Beijing, a massive ancient capital boasting thousands of years of history, also has thousands of everyday annoyances. Besides the hurdles of language and cultural barriers, dealing with throngs of blaring speakers, bright lights, gray skies, and horrible traffic are a daily struggle for expats. All of these factors also strongly weigh on our mental health and stress levels.

Luckily, Beijing is also a rapidly growing hub for services that combat the stresses of life, with numerous spas, wellness centers, and staycation options for your family. Or possibly simply for you and you alone to disconnect briefly with responsibilities and expectations in peaceful, positive settings. Here is a roundup of some of the best wellness and self-care options our sometimes stress-inducing city has to offer.

Beijing Mindfulness Centre

Mindfulness, simply put, is a practice that brings awareness of the present moment, which allows practitioners to focus on openly accepting their feelings, thoughts, and the sensations of the physical body. At the Beijing Mindfulness Centre, attendees can learn helpful de-stress techniques through coaching classes that aim to teach a calm awareness, which can reduce anxiety, improve decision making, stop over-thinking, make you a better employee or employer, and provide emotional balance. Contact The Beijing Mindfulness Centre to schedule coaching classes. 44 Qianyongkang Hutong, Dongcheng District. 东城区前永康胡同44号. (6403 4923) 

AWA Health

For a complete disconnection from all the barrage of unrecognizable signage and WeChat notifications that bombard our daily lives here, try AWA Health’s sensory deprivation tank, one of the few places in the city where you can lie weightless in buoyant salt water. Fans of this treatment say it allows you to fully relax and enter a meditative state, where stresses and worries can be completely pushed away for an hour. Also, try a massage in their salt therapy room, which has been known to provide relief from respiratory ailments like asthma and allergies, as well as clearer skin. Daily 10am-10pm. L411, 4/F, Bldg 1, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区光华路9号世贸天阶1号楼南街4层L411. (137 1618 2745)

The Brickyard Retreat Center at Mutianyu Great Wall

Housed in a re-purposed glazed tile factory with rooms boasting Mutianyu Great Wall views, The Brickyard offers a quick staycation option for easy relaxation. Check their website for seasonal special packages, like their romantic Friday Spa Getaway for you and your partner, which includes private transfers from Beijing, a superior queen room, a bottle of sparkling wine, and two sixty minute massages. And who can say no to a view of the Great Wall while cuddling in a warm, bubbling jacuzzi? 100m South of Yingbeigou Cun, Huairou District. 怀柔区营北沟村南100米. (6162 6506)

Milun Traditional Kungfu School

Taichi is trendy, but this ancient tradition is hard to reduce to Instagram models in cosplay Chinese tunics holding elegant poses. If you’d like real instruction in this ancient form of kungfu or other Chinese martial arts, try classes with the Milun Traditional Kungfu School. Physical activity has been shown to have huge positive impacts on mental health, and with public outdoor classes at Wangfujing Courtyard and Ritan Park almost every day of the week, there’s really no excuse not to give it a try. Students can begin lessons at any time, but be sure to wear athletic shoes and loose fitting clothing to class. Check their website for the complete list of times and locations. 36 Ganyu Hutong, Dongcheng District. 东城区甘雨胡同36. (138 1170 6568) 

Home Yoga Beijing

Stretch those hamstrings and achieve inner light with the wholesome and thoughtful yoga practice provided by Yiyang’s Home Yoga. We feature yoga studios quite a bit in this magazine, but this teacher has recently caught our attention with an interesting selection of classes. With the intimate setting at Yiyang’s Dongcheng studio, the instruction is patient, and in English, befitting the name “Home Yoga.” In addition to classes for adults she also offers pre- and post-natal yoga for new and expecting moms, a unique class on yoga activities that can be used to reduce stress in the office, and classes for kids. She is conveniently located in the Dongzhimen area, and often hold classes at Café Zarah in Gulou. Follow her WeChat account (HomeYogaBeijing) for the complete class schedule and location details.

CHI, The Spa

If you really need to de-stress, consider a spa day.  Treatments at CHI, The Spa at China World Summit Wing, Beijing draw their inspiration based on traditional Asian healing philosophies, using TCM treatments as well as hot stone, Shiatsu, and aromatherapy massages, with a variety of one-hour treatments and complete spa packages available. Sitting 77 floors above the hustle and bustle of Beijing’s CBD, we couldn’t imagine a better way to escape the stress of the workweek and indulge in a bit of self-care. The packages here are a bit high-end, but if you are on a budget we also recommend Dragonfly Spa and Hummingbird Spa, also located in the greater CBD area. Daily, noon-11pm. China World Summit Wing, 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区中国北京建国门外大街1号. (6505 2299 ext. 6666)

This post appeared in the beijingkids October 2018 Mental Health issue.
Photo: Adobe Creative Cloud, courtesy of the featured establishments

You might have heard of the world-famous Boracay tourist island in the Philippines, which, at the time of writing, has been closed by the government for rehabilitation. Fret not if that was your target for your next beach adventure this summer, because the country has a bunch of other destinations. Island hopping has never been so fun as when you do it in the Philippines!

As recently as 2017, there are over 7,600 islands (during low tide) in the archipelago but only about 2,000 are inhabited and 5,000 others have not been named yet! And many of the islands are still in pristine condition.

Last week in our (Island) Hop Till You Drop series, we visited Bohol Island. Let’s continue our island hopping and travel to our next destination, Cebu.

Cebu Island

Overall fun rating: ★★★★☆

There’s so much culture and nature on the island of Cebu, just north of Bohol. Cebu, where Spanish colonizers brought Christianity to the Philippines, is now a trade center and a major pit stop on our Philippine island hopping tour.

Newcomers to the island capital of Cebu City can visit the usual first-day stop of Magellan’s Cross and the Santo Nino Basilica, just within walking distance of each other. If your family is into Mardi Gras-style festivities, go there in January during the Sinulog Festival.

Whale sharks are the world’s largest fish.

Gentle Giants
Oslob town is accessible via a two-hour boat ride from Tagbilaran City. When you arrive at the town port, you’ll need to ride a tuk-tuk to reach the coastal village of Tan-awan where the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, can be found. This endangered shark species is about 26 feet long on average, but don’t be frightened as they are docile.

Swimming with whale sharks is a controversial tourism activity since local fishermen feed the fish. There are conservationists who remarked these tours are unsustainable and affect the local marine ecosystem. I talked to several guides and they explained that the fees to the park (PHP 1,000 for 30-minutes of swimming with the whale shark) are used by the local government to develop the marine area, as well as to pay for the salary of the fishermen who became fish feeders and guides after the species appeared in late 2011.

The Kawasan Falls has a clear aquamarine natural pool.

Fall into Waterfalls
Already got a perfect selfie with the whale shark and posted it on Instagram? Your Cebu family adventure doesn’t end there because going northwest will bring you to natural swimming pools. Continue your day trip in Oslob and go to the picturesque Tumalog Falls before lunch via a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride. If falling into Tumalog isn’t enough, head further northwest to the Kawasan Falls, situated between a small canyon. Getting there takes about an hour of light trekking (1.5km from the main road), but everything’s worth it when you see the two sets of falls, a higher one at 131 feet, and another wider but lower one at 66 feet. Fresh spring water in the lagoon of Kawasan is comparable to the clear turquoise found on Alona Beach or Boracay, albeit cooler.

From Kawasan, it will take you roughly 5 hours (130km) to go to Cebu City, your gateway to more destinations in the province. Roughly a mile from the city is the island of Mactan where the province’s airport is situated. From there, we can continue our island hopping to our next destination: Palawan.

Suggested itinerary: I arrived at Port of Cebu from Tagbilaran City, but that’s only one way of going to the island. I recommend entering Cebu from the southern town of Oslob (two hours by boat from Panglao), then make your way up to Cebu City.

Where to stay

Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu
From PHP 8,000 (atrium view room for two) to PHP 13,600 (family suite). www.movenpick.com (+6332 492 7777, hotel.cebu@movenpick.com)

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino
From PHP 4,125 per night (deluxe room for two) to PHP 15,600 (family suite). www.waterfronthotels.com.ph (+6332 232 6888, wcch@waterfronthotels.net)

Sascha’s Resort Oslob
From PHP 1,300 per night (twin sharing room for two) to PHP 2,200 per night (family room for five people) www.sascharesort.com (melissasilangan95@gmail.com)

*PHP 8.16 = RMB 1.00 (as of May 2018)

This article appeared on p20-23 of beijingkids June 2018 issue
Photos: Photos: cb_agulto, Klaus Stiefel, Marion Paul Baylado via Flickr

When in the Philippines, try asking a local how many islands compose the country. Don’t be surprised if they would answer, “High tide or low tide?” It’s a popular reference to the witty response of a Filipina beauty queen who was asked the same question at the Miss Universe 1994.

So, what’s the answer then? As recently as 2017, there are over 7,600 islands (during low tide) in the archipelago but only about 2,000 are inhabited and 5,000 others have not been named yet! And many of the islands are still in pristine condition.

I recently went back to my home country and checked out three of the many destinations that make the country Asia’s center of fun. We begin our (Island) Hop Till You Drop series with Bohol Island.

Bohol Island

Overall fun rating: ★★★★☆

The Chocolate Hills tops the list of natural parks that you can visit in Bohol, one of the island provinces in central Philippines. From a viewing deck atop one of these limestone hills in the town of Carmen, you can see about a hundred more peaks – but there are about 1,000 others spread over an area of 50 sqkm.

Make it an adventure when you visit the Chocolate Hills and try trekking with a quad bike.

Rush in the Lush
The grass covering the hills turns to brown during summer, which gives it a chocolatey look. There’s nothing much to do after you arrive atop the viewing deck (PHP 50 entrance fee), but a few minutes’ drive via a habal-habal (passenger motorcycle) or a tuk-tuk will bring you to several tourist hubs that offer quadbike rides (pictured above, PHP 900 per hour). The ride can be done by kids as young as 8, and comes in with safety gear and a guide who can take a video of your adventure a la Lara Croft or Super Mario with the Chocolate Hills in the backdrop.

The tarsier is the world’s smallest primate.

All Eyes Are Open for the Wide-Eyed Tarsier
A mere 1.5hr-drive from Carmen brings you to the town of Bilar, home of the world’s smallest primate, the tarsier. These wide-eyed tiny mammals are nocturnal, so you will see them sleeping when you visit the Tarsier Conservation Area in the town. Although it’s a little bit touristy, it’s nice to know that the proceeds from the entrance fee (PHP 10) go to conservation and breeding projects for these endangered species.

Visita Iglesia
Old Spanish-style Catholic churches used to dot the island, but sadly many of them were damaged or destroyed during a strong earthquake in 2013. Five years on and reconstruction of the many surviving churches is still underway, including the nearly three-century-old Baclayon Church, mostly made up of coral stones. The church’s convent has been converted into an ecclesiastical museum (PHP 50 entrance fee) which exhibits centuries-old images, vestments, and other religious items. You can do a Visita Iglesia (church visit) tour, though the churches in the towns of Loboc and Loon collapsed after the earthquake.

Alona Beach is Bohol’s answer to the pristine white-sand beach found on Boracay Island.

Beauty and the Beach
The beach island of Panglao is Bohol’s answer to Boracay. Once you exhausted your body swimming along the stretch of Alona Beach, take a light boat to equally gorgeous nearby Balicasag Island where you can swim with sea turtles and snorkel above a marine sanctuary full of vibrant sea life. A 30-min boat ride brings you to the Virgin Beach sandbar that appears in low tide. There, you can indulge in seafood and grilled delights during lunch.

Suggested itinerary: After arriving at Tagbilaran City, take a taxi and go to Panglao island (1.5 hours away). Make the island your base for island hopping trips during your first few days. Before leaving the province from Tagbilaran, take countryside trips to Carmen and Bilar (and Danao town where you can try extreme activities like a zip line on an incline cliff, and bungee jumping).

Where to stay

Bohol Tropics Resort (Tagbilaran City)
From PHP 2,950 (pool side room for two) to PHP 18,550 (two-bedroom suite for four people) www.boholtropics.ph (+6338 411 3510-14, sales@boholtropicshotel.com)

Amorita Resort (Panglao Island)
From PHP 9,000 per night (deluxe room for two adults) or PHP 26,000 per night (sea view pool villa). www.amoritaresort.com (+632 856 1443, inquiries@one-ofcollection.com)

Henann Resort Alona Beach (Panglao Island)
From PHP 9,600 per night (deluxe room for two adults) or PHP 13,500 per night (family room for four). www.henann.com/bohol/henannalonabeach (+6338 502 9141-44, manila.hbl@henann.com) 

Rosa’s Cottage (Balicasag Island)
From PHP 1,000 per night (breakfast included), with a restaurant serving a variety of food prepared to visitors’ request. Owner Rose Mijares can also arrange a boat from Panglao Island to Balicasag Island (PHP 1,500 for a 5-person boat, PHP 1,800 for a 10-person boat). A package deal for 2 or more people is available and including meals, a private room, a guided scuba diving at the marine reserve, and a guided snorkeling trip is worth PHP 5,000. (+63 908 175 3687)

Recommended tour agents

U-Go Travel Services (Manager Charlot Pinat offers tour information and car rental services and ferry bookings. +63923 468 5049, ugotravelservices@yahoo.com)

Graham ATV and Bug Car Rental (Paterno Maisa, marketing manager: +63998 576 3704, cecel_maiza2000@yahoo.com)

Maimai Tour Services (Mai Mai, tour organizer: +63919 940 3114, +63926 796 1588)

*PHP 8.16 = RMB 1.00 (as of May 2018)

With additional reporting from Greg of Young Adventure Photography.
This is an edited version of an article that appeared on p20-23 of beijingkids June 2018 issue
Photos: Andy Penafuerte III; Kullez, Jaya via Flickr; courtesy of Young Adventure Photography (featured photo)

The Talking Travel Desk is out traveling, so for this edition, Jessica Rapp takes you to Guangzhou. Until the next post, one road flat safe.

More than a hundred years ago, Guangzhou was a place of uprising, its neighboring county, Xiangshan, being the birthplace of Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen. These days, though, portrayal of the seaport city often gives its significant historical value a miss, with more travel guides pegging it instead as one of China’s most modern and wealthy cities. We agree – it’s difficult to ignore that sprawling, complex highway system and those sparkling shopping malls, and if these wonders don’t convince you to make the three-hour trip by plane, then surely it will be the outrageously cheap deals in wholesale markets bustling with African, Middle Eastern and Chinese traders.

What to See: Guangzhou is a bargain shopper’s heaven. Start at the center of Tianhe District, where the malls have a range of both high-end and street labels on offer, and then have a look at Guangyuan Xilu for wholesale clothing options. You’ll have to dig, but you won’t have to haggle. Need a wig to complete your look? Get those, along with vibrant Ankara fabric at the African market on Xiaobei Lu. On the weekend from 3-10pm, head to Haizhu District for Guangzhou’s biggest flea market, Mafa Bazaar, with more than 60 vendors selling everything from homemade food and handicrafts to vintage clothing and furniture. Once you’ve exhausted the shopping bug, go to the city center and take a ride to the top of the 600m tall Canton Tower.

Where to Stay: There’s no shortage of good budget options for a mindful traveler, including RiverSide YHA, which is located next to the Pearl River and near a spread of old factories that have been transformed into an art and culture district. For a seamless and more luxurious stay, try the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a sleek and contemporary offering from Swire (the company who created Taikoo Li), conveniently located close to a handful of 24-hour dim sum restaurants and cafes.

Where to Dine: Many Guangzhou locals will claim their food is better than the offerings in Beijing, and after a lavish sampling of dim sum by Mandarin Oriental’s Chef Fei, you just might believe them. Try the bulging shrimp dumplings or walnut paste buns at Guangzhou Restaurant (Guangzhou Jie Jia , 广州饭店), known for its longevity, or schlep to Mei Xin Garden in Tianhe District, highly regarded for its Chiuchow Steamed Dumplings. Wash it all down with a pint of Xurry’s Porter by Strand Brewing, Guangzhou’s tenderfoot of China’s craft brew scene.

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on July 31, 2014.

Photos: Jessica Rapp