First, cat cafés infested every corner of the city, capitalizing on our obsessions of both caffeine and cuteness. But we humans are fickle, and soon enough, felines weren’t enough to satisfy our appetites for adorability. Next up were shiba inus, imported in regular and miniature form from Japan to fill yet more cafés, but then even these pups, universally acknowledged as being very good dogges, could not satisfy our unending desire to touch nice animals.

In Sanlitun Soho, things have really stepped up a notch, with the recent opening of two new shops designed to tickle our cuteness sensors.

Of course, where you stand on partaking in this growing trend will depend on how you feel about these animals being taken out of their natural habitat and the stress likely incurred by them being endlessly touched. With that said, upon our visit, the animals in the two venues below appeared happy and the conditions sanitary.

A bombardment of cuddliness

The first, Takara, is situated on the ground floor of Sanlitun Soho and houses a surprising variety of cuddly creatures: shiba puppies, guinea pigs, chinchillas, wide-eyed schnauzers, and other small unidentified fluffy animals each call this shop their home. 

As if that wasn't enough, amidst all the dogs playing in the open area (away from the cages of the smaller, more edible fluffy animals), a capybara pup was casually waddling over on its little webbed feet, nosing at the shibas. The way they interact, you almost forget that the capybara is a rodent (the world’s largest – it won’t be this small much longer!) until you pick it up and stroke its unfamiliar, coarse fur.

One animal that guests are not allowed to pick up is the raccoon, although you are allowed to pet it when it comes out to play with the other animals. To feed it, you must push its food through a tube in a glass wall. It is quite fond of apples.

RMB 88 for 45 minutes; coffee and tea included with entry.

Takara
Room 136, Bldg 6, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯SOHO五号商场1层136

The Oinkers Upstairs

In the very same building, Hands-on Pigs is like something out of Animal Farm, as the pigs have a room to themselves, and moreover, it is more exclusive: unlike Takara, guests to this piggy haven are expected to book in advance (one day ahead for weekdays, three to four for weekends).

For your efforts, you are permitted to enter the pigpen, where cuddling with tiny piggies is highly encouraged. Some of the porkers get around in their naked, spotted birthday suits, while others are clothed in little dresses and sweaters. If that wasn’t picture-perfect enough, the whole pen is set up like a studio so you can snap endless Moments-ready shots.

Get to it, influencers.

RMB 75 for 45 minutes, milk, milk teas, and lattes RMB 15-plus.

Hands-on Pigs
5556, 5/F, Bldg 5, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯SOHO五号商场5层5556室

READ: Finding Furever Homes for the Lost Puppies of Beijing

Images: Joey Knotts

Anyone who has lived and traveled in China for any length of time will tell you that Chinese people are pretty reserved – praise them and you will often receive a vehement shaking of the head and perhaps even a laugh alongside the exclamation "哪儿里？哪儿里？" (Where? Where?). This also means that foreigners are not privy to fully understanding the origins of certain slang terms, especially when they present Chinese culture in a negative light, making them even more difficult than usual to master. For that reason, we've decided to collect several phrases that give a glimpse into the hidden psyche of Chinese people.

1. 薅羊毛 hāo yángmáo - Pluck sheep's wool

As they say, fashion is like the tide: trends come and go, and something that was once banished into the real of terminally uncool may just as soon return to clog up our social media feed #buckethats #momjeans #chokers. The same thing applies to language as clothes, as demonstrated in this phrase.

during a comedic skit by duo Zhao Benshan and Song Dandan during the 1999 Spring Festival Gala, Song says that she was condemned for "薅社会主义羊毛 hāo shèhuì zhǔyì yángmáo" or "plucking the socialist wool," after being caught collecting loose strands of wool during her shift as a shepherd so as to make a sweater for her lover. From these lines, the famous term 薅羊毛 hāo yángmáo was born.

These days, 薅羊毛 – to bargain – is a hobby, a mindset, or even a religion among some, who go about their days buying things as long just so long as they can boast about a saving (think "deduct RMB 10 for every RMB 400 spent" during Single's Day). The term can also be used in self-mockery to describe the guilty pleasure derived from getting a good deal.

Despite being rather dated, 薅羊毛 has once again returned to the mainstream, perhaps because it harks back to a fond childhood memory among many Chinese millennials, or because they are in fact genuine fans of scoring a deal. Some things never go out of fashion.

Example
薅羊毛一时爽，一直薅一直爽。hāo yángmáo yīshí shuǎng, yīzhí hāo yīzhí shuǎng. Bargaining will only bring you a moment's joy, so if you keep doing it you will be a happy man forever.

2. 996 jiǔjiǔliù - 996

Using numbers in slang is not exclusive to Chinese, but there are few languages that use them so creatively to convey meaning. One such example is 996, which in just three digits was able to embody the tired and depressing reality of many a Chinese worker. A schedule commonly found in many Chinese companies, especially in the tech industry, the nines here refer to 9am and 9pm, while the six indicates six days per week. Total that up and you're busting your balls 72 hours a week.

58.com, one of the largest listings websites in China, is commonly believed to be the first company to have adopted this work schedule and even though it was widely criticized by the public, many other companies continue to follow this trend. Mr. Michael Jackson wannabe Jack Ma (pictured above), the founder of Alibaba Group, claimed that people who work 996 will receive good karma, while Richard Liu, founder of JD, said that people who complained about their work schedule are "slackers." Try to remember that next time you're lining his pockets, trying to get a deal on JD.

Example
毕业985，工作996。bìyè jiǔbāwǔ, gōngzuò jiǔjiǔliù. I graduated from 985 (only provided by the highest-accredited universities in China), now work 996.

3. 我可以 wǒ kěyǐ - I can

Although attitudes towards sex have changed considerably in recent years, there's some evidence that China's youth are actually becoming more cautious when it comes to having intimate and physical relationships. While not necessarily a bad thing, many young people admit that part of this mindset comes from the fact that they lack options.

As with most places in the world, this combination of dissatisfaction and lust is often vented online with people commenting "我可以" under all kinds of social media posts, from thirst traps to interviews with actors, anime characters to the plot in a fictional story. "我可以" can capture everything from a person's most romantic feelings (the “I do” in the wedding ceremony) to their wildest fantasies (“I want your babies"). 

Example
A: Taylor Swift 我不可以，Charlie Puth 我不可以，Kanye West 我也不可以。Taylor Swift wǒ bù kěyǐ, Charlie Puth wǒ bù kěyǐ, Kanye West wǒ yě bù kěyǐ. Taylor Swift? I can’t. Charlie Puth? I can’t. Kanye West? I can’t.
B: 你有谁可以么？nǐ yǒu shéi kěyǐ me? Is there anyone you can?
A:你，我可以。 nǐ, wǒ kěyǐ. You, I can.

4. 柠檬精 níngméng jīng - Lemon spirit

Chinese people have long related the flavors salty, sour, and bitter, with feelings of envy and jealousy. Like in English, a common expression among older generations is "You're so bitter!" (你说话好酸啊 nǐ shuōhuà hǎo suān a) to point out that someone who is being envious.

It's only natural to feel jealous occasionally, but some people take it so far that if you banned them from being 'sour,' 'salty,' or 'bitter,' they wouldn't be able to communicate with another human being at all. To describe such charming people, clever netizens invented the phrase, “柠檬精” (níngméng jīng) which literally means the lemon spirit.

Example
同事升职了，我好酸啊；小美留学了，我好酸啊；小王恋爱了，我好酸啊，小孙抽卡都是SSR，我好酸啊；我真是柠檬精本精
。tóngshì shēng zhíle, wǒ hǎo suān a; xiǎo měi liúxuéle, wǒ hǎo suān a; xiǎo wáng liàn'àile, wǒ hǎo suān a, xiǎo sūn chōu kǎ dōu shì SSR, wǒ hǎo suān a; wǒ zhēnshi níngméng jīng běn jīng. My colleague got promoted, I am so jealous; Xiaomei got a chance to study abroad, I am so salty; Xiaowang fell in love with someone, I am so bitter; Xiaosun always wins the best prizes. I'm so bitter; I am such a lemon spirit.

5. 雨女无瓜 yǔ nǚ wú guā - That's none of your business

"Rain girl doesn’t have a melon." Gibberish, or a genius excerpt from a modernist poem? Neither, in fact – it's how you might say, “That’s none of your business” 与你无关 (yǔ nǐ wúguān) with a dialect twist, making it 雨女无瓜 yǔ nǚ wúguā. The funny-speaking individual in question was a character in an old TV show for kids, whose clips soon went viral. It helped that the character was dressed as a prince, and so the contradiction between his fancy garb and imperfect Mandarin quickly sent the interwebs into a collective tizzy.

Example
亲戚：你都28了，怎没还没找男朋友啊。qīnqī: nǐ dōu 28 le, zěn méi hái méi zhǎo nán péngyǒu a. Relative: How can you still not have a boyfriend? You are already 28!
你：雨女无瓜。nǐ: yǔ nǚ wú guā. You: That’s none of your business!

6. 复读机 fùdú jī - Dictaphone

The need for quick and easy communication gave rise to the social media apps that we use today, and conversely, they also beginning to shape the way we talk to each other. QQ, which remains one of the most popular social media platforms after all these years, recently added a function that allowed users to repeat what the last person said simply clicking a “+1” button. Since then, people began abusing the function en masse and before long, the trend spread to other platforms, earning repeat offenders the nickname "dictaphone."

A: 人类的本质是真香、咕咕咕、柠檬精和复读机。
B: 人类的本质是真香、咕咕咕、柠檬精和复读机。
C: 人类的本质是真香、咕咕咕、柠檬精和复读机。
D: 人类的本质是真香、咕咕咕、柠檬精和复读机。

A: rénlèi de běnzhí shì zhēnxiāng, gū gū gū, níngméng jīng hé fùdú jī.
B: rénlèi de běnzhí shì zhēnxiāng, gū gū gū, níngméng jīng hé fùdú jī.
C: rénlèi de běnzhí shì zhēnxiāng, gū gū gū, níngméng jīng hé fùdú jī.
D: rénlèi de běnzhí shì zhēnxiāng, gū gū gū, níngméng jīng hé fùdú jī.

A: The core principles of humanity are: to be fickle, flaky, jealous, and to repeat everything.
B: The core principles of humanity are: to be fickle, flaky, jealous, and to repeat everything.
C: The core principles of humanity are: to be fickle, flaky, jealous, and to repeat everything.
D: The core principles of humanity are: to be fickle, flaky, jealous, and to repeat everything.

READ: How to Drop the F-Word Properly in Chinese

Images: Guibi, Zhang Shisan, Beijing Daily, Fabiaoqing.com, Bilibili, QQ

How bad is the smog these days, really? Who is keeping tabs on the state of our drinking water? What has the government done about carbon emissions lately? In Beicology we turn our focus toward environmental news in the capital. 

A tax on carbon, investment in sustainable energy, electric vehicle subsidies – when ecology meets economy, these are the initiatives that come to mind. Yet, the relationship between a green society and the flow of red bills goes deeper than a few lofty policies. After all, it is said that money is all around us, isn’t that also true of the environment?

This week in Beicology, we look at the new ways that economists and environmentalists are coming to view this relationship through the lens of Beijing and find that it is very much a two-way street.

Does pollution affect consumer spending?

China as a whole has begun to recognize that its economy must move away from its reliance on exports and become a consumer economy. The city of Beijing has been leading the charge on this transition, pouring efforts toward invigorating shopping areas and going so far as to encourage residents to spend their cash on late-night partying.

Economists have long asked questions about how cities can be built to increase consumption, looking at factors such as population density, transport access, and crime. A new study now uses Beijing to ask: what about air pollution?

Using data from Dianping comments and Tencent positioning, the study attempts to measure how much consumption drops off on Beijing’s polluted days. The answer though may actually depend on the weather. Shopping and restaurant attendance fell by just one or two percentage points on your average polluted day, but mix high AQI with high heat and that number jumps up to five percent. That may sound small, but those marginal losses can chip away at the economy over time.

Notably, higher-end restaurants suffer greater losses on such days, which the authors attribute to groups of diners canceling or postponing their plans. However, this suggests that there may be a bit of a bounce-back effect: yes, people are spending less today, but they will spend more when the air clears up to make up for it. The data does support this theory to some extent, but the authors say more research is needed.

Another gap in the research is the effect on online consumption. When people cancel their plans, do they spend more on waimai? Might staying inside trigger boredom that in turn prompts a Taobao shopping spree? Whatever the case may be, the findings are enough to suggest that the retail and dining industries should consider their stake in the color of the sky.

Investing in Beijing’s suburbs: help or hindrance to the environment?

When you pour money into developing areas, do they end up polluting more or less? One theory purports that those on the receiving end of the funds will reduce regulations to win more investment, the result being that industries are not restricted from polluting and have more money to do so. Others argue that the investments actually enable industries to use cleaner tech, and should therefore reduce emissions.

Worldwide, there is evidence to support both views, and it ultimately depends on the specific situation in the region. With this in mind, researchers at Tsinghua University recently looked into the investments that flow from Beijing to its neighbors as part of developing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) development project that aims to relieve an over-bloated Beijing of its burdens while simultaneously pumping up the limp surrounding regions.

These investments are not, by any means, consciously intended to have an environmental impact. More than half of the funds, for instance, went toward metalworking and metal manufacturing, which is not a particularly green field. Even still, the investments seem to have been effective in reducing emissions in almost every pollutant category – NH3, SO2, NOx, and smog. Only wastewater emissions rose in response to the investments.

But that is in terms of the total amount of money invested. When looking at the total number of investments made, pollutants in all categories fell, including wastewater. The authors say this is likely a reflection of the industries getting the message that with more government agencies interested in them, they are expected to cut back on emissions.

All of this is well and good if you live next to a factory in Hebei, but Beijingers ought to pay attention as well. Even if they don’t venture into suburbia, Beijing still shares airspace with its neighbors. Combating pollution in the surrounding areas means cleaner breaths in the city as well.

READ: Beijing Receives Good News From the Energy, Water, and Wildlife Sectors

Images: Nasdaq, Stay Visible, Market Watch, CKGBS Knowledge

If you've traveled along the road between Changhongqiao and Sanlitun recently then you may have noticed a long line snaking down the sidewalk outside the newly-renovated BEI Zhaolong Hotel. However, these people aren't queuing for rooms, they're battling it out to get into new cosmetics shop Harmay.

Harmay has made a surprisingly successful transition from online to offline retail, with stores in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and now Beijing. The feel of the Beijing store is more factory chic than luxury boutique, with the downstairs area dedicated to bins full of makeup and sample-size items, while upstairs you will find racks and rack of everything from shampoo to face masks. It's not entirely clear how or why (it's not a duty-free store, for example) but you can expect discounts of around RMB 20-100 compared to usual retail prices.

It should go without saying but these are not cheap brands, so don't expect to be walking away with a basket of items for under RMB 100. But if you're a skincare junkie with no visit to a duty-free on the horizon, then Harmay will definitely give you the fix you need.

Stuck for choice (or time)? Here are five products you won't want to leave Harmay without.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, RMB 502 (usually RMB 590)
Renew your skin overnight with this cult classic. Primarily an anti-aging product, it's also great for dry and dull skin (it contains lots of moisture-attracting hyaluronic acid), and since it is oil-free and non-comedogenic it can also be used by people with oily and acne-prone skin. Truly a miracle product.

Crème de la Mer The Moisturizing Cream RMB 1,233 (usually RMB 1,450)
The OG luxury skin cream, Crème de la Mer may cost a pretty penny but with celebrity fans such as Kim Kardashian West and Chrissy Teigen it must be doing something right. Based on the brand's trademark "Miracle Broth," made with sea kelp, algae, and other ingredients, the cream hydrates, nourishes, and renews dry skin.

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner 500ml RMB 485 (usually RMB 570)
Haven't added a toner to your skincare routine yet? You're missing a trick. A good toner helps to unclog pores, refresh skin, and prep it for products like serums and moisturizers. Kiehl's alcohol-free calendula toner won't dry or irritate skin (and it is full of pretty petals to boot).

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 200ml, RMB 131 (usually RMB 218)
Beijing's dry winter can play havoc with your skin and traditional soap-based cleansers can exacerbate those effects. Deep cleanse skin without drying with this olive oil-based cleanser from Japanese brand DHC, which binds to sunscreen, makeup, and daily grime, rinsing away easily with warm water. 

Erno Laszlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask, RMB 31 each (usually RMB 280/six)
Let's be honest, life in Beijing can be hectic and often the first place to show it is your eyes. These silk stick-on patches contain algae extract, vitamin B3, amino acids, and allantoin to help combat a multitude of sins including dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles.

*Prices correct at the time of our visit, RRP taken from the brands' official stores on Taobao/Tmall.

Harmay
Daily 10am-10am. 1-2/F (attached to BEI Zhaolong Hotel), 2 Gongti North Road, Chaoyang District (7744 3764)
朝阳区工体北路2号一层

READ: Stay Soft With These Skin Care Tips for Beijing's Windy WInters

More stories by this author here.

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

Images: Robynne Tindall, the brands

We take a break after a fun-filled, and perhaps slightly askew, weekend, putting down our drinks to take a more productive look at the days ahead in Beijing. Here is our top pick of this week's Events That Won't Leave You Hungover...

Tuesday, Dec 17

Sweat for Charity With Jindafit
Every Tuesday in December, Jindafit dance studio is collecting donations for the Magic Hospital Magic Moments project, which helps children in need of medical treatment. A full-body dance workout based on African moves and rhythms, Jindafit is open and inclusive, with the philosophy that no matter what shape you're in, you can enjoy a high-intensity workout! Free (suggested donation). 7.30-8.30pm. BActive Dongzhimen

Wednesday, Dec 18

Play Soccer in Beijing
Realizing "China's Soccer Dream," the plan for Zhongguo to dominate the world's game by 2050, isn't just for nationals! If you're keen to get back on the pitch or level up from your current casual game, Forbidden City FC might be what you're looking for. The club has two 11-a-side teams in the IFFC (Beijing's top amateur league) and a five-a-side team in the CIFL 5s league. The diverse club (members have come from 50 different countries) train every Wednesday night and pride themselves on their strong social spirit. Check out the event listing for info on how to register. Free. 8-10pm. Lido Side Park

Thursday, Dec 19

SlayBelles - Haus of Lily Xmas Show
Forget sleighbells, this Thursday night the only show we're interested in is SlayBelles, the annual Haus of Lily Christmas drag extravaganza. Some of Beijing's finest drag queens, including TigerLily, Slayme Winehouse, Miss Hymn, Jacup Straightu, and Lola Du Jour will take the stage for a night of holiday seduction and debauchery. RMB 50. 9.30pm. Anchor Bar

Friday, Dec 20

One Hour Pottery Creativity Challenge
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create the most interesting work of clay art you can, in one hour. You'll have two pieces of clay, three cups of tea, and whatever kinds of glaze you like to make this dream become a reality! The winner of the challenge (which is announced the following Tuesday, after the works have been glazed and fired) will win a free bottle of wine. The brainchild of Fangjia Hutong's Majiang Studio promises to be a lot of fun and a great way to get involved in the highly addictive art of pottery. Drop by any time during opening hours on Friday to participate. RMB 96. 10.30am-6.30pm. Majiang Studio

Saturday, Dec 21

Get Your Submissions in for FAN字
FAN字 is a zine project started by two local art lovers who, by reaching out to "artist friends, Instagram baes, or any other visually compelling creators," set out to create works around a central theme. The duo also welcomes submissions via their open call, and for this, their fourth issue, they are looking for creations about magic, mysticism, and the divine. Submissions can be old or new works, and the scope is very broad: send in your images, poems, short stories, photographs, songs, drawings, paintings, collages, renderings, even dreams. Free. Submission deadline Dec 31

Sunday, Dec 22

The Surrealist Art of Hajime Sorayama
Best known for his "superrealist" sexy cyborg pin-ups, Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama's airbrushed beauties are the stuff of sci-fi fantasies run wild. You can catch some of his iconic works at the newly opened Wrong Gallery, sister gallery of their original Taipei location, in the heart of Workers' Stadium until Jan 21. This is only the second exhibition by the gallery here in Beijing, so we're excited to see what other high-caliber shows arrive in months to come. RMB 50. Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm. The Wrong Gallery

READ: How to Update Your Entire Wardrobe Guilt-Free With the Clothing Auction Network

Images courtesy of the organizers, SCMP, Krys Alex (via Unsplash), sorayama.jp

For over 15 years, 13 Club has been a rock and roll refuge deep in the heart of Beijing's university district Wudaokou. Located on Chengfu Road, just across from Tsinghua University, it has acted as a safe haven for punks, metalheads, and rockers of all ilk, as well as a breeding ground for student musicians looking for a little corruption. It was also once neighbor to the influential (and defunct) D-22, and while its no-frills vibe has largely kept it out of the limelight over the years the fact of the matter is that it's now Beijing's longest-surviving music venue – a truly impressive feat.

Sadly, this is Beijing, and we can’t go a few months without the doors of another longstanding establishment shuttering, so it’s with deep sorrow to inform music-goers that 13 Club will close for good with a farewell party on Saturday, Dec 21.

Opened in 2004 by Liu Lixin – a musical connoisseur whose other gigs included playing guitar for metal band Ordnance and managing another early venue Nameless Highland – 13 Club became a beacon for sleepless nights in Beijing’s flourishing rock and roll days, a place where many adolescents wrote the story of their youth in sweat, tears, and riotous mosh pits. I had the pleasure of visiting this past weekend and still found the place as vital as ever, as concert-goers threw themselves into a frenzy, thrashing their limbs and bodies with reckless abandon.

Liu knew 13 Club’s days were numbered as early as 2018. "When the Internet café above us was demolished, I could sense Beijing’s policies were getting tighter. We became prepared to close at any minute,” and yet the venue powered through, surviving on its weekly diet of metal, student bands, and touring bands, all the while waiting for the other shoe to drop. Add sky-rocketing rent prices, it became increasingly difficult to make ends meet. "Closing the doors was a difficult decision... we won’t be able to open up elsewhere or register for a new license," laments Liu.

While the venue was never big on celebrations, it's last hoorah certainly takes on the air of a "go-for-broke and leave nothing on the floor" bon voyage. The behemoth of a lineup features some of the local metal scene’s most fierce and seasoned contenders, including veteran black metal band Ritual Day (pictured at top), melodic death metal outfit Purgatory, old-school metal thrashers SAW, the ever-deviant Sick Pupa, hardcore metal group Logic Control, Tianjin core ragers 641, and two secret bands, which, if they're anything like the others, will probably blow some heads off.

Before saying bye for good, Liu muses that "It was a privilege to work with so many young people pursuing their dreams." For many local musicians and music lovers, the privilege was all ours. We rise our devil’s horns and salute you, 13 Club.

Join Liu and the gang to bid farewell to 13 Club on Saturday, Dec 21 from 8.30pm onwards. Tickets are RMB 130 advance or RMB 160 on the door.

READ: The closure of Yugong Yishan and more of Beijing's biggest news from throughout the year.

Images courtesy of 13 Club

EAT: Your bite-sized guide to the best eats to be had in Beijing this week.

Sat-Sun: Kopitiam in the hutongs at Mulu

When it comes to food, you can only say you have traveled to Southeast Asia if you have had coffee and a snack at a kopitiam. A kopitiam is a traditional coffee shop found everywhere in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and Southern Thailand. The word kopi is a Malay term for coffee, while tiam is the Hokkien/Hakka/Hainanese term for shop (often run by ethnic Chinese). For the first time in many years, Mulu Hutong is offering weekend brunch again, bringing the feel of a kopitiam into their picturesque hutong courtyard. For RMB 100, eat your fill of dishes such as nasi lemak, Sarawak laksa, and kaya toast. Brunch is offered every Saturday and Sunday, with two seatings each day from 11.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-2.30pm (limited to 16 people per session).

Tue-Thu: Half-price daily specials at Turkish Feast

Turkish Feast, one of our favorite restaurant openings of 2019, has just given us another reason to head over to Xinyuanli to try some of their fine Turkish cuisine: a series of new daily half-price specials. Get half-price kebabs (our favorite from when we went to try the food – order the Adana kebab, a blend of beef and lamb), half-price pide on Tuesday, half-price beef ribs on Wednesday, and half-price rib-eye steak on Thursday. They dry-age their own beef in-house and it usually costs a pretty penny so the latter is a particularly good deal.

Dec 21: Tribe Annual Christmas Party

Tribe wants to heat up your Christmas with this year’s "hottest" Christmas party. On Dec 21, head to Tribe Solana for presents from Sexy Santa, a Secret Santa gift exchange, a lucky draw, Christmas cookies in support of the Migrant Children’s Foundation, and a special Christmas dinner set. The Christmas dinner set is priced at RMB 288 per person or RMB 520 per couple, including dishes like smoked salmon gravalax, roasted turkey with all the trimmings, and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, as well as a glass of white or red wine. Visit this WeChat post for more information or to make a reservation.

Until Jan 5: Jing Yaa Tang launches new Western duck concept for Christmas

The Opposite House's Jing Yaa Tang has put a special festive spin on their usual duck offerings. From now until Jan 5, feast on a duck set for RMB 888 (which happily feeds three to four), which includes the usual duck and all the pancake trimmings; potatoes roasted in duck fat; fried minced Iberian pork with beansprouts, crispy rice, and Chinese baby cabbage; Southern-style preserved pork with brussels sprouts, and four apple meringue tarts to finish. If that's not enough then you can also choose from a selection of à la carte holiday specials.

Until Jan 5: Brotzeit fills the Christmas table German-style

Elsewhere, Brozeit is putting their own traditional German spin on Christmas. More than just the roast goose and apple stuffing, they also deck the tables with traditional German holiday proteins aplenty – venison and veal sausages, Chistmas chicken, duck confit, and beer-roasted pork. No shortage of German potato dumplings come with the meal as well, and a Christmas dessert medley tops it all off. All of the above is included in an eight-person meal (RMB 298 per person), but simpler packages are available for groups of two or four at RMB 188 and 228 respectively.

READ: Catering Services for Stress-Free Home Holiday Parties

More stories by this author here.

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Images: Shutterstock, Robynne Tindall, Mulu, Tribe, Tom Arnstein, Brotzeit

If you’re new to Beijing, you might not be aware of the chilly, biting winds that are set to start sweeping through the city’s streets with all the fury of a thousand impatient bike-share cyclists. On the other hand, if you’re a Beijing veteran, you’re probably all too familiar with, and simply dreading, the onslaught of air currents that slice through the thickest of jackets and longest of underwear, straight down to your defenseless little bones. No matter which camp you find yourself in, one thing is certain, the winter winds in Beijing are miserable but we want to help you adequately prepare and care for your skin so it doesn’t dry up like a forgotten holiday roast in the oven.

Combatting the change of seasons

Writing for charlottesbook.com, dermatologist Doris Day M.D. explains that, “The change of seasons can be very stressful on your skin, especially when going from warmer summer months to cold, windy drier winters … Decreased temperatures mean a drop in humidity levels, taking moisture not only out of the air, but also out of your skin.”

While what we outline below is a good primer for combating cracked skin, it should be noted that if dryness persists, and is causing you discomfort, you should immediately consult a dermatologist who can create a specialized skincare regimen based on your unique skin type. As Day notes, “In certain cases, extremely dry skin can be an indicator of a larger medical issue, such as diabetes or an under-active thyroid.”

The basics, and preventative methods for skin care

Of course, some remedies such as drinking lots of fluids and exercising (is there anything these two aren’t good for?), covering exposed skin, and moisturizing with natural oils seem relatively obvious. However there are a few other solutions, and in some cases, preventative measures, that may otherwise seem counterintuitive.

For instance, despite the fact that the first thing many of us do when we wake up in the morning or get home in the evening is crank up the thermostat, frequent heater use has a tendency to dry out the air inside the home, and in turn, your skin. Thus it’s best to set your heater to a moderate level, and only leave it on long enough to warm up your space. If you do insist on blasting the heater, consider investing in a humidifier and setting its levels between 45 percent and 55 percent, to keep enough moisture in the air for happy, radiant skin. 

Similarly, long hot showers will effectively remove much-needed water and natural oils from your body, consequently rendering it more susceptible to the effects of winter weather. It is therefore advised that your shower time doesn’t exceed 15 minutes and that you use warm water as opposed to hot.

What’s more, try to avoid wearing polyester directly against your skin as it may cause undue irritation, especially around the neck. It's therefore recommended that you stick to softer fabrics like cotton and wool for base layers, and only wear polyester as an overlayer.

Lastly, there’s a whole host of delicious fruits and vegetables that are high in moisture-giving antioxidants, and also happen to be in season! Foods like cranberries, blueberries, fall squashes, and pomegranates can rejuvenate your body from the inside and out, and help protect your skin from getting chapped.

READ: Beat the Flu With Everything You Need to Know About Getting Vaccinated

This article is originally from our sister publication Beijingkids. 

Photo: Romina Farias (via Unsplash)

Beijing Olympian is an ongoing column in which we explore the newest, the funnest, and the downright whackiest in Beijing’s fitness scene.

If references to squash on the Showtime television show Billions are any hint, the sport is oft associated with affluence – corporate executives heading to the indoor courts on their lunch break to smash a few shots before returning to work. But despite their name, Beijing’s Elite Squash Academy (ESA), is trying hard to build a squash community that is open and inclusive to everybody.

“There are no excuses when you’re around me,” says coach Gabriel Olajide. “If they don’t have something, I will provide them for them. I have extra racquets. I have spare shoes, socks, pants, T-shirts.”

Olajide first began playing squash in Nigeria as a child and it remains his passion to this day. He and the club‘s other organizers continuously make sacrifices for the love of the sport and for the sake of the community, and any given Sunday morning, you will see him dashing between the courts at Lido Country Club giving encouragement to as many players as he can. He even regularly gives free lessons to interested players, even though booking the court costs money.

It has been a long road to get people in Beijing interested because here, people traditionally associated racquets sports with tennis, and find the lack of net surprising. "The sport was new to them, and they felt quite confined in these four walls," Olajide recalls. Things are picking up now though, and the club is even promoting squash in schools, which can sometimes result in the whole family swinging at rubber balls. They also hold a variety of events and tournaments every year, such as the Lady’s Squashout and a squash winter training camp. People feel welcomed when they get involved with the club, and bonds are formed on the court and off, as sweaty Sunday sessions are often followed by lunch and drinks at Eudora Station across the street.

Not just "tennis with different balls"

Squash is played with two opponents armed with racquets hitting a rubber ball against the walls of a small, four-walled court (squash is not to be confused with racquetball, which also meets this description but uses larger racquets and balls and slightly different rules). The ball is served without a bounce to the front wall and back to the opponent, and then players take turns bouncing it off of any of the walls below a demarcated line. As play continues, the ball literally warms up and becomes more and more bouncy with the heat.

For players coming from other racquet sports, adjusting to these four walls can be difficult. Local player Ambrose Chiu was more of a tennis player when living in his hometown of Hong Kong, but in Beijing his focus as switched to squash. "It’s a totally different game. I approached it with the mindset that it was going to be tennis but with different balls, but it totally isn’t."

Olajide explains that muscle memory can be hard to relearn for former tennis players. “With tennis, you move the racquet in a semicircle to climb the net, but in squash, you wouldn’t do that. You really need to keep the ball up and flat and straight.” Players also do not alternate their grip as much because the ball moves around much quicker than in tennis or badminton.

He also emphasizes that everyone brings their own strengths to the game. Whether your body is fit for power or control, you can find a way to use that to your advantage, and you can find a racquet that is right for the style of play.

An anytime sport, a social sport

You will not find any squash courts out in the city’s parks, because it is exclusively an indoor sport. That confinement has its advantages, however. “It’s an all-weather sport,” says Chiu, “so you don’t have to worry about booking a court, or rain, and then AQI 320. So, in China in particular, it’s good.” Once again: no excuses.

While squash is a fun way to stay fit year-round for some, others see it as an overall learning experience. In addition to enhancing their understanding of physics, some players told the Beijinger that even this non-team sport has taught them valuable social lessons; positioning yourself in the court is as much about keeping your opponent and yourself safe as it is about getting a competitive edge. That said, the one-on-one play is conducive to self-improvement. “You are always competing against yourself,” says Olajide.

That is the mindset that motivates the club to take part in the global movement to get more people playing squash. Come the World Squash Day held every Oct 12, the ESA may be a small part of the annual effort to recruit 100,000 new players around the world, but they are the only club in all of China to participate. The club hopes that the squash racquet will soon find its way into hands and hearts in this country, just as the racquets of badminton and table tennis have done.

To learn more, visit the Elite Squash Academy website here, or scan the QR code below:

Do you have a niche fitness hobby that needs recognition? Write to us editor@thebeijinger.com to arrange an interview!

READ: Plunging the Icy Depths With Houhai's Fearless Winter Swimmers

Images courtesy of Elite Squash Academy

It’s that time of year. Time to scrap together all the earworms that have wiggled their way into our collective consciousness and try to paint a cohesive picture of the Chinese music scene as it stands after the past year. A daunting task, indeed – but one that unveils surprises at every turn.

What’s most notable about this year’s crop of stellar releases is the varied collection of returning favorites as well as the new labels finally hitting their stride. Labels like Ruby Eyes Records gobbled up acts across the whole musical spectrum and in turn, had more than a few hit releases. Electronic labels like Babel Records have steadily been bridging the gap between the studio and the dancefloor, and its shows in their robust catalog this year. Meanwhile, labels like Merrier Records (rising from the ashes of Douban's D-Force Records) made their presence known immediately with an eclectic and seasoned taste for genre-expanding bands and artists.

The old guard such as Maybe Mars and Modern Sky remain as vital as ever, hopping back and forth between debuting new acts and hyping veteran bands' strongest (and more often than not, most accessible) work yet. At the same time, there’s been an influx of new bands (The Bootlegs, Poetry in Shorts) and DIY-labels (SJ Records, Field Ring Recordings, Qiii Snacks Records, Wild Records) that have a keen understanding of the market and their fanbase and have utilized every means they have to make the biggest impact.

One final 2019 trend was the number of bands making waves outside of China via releasing music on international labels (Wharf Car Records for Gong Gong Gong, Damnably for Hiperson) – a clear sign that the Chinese scene is slowly infiltrating circles (and tastes) around the globe. Add that to rock music’s big breakthrough over the summer courtesy of talent show The Big Band, and you’ve got one of the most fruitful years in the Chinese music scene in some time.

On to the list. Earlier this summer we put out the best albums of the first half of the year– we highly recommend catching up with those first as this list focuses on the second half of the year, which was a hell of a lot stronger. Ideally, I would refine that list, maybe knock a couple of entrants off, replace something here or there, but really, what’s the point – it’s all worth a listen in the end. While the beginning of the list here is holds those releases I feel strongest about (something that carries over from the Noise Pollution if you haven’t noticed) there’s really no order to the madness below.

Hiperson 海朋森 - Four Seasons 春夏秋冬

Comprised of four poems that lead singer Chen Sijiang wrote over the past eight years, Hiperson’s latest may not evoke the full-on post-punk opus that the Chengdu hopefuls struck gold with on their debut back in 2015, but similarly demands your attention. Separated between Chengdu and London (where Sijiang recorded the vocals) and representing the shifting seasons and temperaments of its young artists, it’s a beautifully realized EP that puts the band's tender lyrical pose front and center, casting a spell that lingers long after. And while the swirling angst-ridden guitars may be nowhere within ear range, it’s amazing how much emotional heft and magnetism the band can wrangle from their rhythmic interplay. A gem of a release that burrows deep into your soul.  

Listen

Xiami
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Bandcamp

Howie Lee - 天地不仁

A fever dream of astounding precision and imagination, electronic maverick producer Howie Lee takes his years of world-building with otherworldly sounds to present his finest work yet. Ambitious in scale, singular in its audacious vision, Lee's densely-packed sophomore release kicks off with a Blade Runner-evoking symphony, throwing listeners into a brave new world, and it doesn’t let up, with the chorus instead calling upon Daoist-laced cyberpunk sacraments and robotic shamans to weave the chorus' sprawling soundscapes. There’s an operatic quality to what the artist accomplishes here – a neon-soaked Neuromantic musical that’s is every bit refined and assembled as it is downright bewildering and challenging. 

Listen

Bandcamp
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The Bootlegs (靴腿) – I Feel Good

Seemingly emerging out of nowhere, Qingdao’s The Bootlegs are a breath of fresh air – an endearing jangly bit of lo-fi surf pop that hits all the right buttons. Founded by lead singer Zhao Hong at the coastal city's mysterious No Future Club, the bedroom project eventually morphed into a full-fledged band. A mix of rustic cowboy frontier ambiance and lo-fi surf-gaze charm, the trio's debut feels both engrained in the past and embattled with the future, striking a chord somewhere between grainy nostalgia and adolescent deviance, as each guitar riff and bass groove charges forward into the sunset. A striking debut that feels tailormade for the indie scene at this current moment.

Listen

Bandcamp
Xiami
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Glow Curve (发光曲线) – Invisible History (荒野星)

Longstanding indie rock outfit Glow Curve returned this year with their latest piece of transcendent post-rock pop, reaching higher into the stratosphere as they expand their sound. With a stronger emphasis on vocals (particularly from Xue Ran whose ghostly, gruff voice is in top form here), slick, intricately layered electronic flourishes, and other well-timed instrumentation, the band seems to have found the perfect balance between dreamy futuristic dissonance and lush crescendoing rhythms. The result is a rush of an album that unveils something new with each spin, keeping you on your toes while needling its way into your heart. 

Listen

QQ
Spotify

Poetry in Shorts (短裤里的诗歌) – 我还喜欢你

Rugged, pschedelic garage rock twists around the zombified corpse of blues-rock with grit to spare on Poetry in Shorts'I Still Like You. They're a band that is unabashed in their scrappy, smoky-lounge, tin-canned sound, with the true strength of the release lying in the rich lyrics and penetrating vocals. There’s a vitality and an innovative mischievous to the way the band, made up of members of fellow Shanghai punk outfit Dirty Fingers, tackle issues beholden to young adults, and particularly young adults trying to make it as rock stars. It’s a fearless album that feels authentic in its downtrodden and deviant luck.

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Xiami
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Bandcamp

Chui Wan - Eye (眼)

Psychedelic groovers Chui Wan have always been a band content to play their own tune, pushing their esoteric and sometimes downright surreal sound to new territory and carving out their own little world. Their fourth LP sees the band evolving further and in many ways redefining themselves, displaying a more delicate, softer, and even poppier version of their psychedelic palette. Yan Yulong’s falsetto vocals find tender matrimony alongside some of the album’s more upbeat and propulsive melodies, while Wu Qiong continues to immerse herself fully in the album’s more atmospheric Nico-stylized tracks. In the end, the band really take off when they give into their sweeping psychedelic rhythms, which have never sounded as harmonious or inviting.

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Gong Gong Gong (工工工) – Phantom Rhythm (幽靈節奏)

Guitar and bass duo Gong Gong Gong, who have been haunting the Beijing music scene for years, came full circle on their dynamic and unique debut Phantom Rhythm. Made up of two of the underground scene’s old guard – Josh Frank of Hot & Cold and Tom Ng of The Offset:Spectacles – there’s a scrappy, stripped-back approach to the duo's maneuvering around the usual confines of rock and roll. It may be minimalistic on paper, but rather than leaning into perpetual grooves, Gong Gong Gong forge fascinating paths around their sound, sculpting topsy-turvy melodies interlaced with stories veiled by cryptic allure and danger. It’s an intoxicating mix, and in the end, one that charts its own unique course.

Listen

Bandcamp
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J-Fever (小老虎) & Soulspeak – 北京吗

One of the hip-hop scene’s most respected (and underrated) acts, J-Fever, whose freewheeling, playful, philosophical, and often surrealist spin on the genre places him squarely against the fame-chasing acts out there, pays tribute to his home with the sincere and thoughtful 北京吗. Collaborating once again with LA-based producer Soulspeak, whose slick and bubbly beats make for a highly fluid and soulful backdrop, J-Fever infuses these 10 tracks with a jazzy, old-school ragtag absurdity that utilizes everything from traditional string instruments to vibrant high-pitched keys. Topics spat, meanwhile, encapsulate everything from the inflating price of airline tickets (blame the pretty flight attendants) to unintentional dissent in the emperor’s court. It’s a blazingly singular piece of work with an off-kilter Beat Generation, proving once again that there's no duo out there quite like J-Fever and Soulspeak. 

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QQ

Yang Ji (养鸡) – 养鸡的梦境

Hangzhou singer-songwriter Yang Ji reoutfits her punk roots in atypical and alluring ways on her wildly impressive debut LP. "Yang Ji's Dreams" apparently play out to the sounds of KTV anime-pop tossed in the blender with lo-fi stylings, seamlessly blurring the line between vulnerability and keen self-awareness. It’s offbeat, bewildering, and unpretentious – both confessionally honest and affectionately sincere. That sincerity stretches to the deliriously giddy production, which utilizes everything from tortured guitar chords to kitschy synth horns to drive its dreamy funhouse aesthetic home. Couple that with wistful, quirky, and bittersweet lyrics, and you have a singular voice and style that’s easy to fall in love with.

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Qian Qian

Guzz - Walking in a Boundless Dream (走不出的梦境)

Steering away from the heavier bass that his previous albums were infatuated with, Beijing-based producer Guzz has instead created an album of glistening beauty – a high-hued, mist-covered flowing pastiche of traditional Asian sounds spliced with contemporary electronica. With an emphasis on digitally-created sounds (all of the instruments heard here were made via software) and inspired by the traditional instruments of Myanmar, India, and Japan, it’s clear the artist is angling for something novel. A cross between a scrolling Super Nintendo game soundtrack and an archeological excavation, it’s an endlessly rewarding album that’s light on its feet and brimming with ideas and otherworldly, yet organic sounds. Call it Asian new wave, or just sit back and soak in the atmosphere.

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Bandcamp
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Xiami

Hai Qing (海青) x Li Xing (李星) - Utopian Daymare (乌飞兔走昼还夜)

A grizzled, burly, and sprawling psych-rock album that highlights Hai Qing and Li Xing’s affinity for prog rock spells, Utopian Daymore is what it would be like to take freewheeling holiday of the Mongolian grassland with Marshall stack in tow. There’s an almost manic quality to the way these two throw everything in their arsenal at the wall, from reed-based sheng flailing to discordant guitar riffs pitted against free jazz saxophones. But what’s most satisfying about their concoction is the rustic rock and roll soul that permeates throughout the – arguably meandering at times – album, which finds moments of solace and offbeat beauty in the pairing of Hai Qing’s dusty-eyed frontiersman voice and Li Xing’s endlessly imaginative instrumentation.

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Xiami
Bandcamp

ZHI16 - ILLUSION 

Beijing electronic producer ZHI16 veers deep into sci-fi territory on his sonically ambitious ILLUSION, sculpting his smooth, funk-driven sound into something darker and intergalactic. Meant to conjure images of a "cold, selfish, and human future," ZHI16 creates a dense atmosphere of dread, wonder, and technological tenacity that sounds for better or worse, authentic. Flushed with details, a keen sense of grandeur, and sound design that manages to retain (and sharpen) its club floor audacity, ZHI16 reaches for the stars and delivers. More importantly, the release hints at a world where China’s finest electronic producers evolve into being some of the film world’s finest composers. 

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Xiami
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Peach Illusion (桃子假象) - 100% (百分百)

Former Xiamen duo (now Shanghai quartet) Peach Illusion, whose 2018 debut EP was one of our absolute favorites, return with a full liter of their fizzy indie-pop on their follow-up LP 100%. Fueled by sparkling and youthful energy, and buoyed by old-school Cantopop swagger in tiny beach shorts, there’s a lot to love with what the band has assembled here. It’s a wanderlust summer album that’s earnest in its lovesick ways, finding sweetness and lyrical richness in the everyday trials of being young at heart, with plenty of sun-bleached jangly pop riffs and fading skyline synths to help keep your chin up and your (just maybe) naive spirits high. 

Listen

Bandcamp
Xiami
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Foster Parents - Idle Archipelago

Listening to Foster Parents' newest album Idle Archipelago, released on Guangzhou’s Qiii Snacks Records, is like being wrapped up in a warm blanket in front of the fireplace. Even as it tickles your earlobes with its math rock time signatures and wildly inventive arrangements, there’s a tenderness at the heart of the Shanghai duo, which they render perfectly through their pop culture-filtered, autumn-hued instrumental jams. It’s a nifty magic trick – a rich sensory trip down memory lane dense in its details but also not afraid to nod towards its pop-punk earnestness or Midwest emo roots. Nothing’s taken for granted and every opportunity is seized, leading to a cohesive sound that’s pure, genuine, and devoid of pessimism. This is math rock you can take home to your parents.

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Slot Canyons – An Infinite Heat 

Fresh off the scene, Wuhan's electronic label Field Ring Recordings gets off to a strong start with their debut release from Slot Canyons. The project, headed by label founder and musician Ryan Blankley (of Panic Worm), combines elements of field recordings, fragmented electronics, and spacey drones with glitchy guitars, layering textures with minimal hardware yet endless imagination and treating every sample as a building block to something grandiose and transcendent. Intended "to capture the intensity of the Wuhan humidity and the scenery at the East Lake," as described by its creator, it’s an album that washes over you, enveloping you in a swirl of emotion and sound begging you to lose your head in the clouds.

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Bandcamp
QQ

Happy Little Cat – Unhappy Meal (不开心乐园餐)

Relishing the bittersweet turbulence of adolescence, Guangzhou/HK bedroom pop duo Happy Little Cat mines the bleakness of heartbreak and depression to find a silver lining within the "messy network" that are our feelings, or as the duo puts it: "Swallow your unhappiness and experience real happiness after digestion and decomposition." Slick samples, dream pop gloss, and delicately crafted melodies that feel like a glimpse into someone’s personal KTV moment (or breakdown), there’s an intimate hope-tinged pain here that the pair renders. Think: dance numbers one can waltz to by yourself in your living room (to the bemusement of your cat, of course).

Listen

Xiami
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Bandcamp

Lows0n - 低鹅子还在长高

The young Xiamen rapper lows0n has been making waves in the hip-hop scene over the past year, garnering praise for her distinctively odd and high-energy persona that perfectly encapsulates a generation of kids raised on video games, irony, and Red Bull. She hits it out of the park on her bubbly debut, which fuses self-aware kitsch with wonderful deviance for a sound that isn’t afraid to dip into sentimental vaporwave ballads, goofy low-brow KTV-stylized jams, or auto-tuned simmering bangers. In the meantime, Lows0n's lines confront everything from societal ignorance to the perks of being biased, as well as finding the indigo child within you. It's a world unto itself, one where she unabashedly reigns supreme.

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Thin City – WATERMELON/O不OK

If their debut EP earlier this year wasn’t enough, the Shenzhen art rockers Thin City go out with a bang on their debut LP, which acts as a log of the band’s multicultural entanglements as well as of their musical growth and maturity over the short span of two years. While there’s always been a slapdash subversive quality to Thin City’s music that felt like a late-night party hitting its sweet spot, the band’s power pop sensibilities and melodic command here are stronger than ever – calling to mind everyone from Life Without Buildings to the New Pornographers. English, Chinese, and Chinglish intertwine with ramshackle guitar chords, tambourines, and infectious hooks as the male-female vocals volley off one another like a drunken waltz rife with inside jokes, fragmented lyricism, and juvenile escapism. Bittersweet and brimming with life, O不OK is a hell of a bon voyage from an outfit gone too soon.

Listen

Bandcamp
QQ
Xiami
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READ: 2019 Year in Review: Top 10 Blockbusters in Chinese Cinema

Images courtesy of the bands

Christmas is only a week away, which means that those of us returning home are flapping around doing last-minute packing and trying to think of gift ideas that don't scream "I bought this at the airport," while those of us staying in Beijing are wallowing at work wondering if the Christmas mood will ever kick in this year. Even if your colleagues aren't in the holiday spirit, we can promise that you'll find some festive cheer at these dining events. These are our top 12 picks (although there are many, many more in our events section), with options for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Dec 24, 6pm: Eudora Station
A good option for families or those who just want to kick back in a relaxed, pub-style setting, Eudora is offering a Christmas Eve set menu priced at RMB 598 per person or RMB 1,198 per couple, featuring dishes like roasted pumpkin soup and grilled Angus beef fillet (there is also a special kids menu). There will be a live band later in the evening.

Dec 24, 6-10pm: Paulaner Brauhaus
Don't let the German Christmas cuisine end with stollen! Enjoy a German Christmas Eve set dinner at Paulaner Brauhaus accompanied by a delectable dessert buffet with options ranging from a sweet apple strudel to a slice of black forest chocolate cake this Christmas Eve. Dinner is priced at RMB 688 per person including free-flow wine and Paulaner beer.

Dec 24, 5.30-10.30pm: Mosto
Mosto's annual Christmas Eve dinner is always a fun atmosphere and the food is great to boot, with a menu featuring starters and desserts to share and a choice of main courses like black shrimp ravioli or glazed duck breast. Dinner is priced at RMB 450 with the option to add free-flow drinks for RMB 188.

Dec 24, 6.30-9pm: Home Plate BBQ
Eat and drink the night away at Home Plate BBQ Sanlitun, where they'll have a buffet of whole smoked hog, smoked turkeys, and Christmas sides for RMB 188, with a welcome drink of prosecco, mulled wine, or sweet tea included. Add free-flow drink for RMB 150.

Dec 24, 5.30pm: New World Beijing Hotel
Indulge in a festive feast featuring roast turkey with all the fixings, pan-fried salmon with Champagne sauce, braised venison with root vegetables, and traditional European desserts like chocolate yule logs. Dinner is priced at RMB 688 per person.

Dec 24, 25, 6-8pm: The Local
The Local will serve a Christmas dinner set of turkey and all the trimmings (including their delicious mac and cheese) for RMB 338 per person (vegetarian option available). If you’re looking to chow down with your crew, they’ll be serving a reservation-only Christmas feast for 8-10 people until Dec 29 (RMB 2,480), also available for delivery.

Dec 25, 11.30am-9pm: Feast (Food by EAST)
Eat your fill at the time of your choosing at Feast's festive buffet, which runs all day from 11.30am-9pm (dining time is limited to three hours). The buffet is priced at RMB 398 per person, including free-flow wine and soft drinks.

Dec 25, 11.30am-2.30pm: Grand Hyatt, Wangfujing
Head to the Grand Café at Grand Hyatt Wangfujing for a great value Christmas brunch featuring all your festive favorites such as roast turkey, trimmings, and even some seafood, as well as indulgent, Christmassy desserts. Brunch is priced at RMB 298 per person (plus VAT and service).

Dec 25, Dec 26, 11.30am: The Orchid Lodge
Indulge a-new or recover from the night before with The Orchid Lodge's sumptuous brunch spread, featuring cured salmon, truffle mushroom strata, sausage and potato hash, and breads from The Bake Shop. RMB 388 per person including wines and other beverages.

Until Dec 31: Beersmith, Hotel Jen Beijing
Perfect for large family or friend gatherings, Beersmith's turkey set serves up to eight people and features a 5-6kg bird with chestnut stuffing and an array of sides including sweet potato and squash with dried cranberries and pecans, braised red cabbage, carrots cooked with chardonnay, gravy, and cranberry sauce. Get your turkey for RMB 1,288 to eat in or RMB 988 to take away.

Until Jan 1: Bottega
Have a buon natale Pechino (Beijing Merry Christmas to you and me) at Bottega, where they will be serving festive Italian dishes like polenta crostini and spaghetti alle vongole. They will also have deals on sparkling wine and Champagne from 9pm onwards on Dec 24-25. Dishes available at both branches.

Until Jan 5: Jing Yaa Tang
Jing Yaa Tang's Chinese Christmas menu puts a local spin on festive favorites, with dishes like Brussels sprouts stir-fried with smoked pork and potatoes roasted in duck fat, as well as their signature Peking duck. The set menu is priced at RMB 888, comfortably serving three-four people.

Not enough choice? There are dozens more Christmas events where these came from, right here.

More stories by this author here.

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

Images: Flipboard, courtesy of the restaurants

In the wake of the “me too” movement, women (and men) from all walks of life have found their voice, exposing the individuals and institutions that have leveraged their power to perpetrate sexual and gender-based violence or abuse. After taking hold in the US, the movement spread all over the world, including to China, where prevailing conservatism means that conversations about sex remain largely taboo. Couple that with the cultural concept of "face," and the idea of addressing concerns of sexual abuse with one’s family or speaking out in public are heavily discouraged so that victims do not tempt bringing shame upon their family.

However, these views are slowly beginning to change. A recent report showed that over 70 percent of all divorces filed in China are initiated by women, going against the long-held belief that typical Chinese brides are likely to suffer through bad marriages and never leave. Additionally, the veil of silence around domestic violence is gradually lifting. Just recently, popular Chinese makeup blogger Yuya Mika spoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her then-boyfriend, some of which were captured by security cameras.

Candid accounts by such public figures are giving more women the strength to come forward and share their own experiences of abuse and violence. One such woman is Daisy (a pseudonym), a Chinese native from Inner Mongolia who lives and works in Beijing, who shared her experiences with me for purposes of this article. Like Yuya, Daisy's abuse was perpetrated by someone she was in a relationship, however, where her story differs is that she was actually having an affair with this man behind her now ex-husband’s back. The assailant was also a foreign national.

Their meeting wasn’t exactly the opening sequence to a whirlwind romance film. Daisy met the man who would be the cause of her marriage’s dissolution when she decided to take English classes here in the city, at a prestigious language training center. As is the case in such establishments, the teachers were discouraged from fraternizing with students outside of the class setting, but this was a rule rarely followed, especially by Daisy’s Casanova teacher, who had gained himself a reputation among the female student body. By the time Daisy and her teacher started out, she had been, in her own words, rather unhappily married and felt increasingly trapped in a relationship that didn’t seem to work no matter how much she tried. As someone in an emotionally and physically lacking relationship, she easily fell prey to the teacher and his promises of a happy future together.

When did you realize that you were in love with him?
I actually don’t remember when it happened or when I even began thinking actively about it. It just began. We would smoke at the same spot, then we began to talk after almost a year of my knowing him. I found him to be quite charming. And then, we began to share little secrets and personal jokes. For instance, the cups of coffee we would carry to class would not be coffee at all but beer. He kissed me once after we were drunk. He sent me poems which he said were for me. I tried to evade meeting him but he would always talk me into it in one way or another. He became a light in my otherwise mundane life, and by telling me that I was different, he would encourage me to do things I would otherwise never do. This was an affirmation that I had never received before. He gave me what I have craved all my life. But later I would come to discover that he was not only in a relationship with another woman, but he had also just been divorced a little over two months before we started seeing each other – these same sweet words he would serenade me with were the same sweet nothings he would be sharing with other women.

Continue reading this story over at our sister site, beijing-kids.com.

Images: scplanfranchipancrazi.fr

The waffle, that classic American bing, isn’t just for breakfast anymore.Woof O Waffle in Sanlitun Soho has made it their mission to turn Beijinger's onto the delights of savory, lunch-y waffles.

While student-favorite Maan Coffee is perhaps the best known as an early adopter of the waffle, and Moka Bros still has one of our favorite dessert varieties, Woof instead replaces the lashings of chocolate and whipped cream with a range of special sauces. Most notable of the bunch is a green chive sauce created by a three-star Michelin chef, which can be added for an extra RMB 5. Only our wildest imaginations can guess how that collaboration came to be.

Sticking to the savory theme, the four types of waffle are stuffed with various ingredients, like the cumin lamb for a Xinjiang-style waffle, Pretty Numb Chicken for something a little mala, Four Fried Season Bean for some veggie protein (but also some pork), so vegetarians are left with the Mouthy Mushroom, which also happens to have the most "Western" in flavor. All come in either half or whole for anywhere between RMB 23-RMB 45 respectively. Shell out an extra RMB 5 for the aforementioned artisanal sauce.

In all, the premise of adding ingredients into waffle batter is a playful spin on an old snack. Some elements work better than others: the cumin lamb and sauce pairing is beautifully savory and just that little bit sweet, but overall the dough is a little too soft and lacks the crunch needed to elevate these to a higher plane (it's an easy fix: simply cook them a little longer). A sprinkling of nori helps embolden the flavors and the dollops of chili sauce packs a punch.

Although the menu is rather minimal, Woof is more than just waffles. They've also paired with the kombucha brand Ludeng, sold exclusively in this store. Bottles come in three different sizes: RMB 25 for 250ml, RMB 40 for 500ml, RMB 80 for 1L, and while the taste is not particularly strong, they come in intriguing flavors like rose and lemon-ginger. There are also various kombucha-based teas and milk teas to round out the drinks menu.

All of this can be enjoyed in a room that might be described as techno-industrial – somewhere probably better enjoyed with the lights off and the music pumping, of which there is conspicuously none – with its concrete walls, embedded wall lighting, and bright white seats and tables. The low seating might feel a bit awkward, but the waffles make a good takeaway snack anyhow, and the kombucha, too, is served in baggable glass bottles.

Whether staying in or taking to-go, Woof O Waffle is a creative twist on a classic snack, but gimmicks of Michelin-star sauce aside, its success will simply rely on whether it can people through the door in their small corner of Sanlitun Soho. After all, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there.

Woof O Waffle
1/F, Bldg 6, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯SOHO6号商场一层

READ: Satisfyingly Simple: Sanlitun Soho's Man Sushi Does Exactly What the Name Suggests

Images: Zeus Zou, Woof O Waffle

Beijing is full of stories of plucky young entrepreneurs who move to the city for one reason, then through a combination of fate and good timing, turn their a hobby or passion into a successful business. Our city seems especially suited to opportunities like these, but even so, few stories turn out so well as that of local business Naked拿颗酱 (formerly Naked Nut Butters), who won the Poverty Alleviation award in the category of Small/Medium Enterprise at the China Social Impact Awards on Nov 7. The awards, organized by the British Chamber of Commerce in China in partnership with the United Nations, recognize the positive impact companies and organizations of all industries and sizes have had on society and the environment in China.

The brainchild of expats Meredith Sides and Catherine (Katie) Tarrant, in just a few short years, Naked拿颗酱 (ná kē jiàng roughly means 'grab the sauce') has grown from blending small-batches of nut butter on their balcony, to building and owning their own production factory in Pingwu County in Sichuan, where they employ workers from the local community, and grow all their own all-natural peanuts. All the while, the company has remained 100 percent foreign-owned, and donate a portion of their profits to Chinese environmental NGO The Paradise Foundation.

We chatted with Meredith Sides about how Naked拿颗酱 came to win this award, meeting and ganbei'ing with Jack Ma, and what's next for the company.

Tell us about this award, how did you come to be nominated?
Originally the Chamber of Commerce contacted us, and invited us to apply for this specific category. We sent in the application in late summer, and then basically forgot about it. We figured nothing come of it, then one day we were in the Nut Butter WeChat group, and somebody said "Omg by the way congratulations!", so we checked our emails and found out we were nominated as finalists. 

How did you get connected with the Paradise Foundation, and set up your factory?
At first we were just making nut butter on the balcony, in blenders, selling through markets on personal WeChat, that kind of thing. Then in 2017, we met up with an old friend of Katie's who now works at The Paradise Foundation who work to protect different nature reserves around China and to stimulate the economies of the surrounding villages. He told us about a nature reserve in Sichuan and in a small village called Laohegou, Pingwu County that grows all-natural peanuts. He said "I'll give you some of their nuts, you can tell me what you think" and it made the most delicious peanut butter ever. It's a special kind of nut called a Spanish Runner peanut, which is smaller and sweeter so they have a very unique taste.

The Paradise Foundation encouraged us to start a factory in the village and told us they would help us get started. It was a great opportunity. So in time, we took an empty building, we bought all the machinery, did all the research about the production process and training ourselves... and still do all that today. We employ local villagers, and now we buy peanuts and support hundreds of local families. We also donate a portion of our profits back to The Paradise Foundation. Technically we are a social enterprise.

What has been the impact on the village?
Pingwu County used to be on the government ranked list of most poverty-ridden areas in Sichuan, and because of our work, and the Paradise Foundation's work there it's been taken off that list. We buy all the nuts that they can produce. We want all the nuts! [laughs] The impact is visible. Laohegou is a very remote farming village with no cellphone reception about a three-hour drive from Mingyang in Sichuan, and there is one winding road that reaches the village. Whenever there is a storm, rockfalls block the road, so right now the Paradise Foundation is building a major road so that more tourists and student groups can come and hike in the nature reserve. In the village, they still do all the farming by hand, but they are living a better way of life, and they don't have to go so far to work. Now there is a town and community that has grown.

How did it feel to win that award?
It was really exciting because we're now getting recognition for something that we've been trying to tell people about for so long. No matter how many times we posted about our story, people still didn't seem to know!

Yet while our product is really good, some people still say "Oh, why is it so expensive?" And even when we explain why and also tell them that we donate profits, some peoples still don't want to pay for it, and that can be disheartening. So it was really exciting to be in the room as so many companies who have the same kind of mission as us, who want to do good and are not just interested in making a profit. They want to make a change.

Was this related to meeting Jack Ma? What was that like?
Meeting him in Hong Kong was like the best week of our lives. We went to Hong Kong, met Jack Ma, who is the head of the board for the Paradise Foundation, ganbei'd with him, went back to Beijing, won the award. It doesn't get any better than that.

The occasion was the Paradise Foundation's annual board meeting and they said they wanted us to speak. I was terrified. I practiced our speech a million times, every day for hours. It was a great speech, and with a couple of jokes, and throughout, people were laughing and enjoying it, but we finished with a very famous line from one of President Xi's speeches [绿水青山就是金山银山 lǜ shuǐ qīngshān jiùshì jīnshān yín shān: approx: nature is our prosperity]. When we said that, everyone was just floored [laughs]. We killed it. 

Then afterward at dinner, Jack Ma was excited to talk to us because we were two foreign women – the only foreigners in the room – doing this really random thing. It was so great. 

What's next for Naked拿颗酱?
Our main goal is to continue having a good nut butter, lifestyle-related product, but to have it related to poverty alleviation and sustainability as our main mission. Making a good product is great, but you don't feel nearly as good as when you're doing the kind of poverty alleviation work that we're doing. We could probably make more money if we focused on the production side of things, but we're more interested in the goal of sustainability. So right now, we're researching where else we can set up manufacturing to do the same kind of work as in Sichuan. We also want to have production facilities closer to where the raw ingredients are.

At the moment, we can't do a lot with all the extra exposure and contacts that winning this award has brought us, because we're at our maximum capacity for production, but in the next couple of years, we want to see where we can expand our manufacturing and our base.

You can follow Naked拿颗酱's journey and browse their nutty goods via their official WeChat account (ID: nakednutbutters).

READ: Bespoke Travel Company CEO Sarah Keenlyside Nominated for Global Travel Award

Images courtesy of Meredith Sides and Naked 拿颗酱,British Chamber of Commerce in China

As its landfills pile up at an outrageous pace, Beijing appears to be doing all it can to turn over a new (biodegradable) leaf on plastics and waste. In the midst of a long-coming overhaul of the city’s garbage system that will require residents to sort their recycling, or pay a hefty fine, a new rule has now passed the municipal legislature that takes aim at plastic-reliant waimai and other e-commerce deliveries.

The rule, which will go into effect next May, stipulates that businesses who provide food delivery services must not automatically include disposable chopsticks, spoons, or forks with the delivery, and encourages them to use environmentally friendly packaging, according to People’s Daily. The rule states that repeat offenders may face a fine if they fail to comply.

All of that may sound like an environmentalist’s dream come true, but not everyone is satisfied. Damin Tang, a plastic campaigner for Greenpeace, told the Beijinger that he has mixed feelings about the move. “It certainly ticks a lot of the right boxes... but the regulation is also weak and unclear in some respects,” says Tang. "It says e-commerce companies ‘should’ use couriers with ‘environmentally-friendly’ packaging, but without mandatory requirements or definitions for packaging, this regulation has no teeth."

On the other hand, Tang says he is happy to see that reduction is being prioritized over waste sorting. Recycling can help to slow landfill growth, but many plastics don’t get recycled even when sorted correctly, and most can only be recycled once. He does note, however, that the new policy will improve waste-sorting practices, by establishing a monitoring system that should ensure garbage does not get mixed together during transportation.

If the new rule were to prove effective, it could put a huge dent in plastic waste. About 500,000 waimai orders are placed each day in Beijing, and at just one plastic container per order, switching to a more sustainable option would do away with over 180,000,000 plastic containers per year.

READ: Beijing Announces Long Overdue Trash Sorting Rules

Images: SFToday; Foodservice Consultant

Gigs are coming in thick and fast this December, but so be it – with this much quality music to go around, what’s the point of tying up 2019’s loose ends or coming to terms with the fact that the Earth is one more year closer to kicking the can. Turn up the volume, drone out those negative thoughts, and jump headfirst into the sanctified lake of live music that breathes life in this fair city.

Friday, Dec 20

Namo at Tango
Campus rock sensations Namo, a band that has captured the hearts of eighties-born young adults continue in the vein of their high-spirited, infectiously catchy melodies has moved to the big leagues in recent years without losing a bit of their charm. Singing earnestly on the minute stories and themes that make up life in a contemporary China, with a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness that’s sincere above all else, the band who have been around for more than ten years head to Tango. RMB 150

The Big Wave, Steely Heart, Mosaic, Pacalolo at Omni Space 
Some of the electro-rock biggest most beguiling acts descend upon Omni Space including trailblazers The Big Wave, making a rare appearance, Steely Heart, known for their surly, anthemic and incredibly catchy tunes, synth-wave lovers Mosaic from Chengdu, and Beijing’s own quirky electro flavor poppers Pacalolo. RMB 220

Suld at Yue Space
Traditional Mongolian folk tunes integrated with Western elements of heavy metal isn’t new to China – so it takes some gusto to emerge from the horde of bands tapping into the trend. That’s where Suld comes in. Also known as Battle Flag here in Beijing, the band which formed in Inner Mongolian and consists of members from there and Xinjiang province, the five-piece outfit relishes in mixing the old and the new, the traditional and the modern, with a heck ton of heavy metal creeping in. RMB 100

Pizza Face, Screaming Nerd, Jaruco at Temple 
Red-hot garage punk ruffians Pizza Face whose live performances (including at this year's Beijing Pizza Festival) have made them one of this year’s best new acts, roll through Temple with a vengeance, and along for the ride they’ve got three-piece melodic punk rockers Jaruco, and fresh-faced pop-punk wranglers Screaming Nerd (formerly Break The Silence). FREE

Swarrm, Psoralen at DDC 
Things get heavy, ominous, and industrial tonight with the one-two punch combo of Swarrm and Psoralen. While metal-inflicted instrumentalists Swarrm, a trio of firecracker musicians are fresh off their debut LP, Lanzhou’s Psoralen, headed by veteran musician Wang Zhenxing, offers something a bit more jarring, turning industrial ambiance into a guiding force in the band’s sound. RMB 80

R Ξ Π, Somehoax, Wu Jing, Heta Uma at guī
A new generation of musicians will descend upon Gulou for The Pelican Music Academy, allowing audiences and music entrepreneurs to soak in, evaluate, and link up with up and new bands, artists, and producers – with a weekend roundup at the new and well-kitted guī club in the basement of M Woods where mysterious and brooding dark techno producer R Ξ Π, Shanghai-based live coder Somehoax, visual artist and composer Wu Jing, and Hong Kong transplant and renegade producer Heta Uma conspire. Read more about what fun to expect here. RMB 80

Excuse Me at School
Mammoth Beijing rockers, Excuse Me, whose pop-leaning power rock has garnered them legions of fans and plenty of festival stints return to the underground for a very special intimate performance – at none other than School Bar. Expect a packed house as the band looks to link up with the venue’s newfound glory. RMB 150 

The Peppercorns, DJ TsenJen at Soi Baochao 
Art rockers with a vibe straight from the '70s – The Peppercorns – bring a little anarchic black-tinted fun to Soi Baochao with the help of offbeat DJ TsenJen. RMB 60

RapaciouzC, Jazzy L, Real One, Burningfaya at Fruityspace
Rap collective The Last Samurai go all out for their last hoorah this year with an old school hip-hop party featuring an array of verse smiths including RapaciouzC, Jazzy L, and more. RMB 60

Chen Fei & Pinecone at Jianghu Bar 
Independent musician and producer Chen Fei (formerly Haozi), founder of Pine Cone Music Studio, brings a new take on Chinese folk music-making somber folk-driven melodies that sink deep – as he invites his band to Jianghu Bar. RMB 100

Fu Yi at Mao Livehouse
Indie folk artist Fu Yi appears in Wukesong as part of his nationwide China tour. The artist, singer, and songwriter who popped up on everyone’s radar in 2016 is just releasing his first solo album with help from Kuyusi Studios and is expected to make lots of folks happy. RMB 120

Zhao Binggao, Echoloop at Aotu Studio
An evening of mind-altering experimental noise as Shijiazhuang harsh noise purveyor Zhao Binggao joins ambient producer and improv performer Echoloop. RMB 60

The Hunters at Modernista
Beijing’s hottest crowd-pleasers and one of the capital’s best foreign cover bands, The Hunters combine old school funk, soul, and rock classics with intoxicating delivery. They say farewell to their singer KC tonight they only way they know how – will a bang. FREE

The Balcony at Mogu Space
Hailing from Derbyshire and London in the UK, The Balcony brings a mix of acoustic covers and originals to Mogu Space for a special unplugged performance. FREE

Saturday, Dec 21

Ritual Day, Purgatory, SAW, Sick Pupa, Logic Control, Dolan, Skyfire at 13 Club 
For over 15 years, 13 Club has carved out a rock and roll refuge deep in the heart of Beijing's university district Wudaokou, acting as a haven for punks, metalheads, and rockers of all ilk, as well as a breeding ground for budding students looking for a little corruption. With its closing right around the corner, the longest-standing livehouse bids the scene a due with a behemoth of a lineup featuring some of the local metal scene’s most fierce and seasoned contenders, including veteran black metal band Ritual Day, melodic death metal outfit Purgatory, old-school metal thrashers SAW, the ever-deviant Sick Pupa, hardcore metal group Logic Control, Tianjin core ragers 641, Inner Mongolian troupe Dolan, and Skyfire. Read about what to expect while you're not pouring one out here. 8pm. RMB 160

Pacalolo, The Twenties, Dirty Moon, Day Dream at School
Let'School holds their year-end party celebrating the folks who help to make the actual school possible - be it teaching, promoting, managing. Set to play are electro dance-punk trio Pacalolo, newly signed dream-pop act Dirty Moon, punk ruffians Day Dream, and playing their first show in over a year, indie rock greats The Twenties. RMB 100

Discord, Shave’n’Shut, Unregenerate Blood, The Sailor’s Grape, Return the Truth, Labour Glory at Yue Space
Round up the ‘Old Fellas’ and head on down to Yue Space for a hefty dose of hardcore and punk with an array of acts looking to make some noise including punk legends Discord, oi punks Shave 'n' Shut, hardcore punk veterans Unregenerate Blood, ska supergroup The Sailor’s Grape, and more. RMB 150 

Whale Circus at SKY Live 
There’s a new venue in town! About the size of Tango and located on Xiaoyun Lu, SKY Live is just starting to get their feet wet and tonight they host be orchestral pop producer Li Xingyu and Whale Circus, his rotating, ever-expanding musical ensemble who create lush, cinematic soundtracks that mesmerize and captivate. RMB 120 

Dongzi, Wang Juan, Wu Ningue, Zhang Qianqian at Jianghu Bar 
A killer folk lineup with some of the Beijing folk scene’s longest surviving characters, including acclaimed Hubei singer-songwriter Dongzi, whose rich voice has captivated audiences everywhere, esteemed folk ballad writer Wang Juan, Ningxia singer and Buyi frontman Wu Ningue, and songstress Zhang Qianqian. RMB 100

MC GuangGuang, Trouble.Z, Round_2, Ice Paper, BustaZun, Big Year, KC at Tango
The Nanjing-based hop-hip label Free-Out celebrates three years of its roster, chock full of ferocious and charming individuals with a nationwide tour featuring its most popular acts including MC GuangGuang, Trouble.Z, Ice Paper and more. RMB 220 

Auburn at DDC 
Beijing-based Britpop indie rockers Auburn head to DDC as part of their Strange People national tour, sharing new works inspired by the offbeat folks they've come across in the music business. RMB 80

Broken Halbred, Divorce From Reality, Ramblin’ Roze, Titan at Temple 
The 330 Metal Fest returns to Temple to stir up trouble and warm those idle bones as four local metal bands wreak havoc and unleash their brutal power and riffs upon hungry audiences including tight-jeaned hard rock boys Ramblin Roze, hardcore group Titan, nu-thrash group Broken Halbred, and post-core scrappers Divorce From Reality. FREE

Empress CC!, JIRUIN1L, JIN, Laughing Ears, Yamashiro Koji at guī
A new generation of musicians will descend upon Gulou for The Pelican Music Academy, allowing audiences and music entrepreneurs to soak in, evaluate, and link up with up and new bands, artists, and producers – with a weekend roundup at the new and well-kitted guī club in the basement of M Woods where some of Shanghai’s rising stars of the electronic world including genre-hopping producer Empress CC!, performer JIRUIN1L, contemporary experimental guitarist JIN, world-builder Laughing Ears, and offbeat avant-garde producer Yamashiro Koji conspire. Read more about what to expect here. RMB 80

The Peking Floyd at Modernista
Beijing's Premier Pink Floyd tribute band bring their vast and ever-increasing collection of cuts from Pink Floyd's most creative years, priding themselves on emulating their live performances during the 1970s when their improvisation and psychedelic jamming were at their best. FREE

Excuse Me, The 2econd, Green Bus, L’uggage at Omni Space 
Beijing rockers, Excuse Me, whose pop-leaning power rock has garnered them legions of fans, join some of the mainstream pop world other successes including actor Zhang Cheng with his rock band The 2econd, city pop singer-songwriter Li Xingliang and his band L’uggage, and indie-poppers Green Bus. RMB 180 

Campfire on the Beach Handpan Concert at Aotu Studio 
The handpan is a unique instrument created by two Swiss artists in 2001. Join handpan player Ian for a performance of his composition Campfire on the Beach at Aotu Space and hear this rare instrument in concert, bringing a moment of tranquility to a busy world. RMB 80

LF076 at Soi Baochao 
Funk trio featuring three veteran French lads including Pierre Pradat on keyboards, Pierre Billiard on bass, and Nico Mege on drums, explore the heritage of soul, funk, electro, and house with a combination of original and classics. RMB 50 

Liu Donghong at Mogu Space
Liu Donghong, dusty blues singer of Sand, China’s first "cold rock" band, and a scene player for over 20 years gives an intimate performance in Xizhimen. FREE

Sunday, Dec 22

South Acid Mimi, Absolute Purity, Railway Suicide Train, biuya, Casino Demon, YangJi at Tango 
Ruby Eyes Records – the indie label that’s been killing in 2019 – showcases their diverse and wicked roster with a lineup featuring some crazy good bands – from deviant new wave disco-punk outfit Hardcore Raver in Tears (led by Lu Di of AV Okubo) to Shanghai post-punk renegades Absolute Purity, to Kunming electronic trio South Acid Mimi to Hangzhou neo-psychedelic band Railway Suicide Train. Rounding out the bill is a trio of Beijing favorites including lo-fi punk-pop singer-songwriter Yangji, hearty indie rockers Casino Demon and old-school pop makers biuya (formerly Mr. Graceless), fresh off their new EP. 4pm. RMB 230

Mojo Hand, Double Beat, Crossroad, Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen, Bluefire, 30 Degrees Latitude, Jiu at Jianghu Bar
Blues supergroup Mojo Hand, made up of some of the skilled rockers of the Beijing scene, gather some of the richly flavored blues groups for a sprawling blues-rock festival featuring an array of acts such as Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen, Double Beat and more. 6pm. RMB 60

Voision Xi, Limbo Limbs, Sdewdent, Strawberry Papa, Blurry Cloud, Cactus96, Endy Chen, Peng Xie at Frequent Collaborative 
Rising Shanghai electronic label, Eating Music, whose wide range of infectious beat-filled electronic wonders, spanning from lo-fi instrumental hip-hop to neo-soul jazz, throw down this winter with an afternoon rager at f~c with a killer roster that features jazz vocalist Voision Xi, up and coming producer Sdewdent, rapper Peng Xie and many more. 2pm. RMB 80

Zhang Zi & The Travellers at Yue Space 
Folk heavyweight and Xinjiang musician Zhang Zi, whose tender sprawling world music outfit the Travellers has been winning acclaim since their debut in 2008, return to the stage with their nomadic sound. RMB 150

Adai Song at DDC 
The aspiring indie-pop singer-songwriter, whose music has already graced television programs and competition stages, releases her debut Black and Black with the help and friends and fellow musicians including Zuo Yan, Zhang Yelei, and indie rock band JAWS. RMB 80

Old Tea, Fly South, 524 at School
Come check out bands from the "New Generation" of noisemakers just getting their start gigging around including psychedelic instrumental soundscapers Old Tea, Fly South and 524. RMB 40

Loop Fighter at Mogu Space 
The experimental project headed by Lao Zhai and featuring 2D-Foil guitarist Kaile, bring their layered, looped and lush improvisational music to Xizhimen. FREE 

Lilith Liu Jazz Quartet at Modernista
Modernista welcomes jazz vocalist Lilith Liu, who’ll be accompanied by Takeshi Sakamoto on drums, Sharon Zhou on keyboard and Ryan Bradetich on bass for some breezy jazz fun this Sunday. FREE

READ: The Best Chinese Albums of the Year

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers

The weekend is here! Time for fun, relaxation, and recharging the ol' batteries ahead of *gulp* Monday morning's alarm clock. Luckily enough, there’s plenty of fun stuff to keep you occupied over the weekend that doesn't necessarily involve getting blitzed. Our weekend roundup offers you some of the best.

Dec 21: Silent Speed Dating

This is speed dating, with a twist. Unlike regular speed dating, here you won’t be asked to speak directly with a bunch of strangers and awkwardly try to work out if you have chemistry or not. Instead, over the course of the mingling session you’ll be asked to write an anonymous note addressed to each of the attendees. All forms of creative writing are welcome, but of course, romantic and love-filled poems (sans creepiness) are preferable! Finally, the notes will be collected and distributed to their rightful owners, where you can decide to have one of the anonymous writer’s identity revealed for a face-to-face talk. RMB 45 (one drink included). 7.30-11pm. Camera Stylo

Dec 21: Watch Pierrot the Madman

In tribute to the late screen legend Anna Karina, one of the most iconic figures of French new wave cinema and who passed away earlier this month, Cinker Pictures hosts a special screening of Pierrot the Madman (1965). In it, Karina stars in one of her most famous roles under the direction of the legendary Jean-Luc Godard, to whom Karina was married at the time. Karina plays the ex-girlfriend of downtrodden Ferdinand Griffon (Jean-Paul Belmondo), who after a chance encounter decide to elope to the south of France in a cross-country odyssey that involves dead bodies, arms trafficking, political conspiracies, heartbreak, romance, and dynamite. As always, it features the bright primary colors and timeless Godard visual aesthetic of a true masterpiece. The film will be screened in French with English and Chinese subtitles. RMB 150 (includes a cocktail, reserve here). 3-5pm. Cinker Pictures

Dec 21: Yoga Class

Feeling uninspired by your regular yoga studio? Located in Temple Hotel's recently renovated art space, Hui Temple really raises the bar in terms of yoga classes surrounded by history. If the peaceful setting's not enough, instructor Yiyang studied yoga from the "the father of modern yoga" Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, considered one of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century. This unique class will help you to explore the intrinsic equilibrium between your body, breathing, and mind. Yogis are advised to wear comfortable clothes and provide their own mat. RMB 180 (includes refreshments, sign up here). 10-11.15am. The Temple Hotel

Dec 21-22: Hutong Art Festival

Hutong Art Festival is a two-day event that celebrates the huge talented community of local artists and creators. They'll feature creations from independent artists, professionals, brands, and collectives to offer postcards, posters, fridge magnets, zines, comics, photography prints, handcrafted jewelry, and other artworks – basically all the art you'll ever need. Click here to read more information about the vendors. Free. 11am-7pm. Big & Small Coffee (Beiluo branch)

Dec 21-22: New Asia Scenery

Since 2017, UCCA has collaborated with Lantern Cine-Club and Blackfin to host the New Asian Scenery series, presenting one outstanding Asian film every month. This December, UCCA brings seven great movies selected from the award-winners of the Festival of 3 Continents, including highly acclaimed For Fun, Day and Night, and Taming the Horse. All films will be screened with Chinese and English subtitles, and festival director Jerome Baron will make an appearance on a special panel on Sunday to discuss the movies, the festival, and more. Free (registration required). Various times. UCCA

READ: Jingle All the Way to These Beijing Christmas Dining Events

Photos courtesy of the organizers

The new SKP South mall in Guomao was full of rubbernecking visitors on its opening day, all of them eager to gawp at robotic sheep (not to mention the robotic penguins, trees, Mars rovers, and Styrofoam statue carver) and snap pictures of the many bizarre installations that appeared to be in every single store. Down the rabbit hole we go...

The novelty art and installations may get feet through the door, and the mall is stocked with the usual luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Balenciaga, and Korean eyewear brand (and mall concept co-creator) Gentle Monster, but the real drawcard of SKP S is the food. Here is our roundup of the mall’s must-try restaurants.

Ku Kitchen Dim Sum

Like any good dim sum restaurant, there is a lot to choose from at Ku Kitchen. A few of the highlights from this Hong Kong-style eatery include roast pigeon (pictured above right), Shaoxing wine-steamed crab, seared three-layer pork (above left), and their special salt and pepper tofu. It is also a nice spot to try some interesting twists on dim sum classics, like their barbecue pork buns with strawberry and mushroom dumplings with black truffle. Approx. RMB 404 per person

Chengdu Snack Handicraft Workshop

Just around the corner, more dumplings are to be had at this Chengdu snack shop, including the adorable little panda-head dumplings (above right). As is to be expected from a Chengdu store, the menu is spice-heavy, and you won’t want to miss out on the real, non-dumpling duck heads (above left). Approx. RMB 112 per person

Youpo Noodles 029

Unsurprisingly, there are more than a few noodle shops in SKP South, but none are as worthy of your attention as Youpo Noodles 029.  Also known as biangbiang noodles, youpo or "oil splashed" noodles Shaanxi specialty commonly served with plenty of veggies, ground meat, and a spicy sauce. Noodle fans will recognize the name '029' from the other noodle shops under the same brand name, which is also the dialing code for Xi'an. Yet what makes this outlet special is the sci-fi atmosphere that makes it feel a bit like stepping into a canteen of a dystopian future. Approx. RMB 35 per person.

NUDAKE

On the sweets front, dessert shop NUDAKE makes a respectable effort to create some really unique desserts to pair with your coffee without falling into the trap of selling tasteless fodder that's only good for social media. Here, you will find chocolate mushrooms, sheep made of bread, and an edible bar of soap. Pair with salted coffee or strawberry ice cream in a bubbly soda for a delicious and distinctive afternoon break. Approx. RMB 151 per person

Shadow of the Cloud

Even some Beijing beer aficionados might be surprised to learn that brews from Yunnan have topped the podiums of international beer competitions. Such beers and other liquors from the southern province can be hard to come by, and Shadow of the Cloud is a one-stop-shop for all of them. Here cans of Jing Mai Mountain Pu'er Tea Camellia Lager and Nujiang River Wild Rose Ale are poured alongside snacks specific to Yunnan like specialized pot noodles, grilled pumpkin, and spicy pineapple. Approx. RMB 78 per person

Zhuwaitaohua

Offering seafood, noodles, snacks, and even pizza, Zhuwaitaohua sure has a diverse menu, albeit unoriginal. That is, except for the peach blossom wine. Pink in color and a bit sweet, netizens rate it nearly as well as the restaurant's tasty xiaolongbao. Approx. RMB 147 per person

Rourou

Shrimp hot dogs have become a popular snack as of late, and now Rourou is adding variety to the mix with their international sauces that represent countries like American cheese, Thai curry, and Singaporean egg sauce. If that's not worldly enough for you, top the whole thing off with a bowl of deep-fried shrimp, to be tipped over your hot dog of choice or over a plate of noodles or rice. Approx. RMB 45 per person

Pho Lab

Pho has become a favorite among foodies, but not every Vietnamese restaurant will let you make your own. In the vein of hotpot, Pho Lab lets diners place their own ingredients in a steel pot on their table. Choose between a spicy red broth or the milder beef bone broth, and fill it up with beef chuck, brisket, stomach, or oyster blade, plus plenty of veggies and shrimp-heavy Vietnamese side dishes. Approx. RMB 200 per person

Camaca Gelato

More good news for sweet tooths: Gelato stand Camaca brands itself around mindful eating and encourages customers to meditate on what they taste there. They also sell coffee and will give out free samples of their fine chocolate. Approx. RMB 37 per person

READ: 2019 Year in Review: 12 Restaurant Openings That Got Our Tongues Wagging

Images: Uni You, Joey Knotts, Dianping

Getting to the end of a year in Beijing tends to leave you with more questions than answers, and when you're not searching in vain for that long-gone jianbing seller, you're dealing with quiet closures, noisy neighbors, and if you're really lucky, surprise laduzi. One thing's for sure: there's never a dull day in China's capital, and we hope for nothing less from 2020. For now, however, let's take a look back at the year that was 2019.

Travel headlines were dominated by one thing this year: the Big Orange Starfish. After years of anticipation, the Beijing Daxing International Airport (the world's largest) finally opened in October, and so far, things seem to be going pretty smoothly, although we're sure to hear more feedback once expats begin to flee the city for Christmas. Two big high-speed train projects were also completed this year, the first zipping travelers from Beijing to the Inner Mongolian capital of Hohhot in a staggering three hours, and the second bringing us even closer to Qingdao in even less time. At the other end of the scale, passengers can now take a 16-day train trip from Beijing to Xinjiang. What a world. Furthermore, Visa-free travel to China got a lot easier in 2019... for some countries. 

So where have we been spending all of our tourist dollars? Here were some of our favorite travel destinations for 2019:

The Philippines
The Sulu Sea is an azure oasis of tiny islands, white sand beaches, and the occasional catastrophic typhoon. It also has some of the best snorkeling and diving in Asia, which are best explored by boat on a tour such as one offered by Filipino tour agency Tao Philippines. Tao specializes in low impact experiential trips, and their tours also support many island communities, who had suffered under the decline of the traditional fisheries. Most of Tao’s boats are modified fishing vessels with double outriggers, and this is camping, not five-star resort-style travel but the sunsets and aforementioned white sandy beaches more than make up for it. 

Kyiv, Ukraine
The thousands of golden domes dotting the hilly landscape, soaring towers, street frescos, and beautiful art-deco buildings are proof that more is always more, as the bold, brave, extravagant, and all-round bright capital of Ukraine proves. With its stunning architecture, more museums than you can shake a stick at (and long, complicated history to fill them up with), Soviet-era monuments, surprise beach, and proximity to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Kyiv is a seriously enticing destination for a vacation. And that's without even mentioning the food. Oh, the food...

Chengde Imperial Mountain Resort, Hebei Province, China
Not to be confused with the southern Sichuan capital of Chengdu, Chengde in Hebei province is perhaps best known for being the preferred summer retreat for China's Qing dynasty emperors. The city's biggest draw is the impressive Imperial Mountain Resort, which was founded by Emperor Kang Xi (1662-1723) during one of his annual hunting trips, but the Putuo Zhongcheng Temple, one of the Eight Outer Temples, and which bears a striking resemblance to the Potala Palace, and Sledgehammer Pea rock formation are also not to be missed. Best of all, Chengde is just a little more than 200km from Beijing and can be reached in a few hours by bus or train.

Huangshan, Anhui Province, China
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), known locally as “the birthplace of Chinese tourism,” was formed over 100 million years ago, and is the backdrop for many ancient Chinese paintings. At just two hours flight from Beijing, it makes for the perfect weekend trip, or even longer if you want to take your time traversing its many peaks, some of which are over 1,000 meters tall, or want to venture into the picturesque villages lying around it. Take our advice, and avoid the crowds at UNESCO World Heritage Site villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and instead potter around in the quiet villages of Bishan, and Pingshan. 

Tongzhou Grand Canal, Tongzhou, China
Together with the Great Wall and the Karez Well, the 1,700km-long Beijing-Hangzhou (Jinghang) Grand Canal has been described as one of the three greatest building projects in China. As if that wasn't enough, it's also often lauded as the largest and longest conservation projects in the world, starting at Beijing before passing through Tianjin and ending at the capital of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province The multifunctional park is both an ecological hub, and a pleasant spot for a day trip, built around the northernmost tip of the canal. The main attraction of the Tongzhou Grand Canal Forest Park is, well, the park itself! Altogether, it is home to the river and its pathways, as well as gardens and numerous scenic spots, making it the perfect Beijing escape for a lazy day of cycling.

READ: The Top 10 Blockbusters in Chinese Cinema in 2019

Images: Jeremiah Jenne, Kings of Russia, Wendy Xu, Margaux Schreurs

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Impeachment!

As you may have heard, America’s little-boy-in-chief received a bit of coal in his stocking this Wednesday as the House of Representatives voted to impeach. In an effort to get called out as FAKE NEWS by Mr. Trump (#goals), the Beijinger wants to help the haters celebrate this early holiday gift in the true spirit of Christmas: consumerism.

Whether you're buying for yourself, or plan to put one of these under the tree of a dirty Democrat or Democrat sympathizer, the busy elves over at Taobao have got you covered.

Tops and socks

Plastering the orange man on your chest is a great way to show off your impeachment spirit, but if you want to be a bit more subtle about it, we’ve found the perfect pair of socks for you as well.

Buy them here:

• Make Christmas Great Again for the holiday hero. RMB 59.
• Russian Trump for the Muellerite. RMB 89.90.
• Periodic Table Trump for the potty-mouthed scientist. RMB 89.90.
• Drinking Buddies for the internationally-minded alcoholic. RMB 55.
• Shut Up for the anime nerd. RMB 78.
• Grand Theft Brexit for the Brits who want a piece of the action. RMB 49.90.
• IMPEACH for the fruit lover. RMB 58.
• Socks for the guy who wears shorts in winter. RMB 15.80.
• Full Body Trump Suit just because. RMB 120.

Toiletries

You never thought you'd want Trump anywhere near your genitals, did you? Get up close and personal with the President, the consensual way, then see if he really is effective at "draining the swamp" and "expelling foreign elements."

Buy them here:

• The soft stuff for you-know-where. RMB 3.
  Toilet cleaner to finally put that hair to good use. RMB 19.

For the kids

What’s impeachment season without the magic of childhood? Watch their eyes light up as they rip the bows off these Trump toys.

Buy them here:

• Shut him up with this Shooter. RMB 98.
• Test his limits with Stretchy Trump. RMB 299.

For the pets

Trump is the first American President not to own a dog in nearly 130 years, but that doesn't mean that all animals hate him... 

Buy them here:

• Keep the cat out of your hair and on his. RMB 15.80.
• Let the dog show him what for. RMB 39.

A nice calming cup of impeachment tea

Finally, if you’ve gotten yourself all worked up about impeachment, sit back and relax with this Tèlǎngpǔ (Trump) pu'er tea. RMB 19.90. Just like pu'er tea, Trump seems to get stronger the longer you leave him in hot water, so proceed with caution. 

READ: Jingle All the Way to These Beijing Christmas Dining Events

Images: Zuma Press, Taobao