As a parent, finding an activity that checks all the boxes of being safe, engaging, physically active, and actually fun for both kids and adults isn’t as easy to come by as one might think. Sure, the indoor playgrounds are fun for the kids, but how many adults can honestly say that they’re genuinely having a good time in there? There’s a reason why so many of them put massage chairs in there now…

SURFPARK 温泉冲浪·深水冲浪体验店 in Chaoyang is a bit of a different story. Rated #1 on the Chaoyang District Sports Venues list with a stellar 4.9 score on Dianping, this place isn’t just a trendy spot for young adults; it is a fantastic destination for families looking to make a splash any time of the year.

The first concern for any parent is safety. The idea of indoor surfing might sound intimidating for a child, but SURFPARK has mastered the art of the introduction. They offer zero-entry, 1-on-1 guidance that’s suitable for beginners.

Here, while the surfing pool is exhilarating, the facility is designed for comfort. The fact that it’s an indoor facility means you don’t have to worry about Beijing’s unpredictable weather or air quality. The inclusion of free showers and the warm spring amenities mean you can make a full afternoon of it without the usual post-swim scramble to warm up a shivering child.

SURFPARK is located in a cultural and creative industrial park, with ample space and well-maintained plastic flooring to prevent slips. Whether you have a teenager looking for an adrenaline rush or a younger child eager to try something new, this place adapts to your needs. They even offer free sliding experience tickets if you want to test the waters before committing to a full lesson.

If you are tired of the same old trampoline parks, SURFPARK is a breath of fresh air. Watch your kids build confidence, get some exercise as a family, and leave with huge smiles all while staying warm and dry when you’re not in the water.

Find it:
Opening Hours: 1-9PM daily
Building A, Chenyuan Cultural and Creative Industrial Park, 9 Jia, Shuangqiao Middle Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区双桥中路甲9号院辰园文化创意产业园

Looking for more cool things to do with the family? Join our Family Friendly Events group on WeChat. Add Wilhelmina87 to join.

Images: Dianping

Although they’re a bit different this year, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games are back in full force after having been postponed due to COVID-19. All over the capital, neighbors are cheering and their TVs are blasting, the Games are a hot topic of discussion, and social media feeds are flowing with information. Whether you’re an avowed sports fan or simply someone who wants to know what all the hype is about, here are four ways to get in the Olympic spirit.

#1: Check out some livestreams

A week ago, YouTube was serving up a steady stream of funny cat videos. Now, everything on the recommended page is all about the Tokyo Summer Olympics. The same goes for just about every other social media account. So save yourself the trouble and download the Tencent Sport (腾讯体育 téng xùn tǐ yù) app on your devices (especially your phone) to access the livestreams of the games. With so many sports overlapping one another, make sure you scroll through the schedule to catch the ones you want to see most. You can also check the competitors’ schedules in case there’s a specific athlete you want to see.

If you already have WeChat on your device, then you can skip Tencent. WeChat’s Top Story section also allows you to access The Olympic livestreams, see each country’s status, and the competitor’s line-up.

#2: Get me the stats, stat! 

So, all your friends are raving about how China just won the diving competition, and how we’re dominating table tennis this year. But you have no clue? Don’t worry, Tencent Sport and WeChat also have all the stats, so you can be the first to tell your friends about China’s newest shiny gold medal. The reporting comes through in real time, so as soon as someone earns a medal, the rankings change. For example, if you clicked on WeChat’s Top Story and opened the ranking window, you’ll see that China, Japan, and the US are at the top of the leaderboard, for now.

#3: Discover new, lesser-known sports

Tokyo’s Summer Olympics features a total of 33 sports with 206 participating countries. Popular sports such as archery, aquatics (which includes swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming), table tennis, basketball (including 3×3 basketball), and volleyball (both indoor and beach-volleyball) are included in the list. However, all of the lesser-known sports like surfing, Judo, kayaking, and cycling can also be found. Last but not least, for the first time in history, the Olympic organizing committee introduced skateboarding as a sport. So get ready to see some of your favorite skateboarders make history!

#4: Check the schedule

The Games opened on Jul 23 and will close on Aug 8. But the actual competitions kicked off two days before the Opening Ceremony with softball in Fukushima – in line with the Games’ theme of recovery. This year’s Olympics features 339 medal events and 42 venues. There are fewer competitions on the opening and closing days, however, the rest of the schedule is jam-packed with different sports that you can tune into.

With these four tips, we hope you enjoy the Tokyo 2020 (2021?) Summer Olympic Games, and are super jazzed about next year’s Winter Olympic Games right here in Beijing. Friendly reminder, there might be some heavy displays of patriotism happening this season, but don’t take anything too seriously. Just cheer very loudly for your home country or any other than you have an affinity for, and be a good sport about it.

KEEP READING: Go Team Go! Olympic Lessons for Children of All Ages

Images: XueFei Liu, Sina Weibo

Over the festive season, we’ll be highlighting some of the organizations and people that give their time and skills to make our city a better place, and looking at what you can do to support them. Spread the spirit of giving these holidays!

In our busy urban lives, staying fit and active is important. Thanks to a team of enthusiastic volunteers, there are now opportunities to do this while helping a good cause too. We talked to Pablo Arriba about Fitness 4 Hope (F4H), the volunteering organization which he founded.

Pablo Arriba (back row, 6th from right) with members of the Fitness 4 Hope team and some of the children they have helped

Tell us about the history of Fitness 4 Hope. How did it start, how has it developed?

Fitness 4 Hope is a non-profit, community project that provides free fitness classes and events in Beijing. Our aim is to promote both physical and mental well-being, whilst at the same time helping local children in need.

What are you doing now, and what are your plans for the future?

F4H started around two years ago with only a handful of participants meeting each week for a boxing class. Since then our community has really grown and we have expanded our weekly class offerings which now include HIIT, Zumba, Yoga as well as Boxing classes for both adults and children. Additionally, we have been able to offer a myriad of events, including women’s self defense workshops, first-aid courses and tennis tournaments to name a few.

How can people get involved? What help do you need, and how can they contact you?

As a form of giving back, at the end of each class or event, participants have the option of donating (through the Tencent system) to our collaborating foundation who we have worked with since day one, Our Learning House. Our Learning House is a small community school in Shunyi that provides quality education and rehabilitation to orphans living with physical disabilities. Donations are completely optional, however, as what we are trying to do is create a culture of giving in which people feel inspired to give back. This can also come in many forms rather than just a monetary donation, such as volunteering with the children, leading one of the F4H classes or assisting the team with logistics such as designs and translations.

We are extremely grateful to all our volunteers, coaches and the gyms who allow us to use their space for free, especially BActive and Warrior One who have supported us from the start. Yet we are continuously looking for additional coaches, companies and gyms to partner up with, so if you are interested in collaborating with us, or you’d simply like to attend one of our classes and/or volunteer with the children then you can contact us through WeChat at Fitness4hope.

Photos: courtesy of Fitness 4 Hope

Chinese newspapers have been celebrating the national soccer team’s 7-0 thumping of Guam in a World Cup qualifying game. However Team Dragon’s recent successes have been dogged by controversy over the naturalization of foreign-born players.

The impressive scoreline against Guam needs to be considered in context: Guam is a remote Pacific island with a population of 167,000, ranked 214 in the world (although they did once beat India, population 1.3 billion). Still, as the football cliché has it, you can only beat the team that you’re playing, and China’s victory puts them top of their qualifying group for the 2022 tournament.

The country’s ambition is clear from the recent (re)appointment of head coach Marcello Lippi, who won the World Cup with Italy as well as a host of European and Italian club titles with Juventus. Actually bringing home the trophy might be a distant prospect for China, but qualification for the first tournament wholly in Asia is surely a minimum requirement, particularly with China hosting the Asian Cup the following year. Although Asian teams have only five places at the World Cup compared to Europe’s 13, the lower standard of the teams means it’s viewed as one of the easier conferences to qualify from.

However China’s team against Guam featured London-born Nico Yennaris, now known as Li Ke, who in May this year became the first naturalized player to represent China at soccer. He is soon to be joined by Jiang Guangtai, formerly Tyias Browning. As Yennaris and Browning, they both played for England at youth level, but both have Chinese heritage, unlike Brazilian-born striker Elkeson (Ai Kesen), who scored the seventh goal of the game.

The rules of qualification for national teams are set globally by FIFA, and nobody is suggesting that they have been broken. Chinese fans might reasonably point to the England cricket team, whose recent World Cup victory was inspired by Ben Stokes (born in New Zealand) and Jofra Archer (born in Barbados). However, it could be argued that a multi-ethnic team better represents modern, diverse England, whereas China is still 90 percent Han.

More importantly though, the need for foreign-born players to boost the team shines a light on the continuing lack of truly world-class players developing in China. Despite the huge investment in the sport, China’s world ranking is actually declining from a high of 37th in 1998 (they’re currently ranked 68).

I have suggested before what I believe to be the reason for this. Across Europe, South America, and Africa, you will see kids playing fierce, self-organized games of football on any patch of spare ground they can find. In China on the other hand, the sport is only played under supervision on designated pitches, usually once or twice a week at most. Besides a lack of open space, there is a desperate shortage of time for unstructured play, due to the importance placed on study. The Chinese government recognizes the problem this is creating for children’s health and development, with obesity and myopia particular concerns. But attempts to limit the amount of homework given to students have met with resistance from both parents and educators.

If China is to achieve its ambitious goal of winning a first World Cup by 2050, then it needs more than just pitches and coaches: it needs to accept that play is learning too for kids, and unstructured time is vital for children’s development.

Photo: chinadaily.com.cn

Beijing’s junior footballers will be battling for glory against teams from all across China this weekend at the Sports Beijing Capital Cup.

The matches will take place on May 19 and 20, at three international schools: the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), International School of Beijing (ISB), and the British School of Beijing Shunyi (BSB Shunyi). 50 teams of over 600 players, from Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong, will compete in round-robin groups, leading to knockout competitions for the Cup and the Plate.

“Now in its eleventh year, the Capital Cup is one of the biggest youth football tournaments in China,” said Sports Beijing Director Carlos Javier. “It’s a great experience for the kids to play in a tournament format, and to meet and engage with teammates and opposition, in a different way to what they’re used to from Sunday league games.”

Sports Beijing is a not-for-profit organization, set up originally by parent volunteers, to provide sporting opportunities and coaching to international children in Beijing. They offer programs in a range of sports, including rugby, gymnastics, swimming, ice hockey, rock climbing, and martial arts. They also offer sporting summer camps.

To find out more, visit Sports Beijing’s website: www.sportsbj.org

Photos: courtesy of Sports Beijing

750 boys and girls, representing 76 teams, competed in the HiKicker Football Tournament at the Beijing International Polo Club on Sunday, April 29- Monday, April 30.

The event was the fourth of these annual competitions, bringing together teams from across the city. As well as the matches, the kids were entertained by zorb balls, inflatables, mini games, and market stalls. To find out more about the event, we talked to Jun Liao, partner at HiKicker FC in charge of business development.

The matches were hard-fought but sporting

“The HiKicker Cup is the signature tournament of HiKicker FC,” he told us. “Unlike a traditional five-a-side tournament, what HiKicker wants to achieve is not to find the best team who can win as champions, but to set up a platform for kids from China and the rest of the world to enjoy football, make friends, and have a good time in this big soccer party. That’s why we spent a lot of efforts to organize the bazaar, and the mini games.”

Football wasn’t the only fun on offer

Jun said it was important to them that the event was inclusive.

The event was inclusive, with girls taking part too

“We also invite girls’ soccer teams to play in the tournament. As part of our social responsibilities, we invited blind football players to provide us with a training session, and show their extraordinary skills.”

A moment of contemplation for a young goalkeeper

Your correspondent must declare an interest here: my boys play with Sports Beijing, an experience which has helped them make friends and develop their character as well as their skills. We were there as a family cheering on our younger son, through tight draws, crushing defeats, and morale-boosting victories.

2,000 friends and family members came along to share the players’ ups and downs

The winning teams were China ClubFootball in the under 12s age group, and Yangguang Sangao in the under 10s. (Under 6 and Under 8 teams played in non-competitive divisions.) Even though his team did not win though, our son had a great time, and everyone was smiling at the end of two days of sunshine, soccer, and fun.

Photos: (featured) Andrew Killeen, (all others) courtesy of HiKicker FC

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 KippWhittaker or anp3rd on WeChat. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned.

Workshops and Coffee Mornings

INN Sanlitun Coffee Morning, Aug 15
All ages. Come join the International Newcomer’s Network (INN) for monthly Sanlitun coffee morning. It’s a great venue for making new friends, catching up with old ones, finding out what’s going on in “INN” Beijing, asking questions, or just enjoying a great cup of coffee or tea. Free. 10am-noon. The Bookworm. Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Education, Aug 18
Adults. In this three-hour session, attendees will get to know more about topics about breast changes in pregnancy, as well as the biology of breastfeeding, positioning, latch, hunger cues, “signs” that the baby is getting enough, maternal nutrition, expressing, and getting support. The discussion will also include handling family pressure, discreet nursing in public, and other related topics. The activity is facilitated by Neha, a certified lactation education counselor (UCSD) and an experienced mother. The activity is open to 6 people only. RMB 200. 9.30am-12.30pm. 606 Tower 3, Central Park CBD, Beijing. For more information on how to register, scan the QR code below.

Breathwork @ Shang Space, various dates in Aug
Adults. The Mind Body Project presents Breathwork with three programs: (1) Breath Basics, or the three techniques to calm and cool; (2) Extreme Breath, or the three techniques for adventure sports; and (3) Mindfulness for Active Entrepreneurs, to learn more about how the concepts of challenge, mental strength, and resilience connect to one another. RMB 200 per day of program (RMB 150 advance). Breath Basics: Aug 17, 7-9pm; Extreme Breath: Aug 24, 7-9pm; Mindfulness for Active Entrepreneurs: Sep 3, 4-7pm. No. 20 Xinyuanli West, Chaoyang District (North Sanlitun, directly west of International SOS). The Mind Body.

Arrival Survival, Aug 28
All ages. Come and join the International Newcomer’s Network (INN) for a fun and informative morning with guest speakers discussing ways to survive and thrive in Beijing. Some topics covered include safety in the city and counterfeit money, the stress of settling into life in Beijing, water and air purification systems, health insurance, WeChat Pay, and financial planning. Afterwards, indulge in a lunch bunch in a nearby restaurant and enjoy delicious traditional Chinese cuisine. Foreign passport holders only. RMB 75. Capital Mansion Athletic Club. Capital Mansion, 6 Xinyuan Nan Road, Chaoyang 100004. 北京市朝阳区新源南路6号，京城大厦50层100004.

Art

Artist in Residency 2.0: Connect & Transform, until Aug 31
All ages. Chuang Tzu once wrote about “the usefulness of the useless,” a philosophy that guides Cui Fenghua’s brush, her explorations and her attempts to understand the world. A native of Shandong Province, Cui has been Four Seasons’ Artist in Residency since October 2016. During her time with the residency program, Ms. Cui has mingled with guests in the Executive Lounge, where her studio is located, and worked alongside the service staff at Opus Bar and MIO, transforming her experiences and connections into art for her latest 2017 Spring/Summer Collection. Five percent of the 2017 Spring/Summer Collection profits will go to the charitable organization Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC). Follow the hotel WeChat (FSH_Beijing), reply “Artist in Residency” and discover the 2017 Spring/Summer Collection. 9am-6pm.

Rembrandt and His Time: Masterpieces from The Leiden Collection, until Sep 3 (except Mondays)
All ages. As part of its mission to stimulate a wider appreciation and understanding of seventeenth-century Dutch art, the Leiden Collection’s first international traveling exhibition will bring a group of about seventy works to the National Museum of China, Beijing from Jun 17 to Sep 3. The Leiden Collection exhibition makes history by presenting the largest assemblage of Dutch Golden Age paintings ever to visit China. It will include 11 paintings by Rembrandt — the greatest number of works by the master in private hands — as well as Vermeer’s Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, the first painting by the celebrated artist to travel to Beijing. National Art Museum of China (NAMOC).

The Divine Michelangelo at the Bird’s Nest Cultural Centre, until Sep 30
In cooperation with Italy’s Buonarroti Museum, the Bird’s Nest Cultural Centre is displaying over a hundred works by famed Renaissance artist Michelangelo, including sculptures, paintings, sketches and other masterpieces by the sculptor of David and the Sistine Chapel painter. For more information or to buy tickets, click here. RMB 80, RMB 40 for students, RMB 160 for a family pass. 10am-9pm. Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest).

Events for the Competitive

Youth Photography Contest: Truth or Dare
Ages 14-19. Truth or Dare: Reveal a Truth or Capture a Daring Image. Enter this photography contest to win a mentorship with Mark Leong, Sharron Lovell, or Wu Hao. For submission details visit: https://www.beijingyouthlit.com/contest

Hold Vertical Run 2017, Aug 26
Adults. Don’t get left behind during this year’s race to the top, taking place at the China World Summit Wing, Beijing on August 26. This is the fifth time that the Vertical World Circuit has hosted their official race at the tallest building in Beijing. The elite winners of the event will take home a total of USD 5,000, while the fastest amateur male and female climbers will have a chance to win a free round-trip ticket to Europe supported by Qatar Airways. Click/tap here for more info on signing up. China World Summit Wing, Beijing. No.1 Jianguomenwai Avenue.

Outdoor Events

Picnic Out for the Center, Aug 26
All ages. Join the LGBT Center for this special Dining Out for the Center event. Spend your Saturday afternoon outside, lay under the shade of the big trees lined up at our special and fabulous venue and just not think of anything. Cloud watching, anyone? Bring along your friends. The more, the merrier. Open to all – LGBT, allies, families, co-workers, etc. There will be a fun a super slide challenge. See how fast you can go! Play some games and win prizes! Food and drink vendors will be on hand to serve you as needed. Click here for sign-up information. RMB 20 for entry. 2-6pm.

Gubeikou Great Wall Loop Hike, Aug 26
Ages 5+. On this hike we’ll head out to a beautiful section of the Great Wall that is further outside the city than the crowded main tourist sites, and much quieter. You’ll have a chance to hike along an unrestored section of the Great Wall that grants magnificent views of the Great Wall stretching beyond the horizon in the east and west. As we follow the wall, we’ll pass through restored and unrestored sections, as well as taking a nice detour through pines on a hillside trail. Sign up here. RMB 450 (RMB 405 for members). 8am-5.30pm. Beijing Hikers (WeChat ID: BeijingHikers).

Cruising the Yangtze River, until Sep 30
All ages. The epic Yangtze River Cruise takes you on a spectacular journey along the longest river in China. This is the perfect tour for those who want to relax on a luxury ship while also seeing some of the nature’s beautiful along the river. Rich in history, the Yangtze River and its surrounds present many opportunities for side trips to various cultural relics, as well as the monumental Three Gorges Dam. Travel agent and guide services are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German. For more information, visit the website or email book@thechinaguide.com.

Fun for Kids

R3 Discovery Book Tasting, Aug 14-18
Ages 5-12. R3 Discovery presents a unique and exciting “Book Tasting” event where kids get the chance to learn about 5 literary genres. Each day, a different genre is explored including fiction, nonfiction, folktale, drama, and poetry. RMB 188 per 1.5 hours (including all activities). 3.30-5pm. R3 Discovery. (WeChat ID: R3Discovery, Chinese: 185 1133 4363, English: 151 0160 5808, r3discovery@sina.com). SOHO Shangdu, No.8 Dongdajiao Rd, West Tower, 4F, Rm 1435.

Little Toys Orchestra – children/family performance from France, Aug 23-Sep 10
Ages 2-6. Two musicians will joyfully lead this unusual orchestra. Their luggage is filled with toys and various unusual instruments such as a pink pig, a green pig, a witch, a guitar, a toy-piano, a mandolin, dog toys… all sorts of funny bits and pieces necessary to a sound like a fantasyland. This concert takes the audience on a journey through a musical parade. Make way for an imaginary world! 4-6.30pm. From RMB 180. Ticketing hotline: 134 6654 2185. Tong Production. (WeChat ID: tongtiyan, www.tongproduction.com)

Shows

Creative Humor Physical Theatre – Papirus, Aug 23-27
All ages. This warm and touching play tells the story of a piece of magical paper. Papirus is dedicated to all those who never stop dreaming. In the middle of nowhere, a tired man walks alone, and his only companions are a large suitcase and a big piece of paper. In the middle of nowhere, a woman, weakened, looks for a place to sleep. Soon, each of them will discover the presence of the other. Without any words, through gestures, shapes and painting, these two foreigners speak and establish a game full of curiosity, generosity and hope where sharing becomes a way of communication. This is a show about the magic that comes when we allow ourselves to communicate with the heart. For more information or to buy tickets, click here. Ticket prices: RMB 160-280. National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) 国家大剧院. 2 Chang’an Jie Xicheng District 西城区 西长安街2.

Epic Horse Show “Troy”, until Aug 27 (except Mondays)
All ages. Hundreds of millions of investment, more than 100 horses, thousands of tons of sand, thousands of miles, 8 times IMAX projection visual shock, and 27,000 square meters of super realistic landscape to present a precious 80 minutes of performance for the Chinese audience .This summer, the epic Horse Show “Troy”   premieres at Beijing Bird’s Nest! The story is based on for thousands of years. RMB 180/ 380/ 580/ 880/ 1280/ 18,880/ 38,880. 7.30pm. Contact Lucy (WeChat ID: lucy18600208126, 186 0020 8126). Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest).

Festivals, Markets, and Charity Events

Sports Beijing’s Annual Festival of Sport, Aug 26
All ages. Sports Beijing’s annual Festival of Sports event will be held at the ISB Dome on Aug 26 from 10am to 3pm. New and returning members are welcome to join this fun FREE event. This event gives you a chance to register your kids for sports that are offered during the Fall 2017 season. Parents will have the chance to speak to some of the coaches, management, and partners while the kids participate in different sports inside the dome. Free. 10am-3pm. International School of Beijing (ISB). 10 Anhua Jie, Shunyi District 顺义区安华街10号.

Roundabout Book Fair at BSB Shunyi 2017, Aug 26-30
All ages. This is probably the biggest Roundabout Book Fair every year held at The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi! Thousands of gently used books for the whole family in many languages & genres. Paperbacks from RMB 10, Hardbacks from RMB 20, Kid’s books from RMB 1. Pick up some late summer & holiday reading at this fair. Every single RMB you pay will directly help a child in need. Aug 26: 10am-3pm (open to the public); Aug 27: 12-3pm (BSB families); Aug 28-30: 3.30-5pm (open to public daily). Roundabout. (WeChat ID: Roundabout666, www.roundaboutchina.com). The British School of Beijing (BSB) Shunyi. South Side, No. 9 An Hua Street, Shunyi District. 北京市顺义区天竺开发区安华街9号南院. (8047 3588, brenda.leung@britishschool.org.cn)

CK Treasure Trove, Sep 3
All ages. CK Treasure Trove’s first market will take place on Sunday September 3rd at Tech Temple in Sanlitun (behind Q Mex in Courtyard 4). Merchants sell treasures from all around the world, including Siberia, Morocco, France, Ghana, India – and of course China! Come by and find something unique to brighten your day! Tech Temple Sanlitun. 12-6pm.

99 Days of Giving, Sep 7-9
All ages. Roundabout’s annual Days of Giving are coming up soon from 7th-9th September. Support the cause and give love & hope to more children in need. This is your chance to help make a massive impact to the lives of those under-served in our world. This year, along with the medical care, Roundabout will be supporting education initiatives that will give so many children the chance of a bright future. Click here for more information. Roundabout

Dining

Thai Food Festival, until Aug 20
All ages. The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing collaborates with Thai Embassy to invite Guest Chef Nueng from Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Thailand, to showcase authentic Thai flavors highlighting especially his most popular 10 dishes at Aroma, which are also recognized by CNN. For reservations, call 5908 8161. Lunch: RMB 368 net per person, including soft drink, coffee and tea; Dinner: RMB 448 net per person, including chilled juice, soft drink, coffee and tea; Brunch: Starts from RMB 618 net per person, including red and white wine, draft beer, chilled juice, soft drink, coffee and tea. Aroma. Lobby Level, The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing.

Hutong Pizza Tour, Aug 20
All ages. Do you and your family love pizza? Then this family-friendly experience might be just for you!  Beijing Experience is organizing a hutong tour around Dongsi area, which will end with a visit to Buona Pizza, a hidden pizzeria in the hutong. The pizzeria is cozy, friendly, and 100 percent trustworthy, perfect for a family dinner. Sounds fun? Book through WeChat: 13071139166. RMB 99 (adults), free for kids, pizza included. 5pm. Chaoyangmen, line 6, exit G.

Fresh Eats for a Cool Summer, until Aug 31
All ages. Savor vegetables straight from the garden in every bite of Head Chef Li Qiang’s carefully-crafted seasonal summer menu at Cai Yi Xuan. From the refreshing deep-fried Red Horsehead with Shredded Mango with Sour Chili Dressing to the delectable Poached Sliced Australian Wagyu Beef with Bitter Gourd in Consommé, Chef Li’s culinary expertise is on display in dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Cai Yi Xuan at 5695 8520. 11.30am-10.30pm. Cai Yi Xuan. 2/F, Four Seasons Hotel, 48 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区亮马桥路48号北京四季酒店2层.

Summer New Menu at ZHEN Chinese Restaurant, until Aug 31
All ages. Syrup of Plum with Mint and Fruits, Rice Glue Ball and Lily in Frozen Rice Wine Soup, Deep-Fried Prawn Ball with Mango Yoghourt Sauce and more. For reservations, call 22-24626888-6022. From RMB 58. Wanda Vista Tianjin 486 Bahao Road, Da Zhi Gu, Hedong District, Tianjin 300170.

Savor the Ocean with New Seafood Delicacies at Feast, until Aug 31
All ages. Feast (Food by EAST), the award-winning all-day dining destination at EAST, Beijing is pleased to present its all-new Surf & Turf semi-buffet dinner and weekend semi-buffet brunch to celebrate the summer season. Available from July 28, the semi-buffet will offer more of an extensive selection of fresh seafood, premium beef and other irresistible delicacies that will leave guests feeling spoiled for choice, including freshly shucked imported oysters，Boston lobsters, mussels, snow crab legs and much more. The Surf & Turf semi-buffet dinner is available every Friday to Sunday, 5.30-10pm, priced at RMB 388 per person. The weekend semi-buffet brunch is available every Saturday and Sunday, 11.30am till 3pm, priced at RMB 388 per person. For reservations, call 8414 9820. Feast (Food by East). EAST, Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号.

Sunday Brunch at the Lobby, until Oct 1
All ages. The Lobby at The Peninsula Beijing invites families to share memorable culinary experiences at the new Sunday Brunch Buffet. The sumptuous weekend feast combines international “Farm-to-Table” buffet and a la carte cuisines with a hint of Mediterranean inspiration. Diners also have access to freshly imported seafood, an extensive selection of homemade cold cuts, and premium cheeses from around the world. The Lobby.

Summer Camps

Picasso Workshop with Atelier, Aug 14-18
Ages 5-12.  Discover the protean oeuvre of Pablo Picasso, a universally famous artist who painted, sculpted, and drew for more than 70 years. Explore the birth of cubism, the blue and pink period, the paintings that marked Art History, and the portraits of his beloved ones through painting, sculpture, drawing, linocut, and pottery. This summer camp is a journey through almost one Century of Art History. RMB 1,800 per week. 10am-noon (ages 5-8); 1.30-4pm (ages 9+). Atelier Art School. (WeChat ID: atelier_apas, 6416 1614, www.atelier.cn.com). Room 10L, Building 7 (middle entrance),  Julong Garden No.68, Xinzhong Street Chaoyang district. 北京市东城区新中街68号聚龙花园7号楼10L室.

Summer Camp with Flips & Kicks Plus and Kerry Sports, various dates in Aug
Ages 4-12. Due to the positive response regarding previous summer camps, Flips & Kicks Plus and Kerry Sports will host additional ones. The upcoming camp will take place from Aug 14 to 18. Registration is required. RMB 3,200-4,500. 9am–2.30pm. For more information or booking please contact the Kerry center (8565 2460, hbkc@thekerryhotels.com)  Guang Hua Lu no. 1. 光华路一号

Sea Touring Kayak Training Summer Camp, various dates in Aug
Ages 8-18. Beijing Warren Kayak Club is organizing the first kayak summer camp in Beijing history. The purpose of the camp is to teach ACA (American Canoe Association) sea touring kayak level 1 and level 2 lessons. Students will learn and master long distance paddling, practice rescue drills, and learn about kayak trips. At the end, the students’ learning will be assessed, and their skill levels will be certified by ACA. English is the main language of the kayak summer camp, but the instructors are more or less able to communicate in Chinese. Dates: Aug 14-18 and 21-25. (WeChat ID: Kayaking_China, 151 0166 2018, boston5678@qq.com).

Parkour Camp by Imagine, various dates in Aug
Ages 7-16. Develop exciting parkour skills by leaping into foam pits, jumping on trampolines, balancing on a slack line, climbing on a bouldering wall, and so much more! Parkour is a great way to build foundation skills for all other freestyle action sports. Dates: Aug 14-18, 21-25. RMB 700 per day including transport. Imagine. (5739 4933, info@imagine-china.com )

Survival Camp by Imagine, various dates in Aug
Ages 7-14. This camp teaches kids the essentials of survival in the wilderness: making fires, building rafts, crossing rivers, making traps and tools, cooking, building shelters and more! Survival Camp takes you to the great outdoors to learn what nature has to offer. Dates: Aug 14-18 and 21-25. RMB 750 per day. Imagine. (5739 4933, info@imagine-china.com)

Photos: martinquijandria, tookapic, luvmybry, StartupStockPhotos via Pixabay; other photos courtesy of the organizers

More stories by this author here.

Sports Beijing’s biannual Festival of Sport returns this Saturday, February 11. The event runs from from 10am to 3pm, and takes place at the International School of Beijing (ISB). We asked Carlos Javier from Sports Beijing to give us the lowdown.

So what is the Festival of Sport?
Held indoors in the ISB Fusion Dome, this event allows kids of different ages to try out a variety of sports and activities, while parents can talk to the coaches and register their children for one of the 15+ activities provided by the youth amateur sports organization.

How is this year’s event different to previous years?
In addition to the sports activities during the event, we are focusing on connecting our members with our partners and our ‘friends of Sports Beijing’. There are a lot of companies and organizations doing great work in the community and it’s important that we get their products/information out there and help them gain exposure. Our members can benefit by being better informed about what’s going on in the Beijing community, meeting people, and getting the chance to see how they can get involved to make a positive difference. Some of the partners we have invited are Roundabout, A Voice for Animals, Smart Air, Koryo Tours, Penny Food Studio, and Dave’s Studio (who will be bringing a photobooth). Roundabout will be collecting donations, so bring along your books, clothes, equipment… Links Moving will also bring a bouncy castle, so that’s exciting!

What sports will be featured?
We will have a small football tournament running throughout the event, as well as our development U12, U14 and U16 Basketball teams practising throughout the morning. In addition we will have a field hockey scrimmage/training (hopefully we will have a local Chinese team come and play our members) from 9-10.30am, Rugby training/tryout from 12-1pm and Handball from 13.30-14.30. Our Kung Fu guys (XMA KungFu) will also be present and do a short performance, as well as Karate. Our Fencing coaches will be there to answer questions and to demonstrate the sport to our members.

What else is there for kids to do?
Besides having a kick about, shooting some hoops, trying out our Handball obstacle course, etc, we will have facepainting offered by Eva from ArtJamming. Kids can build their own air purifier (SmartAir) and take it home (they’ll need to register in advance, and the air purifier workshop costs RMB 200). Kids can engage with the Voice for Animals people, who will be looking to do an ‘adoption role play’, and Links Moving will bring the bouncy castle. There will be lots of opportunities for pictures by Dave’s Studio, and we are planning to do a raffle, so kids can win some prizes too.

Finally, tell us a little about Sports Beijing.
Sports Beijing is a not-for-profit multi-sports organization dedicated to providing high quality sports and activities. We offer a wide range of recreational and competitive youth sports programs, professionally coached and aimed at developing physical, technical and social skills for young athletes. Our activities are designed for participants of all backgrounds and abilities.

Photos: courtesy of Sports Beijing

This weekend hockey players from Beijing and beyond will gather for the fifth annual Pond Hockey Tournament. To find out more we talked to the tournament’s founder, Curtis Dracz, and asked him where the idea came from.

“It’s a tradition of the Beijing hockey community to skate on lakes and ponds,” he told us. “So I decided to set up an event, a one day activity which would bring together guys from local leagues, players from out of town, and families, to support the growth of hockey in the city.”

“The challenge comes though when global warming has had an effect on the temperature in Beijing, and Houhai no longer freezes in midwinter. It’s frozen now, but I couldn’t ask people to skate on it.”

So when and where is this year’s event?

“It kicks off on Friday January 13, when 10 teams from out of town arrive. Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) have built a rink outside, so eight games will take place there on Friday. Pie Squared will be providing the food, and the Hockey Bar will be supplying the drinks.”

“Then on Saturday we’ll be at the China Millennium Monument, just to the west of Tiananmen. There’s three rinks, two indoor and one outdoor, and the remaining 38 games will take place there. The Irish Volunteer will be laying on breakfast and lunch, and Oasis Hospital will provide medical services. It’ll be a full day of hockey, music and fun, which showcases the lifestyle, how we participate in the sport.”

“The end goal is never winning or the trophy, it’s always about making new friends, and promoting hockey in China.”

With a recent tour by a Canadian team, Beijing’s own Kunlun Redstar joining the KHL, and the 2022 Winter Olympics fast approaching, it’s clear that hockey is on the rise in the city.

Photos: courtesy of Curtis Dracz