Gingerbread houses are adorable! And you can’t deny that they smell exactly how the holiday season is supposed to smell. *sniff sniff*

Ever since my daughter was 3 years old, we’ve made a tradition of throwing intimate gingerbread house building afternoons tea parties for friends and family at home. It’s an afternoon of delicious food, holiday music, drinks, dancing and a lot of fun and sticky, frosting-covered fingers. And if you combine all those ingredients together, the perfect holiday activity is making a gingerbread house together! Here’s where you can go to buy yourself some authentic gingerbread houses as well as some less authentic (but still delicious) ones.

Pro Tip: Top up on extra candy at the supermarket. Most kits come with the bare minimum of decorative candies. Also, get yourself a disposable plastic wrap for your table. It’s a lot easier tossing the whole thing out than scrubbing off frosting that dried and caked on your table.

IKEA makes its own DIY kit every holiday season. You can pick them up at the store or order them online. They tend to be a bit thin and minimalistic – just like every piece of furniture in their store. If this is the kit you end up choosing, be sure to stock up on some more decorative candy from the market.

You can find plenty of DIY gingerbread houses on Taobao. The one I’ve been ordering for years is from Le Le. Their cookies are hand crafted and thick so they travel pretty well. They send enough frosting with every house, and two years ago, when we received an order with a cracked cookie, I sent them a photo and they immediately replaced my entire kit for free.

Pro Tip: If you want to draw detailed patters on the walls, do them before you put your house together.

If you’re super crafty, you can make your own cookies from scratch, and if you want to go even more extra, you can do it in chocolate! Now, I’m no chocolatier, but if you’ve got the skills, a set of silicone gingerbread molds could be just what you’re looking for.

Images: Mina Yan

The holiday season is upon us, and here’s everything you need to know.

First of all, let’s start with the decorations. Bring a bunch of giant reusable bags with you and take a trip to Roundabout to check out their large collection of holiday decorations. You’ll find everything from trees to stockings and ornaments. You might even find some unique gifts for friends and family for the holiday. Everything at Roundabout is donated, and the proceeds go right back towards helping those in need, so your holiday shopping is actually helping out the community as well.

Then, if you still can’t find what you need, be sure to check out our guides on how to shop for anything you could possibly think of on Taobao.

But if you prefer to shop in person, Clark Yap has found the perfect place for decoration shopping at the Bairong World Trade Center. 

Now, on to the Christmas markets that are happening in town. We’ve put together the biggest list of Christmas events over at the Beijinger so you can browse through all the holiday events and plan your festivities. Our pick this year is the Nigerian Embassy’s first Nigeria Xmas Fair on Dec 14. Be sure to get your tickets ASAP since most embassy holiday markets tend to sell out really fast.

Finally, if you’re looking for a restaurant for a family feast, be sure to join the FamFriendlyEats group on WeChat.

Images: Clark Yap, the Beijinger, freepik

The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes the joyful challenge of finding the perfect gifts. But let’s be honest: Finding a toy that truly delights a child is no easy task. Will it be played with for years, or will it be forgotten by New Year’s?

This year, take the stress out of holiday shopping. Join the Toy Reviews and Recommendations WeChat group! Get trusted, kid-tested and parent-approved ideas that will help you find a gift that sparks real joy – not just a polite “thank you.”

Make this holiday season magical. Scan the QR code below or add admin Wilhelmina87 on WeChat to join our community of savvy gift-givers.

Also, if you haven’t learned how to shop online yet, be sure to check out these guides here on how to use Taobao, Pinduoduo, and Xianyu.

Images: Freepik, Pexels

Get ready for one of Western Academy of Beijing’s most anticipated community traditions, the WAB Winter Market, returning on Sat, Nov 22, from 10am to 3pm. This festive, family-friendly event brings together students, parents, staff and the wider Beijing community for a day filled with food, fun and fantastic finds for a great cause.

A major highlight this year is the Roundabout Book Sale, a treasure trove for readers of all ages!

Stock up on wonderful secondhand children’s books, young adult novels and adult fiction and non-fiction, all at incredibly low prices, and all for charity.

Join WAB for a day of joy, generosity and global flavors at this festive and fun market for the whole Beijing community, and be sure to stop by Roundabout’s booth to say hello.

Images: WAB, jingkids

Last holiday season, Beijing mom Anna Zhu recommended an eco-friendly Christmas tree rental service for the holiday. And now, as the holiday season comes around again, you can enjoy the festivities with a Christmas tree in your living room without the guilt of knowing you’ve purchased more things that’ll soon end up in the dump.

With this rental service, you can have a beautiful Christmas tree delivered right to your apartment within just two days, and the best part is the shipping is free anywhere in Beijing. When you’re ready to send the tree back, give them a call and they’ll come collect it. There’s a fee of RMB 150 for the pick up.

They’ve got trees of all sizes, and the price varies depending on what size you choose. “My friend Cat has been getting her family’s Christmas tree from this supplier for years, so I knew they were reliable. This year is extra special because our daughter is finally old enough to get excited about Christmas, so we decided to treat ourselves to a real tree to make the season even more festive.

We chose a tree via pictures the seller sent through WeChat, and it was delivered (free of charge!) in a lovely pot the following day. On top of the usual excitement around decorating the tree, we’re enjoying the added bonus of teaching our kid to care for plants by watering it together every other day. Our tree is definitely a memorable highlight of this year’s holiday season!” Anna shares with jingkids.

Pricing:
150cm – RMB 525
200cm – RMB 700
250cm – RMB 900
300cm – RMB 1,500

Imagine the convenience of not having to worry about lugging a heavy tree home or dealing with the disposal after the holiday. Once the Christmas festivities are over, the service doesn’t end. The team will come back to pick up the tree and replant it, allowing it to continue its growth journey. This way, you get to enjoy the holiday spirit with a real, fresh Christmas tree while also being environmentally friendly.

The service’s Christmas tree farm in Shunyi is tended to all year round by the company, allowing the tree that brings your family so much love and joy during the holiday season to continue to grow and flourish.

It’s a hassle-free and sustainable option that makes celebrating Christmas in Beijing even more special. So, this season, consider renting a Christmas tree, and be part of this innovative and eco-conscious trend.

 To get in touch, add Mr. Wang Xu on WeChat (ID: Wx1018761545) or scan his QR code below. Please note that he doesn’t speak English but is happy to chat via the WeChat translation function.

Images: Anna Zhu, Pexels, Wang Xu

This past weekend, my daughter and I walked over 20,000 steps at Universal Beijing having the time of our lives. From discovering that my 5-year-old is actually a roller coaster-loving adrenaline junkie to meeting her favorite baby dinosaurs and eating snacks that are literally bigger than her head, we loved every single moment in the park.

However, after a few visits, you start to feel like you’ve seen it all, done it all and eaten it all. But just as you start to feel like you know Universal like the back of your hand, they do something beautiful and new that surprises you in the best way possible.

Starting Nov 14, Universal Beijing turns its beloved Wizarding World of Harry Potter into a full Christmas celebration, and at the center of it all will be The Enchanted Christmas Tree in Hogsmeade – a towering, ornate display that no other Universal park has introduced. Guests can look forward to a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, a brand-new production crafted specifically for Beijing’s audience.

So, as the last of the autumn leaves give way to the winter chill, our plans are already set. We may know every twist of the Forbidden Journey and every corner of Hogsmeade, but we don’t yet know the magic of seeing its snowy peaks glisten under a Christmas light show.

And don’t forget – if you’re dining at any of the CityWalk restaurants, be sure to keep your receipt, as it can be used for discounts at the retail stores. As an added bonus, guests at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium can get a discount on their food bill by presenting a receipt from the on-site chocolate confectionery. The best part? The chocolate shop receipt can be for any amount.

Images: Mina Yan

The end of the year is intense. You’ve got Halloween, then as soon as that passes, it’s time to get all decked out for Christmas, then New Year’s Eve and then Chinese New Year. And if you’re American, you’ve also got Thanksgiving in there as well!

During this period of intense celebration, you may be asking yourself where you can find seasonal decorations for the holiday. You can search on Taobao to find the right things for the season, but what if you need some last-minute decorations and Taobao just can’t deliver on time? Then it’s time to visit Bairong World Trade Center!

This past Halloween, my father decided that we would not miss out on decorating our house (and his office at work), so it was clear that we would have to get some seasonal decorations of some sort.

It would have been just as fine to scroll online looking for plastic pumpkins, candles and ghost statues, but back in the US, we were used to shopping in stores for these things. So, we thought it would be nice to revisit our old traditions. Bairong World Trade Center is a mall that mostly locals visit when they need something.

It’s composed of two massive buildings, B1 and B2. B1 is more modern, with most of the shops selling clothes, shoes and accessories.  The first floor of B1 contains mostly men’s clothing, and the second floor houses the women’s section. If you are in need of children’s things, the basement has kids’ shoes and clothes. B2 is the older building. Here is where you can find the most random, but interesting, objects and trinkets. Just a warning, though: Shopping in Bairong can be overwhelming and intimidating, but as long as you have a plan, you will be all right.  For the old timer Beijingers, this place will remind you of the original Yashow Market.

We went in search of Halloween decorations, but now that Halloween is over, the shops previously selling plastic jack-o’-lanterns are now going to be the ones where you find your fake trees, Santas, elves, gingerbread men and whatever other Christmas decorations you’re looking for.

Here are some reasons that Bairong is a nice place to go shopping, and also some tips to avoid any inconveniences.

1. Bairong has many shops and stalls. At Bairong, you can find pretty much anything you need. It may take you some time to scan the shops, but eventually we will probably find something appropriate. My father was able to find a legit Star Wars light saber at a random toy store!
2. There is a large stationary store named M&G 晨光文具 on the third floor of B2, a great place to buy sorts of markers, pens and notebooks your child might need for school.
3. Wanna learn how to shop like a local? Bairong is a place that locals usually shop at to find their heart’s desire (and good deals).
4. Besides selling clothes and trinkets, some shops sell beverages and snacks, and you can easily find a snack to enjoy. We purchased some refreshing drinks in B1, and the price was incredibly cheap!

Now, some warnings:

5. It is crowded during the weekends, so avoid being mobbed by a bunch of avid shoppers if possible!
6. If you park underground, make sure to take a detailed photograph of your parking spot before you enter the shopping mall, to avoid spending an hour underground looking for your car.
7. It gets quite hot inside the buildings during the wintertime, so leave your jacket in your car (if you drove) unless you want to lug around heavy winter jackets.

I hope you found this article useful, and that is another adventure (shopping edition) from Clark Yap. Stay tuned, and stay reading!

Find it:
Bairong World Trade Center 百荣世贸商城
101 Yongwai Ave, Dongcheng District
东城区永外大街101号

Images: Clark Yap

Calling all local artisans, makers and businesses! British School of Beijing Sanlitun has officially announced that vendor applications are now being accepted for its highly anticipated annual Christmas Cracker event. This premier community celebration is set to take place on Sat, Dec 6.

The Christmas Cracker is a fun community gathering that’s perfect for families all around the city and attracts a large and enthusiastic crowd from across the community. This year’s edition is set to be the most spectacular one yet, and a key part of that is assembling a vibrant marketplace of diverse vendors.

This is a great opportunity for local vendors to position themselves directly in front of a captive audience of hundreds of local residents and families in a festive, high-energy environment. The event is designed to drive foot traffic and encourage holiday shopping, making it an ideal platform for businesses specializing in:

• Handcrafted goods and artisan crafts
• Unique gifts and holiday items
• Gourmet foods and seasonal treats
• Local services and retail

If you’re interested in taking part, then it’s time to act quickly, as vendor space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply, vendors must review the event information and complete the official sign-up sheet, both of which are available directly from the BSB Sanlitun event organizers.

This event represents a valuable chance for vendors to boost end-of-year sales, increase brand awareness, and connect with the heart of the community. With its proven track record and dedicated following, the Christmas Cracker is more than just an event – it’s a community tradition.

For more details and to request the vendor application package, potential participants should contact BSB Sanlitun directly.

Images: BSB Sanlitun

As this year draws to a close, it’s time to slow down, bring family and friends together and enjoy these last few days of 2024. We bring you the last events of 2024 and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hand in Hand Family Rave Carnival

In town for the holidays? Hand in Hand is holding a rave for families at Shijingshan Amusement Park – it’s like a giant outdoor, all-ages dance party with dancers, MCs and DJs from around the world!

Where: Shijingshan Amusement Park
When: Dec 28 and 29, 2.30pm-5pm, 6.30pm-9pm
Price: RMB 180/person (ticket required for every person regardless of age)

Little Chef Class at Domain

Join the festive Little Chef Class for a fun and flexible cooking experience! Classes are held from noon to 2pm, lasting approximately 45 minutes each, and are guided by the Little Chef professional pastry team. Every class includes a glass of fresh juice.

Where: EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District
When: Dec 25
Price: RMB 338/person

Family Lunch Quiz

What’s special about this event? Everyone is welcome to join us for a fun-filled lunch activity for kids, families, and friends! This event offers a relaxed and enjoyable environment where children and families can interact in English, connecting through fun quiz games. Whether you’re a native English speaker or learning English, this is a delightful social opportunity for everyone!

What to Expect:

• Delicious lunch
• Fun quiz games
• Interactive English environment
• Inclusive community

Who Can Join:

• Children 4 years and older with their families
• Families and friends looking to spend quality time together

The event is free, but we ask that you make a meal purchase at the venue to support them. The table will be reserved under the name of our host Brijingmaorui, and there will also be a Chinese-speaking co-host to ensure everyone feels included. To join the group, and for more details, please add the host on WeChat: Beijingmaorui

Where: Celestial, 2/F, 74 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District
When: Dec 28 and 29, 11.30am
Price: Free

Free BJU Childbirth Preparation Classes

French Christmas

The chimes of the Christmas season are about to ring, and the sound of French romance quietly arrives with the jingling bells of reindeer. Santa has captured a touch of charm from the Champs-Élysées and sprinkled it in front of Maison FLO. Are you ready to experience the unique allure of French culture on the streets of Beijing? This place offers a dazzling array of various products, from gourmet foods to handicrafts, and from decorations to ambiance. The French flair intertwines with Christmas elements, creating a unique, dreamlike space. The Christmas Market will be every weekend from Nov 30 to Dec 29, 11am to 7pm. Let’s make a date at the outdoor of Maison FLO and step into that dreamlike French Village de NOËL together!

For tickets, follow the link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/zXzurjlkp3Of1GCPUSISvg

Where: Maison FLO, 18 Xiaoyun Jie, Chaoyang District
When: Dec 28 and 29, 11am-7pm
Price: RMB 19.9/early bird, RMB 29.9/person, RMB 39.9/all-access pass

FunFarmFam – DIY

Immersive English at FunFarmFam

Their DIY storybook program starts with the student’s interests and teaches English in an engaging and practical way. Immersive English Language Learning (ages 5-8) offers your child a unique and powerful opportunity to enhance your child’s cognitive potential through a literacy program and authentic exposure to rich, multi-sensory language experiences. Research shows bilinguals have an easier time with the following key brain functions:

Understanding of mathematical concepts and problems.
Developing thinking and reading skills.
Enhancing identity and cultural awareness.
Improving logical thinking and concentration.
1 + 1 memory and decision-making.

For details, add customer service: fffservice

Where: FunFarmFam, 北京市顺义区楼台东口李天路南7号院，临近935路楼台东口公交站
When: Jan 5, 1pm-4pm
Price: RMB 3,600/eight courses, RMB 800/single course

Images: Pexels, Courtesy of the organizers