Beijingkids was first introduced to this local Beijing artist when an art teacher pointed to her as inspiration. Annette Golden’s work really entrances and captivates your eyes on a first look, and we’re thrilled to have the chance to introduce our readers to more of her artwork, as well as her upcoming workshops.

Annette Golden running her INSIDEOUT workshop.

How did you discover your love and talent for art?

I don’t remember the exact moment and age when I discovered my passion for art, because I was way too young. But I remember myself at the age of four always having paintbrushes and watercolors around and painting billions of pictures nonstop. Jasmine, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow White — I think I drew and painted at least 1,000 of each as a kindergartener. If I wouldn’t finish my meal my mom would hide my watercolors and colored pencils and would give them back only if I finished! That was the best motivation.

My grandpa taught me how to hold a paintbrush and how to draw lines, faces, and animals. I’ll never forget that. When I was four, he took me to the art school where his friend was teaching and they sat me in a chair, gave me paper, a paintbrush, and three fluorescent oil paints: orange, yellow and pink. Since then, those have been my favorite colors and they’re also the ones that represent my art. They are colors of happiness, of the joy of life, of my childhood. I don’t remember exactly what I painted, but I’ll always remember the smell of paint and the vibe. Older kids were really kind and curious about the process of my painting. That’s how it all started. Several years after that when I was seven, I became a student myself. Those were the longest and most terrifying years of my life!

That experience was very deep and insightful. I have an understanding of dozens of different art techniques, sculpture, sketching, charcoal drawing, watercolors, and many more. I still use lots of them.

How did you find your way to Beijing?

I was planning to come to Beijing with my best friend to travel and make some money for just six months. She got married and never joined me, and here I am living my fourth year and planning to live many more years here. I am a part of this place. It touched my heart and I’m loving it.

What themes do you tend to explore?

I’m most fascinated by portraits; I always have and probably always will be. I’ve been exploring contemporary art, but we’re way too different. People inspire me the most. Each one has a very special story, a special energy, and I try to show it the way I feel it in my art. I tend to play and explore the topic of a portrait deeper in the future, taking the cultural and spiritual aspects of it. I think of it as a “let’s see what happens” approach.

“Petal Hair” by Annette Golden

What are your favorite pieces of yours?

Every single piece of mine that I have shown to the public I truly love. My most favorite three pieces are: “Paola,” “Petal hair,” and “Tease,” but they are sold out.

What artists inspire you?

I’ve always been fond of Van Gogh and Ivan Aivazovsky. But the artists that inspire me the most are the modern ones, people I’ve found on Instagram. My favorite modern artist is Kate Tova, a Russian based in California. Her art and lifestyle inspired me and I even asked her a couple of questions when I was starting my own brand. I also love Elena York, an Armenian artist living in New York. Her art is powerful and very unique; sometimes, it takes her up to 12 months to finish one work. I love it. I also love the Shenzhen art district, you can feel the vibes of the new generation there. That place is probably my favorite art place in China.

“Into You” by Annette Golden

How did you start running workshops?

I’ve had the idea of doing an art workshop for several years. I simply always want to show people that it’s possible to create something unique and beautiful without long hours, months, and years of studying art. It’s much easier than that and really fun. I met the right people (my team) and we worked hard for several months creating a concept and developing our INSIDEOUT workshop. I wanted to create something extremely fresh and unique, and together with that, something very insightful and peaceful, a workshop I’d love to attend myself. It worked out much better than any of our expectations.

Your workshops sound like much more than a night of painting. What do you wish for attendees to get out of it?

I want my attendants to explore their sources of inner power and strength. Art is the best way to do it. I wanted to create a safe and beautiful space for women where they can feel free and where they can create without any judgments, with no limits but being inspired at the same time. Now, INSIDEOUT is growing and we will be open to a wider audience: we’re going to have mom & child workshops, all gender workshops, that kind of thing. It’s important for all of us to be able to have a little getaway from big city life and just dive into the atmosphere of art. It’s healing, it opens our eyes, horizons, and hearts. Art moves our planet.

Art photography by Yulia JPFstudio is as big a part of the workshop as the art itself.

Part of your workshop is also art photography. Why do you offer that and what can people expect from it?

I admire photography and I think it’s a very unique kind of art. I love capturing and I love being captured. I love watching women while they’re very concentrated on the process of creating in my workshops and I believe it’s necessary to keep those memories in the form of a photo. It’s art in art. My friend and my business partner Yulia JPFstudio was the one who was doing the first art shootings for me and I believe that her style and methods as a photographer are extremely feminine… She focuses on details, sexuality, gentleness. We do create beautiful memories, but it’s better not to expect anything from the workshop, to be honest. The outcome for every single person is very different and very unique. The only thing people should expect from it is joy.

You can learn more about Annette’s workshops through her WeChat: AfromtheW

How can people follow your work?

For now, the most accessible place where I share my work is my Instagram account (@annette_g_art). But I’m working on my website as well, it’ll probably be ready at the beginning of 2021.

Annette’s INSIDEOUT workshops are abstract painting workshops for women in a peaceful art studio.

KEEP READING: Exploring Beijing’s Hidden Art Walk Destinations

Photos: Yulia JPFstudio, Art: Annette Golden

Last week (Nov 13-16) educators, students, parents, and staff from across Beijing’s international school community and beyond gathered at Western Academy of Beijing’s (WAB) campus for a wide-ranging conference entitled Future of Education Now: A Festival of Learning (FOEN2019). The totality of the event was an ambitious investigation into current trends, the problems facing educators and students, as well as the progressive solutions being put forth to tackle these issues, and better prepare the learners of today for the uncertainty and consistently shifting landscape of tomorrow.

Beijingkids attended the final day of the conference, and here’s a quick recap of what we took away.

The festivities opened with an inspiring keynote address from author and Director of Impact at Silicon Valley’s Singularity University, Brett Schilke, who leads partnerships and program development for K-12 education. Schilke’s address served to contextualize the overarching themes of the conference, and shed light on the idea that “We can’t prepare our kids for a future they will not find.”

Ultimately, Schilke advocated for the notion that we should no longer be asking young people what they want to be when they grow up, but rather, what they want to enable in the world. He illustrated his point by breaking down the example of a child who expresses interest in becoming a doctor. According to Schilke, the medical industry, from physicians to pharmacists, is one of the most at-risk sectors for disruption and automation, and the skills a student may learn about medicine today very well could be obsolete by the time they finish college. Thus, Schilke advises that the student reframe their ambitions from, “I want to be a doctor,” to, “I want to help people,” thus offering them a wider scope through which to consider their career choice.

Moreover, given the fact that the current body of human knowledge doubles every 13 months, and will accelerate to an unprecedented doubling every 12 hours by the end of the 21st century, coupled with an amount of progress within the same timeframe to rival the last 20,000 years of history, Schilke thinks we should be focusing on “forecasting”, or trend-spotting. That is, students should be asking themselves how tech will change the industry they want to go into, and seriously consider such new realities as computer thinking, and the social and ethical implications of technological developments.

As Schilke so succinctly put it, “We teach history, why not teach the future?”

Another stellar presentation came from hometown hero John D’Arcy, WAB’s Deputy Director, who introduced the FLoW21 initiative, or Future of Learning at WAB. A couple years ago, D’Arcy and his team realized it was due time to restructure some of the policies, curriculums, and approaches to learning at WAB, and thus they began conversations around these topics. What made the process unique however was the fact that these discussions didn’t take place behind administrators’ closed doors, but involved every stakeholder, including the students themselves.

One particularly fascinating change that resulted from FLoW21 was the Day 9 Program, which allows students to build their own schedules on every ninth day of instruction. According to D’Arcy, this program makes space for students to “own” their time, and focus some of their efforts on those subjects that they are truly passionate about, or seek out further instruction for classes they may be struggling with. All in all, Day 9 tells the students, in no uncertain terms, that their success is ultimately in their own hands, and that, with this amount of freedom, the faculty at WAB trusts them to make good decisions.

While student agency and decision making was front-and-center throughout the conference, it really came to the fore during FOEN2019’s closing address, which was in fact presented by a collection of students who had attended the conference on behalf of various schools.

Over the course of the four days, they worked together to come up with the following mission statement:

“In order to be supportive, personalized and academically successful, a school should be student-centered, feature numerous approaches to learning, and offer a curriculum with real-world connections along with mentor support.”

They devised strategies that would be easy to implement, yet could have significant impacts on student prosperity, such as weekly well-being sessions, weekly student-teacher lunches, and the inclusion of students in more decision-making processes.

Simply put, it was a poignant end to a poignant week, and here at beijingkids, we are very excited about the future of education now!

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

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

If you are planning on staying in Beijing over National Week (October 1 – 7), life may feel like it is going to shut down. Between road closures, extra security, and everyone’s usual hangouts closed for the holiday, it may seem like the perfect time to curl up at home and sleep the week away. For those of us with kids or a restless spirit though, this may not be as peaceful as it sounds. Never fear! Beijingkids is here to give you some alternatives to sitting around watching TV for Golden Week.

Survival Camp Level 2, Sept 30 – Oct 4 

Ages 7 – 14. Registration is still open to join this exciting survival camp. If you have already done some survival or adventure activities with Imagine, then this camp is what you need to take your survival skills to the next level. The camp teaches all kinds of advanced survival skills. Spend two days in the forest in Huairou, followed by a three day overnight trip to Baihe, Miyun. This is for kids who want to step out of their comfort zones and test themselves while taking their survival education further. Go to the beijingkids blog for more information and how to register.

RMB 950. 8am – 5.45pm. Huairou and Baihe.

Explore western China with Beijing Hikers, Oct 1 – 7

Ages 6+. Beijing Hikers is offering two exciting trips to explore western China. Journey to the West, along the Silk Road: Korla to Kashgar and Journey From the West: Urumqi to Jiayuguan. These two adventures will cover more than one thousand kilometers by jeep with lots of opportunities to get out and explore on foot. See Xinjiang Province, and the most and least traveled portions of the Silk Road. See famous landforms, ancient cities, grasslands and deserts and get a taste of the rich Muslim culture in western China.

RMB 15,220 – 19,150, all inclusive trip. Click here for more information on Korla to Kashgar, for more information on Urumqi to Jiayuguan click here.

Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an – 3 Must-Go Cities Tour, Oct 1 – 7 

If you love big, exciting and new cities then join Cultural Exchange Trips (CET) for this three cities tour. Spend seven days exploring these famous and beautiful cities. You’ll visit Chongqing, the largest inland municipality in China; see Chengdu where the biggest panda research center in the world can be found; and last visit Xian, the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties. This tour will include pandas, the Leshan Giant Buddha, Mahjong, Sichuan hotpot, and the Terracotta Warriors.

RMB 4,585, fee includes everything except entrance fee tickets to all places. Meeting point at Beijing West Railway Station. Click here for more information.

Golden Week Specials at Jen Beijing Hotel, Oct 2 – 5

If leaving Beijing isn’t in your plans but you still want to relax, consider staying at Hotel Jen Beijing for a few days and enjoy their daily lineup of family-friendly activities, dining specials, live music and craft beers. For this week the standard room price includes all activities at Trainyard, a breakfast buffet, and dinner at San Wu Tang.

All ages. Work out with your family at Trainyard yoga. This workout is a great opportunity to show children that exercise should a part of your daily life. Bond through a fun and exciting yoga workout and Zumba!
Class is included in stay. 10.30am-11.30am. Trainyard. (8647 1050) . 

Ages 3 – 12. Another exciting option is Kids Boxing at Trainyard Boxing Area.  Famous boxing coaches Jerson and Lando will teach your children the basics of this exciting, fun, and tough sport. Parents are welcome to accompany their kids.
Included in stay. 10-11am. Trainyard Boxing Area (8647 1050). 

All ages. After your kiddos are tired from the exercise classes, come and quench your thirst with Beersmith’s delicious selection of craft beers. If you want to try all of the beer, order a flight and enjoy this craft beer and food pairing package. Order two paddles of eight different beers and soak it up with grilled pork sausage, mashed potatoes, burger with fries, salad and calamari. If the food isn’t enough for you,The Nightshift will be performing live each night during Golden Week.
RMB 388/two people, one kid per paying adult enjoys a free meal. All day. Beersmith. 

All ages. Still hungry? Great, because San Wu Tang also has specials this week. Enjoy the famous Sichuan dish Fuqi feipian or sliced beef and offal in chili sauce included in their Family Sharing Package. In this package enjoy  the regular buffet, and some special holiday dishes like steak rolls, seafood, and chocolate lava cake.
RMB 268 (online purchase) RMB 298.

Price varies. Hotel Jen Beijing. (6505 2277) 

China Puppet Art Theater “The Red Army’s Battle Steeds” (Puppet Show), Oct 2 – 3 

Ages 3+. The China Puppet Art Theater was founded in 1955, and has continued through the years to tell stories about China through this traditional Chinese art. The theater is devoted to combining unique Chinese national arts and fairy tales into its performances. This production tells the story of a battle horse named Yidianhong, who is left  by the commander of the Red Army with a small squadron for the wounded to ride. Heizi, a Red Army soldier in the squadron, bonds with the horse after the horse saves Heizi in a battle. Learn what happens next in this harrowing story at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Click here for more information and tickets.

RMB 180 – 300. Shows start at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Tengger Desert Lakes, Inner Mongolia (4 Days), Oct 2 – 5

Age 7+. On this four-day expedition you’ll experience life in the desert, with two days of hiking and one night of camping in the Tengger Desert region of the Alashan Plateau, adjacent to the huge Gobi Desert. Visit desert lakes and oases, traveling through the dunes by foot, by jeep, and by camel! On the last day of the trip, visit the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, taking a look at the distinctive pyramid-shaped burial mounds. This is an all-inclusive trip. To see if this trip is right for your family, click here.

RMB 6,850 (ages 7-11), 7,090 (12-17), 8,800 (adults). Requires reservation. (info@beijinghikers.com / 6432 2876)

Guilin: Li River, Yangshou, Longji Rice Terraces, Oct 2 – 5

All ages are welcome, but check to make sure this trip is right for your family. Visit one of the most beautiful places in China with CET. Guilin is known for mountains, rice terraces, the Li River, and much more. Highlights include visiting the Mahai Village, the rice terraces, bamboo rafting, hiking, and karst formations. Click here for more information.

RMB 895 – 1,845, children under 3 are free. Trip arrives and leaves from the Guilin train station or airport. 

Atelier Art School October Holiday Workshops, Oct 2 – 6 

Atelier Art School is offering three workshops for kids and adults this Golden Week. A Journey into Abstract Art, A Creative Approach to Painting and finally, a Drawing and Painting Class. Visit here for more information on any of these workshops. Register by emailing contact@atelier.cn.com or shunyi@atelier.cn.com (132 4018 4908) or wechat: ateliershunyi.

A Journey into Abstract Art:  Ages 5+. During this workshop, students will learn about the different artistic movements and artists that composed constructivism. Students will explore artists like Malevich, Lissitzky, and Popova and the various artistic styles they inspired. Experiment with painting, sculpturing, collage, graphical art, architecture, and fashion design.
RMB 2,000-2,500. Classes are from 10am–noon for children 5–8 years old and 1-3.30pm for children 9+. Sanlitun and Shunyi Campus. 

A Creative Approach to Painting: 13+ including adults. At this workshop students will learn how to look at a subject, learn where and how to start, become familiar with lighting and shadows, and discuss the subtleties of color.
RMB 2500. 1pm – 3.30pm. Atelier Sunlitun Campus.

Drawing and Painting Workshop: Join this workshop to work on your drawing and painting skills. Discover drawing in pencil and charcoal, introduce colors to your drawings with pastels, and learn to use watercolor paints to add beauty to your work. In this class learn to draw a figure in pencil and charcoal and use pastels and watercolor to paint a still life of food or flowers.
RMB 1800. 1pm – 3.30pm Atelier Shunyi Campus. 

Teatro alla Scala “Le Corsaire”, Oct 4

All ages. In 1498, Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I moved his court to Vienna, and the Vienna Boys Choir was born. Over the centuries, the Viennese Court attracted great musicians like Isaac, de Monte, Fux, Caldara, Gluck, Salieri, Mozart, and Bruckner; Joseph Haydn, Michael Haydn, and Franz Schubert were themselves choirboys. Until 1918, the boys sang exclusively for the court. In the 1920s, the choir was reestablished as a private organization. Since 1926, the Vienna Boys Choir has sung 1000 tours in 97 different countries.

RMB 280 – 1080. 7.30pm. National Centre for the Performing Arts. 

China Puppet Art Theatre “Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” (Puppet Show), Oct 4, 5, 6

All ages. China Puppet Art Theater has always sought to innovate in this traditional storytelling method. It is devoted to telling the stories of China, and integrating unique Chinese national arts and fairy tales into the performances. The theater has produced many popular works, especially for children. They have performed many fairytales surrounding the story of the Monkey King and the Journey to the West. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

RMB 180 – 300. 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Ticket required. National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Studio Ghibli Symphony Concert, Oct 5

Kids Club: The Silver Pagodas, Oct 6 

Ages 5-12. This easy kid-orientated hike will take you through the countryside for a picnic by the 600-year-old Silver Pagodas, then spend the afternoon relaxing in the sun with an optional climb up to Silver Mountain. Join Beijing Hikers for this fun and relaxing day exploring Beijing’s beautiful countryside. Click here to learn more.

RMB 150 – 360. 8am. Pick up areas are Liangmaqiao subway and Lido Metropark Hotel Starbucks. 

Photos: courtesy of event coordinators

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

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

INN Annual Medical Q&A, Sept 23

Foreign passport holders only. Every September, International Newcomer’s Network (INN) brings together a panel of distinguished medical doctors and health care professionals from the international medical community in Beijing to provide essential knowledge and advice. Their guest panel of medical doctors will answer questions on medical care options, emergency care, mental health, traveler’s health, rabies awareness and prevention, and health insurance options for international residents in Beijing. Additional practical advice on ambulance services, emergency preparedness, and first aid training for Ayis and childcare providers will be provided. Bring your questions and join INN, for this big annual INN Medical Question and Answer forum. Coffee, tea, and pastries provided.

RMB 60. 10am-noon. Capital Mansion Athletic Club.

Chinese Herbs and Fragrance Sachet Class, Sept 25

Join Guo Yi Hui for this class on traditional Chinese medicine. Herbs play an important role in TCM, and this class will give you a basic understanding of the herbs used in Chinese medicine. Touch and smell them, learn about their uses, and finally, make your own herb sachet with your own special combination.

All ages. RMB 30. 3pm – 4pm. Guo Yihui TCM Hospital 

Mastering Your Handstand, Sept 28-29

Master your handstand at this two-day workshop with Yoga Yard teacher Victor Chau. Through pair work, core strength conditioning, shoulder opening exercises, and more, you will have the opportunity to play and grow into your handstand. This two-part course looks at both foundations and the handstand itself.

RMB 550–1000. 1.30pm–4.30pm. Yoga Yard.

Free Heart Consultations for Heart Week, Sept 23-27

Adults. The International Medical Center-Beijing is celebrating Heart Week by offering free blood pressure measures (including EKG when necessary) followed by a doctor mini-consultation about heart health and heart problems. Take this opportunity to protect your future by protecting your heart. Please make an appointment.

Free. All day. International Medical Center.

21st Annual Charity Golf Tournament, Sept 28

All ages. Come and play golf for a good cause! Enjoy a day of golf, food, raffles, gifts, and fun all while supporting Guanai and Mengen orphanages. Entry fee includes transportation from Riviera Country Club to the Orient Pearl Golf Club, golfing-related fees, refreshments, and dinner. There will be prizes for first, second, and third place. Contact 8450 6888 for more information.

RMB 800 (golf only) – 988. 10.30am–6.30pm. Orient Pearl Golf Club. 

Survival Camp Level 2, Sept 30 – Oct 4

Ages 7-14. If you have already done some survival or adventure activities with Imagine then it is time to take it to the next level. This Camp teaches all kinds of advanced survival skills. Spend two days in the forest in Huairou followed by a three day overnight trip to Baihe, Miyun. This is for kids who want to step out of their comfort zones and test themselves while taking their Survival education further.

RMB 950. 8am – 5.45pm. Huairou and Baihe.

NBA Exhibition: Unstoppable Beijing, now – Oct 13

All ages. Aimed at showcasing the excitement of the game and the rich history of the league, the NBA is launching its touring exhibition in Beijing. By using interactive exhibits, videos, and exciting memorabilia, the multi-level experience will showcase the passion of the league, its teams, and will explore the many ways the NBA has evolved since its founding in 1946.

RMB 90. 10am. Yang Art Museum. (Go here for tickets and more information)

Dynasty of Brick: LEGO Chinese Culture Exhibition, Aug 25 – Oct 14

All ages. There is something new in Beijing for Lego fans – the Lego Chinese Culture Exhibition at Indigo from Aug 25 to Oct 14 promises to show Beijing families the big picture of Chinese culture, using five million Lego bricks.

RMB 79 – 899 (Visit here to buy tickets). Daily 10 am-10 pm. 18 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District.

Great Wall Camping | See Sunset and Sunrise from China Wall, every weekend through Oct 20.

Ages depends on ability. Spend two days on the Great Wall, experience the Great Wall at sunset and sunrise, and camp overnight at a Great Wall tower. This camping experience is organized by Cultural Exchange Trips (CET) who will provide camping equipment, transportation, and guides (an English speaking guide and local guide). The hiking portion is relatively easy but there are some steep sections. Please contact CET for more information, and to find out if this trip is right for you and your family.

RMB 365 (Discounts are available for groups). Needs registration.  Cultural Exchange Trips. (Jon 185 1420 3469 / Jane: 155 1030 7192).

Seasonal Hairy Crab at Park Hyatt Beijing, now – Oct 31

Crowned as the “King of Crabs”, hairy crabs are celebrated for their decadent roe and juicy meat. This autumn, at the peak of its harvest, savor the prized crustaceans prepared in the classic steamed way or in creative presentations. From 23 September 2019 for a limited time only.

From RMB 128. Reservations & Hotel WeChat Shop: parkhyattbeijing. China Grill (8567 1098). Dining Room (8567 1795).

Kayaking on the Most Beautiful River, every Sunday till Nov 18

Talk to the trip adviser to see if this trip is right for your family. Kayak down a beautiful river at Kayak Scenic Area on a Cultural Exchange Trip (CET). Spend the morning kayaking (don’t worry, lessons are included), have lunch, then an afternoon raft swimming and racing! Have an hour of free time to enjoy the scenic area however you want. Price includes round-trip bus, English-speaking guide, and the insurance fee. It does not include a Kayak fee (RMB 130) or raft swimming fee (RMB 30).

RMB 75. 7am. Fangshan district. Trip adviser Sunny 1030 7172 (English & Mandarin).

Children’s Gymnastics at WAB, now to Dec 8

Ages 4+. Flips and Kicks Plus is offering classes for the international community in Beijing. This company provides gymnastics at a variety of locations. Give your child a chance to have fun and learn new skills while developing physical strength, coordination, and building self-esteem. These classes are taught in English.

RMB 1,540 for 11 beginner classes, RMB 1,760 for 11 advanced classes. Classes are offered on Fridays after school and Sunday mornings. Registration needed. Western Academy of Beijing.

New Street Dance Term at WAB, Sept 1 to Dec 12

All ages. Sunshine Studios provides street dance classes where children and adults can learn from one of the biggest dance studios in Europe. Classes are available for a wide range of ages and skill level, including adults, and are led by professionals who have danced with stars like Justin Bieber, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga.

Classes are every Wednesday, Thursday, and weekends at a variety of times. Western Academy of Beijing. 

Karate and Martial Arts Class with Adventure Zone, every Tuesday and Thursday, now through Dec

Ages 4+. Adventure Zone is offering Goju-ryu classes, a traditional Okinawan style of karate that uses techniques executed at close range. Your child can enjoy learning martial arts while strengthening and conditioning their body, gaining confidence, and learning discipline.

RMB 3500 – 3700. Registration needed. 4pm. Kerry Sports Center L3.

Prima Ballerina Classes, every Friday

Age 4-9. Prima Ballerina through the Royal Academy of Dance offers fun ballet classes for children. Every Friday they offer Pre-Primary, Primary and RAD Grade 2 classes.

Pre-Primary ballet. Age 4-5. Fridays, 4-4.30pm.
Primary ballet. Age 5-6. Fridays, 5-5.50pm.
RAD Grade 2 Ballet. Age 8-9. Fridays, 5.50-6.50pm

RMB 160–200 per class. 4pm. Prima Ballerina. 

Electric Bicycle Tour of Old Beijing, every Wednesday and Sunday

All ages. Interested in seeing Beijing from a different point of view? Join Belectric on a tour of Old Beijing on an ebike. Tour through Old Beijing hutongs while stopping at famous landmarks like the Lama Temple, Drum Tower, Confucius Temple, Houhai Lake, and the Forbidden City. At each place your guide will share stories about the history and lore behind each famous place.

RMB 400. 1pm – 4pm. Culture Yard. www.belectricbeijing.com. 

Safari Time Songs at The Bookworm, every Saturday

Children 3 months to 4 years. Does your tot love to sing and dance? Does your baby get excited when she hears music? Bring them to the Bookworm for Safari Time Songs! These classes will give your child a chance to learn simple songs from all around the world, have fun, and socialize.

There are two classes available, one for toddlers up to 4 years old from 9.30am – 10.30am and one for babies 3-18 months old from 10.30am – 11.30am. RMB 80. 9:30am. The Bookworm.

Mental Health Peer Support Group, second and fourth Tuesday of every month

Adults. There are many things that can be challenging in life: moving to a new country, going through a breakup, job loss, living with mental illness, or just the difficulties of this fast-paced modern life. Allow this bi-weekly mental health peer group to help you out. CandleX established an English speaking mental health peer support group in Oct 2015. It provides a safe environment for people living in Beijing to share personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings, through small, confidential gatherings.

50 RMB, free to people with incomes lower than RMB 6,000, needs registration. 7.30pm. U-Town Shopping Center. 

Calligraphy Workshop with Cultural Keys, first Saturday of Every Month. 

Want to explore traditional Chinese culture? Learn something new? Get better at your characters? Then join Cultural Keys for its monthly calligraphy workshop. Learn about the history and culture of this beautiful art form and then try it for yourself. This is a two hour calligraphy class with an experienced calligrapher. You will practice a design and then choose a character to write on decorative paper to bring home. This class includes a dumpling lunch. After lunch walk around and explore the unique Xiaopu Artist Village.

RMB 388. 9am – 6.30pm. Meeting point: Tuanjiehu subway station. (Wechat: AJDonnelly, events@culturalkeys.cn)

Photos: courtesy of event holders, pixabay, beijinghikers, Utrips

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

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

All Day eBike Adventure, September 19

The legendary Dom is hosting an exciting eBike tour. This is a full day trip: the morning covers Old Beijing, then there’s a dumpling lunch, and for the afternoon see Modern Beijing. Explore how the city has developed and changed over time. Scan the QR Code or go to belectricbeijing.com.

RMB TBA. 10am – 5pm. Beijing. 

U-Theatre: “The Colours,” September 20 – 21

Ages 5+.The U-Theatre takes their name from the Chinese sound for ‘u’ which means excellence in Chinese. This dance troupe has been training for four years in a remote hillside near Taipei, creating a Zen drumming experience through deep contemplation and physical training that they call “dance/non-dance.” Catch this unique performance as it comes to Beijing. For more information or to buy tickets click here.

RMB 60 – 580. 7.30pm. National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA)

Camping in the Laozhang Valley, September 21 – 22

This hike covers 5km with a low difficulty level. Join U-Trips for a casual camping experience in Laozhang Valley. This trip will take you away from the city and into the mountains. Price includes a guide, round bus fee, camping spot, equipment, water, insurance, and gas stoves.

There are two pick-up locations:
Huixinxijienankou Subway Station Exit B. 7am
BLCU South Gate, 7.30am

RMB 350.  7am – 4pm on second day. Laozhang Valley. Phone:/wechat:156 5277 0044.

War Tunnels and the Old Gold Mines, September 22

Ages 6+. 6km of relatively flat hiking with one short climb, 2-3 hours. Rural Beijing has many interesting places that are hard to find. This trip visits one of these places, a system of tunnels built under a village in the 1940s. These tunnels were created as part of a guerrilla warfare strategy. Go underground at a restored tunnel warfare site and see the tunnels for yourself. After visiting this site, go for a hike up Gold Mountain. Click here for more information.There are three pick up locations: 8am departure from the Liangmaqiao subway area, 8.30am departure from the Lido Metropark Hotel Starbucks, 9am departure from the Shunyi Pinnacle Plaza Starbucks

RMB 180 kids 6-12, RMB 380 adults. 8am. Pinggu District.

Crescendo Live Show for Families, September 22

All ages. Crescendo Studio presents a live rock show with Blackwater. This is a new season for Crescendo Studios, who have a series of live music shows for families. Blackwater is a band that mixes rock with traditional Irish music. These five musicians have been playing together for over ten years and provide an energetic, creative, and interactive experience. Children will be able to discover and listen to many different instruments such as drums, guitars, tin whistle, flute, accordion, and voices. Follow this link for more information.

RMB 80 for adults, RMB 60 under ten. 5pm. Jianghu Bar. (wechat ID: 132 4195 4449 or 135 2211 9535)

Musical: Les Choristes (Mandarin), September 13 – 22

Ages 3+. Les Choristes (The Chorus) is a 2004 European drama directed by Christophe Barratier based on the 1945 film, A Cage of Nightingales. The story concerns a successful orchestra conductor, Pierre Morhange, who returns to France when his mother dies and explores the childhood inspirations that brought him to music. He reminisces with his childhood friend about their time at Fond de L’Etang, a school for “difficult” boys, and a teacher who brightened up the school by assembling a choir.

RMB 180 – 880. Offered at multiple times. Haidian Theater.

Colorful World and Common Destiny, Now – Sept 21

The 8th China Beijing International Art Biennale is here. This is an art competition based on the original Venice Biennale, where every two years countries send works of art representing them to the city and display them together. The National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) displays 640 pieces from 595 artists, representing 113 countries with the theme, “Colorful World and Common Destiny.” Artists work in every medium, and there is a great diversity of art to appreciate. NAMOC focuses on presenting the diversity of world civilizations and the wisdom and development of China.

Free. 9am. The National Art Museum of China. 

《Love Is Blue》—— Art Opening Ceremony, Now – September 22

All ages. Go on a journey to the four corners of your imagination, with contemporary artists selected by Art-Des for this summer exhibition, artists who see life through blue and love. Blue is a symbol of truth, like limpid water that cannot hide anything. Blue is the echo of life, travel, and discoveries. The exhibition LOVE is BLUE is like the water that quenches; the blue has a small refreshing and pure side which allows us to find a certain inner calm related to the deep things.

Free. 4pm – 7pm. Contemporary Art Culture Center.

Register for Atelier’s 2019-2020 Program, Now – Sept 26

Ages 6 to Adults. Atelier Art School is offering three programs for the 2019-2020 semester in Art, Fablab, and Fashion. Atelier provides high-quality, signature art education from kids to adults. Join their Art program to improve your drawing skills or create to learn new skills. Fablab or digital fabrication laboratories were invented by MIT professor Neil Gershenfeld and are increasingly being used by schools as a platform for project-based, hands-on STEAM education. Finally, the ever popular Fashion classes, including sewing for adults, where adults learn to create beautiful outfits. Click here for more information and registration.

RMB 300 – 520 per class. Campuses located in Sunlitun, Shunyi, and Beigao. 

NBA Exhibition: Unstoppable Beijing, Now – October 13

All ages. Aimed at showcasing the excitement of the game and the rich history of the league, the NBA is launching its touring exhibition in Beijing. By using interactive exhibits, videos, and exciting memorabilia, the multi-level experience will showcase the passion of the league, its teams, and will explore the many ways the NBA has evolved since its founding in 1946.

RMB 90. 10am. Yang Art Museum. (Go here for tickets and more information)

Dynasty of Brick: LEGO Chinese Culture Exhibition, Aug 25 – Oct 14

All ages. There is something new in Beijing for Lego fans – the Lego Chinese Culture Exhibition at Indigo from Aug 25 to Oct 14 promises to show Beijing families the big picture of Chinese culture, using five million pieces Lego bricks.

RMB 79 – 899 (Visit here to buy tickets). Daily 10 am-10 pm. 18 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District.

Calligraphy Workshop with Cultural Keys, First Saturday of Every Month. 

Want to explore traditional Chinese culture? Learn something new? Get better at your characters? Then join Cultural Keys for its monthly calligraphy workshop. Learn about the history and culture of this beautiful art form and then try it for yourself. This is a two hour calligraphy class with an experienced calligrapher. You will practice a design and then choose a character to write on decorative paper to bring home. This class includes a delicious dumpling lunch. After lunch walk around and explore the unique Xiaopu Artist Village. Click here for more information and to register.

RMB 388. 9am – 6.30pm. Meeting point: Tuanjiehu subway station. (Wechat: AJDonnelly, events@culturalkeys.cn)

Mental Health Peer Support Group, Second and fourth Tuesday of every month

Adults. There are many things that can be challenging in life: moving to a new country, going through a breakup, job loss, living with mental illness, or just the difficulties of this fast-paced modern life. Allow this bi-weekly mental health peer group to help you out. CandleX established an English speaking mental health peer support group in Oct 2015. It provides a safe environment for people living in Beijing to share personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings, through small, confidential gatherings.

50 RMB, free to people with incomes lower than RMB 6,000, needs registration. 7.30pm. U-Town Shopping Center. 

Great Wall Camping | See Sunset and Sunrise from China Wall, Every weekend through Oct 20.

Ages depends on ability. Spend two days on the Great Wall, experience the Great Wall at sunset and sunrise, and camp overnight at a Great Wall tower. This camping experience is organized by Cultural Exchange Trips (CET) who will provide camping equipment, transportation, and guides (an English speaking guide and local guide). The hiking portion is relatively easy but there are some steep sections. Please contact CET for more information, and to find out if this trip is right for you and your family.

RMB 365 (Discounts are available for groups). Needs registration.  Cultural Exchange Trips. (Jon 185 1420 3469 / Jane: 155 1030 7192).

Safari Time Songs at The Bookworm, Every Saturday

Children 3 months to 4 years. Does your tot love to sing and dance? Does your baby get excited when she hears music? Bring them to the Bookworm for Safari Time Songs! These classes will give your child a chance to learn simple songs from all around the world, have fun, and socialize.

There are two classes available, one for toddlers up to 4 years old from 9.30am – 10.30am and one for babies 3-18 months old from 10.30am – 11.30am. RMB 80. 9:30am. The Bookworm.

Children’s Gymnastics at WAB, Now to Dec 8

Ages 4+. Flips and Kicks Plus is offering classes for the international community in Beijing. This company provides gymnastics at a variety of locations. Give your child a chance to have fun and learn new skills while developing physical strength, coordination, and building self-esteem. These classes are taught in English.

RMB 1,540 for 11 beginner classes, RMB 1,760 for 11 advanced classes. Classes are offered on Fridays after school and Sunday mornings. Needs Registration. Western Academy of Beijing.

New Street Dance Term at WAB, September 1 to December 12

All ages. Learn some new moves with Sunshine Studios! Sunshine Studios provides street dance classes where children and adults can learn from one of the biggest dance studios in Europe. Classes are available for a wide range of ages and skill level, including adults, and are led by professionals who have danced with stars like Justin Bieber, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga.

Classes are every Wednesday, Thursday, and weekends at a variety of times. TBD. Western Academy of Beijing. 

Karate and Martial Arts Class with Adventure Zone, Every Tuesday and Thursday, now through December

AGes 4+. Adventure Zone is offering Goju-ryu classes, a traditional Okinawan style of karate that uses techniques executed at close range. Your child can enjoy learning martial arts while strengthening and conditioning their body, gaining confidence, and learning discipline.

RMB 3500 – 3700 needs registration. 4pm. Kerry Sports Center L3.

Prima Ballerina Classes, Every Friday

Age 4-9. Prima Ballerina through the Royal Academy of Dance offers fun ballet classes for children. Every Friday they offer Pre-Primary, Primary and RAD Grade 2 classes.

Pre-Primary ballet. Age 4-5. Fridays, 4-4.30pm.
Primary ballet. Age 5-6. Fridays, 5-5.50pm.
RAD Grade 2 Ballet. Age 8-9. Fridays, 5.50-6.50pm

RMB 160 – 200 per class. 4pm. Prima Ballerina. 

Photo Credit: Provided by event holders, pixabay, beijinghikers, Utrips, 

LIH Olivia’s Place has announced its 2019 autumn semester “Twilight Series” for teachers. The program aims to help kids to reach their full potential through giving teachers the right kind of coaching and guidance. Each session on their series of learning outcome-focused workshops works towards fostering a productive exchange of ideas between professionals in Education.

The ‘Twilight Series’ covers speech and language development, social and emotional challenges, learning difficulties, and support for children with special needs. Each attendant will receive a certificate for his or her participation.

Highlights of the series

• Creating a communication friendly environment in schools
• Say “No” to bullying: creating a friendly environment for our schools
• Normal posture and postural disorders
• ADHD and behavior management techniques
• Emotional regulation for children and adolescents

The five-week program is an exciting and informative opportunity for teaching professionals. Teachers will learn how to support students with speech, language, and communications needs within the classroom. Participants will also be taught the skills needed to deal with bullying in order to combat the long-lasting psychological impairments that can be caused in students who suffer from mental or physical abuse at the hands of their peers in school.

From being aware that students may be wearing inappropriate shoes and backpacks, to monitoring the overuse of technology, and being able to recognize students who may be suffering from Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are all part of the comprehensive series on offer. Learn these and more and fast track your way to a better overall understanding of what it is to be a teacher in the 21^st century. RSVP via WeChat: Yvonne.xu@lih-oliviasplace.com or scan the QR code attached for more information.

Adults. Aug 30 – Dec 13 (once a month). 2 – 4pm. Eliot’s Corner, B203, F/2, Building 8, SK Work No. 18, Jiuxianqiao East Road, Chaoyang District. (1770 224 8323).

Photos: Courtesy of LIH Olivia’s Place

Beijing is filled with events, and many of them are created by awesome international people starting a new adventure, or people raising money for great causes. Whatever your event might be, it needs proper exposure. If you want to let the relevant people know that you are hosting a unique event, then the beijingkids website is an essential place to let people know, because we love to hear and share about your family-friendly happenings you have going on.

There are also several ways to get these events into the magazine’s event section, with your best option being to contact our web editor (webeditor@beijing-kids.com). There have been times when we will receive messages asking why an event was not included in our magazine when these things weren’t officially brought to our attention. While we may know a lot of what is going on, in a city that is the size of Beijing it is impossible to know everything. So, if you want to spread the word to as many people as possible in print and on the web, then make sure to submit your event to our web editor.

These are some more ways you can let us know about your event:

– For the Events page online, you can add your own event and our web editor will release the information on our website. Check out this page.
– For the Events section of our magazine, check out this page. The deadline for applications is usually around the middle of the month to ensure that it can be added to the magazine.
– If you have questions, you can also check out our frequently asked questions page here.

Several things to think about when you want to post about an event:

– Is it family-friendly?
– Is it guided towards parents and other carers?
– Is it relevant to teachers and schools?
– Is it a workshop, seminar, or educational activity? Informative events are always useful.
– Is it an activity that lets kids play inside our outside?
– Is it an event that teenagers can also do?
– Is it a bazaar, fair, or market?
– Would parents like this event as a night out away from the kids?

Pictures Pixabay

Bored of malls and trampoline parks? Each month we pick out some of Beijing’s cultural attractions which are particularly suitable for families, and which will leave your kids amazed, inspired, and intrigued.

Workshop: Sewing and Giant Spiders

The famous giant spider “Maman”, seen here in Zurich, can be viewed in Beijing until Jun 23

French-American artist Louise Bourgeois was famed for her giant spiders, but she was also interested in the importance of traditional textile arts: sewing, weaving, and spinning. This workshop, run by Atelier, accompanies the first large-scale exhibition of her work in China, and will help kids understand the work of this important artistic figure. If you can’t make it to the workshop, the exhibition runs until June 23, and is well worth exploring.

The Eternal Thread, Jun 8

Age 8+. RMB 750. 10am-3pm. Song Art Museum, Grasse Road, Loutai Village, Tianzhu Town, Shunyi District.(13240184908) https://globerweb.com/listings/song-art-museum-workshop/ 松美术馆：顺义区 天竺镇楼台村南格拉斯路

Art: Toys From a Different Culture

This exhibition of handcrafted, brightly painted toys from different regions of Japan is an insight into what kids from different cultures have in common, and where they differ. The toys also have symbols and shapes intended to bring good luck. The only complaint you might get from your little ones is that they’re not allowed to touch them!

Japanese Folk Toys, until Sep 15

All ages. Free. 10am-10pm. Muji Hotel, Building 2, 21 Langfang Toutiao, Meishi Street, Xicheng District. (6316 9199) www.douban.com/event/32041204/. 西城区 廊房头条21号院北京坊W2号楼B1层.

Theater: A Much-Loved Musical

“We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz…” And you could be too, if you get down to the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center later this month. This is a revived and refreshed version of the stage musical, sure to delight all who love the classic film, and youngsters who are new to the story. Performed in English with Chinese subtitles.

The Wizard of Oz, Jun 13-30

All ages. RMB 280-1080. 7.30pm, Sat-Sun 2.30pm matinee. Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. Bldg 9, Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng District. (400-635-3355) www.247tickets.com/t/broadway-classic-musical-the-wizard-of-oz. 西城区天桥南大街9号楼.

Dance: A Charming Tale for Little Ones

Panda’s Home is a Chinese-Italian co-production, which has enchanted audiences around the world. TPO Dance Troupe specialize in combining technology with art to produce a mesmerizing experience, where children are allowed onto the stage to interact with the dancers.

Panda’s Home, Jun 22-23

Ages 4-9 plus parents/ carers. RMB 160-350. Various times. National Centre for the Performing Arts. 2 Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District. (6655 0000) http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1060503.html. 西城区西长安街2号.

Photography: A Rock Legend

Teens just discovering the legacy of the late great David Bowie will be fascinated by this exhibition. Mick Rock was Bowie’s official photographer during his iconic “Ziggy Stardust” era, documenting the singer’s extraordinary costumes and performances, and the pantheon of rock greats who worked with him, including Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.

Bowie by Mick Rock, until Aug 4

All ages. RMB 108 weekdays, RMB 120 weekends and holidays, free for Seniors 65+ with ID and for one child under 1.2m accompanied by an adult. 10am-7pm. 798 Art Factory. 4 Jiu Xian Qiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (1132 2248) www.247tickets.com/t/bowie-mick-rock-beijing. 酒仙桥路4号大山子艺术区.

Photos: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15617848, www.douban.com/event/32041204/, www.tqpac.com/item/1999.html, http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1060503.html, Mick Rock via www.247tickets.com/t/bowie-mick-rock-beijing

Parents who hope for the children to attend a top university in the US or elsewhere might be concerned mostly about their academic grades and exam results. They might consider additional tutoring, or online learning. But a US academic is teaching a course for Beijing students promising a very different route to impress college admissions officers: screenwriting.

“As one Harvard admissions officer put it, good grades and scores will get you a ticket to the dance, but you need something special to get the girl,” says Michael Yuen, founder and CEO of StarCoach. “You need something different from the rest.”

Michael Yuen

Yuen sees storytelling as a key skill to standing out from the crowd.

“Storytelling is an essential skill for succeeding in school, at work, and in life,” he says. “Storytelling is used in writing college application essays, responding to job interview questions, giving business presentations.”

To teach this vital skill to middle school and high school students, Yuen is bringing to Beijing screenwriting mentor Mary Beth Fielder. Fielder has taught acting, directing and screenwriting at the University of Southern California (USC), and also directed classic TV drama Thirtysomething. Among the students she has mentored was Jonathan M. Chu, who went on to direct box office smash Crazy Rich Asians.

The ten workshops will take place during July and cost RMB 12,000, though the price is reduced to RMB 8,000 if you book before May 26. Yuen believes that attendees will learn more than just the art of screenwriting.

“Human beings are driven by the need to connect and the best writers are those who take audiences on a journey of connection,” he says. “In order to do this, writers must learn how to connect to themselves and, most importantly, to connect with others.”

To find out more, or to book, contact Yuen via the QR code below.

StarCoach Screenwriting Workshop, Jul 1-22
Ages 12+. RMB 12,000 (RMB 8,000 before May 26). 10-11.30am Mon, Wed, Fri.

Photos: medium.com