The Christmas presents are probably already under the tree, or well on their way there, but what about the Christmas stocking stuffers? I always leave those till the last minute and usually hit the malls a couple days before Christmas to get some simple practical gifts like socks and underwear. But with the risk of Covid lingering around, ordering off of Taobao might be the best course of action right now. If you order them today, you’ll most likely make it in time for Christmas morning!

Christmas Masks

These single-use masks come in various colourful Christmas designs featuring all the Christmas classics like Rudolph and Santa Claus. The best part is that a box set of 50 is under RMB 30!

Since we’re on the topic of masks, if you’re going to SantaCon this weekend and wanna stay safe from Covid while dressing to match the theme, these Santa Claus beard masks will get the job done!

Christmas Socks 

This 5-pack contains mid-calf Christmas socks made from cotton that will do the job of keeping the kiddos’ piggies warm, whether you’re staying home or going out and about!

And don’t forget about their fingers! These Christmas mittens are good even in negative 30 degrees Celsius, though let’s hope it never gets that cold in Beijing…

Christmas Stationery

Christmas-themed stickers, cards, colored pencils, notepads and note paper, stencils, even washi tape… You name it, this all-inclusive stationery box has it all! It’s a steal at RMB 168 when it’s valued at RMB 618.

Christmas Charm Bracelets

You could start a new Christmas tradition adding a new charm to this bracelet every year when the holiday comes around!

LEGO Christmas Tree

It may say 12+ but this LEGO Christmas tree will be a fun one for the family to put together, even with younger kids. The box will also fit nicely into the stocking!

KEEP READING: One-of-a-Kind Xmas Gifts Made in China With Love

Images: Pexels, Taobao

Even though there’s a dearth of live Christmas shopping to be done right now, online Christmas markets such as the Rumble in the Jumble’s festive edition – Secret Santa’s Surplus Jumble – and the Christmas Beijing WeChat group founded by Sarah Krasicki, have been ongoing for a while and still seeing new vendors all the time! With so many enterprising entrepreneurs hawking their wares, we asked the experts to sift through them to bring us their top picks from these virtual markets.

Here’s Sarah’s Top 5 picks from the Christmas Beijing WeChat group:

Liuba Draws

New to Beijing, I’ve only recently discovered the wonderful artwork of Liuba Draws, but many of you are likely to be familiar with it.

Liuba’s quirky, colorful watercolor illustrations have been used by well-known businesses such as JOYCE, The Opposite House, Slow Boat Brewery and Wild China to name a few.

I was delighted to discover that in addition to calendars, tote bags and magnet, Liuba Draws also has a Christmas Card collection and a new book ‘Liuba Draws Beijing’. Any of these will make fantastic Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers.

uNic

This Cufaras (Mini Coffer) is an original and new concept created by uNic. It is a gift destined to become an heirloom passed from mother to daughter for generations to come.

The beautifully crafted Beechwood box is decorated with traditional ethnic Romanian motives. Each motive has been carefully selected to represent what every mother wishes for her daughter in life. Hope and light, liberty, joy, passion, abundance, peace, equilibrium, protection and a North Star to guide her along the path of life.

A truly unique gift that I am excited to gift my daughter this Christmas.

Custom Beijing

My family and I love playing北京opoly!

This custom version of the popular family classic is a hilarious take on everyday life in China. It’s a wonderful keepsake for yourself or as a gift for friends who are leaving the Middle Kingdom.

The Chance and Community Chest cards will have you laughing and reminiscing when ‘You are 692 in the Didiqueue’ or you ‘Mistakenly buy 200 items on Taobaothinking the listing was for one’. Travel the city to buy Sanlitun, Shunyi, Wanfujing, Haidian or Guomao and Advance to Go to collect 200RMB.

北京opoly is a wonderful keepsake for yourself or as a gift for friends who are leaving the Middle Kingdom.

WeChat ID: Beijing-2021-

Zhou Ren Da 周人达

Wondering what to get for the person who seemingly has everything? Zhou Ren Da’s name paintings are the perfect gift!

A painter for 28 years, Zhou creates custom artworks of your friends and loved one’s names on scrolls, fans and in frames. Each letter is thoughtfully designed and incorporates traditional Chinese imagery.

Hummingbird Lane

These beautiful fabric re-usable bunting are perfect to decorate your home this Christmas and to treasure as a keepsake for years to come. Lovingly hand-made, eachdesign is limited edition and made with imported, and locally sourced quality cotton fabrics.

Sarah’s range includes children’s designs, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, retro & vintage, floral, and a rainbow of colors.

Reusable decorations reduce waste and bunting is perfect to give and send as gifts as it is compact and light weight! Sarah welcomes custom orders and can help you choose and design bunting to your specifications for any occasion.

And here’s the top choices by Fran Hanshing who currently operates the Secret Santa’s Surplus Jumble.

Don’t forget to check out more gift guides for unique, one-of-a-kind gifts, and Christmas decorations that support a cause too!

Images: Pexels, courtesy of vendors

KEEP READING: Where to Go In Beijing to Get a Little Christmas Cheer

It’s officially one month to Christmas and as we count down to this festive day, we are all in need of some Christmas cheer given the unfolding situation in Beijing. So in the true spirit of Christmas, here’s how you can have all the trimmings of Christmas while also lending a much-needed hand to these charitable organizations and the meaningful work they do.

Roundabout

Roundabout’s physical store may be closed but its Christmas stockpile is still available for purchase! And as you probably know, all of their sale proceeds go to providing aid to a wide range of people, including the elderly, children in orphanages and from poor families, mentally or physically challenged people and women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

So if you’re in need of new Christmas decorations this year, check out their inventory that includes Christmas trees and the works – decorations, lights, etc – and also Santa Claus costumes, hats, socks, and also wreaths, snowmen, deer and more! For little ones, they also have Christmas books with classics like “How the Grinch stole Christmas”, ” Merry Christmas, Curious George”, German and Mandarin books, decor and orgiami guides, as well as Christmas stickers for sale.

With much of Roundabout’s staff in lockdown, they seek your understanding in making arrangements with their store manager Lily to pick up your orders from the store, or have it delivered via kuaidi. Alternatively, if you have the means, you could do as big-hearted expat Claire Willats is doing and make a visit to the Roundabout store to pick up a big order on behalf of friends and neighbors who might not be able to travel freely at this time. Willats is only able to help out within her compound of Beijing Riviera, but perhaps she can inspire other kind individuals to do the same for their communities.

Find it:
Cathay View Plaza, 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu (Behind Didi’s market at the intersection with Jingmi Lu), Shunyi District顺义区香江北路2号

Love & Hope

Love & Hope Center is a non-profit organization that provides practical vocational training to underprivileged teens. Besides sewing products such as their handmade felt bags and boxes, they also have baked goods such as bagels and croissants. All sales proceeds go to bettering the education and welfare of these at-risk youths.

For this festive season, they are offering handmade Christmas wreaths which several Beijing expats are very pleased with – Bec Taylor says, “Our beautiful wreath is still going strong after many, many years. Best Christmas purchase I have ever made.”

To order, scan the QR code in the image below and scroll through to the bottom for a list of their offerings.

Images: Pexels, courtesy of Roundabout, Love & Hope

What says “I was thinking about you” more than a unique, customized gift? I dare say everyone enjoys seeing their name or face on a present, whether it’s a piece of jewelry or a mug that they’ll use every day for their coffee fix. This festive season, add that personal touch to your gifts with these options.

Turning drawings into jewelry

Kids may say the darnedest things, and they certainly know how to draw them too! You probably have a stack of drawings from your kids piled somewhere, so why not take this chance to go through the lot and find your favorites, then turn them into a pendant that you can put on a necklace, bracelet, or even a pair of earrings? There are several shops that can do this for you on Taobao. And a few of them are also able to send the product within eight to ten days, so if you place your order now, it’ll arrive in time for Christmas! Search ertonghuihuadingzhi on Taobao to see a full list of options, or just scan the QR codes of these shops that we found for you.

Customized jigsaw puzzles

Get ready for some wintertime indoor fun with these customized jigsaw puzzles! Again, you can either get your kids’ drawings turned into a jigsaw puzzle, or your favorite family photo in a myriad of sizes to boot. Scan the QR code in the picture below for more details, or search pintudingzhi on Taobao for more options!

Customized mugs, placemats, and calendars

Practical gifts like these may seem boring, but let’s face it, we use them every day, so you might as well have one specially made with a meaningful photo or a quote. These also make ideal Secret Santa gifts if you don’t really know the recipient that well, but want to add a personal touch to their gift! As for the customizable calendar, it’s a great way to consolidate the best family adventures from previous years and take a little trip down memory lane as you flip through the pages in the new year.

Leaf carving

Tired of seeing your photos in print? Well, how about having it carved onto a real leaf instead! Yes, you can get your likeness etched into a leaf. This artist charges based on the number of people that need to be hand-worked onto the leaf canvas. Now that’s definitely a way to “leaf” your mark on this earth.

Do you have a favorite customized gift that we didn’t cover here? Let us know in the comments!

KEEP READING: Beijing’s Kid-friendly DIY Places to Craft Unique Presents

Images: Taobao, MyPengYou1

I’ve always found that when it comes to Christmas presents, people tend to fall into one of two categories: either they have everything done and dusted by August or they spend the last few days before Christmas frantically scouring the stores for something (anything!) that family and friends will like. And we get it, there’s enough going on at this time of year without having to think about presents. Luckily, there are plenty of local creators and brands who are still shipping out orders, and if you get yours in ASAP, you should receive your gifts before Christmas (although be sure to check with them at the time of ordering). Below are a few of our favorites.

For the keen yogi: Taozi Yoga class passes

Give the gift of yoga with a class pass to one of our favorite Beijing yoga communities, Taozi Yoga. They’ve recently moved into a beautiful new studio in International Wonderland, so this is the perfect time to get into a regular practice with them. Purchase via Taozi Yoga’s WeChat account (scan the QR code on the poster above) and receive complimentary gift certificate customization.

For the budding mixologist: Laiba bottled cocktails

Whether you’ve got a friend who fancies themself a bartender or just likes a good drink, Laiba’s “bar in a bottle” concept is a great way to celebrate the festive season. The Shanghai-based company has curated a signature selection of premixed cocktails from some of China’s best bars and bartenders, all of which can be ordered online and delivered straight to your door anywhere in China. Purchase via their website or via the webshop (in English) on their official WeChat account (WeChat ID: LAIBA_Beverages). Delivery is from Shanghai and takes about 1-3 days.

For the friend that’s fallen in love with Beijing: Liuba Draws prints, calendars, and more

If you have ever been to a bazaar or craft market in Beijing then you have probably seen Liuba Draws’s colorful products. Her illustrations are a true celebration of Beijing, from the massive skyscrapers of the CBD to the small details of everyday life in the hutongs. Order via her WeChat store, where you will find prints, calendars, keychains, magnets, and more. If you have any issues with the WeChat store, add Liuba on WeChat: liubatje.

For fans of kitchsy and cute Beijing memorabilia: Gifts from the Palace Museum

In one of the savviest moves we’ve seen any cultural institution make, a few years ago the Palace Museum (aka the Forbidden City) launched a full-blown e-commerce offering on Taobao, with literally dozens of different types of gifts inspired by the palace’s history and architecture — even stick on nails! We particularly love the gifts inspired by the many cats that make the museum their home, like the adorable mugs pictured above To find the store, simply copy-paste “故宫官方旗舰店” into Taobao.

For home cooks that need a helping hand: A foodie gift box from FeedHer

Kitchen responsibilities can get a bit overwhelming at this time of year, particularly for cooks who aren’t that confident, so why not get a gift that takes some of the stress out of cooking? FeedHer creates easy meal kits for a range of tasty dishes, each stocked with all the dry ingredients and spices you need to make a specific dish. Their festive food gift box includes the making for dishes like biryani and dahl curry. Scan the QR code on the poster to order.

KEEP READING: Grab a Family Table for the Beijinger’s Pizza Cup this Saturday

Images: Unsplash, courtesy of the brands

Christmas is almost here. It’s so close that I can smell the pine cones and nutmeg, but for some reason, every year I wait until the very last minute to buy presents. For fellow last minute shoppers, the next Farm to Neighbors (F2N) is your last chance to pick up Beijing’s artisan crafts in time for Christmas.

F2N partners with Beijing Kerry Center to host this year’s Christmas market on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. F2N is a community platform dedicated to promoting sustainable lifestyles and green vegetable consumption. Aside from vendors, F2N is where you can go to find out all about recycling in Beijing as well as where the recycled products go, what they’re used for, and even purchase some cool apparel made from recycled plastic. It’s a market that brings together the local community to share a select group of organic vegetable vendors combining a low-packaging, low-waste system with handmade gifts, jewelry, crafts, and art.

Head over for some farm fresh fruits and veggies, freshly baked bread, and cakes for your Christmas Eve home dinner or snag some last minute gifts by Beijing’s Christmas market veteran Liuba Draws. Her watercolors capture the vibe of local Beijing life and are one of my all-time-favorite gifts for friends and family back home.

Enjoy healthy, guilt-free shopping.

Free. Dec 23 – 24 from 11.00 am -7.00 pm
Beijing Kerry Center
3/F Beijing Kerry Center, North Tower 1 Guanghua Lu Chaoyang District 朝阳区 朝阳区光华路1号

Christmas is just around the corner and while most of us are racking our brains trying to figure out the perfect gift for our family and friends and where to take the family for Christmas brunch, I searched for the worst Christmas gifts on the Twittersphere.

Source: boredpanda.com, Twitter
Photos: unsplash

In an increasingly globalized world, an international, multicultural education plays a vital role in shaping leaders of the future by promoting a better understanding of, and appreciation for, other people, cultures, religions, languages, and geographies. Yew Cheng International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) offers the world-renowned IBDP and IGCSE curriculums, both of which are built upon the ideals of global-mindedness and respect for cultural and social diversity.

YCIS Beijing’s commitment to nurturing international-mindedness is further driven by their unique ‘East meets West’ philosophy. One of the main pillars supporting this philosophy is the school’s emphasis on bilingualism.

Bilingualism is at the core of YCIS Beijing’s philosophy

YCIS Beijing offers a distinctive bilingual programme in the Early Years and Primary School (ages 3 to 11), where English and Chinese are given equal value, and where, from their earliest years, children learn simultaneously in these two languages. 

It is common knowledge that dual language programmes aid literacy development and bridge cultural gaps. However, a growing body of research also indicates that bilingualism helps build problem-solving skills and enhances other areas of cognition. It paves the way for collaborative learning, helps cultivate life-long learning skills, and leads to higher focus and an improved ability to adapt to change. 

According to Ms. Segolene Ekoto, a primary co-teacher at YCIS Beijing, students recognize early on that both teachers are equally responsible for their learning. “…it’s really rewarding to see them [the students]develop pride in their own native language as well as showing great interest in learning another language”, she said. “During assemblies and cultural events, they get input from the co-principals and teachers in two different languages.”

Ms. Segolene Ekoto and Ms. Rachel Li

YCIS Beijing is home to students and staff from over 40 different countries, making it a truly multicultural community. “Many of our students even speak a third language and they are encouraged to maintain their native language”, said Ms. Ekoto. Ms. Rachel Li, another Primary co-teacher and Secondary Chinese teacher at YCIS Beijing, commented that “being surrounded by so many cultures and languages at an early age helps students broaden their vision, improve their language skills, and gives them a great competitive advantage by the time they are ready to apply for college.”

The two co-teachers then went on to describe how the YCIS Beijing libraries cater to this multicultural community and play a key role in the immersive bilingual experience. In addition to its growing collection of books and learning resources, the Primary school library has a section dedicated to bilingual books. “Culturally diverse stories can teach children both the importance of accepting others and the beauty of difference”, said Ms. Li.

Encouraging good reading habits is an essential part of all-round development

However, how does the school encourage reading for a generation that looks to Google for instant answers? Ms. Ekoto gave an example: “Students were recently introduced to graphic novels and were given the chance to create their own graphic novels. Through such projects, we introduce them different kinds of books that might be interesting to them.” “We also offer various incentives, for example, students are sometimes able to score points for their house upon completion of certain books,” Ms. Li explained.

To promote diversity in the library program, YCIS Beijing conducts a range of events such as their annual ‘Literacy Week’. The theme of the last event was ‘One World, Many Stories.’ English and Chinese Authors were invited to take part in writing workshops and special story-telling sessions. During the Literacy Week, students especially enjoy an activity called ‘DEAR’, where at any point in the day, teachers may instruct students to ‘Drop Everything And Read’ for a short while. “Occasionally, we have special 20-30 minute reading sessions where students find a comfortable spot to read – they bring a cushion and a blanket or even put on their pajamas. Sometimes they get to enjoy a quick snack of milk and cookies!” Ms. Ekoto explained, laughing.

Just a few of the many books on offer in YCIS Beijing’s library

When asked if books would make a good gift for children during the upcoming holiday season, Ms. Ekoto had an enthusiastic response: “Books make great gifts, but always try to make sure the book is about topics that are of interest to the child – especially if they are not a natural reader.” She went on to recommend an interactive series titled Santa Is Coming To _______, (for ages four to eight) by Steve Smallman. Ms. Li recommended the Better Chinese bilingual series that is based on stories about Chinese culture and helps improve Chinese language. In her opinion, bilingual books especially, would make good gifts, but even though they speak volumes and last lifetimes, “kids might expect something else along with books, so better be prepared!” she joked.

Cultural diversity and bilingualism is thus an integral part of the effectiveness and YCIS Beijing’s identity as an international school. Through a range of initiatives, YCIS ensures that each student is able to communicate effectively using two or more languages to be well prepared for the challenges of an ever-changing world.

This post is sponsored by YCIS Beijing. 

Photos: Uni You

Christmas is 13 days away and the giving has begun in earnest. Companies are sending hampers filled with delightful goodies such as wine (very important), spa vouchers (hinting that we are all exhausted and need to recharge), ginger bread cookies, and much more. Thanks to Taobao you can get a variety of hampers at very affordable prices, with prices starting at RMB 25. There are many options available from ‘faux’ leather to ‘faux’ baskets. However as the rule with Taobao you are sure to get the real items at a higher price. If you can’t read Chinese or just generally find Taobao confusing then head to Baopals for an easier shopping experience. Here is a list of what you can put in the gift hamper to give to friends and family.

Cheese
With access to companies such as Le Fromager de Pekin that makes artisan cheeses including renditions of Camembert and fromage blanc from RMB 40 for 120g then this makes a budget friendly and unique addition to the hamper. You have to pack the cheese last and make sure to let the receiver know that the cheese might melt.

Chocolates
Beijing sure does love its chocolates and does have an amazing selection of chocolatiers. Store bought or custom made chocolates make this addition budget friendly. Artisan chocolates such as La Place will have gift box options available starting from RMB 268 for a box of a dozen different types. The chocolates contain nuts and fruits therefore be sure to let them know if you have allergies.

Chinese Tea
There are hundreds if not thousands of Chinese tea shops around Beijing that you can find the wide selection of teas that can be picked to suit different tastes. The Chinese tea might or might not come with its own tea set therefore you giving a wholesome gift. Adding this to the gift hamper gives it a touch of Chinese culture. Add in a Chinese tea tour that is usually conducted by the Hutong at least once a month to make it easier for the receiver to truly enjoy the tea after learning the correct ways of serving and taking care it.

Fudge
This is best made at home and made using your own ingredients to suit your friends or family’s taste buds. This is a good personal gift to add to make things interesting since companies are selling bulk hampers.

Kids Crafting Kits
Crafting kits are available in Beijing’s toy market at Tian Le Toy Market in Hongqiao Market, or other small stores in malls such as Indigo, Solana, and Joy City. If that doesn’t pan out then online e-commerce sites will do just fine.

Electronic Accessories
This is the one gift that is highly appreciated, all of us at one point have wished we had an extra headphone set, electricity cord, and other pesky accessories of modern convenience. Add this to help a friend or family member.

Photos: hamperideas.co.uk, thenorthplace.com, red-luxury.com, freefoodphotos.com, happymoneysaver.com, alicdn.com