Recently, there has been a huge increase in these mysterious red-and-black patterned bugs all around Beijing, and even beyond that. They’re everywhere: falling from trees, on top of cars, and even scattered around walkways to accompany your nice walk with the crunching of bugs beneath your feet. The U.S. has recently issued a warning to “kill them on sight”, which suggests that they might be dangerous, but no one has warned the Beijingers about these bugs. This has brought various questions to light: what are these bugs? Why are they everywhere? And ultimately, are they dangerous?

To answer the many questions we have, we’ve consulted Professor Jacob Wickham, who has done numerous studies on these bugs.

1. What are these bugs and where do they come from?

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF, or 斑衣蜡蝉 in Chinese), is native to China. The insect prefers Ailanthus (“stink tree” or 臭椿 in Chinese). The tiny nymphs are black with white spots (hence the name 斑衣蜡蝉）but the larger nymphs and adults are bright red! Bright colors in nature are usually warnings that they’re toxic, preventing other animals from eating them.

Because of their feeding habits, both the nymphs and adults feed on the sap of this tree, and exude a sugary substance like “honeydew”. This honeydew can fall down onto the ground, which is where you see windshields and windows of cars parked under these trees coated in dried sugar.

2. When do they show up the most?

The first baby nymphs are usually seen in early to mid-April and the red nymphs and adults appear in June, with adults mostly seen in July. I’ve seen them flying as late as November.

3. Why have they been showing up so much, especially around Beijing in recent years?

I think the widespread planting of Ailanthus (臭椿) as a city tree has worsened the problem, but originally, the insect is one of the few insects that have been successful in colonizing cities. It has spread in Korea and the eastern US as well, where it has become an invasive species. Because of its toxicity, it also has very few natural enemies.

4. Are they harmful to the environment? Do they inflict any damage?

I’ve seen some trees killed by having too many spotted lanternflies feeding on them, and sometimes a black sooty mold fungus grows on the honeydew. They have a broad host range, feeding on some important plants like apples and grapes, so there is some concern about them, but they’re mostly required to feed on Ailanthus at some point in their life cycle.

Science is still working out the science behind these mystery insects. Maybe they pick up their toxic chemicals from that tree?

5. Are they harmful to my kids or family? What about my pets?

For both kids and pets: they don’t bite, so please don’t hurt them!

I’ve seen ants walk past their corpses, so that’s an indication that not many things will eat them. The adults are quite beautiful, and I’ve seen children catch them with no repercussions. So no, you can relax: they’re not harmful.

6. What do I do if I come across or in contact with one? Is it safe to kill it?

I recommend staying calm and letting it jump off you. They’re pretty harmless.

I don’t see a point in killing them, but if the numbers are getting too much, you can contact the Beijing Forest Protection Station to trap nymphs and adults using sticky tree bands and chemical attractants.

Images: Suah R, Jacob W

Staying in Beijing for the May Day holiday but itching to get out and about? Here are some fun day trip recommendations for the whole family to enjoy the wonderful weather this weekend (*fingers crossed).

Longqing Gorge 

Even if you’ve been here in winter for the Ice Lanterns, you’ll definitely want to revisit Longqing Gorge in the warmer months because it is an entirely different landscape. Gone are the desolate arid mountains and frozen lake. In their place cascading green hills and an emerald river transport you to a little slice of nature’s paradise!

There’s some hiking involved to get to some scenic spots, but even for little ones it’s nothing that a little perserverance, plus lots of patience and snacks, won’t overcome. As a reward, you can enjoy a cable car ride, ferry boat ride and a slide for life! And don’t forget to queue up for the fun toboggan ride that goes around the mountain and over the lake!

PRO TIP: Dogs are welcome here, though there are a few escalators and the floor of the ferry is metal which was scorching hot in summer for their paws! I had to carry my pooch in my lap on the ferry, which drew some stares.

Longqingxia Scenic Area
Guchengcun, Jiuxianzhen, Yanqing district

Beijing Back Garden 北京后花园

Forgive its poorly translated name but this massive park in west Beijing has been on my radar for some time because of the huge outdoor rainbow slide that’s on my Beijing bucket list!

There are also playgrounds with mildly inclined climbing walls for kids, little pools with fish and boating activities, and plenty of hiking and nature exploration. Bring a picnic mat and picnic basket if you want more than just Chinese hot dogs and instant noodles.

Beijing Back Garden
Yangfangzhen, Changping district

Survival Island

Less than 60km north of Beijing lies an unassuming park with a more intimidating name – Survival Island. Aside from offering scenic walks, the park features a 15m-tall rock wall and a series of Ninja Warrior-esque obstacle courses over land and water. Kids above 1m are welcome to try any of them, but be warned, there is no lifeguard on duty to fish you out from the murky water if you fall in, nor any ranger to rescue you should you wish to give up halfway through the rope bridge.

For the full review of Survival Island, read our previous post here!

Beijing Survival Island Practice Base 北京生存岛实践基地售票处, 6 Hong Luo Dong Lu, Huairou District, Beijing 北京市怀柔区红螺东路6号 

What are you doing this May Day holiday? Share with us your discoveries of family-friendly places in Beijing in the comments below!

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, courtesy of vendors

Every week in July, we’ll bring the parents of Beijing their very own summer camp curriculum. We’re keeping it truly simple, uncomplicated, and as inexpensive as possible so choose activities a la carte or follow the entire week’s agenda – whatever helps!

This week our theme is Natural Shapes, and here is the schedule:

Monday: Shapes and Math review

• The website Math is Fun has an excellent Geometry page that allows kids to review shapes, no matter their age or education level.
• Have your kids go around the house and find all the circles, all the squares, all the triangles, etc., and line them up by size.
• Then ask pointed questions such as, how many triangles make a square? What’s the difference between a square and a rectangle? And so on…
• Make your own shape stencils out of cardboard to trace. What animals can you make out of shapes?
• Pair activities with these songs:

Tuesday: Nature Walk

• Take a look at this list of Beijing parks and outdoor spaces where you can picnic and spend time on the grass.
• Pack a fun lunch with a mix of nutritional and simple snacks, and lots of water!
• Head to a park with a small picnic basket, sunscreen, and reusable bag where you can store your nature treasures.
• Set the ground rule that it’s okay to take a nature treasure if it’s “found on the ground,” but not off trees, plants, bushes, etc.
• Challenge your child/ren to point out shapes they see in nature: Does that tree look like a triangle? Is a bush a rectangle? How many rocks are ovals and how many circles? How do different shapes stack on top of one another?
• Most of all, enjoy your time in nature together.

Wednesday: Shapes in Nature (craft)

• Choose from some excellent nature crafts based on your kid’s interests and the treasures that you find! Below is an example:
  A Beautiful Nature Frame by Little Pine Learners
• Choose an assortment of lovely rocks. Take them home and rinse them, then clean them with soap and water, rinse them again, and let them dry. Paint happy messages on each rock and leave them out in nature for other friends to find!

Thursday: Make a Face/Find a Face

• Now, choose a different location for a walk and find faces in nature: These can be a rock face that has eyes, a building nearby that looks like it’s smiling. Really, the possibilities are as vast as Beijing itself.
• Then take your nature treasures (always “found on the ground) and make faces for other people to find!

Friday: Math in Nature

• Concentric circles are everywhere, flowers follow the Fibonacci sequence. Simply put, fractals, hexagons, and just plain symmetry are all math concepts prevalent in nature. Read this article from Children’s Discovery Museum and wander your neighborhood looking for math in natural and man-made shapes!

KEEP READING: Download the Jingkids DIY Summer Camp Calendar!

Images: Cindy Marie Jenkins, QQ music

If you don’t want to be caught in a crowd for a weekend trip, Guyaju (Ancient Cliff Dwellings) is a totally unique and virtually undiscovered tourist attraction. It’s about ninety kilometers northwest of Beijing, so it takes about two and half hours to get there. The entire site can be seen in no more than two hours. Visitors should bring plenty of snacks and drinks as there are many stairs and no vendors in the area.

On the way up, there are some narrow stairs and footholds

Guyaju is generally believed to have been built toward the end of the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) by the ethnic minority Xixi (西奚), and is comprised of 137 dwelling caves built into 2 large rock walls. Some caves have doors, windows, brick beds, horse troughs, closets, niches for altars, and kangs (a firebox that channels smoke under a bed). Supposedly, the dwellers lived on the upper levels while the lower caves housed animals. But it still remains a mystery who lived there, when the caves were dug, and for what purpose.

You’ll need to try really hard to get to the second “floor”

Both the young and the young-at-heart love this place because it’s really exciting to be able to explore in the caves and imagine how people lived in these ancient dwellings. Be aware that there are some reasonably steep stairs and a few big drops, requiring a close eye on any little kids. You might need to duck for some of the caves.

It’s disappointing that visitors only have the access to the lowest row of caves. The upper levels are not open to the public for safety reasons, but you can have a peek at a typical three-room cave dwelling on the upper side.

Enjoy a peaceful moment without wondering how you’re going to get down again

Guyaju (Ancient Cliff-dwelling Site) 古崖居
Daily 8am-5pm. RMB 54, RMB 27 students, free for kids under 1.2m. Parking: RMB 10 car. Dongmenying Village, Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing County (6911 0333) 延庆县张山营镇东门营村

By bus: Bus 919 from Deshengmen(德胜门) to Yanqing Nancaiyuan (延庆南菜园); Transfer to Bus 920 (下营) or a minibus to Xiaying. Next, change to a minibus heading to Guyaju (古崖居).

By car: From Madian Qiao on Bei Sanhuan, take Badaling expressway to Yanqing, follow Jingzhang Lu to Dongmenying Village (东门营村), then follow signs for about 2km.

Approx distance: 90km

Photos: Wendy Xu

I love weekend retreats away: a chance to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate. Everyone needs time to escape away from the concrete jungle we call home, soak in some sun and fresh air, and spend some getting back in touch with nature. We often forget that surrounding the city of Beijing is a mountainous oasis, filled with pebbled brooks, lakes, and even waterfalls. If hopping on a plane to more restful shores is out of the question for you and the family, there are plenty of options to get away from it all, right here on your doorstep.

Last week it was my birthday. I wanted to celebrate the occasion with an intimate affair with close friends and I couldn’t think of a better way to have a momentous party, than to escape from the city for a night, swim, eat, sleep, and repeat. If this sounds like your kind of ideal break from city life, than Beijing Jiangnanyi Boutique Hotel has what you’re looking for. Perfect for couples, groups, and families, it’s a place I couldn’t recommend more.

Only a couple of feet deep, but great for cooling off

I decided that an evening BBQ followed by a pool party the following day and a long table afternoon lunch with friends would be an ultimate way to say goodbye to another year and say hello to a new one. I not only wanted to gather all my friends for an epic celebration but also wanted to take advantage of the idyllic setting by having the hotel to ourselves. The manager of the hotel and staff were extremely accommodating, and from start to finish did their utmost to meet my needs and then some.

We were given access to their private BBQ area and balcony terrace. Upon our late night arrival, all that I had requested, including coal ready to be lit, salads, snacks, mixers, and ice were made available and set out. The family-owned business ran like clockwork and everyone chipped in to help ensure that everything went smoothly. Nancy the hotel manager was warm and welcoming, along with her husband, brother-in-law, and daughter who later joined in the celebrations with a few shots of baijiu and the shaking of a leg or two. The BBQ was lit, place settings set, speakers plugged in, and the party got started.

There was plenty of shade for long table dining

Stunning gigantic mountains are the backdrop to a beautifully manicured hotel. In the center of the courtyard is a pond with a soothing water feature surrounded by pebbled pathways. By the pool is a wooden terrace pagoda, where the gang and I snacked on chips and guacamole and entered into a heated competition of charades – yes, I’m partial to little organised fun!

The winning Charades team!

Just a short walk away is a lake where we went swimming, and a further 30 kilometers off there’s an impressive waterfall. Guests can go walking or hiking at their leisure, and a trip to the Mutianyu Great Wall is easily accessible and can be arranged by the hotel.

The magnificent mountainous backdrop to the hotel

Rooms were fully stocked with soft fluffy towels, bathroom vanity set, widescreen TV, wi-fi, and tea and coffee. The rooms were also beautifully finished, and unlike most places on the outskirts of the city had fully functioning shower rooms, with 24 hour hot running water. Water pressure was pleasantly up to par and I slept extremely well on a bed adorned with more than just a sheet of bamboo! A comfy mattress and fluffy pillows made for a night where I slept like my baby usually does.

The pool, although well maintained and clean, was only a few feet deep, so if the pool is one of the main features that gets you booking (as it was for me), than be aware that it’s a great cooling tool when the sun is high but you won’t be doing any laps before breakfast. This was a slight disappointment, however our swim in the lake adjacent to the hotel made up for this and the grounds and staff are awesome. Fully stocked with cold beer, soft drinks, and water, the boutique also has a restaurant with tasty Chinese options. You can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the duration of your stay, or like us, you can bring your own items for a BBQ or cooking. If not, there are plenty of other options for you and the family at the hotel or local restaurants.

We bought our own home comforts for the BBQ and lunch

Top Tips: Ask for bottled water for your room if you wish to use the tea and coffee facilities. The hotel struggled slightly to supply the amount of ice we needed, so bring a couple of bags of your own in a cooler.

Rooms start at RMB 385 per person. Beijing Jiangnanyi Boutique Residence, Shicheng Town, Miyun District (North of Penghe Village).酒店名字北京江南驿精品民宿 地址北京市密云区石城镇捧河沿村北1000米. WeChat/Tel: 13671398295

Photos: Nicole Bonnah

Winter may be long gone in Beijing but the Games of Thrones (GOT) ice-cold final season is in full swing, and the buzz around the city couldn’t be anymore aflame with dragonfire-esque heat! New and seasoned GOT fans are gathering all over Beijing for communal viewings of the final episodes of what is set to be an epic end to a TV series that has captured the imaginations of millions across the globe.

A necklace inspired by the elements of nature

There are lots of ways to celebrate your love for GOT and all its mighty epicness, and many have been creatively inspired by the iconic aesthetics of the characters and the fictional kingdom of Westeros, not least jewelry designer Veronica Ciecierska from Poland. Veronica has been creating original and exciting jewelry pieces in Beijing for five years but has had a love for her craft for many years. Now using the whimsical designs featured in her favourite small-screen tale, Veronica has created a bold and brilliant line of Game of Thrones Jewelry, capturing the spirit of the female protagonists while leaving enough room for you to embody your own sense of self and womanhood!!

A replica of Cersei Lannister’s heavy, medieval pendant

Gemmu Jewellery is about the beauty and magic of nature. Using natural components, such as minerals, shells, and seeds, Veronica explores our natural world by crafting beautiful and balanced pieces that reflect nature and all its organic glory, and prides herself on using a number of different techniques and styles that mirror the constant evolution of her craft. Inventing and creating uniquely styled and masterfully engineered pieces will impress clients looking to make a purchase that helps express their individuality, while offering them and admirers something distinctive.

Earrings inspired by the rose sigil of House Tyrell

The women in GOT have not been Veronica’s sole source of inspiration. The name Gemmu comes from a legend told by the Mosuo tribe, which forms the last matriarchal society in China. Gemmu was a virtuous and diligent woman who was skilled in handicrafts. The badass women of GOT and the women that live around Lugu Lake in the South of China both reflect the strength and resilience of women that is mirrored in Veronica’s new and tested line of jewelry.

Replica of Sansa Stark’s necklace

To get your hands on items from Veronica’s collection WeChat: Veronica12040. The first five moms to make a purchase using the code below will also receive a pair of Ellaria’s earrings when making a purchase from the GOT line. Spoiler Alert: Ellaria Sand came to a bleak end in season 7 of GOT but Veronica has managed to keep her present in the collection with a recreation of her poison necklace and matching earrings. Code: BJKGOT.

A necklace inspired by Cersei of House Lannister

You can also catch Veronica at the monthly Rumble in the Jumble markets at Modernista. The next one will take place on May 19, noon-6pm. Get GOT ready and get your mitts on an exclusive set that you can treasure forever. Choose from House of Lannister, Stark, Targaryen, Tyrell, and Martell.  Here’s to the demise of winter and the Dead Army, and an end to the most epic of epics in the history of television.

What is Dead May Never Die.

Photos: courtesy of Gemmu Jewellery

You may have heard of attention deficit disorder (ADD), but have you ever heard of “nature-deficit disorder?”

I hadn’t heard of it until I read Richard Louv’s seminal work, Last Child in the Woods. This worldwide best-selling book shows how our cities and schools are producing a generation of kids who suffer from a host of ill effects due to their lack of contact with genuine, unbridled nature. He believes that the condition of growing up without access to nature causes enough problems in kids to warrant its own name hence the term “nature-deficit disorder.”

For Louv, outdoor spaces help develop kids’ imaginations and allows them to run wild, which aids self-confidence and physical fitness.

Think about the difference in creativity we can apply to indoor and outdoor “toys.” A doll is just a doll. A toy truck is just a toy truck. But a tree stump, on the other hand, can be a podium for a president’s speech, a launch pad for a Mars Rover, or a diving board for the Olympics.

This potential for nature to stretch our imaginative horizons is known as elasticity. Nature is the primary elastic environment for our kids to explore, discover, and grow in.

Nowadays, there just aren’t enough spaces for kids to chop wood or build treehouses without adults trying to stop them.

According to Louv, kids experience a decrease in creativity, risk-taking, and mental wellness due to spending time sequestered inside. Coincidentally, creativity, risk-taking, and mental well-being are all necessary traits to be an innovator, entrepreneur, and leader in our modern society. 

Louv argues that kids become video and computer game addicts because they aren’t getting the type of unstructured stimulation they need from the outdoors.

But finding nature in Beijing is difficult, right? Actually, you’d be surprised.

This city is surrounded by beautiful mountains and natural parks that can make an easy day trip for you and your little ones. I’d suggest hikes like Yunmengshan National Forest Park or the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Exploring parks like Chaoyang Park and Ritan Park can also help cure “nature-deficit disorder.”

Whatever you decide, get outside this summer! It could end up saving your kid’s creative muscles.

About the Writer
Kassandra Lee is a published poet, arts organizer, and education entrepreneur. In her free time she enjoys talking about education and bicycling around the eclectic hutong neighborhoods of Beijing in search of surprises.

Photo: Kassandra Lee