Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

My name is Calvin Trent. I’ve been teaching for over seven years in various locations around the world. I’ve left and returned to Beijing three times with different jobs and still haven’t gotten tired of it. I currently work as an educator for a company called Pingo Space.

Unlike the other teaching jobs I’ve had, this one actually requires me to go outside once in a while to lead summer camps for children. When I’m not teaching, I usually stick to indoor activities such as drawing comics and training in martial arts, so I don’t really consider myself much of an outdoors person. The last time I lived outdoors for a week was in 2015 when I visited a temple in the mountains of Yunnan Province to train in kung fu. Although I enjoyed the experience immensely, I don’t know if I could’ve endured it longer than a couple of weeks.

On that journey, as well as on most of my other outdoor adventures, I usually use the same bag. It’s a black, military-style travel backpack that was given to me by my younger brother. He is an avid outdoorsman who does everything from hiking to rock climbing. This is one of the few gifts I’ve received that has lasted through years of continued use, and it shows no signs of wearing out anytime soon.

Now that I need to take groups of children to survive in the wild for days on end, the contents of my bag have been adjusted accordingly. Here are some of the essentials:

• Survival Liquids:

Aside from the obvious bottle of water, there are many substances that can be used to survive a camping trip in nature. Mosquito attack? Bust out the bug spray. Scorching heat? Time for some suntan lotion. Other possibilities could include mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, or even sports drinks.

• Survival Keychain:

My keychain is specifically designed for wilderness survival. It includes a flashlight, a thermometer, a compass, and a whistle.

• Cap:

Suntan lotion can only do so much against the intensity of solar rays. For added protection, I always bring a baseball cap. Not only does it protect my face from getting sunburned, but it also keeps the sunlight out of my eyes.

• Deck of Cards:

What’s the point of surviving if you never have any fun? A standard deck of 54 playing cards (including jokers) is a highly versatile entertainment tool that allows for thousands of different games. They can also be used for practical purposes, such as random selection or dividing people into groups.

• Survival Skills Journal:

Last but not least is what I might consider my most important survival tool. My Survival Camp Skills Journal serves as a reference guide to many important survival skills, including knot-tying, shelter-building, navigation, and more!

Want to share your Beijing survival tools with us? Shoot us an email at editor@beijing-kids.com, message our official Jingkids WeChat account (ID: beijing-kids), or leave a comment below!

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Images: Calvin Trent

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

Hello! My name is Anne Emond. I am a grade ten student at the French International School of Beijing. I have been living in Beijing for over three years. What I particularly enjoy about this city is the diversity of its inhabitants.

Although I am originally from Canada, I have a Chinese mom so I can speak decent Chinese. By being multilingual, I have gained the intangible privilege of experiencing the best of both Western and Chinese cultures. This priceless gift has allowed me to explore Beijing by myself like a local Beijinger. This is what I would usually bring in my bag on my adventures:

I view bags as objects of fashion and utility. When I am exploring the city, I need my bag to be as light and stylish as possible. What could be better than a handbag? The bag I usually use was thrifted from Canada. It’s a black Ralph Lauren leather handbag. I had originally bought it as a pencil case but after discovering the leather strap hidden inside, this gem was born.

It’s a very unique accessory due to its unusual cylindrical shape, unlike normal handbags. I love the added detail of the white stitching contrasting with the dark leather. Even if I bought it for really cheap (like 5 bucks Canadian), the quality is excellent and the design is timeless. I hope this one will belong in my long-term collection.

Excluding my phone, these are the five realistic items that are in my bag.

Number 1: A self-defense flashlight

One day, my dad came to me and asked me to put this in my bag. I asked what it was, and he explained that it was a self-defense flashlight. Apparently, it has the capacity to temporarily blind an opponent. It’s always important to have a self-defense tool because you never know when you will need it.

Object 2:Airpods/Earphones

I always have something I can use to listen to music when I am walking my dog. Now, it’s out of habit that I bring it in my bag. I either use my normal earphones or wireless ones. It depends on the day.

Object 3: Phone Charger

Once upon a time, I didn’t bring my charger. Then, I learned the hard way to always bring my charger when my phone once ran out of battery and I got stranded in a mall for an hour looking for one so I could go home. So now, this little guy always goes into my bag, even if it’s a tiny trip to the store.

Object 4: My wallet

Although the exterior is very wholesome, it’s the inside that counts. In there lies my school pass, my house pass, and my metro card. Without them, I would be very lost in Beijing. If you are planning to steal it though, be aware, that there is no cash inside.

Object 5: Eyeliner

They say “Money is the key to a selfish man’s heart.” But eyeliner is the key to mine. I usually buy mine online but you can pretty much get one anywhere. It’s the only makeup I wear and I like the way it elevates an outfit without a lot of effort.

Want to share your Beijing survival tools with us? Shoot us an email at editor@beijing-kids.com, message our official Jingkids WeChat account (ID: beijing-kids), or leave a comment below!

Images: Anne Emond

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

My name is Von Ng, I’m director of Krav Maga Global (KMG) for China, and head instructor at Warrior One Training Center. I’ve been teaching self-defense in Beijing for over a decade now.

I was born in the Philippines, then moved to Vancouver and later Los Angeles as a child and teen. My brothers and I found ourselves growing up in a racially-charged time, when there were clashes among minorities in the cities we lived in. We learned to fight and defend ourselves on the streets, and in those years, martial arts defined some of the highest and lowest points of my life. When I returned to the Philippines as an adult, I continued my martial arts training, as it was by then an important part of my life and what I did.

I’ve trained in several martial arts since I was young, most notable of which was Kyokushin Karate, a hard-style traditional Japanese martial art. But when my then-girlfriend (now wife) and I moved to Beijing in late 2009, I had the opportunity to get more into Krav Maga.

Krav Maga, an Israeli military system, is about self-defense and street combat – that is, disabling your attacker as quickly as possible, with no qualms about fairness, art, or fighting “clean.” A lot of my contemporaries in Kyokushin Karate – incredibly powerful high-level fighters – would have shunned the very idea of Krav Maga as fighting without honor. But because I’d seen violence in my youth, often times finding myself in terrible situations where no one cared about a fair fight, I understood what Krav Maga had to offer in terms of real self-defense.

Teaching Krav Maga in China has been interesting – in the first few years, many people didn’t seem to understand why learning self-defense or situational awareness was valuable. Over the years, however, they have come to better understand that training self-defense is an important life skill, and actually translates to things like better decision-making under stress, better judgment of people and situations, as well as more confidence and overall fitness and strength.

In a decade of teaching Krav Maga to ordinary people – men and women, young and old – we’re proud to say we’ve been able to equip many thousands of people from all walks of life with technical skills, fighting fitness, mental capabilities, and tactical sense for using the right “solution” for each situation. With all the things happening in society today, we feel that it’s even more important for us to continue the work we do, reach more people, and arm them with the skills and mindset for better navigating the world we live in.

About My Bag:

My trusty Camelbak HAWG is a medium-sized (20L) backpack that’s low-profile (not overtly tactical), with a lot of useful features and customizable storage options. It’s one of the top choices for the rucking crowd (guys who load up backpacks with heavy objects and run around or exercise with it), because it’s surprisingly tough for just how lightweight it is.

The bag itself is good for everyday use and organizing your things, and it’s also great for activities like hiking and mountain biking. I’ve brought it on many training trips around the world, and it’s small enough to stow under the seat in the airplane. A plus is that when it’s not full, you can compress it so that it becomes flatter on your back – great when you’re moving around a lot.

What’s in My Bag

Five things I have in my bag all the time are my Nextorch TA30 flashlight, an IKEA flexible chopping board, a utility pack, a mouthguard, and a pair of Mechanix gloves.

The Nextorch TA30 Flashlight goes with me everywhere – typically in my pocket so technically not in my bag. Having lived in cities like Manila as well as LA in the mid 90s, it was ingrained in me to always have something that you could use as a defensive tool. The TA30 has multiple settings, including a blindingly high-powered light. It comes with a glass breaker, and you have the option to add a finger ring that helps ensure a quick deployment and secure grip of the tool when you need it, especially in cold weather. It’s comfortable enough to grip firmly if you need to use it as a non-lethal blunt tool for self-defense, and it has the soft-press function, which is good for blinding someone with a flash of light in a defensive situation (most commercial flashlights can’t do this). Police use this kind of flashlight, but we also have taught ordinary men and women how to use it for defensive purposes.

The IKEA flexible chopping board sits at the back of my bag, in the water bladder compartment. I always believe that whatever you carry, you should try to get more use out of it. In Krav Maga, we teach people to use their bag as a shield-type weapon in a self-defense situation. This practically weightless addition to my bag makes it instantly more rigid and puncture-resistant, and therefore a better shield if I ever need it.

My Everyday Utility Pack consists of a lot of things, but let me highlight a few key items:

• 20 feet of 550 paracord, which is the gold standard for tying and carrying heavier loads
• Ziplock bags in case I need to waterproof my phone, passport, or other valuables, or store food or small hygiene items
• Leatherman Multitool, in case my bike needs repair or something needs an emergency fix
• First aid kit and emergency meds, including general allergy meds, food poisoning meds, and multi-purpose topical ointments (the strong stuff)

I have a pair of Mechanix Mpact Gloves, which have rubber molding on top of the fingers, back of the hands, and knuckles. When I’m fixing things or if I have to grab or hold something that has sharp parts (splinters, jagged or rusted metal, etc.), it’s good to have hand protection. I also use this when I’m training Kali, a Filipino stick fighting system, where your hands can get hit by your partner.

Finally, I have a Mouthguard in my bag at all times, because I’m always headed somewhere for training. Whether I’m cross-training at another gym or outdoors with my team, one thing you’ll never be able to borrow is a mouthguard. Also, if trouble arises and you’re given the opportunity to equip yourself with a mouthguard… well, dental work is expensive, so why not?

To learn more about Von Ng’s self-defense work at Warrior One scan the QR code below or check out their website at www.kmgchina.cn!

Images: Von Ng

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Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expat parents each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

I’m Sophie Su! I was born in Beijing but I was raised in Australia, and now I have settled back home with my son and husband/business partner.

In 2015 we founded Pingo Space, a project-based learning company that helps kids discover their most authentic selves and build life skills through camps and weekend programs! As with most small education companies, Covid has offered up some interesting challenges, but my team and I have gotten creative … really, really creative, and we are so proud of the incredible work that came out of this period.

Running my own business requires me to balance the board room with the classroom, so I try to keep my style classically professional but functional. That’s why I love my Tory Burch tote! It carries everything I need but is sleek and durable.

• My laptop goes with me everywhere! Inspiration comes in lots of different places so I’m constantly working on PPTs or jotting down notes for new projects.

• Between parent meetings, teacher workshops, and office gossip (kidding … sort of) I do a lot of talking during the day. That, combined with Beijing’s dry air, makes cough drops a must for staving off a sore throat.
• I’m a positive reinforcement junkie so I almost always have little classroom management rewards on hand. Right now, the kids are really excited about the dinosaur summer camp, so I picked up a few din-o-mite stickers.

• Carrying a tape measure might seem strange for a teacher but I never know when I might be scouting a new project location, and this has come in handy more times than I can count.
• Sunglasses, please! Especially during the camp season, I spend most of my day outdoors so these are vital. My favorite week of the year is when I get to manage beach survival camp, but the glare off the water is intense!

• I love my crazy life but it can get a little chaotic and I am working on making more time for myself. So I keep two vials of essential oils on me that promote balance and harmony, and my favorite book Inward by Yung Pueblo. It’s about looking inward, and there are just small beautiful quotes that remind me to center myself. I’m slowly learning that giving myself a little love each day makes me a better wife, mother, and boss.

To reach out to Sophie via WeChat scan the QR code below.

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Images: Sophie Su

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

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Images: Courtesy of Charlotte White

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

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Images: Courtesy of Ella ZhaoHong

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

Images: Courtesy of Miranda 

Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.

Images: Courtesy of Ola