Price of courtyard houses immune to financial crisis

The sale and transfer of siheyuan or courtyard houses has increased since a new regulation on old Beijing homes took effect March 1. “The regulation encourages individuals and units to purchase old houses and courtyards within the conservation district of istorical sites. Private capital injections into siheyuan will help protect old courtyards,” said Wen Hui, of Jingpinwanjia Real Estate Company.

Hundreds of jobs offered to expats at state job fair

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) held its annual job fair in the city last weekend in which 70 corporations, institutes and agencies participated, both Chinese and foreign.

Ballroom dance competition calls for participants

Professional and amateur dancers, including teens and the blind, can compete in the Fifth Beijing Wuranqing Cup ballroom dancing contest to be held in June. Registration takes place May 1 to 30.

Ask Beijing Today

The annual Water-splashing Festival is the most important holiday for the Dai ethnic group. It is also known as the Festival for Bathing the Buddha. It usually starts in the middle of April, the sixth month in the Dai calendar, and lasts for half a month. You can see this festival in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, home to the Dais and a culture similar to the Thai’s

H&M fashion sets up shop in Qianmen

Swedish fashion brand H&M arrived in Beijing with a bang Wednesday, with a party at its new store in Qianmen in which thousands of fans rushed to take advantage of an opening sale.

Cycle in Yunnan for youth charity group

For those people who want to cycle in Yunnan while helping others, the event “Roots & Shoots Yunnan Bicycle Challenge” started accepting participants this week. It is an adventure philanthropy bicycle rally crossing through some of the most ethnically diverse, culturally rich and naturally scenic areas. The route begins in Lijiang, Yunnan, crosses through the Mosu minority communities at Lugu lake in Sichuan and finally ends in Xichang, Sichuan Province.

Event

Pinnacle Avenue Family Day
This series of events, which is geared toward families who live in central Beijing, will introduce shops that sell children’s clothes and toys, Chinese and Western restaurants, children’s playgrounds and markets. It also aims to inform participants about animal protection organizations, medical groups and public utility issues.
When: April 25-26, 9 am – [...]

US embassy plans bigger visa office to cope with applicants

The US embassy moved to a larger compound only half a year ago, but its visa office is already getting cramped with the rapidly growing number of Chinese applicants.

Beijing sees first cotton kite-flying event

Kite flying is a familiar sight in China, but not many people have flown kites made of cotton. To celebrate Wednesday’s World Earth Day, the Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated from the US sponsored the country’s first cotton kite-flying event in Chaoyang Park last weekend. Hundreds of cotton kites adorned with original creative designs dotted the sky, creating a unique city view.

Canada Tourism warms up for 2010 Winter Olympics

The Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC) road show in China ended last weekend, but the organization’s efforts to draw more Chinese visitors to Canada is just getting started.