When I was in elementary school birthday parties entailed my mom sending a few pizzas and sodas to school for the whole class to enjoy. I remember we also had a kids party entertainer and we where really impressed with the magician that day. Then as I got older the parties got more intricate. By high school our birthday parties began to include private dinners in vintage wine cellars, boating around Balboa Island, and the epic Sweet 16. Needless to say, as we got older, party planning got fancier.

For those living in Beijing, the age for over-the-top parties starts even earlier. Most of us living here have apartments that can’t host the whole class, so hotel parties have become a norm. But throwing a memorable party that stands out doesn’t need to mean you need to shell out a ton of money, as long as you know who to go to.

TwoZi Balloons founder Zheng Zhong

According to expert party planner Zheng Zhong, owner of TwoZi Balloons, there are still some common party ideas in the West that haven’t made their mark in China just yet. “Piñata for example are very common for kids’ parties in the US, but in China it’s just the opposite. Many of our Chinese clients have never seen one though they have kids at international schools.” According to Zheng, the latest trend in China in recent years has been to use balloons as an easy and low-cost way to bring creativity to life.

“Parties here are not just about having fun, they’re also about looking good in photos. You need to create a photogenic ambiance for their WeChat Moments and Instagram.” Zheng tells beijngkids.

One party trend that’s been all over Pinterest but has never caught on in China is the gender reveal. For those who don’t yet know, gender reveal parties are typically held near the middle of the pregnancy. Often, it employs the trope of pink (denoting a female) or blue (denoting a male), perhaps hidden inside a cake or piñata. When the cake is cut or the piñata is opened, the color popularly associated with the baby’s sex is revealed to the parents and all attendees. But recently gender reveal parties have been seeing a decline for their obvious gender conformity with the colors and well, it’s not really the gender of the baby that’s being revealed; it’s the sex. “They probably don’t want to call it a sex party. It sounds strange to invite people to a sex reveal.” says Zheng. “In China you’re actually not suppose to tell the expecting parents the sex of the baby so baby showers here happen after the baby is born.” For new parents who don’t mind being a bit extra, there’s a baby shower at one month and another one at 100 days.

These parties are extravagant – some resembling a lavish wedding. Zheng tells beijingkids that with the right planning, a lavish party actually doesn’t need to cost a fortune. “We’ve done beautiful parties for as little as RMB2,000. That’s the beauty of balloons. It’s a low-cost way to be creative.”

With the holiday party season just around the corner, Zheng reminds us of the importance of putting an extra bit of focus on the decor. An extra dash of attention will transform any home party to an Instagrammable sensation that’ll make you the hostess with the mostest.

Photos: TwoZi Balloon, unsplash

The Adventure Zone’s Mascot, JiaBao the panda, turns 5 years old this December, and is throwing an epic Christmas-inspired birthday party at the Kerry Hotel (Dec 15-16). Come join in the fun on the multipurpose courts of Kerry Sports, and discover a world of activities to usher in the birthday of the year.

There will be DIY arts and crafts, a bouncy castle, a chocolate fountain, and so much more! Enjoy a weekend of games, prizes, and activities, while making awesome memories with the family. They will also hold a lucky draw, and attendees could walk away with one of a number of treats, including a Cathay Pacific Airways return ticket and accommodation in Hong Kong, Adventure Zone membership, and stays at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

What you waiting for? December weekends don’t get better than this! RMB 688 per day (child ticket), RMB 368 (Adult ticket).

Kerry Sports

10:00am – 5:00pm. 3/F, in the Kerry Sports Center, Kerry Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (6561 3388) 朝阳区光华路1号北京嘉里中心饭店3层

Photos: courtesy of Kerry Hotel