As the weather warms up, flowers blossom, and green buds begin to unfurl on the tips of tree branches, it’s the perfect time to get hiking. There are many excellent places to hike around Beijing, but a great day out can be spoiled but not being prepared.

As such, here are some essentials to pack before you go on your hike:

Food and water

Food items and bottled water at major touristy destinations are often hyper-inflated and lacking in the nutritional qualities you’ll need after a long day of walking. For that reason, we suggest packing your own food and drinks so as to save money and your health. Don’t forget to bring your picnic supplies either: reusable cups, plates, utensils, reusable cloth napkins and a small pocket knife will all make your lunch break much more civilized. For chic, reusable supplies, check out The Bulk House.

A trash bag

“Leave only footprints, take only photographs”. Sadly, many people hiking in the Beijing area are unaware of this sacred hiker’s philosophy, discarding their trash without a thought, and ruining the beautiful scenery for others. Don’t be one of these people. Take a trash bag with you, so you can easily collect any food scraps and containers to dispose of later. Many hikers also make it a habit to pick up trash that they find along the way too, doing their bit to protect the natural environment and wildlife as they go.

Layers/sunscreen/a mask

Even in Spring, it can get chilly out there in the wilderness, so be sure to bring adequate layers. Additionally, don’t forget your favorite sunscreen, and a face mask depending on the air quality on the day of your expedition.

A portable charger

After filling up almost half of your phone storage with pictures before you even get to the peak, your phone battery will most likely be under 50 percent. In order to capture all the Insta-worthy moments on the peak, bring a fully-charged portable charger with you.

READ: Feast Your Eyes on Fall Foliage at These Beijing Mountain Parks

If you’re looking for a hiking buddy, here are three hiking group websites:

Beijing Hikers

Beijing Hikers set out on several walks of varying difficulty levels all around the city suburbs per week. Their tour guides are knowledgeable and bilingual so you’re in good hands. Prices range from around RMB 390-500 per hike and include transport.

China Hiking

China Hiking offer multi-day hikes, which include night stays at farmhouses so you can truly escape the Beijing sprawl. Prices for single-day hikes cost around RMB 600.

Pacer

Pacer Outdoors is a hiking and camping club run by popular fitness app Pacer Pedometers. The group makes for a fun way to meet and hang out with fellow hikers and tackle various hiking routes on the Great Wall and elsewhere around Beijing. They organize weekly hiking day trips for around RMB 200 as well as small group day trips (2-6 participants) for around RMB 700.

Meetup

If you don’t want to pay for a tour guide like with the previous two groups, Meetup allows you to discover organized hiking adventures between Beijingers. Many of these groups are non-for-profit and solely for the purpose of getting together and exploring Beijing.

With the essentials packed and your hiking buddy by your side, you’re all set to travel outside of the city to enjoy some peace and quiet. Do keep in mind that there will still be a lot of tourists at major hiking spots, so be mentally prepared to face some human traffic while trekking up the mountains!

Got everything you need? Now check out these hikes once you’ve exhausted Mutianyu and Badaling.

Images: mylittleadventure.com, rangermade.net, yarnspirations.com, travelandleisure.com, courtesy of the organizers

Students are the most passionate and excited when it comes to playing their favorite sports at school or at a camp. However, participating in sports without wearing the proper gear increases the risk of injuries: for example, playing badminton or tennis with a badly strung racquet while wearing worn-out shoes can increase your risk of injury almost as much as playing football without shoulder pads or a helmet. Using wrong — or improperly fitted — equipment is a major cause of injuries.

Let’s take a look at some of the sports gear that amateur athletes often overlook when playing school sports.

Head Gear
Helmets:These are required for most sports with high risk of head injuries. They’re important for sports such as football, hockey, baseball, softball, biking, skateboarding, to name just a few. Injuries related to the head have the potential to cause serious damage to the spine and may be life-threatening.
•    Always wear a helmet made specifically for the sport you’re playing.

Eye and face shields
Sports of all types may require eye or face protection depending on the players’ need. Face masks come in different forms for different types of sports. Eye protection is an additional support provided by sports goggles. Goggles are reliable in the fact that they do not move around while the player is in motion and they protect the eye from foreign objects

Mouthguards can protect your mouth, teeth, and tongue:
•    You should wear a mouth guard if you play a contact sport or other sport where head injury is a risk, such as football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, martial arts, boxing, or wrestling.
•    Mouthguards can be fitted for your mouth by a dentist or purchased at sports stores.
•    If you wear a retainer, always take it out before you start to exercise, practice, or play.

Wrist, knee, elbow and ankle guards are important gear too:
•    If you inline skate, skateboard, or ride a scooter, you should wear guards.
•    Elbow and wrist guards can prevent arm and wrist fractures, and knee guards can shield your knees from cuts and breaks.
•    Ankle guard prevents ankle sprains and fractures

Pads:
•    All kinds of sports, from hockey to inline skating, require pads. There are shin, knee, elbow, wrist, chest, shoulder, hip, and thigh pads.
•    Check with your PE teacher, coach or doctor to find out what kinds of pads you might need for your sport.

Protective cup (to protect the testicles):
•    Students who play hockey, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and other contact sports should use a cup.
•    For non-contact sports that involve running, guys should wear an athletic supporter.
•    If you’re unsure, ask your coach, athletic trainer, or parent if you need a cup for your sport.

Footwear can keep you from tripping and falling:
The right footwear can also increase your performance in a specific sport.
•    You know that sports like football, baseball, softball, and soccer require cleats. But you may not realize that sports like skateboarding and biking need special types of shoes, too. Ask your PE teacher or coach what shoes are best for your sport.
•    Replace shoes and cleats that have worn out or are no longer supportive.

Wearing the right equipment with the right fit dramatically decreases your chances of getting hurt. Guys let go out there, get the right gear, protect yourselves, and enjoy your sports activities.

Photos: playitagainsportsalbuquerque.com, choudhurydental.com, cf.ltkcdn.net, fimby.tougas.net

Are you or a loved one a frequent flyer? There are many things you can do to reduce your waiting time at the airport, such as online check-ins and only traveling with carry-on luggage.

However, there is an easy way to can speed up your travel time within airports and perhaps beat other passengers to customs and immigration. The solution is the Micro Luggage Scooter. This carry-on luggage easily fits into overhead compartments, conforms to all TSA requirements, and still lets you drop the kickboard and ride your scooter to and from the boarding gate.

Even if you are in the middle of the pack in economy when you disembark, by the time you ride your suitcase/scooter to immigration in the average international airport, you will get there before even the first-class passengers. You’ll be out and on your way while most people are still waiting in line or even trudging through the long hallways.

Although I have yet to get my hands on one of these (unfortunately, my next flight is not until October), my friend travels with one all the time on business and says it is a huge time saver and a lot of fun.

Tip: On holidays, kids can take their scooters on airplanes; thus, the whole family can ride through the airport. The Micro is a Swiss brand, and the quality shows in the craftsmanship. It retails for RMB 2,999.

For a great demonstration video, visit YouTube here (VPN required). To find out more, visit www.microbj.com or go to microscooter.taobao.com to shop online. You can also call 139 1025 5934 for more info or to find a retailer near you.

Photo courtesy of Micro Scooter

As the resident gadget geek, I’ve been very quiet lately about gear readers might want to check out. Fortunately, a recent visit to Top Toys at Solana changed all that. Top Toys is ground zero for all things Micro Scooters and roller blades.

I say it is ground zero because the shop belongs to Ralf Duering, Mr. Scooter himself (and a beijingkids board member). It’s a great toy store, but the crown jewel is the selection of kick and electric scooters and the pleasure of testing out each model on the smooth floors of the shopping mall (something that would never be allowed in lawsuit-crazed USA).

By the time I had spent 20 minutes looking at the scooters and testing them out, I concluded that there were four models that I simply had to have for myself – forget buying one for my little girl (ostensibly the reason I was there in the first place)!

In the end, I took Ralf’s advice and selected a Monster Kickboard model, a robust device with three fat wheels that makes getting around feel more like surfing or skateboarding (two wheels in the front and one in the back).

The beast oozes so much cool that the first day I rode it, a guy on a motorbike stopped me on the street to find out where he could buy one. These things are awesome, much safer than their two-wheel brethren, and simply must be tried to understand how great they are. The best part is that my daughter and I can now ride our scooters around town together. Even my wife wants to get one.

We set my daughter up with an awesome pink and black Maxi Micro T-bar scooter that can even handle my weight. In accessories, she picked out a detachable bag and a few safety lights for riding in the dark. (Fun tip: When placed on the strobe setting, the flashing lights turn any an elevator into an impromptu dance party.)

I thought she might resist the three-wheel design (again, with two in the front), but she actually loved being able to ride with one hand. I’m more impressed with the added stability and safety of the design. Ralf happened to be in the shop, so he spent a few minutes showing Reina how to safely dismount in an emergency and adjusting the scooter just right for her.

After getting my hands on one, I couldn’t help but take it out for a serious test ride – could it really serve as a practical mode of transportation and not simply recreation? I passed up a taxi, shoved off from Solana, and headed down the bike lane towards Jenny Wang’s in Lido. About 20 minutes later, I arrived feeling exhilarated. The scooter works fine for long hauls, but it’s even better for running errands around the neighborhood and just cruising for fun.

Bottom line, Micro Scooters are way better than other brands I’ve tried in Beijing (I’m looking at you, Decathlon) and are worth the higher price point, considering how many more years a Micro is going to last. The quality of the construction and the fluidity of the wheels (the secret lies in the ball bearings) make a huge difference in how far your own power will take you.

Here’s even more incentive: Micro Scooter will be holding a sale on May 26 and 27 for International Kids’ Day and to promote scooter safety. Although the scooters themselves never go on sale, you’ll be able to purchase two accessories or pieces of safety gear (helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, bags, and bottle holders) at 50 percent off if you buy a Micro Scooter.

To shop online, visit Micro Scooters’ Taobao shop or head to Top Toys in Solana while supplies last. For directions to Top Toys, call 5905 6810.

Photo courtesy of Micro Scooters

Shortly after the birth of our twin boys four months ago, I embarked on an epic quest spanning two continents in search of the perfect swaddling blanket. Don’t get me wrong: nearly any appropriate-sized piece of material will do for basic swaddling (in the book Baby-gami, Baby Wrapping for Beginners, author Andrea Sarvady even describes how to swaddle a baby using a paper sack). No, my search was for a swaddling outfit that would work well while doing something out of the ordinary with twin infants, such as spanning two continents while flying economy. Hey, there’s a lark.

Before departing Beijing on our journey, I purchased a pair of Halo SleepSack Swaddles. Sleep sacks are great for babies around 4 months and older, but for infants, the best thing is when you can wrap them up tight as a straitjacket so that they do not wake themselves up while flailing their arms around uncontrollably. Halo’s swaddling effort is an attempt, however feeble, to make their SleepSacks work as swaddling devices, but they fail miserably when it comes to simplicity. There is too much material, too much noisy Velcro (nothing wakes a baby better than the sound of that stuff ripping open), and the things kept bunching up in the back. Once we got the USA, and a Babies "R" Us, the Halos were relegated to use as crib padding. To reiterate, Halo SleepSacks are good, Halo SleepSack Swaddles are not.

Next, we tried a pair of fine looking swaddle blankets from Cocalo. These looked great. Unlike other brands, Cocalo didn’t assume that parents want everything for the baby to look babyish. Instead, Cacalo’s products come in stylish colors and patterns. I also appreciated that the area for the baby’s head and back had extra padding. And although there are four places to apply Velcro, Cocalo was the only brand I found that used “quiet” Velcro so that sleeping beauties are not disturbed if you need to unwrap them. Unfortunately, our boys kept slipping down inside the Cocalo swaddle blankets. I suspect they were a tad too big for the Cocalo brand. But hey, the kids looked great while bunched up inside them.

Finally, I happened upon a pair of swaddling blankets from SwaddleMe. For their design, SwaddleMe used a small footprint with little spare material to get in the way of sleep while somehow still managing to leave room for babies to grow. Each piece only has three Velcro points which, when applied deftly, can immobilize the most jittery of babies all night long. There was no extra padding as the entire piece was made of lightweight cotton (I bought the summer versions), but the price was the most affordable of all the brands I shopped.

I suspect they are reasonable enough (starting at USD 11) that it makes sense to just order them from Amazon or the like in the USA and pay for the shipping cost if you cannot find the brand in Beijing. For over two months, we used them exclusively whenever putting the twins down to sleep and they were easy to use on the flight back to Beijing too.

SwaddleMe is hands down my choice for the perfect, no-nonsense swaddle solution. Still, if you need advice on how to bundle up your new baby in a blanket or a paper sack, feel free to contact me. I’ve had way too much practice lately.

Photo by Flickr user abardwell

Yes kids, it’s that time of the year again … time to pay homage to your Dear Old Dad with expensive gifts. Granted you are both still too young to actually be able to afford the gifts on my wishlist, but there’s always that college fund to dip into (just kidding).

But just in case you (or your mother) want to surprise me this weekend, here are just a few things I’d love to get in no particular order:

The Goflex Satellite wi-fi external hard drive
Don’t get me wrong, I love taking you guys on trips abroad whenever we get the chance, but cradling you in our laps and constantly changing your diapers and taking you to potty on the plane gets to be a bit much after a few hours.  I dream of the day when I can simply hit recline, order a glass of wine and pop out this baby – an external hard drive with up to 1 terabyte of storage that can stream media and movies to the good old family iPad. If anything, think of this as an investment for yourselves on those long trips – be nice to me and I’ll upload a few of your favorite cartoons and shows in there as well. Available on Taobao for around RMB 1,000-1,500.

The Canon S-95
My non-existent photography skills aside, I’d love a point and shoot camera to take better photos of your little cherubic faces. As my esteemed father-in-arms Christopher Lay pointed out in this post, this "remarkable bundle of photographic capability has a beautiful screen, 10-megapixel sensor (enough to take care of any typical users needs from online to enlarged prints), facial recognition, 2.0 f-stop, RAW mode, and HD video capability to boot. Not to mention a lot of creative shooting modes to get your creativity flowing. All of this comes in a package that is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket or a small handbag and has a street price of USD 400 (I don’t recall the local going rate, but it fluctuates with the exchange rate)." Available at camera stores around town and online for around RMB 2,680.

Your dad could always use some more custom-made shirts to keep up his dad-like appearances and Beijing has no shortage of tailors (both brick and mortar and online) to fit the bill. Check out this post on thebeijinger.com for some options and don’t forget my measurements: 42 length, 17 collar.

Every man needs one fine pair of leather shoes and although it can’t be compared to Italy, Beijing has its share of custom shoemakers. Cobbler Yu in Gulou has a loyal customer base and his store is open until 10pm seven days a week. As with everything else you can also look online for a shoemaker, although I can’t vouch for their quality.

Beer. Nectar of the Dads. Your dad wants a tall, cold one now. Order me a case of fine imported beers from 88beers.com and while you’re at it get me a couple of juicy steaks and some fine South American coffee beans from Baode Home Delivery.

My list could go on and on (and on), my dear offspring, but I’ll spare you the details for another year. You now have about 36 hours left. I’ll look forward to seeing you (and your mother) on Sunday.

Adding to Beijing’s growing circle of foreign baby gear and yummy mummy suppliers are two relative new comers: Baby International and Road 39.

Baby International was established by a German-born, former Shanghai dad who was fed-up with the lack of high quality baby gear in China. His Beijing store follows on the heels of their first Shanghai location and we’re sure it will be a hit. Located in an initially hard-to-find office building in SOHO Shangdu, Baby International stocks a range of eco/ergo/organic gear, clothes and toys. We love their easy-to-use website and online shop. 

For the moms-to-be, check out Road 39. Established by two Shanghai mothers who craved functional yet fashionable maternity wear, Road 39’s latest range contains slinky dresses, stylish jeans and and finely detailed tops. Buy online (the site is available in Chinese, English and French) or stop into their recently opened Beijing outlet near Chaoyang Park (open Tue and Thu, 9am-1pm. For details, call Frederique 136 9310 2330 or e-mail juliettebarkan@road39.com) 

Michelle Hemsin and Eyee Hsu are the owners of Counting Sheep Boutique, a store offering gear for moms, dads and kids. Not only are these two women running a small business while pursuing careers in other fields, they are also dedicated moms. From maternity clothes, baby furniture, baby shower gifts to party items, Michelle and Eyee’s shop provides high quality organic and environmentally friendly products. In addition, Michelle runs two spas and Eyee hosts a television show on CCTV-9. Agenda decided to find out how they juggle being businesswomen and moms.

What was your inspiration for starting Counting Sheep?
M: We didn’t create it. We bought it over from the previous owners who were moving. I used to go to their shop and I loved it, and when we heard they were looking to sell, we toyed with the idea because we wanted to continue having a shop here for future Beijing moms.
E: It provides such a great service. A lot of expat mothers were going there to get services you wouldn’t normally be able to find in Beijing. It seemed like a shame to let it go.

What bought you into a customer service environment?
E: I was originally in management consulting and I think that because of my background I have always been interested in business. I also think everybody has a dream at some point, an aspiration. In China you come across some opportunities that you might not be able to do in the West. Counting Sheep was a very specific opportunity. Given the timing, with my being a new mother with two kids, I feel very passionate about this industry. It seemed like a wonderful opportunity when it arose. I’m still doing TV, but it is an opportunity to do everything.
M: Running Bodhi Theaureputic Retreat which is located above Counting Sheep, I have experience in customer service. However, Bodhi is a completely different ball game. We just didn’t want the shop to close. I have a one year old, I loved the shop, and the baby gear they stocked. So Eyee and I thought, why not us? I think we agree that, being consumers ourselves, we wanted to continue that for the other mums.

How do you find juggling work with family?
E: Owning your business is flexible. You can decide what time you are going to be there, unlike a corporate job where you have to work 9-5. We can take our kids to school, go to events and have family time. For both of us, we are mothers first, then owners of a small business. Our children inspire us. When you work you need to decide what is important to you. Prioritize, then plan.
M: Our work is great because it is the two of us doing it. We are partners. We are able to work well together and around each other’s schedules. We can spend the mornings sending the children to school, work during the day, spend the afternoon with our families, and then get on the emails at night. Eyee and I compliment each other.

Have your partners been involved?
E: They support us. The fact that both our husbands work as well has allowed us to take a bit of risk in our business ventures. But you always have to weigh up the risk before you plunge into something new.
M: They give us advice, but we make the decisions.

What is your most interesting product?
E: I really like cloth dippers. In the long run it’s a money saver, and it’s beneficial to the earth. It’s easy. They are not as difficult as people think they are, and they are simple to clean. Ours are made from fleece, so they don’t stain. We are also getting in strollers with hand warmers, a particularly good accessory for the Beijing winters!
M: The stalk bed is also innovative. It’s furniture we have imported from Norway, where the bed grows with your child. You can expand it. You can use it from new born to about 10 years. It’s really an investment. We also have a lot of gifts available for expecting mothers, including a cake made completely out of diapers.

Do you think it’s difficult promoting organic and environmentally friendly products in a country where everything is available so cheaply?
E: Parents are becoming conscious and concerned about what their children are eating and wearing. The idea of organic is something consumers are embracing, especially when it affects their families’ health.
M: No, because consumers are more conscious about their footprint on the earth and the health of their families.

What do you think is the best way to target your audience?
E: We just have to let them know that we are here. We are not just a shop; we are a service and a friend. We are a network of support for new moms. It can be really daunting when you don’t know what is out there. You need to turn to people who know what resources are available and can offer advice. We can be that support.
M: We have a lot of mums who initially come in to the store and buy something. Then they come back and they start a relationship with us. They ask what advice can we give them, what products they should buy, what they need to do before they become a mum. We help the new mums out there. We have been through that. Something we also want our customers to know is that even if we aren’t in the store, we are available for advice. Anybody, mothers or fathers, can contact us by email.

Have you faced any hurdles so far?
E: Delays in renovation were a hurdle initially. Also, getting items imported will take longer in the future because of customs regulations. Finding really good staff is also always tough. If you are thinking of starting a new business venture, don’t be deterred by the fact you have children and a family. Being an entrepreneur it is more flexible. Don’t hesitate because you are a new mother. I have been asked if I feel guilty about being a new mother and working. Working, for me, is something I really thrive off of, and it makes me happy. That happiness then effects how I am with my family. I also think about how my children see me, and I want them to be proud of me later on in life, too. If you are a career woman before you are a mother, why not be one after? As long as you know where you need to prioritize, you should pursue your passions.
M: Getting our products through customs has been a massive hurdle. Even though a lot of our products are purchased overseas, they are manufactured here in China. Purchasing them direct from China will not only have a smaller carbon footprint, but improve efficiency and shorten delivery times for our customers.

What are your predictions for a Chinese clientele as opposed to a Western?
E: Education is very important. When you show them an organic product, they really understand. It is universal. It makes sense. I think Chinese mothers are looking for products that are aesthetically pleasing and versatile in design.
M: I think our Chinese clientele have more opportunities to travel so they can see what is available, and they understand the importance of organic and environmentally friendly products. I think they are a lot more open than they used to be. We do notice the difference between Western and Chinese clients. Chinese mothers tend to like brighter colors and accessories, whereas Westerners tend to be more conservative. We initially ordered a lot of our accessories in neutral colors, but then our Chinese clients were asking for red, purple and pink. Tastes are very different between different cultures.

What is your favorite way to relax in Beijing?
E: We go to Bodhi, of course! There is not a lot of time to relax for me, but I like to get a facial when I can. Relaxing can be time consuming. When you have free time you feel like you should be with your children and family.
M: When I have time to relax I go for a massage downstairs at Bodhi. We also have a pre-natal massage which is great for new mothers. Upstairs we also have pre-natal and post-natal yoga. There is a real synergy through the building.

Counting Sheep Boutique 17 Gongti Beilu (1/F of Bodhi bldg, directly across from north gate of Workers Stadium), Chaoyang District 朝阳区朝阳区工体北路17号（工体北门对面）Sun-Th

Article from Agenda, issue 71, Jan 13- Jan 26. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we’ll tell you where you can find one near you.