This Week on beijingkids: What’s “shocking” this time of year? Zapping nuisance, financial struggles of a Beijing international school, travel hacks this October holiday, and more!

Top Stories

“No Soap, No Pencils”: Former BISS Teachers Describe Life at Crisis-Hit School

Several former teachers from Beijing BISS International School detail the “mismanagement” and “environment of mistrust” as the school fails to deliver on its promise to pay outstanding wages of several faculty and staff.

Find Your “Cake Buddy” With New Cake Lovers Group

If there’s one thing this city’s not short of, it’s delicious cake… but what if you only want a slice, not a whole one? A Beijing expat has come up with an ingenious solution.

De-Stress, Don’t Distress: The Methods to Reduce Stress

Overwhelmed by your workload and the relentless pace of life in the city? Give yourself a break; here’s how you can do it.

A Shocking Fact: You Can Prevent Static Shocks With These Simple Tips

They’re shocking and irritating: those static shocks that jolt our very existence at this time of year. But here’s some shocking news: you can reduce your risk of experiencing this zapping nuisance!

If You’re Travelling in This National Holiday Period…

Ten Things to Do During the Golden Week

October is the perfect time of year to squeeze in some local sightseeing, but be sure to save the major tourist haunts for another time. Here are ten suggestions to keep the kids busy during the holiday.

Five Tips to Beat the Crowds at Beijing’s Tourist Hubs

Over 60 percent of the population plans to travel during the October holiday season, so how can one enjoy the sites and still avoid the crowds?

6 Hacks for Visiting (and Actually Enjoying) the Forbidden City

Still want to explore the Forbidden City, even if it’s the last place you should be during the Golden Week? Here are a few tricks which can make your visit there tolerable, if not actually pleasant.

Want to know what’s happening in the Beijing expat community? Tune in on WeChat account every Sunday morning for This Week on BJK Online, our weekly roundup of the articles and other essentials published on www.beijing-kids.com. See more of our previous roundups here.

Photos: News.com.au, Giphy, Michael Babilon-Teubenbacher, Adobe Creative Cloud, riverrunnerbaits.net, csstoday.com, Andy Penafuerte III, Jeremiah Jenne

Do you have an upcoming family-friendly event that you want to be included in our listings? Maximize the reach of your event and promote it on beijingkids!

Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page. 

BIBA Day, Sep 28
The community-wide celebration of BIBA Day has a theme of “Serving our Community, Honoring China,” to better the surrounding community and to recognize the National Holiday. Grade 3 students will organize a flea market at Shine Hills, in front of Uniqlo in the North Section, from 9.30am to 11.30am. BIBA parents and families are also invited to join the afternoon ceremony at BIBA’s main gym at 1.30pm. All ages. For more info about the event admission, visit this page. Activities start at 8.30am. Beijing International Bilingual Academy.

World Class: Filipino Artist Jensen Moreno’s 6th Solo Painting Exhibition, until Sep 28
The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines presents World Class, featuring Filipino artist Jensen Moreno. This will be Moreno’s 6th solo painting exhibition in Beijing. Moreno’s previous exhibition, titled Hall of Fame, showcased her collection of portraits of the people she admires, including that of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. She donated the said portrait to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing for the celebration of Rizal’s 157th birth anniversary. All ages. Free admission but a passport is required. 9am-5pm. Philippine Embassy, Jianguomen.

The ‘Midnight in Peking’ Walking Tour, Sep 29
Bespoke’s next Midnight in Peking Walking Tour is perfect for fans of the book, history buffs, and those looking for a Saturday night out with a difference. Paul French’s New York Times bestselling murder mystery captured imaginations across the world when it was released. Now, with the help of historian Lars Ulrick Thom, Bespoke brings 1930s Peking back to life through a walking tour like no other. As night falls, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the victim’s father, ETC Werner, as he frantically searched for his daughter, and learn about the shady characters implicated in her killing. Ages 18+. RMB 388 per person (buy tickets here). 6.30-9.30pm. (info@bespoke-beijing.com)

Imagine Adventure Camp (Golden Week Holiday), Sep 29-Oct 7
Imagine’s Golden Week Holiday camp gives kids a chance to participate in some of Imagine most iconic adventures: Civilisation Game, parkour, indoor climbing, indoor ski, and Adventure Park. The camp length can be at least 3 days from a total of 9 days. All ages. RMB 700-900 inclusive of transport. Get a 100 RMB discount per day by signing up with two more friends. Visit this page for more info. (WeChat ID: Imagine-china, 5739 4933, info@imagine-china.com)

Summer Palace Tour, Sep 30
Enjoy one of the most beautiful Chinese imperial gardens before the maddening crowds fill it all for the Chinese National Holiday celebrations. Discover which special woman in his life Emperor Qianlong commissioned these amazing gardens for, take a stroll along the longest corridor in the world and let the stories behind the paintings inspire you. Adults. RMB 290 per person. See this page for more info about the itinerary. 1.30-3.30pm. Tours must be booked in advance. (138 1777 0229, info@newmantours.com, www.newmantours.com)

Let’s Leaf You to Temptation: Parwaaz’s South Indian Meal DInner, Sep 30
Parwaaz Spice Route Concepts hosts a traditional South Indian feast where dishes are served on a banana leaf. All ages. RMB 275 per person (scan the QR code on the poster to register). Dinner begins at 7pm. The Orchid Lodge, 66 Baochao Hutong.

Kids City – First Architectural Workshop For Kids, Oct 1
KidsCity! holds their first architectural workshop on October 1 with a team of designers and architects building a collective architectural model of Beijing with the city’s most iconic landmarks. Ages 7-12. RMB 350 (scan the poster for more info). 9am-7pm. Parkview Green Art 798 (751 D Park at 798 Art District).

October Holiday Signature Camp, Oct 1-5
Atelier will present a Signature Holiday Camp on the theme of The Middles Ages full of history, fun, and creativity during the October Golden Week. Full-day camp starting at the age of 6 years old. Half-day for Art and half-day for Fablab. Students will make- a castle, stained glass, drawbridge, trebuchet etc… Half-day option for the younger group (5 to 7 years old) for Art Camp. Locations will be in Atelier Sanlitun and Atelier Shunyi. All ages. RMB 1,800-4,000 (register here). 10am-4pm. Atelier. (WeChat ID: atelier_apas, 6416 1614, contact@atelier.cn.com)

Fashion Design Camp at Atelier (October Holiday), Oct 1-5
During the October Golden Week, Atelier will present a unique Fashion Design Camp on the theme of The Middles Ages. The students are going to design their own costume inspired by the medieval fashion style. It is designed and open to the students at the age of eight and plus. Students will discover medieval period and costumes and learn about the history of fashion design. It is an A to Z project where they will learn to make fashion design drawing, take measures of body shapes, make clothes pattern, dye DIY fabrics, and more. All ages. RMB 2,500. 1.30-4pm. Atelier Shunyi. (WeChat ID: ateliershunyi, 5686 4243, shunyi@atelier.cn.com)

Artistic Gymnastics – Recreational and Competitive Level, every Tue/Thu and Sat/Sun
Triple Gymnastics provide gymnastics training program for all ages including parent-kid group, kinder group, boys’ gymnastics, girls’ gymnastics, competitive team gymnastics, and adult gymnastics. Their courses are designed to enhance coordination and agility, body awareness and balance, develop posture and confident body movement, enhance creativity, and build self-confidence, strength, flexibility, and a healthy mind. All ages. RMB 150 per hour. 6-8pm (Tue/Thu), 9am-4.30pm (Sat/Sun). Dulwich College Legend Garden Campus-New Dome (Ricky Zhang: 134 3955 4192, ricky.zhang@triplegymnastics.com)

Photos: Courtesy of BIBA (featured photo) and event organizers

Two-Day Flamenco Workshop, Oct 3-4

Beginner level flamenco aficionados, it’s your time to step up. On Oct 3-4, Casa Flamenco will hold a two-day course, including flamenco guitar where you can learn basic guitar chords to accompany with dance and rhythm control; the flamenco dance that will teach you moves, steps, and rhythms by ear; and flamenco drum (cajon) that will help you learn how to produce those flamenco beats.

Adults. RMB 600 (1 course); RMB 900 (2 courses); RMB 1,200 (3 courses). Flamenco guitar course is 10.30am-12.30pm; flamenco dance 1-3pm; flamenco drum 3-5pm. Casa Flamenco. Qi Jia Yuan Diplomatic Resident Compound. (WeChat, WhatsApp, and contact number: 13910914251)

Tango Beginner Series at Lama Temple Area, Oct 3-5

For tango lovers, head to the Lama Temple area on Oct 3-5 and join Beijing Bilingual Tango’s tango drill with a visiting Argentinean master. Then on Oct 8, there’s a new beginner series with will start twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays.

Adults. RMB 150 (Oct 8 beginner series, single lesson); RMB 800 (early bird discounted price for 8 lessons if paying before Sep 25); RMB 960 (regular price after Sep 25). Sunday session 1.30-3pm at Hotcat Club (No. 46 Fangjiahutong, Dongcheng District, 东城区方家胡同46号, near Beixinqiao, Yonghegong Lama Temple, and Andingmen stations on Line 2). Thursday session 8.30-10pm at Lama Temple Colorful Studio (雍和宫彩色教室  东城区东滨河路雍和航星园37号楼201) Beijing Bilingual Tango. (WeChat ID: BJBTango, 412143092@qq.com)

Warrior Wellness Retreat, Oct 7-8

Beijing is a stressful place to live. Traffic, pollution, demanding jobs and an over-abundance of food choices makes for a damaging cocktail of influences on our minds, bodies, and spirits. What you need is the chance to get away from the city, into an environment where you can really find yourself, and learn how to reconnect your mind, body and spirit for the long term. The Warrior Wellness Retreat is a two day event that will show you exactly how you can reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit.

The retreat take places at Zhenwu Daoist Temple, an active Daoist monastery one hour outside of Beijing. Situated in the beautiful Shenglianshan Scenic Area in Fangshan District, Zhenwu Temple, often referred to as Little Wudang, is dedicated to the Daoist Deity Zhenwu. Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior, is considered one of the most powerful Daoist gods, and is the perfect inspiration for those wishing to unlock their potential and become the best version of themselves that they can be.

Adults. RMB 2,388 per person, including transport to Zhenwu Temple, a guided tour of the temple, lunch/dinner on Sunday and breakfast/lunch on Sunday, 12-hour martial arts and healing arts training, guided calligraphy training, and Daoism/Buddhism in daily life workshop. Click/tap here for more information about the workshop. Cultural Keys. (WeChat ID: AJDonnelly, info@ckmartialhearts.com)

Photos: Courtesy of Cultural Keys; JamesHose via Pixabay

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