LookOut Poised to Break Ground as “First Ever Chinese Arts Festival on Gender”

Billing itself as the “first Chinese arts festival on gender,” the four-day LookOut Fest (poster in the featured photo) certainly has ambitious aims. The festival encompasses a wide range of mediums, styles, and topics to dissect modern day gender dynamics. Slated to take place Jul 6, 7, 8, and 15, the festival is organized by Ibsen International and the China AIDS Walk in collaboration with the Faculty for Dramatology and Applied Theatre Studies of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Beijingers are invited to enjoy the socially conscious works in a safe and open space.

Gaokao Scores Now Accepted in the United States
For Chinese students and their families, gaokao scores are everything. Studying for the test begins years in advance, so much so that some would say schooling itself is mostly just preparation for the grueling exam. Now, students have options, as this test can be used for international college admission in the US, beginning with The University of New Hampshire. Currently, several schools in Europe, Australia, and Canada are already accepting gaokao scores, and given that more than a third of international students in the US are Chinese, many more American schools of higher education can be expected to follow suit.

Bend It Like Beckham
Superstar ex-footballer David Beckham visited Beijing in June, where he stopped by a charity event, played a fun match of football with a children’s team, and posed with fans outside of Sanlitun’s Taikooli. Beckham himself is no stranger to China. In 2013, Beckham was given the title of global ambassador for Chinese football. ”I’m excited by the prospect of promoting the world’s greatest game to Chinese sports fans as I’ve seen first-hand the growing interest in football there,” said Beckham during the visit.

Tian’anmen Rostro Closed for Renovation
Beijing’s most famous tourist attraction, The Tian’anmen Rostrum, will be closed for an entire year, reopening late April 2019. According to The State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the landmark is being given a fresh coat of paint, waterproofed, replaced with new pipes as well as other necessary maintenance. The iconic gate with Mao’s portrait has been closed or covered for maintenance several times before, most recently in 2015 and 2011. If you’re planning on visiting the adjacent Palace Museum after gazing at green mesh, note that they are now closed Mondays for the indefinite future.

Hainan Is for Families
The Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Commission courts International families with its “Love Hainan” tourism event. Looking to expand tourism to previously unserved sectors, Hainan is doubling down on promoting the pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery, and clean environment to the flocks of foreign tourists who usually eschew China and instead head to South East Asia on holiday. Last month, Hainan adopted new visa exemption access to citizens from 59 countries, granting 30-day visa-free entries (when applied in advance), making it easier than ever to “Love Hainan.”

Photos: The Beijinger, wenr.wes.org, courtesy of Love Hainan organizers, South China Morning Post, dailymail.co.uk

This article appeared on p6 of beijingkids July 2018 issue

Legendary football star David Beckham quietly popped by Beijing last week, playing a fun match of footie with a children’s team, stopping by a charity event, and eliciting a small frenzy from photo snapping onlookers after helping to relaunch the Adidas store in Sanlitun Taikooli, but otherwise deftly avoiding the limelight during his quick, low-key stay.

Anonymous sources tell the Beijinger that Beckham checked into the Opposite House late on Wednesday, Jun 20, and checked out the following day. It was later reported that Beckham was on hand for the reopening of the complex’s Adidas shop and posted a picture of himself at the event in front of a sea of fans on his official Instagram account.

Beckham poses with fans at last Wednesday’s event in Taikooli

In a more high-profile, better-covered event, Beckham stopped by a Beijing school’s football pitch and kicked a ball around with some local students in what state media called an “energetic game.”

Aside from visiting Beijing, the adored midfielder also traveled solo to Tokyo recently, running parallel to rumors in the British tabloids that he and his wife – fashion mogul and former Spice Girl – Victoria Beckham, were in the middle of a potential divorce. The couple has fended that gossip off in the interim, however, according to a Daily Mail article that highlighted Beckham’s Asia travels, his World Cup predictions and some charming recent photos of the tattooed football heartthrob with the former pop star hand in hand and looking every bit the happy couple.

Beckham certainly kept a lower profile in Beijing compared to other celebrities who ventured here in recent years. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, for instance, released a slick movie trailer worthy clip about his stay in the CBD a few months back. Then there was Samuel L. Jackson, who thoroughly documented his eating and shopping habits at Da Dong, Plastered 8, and other Beijing institutions via Instagram in early 2017. Hopefully, the Beckhams and other famous faces who make their way to the capital will go that more entertaining, eye-catching route during future visits, rather than slipping under the radar of their enthused fans.

Photos: AFP/Getty Images via the Daily Mail, Instagram (@davidbeckham)