There are so many wonderful holiday events this year, it’s hard to know where to start! But when I saw that Rumble in the Jumble was holding a Vintage Christmas Bazaar on Dec 12, I knew that beijingkids should be involved.

From their Dino Market last August to a recent hidden-in-a-hutong market that my kids didn’t want to leave, the Rumble gang does a really nice job of making what is basically a market for adults into a child-friendly atmosphere. It helps that many of their regular vendors bring their kids, and charities like Lost Puppies often make an appearance.

beijingkids will have some cool Christmas origami to try, a gratitude tree where children and adults alike can decorate ornamental leaves that show what they’re grateful for this year, and a few free surprises, not to mention copies of our most recent magazine issues on parenting in the digital age and how arts and life intersect in the fine city of Beijing! Most importantly, it’s a chance for us to connect with you, our readers, in person after a socially distanced year.

Stop by to say hello and see all these amazing vendors:

Rumble in the Jumble Vintage Christmas Bazaar
12-6pm. Chez Soi. Free entry

KEEP READING: We Have Spiders to Thank for Tinsel, and Other Odd International Christmas Stories

Photos: Rumble in the Jumble and Chez Soi

It’s that time of the year again! The Feige Vintage Fair is back, running May 1-3, with over 200 booths and a bunch of exciting goods for you to browse through and take home. But first, the organizers are looking for people to provide all the fun.

Want to participate? You can apply to have your own booth up until April 19, all you have to do is email vintagefair@163.com or visit the website at www.thefeige.cn to fill in the stallholders’ application form. If you email, please make the subject of your email ‘stallholder’s application + your name.’

The organizers will also need your name, phone number, email, category, Weibo, Taobao link, and a brief introduction of your stall. With your application, whether on the website or by email, also attach five pictures of the goods you will have on display and the decoration of your stall.

If your stall has been selected to participate you will be notified on April 24 or 25. Stall fee is RMB 1,000 for three days (May 1-3).

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on April 8, 2015

Photo: Youtube via thebeijinger.com

As Easter is here and spring is in the air, in a blink of an eye summer will be upon us and trips back home will require some gifts taking. Start early by heading to these markets to get something unique and old. The markets are spread out so take the time to enjoy the experience in each one of them to give a story when people unwrap the presents.

Panjiayuan Antique Market潘家园旧货市场
If you have been in Beijing for a while, you will have heard about Panjiayuan Antique Market, no matter whether you are interested in antiques or not. The mother of all antique markets hosts over 3,000 dealers, offering all kinds of vintage finds and reproductions: Chinese calligraphy, painting, ivory carving, porcelain vases, ancient furniture and more. Every day, countless local and international visitors came here to look for treasures. But if you are not an artifact expert, the best thing to do is to go with an open mind and a limited budget. You will feel like you’re walking around a museum.

Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 4.30am-6pm. West of Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District (6775 2405) 朝阳区潘家园桥西边

Liulichang琉璃厂古文化街
This 750-meter long strip south of Hepingmen in Xuanwu District was once known as a Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) gathering point for poets and scholars. Today, this antique strip full of small shops on each side still embodies the personality of ancient Chinese culture and arts. If you have an interest in Chinese calligraphy, this is the best place to shop for wenfang sibao, the scholar’s four treasures (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), which you can find in almost every shop.

Daily 10am-6pm (for most shops). Liulichang, Hepingmenwai, Xuanwu District宣武区和平门外琉璃厂古文化街

Beijing Curio City北京古玩城
This four-story antique mall organizes its different collections well and is conveniently located at the southeast corner of subway line 10. It is a good place to stock up on some smaller decorative pieces like teapots, cravings, Buddhist statues, paintings to ginger up your home décor for the holidays.

Daily 10am-6pm. 21 Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6774 7711) 朝阳区东三环南路21号

Find out more here.

I don’t know about you, but I love a spot of good ol’ fashioned second-hand shopping. It’s something about all those pre-loved items that makes me miss the days of blossom hats (remember those!?), high waisted denim jeans, and beige floral prints. I’m thinking 90s here, can you tell?

And coming from a long line of op-shop (that’s Australian for opportunity shop, which is English for thrift store) lovers, I spent the majority of my childhood in hand-me-downs and choice pieces of clothing found at St. Vincent’s charity stores. Considering kids grow out of/cover all of their clothes with tomato sauce within one week of purchasing them, getting your kids in some funky vintage threads isn’t a bad idea.

The team at Agenda came up with a great list of second-hand stores. However, if wrapping your kids up in old school band tees isn’t your thing, a lot of these stores are located in Beijing’s cool hutong districts. So even if you don’t buy anything, it will make for a great day out.

Here are some solid vintage shopping options:

Mega Mega Vintage True to its name, Mega Mega Vintage pays homage to the Cool Britannia style of decades past, with gramophones and Andy Warhol and Sex Pistols prints adorning the walls. Vintage clothes fill every available space: dig around and you’ll find 1960s-style skirts (RMB 120), Moschino heels (RMB 780), and dapper waistcoats (RMB 139). Nestled in the corner is the only changing room in Beijing (that we know of ) built to resemble a red British telephone box. Daily 11am-8pm. 241 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District. (8404 5637) 东城区鼓楼东大街241号

BrandNu A place where you can donate your old clothes, books, magazines, trinkets and other accessories, and pick up as-goodas- new goodies of like kind. Tue-Sun, 10am-10pm, closed Mon. 61 Wudaoying Hutong (just west of Vineyard Cafe), Dongcheng District (150 1115 3421) 东城区五道营胡同61号

For the full list, click here.