Central bank launches integrated online banking

To cut time spent queuing at banks, an increasing number of Chinese people are using online banking to pay rent, utility bills and Taobao purchases.

Ask Beijing Today

I heard that China has ordered SIM-card buyers to register their real names beginning September 1. I have a friend who just arrived in town and was able to buy a SIM card off a newspaper stand without showing any identification. Can she get into trouble doing that?

Explore ‘water birth’ for less painful deliveries

Pregnant women who want to deliver naturally but are fearful of the pain can explore “water birth” – giving birth in a tub of warm water, which is supposed to be less stressful for both mother and child.

Ask Beijing Today

I’ve just returned from a trip to North Korea, where I fell in love with the food there. I heard that some North Koreans have opened restaurants in Beijing. Can you recommend one that also holds song and dance performances?

Private children’s libraries booming in Beijing

Chinese parents with school-age children take this saying very seriously: “It takes 10 years to grow a tree but a hundred years to cultivate a man.” The good news for Pa and Ma is that there are now at least 10 public children’s libraries in town to foster children’s natural curiosity and creativity. They are all products of the vision of a handful of mothers.

Sportaccord Combat Games open tomorrow

By Annie Wei
International athletes are streaming into the city for Sportaccord Combat Games, a high-level international tournament happening from tomorrow through September 4.
People can watch the games at three venues. The gymnasium of the National Olympic Sports Center will be hosting wushu, boxing, muay Thai and kickboxing matches. Judo, ju-jitsu, karate, taekwondo and kendo events [...]

Ask Bjtoday

We’re going to Hungary and Romania in October, and most car rental advice says to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you leave home, so I was wondering if there is any way to do it here in Beijing.
China does not have or recognize IDP. However, you can obtain a Chinese driving license first. [...]

Panda breeding center in Chengdu recruiting special volunteers

The Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding is recruiting six volunteers to join the center for two months. Chinese and foreign nationals between the ages of 12 and 60 are eligible to apply. Zhang Zhihe, director of the research base, announced the project at the Shanghai Expo Chengdu Pavilion on Monday.

Beijing census gets under way

The month-long city population census ahead of the sixth national census began last Sunday, and Beijing police are warning people to be careful of fake enumerators. As many as 100,000 enumerators will enter Beijing homes to register residents through September 15. The national census, held every 10 years, begins November 1.

Chinese families start welcoming foreign au pairs

China this month joined the ranks of the International Au Pairs Association (IAPA), a group of 38 countries that facilitate homestays between citizens. Through the association, foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 26 can apply to work for three months to two years with Chinese families in 10 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao.