While taxis or Didis may be the most convenient form of transportation to or from Beijing Capital Airport, we can’t deny that taking the subway is still the cheapest way to go. A one-way ride from or to the city terminal Sanyuanqiao (三元桥, Sānyuánqiáo, or “Three yuan” Bridge) subway station on Line 10 costs 25元. …
Read more “Subway Sunday: The Bridge of the "Three Deities"”
The summer heat is just getting unbearable, isn’t it? One great way to cool down is to sip a cold, thirst-quenching beverage. Of course, water is fine, but these sweltering days call for a refreshing taste, courtesy of your local café or milk tea stall.
Today’s generation has so much of everything that acquiring skills and connections has become a less painstaking endeavor. But the glut of choices nowadays becomes a distraction that challenges the way we focus on our capabilities and priorities. We might find it difficult to answer, “What’s your passion?” or “What’s your purpose in life?”
In today’s Subway Sunday, we travel to Xuānwǔmén (宣武门), one of Beijing’s ancient imperial gates southwest of the Forbidden City. Today, Xuanwumen is a transfer station for both Line 2 (the Second Ring Road loop) and Line 4 (Daxing Line). Its namesake, Xuānwǔmén or literally the “Gate of Military Proclamation” was informally referred to as the …
Read more “Subway Sunday: The "Grim" Gate on Lines 2/4, Located Just Near a Church”
The study of earthquakes is called seismology, and if you’ll forgive the pun, it rocks! While we may not feel it, the ground where we stand is constantly moving, albeit very slowly. When such movements cause breaks in the earth (“faults”), they can produce damaging earthquakes and also alter landscapes. Seismologist Marie-Luce Chevalier from the …
Read more “When I Grow Up: Seismologist Tells Huijia Students That Earth Science Rocks”
It’s true that living in a country where English is not the primary language is difficult. But that shouldn’t scare away newcomers in Beijing as staying here can be a learning experience. New expats, and even those who’ve been here for quite a time, mostly find it hard to find common household items in stores …
Read more “Mandarin Monday: Looking for Common Household Items? Here Are Their Chinese Names”
Throw, shoot, dive! Ball pits and indoor play areas might be a haven for our kids, especially now that the smog days (in Beijing) are coming back again. But these seemingly safe places have more little fellows lurking somewhere: germs and other microbes. What’s more, toys and balls in these indoor centers are not always sanitized, …
Read more “Ball Pits and Indoor Play Areas for Kids Might Not Be as Clean as You Think”
Children with disabilities, according to UNICEF, are among “the most marginalized and excluded groups in society,” often regarded as “inferior,” which puts them at risk of discrimination and being misunderstood. Global estimates put at least 93 million children worldwide with some form of disability, and that they are likely to have lesser access to medical …
Read more “Empowering Tools: How Technology Can Help Both Kids with Special Needs and Their Parents”
We’re only in the second decade of the 21st century but the changes happening in many fields worldwide have been swift and steady. Think of health; we’ve taken many great strides in producing life-saving medicines. Think of technology, and there have been rapid developments in computing, robotics, and the internet. Think of any other industry …
I am always amazed by how extensive Beijing’s subway network is. As of this moment, we have 19 lines, 345 stations (70 are above ground) and 574km of track in operation, and in the coming years, we will see more lines opening. Despite being notoriously crowded (and sometimes smelly), we can’t deny that Beijing’s subway is the most …
Read more “Beijing Subway Sunday: Line 10's Station Where Horses Used to Bathe”