Welcome to Beijing! They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, in this day and age, that proverbial village is on your phone in the form of WeChat groups. If you’ve thought it, there’s probably a group out there filled with people asking the same question. And, being away from your home country and navigating this new adventure called parenthood, a few trusty WeChat groups can go a long way.

You’ll find tried and tested parenting hacks for tantrums, good wholesome advice on parenting, answers for things like what a questionable rash on your baby’s back might be, second-hand kids’ clothes and toys, playdates, pediatrician recommendations, teething help, and info on basically everything else that life throws your way.

Here are the parenting WeChat groups that we highly recommend every parent in Beijing to become a part of. Essentially, find your tribe.

Jingkids Parenting in Beijing

This one is a general interest discussion group for parenting in Beijing. It’s a great place to ask others for their parenting input, get real reviews on schools, camps, hospitals, etc., and be your go-to place for questions regarding your family and kids.

How: Add WeChat ID Wilhelmina87 and ask to join.

Jingkids BJ Kids & Family Events

Instead of being bombarded by every event happening in Beijing, this one is only for events that are suitable for families. Every Wednesday, jingkids will also send out a WeChat post in this group with a list of family-friendly events taking place in the next two weeks that we’ve compiled.

How: Add WeChat ID Wilhelmina87 and ask to be added to the family events group.

Family Events Only Jingkids

Although many groups combine events and advice, this group is run by our founder, Mike Wester, and sticks strictly to events that kids can attend. This way, you don’t have to comb through event posters and decipher via Google Translate if that tea tasting requires a babysitter or if you can take the kids.

How: WeChat Wilhelmina87 and ask to join the Events group

Beijing Dads Group

Don’t forget the Dads! Although all parents are welcome into most of these groups, it must be nice to have a spot where dads can let loose. From what I hear, it’s a lot of memes but also quite good discussions and help when needed.

How: WeChat mwinchina and ask to join the Dads group

Third Culture Kids Parenting

Raising a mixed-culture kid is no easy task. Here you’ll find other parents in the same boat as you, in a space where you can share your experiences and ask for advice.

How: Add mwinchina to join

FamFriendlyEats

This one is specifically for foodie parents. As we know, not all family-friendly restaurants are suitable for kids of every age, so this group is where you can ask for recommendations based on your unique family make-up. Like with other WeChat groups, the rules are simple – be respectful of others’ opinions and don’t spam the group.

How: Add Wilhelmina87 on WeChat to join or simply scan the QR code.

Toy Reviews and Recommendations 

Kids got it so good nowadays in terms of having the coolest toys. Now, before you buy every cool new gadget you see, get some real feedback from other parents. This group is perfect for that. Looking for a new toy for a kid? Get some recommendations. Recently purchased something amazing or perhaps a dud? Give some feedback.

How: Add Wilhelmina87 on WeChat to join or scan the QR code.

Images: Pexels

Ah, smell that? Spring is in the air! It’s time to pack up those bulky winter coats and make room for your springtime wardrobe.

Around this time each year, I always end up with a giant pile of things that no longer “spark joy” in my life, and instead of throwing them away or giving them to ayi knowing that she’ll never wear my skin-tight lace ball gown or sky-high stilettos out but is too polite to turn them down, there are much better options for finding a new home for used things.

Sell them in one of Beijing’s many secondhand WeChat groups.

Clothes-shoes for kids

This group is as straightforward as its name. If you’re only looking to buy some kids’ clothes and shoes, this is the group to join.

Add WeChat ID: Wilhelmina87 to join.

Maternity, Newborn Buy & Sell CN

This group is for all your baby gadgets. There’s everything from clothes to books and toys that have been outgrown by kids.

Add WeChat ID: fukai2504 to join.

KID Stuff: Buy, sell, swap. BJ

There’s everything from kids’ clothes and toys to furniture here.

Add WeChat ID: lilin_ChinaDe to join.

Now, if you can’t be bothered with taking photos of all the items, sending them in the groups, talking to people, and arranging kuaidi pick-up, let’s not forget about Roundabout! Beijing’s favorite thrift store! Roundabout is essentially a giant warehouse-like store filled with all sorts of donated items. It’s the perfect place to donate home goods, vases, clothes, or any other gently used items. All proceeds from the store go to local charities. You can read more about their charitable partners at http://www.roundaboutchina.com/ and arrange to have your items picked up by scanning the QR code below!

When you shop at Roundabout, your money goes to charity and medical cases that they’re currently supporting. To find out more information about Roundabout, follow them on WeChat.

Find it:
Cathay View Plaza, 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Shunyi District
顺义区香江北路2号
Tel: 137 1877 7761 (English), 137 1805 3814 (Chinese only)

What CAN You Donate to Roundabout?

• Daily necessities: working electronic products, washed clothes, kitchen supplies, bags, shoes, hats, all sorts of furniture, storage supplies, bedding, electric heating lamps, etc.
• Children’s equipment: child car seats and strollers, puzzles, toys, and games.
• Outdoor sports equipment: bicycles, helmets, swimming equipment, ski equipment, etc.
• Jewelry: jewelry, crafts, interior decorations, ornaments, works of art.
• Other: fitness equipment, animal products (non-perishable), gardening equipment, outdoor furniture, etc.

Things Roundabout Won’t Accept:

• Broken daily necessities. Please make sure all electronic donations are in working condition. Damaged furniture or furniture with missing parts, old phones, tablets, and other such items aren’t accepted.
• Clothing: underwear, socks, pajamas, and other personalized items that are not brand new.
•  Stationery: back issues of magazines, exercise books, school textbooks, advertising albums, non-book accessories, damaged or stained toys.
• Children’s equipment: dirty or old child seats, puzzles, and games that are missing parts.
• Outdoor sports equipment: anything that cannot be properly used or is incomplete.
• Jewelry: incomplete jewelry.
• Other: things that aren’t meant to be reused or are damaged.

Images: Roundabout, Bing, Pexels

Whether it’s holiday shopping, planning your next family vacation, or getting some real advice from others in your shoes, there’s a WeChat group for that. Check out the list below of our recommended WeChat groups that every expat in Beijing should be a part of.

For Christmas

Christmas Only Beijing

The most festive WeChat group has to be Christmas Only Beijing. Just as the name suggests, this group ONLY shares information on everything and anything Christmas-related.

How: Add SarKra on WeChat

For the parents

Jingkids Parenting in Beijing

This one is a general interest discussion group for parenting in Beijing. This one is a great place to ask others for their parenting input, get real reviews on schools, camps, hospitals, etc, and be your go-to place for questions regarding your family and kids.

How: Add WeChat ID TBJHelper and ask to join

Beijing Parenting and Beyond

Truly one of the more useful groups on WeChat. Admins are long-term Beijing residents and you can find all you need from pet supplies to medical referrals to location pins.

How: Add WeChat ID jackiepark_ and ask to join BP&B

Family Events Only Jingkids

Although many groups combine events and advice, this group is run by our founder Mike Wester, and sticks strictly to events that kids can attend. This way you don’t have to comb through event posters and decipher via Google Translate if that tea tasting requires a babysitter or if you can take the kids.

How: WeChat mwinchina and ask to join the Events group

Beijing Dads Group

Don’t forget the Dads! Although all parents are welcome into most of these groups, it must be nice to have a spot where Dads can let loose. From what I hear, it’s a lot of memes but also quite good discussions and help when needed.

How: WeChat mwinchina and ask to join the Dads group

Third Culture Kids Parenting

Raising a mixed-culture kid is no easy task. Here you’ll find other parents in the same boat as you where you can share your experiences and ask for advice.

How: Add mwinchina to join

Family Fun in Beijing

This group is another helpful resource for family-related questions in Beijing, or to share your helpful advice for anyone looking to navigate the city.

How: Add WeChat ID Amelie 1 and ask to join

Bumps2Babes Beijing

This group is for parents and soon-to-be parents where you can ask questions without judgment on anything baby-related. This group also has smaller sub-groups broken down by the age of your children. Ask the admin to be added to those.

How: Add WeChat ID  and ask to join

For those looking for 2nd hand goodies

Clothes-shoes for kids

This group is as straightforward as its name. If you’re only looking to buy some kids’ clothes and shoes, this is the group to join.

Add WeChat ID: Wilhelmina87 to join

Maternity, Newborn Buy & Sell CN

This group is for all your baby gadgets. There’s everything from clothes to books and toys that have been outgrown by kids.

Add WeChat ID: fukai2504 to join

KID Stuff: Buy, sell, swap. BJ

There’s everything from kids’ clothes and toys to furniture.

Add WeChat ID: lilin_ChinaDe to join

For the foodies:

The Beijinger Foodies Group

This one is all about Beijing’s food-related chatter. The admin has an anti-spamming policy so you won’t be bombarded with tons of repetitive ads from the same restaurant day after day.

To join: Add TBJHelper on WeChat

Food X

Food X is great for group discussions about food. Members share photos, location pins, and their experiences from cool restaurants in Beijing. The rules are pretty straightforward. If you’re there, you’re probably a foodie. Just don’t be creepy, spam the group, or trash-talk restaurants without approaching the owner first. There are hundreds of people in the group, so chances are the restaurant owner is among them.

To join: Add PROMETHEUS2828 on WeChat

Beijing Foodies

This is an open foodie forum about anything food-related. You’ll find deals and promotions from local restaurants here.

To join: Add PROMETHEUS2828 on WeChat

FamFriendlyEats

This one is specifically for foodie parents. As we know, not all family-friendly restaurants are suitable for kids of every age so this group is where you can ask for recommendations based on your unique family make-up. Like with other WeChat groups, the rules are simple – be respectful of others’ opinions and don’t spam the group.

How: Add TBJHelper on WeChat to join

Sweet Cravings

There are multiple Sweet Cravings groups by now. Camilla started it as a way for local bakers to share their goods with Beijing’s dessert-loving community. There are daily posts of cakes, cookies, brownies, baklava, and basically anything your sweet tooth is craving. What makes this group different than a visit to your local bakery is that you’re able to ask questions, and find less common desserts that might be come to come by like chiffon pandan cakes!

To join: Add Camkon on WeChat.

For those looking for good food deals:

Steaks Promotion

Trader Joe has weekly deals for carnivores. Each week he sends the group a package promotion, including a combo of popular cuts, and even some free cheese, olive oil, and seasoning now and again. I order from Trader Joe’s all the time. The steaks arrive still frozen the very next day via SF Express. This week’s latest promotion is five 200g black Angus grain-fed Sirloin plus 1kg grass-fed French lamb, five 150g corn-fed beef patties, and a free bottle of Spanish olive oil all for RMB 499. Time to get your beef on!

To join, add Trader Joe on WeChat: a664978432

Morgan’s Cheese and Wine Group

The name pretty much says it all: This is a group for wine and cheese lovers. Yusan shares wine and cheese deals with tasting notes throughout the week. Recently, they began adding cold cuts to their group as well. The latest promotion is for nine pieces of cheese including three 125g Camembert, one 125g brie, two 100g Danish Blue, one 150g Spanish goat cheese, and two 150g Manchego for RMB 376.20.

To join, add Yusan on WeChat: hhhhh1407

We Love Wine

Again, it’s all in the name! If you love drinking wine, then this group is for you. Jacquelin WinePimp sends out deals and pairing recommendations throughout the week. She also organizes wine tastings with friends, which she calls her WTF events. The next WTF tasting will be on Sep 11 and will feature an afternoon tasting of nine different wines plus nibbles and a buffet of cold cuts for RMB 290.

To join, add JacquelinWinePimp by scanning the QR code.

Always Fresh – Organic & Healthy

Always Fresh sends photos and promotions on a pretty regular basis, meaning it’s a great way to save on guaranteed organic fruits and veggies that are delivered straight to your door. Their latest promotion is for 2.5kg of grapes for RMB 98. They also organize monthly specials for weekly organic veggie deliveries.

To join, add Always Fresh on WeChat: YJSG201918

Images: Pexels

“I want my favorite foods, and I want them now!” Ok, sometimes when I get hangry I start sounding like my toddler, but come on, there’s just something about having your favorite comfort food (whether it’s soup, carb overload, or desserts) that makes life so much sweeter.

Recently I discovered that Beijing’s new favorite Indian restaurant not only delivers all over the city, but all over the country as well! Owned and operated by Sk Rabiul Baksh, former Indian chef at the Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing, Dastaan Indian Restaurant has been building up a loyal group of foodie followers since it opened early last year.

Focusing on great food, cultural events, and now delivery even during Spring Festival, they’ll send you your Indian comfort food anywhere you go.

To get in touch, add Rabiul on WeChat at rabiulcool and be sure to ask him to add you to the Dastaan WeChat group, where you can get the latest information on the restaurant firsthand.

Find it:
3/F, Sanlitun SOHO 5 Shopping Mall, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯SOHO5号上场3层
Tel: 150 0135 8663

For those with a sweet tooth, Mary Sweets is an expat favorite. What started out as a small operation has grown to a bakery that makes cakes, donuts, cookies, and (my personal favorite) their brownies assortment (RMB 62), where you get six different pieces of their super moist brownies.

They’re taking a break for the Chinese New Year holiday and will be firing up their kitchen again on Jan 29. To check out their WeChat store, scan the QR code below.

Want more great eats that you can’t always find on Sherpas or Meituan, without ever leaving your home? Add Foodie Queen Ana Lourenco on WeChat at ana_linaxin and request to join her Beijing Delivery Specials WeChat group.

Images: Dastaan Indian Restaurant, Mary Sweets

KEEP READING: 6 Super Fun CNY Camps To Keep the Kids Busy

Welcome to Beijing! You’re going to love living here!

Moving to a brand new city (or country for some of you) can be a daunting experience. But, there are plenty of people with similar backgrounds and who share common interests as you. You’ve just got to find them.

To get you started, here are the must-join WeChat groups for all you Beijing newbies.

For the foodies:

Food X

Food X is great for group discussions about food. Members share photos, location pins, and their experiences from cool restaurants in Beijing. The rules are pretty straightforward. If you’re there, you’re probably a foodie. Just don’t be creepy, spam the group, or trash talk restaurants without approaching the owner first. There are hundreds of people in the group, so chances are the restaurant owner is among them.

To join: Add PROMETHEUS2828 on WeChat

Foodies in Beijing

Run by Beijing’s own Foodie Queen Ana Lourenco, this is another group for food lovers. The rules are that you need to stay on topic and be respectful of others and their opinions in the group. Constructive criticisms are allowed, but don’t be rude and definitely don’t spam the group.

To join: Add ana_linanxin on WeChat.

FamFriendlyEats

This one is specifically for foodie parents. As we know, not all family-friendly restaurants are suitable for kids of every age so this group is where you can ask for recommendations based on your unique family make-up. Like with other WeChat groups, the rules are simple – be respectful of others’ opinions and don’t spam the group.

To join: Add Wilhelmina87 on WeChat.

Sweet Cravings

There are multiple Sweet Cravings groups by now. Camilla started it as a way for local bakers to share their goods with Beijing’s dessert-loving community. There are daily posts of cakes, cookies, brownies, baklava, and basically anything your sweet tooth is craving. What makes this group different than a visit to your local bakery is that you’re able to ask questions, and find less common desserts that might be come to come by like chiffon pandan cakes!

To join: Add Camkon on WeChat.

For the parents

Beijing Parenting and Beyond

Truly one of the more useful groups on WeChat. Admins are long-term Beijing residents and you can find all you need from pet supplies to medical referrals to location pins.

How: Add WeChat ID jackiepark_ and ask to join BP&B

Family Events Only Jingkids

Although many groups are a combination of events and advice, this group is run by our founder Mike Wester and sticks strictly to events that kids can attend. This way you don’t have to comb through event posters and decipher via Google Translate if that tea tasting requires a babysitter or you can take the kids.

How: WeChat mwinchina and ask to join the Events group

Beijing Dads Group

Don’t forget the Dads! Although all parents are welcome into most of these groups, it must be nice to have a spot where Dads can let loose. From what I hear, it’s a lot of memes but also quite good discussions and help when needed.

How: WeChat mwinchina and ask to join the Dads group

Family Fun in Beijing

This group is another helpful resource for family-related questions in Beijing, or to share your own helpful advice for anyone looking to navigate the city.

How: Add WeChat ID Amelie 1 and ask to join

Bumps2Babes Beijing

This group is for parents and soon-to-be parents where you can ask questions without judgment on anything baby-related. This group also has smaller sub-groups broken down by the age of your children. Ask the admin to be added to those.

How: Add WeChat ID liviahoffman and ask to join

For those looking for 2nd hand goodies

Clothes-shoes for kids

This group is as straightforward as its name. If you’re only looking to buy some kids’ clothes and shoes, this is the group to join.

Add WeChat ID: Wilhelmina87 to join.

Maternity, Newborn Buy & Sell CN

This group is for all your baby gadgets. There’s everything from clothes to books and toys that have been outgrown by kids.

Add WeChat ID: fukai2504 to join.

KID Stuff: Buy, sell, swap. BJ

There’s everything from kids’ clothes and toys to furniture.

Add WeChat ID: lilin_ChinaDe to join.

For those looking for good food deals:

Steaks Promotion

Trader Joe has weekly deals for carnivores. Each week he sends the group a package promotion, including a combo of popular cuts, and even some free cheese, olive oil, and seasoning now and again. I order from Trader Joe’s all the time. The steaks arrive still frozen the very next day via SF Express. This week’s latest promotion is five 200g black Angus grain-fed Sirloin plus 1kg grass-fed French lamb, five 150g corn-fed beef patties, and a free bottle of Spanish olive oil all for RMB 499. Time to get your beef on!

To join, add Trader Joe on WeChat: a664978432

Morgan’s Cheese and Wine Group

The name pretty much says it all: This is a group for wine and cheese lovers. Yusan shares wine and cheese deals with tasting notes throughout the week. Recently, they began adding cold cuts to their group as well. The latest promotion is for nine pieces of cheese including three 125g Camembert, one 125g brie, two 100g Danish Blue, one 150g Spanish goat cheese, and two 150g Manchego for RMB 376.20.

To join, add Yusan on WeChat: hhhhh1407

We Love Wine

Again, it’s all in the name! If you love drinking wine, then this group is for you. Jacquelin WinePimp sends out deals and pairing recommendations throughout the week. She also organizes wine tastings with friends, which she calls her WTF events. The next WTF tasting will be on Sep 11 and will feature an afternoon tasting of nine different wines plus nibbles and a buffet of cold cuts for RMB 290.

To join, add JacquelinWinePimp by scanning the QR code.

Always Fresh – Organic & Healthy

Always Fresh sends photos and promotions on a pretty regular basis, meaning it’s a great way to save on guaranteed organic fruits and veggies that are delivered straight to your door. Their latest promotion is for 2.5kg of grapes for RMB 98. They also organize monthly specials for weekly organic veggie deliveries.

To join, add Always Fresh on WeChat: YJSG201918

Images: Pexels

Recently an Instagram post gave me a rude awakening. Borrowed By Baby is an Australian company that offers monthly subscriptions of baby clothes you can borrow, wear, and return.

And 280 pieces of clothing by the time a child turns 2 years old might be an understatement for some parents. When I was pregnant my dad kept on reminding me not to buy my daughter clothes. “They grow in the blink of an eye and it’ll be too small before she even gets to wear it,” he’d say. And for a while, I was really good about it. I bought literally just two onesies in anticipation of her arrival (both of which were never even worn before they became too small), and used all the stuff I got as baby gifts from friends, family, and the hospital.

By the time my daughter was born, she had about 50 pieces of clothing. Now, she’s about to turn 2 years old and has a walk-in closet that’s completely packed. The number 280 definitely isn’t an exaggeration.

Borrowed By Baby has a fantastic concept that doesn’t contribute waste to the planet.

While their service is only available in Australia, in Beijing there’s our own version of it that sprung up in the form of buy/sell WeChat groups that specialize in kids’ items.

You can find all sorts of great things from toys, books, and definitely all kinds of clothes for your little ones, all for really low prices. With plenty of parents looking to declutter their kids’ rooms every season, these WeChat groups are always places for great finds. And what I love the most about getting secondhand clothes for my kid is that I can shop without the guilt that I’m contributing additional waste to the planet, piggyback on the cool styles that other parents have picked out for their little ones, and get pieces of clothing that have been loved and washed, so that the fabric is already soft and worn in.

Here are a few of the most active secondhand WeChat groups specifically for kids’ stuff.

Clothes-shoes for kids

This group is as straightforward as its name. If you’re only looking to buy some kids’ clothes and shoes, this is the group to join.

Add WeChat ID: Wilhelmina87 to join.

Maternity, Newborn Buy & Sell CN

This group is for all your baby gadgets. There’s everything from clothes to books and toys that have been outgrown by kids.

Add WeChat ID: fukai2504 to join.

KID Stuff: Buy, sell, swap. BJ

There’s everything from kids’ clothes and toys to furniture.

Add WeChat ID: lilin_ChinaDe to join.

And finally, let’s not forget about Roundabout! They’ve got a fantastic section of kids’ clothing with both used and brand new items alike. Roundabout is essentially a giant warehouse-like store filled with all sorts of donated items. You can get all your secondhand lifestyle needs there and it’s impossible to walk out without finding some hidden gems.

When you shop at Roundabout, your money goes to charity and medical cases that they’re currently supporting. To find out more information about Roundabout, follow them on WeChat.

Find it:
Cathay View Plaza, 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Shunyi District
顺义区香江北路2号
Tel: 137 1877 7761 (English), 137 1805 3814 (Chinese only)

I’m all for the second-hand buy/sell groups. It’s great when something pre-loved finds a new home, and instead of taking up space in a box at your house gets a new chance of being used with someone else.

Beijing’s got multiple second-hand goodies groups and here’s how to join in.

Clothes-shoes for kids

This group is as straightforward as its name. If you’re only looking to buy some kids’ clothes, this is the group to join.

Add WeChat ID: Wilhelmina87 to join.

Maternity, Newborn Buy & Sell CN

This group is for all your baby gadgets. There’s everything from clothes to books and toys in there from parents whose kids have outgrown them.

Add WeChat ID: fukai2504 to join.

KID Stuff: Buy, sell, swap. BJ

Every parent knows kids outgrow their clothes in the blink of an eye! This group is great if you’re looking for kid stuff. There’s everything from kids’ clothes and toys, to furniture.

Add WeChat ID: lilin_ChinaDe to join.

These are just three of the more active groups for kids’ items. If you’d like to be added to others, message Wilhelmina87.

While I’ve purchased many great outfits for my kid, plenty of books, and even sold some furniture in these groups before, there are some seriously odd things that have made me go “Huh?”

1. ¥¥¥¥¥
It could totally just be me, but I think that these buy and sell groups are like virtual yard sales. You want to sell the stuff you don’t need anymore, and like at yard sales, you expect things to be cheap. Just because you spent RMB 1,000 on something a year ago and took really good care of it, doesn’t mean you can re-sell it for RMB 1,000 a year later. I always find it odd when someone tries to sell their used stuff for more money than the things cost on Taobao.

2. Makeup
During the age of social distancing, why would you buy second-hand makeup from a stranger? Don’t get me wrong, I share makeup with my girlfriends all the time, but that’s different. I know them! We go out to eat together, we drink together, we party together. In other words, we’re sharing germs already anyway. Used makeup from a stranger in a second-hand group is a different story. You can’t sanitize a used lipstick or eyeshadow, and you don’t know who’s used it in the past. If you buy a color that doesn’t look as good on you as you expected, give it to a friend or just toss it.

3. Undergarments
I can’t believe I’ve seen someone try to sell this in groups before. Fine, it was their kids’ underwear that they outgrew, but still. Gross!

4. Homemade Art
I’m sure you had a great time doing your home art project, but that doesn’t mean that others need to buy it. Over the past more than nine years I’ve lived in Beijing, there have been times when people have tried to sell their finished paint-by-number.

5. Medication
Yes, there is half-used medication in some of these groups. Most of the time it’s for kids, but please be careful. Medications expire and go bad if they’re not stored properly. You know how there’s a warning on most bottles that says, “Do not consume if opened”? This should always apply here!

Images: Pexels

Friday nights hail the weekend, and most of us are eager to welcome the break. So having to cook and clean up on a Friday night doesn’t sound all too appetizing. While Beijing has plenty of waimai and delicious options for dining in, if you’re looking for something that’s special every week and lets you in stay in, we’ve got the solution for you – the Foodie Gastronomic Community WeChat group.

Focusing on Asian cuisine, the group was founded by Grace, a Malaysian cooking enthusiast, and Sean, from the restaurant a.wang. Issac, an administrator of the WeChat group, shared their origin story: “Almost a year ago, we started out as a tiny group of ten that sought to bring the taste of home to Southeast Asians stuck in Beijing because of the Covid pandemic. Now, our reputation has spread because of our good food and we’re going strong at 500 people. We’ve slowly grown since then.”

You’ll be able to search for a.wang on Meituan if you want to sample their waimai menu, but the weekly offerings shared in this foodie group can’t be found on the menu and are completely unique. Issac says, “We want our Friday meals to be extra special dishes that aren’t easily available at restaurants in Beijing – less common cravings that are harder to fulfill. All our Friday meals are thoroughly planned and researched ahead of time – we experiment and iterate on recipes to get the exact taste we want. Because we want our food to be as authentic as possible, we need a longer time to prepare the dishes, so we collect orders early.”

Every week the Foodie Gastronomic Community WeChat group releases a special menu for Friday with either a lunch or dinner delivery option. They also have little Southeast Asian snacks and treats such as kaya spread (which is made from oh-so-aromatic pandan leaves), ondeh-ondeh cakes (a small kueh like a cake, made with shredded coconut) and curry puffs (think of it like a calzone pie stuffed with chicken curry). Last week, the main dish was Hainanese pork chops, fried nonya seafood mee siam (noodles) with an option for garlic chili sauce, and pulut hitam (black glutinous) chiffon cake for dessert.

The group’s menu for this week is out – lor mee, ngoh hsiang, Thai prawn cakes, Singapore sambal chili, and barley water. Ordering is done through the QR code in the poster and will close by Tuesday night, so get to booking your Friday night special now!

KEEP READING: Commune Reserve Offers a Welcome Addition to Beijing’s Food Scene 

Images: Courtesy of Foodie Gastronomic Community 

Do you really need more WeChat groups in your life? Of course, you do! They are the best resource for getting all your Beijing lifestyle info as well as authentic feedback about restaurants and places you’re considering checking out, lest you get catfished by some flashy photos on Dianping.

But you got to stay organized. Rather than join loosely controlled general interest free-for-all groups that fill your life with distracting messages and spam, you need to find those groups that cater to your specific fields of interest.

By joining niche groups and dumping the broadly defined ones, you’re then freed from the drudgery of wading through hundreds of messages you don’t care about every day.

We here at jingkids can vouch for the groups below – some are even moderated by our own team and we do our best to keep them spam- and clutter-free. Others are moderated by members of the expat community who dedicate so much of their time and effort to creating small digital communities that help make all of our lives that much better.

Before we jump into the list of groups, however, here is some WeChat group etiquette.

Mute the Group: We recommend you mute notifications for any group larger than a dozen or so, otherwise you are going to be inundated with messages.

Read the Group Rules First. Before you start posting what you think is relevant to the group, read the rules. It’s basic courtesy.

Participate, Don’t Carpet Bomb. Lurkers who don’t have anything to say but still find the group worthwhile are welcome, however, don’t be one of those people who never bothers to read the thread and proceeds to drop posts well after the group has covered the topic 10 times over.

Consider the Group Size. Remember that in a group of hundreds of people, the vast majority are silent but appreciate the community and don’t wait to wade through idle chatter to find the meat. Thus, extended back and forth conversations between two users (A: “Really?” B: “Yes” A: “No, you mean it?” B. “Yes I do.” A: “Is that so?”) is not useful. Every post should add value somewhere.

To join groups moderated by True Run Media (Jingkids’ parent company) scan the QR code below to add the TBJ Butler and tell him which groups you’d like to join.

Foodie Groups

Beijing Burger Lovers: Burgers and nothing more
Beijing Pizza Lovers: All about ‘Za in The Jing
Beijing Spicy Food Lovers: Restaurant recommendations, recipes, and more for pepper heads
Cheap Eats in Beijing: Recommendations for restaurants/eats that cost less than RMB 50 per person
New Restaurants in Beijing: Tips and reviews for places that opened within the last few months
Beijing Caffeine Addicts: For those that love coffee in Beijing

Family Groups

Beijing Family-Friendly Eats: Tips for where the kids would love to eat
Beijing Dads Group: For Beijing dads (and their various concerns)
Kid & Family Events in Beijing: Family-friendly events only
Chaoyang Parkers: Group for those who want to set up playdates for their kids around Chaoyang Park
Family Events Only jingkids: A strict family-friendly events only group.
Jingkids Parenting in Beijing: General interest discussion group for parents in Beijing

Assorted Other Stuff

Mandarin Learners: For those attempting to increase their fluency, from beginners to advanced
WeChat Tips & Tricks: All about the inner workings of the app that controls our lives
Just Jokes: Silly stuff to help you de-stress!
Only Stickers: Just WeChat stickers. Nothing more.
Peking Pups & Other Pets: A group for pet owners to exchange resources, and cute pet pics of course
Sanlitun Stuff: All about the heart of Beijing’s dining, nightlife, and shopping scenes
Beijing Olympics 2022: Focused on news and information about the upcoming Olympic Games
Beijing Explorers: A group for those who are interested in urban exploration
Beijing Entrepreneurs: A group for budding and established entrepreneurs to share resources
Jobs for International Educators: Employment listings for K-12 education jobs only around China
International Educators in China: A mostly Beijing-based group for general discussion about issues related to K-12 education, from a teacher/administrator perspective
Students in Beijing: A group for university students in Beijing
Beijing Pollution Fighters: Information, tips, and tricks about protecting yourself against air pollution, water pollution, etc.
Lifelong Learning in Beijing: A group dedicated to lifelong learning and adult education opportunities in Beijing.

Groups NOT managed by True Run Media

Activities for Kids BJ: Group for sharing tips and reviews on places to take kids to. To join: Add Camkon
Beijing Expat Network: A free-for-all of info related to Beijing (and sometimes not). To join: Add jnjmama
Bumps2Babes: Group for parents where they can find support, develop friendships, and ask family-related questions. B2B has multiple subgroups based on the age of your child. Please let the admin know how old your child is when joining. To join: Add Rachel_Hanrahan
Homeschooling BJ Discussion: Exactly what the name says. This is a group about homeschool resources. To join: Add CharleneYNg
Beijing Parenting and Beyond: Group for all things parenting-related and Beijing-related, as well as general knowledge and info about life here. To join: Add Shareehebert
SENIA-Beijing: Group for educators and parents relating to information on special needs education in Beijing. To join: DCW-Gerald
Sweet Cravings Beijing: For those who love desserts! To join: Add Camkon

KEEP READING: 22 Things That Beijing Expats Are Wishing for in 2022

Images: Pexels