We’re so excited to welcome to our new freelance writer Tara Fegelein to the jingkids team. Tara has led an amazing life that’s taken her all around the world, and we’re absolutely delighted to have her voice representing jingkids. We can’t wait for you to share the treasures she discovered during her adventures in Beijing

Tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you and your family to Beijing.

Dajia hao, Beijingren! I am Tara (淘淘) by way of the US, Germany, and Iran. Our family of three moved to Beijing in the Fall of 2024 and has been intensively exploring our new city! My husband and I are both international development professionals and career expats, living and working the past 25 years in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Munich, London, and most recently, Washington, D.C.

What do you do to keep yourself busy?

Things that occupy me outside of work and parenting are being active in nature, wellness practices, yoga retreats, travel (90+ countries), gastronomy, contemporary art and architecture, the performing arts, and all things kid-centric. Since becoming a Beijinger, I have also kept busy by learning Chinese with a fierce commitment to “好好学习，天天向上 (hǎo hǎo xué xí, tiān tiān xiàng shàng)”!

What are your top 3 favorite things you’ve discovered since moving to Beijing?

Three favorites things I’ve discovered here are 1) buying local by finding premium brands for everything from furniture to athletic gear, including indie labels by young designers, 2) eating at 200+ restaurants to find my top 20 go-to restaurants, from fine dining to hole in the walls, and 3) participating in various communities, including Girl Scouts, LEGO League, and local charities.

What can jingkids readers expect to see from you?

Together with my 6-year-old pixie, Leili, we will cover activities for kids around the city, STEAM education, nature adventures in the great outdoors (hiking, fishing, wild swimming, camping, skiing, etc.), kids’ shopping, dining, performances, cultural celebrations, and more! We look forward to discovering ever more facets of our brilliant Beijing and sharing these with the jingkids community.

Stay tuned for Tara’s first article, coming out later this week.

Images: Tara Fegelein

As parents, our collective aim is to give our children the best possible start in life. A crucial part of achieving this goal involves selecting a school that meets our children’s unique needs and aspirations. While it’s tempting to assume that all international schools are similar, the reality is much more nuanced. Each institution offers distinct curricula and strengths that can greatly influence a child’s education and future career paths.

Enter the Jingkids International School Expo (JISE), an annual event that serves as a guiding light for parents navigating their child’s educational journey. JISE goes beyond being just a gathering of major international schools; it’s a transformative experience that enhances the process of selecting a school.

What makes JISE stand out is its innovative approach, which goes beyond traditional school fairs by incorporating intimate discussion sessions. These sessions provide a platform for parents to interact with educators and experts on topics of genuine importance. JISE is more than just a platform for school connections; it’s an educational hub that keeps parents updated on the latest trends in education. Additionally, it provides a safe space for parents to address their questions and concerns with experienced professionals.

This year, JISE takes it a step further with PechaKucha-style presentations from Beijing’s top international schools. These concise presentations allow schools to showcase their proudest achievements in 20-second-long slides, ensuring efficiency and directness.

As the excitement builds for the upcoming JISE this weekend, we’re thrilled to announce that the first round of speakers for the PechaKucha-style presentations has been selected. These dynamic speakers represent some of the top international schools in Beijing, ready to showcase their unique strengths and educational philosophies in concise and engaging presentations. With their expertise and passion, they will offer valuable insights into what sets their schools apart and why they could be the perfect fit for your child’s educational journey. Stay tuned for more updates as we unveil the full lineup of speakers, promising an event filled with inspiration and informative discussions.

Want to find out who you’ll be hearing from? Check out the list of guest speakers for Saturday.

Excitement is brewing as 30 international schools from Beijing will be in attendance, ready to share their unique offerings and engage with parents on a personal level.

Get ready to be thrilled and inspired! Attending JISE isn’t just about finding the right school; it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of education. This expo empowers parents to make informed decisions, ensuring that their children embark on a learning journey tailored to their individual needs. Don’t miss the chance to shape your child’s future. Join us at JISE and take the next step toward unlocking your child’s full potential on Mar 23 from 9am to 5pm at the Signature Ballroom at Hilton Beijing.

Find it:
Hilton Beijing 北京希尔顿酒店
1 Dongfang Lu, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东三环北路东方路1号

Images: jingkids

When the first day of school rolled around and I watched my little girl walk into pre-school for the first time as I waited outside, it took everything not to rush in after her. It wasn’t that I throught she was in danger or anything. It was just so hard to let go of my baby as she starts the next chapter of her life and trust that I have chosen the right school with teachers and staff who will look after my daughter with the loving hearts of golden retrievers and protect her from danger like momma bears. 

When choosing a school, whether it’s for the first time ever, or a new school in a new city, it’s easy to fall in love with every shiny, well-equipped campus you see. School tours are designed to show you the best a school has to offer, and marketing materials only highlight what each school is most proud of. Now, it’s not to say that you shouldn’t believe anything you see or read, but it would be wise to do a bit more research before committing your child to a school. Get all the basic facts about each school by checking out the school profiles or by visiting our website www.beijing-kids.com.

How do you find out more about these schools, you ask? By digging a bit deeper and making use of your (as well as our) connections within the city to get yourself the real scoop.

Every year in our school choice guide we stress to parents that when it comes to choosing a school, the decision is different for each kid. Whether it’s the price, distance from home, curriculum, or a really good friend they just can’t leave, nothing is more important than your child truly loving her school and connecting with her teachers and peers. 

In this year’s issue of the annual Jingkids School Choice Guide, we take a look at some real tips from students and parents about attending an international school for the very first time (p. 10) and find out why a few real teens in Beijing chose the school they did (p. 16) because one of your best resources for what a school is really like is talking to its students. 

If you’re a parent with a special needs child, there are multiple resources at your disposal, including SENIA, an organization comprised of doctors, educators, and parents in Beijing that specializes in special needs assistance for children. We also talk to a special education facility about their mission of inclusivity on p. 100.

And finally, when it comes to international schools, the level of involvement for parents will vary depending on where your child attends. If you’ve got a tight schedule outside of your child’s activities or if school involvement just isn’t your thing, it’s best to ask the school how much they actually expect the parents to do. Don’t sugarcoat the question only to be overwhelmed later on. Check out a few of Beijing’s international schools’ biggest PTA accomplishments in the past year to get an idea (p. 20).

Jingkids International was created to help international families in Beijing get the most out of their lives in Beijing. Be sure to follow us on WeChat at beijing-kids or by scanning the QR code. 

If you’ve got a specific question you want to ask, email our editors at webeditor@beijing-kids.com.

Images: Pexels, Mina Yan

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 School Choice Guide

When the first day of school rolled around and I watched my little girl walk into pre-school for the first time as I waited outside, it took everything not to rush in after her. It wasn’t that I thought she was in danger or anything. It was just so hard to let go of my baby as she starts the next chapter of her life and trust that I have chosen the right school with teachers and staff who will look after my daughter with the loving hearts of golden retrievers and protect her from danger like momma bears. 

When choosing a school, whether it’s for the first time ever or a new school in a new city, it’s easy to fall in love with every shiny, well-equipped campus you see. School tours are designed to show you the best a school has to offer, and marketing materials only highlight what each school is most proud of. Now, it’s not to say that you shouldn’t believe anything you see or read, but it would be wise to do a bit more research before committing your child to a school. Get all the basic facts about each school by checking out the school profiles or by visiting our website www.beijing-kids.com.

How do you find out more about these schools, you ask? By digging a bit deeper and making use of your (as well as our) connections within the city to get yourself the real scoop.

Every year in our school choice guide we stress to parents that when it comes to choosing a school, the decision is different for each kid. Whether it’s the price, distance from home, curriculum, or a really good friend they just can’t leave, nothing is more important than your child truly loving her school and connecting with her teachers and peers. 

In this year’s issue of the annual Jingkids School Choice Guide, we take a look at some real tips from students and parents about attending an international school for the very first time (p. 10) and find out why a few real teens in Beijing chose the school they did (p. 16) because one of your best resources for what a school is really like is talking to its students. 

If you’re a parent with a special needs child, there are multiple resources at your disposal, including SENIA, an organization comprised of doctors, educators, and parents in Beijing that specializes in special needs assistance for children. We also talk to a special education facility about their mission of inclusivity on p. 100.

And finally, when it comes to international schools, the level of involvement for parents will vary depending on where your child attends. If you’ve got a tight schedule outside of your child’s activities or if school involvement just isn’t your thing, it’s best to ask the school how much they actually expect the parents to do. Don’t sugarcoat the question only to be overwhelmed later on. Check out a few of Beijing’s international schools’ biggest PTA accomplishments in the past year to get an idea (p. 20).

Jingkids International was created to help international families in Beijing get the most out of their lives in Beijing.

If you’ve got a specific question you want to ask, email our editors at webeditor@beijing-kids.com.

Best,
Mina Yan
Editor-in-Chief

Images: Dave Hanssen

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 School Choice Guide

Yes that’s right! Both jingkids editors – Mina Yan and myself – were born in the zodiac year of the Rabbit and so we thought we would take this Chinese New Year to let you know a little more about us, from a cultural viewpoint.

Mina Yan was born in Harbin and grew up in Southern California; her husband Billy was born in Beijing and studied in the UK. They have a lively little girl and currently reside in Kaifeng, a city that is built on top of five layers of ancient cities and was once the hub of civilization in China.

I was born and bred in Singapore to parents with Malaysian and Indonesian roots, as well as Chinese ancestry (my grandfather’s home still stands somewhere in a town in Guangzhou!). My husband is American and we have a son who has grown up in Singapore, Dubai, Indonesia, and Beijing.

Q: How Chinese do you consider yourself? 
MY: It’s kind of a weird question and one that used to annoy me. I’m a typical Chinese American and I identify with both cultures. I was raised by a tiger mom who instilled some pretty traditional beliefs in me as a young child. I grew up playing piano, eating Chinese food, and learning to keep my mouth shut when I disagree with my elders – you know, typical Chinese kid stuff for my generation. But at the same time, my beliefs and values are not the same as a typical Chinese local. After moving to China I would hear “She’s American, she doesn’t know” so often during conversation even over the tiniest things like who sits where during dinner to much grander things like how I raise my child.

VT: Growing up in multicultural Singapore, I used to hate being identified as Chinese. I associated being Chinese with being a backwater country bumpkin and tried so hard to ignore that part of my heritage. I embraced all things from overseas, particularly American, English, and Japanese cultures. As I get older now and have my own kid, I ironically find myself saying things like “It’s part of who you are!” when my kid complains about learning Chinese.

Q: Which Chinese traditions do you observe?
MY: My family has never been super strict on Chinese traditions. Overall I know about them, but there isn’t anything that we absolutely HAD to do during any of the Chinese holidays.

VT: Again, I used to dread visiting relatives during CNY when I was young, but now I find myself happy to take the opportunity to find out what these blood relations have been up to and how they are doing! I like the practice of the red packets, but in the original tradition as my dad told me – where the practice used to be reserved for the erudite who would write clever sayings in beautiful calligraphy, this was replaced with money when the greater un-schooled populace started adopting the practice, and sadly this has become the popular standard today.

Q: How Chinese do you consider your kid and how Chinese do you want them to be?
MY: Another question that I find kind of weird… I’d like to consider my daughter a third culture kid since she’s an American Chinese being raised in China. But to be honestly, I would like to focus on getting her as much life experience as possible, regardless of which country they’re from. I was born in China, raised in America, lived in Switzerland and Germany before moving to China. My husband is a Chinese who studied and worked in the UK for many years. Our family is a jumble of our favorite parts of different cultures we’ve picked up along the way and I really prefer that over trying to figure out how Chinese to make my kid.

VT: My kid sadly doesn’t seem to want to embrace his Chinese identity as much as I would like him to, and it would be hypocritical for me not to understand that…

Q: What’s your favorite part of Chinese culture?
MY: My favorite part has got to be spending time with family and remembering history. It feels like every major Chinese holiday has some tradition that involves dinner with the family. Since I didn’t grow up with a large family, I’m making up for it now with my own.

VT: It has got to be the long history behind all the rich mythology, beliefs, and traditions. Sometimes they give me a glimpse into the poetic beauty of the Chinese culture in the past, and sometimes they explain to me the practical hardships the world has been through, but there’s always a story to it.

Q: How are you celebrating CNY?
MY: We’re celebrating this CNY at home with family and friends. I love it when people visit – the more the merrier!

VT: I’m in Singapore with my family and friends and my favorite foods in the world!

Images: Mina Yan & Vivienne Tseng-Rush

KEEP READING: Cars for Rent and Drivers for Hire During CNY 2023

We’re excited to announce the birth of the newest member of our family! Welcome to the True Run Media family, Jingkids Shenzhen!

Jingkids Shenzhen has been in the works for a long time, and we’re so excited to finally be able to announce its arrival! Jingkids Shenzhen is a Chinese-language platform that will publish articles on international education and parenting.

As the latest brainchild of True Run Media, our newest sister brand is sure to quickly become Shenzhen’s go-to source for all your family needs.

True Run Media is a media, lifestyle, advertising, and events company that was founded in 2001. Our company’s mission is to help the international community get the most out of their lives in China. Since 2001, we’ve grown to include seven unique brands – the Beijinger, Jingkids International, Jingkids Beijing Chinese, the Beijinger Chinese, Jingkids Shanghai, and now Jingkids Shenzhen!

Around Beijing you’ll most likely have heard of a few legendary food festivals – Burger Fest, Pizza Fest, and Spicy Fest – all of which are hosted throughout the year by our sister brand the Beijinger. Great job, Big Sis!

And on the family-friendly side, Jingkids International’s annual Jingkids International School Choice Expo has been helping families find the right school for their kids for years, and our latest Jingkids Summer Fling was a successful, fun-packed day of events that also connected parents with numerous options for summer camps for their kids.

With the arrival of Jingkids Shenzhen, True Run Media will be present in three of China’s most bustling cities doing what we do best: bridging the international and local communities.

Each True Run Media account has a unique voice and publishes original content on a daily basis. To follow all of our accounts on WeChat, scan the QR codes below:

The Beijinger

The Beijinger Chinese

Jingkids International

Jingkids Chinese Beijing

Jingkids Chinese Shanghai

Jingkids Chinese Shenzhen

Images: Pexels

Want a job where you actually look forward to going to work on Monday mornings? Join our team! We are looking for new talent to join the jingkids team!

We offer flexible working hours and arrangements perfect for busy parents that need to juggle career and family. We’re recruiting for a new Deputy Managing Editor. This role contributes regularly to the magazine and digital sites and stays in close contact with schools and other community organizations to ensure that jingkids is always the first to let our readers know what’s going on.

All of our positions require fostering deep connections with the local international community so if you’re someone who likes to network and explore the family-friendly side of the city, this is the job for you!

Job Responsibilities:
□ Write, proofread, and format content for the magazine and online platforms.
□ Work with the Managing Editor to delegate other content to writers and interns.
□ Keep in close contact with the international community.
□ Represent jingkids at client and community events.
□ Attend company meetings as required.

Job Requirements:
□ Bachelor’s degree (preferably in journalism, English, communications, social media management, etc.).
□ Excellent English skills.
□ At least two years of demonstrated professional experience in a related field.
□ Commitment to and passion for the city of Beijing.
□ Able to meet deadlines consistently.

Bonus points if you:
□ Have previous work experience with children, the education industry, or in media.
□ Are a parent.
□ Can read Chinese.
□ Have an active social media account.

Interested applicants are requested to send their updated resume and writing samples to employment@beijing-kids.com. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Founded in 2001, True Run Media (TRM) is a top provider of information about living, working, and having fun in the internationally-minded community centered in China’s major metropolitan cities. True Run currently publishes three magazines in print and online – the Beijinger, beijingkids, and JingKids (Beijing and Shanghai) – and also hosts events for the community.

TRM is a proud equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

Images:

Have you ever picked up a copy of Jingkids and wondered, “hmm. Who are these families and how do I get my family featured in the magazine?” Jingkids first launched back in 2006 under the name Kids in Beijing, part of our now-discontinued Immersion Guides book series. In the past 14 years we’ve gone through three name changes from Kids in Beijing to tbjkids to beijingkids, and now to Jingkids. But there’s one thing that’s never changed over the years.

The magazine was created for families to get the most out of the city that they now call home. We’ve covered education, parenting, health, dining, family fun activities, and in this past year, we’ve been your most extensive English news outlet for all your school-related information during the Covid-19 outbreak.

If you’ve ever wanted your family featured in an issue of Jingkids, here’s your chance. Send an email to editor@beijing-kids.com and tell us how many people are in your family, where you’re from, some of your family’s interests, and what’s the best way to get in touch with you.

We’re always looking for fresh new faces to include in our magazine and we can’t wait to hear from you!

KEEP READING: The 2021-2022 School Choice Guide is Out!

You may have noticed a slight change this week: our name has been shortened from beijingkids to simply Jingkids International.

What is this sorcery, you may ask? Is this a knockoff product produced by pirates? Have we been taken over by some external force? Are we leaving Beijing?

Nope, it’s still us, the same beijingkids you’ve come to know and (hopefully) love for a decade and a half.

The name change is something we’ve anticipated for over a decade, and believe it or not, marks the fourth (!) name we’ve used for this magazine in the 14 years since we published our first product in the spring of 2006.

Back then, we launched as a small quarterly handbook called Kids in Beijing, which was part of our now-discontinued Immersion Guides book series:

We produced four of these to great fanfare. Reader demand moved us to a full-on monthly magazine the next year, which we named tbjkids (using the “tbj” from thebeijinger, from which we sprung).

This lasted for 17 months until we expanded the name to deepen the connection to Beijing, by rebranding as beijingkids at the same time Beijing was hosting the 2008 Olympics:

We soldiered on with that name until we decided to launch our Chinese edition in 2012, which we named Jing – not the “jing” from the word Beijing (京), but the homonym Jing (菁), which is a component of words such as essence, luxuriant and elite.

Since that time, our Chinese brand Jing has grown by leaps and bounds, expanded to Shanghai, and become more and more of a central brand. Though the contents of each magazine are entirely independent, much of what we do – such as our school choice expos and our school choice guides – are joint efforts, and thus it only made sense for us to unify our efforts into one brand.

Our commitment to you as Beijing’s Essential International Family Resource remains the same. You can still find us at our URL at www.beijing-kids.com and on WeChat at bjkids, and you can reach us at our same email addresses.

Thanks for your continued support!

Michael Wester
CEO and Co-Founder,
True Run Media

Images: Pexels