbs for his kitchen. The reason given was that the owners of the mall needed to run pipes through the land. However, the closures come in the wake of a clampdown on polluting urban pig farms, and at a time when African swine fever has been discovered in Beijing pigs. If the disease spreads it could be devastating for China, which produces half of the world’s pork. However as so often, we might applaud the good intentions, while wondering if a more nuanced approach could have produced better results.

Welcome Nicole, and Happy Holidays to Our Readers!

We’re very pleased to welcome Nicole Bonnah to the beijingkids team, as our new Associate Content Planner. You may know her as the entrepreneur behind delicious Halo Hummus, and you can read about her perspective on life as a busy Beijing mom on our website. From Nicole and from all of us, whatever festival you may be celebrating this winter, we wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

This article first appeared in the beijingkids December 2018 Charity and Goodwill issue.
Photos: Uni You, Kipp Whittaker, Wikimedia Commons, Flickr

Kids, and toy lovers of all ages are celebrating the news that iconic US toy store FAO Schwarz is coming to Beijing.

The store originally opened in Baltimore in 1862, but it’s most famous for its New York City location on Fifth Avenue. This is the home of a Walking Piano, on which Tom Hanks plays “Chopsticks” in the movie Big. The store also featured in films ranging from Woody Allen’s Mighty Aphrodite to The Smurfs. However rising rents and competition from online retailers led to the store suddenly closing in 2015.

Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia dance on the Walking Piano at FAO Schwarz, New York, in Big (1988)

Now it’s back, not only in New York but also in Shanghai and Beijing. The store is expected to open in China World Mall in March next year. This opening, following the arrival last year of London’s famous Hamley’s toy store in Wangfujing, suggests that there’s still an appetite for high-end toys that you can get your hands on and try out, despite the recent bankruptcy of Toys’R’Us.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker, voices.clickhole.com

I love stumbling across great ideas for the weekend, and when they are healthy family events they are even better. If you are looking for a night in the town look no further – new hotel Jen is hosting a great healthy gathering fit for the family.

I have been working on my fitness and my daughter has been wondering where I am off to thee times a week. Including our kids into our fitness could just be the greatest idea ever. You can step up your family time while having a workout led by a professional Nike instructor at Trainyard, the gym at the hotel. Also Tribe Nutrition will host a nutrition workshop with interesting information for the whole family.

Introduce the whole family to a healthy lifestyle, while spending time together at a new hotel in the ever-changing China New World Mall. Here’s the list of what is included for the price of RMB 1650 at Hotel Jen:

– 1-night stay in Jen40 room with daily breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child
– Early check-in at 10:00am and late check-out at 4:00pm
– Family training for 2 adults and 1 child led by professional Nike instructors in Trainyard
– Buffet lunch for 2 adults and 1 child in San Wu Tang
– Nutrition Workshop led by Tribe
– Unlimited access to Trainyard, including the swimming pool and group classes, during your stay

This great deal is available every weekend from now through to September 30. For reservations, please call (86 10) 6505 6688 or email to reservations.hjb@hoteljen.com.

Pictures: courtesy of Hotel Jen

If you’ve visited China World Mall (Guomao) recently, you might have noticed the Disney exhibits in Areas 2 (Finding Dory), 3 (Toy Story), and the basement level.

The exhibits are part of a summer promotion hosted at China World Mall that has been running the entire month of July and will come to an end this weekend! Take your kids to see their beloved Disney cartoon characters up-close, play in the ball pool, participate in the treasure hunt, or draw and paint!

Instructions on how to sign up for the treasure hunt:

1. Children can participate in the event free of charge by visiting the China World Mall information desk and picking up a “Guomao Summer Vacation Story” activity sheet (国贸暑期总动员).
2. Then complete the treasure hunt by visiting the stores listed in the activity sheet.
3. Each store will have an “activity” for the children to complete. Once completed, they will receive a stamp on their activity sheet.
4. Once they have four (4) stamps, they can exchange the activity sheet for a free Disney toy at the Member Center (会员中心)!

China World Mall Member Center

Disney English will host free demo classes to engage children in Disney stories!

Children will also have the chance to draw and paint together!

The Guomao Summer Vacation Story promotion is active Saturday and Sunday, August 6-7, from 10am-9pm.

China World Mall, 9:30am-10pm. 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区建国门外大街1号.

Photos: China World Mall

If you didn’t get tickets to the 2014 Santa on Ice, no worries! The beijingkids Christmas mini fair will be going on at the China World Mall near the Tiffany’s Store, which happens to be super decked out for the holidays. This two-day event takes place from 10am-4pm on December 13-14.

As the Christmas and charity fairs wind down, and the holiday season gets kicked up a notch, there are some things that are worth making the trip downtown for such as freebies and discounted prices. We have brought together a cross section of vendors from organic food producers to hair dressers. To come to the event is definitely for free just prepare to spend on hot drinks, snacks, photos with Santa, and gift vouchers. Check out the full list below.

• VCLeanse (维果清):  Free hot beverages, coconut and lemonade drink gifts
• Eatalia: Crepes, paninis, hot wine, hot chocolate
• Ipony International Youth Cavaliers Academy (骑域国际青少年骑士院): Christmas card making, face-painting, Christmas knight photo booth
• Dave’s Pix Studio (大卫儿童摄影): Free photo with Santa Claus by presentation of the beijingkids Santa on Ice photo voucher
• Big Bear Cookies: Fresh cookies, on-site cookie making
• Truefitt & Hill (特洛菲特英国皇室理容): 20 percent off on shaving and hair-cutting services
• Laurent Falcon (巴黎罗伦法式专业美发沙龙): Spend RMB 1,000 and receive a L’Oreal gift pack worth RMB 600. Buy 3 products get 1 free. Follow them on Wechat (罗伦沙龙 luolunshalong) and get a free spa voucher
• Alce Nero (有机尼奥): Organic food
• Pu Dao (朴道粮品): Organic rice and cereal
• Youpin Food (优品悦动): Organic fruit and drinks
• Papabubble (爬爬步步): Candies

Photo: file footage