This Week in Health and Fitness brings you weekly updates on fitness events, health and wellness news, and healthy eating from around Beijing.

We've discussed how brunch seems to be Beijing's favorite sport on several occasions but what's a Beijinger to do if the siren song of brunch hits when they're trying to eat healthily? Don't fret, because these six Beijing restaurants offer healthier brunch options that will satisfy your need for diurnal dining while still hitting your diet goals.

What do we mean by healthy? A focus on fresh, less-processed ingredients, options for special diets (vegan, gluten-free, etc.), and no free-flow (although we'll look the other way if you have a cocktail, especially if it includes fresh juice ...). Bonus points for dishes with eggs or the option to add an egg.

Feast (Food by EAST)
Every Saturday in the month of July, Feast is offering a special healthy brunch. They'll have an organic salad bar and a fresh juice bar, as well as dishes tailored to four famous tummy-trimming diet plans. Feast has teamed up with other Beijing brands like Juice by Melissa for pop-up healthy brunches in the past, so we're expecting good things. Since this is still a buffet you're still going to need to exercise some willpower, but you can always walk it off by hitting the shops in neighboring Indigo afterward.

Home Grounds
We're big fans of Aussie eatery Home Grounds at any time of the day (we recently blogged about their daily specials) but it's a particularly great brunch spot, especially if you live in the Xingfucun area. Brunch dishes like chorizo cassoulet or the Home Grounds Big Brekky and hearty and filling but won't weigh you down. Alternatively, atone for the excesses of the night before with a healthy, Asian-influenced salad or raw bowl. Check their WeChat (HomeGrounds源厨) for weekend specials (recent specials have included chicken quesadillas).

Mai Fresh
A new courtyard restaurant on Beiluogu Xiang, Mai Fresh has plenty of options for healthy diners, such as a beef and spinach salad bowl with quinoa and poached egg (so much protein!). Owner Jeff Ji is also the brains behind Mai Bar and JW Tailor Bar, and his drink-making expertise comes through in Mai Fresh's intriguing juices, such as the Fresh Prince, with cucumber, lemon, osmanthus, and dill, or the Beet It, with beets, berries, mango, ginger, and lemon. 

Moka Bros
Moka Bros makes it onto this list for two reasons: 1) Most of the dishes on their menu feel healthy without being punishingly so and 2) pretty much any of them could arguably be eaten for brunch. We're fans of starting our weekend with one of their new poke bowls (especially the sassy salmon) and a hydrate smoothie (cucumber, kiwi, Sichuan pepper) — especially good during this steaming hot weather. Don't sleep on their "Badass Bakes", either, all of which have zero refined sugar and many of which are dairy or gluten free. The Sanlitun branch gets pretty packed around brunch time, so check out the slightly quieter Solana branch, which has the added bonus of being close to Chaoyang Park for a post-brunch stroll. 

Nooxo
Located in Chunxiu Lu dining destination Yu 育膳房 (or The Crib, as we are used to calling it), Nooxo serves a range of dairy-free (and often plant-based and gluten-free) soups, grain bowls, and smoothies. Nooxo's food is based on the principles of vegan dining but this is not hair-shirt-wearing, punish-yourself-for-your-carnivorous-excesses healthy food. Grab a light, yet protein-packed, smoothie such as the Mr. Tofu, with tofu, apple, banana, soy milk, dates, and cinnamon, or a hearty Nooxo bowl. Pro-tip: The area that hosts Canvas bar by night is one of the best daytime dining spots in The Crib — take your smoothie in there and maybe grab a healthy toast from pop-up toast bar Palette while you're at it. 

Tribe
Tribe is one of our favorite healthy brands, full stop, so it's no surprise they made it onto this list. In particular, Tribe is a great choice for those following special diets, as all the dishes on their menu are clearly marked with special diet information. Their brunch options include yogurt with homemade buckwheat granola, sweet and savory turmeric rice flour crepes, and a protein-rich egg white and chicken sausage English muffin. Pro-tip: The All-in Smoked Tofu grain bowl (with gut-healthy kimchi and nutrient-dense avocado) also makes a great brunch dish if you choose the option to add a poached egg. 

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos courtesy of Mai Fresh, Kyle Mullin, Tribe Organic, Nooxo, Home Grounds

Beijing Beats brings you the best in Beijing nightlife each weekend. Its aim: to help you soothe the woes of a long and stressful week with some out-of-body gyrating and some experiences you'd rather forget come Monday. Check the weekend's full list of nightlife events here.
 

Friday, July 14

Mickey Zhang
Lantern hosts a night of local techno courtesy of a six-hour set from Mickey Zhang. Better ditch your dancing shoes and just go barefoot since they'll probably just sweat and slip off your feet anyway. Zhang is joined by Lantern residents Weng Weng and Jackson Lee in the main room. 10pm. RMB 50. Lantern

Pretty Cold
Cool down this Friday with some frigid synthwave, goth, and retro-future sounds with the Pretty Cold collective. What could be better than dancing your weekend away to the dissonant themes of dark romanticism, alienation, body horror, and the inevitable collapse of post-industrial society. Expect a night of staccato drum machines, ice-cold synths, and infinite reverb for a unique atmosphere of lust, shattered hope, and beautiful ruin. 10pm. Price TBC. Dada
 

Saturday, July 15

Jimpster
Tastemaker, label boss, producer, DJ, remixer. Jamie Odell, AKA Jimpster (pictured at top), wears many hats and wears them well, becoming one the most revered deep house producer/DJs operating on the scene today. His esteemed labels Freerange and Delusions Of Grandeur continue to help break incredible new music and equally impressive acts such as Detroit Swindle, Tornado Wallace and Session Victim. From his UK base, Jimpster has inadvertently become a standard-bearer and custodian of the authentic house sound, and carries this flag to the four corners of the world. This weekend you'll find him planting it firmly into Migas' dancefloor. 10pm. Price TBC. Migas

Syndicate Sessions
Once again, Dada promises a messy night with the Syndicate crew shining the spotlight back on the Chinese bass music scene. Fresh from killing it in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, UK-born Daniel Power – considered the most prolific promoter in southern China – and Hong Kong-native Just Bee – one of the region's hottest young talents – bring their own brand of sub-bothering DnB to Dada's meaty soundsystem. They will be aided and abetted by the Syndicate's grisly residents. 10pm. Price TBC. Dada

Soul Party vol. 5
Another month, another Soul Party. Head to Ramo this Friday for prime cuts of the best soul, funk, and disco, bolstered by America’s finest comfort food (or soul food, as they like to call it). The fun starts at 4pm at Mimi e Coco with beats from DJ Jay 1,2 as well as Fruity Shop’s DJ Duff. In the meantime, Ramo’s kitchen will be whipping up Southern comfort food to keep you full throughout the day. 4pm-late. Free. Ramo

Weng Weng and Cancer's Birthday Night
You can always rely on Lantern to provide a high-quality night, and Saturday night's fun in the form of founder and resident DJ Weng Weng (and his fellow Cancers) birthday will be no different. Head over, pay your respects, and dance until the sun comes up. 10pm. RMB 50. Lantern

As always, all of Beijing's best nightlife events can be found in our Events section here.

Images courtesy of the venues

Beijing can be overstimulating to say the least. Let’s be real, sometimes even our sixth sense gets a decent workout, the one where you know that stick of chuan'r will get you sick for the next two days (but you gobble it up anyway). With such a wide variety of events, restaurants, and gigs to attend, we suggest bathing each of your five senses into one, if not all, of the nourishing goings on below.
 

Taste

It’s definitely too hot for almost any food that is not watermelon, which is why we shout out a hearty "long live liquids!" Even better if they come with a little kick to numb your surfacing need for a holiday. Between Beijingers seemingly non-stop worshipping of beer (no judgment here) and the possibility of still being able to squeeze in a beach holiday, why not keep your calorie intake low and turn to wine instead? For something new this weekend, head to Joli's near Houhai for an RMB 50 glass of the good stuff, or grab a bottle and settle in for an easy late night chat. 
 

Smell

Jul 16: Hike Yunmeng Gorge
What is that unfamiliar and long-forgotten smell? Could it be sweet childhood memories of scavenging for firewood and smores? It could be all of those things if you grab your tent and head out to Yunmeng Gorge, where you can bury your head deep in the fresh and cool mountain water ponds accompanied by the Beijing Hikers. Pay a bonfire fee at the entrance (if you are asked) and watch out for falling rocks, mountain streams, and ponder what the 'reflect the ancient grotesque' sign actually means. Another word of warning: the donkeys are friendly but don’t get too close. 8am-5.30pm. RMB 380, RMB 340 (members)
 

Touch

Dive Into Beijing's Pools
If your swimming gear has started to gather spider webs and you've forgotten how good synthetic and stretchy fabric feels around your bum, well, it's time to renew your vows to the water before it's too late. Jump into your swimsuit, grab your floaties, construct a picnic basket, and dive into a Beijing pool for a refreshing and relaxing way to spend these "feels like 45 degrees" days. 
 

Hear

Jul 14: Tsering Norbu at Soi Baochao
So, your friend went to Tibet last spring and you are still "totally thinking about going any time now"? If only it was easier to acquire a non-tour-group visa or get all the way out west? Well, if you're not going to Tibet this weekend, it is most certainly coming to you. Check your ears for the highland sounds of the Tibetan folk music night at at Soi Baochao with a hint of reggae and rock. 9pm. Free. Soi Boachao
 

See

Jul 15: Beijing Improv: A Show of Ice and Fire
Whether you want it to be or not, the new season of Game of Thrones is a big deal. While we wait for bars and restaurants around Beijing to welcome everyone for the screenings of the first episode next week, let's rekindle the GoT spirit with some fan fiction courtesy of Beijing Improv. They say their English language show is 'loosely based' on the Song of Ice and Fire and that is good enough for us. Grab your swords and goblets and get ready for some belly laughs. 8pm. RMB 50. Project Pengyou Courtyard

Images courtesy of organizers, Tautvile Daugelaite

Massive delays broke out at this morning's rush hour when Shuangjing Station was shut down on the Beijing Metro's Line 10 after witnesses reported seeing bright flashes and heard loud bangs.

A number of online videos and photos show what appeared to be explosions in the subway tunnel heading northwards to Guomao Station at around 6:46am. A number of video posted online (that clearly show the flashes and bangs) show subway personnel attempting to get commuters to evacuate the platform as many of them use their phones to record the scene.

Service to Line 10 from Songjiazhuang Station to Agricultural Exhibition Center was affected. The transfer from Line 4 Jiaomen West Station to Line 10 was also temporarily shut down this morning, causing delays and massive lines of commuters trying to get to work on time.

Mr Yang said he was traveling on the Line 10 subway when something went wrong.

"The train had stopped in the tunnel, it was very scary," Mr Yang told the Beijing Youth Report. "The train eventually reached Guomao (Station) where it temporarily stopped. Outside on the platform, I could see many people running. The subway workers told passengers (over the PA system) not to disembark, and then the train left (the station). At the next stop, I immediately got off the subway and used (bus) public transportation."

The Beijing Metro explained on its Weibo account that malfunctioning subway equipment located in the Line 10 subway tunnel between Shuangjing Station and Jintaizizhao Station (just north of Guomao) had a detrimental effect on subway operations, causing delays and temporarily shutting down Shuangjing Station.

The subway said the problem had been fixed by 7:39am when normal operations were restored, and Shuangjing Station had reopened at 8am.

The Beijing Metro said no explosions took place.

Beijing experienced a heavy thunderstorm last night. The city is known to be prone to flooding after heavy precipitation, something that may have caused electrical problems for its subway system.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath 

Images: Weibo (2)

I'm currently spending my days in the beautiful wasteland known as America, where you can spend your morning at the DMV (strict no gun policy much to the annoyance of some) before eating the country’s first hamburger (meh), buying gifts at Whole Foods (just kill me already), and catching some low-tide breeze off of the Atlantic (very nice). It’s a bit much in all honesty, but it’s home and gotta pay my respects whenever I can. Likewise, it’s time to pay my respect to the music gods back in Beijing who’ll be marching along keeping the livehouses and dingy spaces alive and cooking this weekend. So without further ado ...
 

Friday, July 14

Chaos Kills The Pain, Chinatown, Awake Mountains, Hua Pi, Wu You at School
Unleash your summer rage with this metal and hardcore filled evening of blood curling rock and roll featuring hardcore ruffians Chaos Kills The Pain, nu-metal ensemble Chinatown, metalheads Wu You, and much more. 80 RMB

Hind Brain, CMCB, Ice Moon, Brozzers, Ephemerality, S.A.W, The Uncrowned, Sick Pupa, Fire Monkey, Devil Mask at Yugong Yishan
Take it up a notch with this epic lineup of hard rock and metal featuring a shopping list of bands that’ll get you screaming and moshing all night long including The Uncrowned, S.A.W. CMCB, Ice Moon, Drunkard, Scar Constitution, Army of Sade Kirin, and much much more. Nu metal, industrial rock, and good ol’ fashion screamo – no genre goes untouched. Twenty bands ready to give it their all over two days. 7pm start (150 RMB one-day pass, 180 RMB two-day pass) 

Wu & The Side Effects, Hard Candy Revolution, Disaster Chat at Temple
Not sure if acid and Temple go together but acid funk and Temple – that’s a match made in heaven – and Wu & The Side Effects are the best in the business. The rollicking blues rockers join Hard Candy Revolution and Disaster Chat for some Friday night fun. Free

Miguel Zenon Quartet at Blue Note
Saxophonist Miguel Zenon takes the Blue Note stage with his quartet this Friday night. The Grammy-nominated musician and MacArthur Fellow looks back into jazz history to create a new musical language. He’s worked with a long list of jazz greats and up-and-coming voices and has delivered lectures on jazz around the world. 280 RMB

Oldy Baby, Rudra’s Sage, Nick Parsons, Wu Gui at 69 Café
69 Cafe brings all your favorite folk artists to the stage for a three-day folk off including sitar player Rudra’s Sage, sixties rocker Li Eryang aka Nick Parsons, indie guitarist and singer Shannon from the Plum Trees, Sand frontman and blues rocker Liu Donghong, and many more. 66 RMB

Tsering at Soi Baochao
Tibetan folk artist Tsering Norbu hits up Baochao with his music that’s rooted in the traditional Tibetan folk traditions from Lhasa, as well as world music from around the globe. Free

Dan Taylor and Heike Kagler at Jianghu Bar 
German cellist Heike Kagler and The Harridans frontman Brit-born Dan Taylor bring their remarkable talents together for a special evening of Celtic Baroque folk. Sounds quite lovely. 60 RMB

Warbly Jets (US), Next Door Band at Hot Cat Club
Pop punk outfit Next Door Band, signed to Sony Music, appears at Hot Cat Club with Britrock group Warbly Jets, a Los Angeles-based group that’s been together since 2015 and embodies the glam punk spirit of British rock and roll. 180 RMB

Stanisław Słowiński Quintet (PL) at DDC
Inspired by the classics of Polish jazz and under a strong influence of the sonic richness and complexity of modern classical music, the Stanisław Słowiński Quintet’s priority is creating its own individual sound built upon the outcome of emotions within the music. 80 RMB

Edge Walking, Kepler, The Mescaline, Mixing Theory, BOB at 13 Club
Metal and hardcore together again! Wudaokou’s number spot to let your hair loose and throw back questionable shots down your throat – 13 Club – looks to rally up the troops with this roaring lineup. Summer’s out! 80 RMB

0190, Soul Mate, Heping Beilu at Laifu Livehouse
Funk, soul, punk, and good ol' fashion rock n roll – the Shuangjing stronghold Blessing Livehouse continues rocking forth with this young blooded lineup. 50 RMB

Zhang Qianqian at Rockland
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene, since her debut in 1996 gives a special showcase courtesy of Gulou record shop Rockland. 200 RMB
 

Saturday, July 15

Underdog, Hard Candy Revolution, Duff Beer, Royal As Purple, Subass at School
Best work on that tan cause The Hutong Bikini Beach Party returns to School Bar this weekend – a smorgasbord of water-soaked debauchery kicking off at 4pm as a host of bands including up and coming ska supergroup Underdog and Luoyang punk rockers Subass perform while a pool party reigns supreme on the rooftop and an array of contests including a ‘Model Contests’ for all you sexy beauts out there. Shenanigans will indeed ensue. 100 RMB (50 RMB if you’re sporting swimwear) (Free for ladies in bikinis)

Itsogoo at Modernsky Lab
Hip-hop group Itsogoo who bring different elements into their music, including jazz and soul fusion, bring down the house at Modernsky Lab. They’re appearing in support of their newly released album Cosmic Islanders, which uses the framework of hip-hop to explore Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist philosophy. Dope. 120 RMB

Liquid Oxygen Canned, Drunkard, DR. V’Agent, Scar Constitution, The Skin I Live In, AJK, Dark Haze, Purgatory, Nuclear Bomb, Hind Brain, OWAT at Yugong Yishan
Take it up a notch with this epic lineup of hard rock and metal featuring a shopping list of bands that’ll get you screaming and moshing all night long including The Uncrowned, S.A.W. CMCB, Ice Moon, Drunkard, Scar Constitution, Army of Sade Kirin, and much much more. Nu-metal, industrial rock, and some screamo for good measure – no genre goes untouched. Twenty bands ready to give it their all over two days. 7pm start/150 RMB (180 RMB two-day pass) 

Scare The Children, Ogenix, Los Crasher, The Paper Tigers, The Peppercorns at Yue Space
A host of hardhitting rock and roll acts hit the big stage for the Vigor Classic Rock Festival courtesy of Vigor – including Los Crasher, Scare the Children, The Paper Tigers and other great local and foreign acts with everything from industrial electro-rock, horror metal, and more being offered. 100 RMB

Macondo, Silent Speech at DDC
Genre-bending showcase featuring showstoppers Macondo, continuing their reign of righteous power post-rock, who’ll be joined by alt-rockers Silent Speech for a righteous evening over at DDC. 60 RMB

Mr. Honey at Liufu Livehouse
Long standing big band ensemble Mr. Honey, known for their bubbly brass-heavy mix of swing, ska, and indie pop hit up Shuangjing for a special showcase following their 2017 sophomore release The Way To Dance. 80 RMB

DJ Quaver, Fakakilla Saber, C-Jam, N-Bomb, YoungJack, FCYCO at Tango
The hip-hop promotion team Electronic Monkey hosts a party at Tango with a hefty rap and hip hop lineup – including DJ Quaver and Fakakilla Saber, both fresh off their debut EPs as well as a slew of fellow Dungeon Beijing fam. 150 RMB

Shannon, Pu Han, Xu Chen, Gao Jiao Shou at 69 Café
69 Cafe brings all your favorite folk artists to the stage for a three-day folk off including sitar player Rudra’s Sage, sixties rocker Li Eryang aka Nick Parsons, indie guitarist and singer Shannon from the Plum Trees, Sand frontman and blues rocker Liu Donghong, and many more. 66 RMB

Fofox, Xiao Gou, Wu Yue, Ming Ze, SIMQ at Mogu Space
An array of unplugged performances from some of the scene’s hardest working folk acts including Fofox, Xiao Gou, and more. 66 RMB

Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Dream Machine at 4corners
Audience favorites, Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Dream Machine bring their impressive repertoire of classic soul, RnB, three-piece horn section, rock and roll fun to 4corners. FREE

Wang Yi at Soi Baochao
Wang Yi, singer-songwriter, ‘blessed with a stunningly beautiful singing voice, exquisite guitar skills, and worshiped for his Bob Dylan covers’ hits up Baochao. Free
 

Sunday, July 16

Pork, SNSOS, Silent Speech at Modernsky Lab
Long standing alternative grunge outfit Pork releases their third album, Trouble at Modernsky Lab. The band, together since 2008, play a literary blend of Bbritrock, post-rock and black metal. They’re joined for the show by special guests SNSOS and Silent Speech. 80 RMB

Sound Sculpture x Li Chao x Eder Espinoza at DDC
Speak Across Borders, a collaborative piece between Sound Sculpture, Chinese painter/sculptor and Bachmann Artist-in-Residence Li Chao, and Chilean dancer Eder Espinoza. All proceeds go to support the Ingeborg Bachmann Residency, a joint initiative between 她 Sie She – Bachmann for China and Red Gate International Artist Residency Program. Intriguing. 3pm start. 60 RMB

MC Dawei at DDC
Described as a poetic tsunami, rapper Dawei continues to evolve with his hard hitting, intellectually stimulating and affecting verses, and embarks on his next journey as he presents his latest collection book, a collection of poems. Expect live performances and guest appearances from an array of artists, including Dai Weina, Zhong Lifeng, and more. 100 RMB

The Guzzlers, Acid Accident, by Dream, Disaster Chat at School
School newest series’ ‘School Chill Out’ breaks it down this Sunday with The Guzzlers, post-rock band By Dream, pop rockers Disaster Chat, and Acid Accident. 40 RMB

Liu Donghong, Kamau, Susie & Santhi, Yan Bo Zhou, Xing Le Ji at 69 Café
69 Cafe brings all your favorite folk artists to the stage for a three-day folk off including sitar player Rudra’s Sage, sixties rocker Li Eryang aka Nick Parsons, indie guitarist and singer Shannon from the Plum Trees, Sand frontman and blues rocker Liu Donghong, and many more. 66 RMB

Jurat T at Rockland
Xinjiang raised singer-songwriter Jurat whose mix of Urumqi and psychedelic rock has haunted venues in Beijing for years gives a special showcase at Gulou record shop Rockland. 120 RMB

Hot Club of Beijing at Blue Note
Multi-national gypsy jazz ensemble brings their 1930s swinging jazz, hot Latin rhythms, and gypsy waltzes to Blue Note so best bring your dancing shoes. 250 RMB

Perpetual Motion Machine, Alipu, Caffeine, Poshangcun, Awake Mountains at Yue Space
Five groups of musicians with five diverse styles perform for a worthy cause – domestic film protection including veteran J-pop outfit Caffeine, Xinjiang styled urban folk band Alipu, the always riotous Perpetual Motion Machine, and more. 77 RMB

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music or check out all of our live music listings here.

Images: SNSOS, courtesy of the organizers

Softly opening at the end of May and tucked away on the first floor at the east side of Chaowaimen Compound (just north of Alien Street), Forty+ Taphouse is a bit hard to find but its off-the-main-street location means that it's a quiet escape from the nearby noise. 

Also, its name couldn't be more apt, wearing its 40-plus draft beers on its sleeve, made up of a selection of their own brews, as well as some from domestic breweries, and some imported. They apparently even made a point of installing one more tap than their nearest competitor, NBeer Pub Wukesong, which features 42 beers on tap. 

The eight beers made at Forty+'s brewery in Fengtai, include Gentleman Weizenbier (4.5 percent ABV), Amigo Light Ale (5.1 percent ABV), Buddy Dunkel (5 percent ABV), Rock n’ Roll Stout (6.5 percent ABV), Pepper Stout (8 percent ABV), Trance Angel IPA (6.5 percent ABV), and Maomao Cider (5.3 percent ABV). A flight of four costs RMB 88, and every day one of their beers go up on special for RMB 30-35 a pint. We particularly enjoyed the Rock n’ Roll Stout, which was creamy, malty, and sweet. The Trance Angel IPA, a hoppy New England-style IPA, was decent but we've had better renditions around town.

As for the domestic varieties, there's the wheat ale from Harvest, Dongbei IPA from Jing-A, Captain IPA from Urbrau, Phenomenal Oyster Stout from NBeer, and Tko IPA from Boxing Cat, all priced at RMB 45.

Where Forty+ really shines is in its list of imports, which would bring suds to any beer-lovers eyes – from a hoppy and juicy Rogue 7 Hop IPA (7.77 percent ABV, RMB 45), Aftermouth IPA from Black Market (RMB 45), Lupulingus IIPA (9 percent, only RMB 68) and Armageddon IPA (6.7 percent ABV) both from Epic, Undercover IPA, Breakfast Stout from Founders, Hop Fiction Pale Ale from Brewdog (RMB 55), and several options from Ballast Point. Most special perhaps is the Prairie Bomb Imperial Stout (with its outrageous 13 percent ABV) and our long-term love Lizard of Koz (10.5 percent ABV) from Founders, both of which sell for RMB 68 per 300ml and is likely to be the best price you'll find in Beijing.

Aside from the taps, which are the focus of the sleek, all-wood bar with 20-liter keg bar stools, the 200sqm space is filled with comfortable leather sofas, a pool table, and TVs. As for food, there are four salads (RMB 38-48), a chicken burger (RMB 48), beef burger (RMB 58), sausage platter (RMB 98), and some bar snacks (RMB 28-48). Although simple, the in-house baked breadsticks (RMB 38) are made using beer-infused batter from 40+'s various beers, making each one different the perfect accompaniment to the main liquidy event.

With the so-far unbeaten variety and excellent prices of these well-picked and rotating domestic and imported beers, Forty+ Taphouse is the ideal venue to visit with friends to spend an evening exploring the world of craft beer world. We can see good things happening for this big pub and can't wait to slowly chip away at their selection.

Forty+ Taphouse
Daily 10am-late. East side of Chaowaimen Compound, 26 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District (185 1122 1101)
40+精酿啤酒餐吧俱乐部：朝阳区朝外大街26号朝外MEN公寓东侧底商

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos: Tracy Wang, courtesy of Forty+ Taphouse

It's hot. What helps? Beer. Onwards!

Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling are launching two beers on today (Jul 14) at Dubujib, including a special unfiltered Kentucky Citrus Wheat, exclusive and only available in China, as well as a Vanilla Cream Ale, brewed using corn. Get down to Dubujib from 6pm onwards and enjoy free samples and finger food to celebrate the launch.

Missed Jing-A's fierce watermelon eating competition two weeks ago? Don't sweat it, as Jing-A has organized another round at East's Craft Container (see our first impressions here), for 3-7pm on Saturday. Their watermelon wheat beer will be on special at RMB 25 throughout the day. You can also opt for a free-flow drinks package for RMB 198, which also includes a pizza from 2-6pm, or 6-9pm.

On to Sunday, when Great Leap Brewing will release their Honey Ma IPA, the latest in their Honey Ma series. This new brew is infused with honey and Sichuan peppercorns, and dry-hopped with Zuper Saaz and Centennial hops for a refreshing IPA with a strong and citrusy aroma, a golden color, and spicy finish.

To make the release even more interesting, they've invited Jeremiah Jenne of Beijing by Foot (and occasional Beijinger writer) back to host a Drinking in History event at GLB #6 at 12.30pm on the day of the release. RMB 100 (or RMB 80 for Collectivists) will get you in and one Honey Ma IPA, one Honey Ma Gold, and deep knowledge about the history behind German and American influence during the fall of the Qing dynasty in China. Make a reservation by emailing jimmy@greatleapbrewing.com.

Over towards Beixinqiao, North Capital are to hold a quiz night on July 20, starting at 9pm, and for the occasion will offer 10 percent off on all drafts, free shots for each round’s winner, and a bottle of booze for the champion. Contact WeChat ID: 18664680276 to make a reservation.

North Capital's hutong neighbor, Jian Guo Bar has just received a batch of imported bottled beer via British Wild Beer brewery, which specializes in barrel aging. These imports include Ninkasi (a Belgian-style saison), Sleeping Lemons Ex (a summer gose made with preserved lemons), Shnoodlepip (a pink peppercorn saison, barrel aged in red wine barrels and blended with fresh passionfruit and hibiscus). We're a big fan of these brews and they've always disappeared quite quickly whenever they've landed so be quick.

Already looking for an excuse to skip work next week? Out of Step will be offering a buy two, get one free deal every weekday (4pm-1am) starting next week. A selected beer will be on special each day and check their WeChat (ID: theoutofstep) to grab a coupon to save another RMB 15.

Finally, we checked out new Forty+ Taphouse at Chaoyangmenwai this week and found it to have the best on-tap beer selection of imported draft beers in Beijing, boasting a whopping 42 taps in total. Aside from their eight brews (all at RMB 45), highlights include Lupulingus IIPA (9 percent, only RMB 68) and Armageddon IPA (6.7 percent ABV) both from Epic, Undercover IPA, Breakfast Stout from Founders, and Hop Fiction Pale Ale from Brewdog (RMB 55). Most special perhaps is the Prairie Bomb Imperial Stout (with its outrageous 13 percent ABV) and our long-term love Lizard of Koz (10.5 percent ABV) from Founders, both of which sell for RMB 68 per 300ml and is likely to be the best price you'll find in the city. Read our full review here.

Stay cool and have a great one, Beijing!

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos courtesy of venues, Tracy Wang

You've enjoyed them separately but battling robots and Chinese mythology will finally meet-up in the ultimate crossover as state broadcaster CCTV and toy maker Hasbro have agreed to collaborate on a cartoon that will feature the Transformers and Nezha, a popular Chinese mythological character.

The deal allows CCTV to produce an animated cartoon that will feature Hasbro's toy line from the 80s that recent made a pop culture comeback as a blockbuster Hollywood film franchise.

CCTV and Hasbro have agreed to certain production standards, the show's air date, and IP ownership, but no specific details have been released.

CCTV announced the news on its own website, but would not specify anything about the upcoming show. And yet, the state broadcaster whose news program is seen on every TV channel at 7pm across the country were willing to reveal that Hasbro President Stephen J. Davis came to Beijing last week to seal the deal, and that there were 10 people accompanying him.

What we can tell you is that apart from Sun Wukong, Nezha is one of the most popular mythological characters in China and despite being worshiped and well-received, doesn't dominate the media like the Monkey King.

Often depicted in his "battle stance" of three heads and six arms, Nezha is famously known as the deity that who was born fully-grown after his mother carried the pregnancy for over three years. A number of cartoons show Nezha famously fighting with his nemesis, the Dragon King of the East Sea, after refusing to be offered as a sacrifice. You can watch a recently made cartoon of Nezha here or here. 

READ: 'Furious 7' Knocks 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' Off Top Earnings Spot

It may seem strange to combine Chinese mythology and the Transformers, but the two share a number of similarities:

• Ressurection: Like Optimus Prime's habit of refusing to stay dead, Nezha also came back to life after dying.
• Transforming: There is more to meet the eye when considering Nezha, who will grow extra appendages to allow him to defeat his opponents.
• Cool accessories: Nezha shows he is ready for merchandising like his toy commercial peers by being equipped with his own set of personalized gear: a fire-tipped spear, a universe ring (which is like a hula hoop he uses to fight), and wind fire wheels that would come in handy for those aerial chase scene set pieces.

Although it's hard to imagine what this finished product will look like, we can still refer to other CCTV cartoons. Unfortunately, CCTV cartoons aren't overly imaginative or fun to watch. 

For example, the animated cartoon Mask Masters (shown above) is about a bunch of rock 'n' roll teenagers who transform into kung fu-fighting warriors, each patterned after a specific earth element to help distinguish them from each other. And if yet another Power Rangers clone isn't your thing, CCTV animation has also produced Thunderbirds are Go, a re-imagining of the puppeted children's show from the 60s that still seems just as stiff and wooden.

READ: Harmony Strikes Again: Foreign Video Content Purged From Streaming Sites AcFun and Bilibili

But since we're here and imagining the coolest crossovers between China and pop culture, we hope to see these inspired match-ups one day:

• The HuLu Brothers vs the Seven Dwarves: Considering they both fight a sexy witch queen, this one is at the top of our list.
• Constable Black Cat meets Tom & Jerry: We'd also have settled for Itchy & Scratchy.
• Shaolin monks in a Dirty Dozen remake: With Charles Bronson in the background wearing a robe, nodding wistfully.
• The Romance of the Three Kingdoms in an interconnected cinematic universe: Don't pursue Lu Bu: The Movie with an end credit scene teasing the next film in the series, a buddy cop movie featuring Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang.
• Wong Fei-Hung vs James Bond vs Rocky: For no reason except to say these three film franchises have the most recognizable film themes in history.
• The Wudang Sect vs the Wu-Tang Clan: There can be only one.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath 

Images: Duowan, Anphon, 5068, Business Insider

There are restaurants that have been around so long that they seem to be part of the very foundation of the Beijing foodie scene. Restaurants like Biteapitta, for example.

Starting out as a bakery and small restaurant in Nvren Jie in 2004, Biteapitta moved to its current location in Tongli Studios on Sanlitun Houjie in 2010. Having recently survived the bricking up of that strip (we’ll save discussion of the legitimacy of the “Great Bricking” for another time, but suffice it to say we prefer looking out of the window onto flower beds over people making poor life choices at Pure Girl Bar), we thought we would revisit what it is that makes Biteapitta an enduring success.

What “it” is, of course, is simple Middle Eastern food, done well. Biteapitta is justifiably famous for their pita bread, into which all manner of delicious things are stuffed, most notably creamy hummus and knobbly homemade falafel. Said pita sandwiches are perfect for a grab and go lunch (and undeniably cheap, at less than RMB 40 each) but those in search of a more substantial meal have plenty to choose from too.

The chopped chicken shawarma (RMB 69), accompanied by your choice of two side dishes, is a shortcut to a nutritious, filling meal – choose the majadra rice (rice cooked with lentils and onions) and simple chopped vegetable salad to keep it as healthy as possible. And if you’re really settling in for a long meal, the stuffed chicken (RMB 127 whole, RMB 90 half), oven baked on top of a laffa pita to catch the juices, is worth the 25-minute wait it requires.

In an interview with the Beijinger in early 2016, owner Avi Shabtai said that his hope for the future of Biteapitta is “to keep our existing clients satisfied while sharing our Middle Eastern experience with as many people as possible.”

Well, 18 months on from that interview, and 13 years since Biteapitta first opened, we can safely say that we remain very satisfied existing clients.

This article first appeared in the July/August issue of the Beijinger.

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos courtesy of Biteapitta

With warmer weather, the temptation grows to escape the heat and smog of downtown Beijing and head for the hills when the skies turn blue. Beijing’s mountain ranges and valleys provide surprisingly good opportunities for hiking. But even on the sunniest summer day, it pays to be prepared when hiking. Sudden thunderstorms, unstable terrain, and spotty emergency services in remote areas can turn a pleasant weekend stroll into a trip into an epic – and sometimes dangerous – journey.

One example of such occurred this past February, when two hikers – one from France and one from Germany – needed assistance from local rescue personnel after the hikers became lost near the Jiankou section of the Great Wall. The two hikers had ventured out without food and water. As the sun began to set, they lost their bearings and were forced to call friends, who in turn summoned the authorities, according to a report in The Shanghai Daily. After an uncomfortable three-hour wait, the pair were rescued by firefighters.

Many of Beijing’s most popular hiking areas also present hazards. Phoenix Mountain, only 51km away from Haidian and one of Beijing’s most accessible peaks, is famous for its poor footway and crumbling stones. Lingshan and Haituo Mountain each exceed 2,000 meters, hardly Himalayan, but sufficiently high to be taken seriously. Both have been the site of rescues and deaths in the past few years when hikers overestimated the length of their chosen route, became lost, and then were forced to bivouac overnight in cold temperatures.

While the Beijing authorities’ simple solution to this problem would seem to be “Buy a ticket to one of our pre-approved Great Wall theme parks and ride the chairlift,” there is still plenty of safe hiking to be had around the city provided hikers are adequately prepared.

According to Hayden Opie of Beijing Hikers, people most often find themselves in trouble by being either unprepared for the weather or by tackling a route that is simply too challenging.

READ: See Beijing Hikers' current events here

“You need enough energy to be able to get back down the mountain,” says Opie. “And you need a rough idea of which turn you’re supposed to take at that fork in the trail.”

He adds that hikers should be sure to wear sturdy shoes or boots and to take their own water and food. “You won’t find any water on the Great Wall. If you do, it will be being sold by someone at a very inflated price.”

Opie also recommends always a carrying a fully charged mobile phone just in case. Simon Ashmore, who leads outdoor educational programs for The Hutong and who holds the Mountain Leader qualification from the Mountain Training Association of England and Wales, concurs. “People get in trouble the most from getting lost, exposure, and dehydration,” says Ashmore.

He also strongly suggests that hikers inform others of their planned route, and expected time to return. “Always tell a friend what you plan to do and what time you aim to be back. Give them a call or a text or a WeChat message when you are back and safe. Even give them a cut-off time by which to contact you if you forget. Then if you can’t be contacted, they can raise the alarm.”

What happens when things do go wrong, and you become lost?

“Is it appropriate for me to quote [the British adventurer] Bear Grylls here?” asks Opie. “The mnemonic is Please Remember What’s First. P for protection – find a safe spot to hang out and wait, instead of wandering on and getting more lost. R for rescue – think about how you can help your rescuers find you. In Beijing, you can usually get a phone signal. You did bring your phone, didn’t you? W for water – this is a tough one in Beijing, with it being so dry. You probably won’t find water, and would you want to drink it? But you did bring plenty of water with you, didn’t you? F for food – again, a tough one in Beijing. Those squirrels are hard to catch. But again, you did bring plenty of food with you, right?”

But even the best hikers at some point can have their whimsical moments. “Something we always do is check out routes before we take people there for a hike,” Opie recalls.

He tells us of a time he went to check on a part of the wall to add to an existing trail. A part he knew was steep. “We hadn’t been up there in at least 10 years. What I found was that part of the wall had fallen down, leaving a five-meter scramble with some serious exposure – a slip would have meant a tumble down a 30-meter set of stairs at an 80 degree angle, or a longer fall off the adjacent cliff. I was seriously glad I didn’t find out if it would have been the stairs or the cliff. I was equally as glad that I wasn’t trying to take a group of hikers down there.”

While Beijing’s mountains and walls present excellent recreational opportunities for urban dwellers, it pays to be prepared for the unexpected.

Photo: Hayden Opie

Thefts can be more common than one would like to think in Beijing. Below are some of the commonly seized items and what to do post-theft.

Passports

If you lose your passport, report immediately at both the police station and the division of Exit/Entry Administration at the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau or at the exit-entry department of the public security bureau branch nearest to where the passport was lost. A new passport can be acquired at your embassy or consulate using the Confirmation of Passport Loss document. Don’t forget to apply for a new visa!

Stolen Property

In the event that your property is stolen, call the police at 110 and report the theft immediately. Then wait for the police to arrive and cooperate with them, which may include going to the station.

Missing Persons

A missing persons’ report can be filed 48 hours after that persons’ disappearance. The report can be filed both at your country’s embassy location in Beijing or at the local police department.

Embassies

You should locate the embassy nearest to your residence before arriving, and keep their contact information with you. Embassies often send out alerts or other important information that their citizens should know about while in Beijing. At the embassy, you can file a missing person’s report and vote in your home country’s elections.

Emergency Hotlines

• Fire: 119
• Police (Phone): 110
• Police (Text): 12110
• Police (English Emergency Hotline): 6525 5486
• Ambulance (Chinese): 120
• Ambulance (English) 999
• Traffic Accidents: 122
• Foreign Emergency Services: 6525 5486
• Beijing Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention: 6777 3512
• United Family Hospital Emergency Services: 5927 7120
• Raffles Medical Clinic and Emergency Services: 6462 9112

This article first appeared on our sister websitebeijingkids.

Sources: the Beijinger and Beijing International

Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Many expats wouldn’t dream of moving without knowing that their beloved family pet could go with them, but the logistics and paperwork involved in relocating an animal to or from Beijing – coupled with the potential language barrier – are enough to worry even the most efficient planner. Whether you choose to outsource the process or go it alone, rest assured that relocating with pets can be straightforward with research and preparation. With help from the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS), we summarize the latest regulations and procedures in the image below.

This article first appeared on our sister website beijingkids.

Images: National Geographic, beijingkids

All the bank information you type in must be exactly consistent with what was used to open your bank account. This includes capitalization and order of the name used to open your account. If you’ve tried to no avail to switching the order of your name during setup, typing without spaces, and dropping your middle name, you may have to go to the bank to fix errors. For Alipay, if you enter the incorrect details more than three times, you will be temporarily locked out and unable to attempt to register again for 24 hours.

Pre-step

Set up your Chinese bank account, download apps, and make basic accounts.

WeChat Wallet

STEP 1

Go to WeChat Wallet, located under “Me.”

*For some users, WeChat Wallet will only show up after receiving and opening a WeChat Red Packet.

STEP 2

Tap on “Cards” (Step 2a) and then “Add Card” type in your bank card number (Step 2b). Enter your “ID Type” (Step 2c).

STEP 3

The verification page will ask for a code sent to your phone. This step will only work if the phone number during the setup process is the same used to setup your bank account.

STEP 4

Setup a security pin to use each time you make a payment or transfer money to someone via WeChat Wallet. This pin will also be used for verification in the case that your phone is stolen. Once you’ve set up your pin, hit next and you will be able to see your bank card in your Wallet.

Alipay

STEP 1

Tap Sign Up and input your mobile number. A SMS verification code will be sent. Set your transaction password In the Home page, tap “Me” to go to Account page.

STEP 2

Link your bank card. In the second row select “My Cards” (Step 2a) to add your bank card. Once you input your bank card number (Step 2b), you’ll be prompted to fill in bank card information (Step 2c). Once your bank card is connected to Alipay, you’ll see your card in the list.

This article first appeared on our sister website beijingkids.

Images: beijingkids

It’s that time of the year again when we can (almost) stop worrying about smog and start worrying about sweat beads streaming into our eyes and excessive air con usage giving us a summer cold. But don’t fear, here are some essential phrases to make your summer a pleasant one!

READ: How to Order a Refreshing, Cold Beer in Chinese (and Other Beer-Related Phrases)

Parasol 太阳伞 tàiyáng sǎn
Sunscreen 防晒霜  fángshài shuāng
SPF 防晒系数 fángshài xìshù
Sandals 凉鞋 liángxié
Flip-flops 人字拖鞋 rén zì tuōxié        
Cold water 冰水 bīng shuǐ
Ice cubes 冰块 bīng kuài
Portable fan 可携式风扇 kě xī shì fēngshàn
Air-conditioning 空调 kōngtiáo
Swimming pool 游泳池 yóuyǒngchí
Bikini 比基尼 bǐjīní           
Swimming trunks 游泳裤 yóuyǒngkù        
 Ice cream 冰激凌 bīngjílíng        
Popsicle 冰棍 bīnggùn            
Vanilla flavor 香草味 xīang cáo wèi        
Chocolate flavor 巧克力味 qiǎokèlì wèi       
Cool bag 冰袋 bīngdài            
Picnic 野餐 yěcān            
Mosquito repellent 防蚊液 fáng wén yè        
Sunglasses 黑镜 hēi jìng   

In and around Beijing

Do you have any cold water?
有没有冰水？
Yǒu méiyǒu bīngshuǐ?

Could I get some ice cubes with my drink?
我的饮料能加点冰块吗？
Wǒ de yǐnliào néng jiādiǎn bīngkuài ma?

Can I borrow your portable fan?
我能不能借用一下你的风扇？
Wǒ néng bùnéng jièyòng yīxià nǐ de fēngshàn?

Does the air con have to be cranked up this much?
空调要不要开得那么大？
Kòngtiáo yào bùyào kāi dé nàme dà?

Do you mind turning the air conditioning on/off/up/down?
你介不介意把空调开／关／开得大一点／开得小一点？
Nǐ jiè bù jiè yì bǎ kōngtiáo kāi／guān／kāi dé dà yī diǎn／kāi dé xiǎo yī diǎn?

Would you like cold or room-temperature beer?
啤酒要冰的／凉的还是温的？
Píjiǔ yào bīng de／liáng de huán shì wēn de?

Does this restaurant have any outdoor seating?
这个餐厅有没有室外座位？
Zhège cāntīng yǒu méiyǒu shìwài zuòwèi?

I would like one scoop vanilla ice cream and one scoop chocolate ice cream.
我来一球香草冰激凌和一球巧克力冰激凌。
Wǒ lái yī qiú xiāngcǎo bīngjīlíng hé yī qiú qiǎokèlì bīngjīlíng.

What time does the pool open/close?
游泳池几点开门／关门？
Yóuyǒngchí jī diǎn kāi mén／guān mén?

I can’t decide whether to buy a swimsuit, bikini, or a tankini.
我不知道连体式泳衣，比基尼和坦基尼泳装买哪个好。  
Wǒ bù zhīdào lián tǐ shì yǒngyī, bǐjīní hé tǎn jīní yǒngzhuāng mǎi nǎge hǎo.

Go to Decathlon for quick-dry T-shirts, as you’ll sweat a lot.
去迪卡侬买快干T恤衫，因为肯定会出很多汗。
Qù díkǎnóng mǎi kuài gān T xùshān, yīnwèi kěndìng huì chū hěnduō hàn.

Make sure you have your cool bag ready for those picnics in Chaoyang Park.
别忘记准备好你的冰袋，去朝阳公园吃野餐这是必有品。
Bié wàngjì zhǔnbèi hǎo nǐ de bīngdài, qù zhāoyáng gōngyuán chī yěcān zhè shì bì yǒu pǐn.

And don’t forget to take your sunglasses and a big picnic blanket.
而且别忘记带你的黑镜和野餐被子。
Er qiě bié wàng jì dài nǐ dí hēi jìng hé yě cān bèi zǐ.

No summer in Beijing can be survived without an ample amount of mosquito repellent.
想在北京的夏天活下去，一定需要大量的防蚊液。
 Xiǎng zài běijīng de xiàtiān huó xiàqù, yīdìng xūyào dàliàng de fáng wén yè.

To stock up on deodorant, import stores like Jenny Lou’s and April Gourmet are a good place to start. Watson’s also has some. Though finding non-aluminium ones is virtually impossible. For those, go to TMall’s online store DM.
如果想多买点除臭剂，婕妮璐和绿叶子进口超市都可以买到。屈臣氏商店也有。但是想找一些不含氯化铝是比较难，从天猫的DM德国官方旗舰店能买到。
Rúguǒ xiǎng duō mǎidiǎn chú chòu jì, jié nī lù hé lǜyè zi jìnkǒu chāoshì dōu kěyǐ mǎi dào. Qūchénshì shāngdiàn yěyǒu. Dànshì xiǎng zhǎo yīxiē bù hán lǜ huà lǔ shì bǐjiào nán, cóng tiān māo de DM déguó guānfāng qíjiàn diàn néng mǎi dào.

Did you know Miniso has a great selection of inexpensive sunglasses? They’ve also got all kinds of other knick knacks to make you summer ready!
你知不知道名创优品黑镜又丰富又便宜？他们也有各种各样的小东东，让你充分准备夏天的到来。
Nǐ zhī bù zhīdào míng chuàng yōu pǐn hēi jìng yòu fēngfù yòu piányí? Tāmen yěyǒu gè zhǒng gè yàng de xiǎo dōng dōng, ràng nǐ chōngfèn zhǔnbèi xiàtiān de dàolái.

A pair of sandals or flip-flops is a must for a Beijing summer. Not only do they provide the air your body needs to release heat, but they’re the best choice when weathering torrential rain.
一双凉鞋或者人字拖是北京夏天不可缺的东西。它们不仅让你的脚呼吸，让你全身凉快，同时也是面对夏天暴风雨最方便的选择之一。
Yīshuāng liángxié huòzhě rén zì tuō shì běijīng xiàtiān bùkěquē de dōngxī. Tāmen bùjǐn ràng nǐ de jiǎo hūxī, ràng nǐ quánshēn liángkuai, tóngshí yěshì miàn duì xiàtiān bàofēngyǔ zuì fāngbiàn de xuǎnzé zhī yī.

On the beach

Don’t forget to take your parasol, the sun is shining.
别忘记带你的太阳伞，外面的太阳很晒。
Bié wàngjì dài nǐ de tàiyáng sǎn, wàimiàn de tàiyáng hěn shài.

Where can I buy water and sweat resistant SPF 50 Sunscreen?
防水防汗防晒系数50的防晒霜在哪里能买到？
Fángshuǐ fáng hàn fángshài xìshù 50 de fángshài shuāng zài nǎlǐ néng mǎi dào?

Which way is the beach?
沙滩怎么走？
Shātān zěnme zǒu?

Do I need to buy a ticket to visit the beach?
我去沙滩需要买票吗？
Wǒ qù shātān xū yāo mǎi piào ma?

Make sure to pack your towel, since there might not be any deck chairs at the pool.
一定要带上自己的毛巾，游泳池不一定会有躺椅。
Yīdìng yào dài shàng zìjǐ de máojīn, yóuyǒngchí bù yīdìng huì yǒu tǎngyǐ.

Mandarin Monday is sponsored by Sanfine International Hospital. 

Images: prettystuff.net

The sweat is real, people. With summer firmly set in, a whole new personal care routine is required to handle the sweat, your face's shininess, and the smells. Below is a list of summer skin-friendly products that we have discovered over the years, along with where to get them in Beijing (hint: the answer, as always, is Taobao).

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

Keep your face clean with this oil-free acne wash from Neutrogena, available as a pink grapefruit foaming scrub or as a redness-reducing cream cleanser. Salicylic acid helps clear congested follicles and prevent breakouts.

Get it on Taobao for RMB 210.

Makeup Setting Spray by Urban Decay

A spray to keep your makeup looking great throughout the entire day, regardless of how steamy things get while you’re on your way to the party after a day at work. We recommend the all-nighter version, which claims to keep your face in place for 16 hours.

Get it on Taobao for RMB 259.

Laura Mercier Secret Finish Mattifying Gel

Highly recommended by beauty editors on the world wide web, chuck this on after applying your makeup for the day for instant mattification. The only drawback of this product is that it does contain a lot of silicone.

Get it on Taobao for RMB 189.

Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion

Dermalogica has a lighter face cream in its product range that hydrates while reducing shine. Salicylic acid helps clear congested follicles, and the lotion also helps regulate excess oil production for a lasting matte finish.

Get it on Taobao for RMB 160.

Mitchum Deodorant

Our favorite deodorant is on Taobao! Gone are the days of having to ask family members to ship me boxes of deodorant. I find Mitchum works pretty well against Beijing’s summer, fighting both sweat and odor. Try the roll-on.

Get it on Taobao for RMB 48-65

Shiseido Pureness Blotting Papers

Soak up excess oil on your face with Shiseido blotting paper. Perfect to keep in your bag while you’re on the go, and easier to use than powder.

Get it on Taobao for RMB 95.

More stories by this author here.

Email:margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photos: Glamour, Walgreens, Magi-Mania.de, Beautyeditor.ca, Australia Beauty Shop, Online Pharmacy, Stylosophy.it

Despite the strikingly hot summer, winter has arrived. Well, it has on the continent of Westeros at least. Die-hard Game of Thrones fans have waited for winter to come for more than a year now after the Season 6 finale left viewers excited and hanging on what would come next.

Since then, we've tried hard not to indulge in the murmurings of spoilers (white dragon, anyone?) and speculated where the massive armada of Queen Daenerys Targaryen would head to first, questions that are only compacted by the sad news that the upcoming penultimate season has been clipped to just seven episodes.

The good part? Game of Thrones will hit TV screens this Sunday, July 16, in the US, which means it will be ripe for viewing via entirely legal means at some of our favorite bars and restaurants around the city come early next week.

Monday, 6-9pm: Punjabi
The Lucky Street restaurant and cultural center will have a gluten-free buffet and GoT screening of last season's finale and this season's premiere. Entry is RMB 98 per person.

Monday, 9pm:North Capital
The Beixinqiao-adjacent hutong hangout will be showing Game of Thrones every Monday and reshowing the previous week's episode at 8pm.

Monday, 9pm: Caravan
Caravan will show the Season 7 premiere at 9pm alongside a number of food and drink specials on the night.

Monday, 9pm: Ron Mexico
Ron Mexico show Game of Thrones Season 7 at 9pm every Monday, offering buy one, get one free burritos from 6-9pm, and RMB 5 Fireball shots during the show.

Monday, 10pm:Anchor 2.0
A buy two, get one free deal on single malts will be how this recently reopened Xingfucun area bar honors Game of Thrones'new season. They'll show it in HD, and to build anticipation, will run a marathon of the preceding season throughout that afternoon beginning at 4pm.

Monday, 10pm: Q Mex Taqueria
Q Mex's new haunt, their Xinyuanli-located Taqueria, will also show the season premiere on Monday at 10.15pm following Season 6's finale at 9.15pm. The new episodes will then be shown at 9.30pm on all subsequent Mondays. Drink special during the screening include RMB 25 Coronas, RMB 40 margaritas, and RMB 30 classic and Cubano micheladas.

Tuesday, 8pm: Paddy O’Shea’s
Paddy's will screen new episodes of Game of Thrones every Tuesday at 8pm before their regular weekly comedy night.

Wednesday, 8pm: Constellation Café
Sanlitun's newest café and bar will be throwing a themed party to show new episodes of Game of Thrones every Wednesday. There'll be plenty of pies to go around and fans are encouraged to come in costumes for a free drink.

And on that note, valarmorghulis!

More stories by this author here.
Email: andypenafuerte@beijing-kids.com
Instagram: @coolkidandy

Photos: Mindblown (YouTube), EmiliaClarkeNet (Twitter), courtesy of the venues, courtesy of Beijing Improv, Digital Spy (HBO)

This post comes courtesy of our content partners at TechNode.

Last week, Spotify announced that it had reached 140 million monthly active users (MAU) worldwide. This number, however, fades in comparison to music streaming services in China: the most popular music app in China, Kugou, had almost double, according to a report by QuestMobile published in April 2017.

READ: The Top 7 Fitness Apps in China

What is interesting about China’s music streaming services is that they are all free. Most of the apps earn money by offering subscriptions for better audio quality, ads, concert tickets, virtual gift-giving, and song purchases. The latest news proves that Chinese fans are enthusiastic enough to make the industry successful. In only three days after its release, Katy Perry’s album “Witness” ramped up 1.3 million purchases on China’s leading music apps, with NetEase Music taking the lead (in Chinese).

Here is the latest top list of China’s hottest music apps.

1. Kugou (酷狗)

Kugou, meaning Cool Dog, made its way to the top of the chart by appealing to a very wide audience, especially those living in small towns, according to a report from Sixth Tone. This means that a large portion of their content is dedicated to square dancing tunes and KTV, which is usually scoffed at by the local hipster population. Kugou has also won users by integrating KTV streaming which enables users to receive “song coins” that can be transferred into real currency. Users can also comment on songs through “bullet screens” (弹幕 dàn mù) where comments stream across the video, listen to the radio, watch video, and interact through the social platform.

Although the app has 228 million MAU, Kugou is still figuring out how to earn money, but it has been earning from their live streaming service Fanxing. Kugou and Kuwo are both owned by the China Music Corporation which merged with Tencent’s QQ Music in July 2016.

2. QQ Music (QQ音乐)

Although QQ Music shares some of the same features as Kugou, such as radio, KTV, and live streaming which can be rewarded with virtual gift-giving, it caters to a more urban crowd. QQ Music also offers articles and enables users to watch music videos, concerts, and interviews with famous musicians, including international stars such as Linkin Park.

The app has 211.43 million users and owes its success to Tencent’s huge presence in the Chinese market, including WeChat. This has enabled the service to strike deals with major record labels and allow its users to buy concert tickets through its payment service.

3. Kuwo (酷我)

Kuwo is another app with a heavy focus on KTV streaming; the app even hosts KTV tournaments with cash rewards. Besides KTV streaming, it also serves as a video streaming platform and broadcasts video content, usually on the more trashy side, such as China’s ever so popular talent shows and comedian acts. Kuwo also reserves a part of its app for China’s rising DJs.

Like other apps, Kuwo offers song purchases and subscriptions, but it is also trying to make money with in-app gaming and its own brand of headphones and speakers. The app has 107.72 million MAU.

4. NetEase Cloud Music (网易云音乐)

What differentiates NetEase Music from other apps is its stronger focus on indie artists, enabling it to compete with Internet giants like Tencent and Alibaba which have big entertainment ecosystems. Besides short videos, the app has social features that enable users to interact with performers which have profiles on the service. It also has a music streaming option for joggers called Run FM (跑步FM) that selects music with a BPM rate that matches the listener’s running tempo. Aside from music, users can listen to podcasts and watch videos.

With 62.7 million MAU, NetEase is the first music service in China that became a unicorn after securing RMB 750 million in Series A financing in April 2017.

5. Xiami Music (虾米音乐)

Xiami started off as a P2P platform  in 2007 but had to abandon the model due to poor copyright regulation. In recent years the service has decided to add more niche content by featuring emerging musicians with original music. It has also launched The Undiscovered Nationwide Spotlight music program, a nation-wide talent search where users can vote for more than 6,000 artists.

Xiami Music, which has 14.4 million MAU, is owned by Alibaba along with another music app called Alibaba Planet (阿里星球).

Images: flmmcc.com, Kuguo, Kuwo, Xiami,

Our Events Watch series aims to highlight happenings that aren't focused on alcohol and drinking, but instead take a more educational or productive approach. Events include comedy, talks, networking events, markets, dinners and more.

Monday, July 17

Game of Thrones Season 7 Premiere
That's right, GoT is back and there's no shortage of venues getting in on the viewing action. Inside, we round up where to catch the Season 7 premiere as well as a couple of marathon viewing sessions over the next few days. Various venues and times.

Salsa Sazón
Every Monday starting at 8.30pm, enjoy a free one-hour salsa lesson by a professional teacher from Sazón ABC. You'll be guided through a selection of salsa moves and a variety of other Latin sounds to leave you feeling tropical. Free. 8.30pm. Migas
 

Tuesday, July 18

Song of the Earth: Zheng Xiaoying Conducts Mahler and Lalo
Legendary director Zheng Xiaoying conducts the NCPA Orchestra, including baritone Sun Li, tenor Wang Feng, mezzo-soprano Yang Guang and cellist Xu Xuanhan, playing a program which will include works by Mahler and Lalo. The 85-year-old conductor is a recipient of the Ordre des Arts and Lettres and two Russia-China Friendship Medals and has worked with major orchestras within and outside of China. 7.30pm. RMB 80-480. NCPA
 

Wednesday, July 19

Concoction Evenings by Split Pea Vegan Cooking
Want to eat healthily but not boringly? Want to introduce more veggies into your diet? Want to eat clean but don't know how? These new Concoction Evenings by Split Pea Vegan Cooking hope to teach all of that and more, all the while popularizing a plant-based diet and show you that eating veggies can be done easily. Whether you are a veg novice, a life-long vegan or a meathead who simply wants to try something new, Concoction Evenings present a place to exchange ideas, share recipes, and sip slow-pressed juices. RMB 88. 7.30-9pm. Mimi e Coco
 

Thursday, July 20

Hacking Immortality: The Science and Science Fiction of Extreme Human Life Extension
After four billion years of existence, our species is on the verge of taking active control of our evolution. The genetic revolution will challenge our traditional notions of nature and alter many aspects of what it means to be human including the way we make babies, the nature of the babies we make, and the span of our lives. Noted futurist and science fiction author Jamie Metzl will join Bookworm this Thursday to discuss the very real science of extreme human life extension and his new novel, Eternal Sonata, "a brilliant exploration of the many challenges and opportunities our species will face as the exponential growth of real-world technology moves us toward immortality.” 7.30-9pm. RMB 50 (includes a drink). The Bookworm

The Dowager and the Dynasty: A Walk and Discussion at the Summer Palace
The Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) was one of the most notorious figures of Modern Chinese history. For nearly a half century, she used her cunning and connections to rule China from behind the throne. Even today, many still blame her for spending money on an elaborate pleasure garden at a time China faced grave threats from without and within. But the real story of the Empress Dowager Cixi – and the Summer Palace she built – is more complicated. Stroll along the shoreline and hillsides of her magnificent creation, and discuss the life and legacy of this fascinating historical figure. RMB 300, RMB 260 (members). 10am-1pm. Summer Palace
 

Friday, July 21

Smart Air Diy Workshop
Summer may have ushered out harsh, winter temperatures, but that doesn’t mean Beijing's air pollution has been kept at bay. That's why you still need to properly protect yourself at home or work, and what better way to do so than by making your own affordable air purifier? The Smart Air crew use open data and citizen science to explain how air purifiers work and how we can protect ourselves from air pollution. Free to attend or RMB 200 to build a take-home purifier). 3.45-5pm. A+ Café
 

Saturday, July 22

Chelsea vs Arsenal in Beijing
London soccer teams Arsenal Football Club and Chelsea Football Club meet for the first time ever outside of London at Beijing's National Stadium (The Bird's Nest) in a pre-season friendly match. Read more about the match from when we first reported here. RMB 199-1,699. Bird's Nest Stadium. 7.40pm

Quantum Technology: A New Era in Computing
This free English-language lecture connects audiences in China with some of the most powerful ideas generated by Oxford research. Hosted by Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson in Beijing, this year’s lecture by Professor Ian Walmsley will provide an accessible overview of the science and engineering behind quantum computing and the breakthroughs at Oxford that are paving the way for the Q20:20, the world’s first working quantum processor. A panel discussion will explore the future commercial and social impact of quantum technology. Free. 3.15-6pm. China World Summit Wing Hotel
 

Sunday, July 23

Pajama Party at Modernsky Lab
Come dressed to impress at Modernsky Lab’s Sunday afternoon PJ party, which will include all your teenage sleepover favorites such as kissing games, sweet treats, and music by bands like Time Street and Blueso. Admission must be purchased in advance, and attendees must wear pajamas. RMB 99. 3-6pm. Modernsky Lab

More stories by this author here.

Email: tomarnstein@thebeijinger.com
WeChat: tenglish_

Images courtesy of the venues, cloudfront.net

We're big fans of Tribe here at the Beijinger, so we jumped at the chance to go and sample their newly-released summer menu last week. The new menu comes as part of the launch of a new campaign called "Feed Your Body Beautiful," which builds on their previous slogan "you are what you eat, drink, and breathe" and aims to teach people that beauty starts on the inside when you eat clean, eat enough, and eat smart. 

We did as instructed and started feeding our body with two new breakfast dishes, the Big Time Breakfast Platter (RMB 68) and the Marvellous Matcha Pancakes (RMB 48). The platter is a nice twist on the usual "big breakfast" concept, subbing in roasted chickpeas and grilled salmon for more common proteins like bacon or sausage. The whole thing is freshened up with pickles and homemade cottage cheese. Good as the platter is, the matcha pancakes (pictured at top) drew the most coos of approval, with the matcha well-balanced (i.e. not bitter) and complemented by a clever ginger-infused maple syrup.

Tribe usually impresses with creative salads and this summer's menu is no exception. By far and away the standout is the Big Cheese Platter Salad, a heaping plate of arugula-kale lettuce mix topped with three types of cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, and feta), cherry tomatoes, sliced peaches, and honey-mustard dressing, and served alongside whipped feta toast. What really makes this salad, however, is the almond and parmesan crisp on top, which adds an extra dimension of texture and umami.

Among the entrée-type dishes, the whole grilled mackerel (RMB 168) immediately caught our attention. The fish itself is simply seasoned with a touch of lime and served alongside a homemade sambal jam. The summer menu was designed by local chef Sue Zhou, who grew up in Holland on a fusion diet of Dutch-Chinese-Indonesian food and the pan-Asian influences on her cooking definitely show in this dish, as they do in the Oh My Gado Gado Wrap (RMB 58), a twist on the peanutty Indonesian salad of the same name. 

These Asian-influenced dishes go particularly well with the Summer's Second Wind juice (RMB 38), a refreshing blend of watermelon, pear, lime, and lemongrass. Whoever thought of pairing watermelon and lemongrass deserves a medal in my book – I will be drinking this all summer. 

Those in search of something slightly more indulgent would do well to try the Green for Life Vegetarian Pizza (RMB 88), which comes topped with spinach, fava beans, feta cheese, and a healthy portion of stringy mozzarella. Whether you are gluten-free by necessity or by design, you will be happy to hear that the pizza has a gluten-free almond flour crust instead of the usual bread base. We won't pretend that it's a substitute for the real deal but the crust is tasty in its own right, with a firm structure and crispy edges. 

Get down there and try those new dishes ASAP because from July 17-22 there is 40 percent off everything (yes, everything) when you dine in at Tribe Sanlitun, in celebration of that store's third anniversary. As good excuse as any to "feed your body beautiful."

More stories by this author here.

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Photos: Robynne Tindall, Tom Arnstein

Oh, foreigners – you people. As a proud Chinese, a great way to consolidate my identity is to contrast the greatness of my culture against those who are most unlike myself. That's why it was with great amusement that I happened upon a delightful piece of news while surfing the World Wide Web.

Laugh out loud, I did, when I read a report by China News that a group of "foreign friends" were invited to a contest here in Beijing. The contest: to eat Chinese foods so exotic and arcane that you can't find them in normal Chinese restaurants or supermarkets.

Called the "Taste Conference to Challenge Foreigners on Weird Foods That They Can't Possibly Endure," the event certainly lived up to its name.

These foreigners were "shocked" at what they saw: fried scorpions, centipedes, spiders, grasshoppers, yellow mealworms, stinky tofu ... Whatever the background and culture of this diverse group of unnamed people, I can say without hesitation that they've never experienced anything like this before coming to China, thereby affirming their foreignness.  

And, the news supports this undeniable fact.

According to the article, these people had a "breakdown" once they removed their blindfolds and saw what kind of food was before them. That title got it right by saying these non-Chinese "Can't Possibly Endure" these foods, and so all of this has led to just one appropriate response: "Ha."

As far as cultural affirmations go, that certainly was fulfilling. "This is Chinese food," I might have said with complete accuracy. Extrapolating a little further, "Haha," might be what I would say at their discomfort at crossing the culture gap between us. 

With the laugh long escaped from my lips, I was about to continue wasting time online when ... wait, what's this?

It turns out that these foreigners are not disgusted at eating these weird foods. A woman (wearing a kimono so as to politely inform me of her foreignness) was first heard in a video describing sheep eyes as "horrifying" and is seen reacting in fear (shown above), but then later seen putting a fried scorpion to her mouth despite her earlier protestations.

This does seem odd, but with Chinese culture as great as it is, it's obvious her initial disgust was overcome by her eventual compliant acceptance ... wait, what's this?

The same person that was seen first seen eating in agony (at the top of the page) is now holding a microphone? Because he's the host of the event? Because the same foreigners "invited" to the "Can't Possibly Endure" eating contest are the same people that organized it?

My initial feeling of satisfaction is now waning. After all, the blindfold challenge isn't as effective when you already know what to expect. Are they trying to put on a show ... by putting on a show? It all serves no purpose unless ... wait, what's this?

The host is a famous Internet celebrity? With his own well-received Weibo channel, the Foreigner Research Institute? And all these foreigners are a random selection of people, but a network of international exchange students from Tsinghua University so popular that they attract thousands of viewers to a livestream?

It turns out that the "Can't Possibly Endure" eating contest host Kaz Gal-Or is friends with all these people, and attracting Internet attention is something they know how to do.

Prior to the strange food showdown, Gal-Or and friends appeared in this Foreigner Research Institute video in which these familiar faces gave their expert opinion – as foreigners – about their idols:

Well, hey, I can be reasonable; when it comes to research on foreigners, I'm all for it. Foreigner Research Institute does informative man-on-the-street interviews that provide me with a daily dosage of tabloid information to satisfy my insatiable curiosity about the world beyond my borders. And, with the positive gains with the international community made by the "Can't Possibly Endure" eating contest, there's no downside. These people can't have any alternative motive to ... wait, what's this?

That Foreigner Research Institute video, that one about idols ... it turns out to be an endorsement for Jeep?

And Gal-Or makes a special appearance with the product he's endorsing?

And the background and the microphones held by the hosts at the "Can't Possibly Endure" eating contest reveal it to be an event to promote a digital map content provider called "amap"?

To succinctly recap without any superfluous question marks: Gal-Or and his Tsinghua University friends have repeatedly made collaborations in which their status as foreigners helped promote a brand to a Chinese audience because my cultural sense of identity demands it?

That seems like a lot of effort, way too much to really be practical. After all, it's not like as though there's a particular fail-safe trick that works every time on a Chinese audience, is there?

Wait.

What's.

This?

Just like before, Gal-Or is seen visibly showing disgust at eating the weird Chinese food that is a mooncake make out of durian (a subject so good, other expats have done the same thing with the same results).

He did this, and yet remains surprised at the results of the "Can't Possibly Endure" eating contest? This guy who has been doing this same thing, all this time, is shocked to the bone? 

It appears that these people are making a living in China by performing predictable responses expected of foreignness, which in turn is predictably well-received by the Chinese public.

Whoa, bring it back to me: I'm a simple man with simple needs. As a Chinese, I require my foreigners to be foreign ... it's your name, do you know? But if cultural differences between Chinese and foreigners are emphasized in the Chinese news just as a tactic to endorse a product, what does this mean? Are Chinese and foreigners just not that different after all?

In my soul searching, I have discovered a feeling from deep, down inside me. Something like ...

Now that I think of it, going through a charade for the benefit of a public just to promote a brand does seem vaguely familiar ... wait, what's that?

Nothing. Never mind.

More stories from this author here.

Twitter: @Sinopath 

Images: TakeFoto, Miaopai, Sohu, Fawan (1), Kel and Mel, China Youth Daily