A jingkids reader gave us a fantastic tip – bring your kids to see Flow! And boy, was she right! This animated film is the perfect kid-friendly escape. Set in a fantasy world that seems to be coming to an end and teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species and has to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

Here’s Where You Can Watch Flow in English in Beijing

Here’s a curated list of theaters in Beijing likely screening Flow in English, based on their history of showing international films and details from search results. While specific showtimes for Flow are not explicitly mentioned in the search data, these venues are known for screening foreign films with original audio (e.g. English) and Chinese subtitles. Always confirm language options when booking tickets.

Wanda Cinemas (万达影城)
CBD Branch
Find it:
3/F Bldg B Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国路93号万达广场B座3层

UME International Cineplex (UME国际影城)
Shuangjing Branch
Find it:
​5-6/F Viva Mall, 65 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东三环路双井桥北富力广场5-6层

K酷国际影城 (K Cool International Cinema)
Find it:
4/F, K Cool Fashion Plaza, 42 Beiyuan Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区北苑路42号K酷时尚广场四层

首都电影院·城市副中心店 (Capital Cinema Sub-Center Branch)
Find it:
4-5/F, Ledigang West Zone, Tongzhou District
通州区乐堤港西区4-5层

CGV Cinemas (CGV影城)
Find it:
South Building, Taikoo Li Sanlitun, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区

Here’s How To Buy Movie Tickets on Dianping

1. Open your Dianping app and type in Flow in the search bar. Then, select the movie, and you’ll be taken to the trailer page.
2. Select “Buy Ticket” (特惠购票 tèhuì gòupiào) at the bottom of the page.
3. If you want to see the movie in English, select the “Filter” (筛选 shāixuǎn) option at the top and select English (英语 yīngyǔ) as the language.
4. Then, it’s just a matter of selecting your time, seats, and proceeding to payment (购票 gòupiào) via WeChat or Alipay.

Enjoy the show!

Images: Mina Yan, Dianping, Pexels, IMDB

Movies have become a major source of entertainment throughout the past year. While many other activities were “out of order” from this horrible pandemic, movies were at the tip of our fingers with a simple click of a remote and a slump into a comfortable couch. However, it is still far less enjoyable than watching from a movie theater, which is unfortunate since all movie theaters in China were closed down during the Chinese New Year last year. But 2021 is guaranteed to be a better year, starting from making up for the movie time we missed.

My Recommendation

I love watching movies, and I rarely miss out on the big ones coming out. The same goes for the films from this Chinese New Year. Honestly speaking, out of all of the Chinese movies that came out in the past few weeks, I was only satisfied with one or two. The rest weren’t nearly as good as everyone anticipated, some I even considered plainly, bad. But those aren’t worth digging into. One of the movies that were most memorable to me was the movie Hi. Mom《你好，李焕英》, a story about the relationship between a mother and daughter and their infinite love for one another.

Here are three reasons why it is an excellent movie to watch with your family:

1. Relatable Characters: The most appealing aspect of this movie was how ordinary the characters were, a mother who gave up everything for her underachieving daughter and a daughter who would do anything to make her mother proud. Even though the time-traveling setting was unrealistic and the performance was over-exaggerated, somehow, it still managed to be very relatable to the audience. I think this is because of the genuineness of the character bonds. After all, the undying love we feel for our parents and children is one of the few things that we all have in common.

2. Down to Earth: Unlike the other movies that were screened during the Chinese New Year, with crazy plots like switching lives and hunting for bad guys, this movie solely focused on the pure relationship between the two characters. All of the characters were very likable, like people you would meet in your ordinary life. The story is also adapted from Jia Ling, the director’s personal experiences throughout childhood, and her relationship with her own mother. All of the emotions expressed through the movie was heartfelt since they all come from the bottom of her heart.

3. It’s Funny Too: Many people who went to watch the movie described how they “couldn’t stop laughing in the first half and couldn’t stop crying in the second.” The film contained a lot of puns and jokes used in sketches, and though it’s not considered advanced humor, it was still delightful to watch and easy to laugh to. To describe its humor in Chinese, it was 平庸的刚刚好 (píngyōng de gānggāng hǎo).

Having parents who work in the movie industry, I understood that the past year has been a tough time for some people, especially with jobs related to movie theaters. In 2020, movie theaters in Beijing were closed for around half a year, from the Chinese New Year until July, which is a long time for a place to be out of business. With nowhere to go for movies, many people started to turn to online platforms, which made them flourish at a relatively rapid speed.

However, this pandemic did not cause that much damage to movie production teams. Usually, it takes a long time, years, to produce a film. And normally, many setbacks could occur throughout the process, such as issues with the screenplay, actors, slots, investments, examination, etc. Even if a movie is finished making, it could sometimes take a couple of years before it is eventually screened. So, half a year isn’t considered a great complication for these production teams, and there are many other things they can be working on during that time, like preparing a new script, working on post-production, and drawing a storyboard.

There have also been rumors online saying that 2000 movie companies went out of business during the pandemic, which is exaggerated and not true. In fact, the Chinese movie industry was the fastest to recover from the harm created by the pandemic. Comparing to the catering industry, hotel industry, travel industry, aviation industry, and other businesses, the movie industry is considered lucky.

KEEP READING: Why You Should Go See “Nezha,” China’s Highest Grossing Animated Movie Ever

Images: Hi.Mom, pexels

Ditch the sofa and Netflix for a night, in exchange for enjoying everyone’s favorite pastime while supporting charity! It’s a couples’ movie and food fest in aid of a local charity, Wings of Hope.

It’s the winter season, and date nights can seriously wither into obscurity in favor of a comfy onesie, a hunt for the next best mini TV series, and a bowl of microwave popcorn! But fortunately, you can be saved from the abyss that is mediocre evenings in front of the box, by a more fun and exciting viewing experience that pays – not you, but those in need.

Why not enjoy a couples’ movie night at the awesome bar and family restaurant, Fella’s. Come prepared (not in your onesie) with your date to share a two-course meal with drink. Couples can opt for either a chicken or vegetarian meal, and their choice of libation! The movie of choice is Game Night, starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, whose game night hilariously transforms into a real-life mystery after one them is kidnapped in an apparent burglary. Sounds fun? Of course it will be!

This event is the first of its kind and if all goes well, could be a regular go-to for date night lovers needing an excuse to wrestle themselves away from anti-climatic and, let’s be honest, unexceptional move nights in. Proceeds will go toward supporting young children suffering from cancer. To register, scan the QR code below. Attendance will be capped at 30, and if you want to join you must sign up by January 21.

Movie Date Night at Fella’s, Jan 26
Adults. RMB 350. January 26. Fella’s Restaurant and Bar, 8 Laiguangying Dong Lu, Chaoyang District (info@fellasbeijing.cn) 来广营东路8号，北京朝阳区

Heartwarming movies during cold months are usually the perfect recipe to keep the winter blues at bay, and there’s no better way to do this and keep the little ones occupied this weekend than with a family movie night!

Beijing International Christian Fellowship (BICF) will play host to Beijing families this Saturday November 10 with a screening of Babe, the much loved movie about a pig who learns to herd sheep. The KidCity team invite parents and kids to join them on this farmyard adventure and learn lessons about friendship and courage. There will also be fun fall games, a bouncy castle, dinner, and seasonal treats.

The team at BICF has been working with parents and families to provide inspiration and a support network for moms with their Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) network and programs. These include monthly meetings where moms gather to connect and listen to guest speakers, who touch on family-related subjects such as sharing practical ways to improve family dynamics. During the school year, parents can attend and benefit from the childcare that is provided.

They also offer space to partake in activities and in-depth discussion, where moms can get to grips with shared experiences and be encouraged to make family life more meaningful and fun. The fun aspect of family life is being facilitated with initiatives such as this movie night.

During their December meeting, participating mothers with small businesses will also be given the opportunity to promote what they have on offer, in preparation for the busy festive period. These and other fun-filled, family-oriented happenings will be certain to add some color and variation to the weeks ahead.

For now though, register and head on down to the 21st Century Hotel at 4pm this Saturday with the family for what we’re sure will be an awesome evening of squeals, laughter, and the patter of little trotters. To register and find out more about this and other events contact children@bicf.org.

Photos: Pixabay, courtesy of organizers

We are movie addicts in our home, and we are regularly seen at the DVD shop in our neighborhood. Why DVDs, you ask? Well, I’m a bit old fashioned, and it’s fun flipping through my DVD book instead of trying to download something. To be honest, I don’t know how to download or stream. So the DVD shop it is.

We sometimes walk away with movies that are only in Chinese, but that makes it even more exciting. Here are our family’s top three family movies we’ve watched and loved. Some we’ve watched them over ten times, but that was because I told my daughter: “The more you watch it, the more you will understand.”

Hint: don’t ever say that to a four-year-old.

Coco

This movie is a about a boy who get stuck in the land of the dead in Mexico. He is there together with all his dead relatives, and tries to get back to the land of the living. It’s a very interesting movie and I gladly watched it five times; ten times was too much. This movie did raise many questions with our four year old, but she did not think death was scary at all; probably because the land of the dead looked so much fun. The music in this movie is great, and made me miss my Latin friends.

Star

Now I am not one for watching religious movies, but I picked this one out by accident. It’s the story of the birth of Jesus, but told through the eyes of a donkey. The donkey goes on a wild adventure and ends up guiding Maria and Joseph to Jesus’s birthplace. It was very funny, and a great way of introducing kids to the story of Christmas. The movie is not very Christmassy at all and can be watched all year round.

Ferdinand 

This is a movie about a sweet-natured bull who is born on a farm. This farm gets bulls ready to fight in the bullring in Madrid. However this bull is very peaceful, and does not want to fight. He escapes the farm and finds a loving and peaceful life on a farm with a little friend. However when he is fully grown he unfortunately gets captured and put back on the bull farm, where they try to train him to be an aggressive bull. This is a very funny family movie and all ends well.

Photos: screenrant.com, firstladyb.com, slashfilm.com

Did you know we have a family events WeChat group? Join two hundred other internationally-minded families for the latest information on what’s going on in Beijing. Send an email to editor@beijing-kids.com with your WeChat id or add vanessajencks on WeChat. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are cancelled or scheduled as planned.

Free
Classic Movie Tuesday: The Ladykillers, Jan 17
Ages 6+ Tuesday 17 January at 7.30pm, Pop-up Beijing is screening ‘The Ladykillers’ (1955), starring Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers and Cecil Parker. In the film, five diverse oddball criminal types planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians. Free. 7.30pm-9.30pm. Pop-up Beijing.

Style Butler Chinese New Year Sale, Jan 17 and Jan 18
Ages 8+ Style Butler will be having a clothing sale to ring in the new year. There will be jackets, dresses, shirts, and more! Free. 10am-8pm (Jan 17), 10am-5pm (Jan 18). Beijing Riviera Club House.

YCIS Beijing’s Annual Temple Fair, Jan 18
All ages. Celebrate the upcoming Year of the Rooster with YCIS Beijing at the school’s annual Temple Fair! There will be performances by students and a variety of vendors offering a host of other activities and popular shows such as martial arts, lion dance and the shadow puppets. Free. 8.30am-2.30pm. YCIS Beijing.

Burton Family Sale, Jan 21 and Jan 22
All ages. Check out Burton’s clothing store to get some great deals on clothing and other sports gear! Free. 9am-4pm (Sat, Jan 21) and 9am-6pm (Sun, Jan 22). Burton Family.

Unique
Homie Bear Afternoon Tea at Opus Lounge, Jan 16 to Feb 28
Ages 5+ Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon time at Opus with its stylish Homie Bear Afternoon Tea. A portion of the proceeds will go to Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC). RMB 258 (per person including tea or coffee), RMB 358 (per person including one glass of Duval Leroy Brut Champagne). Opus Lounge. (5695 8532).

International Ski Club for Kids, Jan 14 and 21
Ages 7-14. Imagine brings you the exciting activity for young skiers who wish to improve their ski skills but also the ones with no prior experience who want to start learning from scratch. Qualified international ski instructors from the UK and other European countries will be present to will ensure safety, skill acquisition, and fun during the process. RMB 50 per class Single Outdoor session: RMB 550 per class. Qiabo Indoor Ski Session. (010-57394933)

Chinese Bird-Flower Painting Class, Jan 18 and 19
All ages. Traditional Chinese painting is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made of are paper and silk. The class will be conducted in English. The supplies or the Four Treasures of the Study are provided. RMB 200. 9.30am-11.30am. Chinese Culture Center.

AustCham Beijing Australia Day BBQ, Jan 21
All ages. Join the Australian Chamber to share in Aussie BBQ food including Australian beef snags, beef rump steak and lamb chops, as well by a true blue Aussie dessert section. A variety of kids’ activities including face-painting, pin the tail on the kangaroo, and a craft station is available to keep the little ones entertained.  RMB 200 to RMB 300. 11am-4pm. AustCham Beijing. (events@austcham.org)

The SLab: Materials and Textiles Course, Jan 21 or Jan 28
Ages 6+ Bring your child to learn about the art and craft of textiles and other fashion materials. RMB 899. 10am-4pm. The SLab.

3R Workshop for Ayi, Jan 22 to Feb 26
Adults. This workshop is for families who want to involve your Chinese Ayi to practice RIE® approach and a better educational environment at home. RMB 600 (whole workshop, discount applies to Little Park Families); 260RMB (one session if you prefer to try first). 2pm-4pm. Little Park. (15011273676).

Best of Next Week
Chinese New Year Workshops: Surrealism, Jan 23 to Jan 27
Ages 5-12. Explore surrealist techniques such as collages, exquisite corpses, 3D works, etching, automatic writing and drawing. 1800RMB (1500RMB for both atelier’s students and who registered before the 10th of January). 10am-4pm. Atelier Art School.

Chinese Bird and Flower Painting Class, Jan 25 and Jan 26
Traditional Chinese painting is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made of are paper and silk. The class will be conducted in English. The supplies or the Four Treasures of the Study – the ink brush, ink, paper (made of rice & bamboo), and inkstone – are provided by the Chinese Culture Center. RMB 200. 9.30am-11.30am. Chinese Culture Center.

Stone Valley Great Wall Loop, Jan 27
Ages 10+. On this hike the Beijing Hikers make a loop out of Stone Valley Village and hike the same line of wall as on the Middle Route of the Switchback Great Wall hike. This will be a longer hike featuring some different angles for views of the Great Wall, including a great look at what an attacker might have been faced with trying to cross over to the Beijing side. RMB 400 (non-members), RMB 360 (members). 8am-5pm. The Great Wall.

Kerry Flips and Kicks Spring Camp, Jan 30 to Feb 2
Ages 6+ Kerry is hosting a sports camp for kids to release all that energy built up over the winter. Join Kerry and new friends with classes on gymnastics, martial arts, and swimming alike! RMB 3200 (1 week, half day), RMB 6188 (2 weeks, half day), RMB 4500 (1 week, full day), RMB 8888 (2 weeks, full day). 9am-12pm (half day) or 9am-2.30pm (full day). Kerry.

Our family waited eight months for our shipment, which finally arrived last week. I decided to throw a little party for all our new friends and kids. (Exactly one week after the movers dumped 50 boxes on us) It seemed like a bright idea, and as I looked through all our boxes, it dawned on me that the last party we had was eight months ago when we celebrated our daughters ^third birthday and our farewell party all in one go. I am a bit like Martha Stewart,I love parties and turning my house into a home. So eight months was too long ago.

After watching the “Polar Express” in the summer, in a bid to cool down. I was committed to having a “Polar Express” party in our new home with our old things. My daughter could not have been more exited and wanted to change the theme to “Paw Patrol.” But I did not give in, as this is not her birthday. I also secretly already made a “Polar Express” Pinterest board.

This is a last minute party, thrown together with things that I already had in the house, a trip to Jinkelong supermarket, and Jenny Lou’s. In each store, I try to source some thing, like cool straws, paper plates and muffin cases. These things don’t go bad and can be transported across the globe like I just did.

A simple step by step guide to a painless last minute kids party

1.Invite Parents and Kids to the Party

This is very easy by creating a WeChat group and sending a pin with your location. Always invite extra people. You don’t want to end up with an empty party as families are prone to cancel due to unforeseen emergencies, last minute sickness, pollution bombs or any other kids related tragedies.

2. Make a Menu

Don’t try to make food you never cooked before. This is asking for a disaster. Just find the cookie cutters that are appropriate for the theme of the party and cut all the food in cute shapes.

This is was menu for the “Polar Express” party:

Tree Cheese Bites, Movie Popcorn, Star Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Oat Muffins, Fruit Salad (for the healthy parent, nobody will eat it and ill use it for smoothies the next day!)

Hot Chocolate Bar with toppings like, whipped cream, mini marshmallows and sprinkles

3. Plan and Activity

It does not have to be complicated. See above, decking your hot chocolate, for the kids.

4. Get your Groceries and Supplies.

Make a list and check it twice. Go out and get them. Making sure you have a mask and grocery bags.

5. Cook the Food

Make sure to cook in advance, this is the key to everything. Bake and cook everything the night before and do the finishing touches in the morning. I put food in serving bowls so we just have to remove the plastic film.

6. Go the Extra Mile

Be that mother who goes the extra mile (or not) and creates a something cute for the kids that goes together with the theme of the party. I decided to make some “golden” train tickets and some red bracelets with bells. this took me half an hour.

7. Party

Get ready to have your home trashed by kids, and enjoy the smiles on their chocolate covered faces. They are only small once, and creating memories is essential to a happy childhood.

Pauline van Hasselt has just started working for Beijing Kids. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

The world’s most famous comic-strip dog has a girlfriend and a date. The Peanuts Movie features Snoopy having a date and a girlfriend with Fifi, who’s always been mentioned but never drawn. The movie is scheduled for release on November 6 by The 20th Century Fox and will be in 3-D and DMax versions in China according news reports. In his usual imaginary-world, the tale narrates his heroic rescue of the adorable puppy Fifi. Best pal Charlie Brown also has a crush on a red-haired new classmate, this is bound to be hilarious if past mishaps involving Charlie are anything to go by.

Snoopy was created in 1950 by American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, who’s more the naughty boy-like dog, a beagle to be exact, is an icon in it’s right. It has been 35 years since the last cinematic adaption, the Peanuts’ comic, this has not dampened the craze for it’s toys, a favorite Halloween costume, and school stationery. We just have to catch the movie in theaters to find out what’s going on with  Linus, Schroeder, and Lucy.

Photo: Fanpop.com

From 1950 to today, many films are produced to show the flaws and injustices of our society and the impossible ways other people have managed to conquer. These are examples that will teach us important life lessons and guide us in the near future. This list contains movies that aren’t suitable for younger audiences. Enjoy!  More after the jump.

 Unbroken
Plot/ Description: As a child, Louis Zamperini was a trouble maker but also a remarkable runner. With the influence of his brother, Pete, he began his running career. He competed at Hitler’s Berlin Olympics and later joined the US army. Unfortunately, his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a rescue mission and he, along with his crew member, survived in a life raft. They drifted for 47 days (2,000miles) into the Japanese territory. They were captured and sent to prison camps. After they found out that he was an Olympian, they tortured him and made him work in mines for years up to the end of the war.
Rated: PG-13
Pros: An exciting and nerve-wracking film. It captures Louis’s determination with a clear distinctive message.
Cons: It’s leaving out some of the inside thoughts of the characters and when there’re too many characters moving in and out it gets kind of confusing.
Lessons/Take away: Always have hope, strength, and perseverance. It gives another view of the war and it also teaches kids on WWII.

127 Hours
Plot/ Description: This is based on an outdoorsman, Aron Ralston. Ralston always believed that he doesn’t need anybody and that he can do everything on his own, but nature proved him wrong. When Ralston was hiking through a slot Canyon, a boulder fell on his right hand and he was stuck there for 127 hours with approximately 350ml of water and two burritos. He didn’t tell anyone that he was going hiking and therefore no one came to rescue him.
Rated: R (18+)
Pros: The graphics are beautiful. It’s realistic especially with the video he made when thinking that he was gonna die. It’s a mystical and marvelous film.
Cons: The amputation moment might unpleasant for some people.
Lesson/Take away: For introverts, a necessary safety precaution is to notify a friend, colleague, or family members on their whereabouts especially when going outdoors. This film teaches us that we all need someone in our lives.

The Diary of Anne Frank (1950)
Plot/ Description: This is about a Dutch Jewish girl, Anne Frank, and her family. The story takes place during the holocaust, when all Jews were identified as inferior and were sent to concentration camps where they’re persecuted. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, was a lieutenant in the German army during WWI and he arranged a hiding place for his family. But eventually they were betrayed by an anonymous informant and the Frank family along with their friends hiding with them was sent to concentration camps. Otto Frank became the sole survivor of his family and his friends that hid with him during that period of time. This is based on a novel of the same title.
Rated: Parental Guidance
Pros: It’s emotional and very raw. It depicts the real life of Jews during the holocaust; their fears for their lives and for their loved ones.
Cons: The scenes of the camp can give people nightmares and generate negative feelings.
Lessons/Take away: Life is way too short, so live your life to the fullest every day.

To Kill a Mockingbird
Plot/ Description: Based on the Pulitzer wining book by Harper Lee. Through the view of a little girl names Scout Finch, we see racism and inequality between the citizens of the fictional town of Macomb in Alabama. From Boo Radley to the unfair trial of Tom Robinson, Scout’s perception changes her views and ways of seeing things.
Rated: Not suitable for young children
Pros: Great capture of racism.
Cons: It’s black and white.
Lessons/Take away: Everyone should be equal.

The Sound of Music
Plot/ Description: This is an all time classic. The protagonist, Maria, tries to become a nun, but fails miserably. The Navy captain, George Von Trapp, hires Maria as a governess for his seven children. Maria brings happiness to the strict, lifeless home and music as well. Maria and the captain then find themselves in love and they struggle through many conflicts before finally being together.
Rated: G
Pros: It’s a wonderful musical and very joyful.
Cons: It is a 3 hours long movie, about twice the length of a regular movie. The songs will keep playing in a loop for days after watching.
Lessons/Take away: Kindness does have its rewards and share your happiness. The various story lines about coming of age show how to work through those times.

Amari Zhang is, our July Intern, from San Fransisco, California and here to visit friends and family. She loves to doodle, shop with friends, play tennis, and travel.

Photos: Movieguide.org, moviepostershop.com, listal.com, & ramascreen.com