Happy New Year! It’s that time again when we either put our resolutions into action or procrastinate on them for at least another day until the hangover wears off…

We asked our readers what their resolutions for 2024 are and here’s how Beijing voted.

Looks like the beginning of the year has got us thinking about our fitness again. To get started on the right track, be sure to check out our recommendations for fitness deals to jump-start your fitness goals.

Images: Pinterest

As we draw the curtains on 2021, let’s cast our gaze forwards at the approaching year and prepare ourselves for another rotation around the sun. In the meantime, we asked 22 Beijingers: What is one thing you’re wishing for in 2022?

1. “For many entering our third year away from our families – with no convenient reunion in sight – I wish for us all to not lose our vigor and continue pursuing our China goals. Pull your present community closer! Endure! It’ll be worth the wait!” Beijing Fella since 2009

2. “At home, I’d like to be more fun and laugh more with my family. Professionally speaking, I want to continue growing and learn how to be a better educator.” Nikki Malek, Primary School Teacher

3. “In 2022 I want to be kinder to myself, others, and the environment by taking steps towards sustainability in my personal life and business.” Tasneem Jakoet, Primary Homeroom Teacher & Co-founder of FeedHer

4. “Relief from wearing masks…” Abdullah Mujahid, Local Honey Seller

5. “For more people to aim for new goals and do awesome things that they never thought they could.” Yonina Chan, General Manager of KMG and Warrior One

6. “I hope to continue building a bigger, better, and stronger footballing community not only in Beijing, but around China.” Paul Major, Managing Director of CIFL

7. “It’s a toss-up between [wanting to return to the way things were in]2019, or for me to pass my IGCSE’s with all A’s.” Angeli Zhao, 16-year-old International Student

8. “Having a furry friend! Fostering a pet might be a good idea for a start!” Shufen, Homeroom Teacher at Auesome Place

9. “My wish for 2022 is that the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts will get together for a fun outing like one big family!” Cyanne (7) and Ruefus Wu (5)

10. “In 2022, I want to create an impact by donating sales from my jewelry to provide basic needs for poor children.” Tina Mukuku, Founder of Chariots Handmaydz

11. “I just want to keep helping as many lives as I can.” Memo Mata, Principal of Shuren Private School and Angels Baseball Academy

12. “Living here in Beijing, I want to be able to speak fluent Chinese. I also want to deepen my knowledge of China by intercultural exchange.” Nakai Yuko, Japanese Culture Promoter

13.  “More survivors from our ghost tours!” Jim Nobles, Owner of Bizarre Beijing

14. “Life is both precious and fragile. Live it!” Helen Boyle, Founder of Migrant Children Foundation

15. “For my and all families that are apart to get together. That is my wish for 2022” Bruno Di Angelis, Yoga Teacher

16. “I like the saying ‘不怕慢，就怕停’ (Bùpà màn, jiù pà tíng, No afraid of going slow, but only afraid of stopping) so with that in mind I hope in 2022 we can all start moving forward again to where we want to be, however long it takes.” AJ Donnelly, Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Company Owner

17. “I wish to keep on growing a beautiful community of women that empower each other through staying active and embracing ourselves for who we are and how we look.” Diva, Fitness Influencer

18. “Good health and happiness for my family and friends.” Helena 石榴, 16-year-old International Student

19. “For 2022, I wish to further promote dog wellness through ethical educational practices, enriching both the owner and pup’s lives.“ Adrien Macera, Dog Lover

20. “To hug my mom.” Rachel George, Therapist

21. “I wish for a happier city environment, and a pillar for increased happiness is less noise, and a pillar for less noise is… for everyone to turn off all notifications (except the Find My… phone/computer app) on their phone. Together, we might change the world.” Joe, The Bulk House

22. “Being able to travel.” Ignace Lecleir, Owner of TRB

Your turn! Tell us your wish for 2022 in the comments below!

KEEP READING: The Best Things That Happened to Beijingers in 2021!

Images: Pexels, contributors

I’m a planner. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Give me a goal, some paper, and a calendar and you’ll find yourself a happy gal. Planning things out gives me peace. It offers a false sense of control, of trust that if you merely take your checklist and move down it methodically, checking off each task as it happens, you will accomplish your goals and live a fulfilling life.

There’s a psychology to it that I cannot deny. I know that it’s up to me and any team members to make things happen, but I still don’t feel like tasks are real unless they are in front of me in black and white, usually encased in a grid of some sort. Moving to Beijing increased that need tenfold, as I require somewhere I can track where I’ve been, the fastest subway stop exit to get there, expenses in two different currencies, four family members’ schedules plus an ayi, and multiple blogs and tasks for beijingkids every week.

With all of this emotional baggage attached, you can imagine the choice of a planner is no small feat. So although I now very comfortably use a bullet journal, trust me when I say I’ve tried nearly every planner marketed to me on both sides of the world. In case you are now a few weeks into your new year and realizing you need more than your typical DayPlanner, (which I’ve also tried many times), then peruse my micro-reviews and find one you want to try!

Bullet Journal

Affectionately called BuJo by those in the know (or who want to feel cool), this is almost a make-you-own-planner template. The system was created by Ryder Carroll, a Brooklyn, New York product designer who discovered he needed a more methodical way to organize himself. It was not just about tracking the what but also the why of each task. In this way, he encourages people to live a more intentional life.

First, off, dispense yourself of the myth that if you use a Bullet Journal, you must be a calligrapher or artist. Although you’ll see the most extravagantly themed and drawn journals, I dropped all those expectations and just use one or two colors plus a highlighter.

The main reason why this is my favorite and more current method is that I can adjust my pages based on the kind of day/week/month I am going to have. When I went on vacation, I didn’t even map out the days; I just used that space to write, draw, and collect memories. Additionally, I don’t need to fit my plans into someone else’s template. If I need more space for plotting out a certain milestone I want to hit, I just take it.

Start here for Bullet Journal methodology and get your own dotted journal at any local bookstore or stationery shop.

Mother’s Journal for Inner Peace

Author and publisher Arielle Haughee knows I love planners and asked me to look at the advanced copy she has specifically for mothers. I’m pretty skeptical of anything marketed to mothers; I don’t need a planner full of grocery lists and recipes and playdates and clothes sizes. This one’s different, though. The minute I opened Haughee’s creation, I started answering all of the questions. The very first page asks who you are (besides a Mom), which is a great way to start. She also gives space for you to say which days and times you will take a moment to fill out her journal, a lovely step that made me consider just how much time I spend on my planner every week.

There are Mommy Mantras and places to write down your stressors for the upcoming week as well as when you’ll take breaks. She also adds her own encouragements along the way, one of the first I’ve found that doesn’t sound condescending.

Although this planner doesn’t work well for me as a scheduler, I will continue to use it to remind myself that yes, I am someone besides a Mom, someone who has her ups and downs, but who also needs space to put her recollections and thoughts on her domestic life in order to be the best mom she can. She also provides a Quarantine Journal for Sanity and Teacher’s Journal for Balance.

Available for order here. 

Passion Planner

Here is where my love of planners turned to obsession. Four years ago, when I started working full time from home while acting as primary caretaker to two children, I was desperate for a way to organize my work and my time so that I didn’t have to force myself to stay awake until 2am to meet deadlines.

Before you begin with any kind of calendar, you break your goals into tasks and time chunks. Each day, you write the “Gamechanger” for that 24 hours; if you do nothing else that day, you will accomplish this task or meet this goal. There are also spots for “Good things that happened” or “Grateful for” today, depending on which planner you receive. My absolute favorite part of this planner is the variety. I used the weekly layouts until schedules got too complicated, both the compact and full-sized versions. Last spring and summer, when nearly every day required all of my strength to move through with grace, I changed to the daily planner. Every day has its own page, and it allowed me to focus on what to do that would enrich my and my family’s life. Whether it was meal planning, work, e-learning, taking a walk, or calling a friend — each day was still a gift and I needed the full page to appreciate it.

Downloads available to try here or find the new app.

Woonscious Planners

Woonscious stands for Women Moon Conscious and was created by Catalina Del Castillo in Shanghai. She’s working towards biodegradable planners by 2022 with pineapple peels for covers, and 100% recycled paper and ring binders. Del Castillo combines planning and doodle books with an understanding of menstrual cycles for both productivity and mental balance. Her website says it can help women in three specific ways:

1. Understand your mental and emotional state of mind.
2. Understand how your physical and mental body can be connected to the moon.
3. Manage time and networks mindfully.

I should say that I am not a very “lunar” kind of person, so I approached her planner with some trepidation. Nevertheless, I used the examples on her website for a few days last week, and it fit quite nicely into what I need for the organizational part of my life while allowing space for reflection and connecting what I eat with my mental and physical well being. The planners come in half-year books, which might be enough time to really see how our bodies and minds are connected. And, bonus — you’re supporting an entrepreneur in China!

Scan QR code below for more information.

KEEP READING: What to Expect in The Year of The Metal Ox

Photos: Unsplash, product websites

Attention! Attention! This is a public service announcement!

This is the time of year when, like caterpillars transforming into butterflies, your friends and families will start drafting soliloquies titled ‘new year, new me’ and flooding your social media timeline. This is also the time of year when they might call you to account for the person you have been throughout this year and inquire on the grand changes you plan to make to your life to be a better person in the new year, no matter what shape or form that might come in. In other words ladies and gentlemen, this is New Year’s Resolution season! But the question is, despite our best intentions and efforts, do New Year’s resolutions actually work or do they best us each year?

Beijingkids posed this question to Mina Yan – Managing Editor of beijingkids and new mom of one,  He Siyu  – beijingkids head of HR and mom of adorable twins, Dave Hanssen – photographer and dad of two, and Hannah Northcott – Beijing mom and co-founder of WellWomen, middle school drama, dance teacher, and theater director at International School of Beijing (ISB), on what the good, the bad, and the ugly are when it comes to the infamous New Year’s Resolutions, and the answers were open, honest and quite amusing!

Mina Yan and daughter Aria

Beijingkids: What do you believe the secret to making and keeping realistic New Year’s resolutions is?

Mina Yan: In the past, my resolutions have always been something generic like losing weight and I’ve never been able to keep them for more than a few months. I think this year I’m going to set the same resolution but also give myself a target to reach like how many kilos to lose so that there’s a goal to work towards.

Dave Hanssen: I think the secret to keeping a New Years resolution is to not make one, why wait to make changes that you want to make on January 1st, why not start now?

He Siyu: My secret is making it step by step, lots of tiny New Year’s resolutions are easier to make and keep.

Hannah Northcott: 2021 is an extraordinary year. We’re still living through what feels like a never-ending cycle of COVID cases and waking-up to a new year unfortunately is not the magic wand that will make all of our problems go away.

So what do we do? Give yourself more time.

Bill Gates shared that “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

Instead of making a new year’s resolution,  what if you dream of the truest, most beautiful version of yourself, your life, and your relationships that you can imagine in ten years?

Dream big and write it all down. You don’t have to share it with anyone. It’s for you.

What would the winter of 2031 look like? How would you start your day? Where do you live? Who do you live with? What do you do? How do the things look and smell like, around you?

Debbie Millman, one of the most influential designers of today teaches about the “Ten Year Plan for a Remarkable Life.” Check out the writing prompt that she uses in the Tim Ferris Podcast

Being honest about where you’re at and gaining clarity on where you want to go, will give you a compelling reason to stick with your goals or new year’s resolution.

He Siyu

Bjk: What are some good, bad, and outright crazy resolutions you made in 2019 rolling into 2020?

MY: Well… I wanted to be more social and go to the gym more but 2020 put a dent in those plans.

DH: For 2019 I didn’t make any resolutions

HSY: Moving into a bigger apartment. (Failed). Everything about my kids goes well. (Succeeded). Be rich. (Failed)

HN: I wanted to learn five new dishes and made three – mango salsa, mango refrigerated cake, and colored pancakes. I’m like the equivalent of a twelve-year-old in the kitchen but perhaps adding to my culinary repertoire can be a goal in 2021 (this is where my husband, Steve will insert a joke about my many adventures in the kitchen or the lack of it…)

On the flip side, one of the things that I journaled in 2019 was, “I will make mornings magical.”

My friend Rebecca and I, created and practiced a daily routine called Magical Morning early in 2020 to get us through our lowest point of COVID and since then have shared it with other women through blog posts and a virtual course.

Hannah Northcott with her adorable daughters

Bjk: What has 2020 taught you about New Year’s resolutions?

MY: 2020 made me realize that I don’t need to go big to keep to my resolutions. For example, if I want to work out more I don’t need to splurge on a super expensive gym membership. Youtube videos work just fine as long as I can set a clear goal to follow.

DH: 2020 has taught me that there is no time like the present to make a change, no need to wait till January 1st, 2021.

HSY: “Be rich” never comes true.

HN: I learned to be adaptable and flexible – to let go of control, especially on the things that I had no control over because the way we dealt with the uncertainty of the global pandemic affected our peace and joy.

Dave Hanssen, his sons, and their cat. Can’t forget the cat

Bjk: What is your biggest New Year’s resolution moving into the year 2021?

MY: To lose the pregnancy weight and to find a balance between my job and family life.

DH: My biggest New Years resolution for 2021 is to not make a New Years resolution

HSY: Same as 2020, moving into a bigger apartment with my family.

HN: From someone who used to be on the “go big or go home train,” I want to make subtle shifts to becoming an essentialist – to choose what matters and let go of the things that no longer align with my mind, body, heart, and soul.

KEEP READING: New Year’s Resolution: The Good, the Bad, and the Truly Hilarious! (Part 1)

Photos: Courtesy of Mina Yan, Dave Hansen, Hannah Northcott, He Siyu, Unsplash

“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” – Bill Gates

This is usually the week when people review any goals they set for 2020, reflect on what they learned, and look to the future. But since this is 2020, I say forget that. Throw your 2020 goals out the window. Instead of reviewing my optimistic outlook for The Year That Wasn’t and getting depressed over how things changed in an instant, I’d rather focus on the challenges my family was able to survive, and how much stronger we are as a unit, and how much more we are part of our communities now.

We like to think that a new year means the old one is forgotten, cast aside like those yoga mats that sat gathering dust in the corner, bought in the whimsy that their nice decorative pattern will be the boost we needed to move more. Out with the old, in with the new. But this year feels different. The trials we all walked through cannot be dismissed with a mere clutter clearing and Roundabout pickup. Months later, every teacher I meet tells their “war story” of how they returned after being stranded overseas during the Chinese New Year, or every family compares the quarantine in Beijing with hotel quarantine outside of the city until enough tests proved we could reunite with our apartments and friends here.

No place like home, even when you’re so young.

I may want to let go of those people who trafficked in nothing but rumors and fear-mongering without evidence, but I will never forget the strangers who reached out with advice on kids in quarantine, or parents who snuck a smile at each other before e-learning started, or those teachers learning entirely new platforms and methods while trying to cater to multiple time zones and learning through a screen. I certainly won’t forget the school counselors who answered my Seesaw pleas for help in navigating young children through it all, and who sent such kindness and compassion even as they were struggling with their own families.

I don’t want to forget how quickly companies had to move to remote working, and in turn, the good bosses also learning valuable lessons in grace for those of us with families or trying to move through quarantine solo. All of a sudden, we weren’t bringing work home, but work and home mingled in a not always elegant fashion. Although I wasn’t at beijingkids at that time, stories of how the whole True Run Media team banded together to not only help one another through this but also their neighbors via the Safe & Sane groups, are now legend.

I don’t want to forget my friend who shipped new masks from China to my sister-in-law, a hospice worker in Seattle Washington who’d been using the same face mask for weeks because there were none available. Nor should we forget the early frontline hospital workers, those still saving lives, and others who continue to give their lives so that we all might prosper.

I’ll never forget how a simple question like “how are you” turned into the more meaningful “how are you doing” or “how are the kids handling quarantine” as well as more commonly being asked, “how are you coping”? I certainly won’t forget hearing when my friend in the states lost his father to COVID-19, and how every one of my own family’s text and video chats means even more now.

I won’t forget how short my temper was with my kids some days, and how they tickled or giggled me back to a smile. I can’t forget how much more honest my husband and I had to talk in order to make the hardest decisions of our lives, knowing how they would affect our children as well. I may never want to go through those particular situations again, but we do have a “crisis shorthand” in our house now, as well as much stronger lines of conversations open with our kids and their emotions.

Running free in Qingfeng Park

Who would want to forget the looks of joy in my kids as we were finally reunited with the incredible support staff in our apartment community, and their thrill at finally being back home in Beijing, a place where they could attend summer camp and look forward to in-person school, no matter how socially distanced. No mask can contain the smiles at returning to outings in favorite playgrounds or visits to our favorite restaurants.

Many milestones may be a different experience now, but the bonds our families and friends endured last year will create even stronger bridges to this new cycle around the sun, carrying us safely to 2021. We don’t need to forget or cast off last year; these last two weeks taught us that. Now that we know more about everything than we did last year, we can shift back to a caution mode without fear. We can explain what’s happening to our kids in deeper terms than “The Big Germ” (how we refer to COVID-19) and “the virus”.

If we do need to take harsher measures to keep these new cases tampered down, we will be ready and able to handle it. Many in our city already changed their New Year’s plans to a smaller and quieter celebration, schools are in daily communications with their students, and we have some idea of the possibilities if it gets worse before it gets better.

By working together that way, we can be optimistic that 2021 will bring many better memories than worse, thanks to the lessons of 2020. We now know how every decision an individual makes can affect their greater community.

I wish to hold last year close, It’s part of us now, the losses and strong community bonds will hold our hands through whatever the next year, or two, or ten, brings.

KEEP READING: Habits For Humanity: Books to Nourish Gratitude in Children

Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins

The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are a source of joy the world over. It is a time when families and friends reunite to celebrate the year that has been and look forward to the new year. Even with the massive COVID-19 restrictions in place in the world over this year, people are still finding new and innovative ways to ensure they still get to see and spend time with those they love in this special time. But there is a darker side to the holidays, and it is a side rarely acknowledged by many. The holidays can be a source of great anxiety for quite a few people. Be it the stress of buying presents, or organizing a fantastic party for the family, or traveling back home, and even the dread that comes with spending time with family members we don’t exactly like, the holidays are rife with anxiety-inducing pitfalls.

Children can also particularly be affected by the holidays and can suffer bouts of anxiety. It is important for us all to not only shield ourselves from sources of holiday-related anxiety but to ensure our kids are kept safe as well. Beijingkids spoke to Kindall Tyson, psychologist and Senior School Counselor at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), on the telltale signs of holiday anxiety, its triggers, and how best to handle it when it does rear its less than the festive head.

Kindall Tyson

(Beijingkids): How do holidays affect mental health?

(Kindall Tyson): The holiday season can be a time of joy, connection, and happiness for some- further reinforcing their mental health and wellness, feelings of belonging, and their optimism about the future. On the other hand, for some people, the holiday season can be a time of heightened stress, anxiety, grief, and depression. For individuals that have a mental health diagnosis, the holidays can intensify negative feelings-making it more challenging to manage their mental health and wellness. It’s important that people remain aware of any changes in their mood and functioning and seek help when needed. Also, to help ameliorate any potential negative effects of the holidays, it’s prudent to create a holiday plan, engage in meaningful self-care, and stay connected to trusted friends, chosen family, and loved ones.

(BJK) Are some conditions affected by the holiday season more than others?

(KT) High expectations, loneliness, and stress can exacerbate certain mental illnesses during the holiday season. In most cases symptoms are temporary; however, they can intensify if they last for more than two weeks, leading to clinical anxiety and/or depression. According to a recent survey, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that approximately 24% of people with a diagnosed mental illness find that the holidays make their condition “a lot” worse.

High expectations, loneliness, and stress can exacerbate certain mental illnesses during the holiday season.

(BJK) Are there key signs of children struggling with their mental health that loved ones could watch for especially during the holiday season?

(KT) According to Mental Health America, the following signs may indicate that your child could be experiencing mental distress and be in need of professional help.

• A decline in school performance
• Poor grades despite strong efforts
• Constant worry or anxiety
• Hyperactivity or fidgeting
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Depression, sadness, or irritability
• Problems sleeping (too much or too little)

The holiday season may exacerbate these symptoms if they go untreated. Please seek help from a licensed professional if you notice that your child is experiencing these symptoms for more than two weeks.

(BJK) What are the treatment for holiday depression, anxiety, and stress?

(KT) If you notice that you are experiencing symptoms of increased stress, anxiety, and depression, the following are some suggestions to help you improve your symptoms:

• Acknowledge your feelings without judgment
• Reach out for help if your symptoms persist (seek professional help before your symptoms become unbearable)
• Minimize your alcohol and caffeine intake
• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat healthily
• Implement a consistent exercise routine
• Try different relaxation exercises, meditation, or yoga
• Stay connected to your support network
• If you take prescribed medication, adhere to your medication management schedule

(BJK) Is it possible to prevent holiday anxiety, stress, and depression?

(KT) The holidays can be a time of year that unearths challenging memories, experiences, and emotions, and dealing with difficult emotions such as stress, anxiety, and depression during the holidays is not uncommon. While we may not be able to extinguish all of our negative emotions, we can implement strategies that help to alleviate the frequency, intensity, and duration of the stress, anxiety, and depression that can be associated with the holiday season. One of the most important things that we can do is to understand our triggers and be proactive in how we will manage our mental health and self-care during the holidays.

(BJK) How do you prepare your children/ family for the holidays and the attendant anxieties?

(KT) As stated before, it’s important to be proactive when planning for the holidays. Furthermore, this holiday season is likely to be much different than previous holidays, but different does not have to mean worse. If you notice that your children are experiencing significant difficulties this season, try the following:

• Create a family holiday plan ahead of time and allow your children to play an integral role in the creation of the family plans
• Talk to them about any uncomfortable thoughts or feelings that they may experience. Give them the opportunity to share how they feel as you actively listen with empathy and without judgment. Reassure and encourage them as they work through their feelings; help them to reframe their perspective of the situation, and practice different relaxation strategies with them to help them manage their anxiety.
• Lastly, focus on the things that you are able to do a family. With all the changes taking place this year, it’s easy and understandable to dwell on what we have lost and are unable to do; therefore, it’s key to find new meaning and new traditions as a family. Create a list of rituals and activities that you can engage in.

KEEP READING: Helping Children Cope With Anxiety and Depression 

Photos: Kindall Tyson, Unsplash

CORRECTION 12/29/2020 4.21PM: Ms. Tyson now works at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) and not Tsinghua High School as previously posted.

Christmas is here and it’s time to reflect on 2020.

This year hasn’t been easy or routine for anyone, but it’s finally December 25; we’ve made it to the end and there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel. However, looking back during the Christmas season, we’ve realized that this year has gifted us strength in many different ways.

Many of us learned what it is that we truly value in life. It’s not money, social status, or all the glitz and glam of material things — it’s health, family, and friends. We learned to appreciate and cherish the time we have with the ones we love.

Professionally, many of us realized that we’re more independent and capable than we thought we were after COVID-19 forced us to work remotely. Teachers at Beijing’s international schools went above and beyond their job requirements this year, providing their students with quality education remotely from every part of the world.

This holiday season, we’re celebrating the end of 2020 and taking time to appreciate all that we have. In the coming year, we look forward to sharing more of the best things this city has to offer. We love Beijing and we’re so happy to call this place home. We’re all in this wonderful Beijing melting pot together and we’re looking forward to our lives returning to the good old (pre-COVID) days in the coming new year.

So, this Christmas, we encourage you to take some time to reflect and remind yourself of all the wonderful things that have made this year special.

From all of us here on the beijingkids team, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

KEEP READING: Get Out of the Cold: Holiday Staycation Offers For the Entire Family

Images: Pexels, Uni You

The festive season is upon us, and with that comes family vacations or trips back home to spend this special time with friends and family. But this year, due to COVID-19, things are bound to be slightly different. For starters, the Chinese borders aren’t open yet, so if you and your family make the decision to leave, you might ultimately be stuck out of the country until further notice. Secondly, even though COVID-19 is mostly under control in China, there are still cautious fears of a new wave of infections in certain parts of the country. As a result, certain schools and companies have issued travel advisories to their staff and affiliated families, warning of a mandatory quarantine if they do travel to said regions.

This however doesn’t mean that you cannot incorporate the all-important family holiday vacations into your plans this year. All you have to do is pick one of these fabulous staycation deals on offer in Beijing to experience the joys of being away from home this holiday season!

NUO Staycation

Fab Staycation at East Hotel

This is your chance to grab one of two coveted staycation spots between the Christmas and New Year’s period. East hotel are offering a wonderful Christmas staycation between Dec 23-27, followed up by a New Year fab sleepaway from Jan1-3. And all this at the unbeatable price of RMB 999 per night to stay at a coveted ‘East room’ and RMB1,199 to stay at the prestigious Urbern corner room. And what could be better than a boogilicious Boogie Woogie retro party night at the Xian restaurant on New Year’s eve?

Jen Family Escape

Having young kids can make it almost impossible to get an ideal vacation spot with enough activities to keep the kids sufficiently entertained. That’s not a worry you will have at Jen Family Escape, which is a child-friendly, one-night stay hotel deal. Have fun with the top CBD activity highlights, enjoy breakfast at InKids, and take advantage of an early check-in. The offer includes a daily buffet breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child, access to “InKids LINE friends” for 1 adult and 1 child at RMB 586 as long as the kids are under 12. You can also get a 15% discount on food, drinks, and spa massages, one China World Gold Membership Card with great discounts in selected shops and restaurants, a free extra bed, and a free group class with full gym access!

No.1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District. Tel:10 6505 2277

Explore a Grand Family Getaway at Grand Hyatt Beijing

If you’re looking for a luxurious staycation this festive season, then the Grand Hyatt’s ‘Grand Family Getaway’ might just be the thing for you. With the special offer of RMB 1,288 to stay in a Grand Room which comes with delicious perks including a free happy hour, or stay in the Club Room at RMB 1,668. Each of these offers comes with a complimentary bed for children under the age of 12, free parking for the entire duration of your stay, and a late 4pm check-out time. The package also comes with a complimentary breakfast for 2 adults and 1 child under the age of 12, and a buffet lunch or dinner at the Grand Cafe. Please note that you must book three days in advance.

Kerry Get Together

After a tough year like 2020, never more have we deserved to party our troubles away as we do now. And Kerry Beijing is offering you just such a chance with a wonderful Kerry Get Together party package. At Kerry’s kitchen, enjoy a buffet dinner at RMB298 per person for a party of no less than ten people, which includes an hour and a half of free-flow of local beers, house wines, and juices, then enjoy a night’s stay at one of Kerry’s luxurious rooms inclusive in the party package. At Centro bar and Lounge, enjoy a selection of four snacks, with a 2-hour free flow of local beers, house wines, and juices at RMB298 per person for a party of no less than 20 people. And finally at Vinotheque, enjoy a selection of roasts and a 2-hour free flow of selected wines at RMB498 per person for a party of no less than 15 people.

1 Guanghua Rd, Guomao, Chaoyang. tel: 8565 2949

KEEP READING: Get Your Lunar New Year Gear Here – Already!

Photos: Courtesy of Hotels, Unsplash, agogo.com 

Keeping up with the local slang in our native tongue is already an arduous task, not to mention in Chinese! When your Chinese friend asks if you work a 996 job, do you even know what that means? Don’t feel left out. Check the top 10 Chinese slang terms of the decade. Learn them, love them, live them. May your 2020 be filled with local idioms and maybe even create a few of your own that are totally fetch.

It’s too difficult
我太南/难了 Wǒ tài nán/lán le

Originally from an online live stream show, this is an expression to describe the fact that life is difficult. Nán means difficult, but southerners often pronounce it lán. Often people use the character 南 nán meaning “south” a a joke.

Green with envy
柠檬精 Níngméngjīng 

It means someone is jealous of others (literally “lemon spirit”). Now it is often used to express self-deprecating admiration of others’ material and/or emotional life.

Be so high
好嗨哟 Hǎohāiyo

This is from the online song of the same name, with a hilarious performance. Many netizens imitate this performance to express their happiness and excitement.

Someone is a badass
是个狼人 Shìgè làngrén

This is from the word “狠人” (badass), which looks like “狼” (wolf), but “狼” has one more stroke. It is used to describe someone who does not follow common sense, but can unexpectedly achieve extraordinary results.

None of your business
雨女无瓜 Yǔnǚwúguā

It sounds like yǔnǐwúguān  (与你无关, none of your business), which is the standard Chinese. Yǔnǚwúguā is with a strong accent of the southern dialect. “None of your business” seems to be cold and mysterious, but the dialect version is more casual and funny, usually used to tease others.

Hardcore
硬核 Yìnghé

The word originally referred to one of form of rap music that is considered more powerful. Now, it can be used to say someone is tough or difficult to talk to.

The 996 work schedule
996工作制 Jiǔjiǔliù gōngzuòzhǐ

It refers to working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week, representing the overtime culture prevalent in Chinese Internet companies.

Simplifying life
断舍离 Duànshélí

It’s a popular lifestyle nowadays, followed with zero waste and green life. It means to cut off all unnecessary things to live a simple life.

It’s up to me
我不要你觉得，我要我觉得。Wǒ búyào nǐjuéde, wǒ yào wǒ juéde.

Originally from a reality show, this slang is used to describe people with dominant personality that generally like to be in control of a situation.

Teach someone a lesson 
盘他！Pántā

“盘” is a verb, which originally meant to rotate a pair of antique walnuts in one hand and make it shine. “盘他” appeared in a cross-talk comedy show performed by Meng Hetang and zhou Jiuliang. Now “盘” can be “like”, “control”, or “teach someone a lesson” based on different situations.

Photos: Weibo.com, unsplash
Source: moe.gov.cn