Say hello to Santa Claus

Rovaniemi, located near the Arctic Circle in northern Finland, is regarded as Father Christmas’ hometown. The China Post International office at the northeast corner of Jianguomen has prepared dozens of cards for people interested in sending their tidings to Finland. People can also arrange for St. Nick to reply – you know, to keep the kids happy.

Paying bills is about to get more convenient

China Union Pay and Lakala, a Lenovo holding electronic payment company, will establish 3,000 pay points throughout the city where people can pay their utilities and other household bills.

Ask Beijing Today

Hello, I am new in Beijing and I am allergic to gluten. It’s really difficult to find gluten-free food here. I wonder if you know a bakery that sells gluten-free bread?

Helping the city’s abandoned pets find new homes

Last Saturday afternoon, Hutongren, a small inn in Ju’er Hutong off Nanluogu Xiang, hosted a meeting of 170 people interested in helping stray animals.

Heating hotlines released to insure a cozy winter

The city’s heating supply office released hotlines of 11 major heating supply companies this week. Operators will be available to take calls 24 hours a day to register complaints and repair requests.

Ask Beijing Today

Don’t worry, they’re actually engaging in an ancestor worship ritual. The first day of the 10th lunar month is Hanyijie (November 6 this year), a time for people to burn clothes, food and furniture (all represented by paper, of course).

China Acrobatic Troupe opens secrets to the public

On Monday, the training halls of the world-famous China National Acrobatic Troupe opened to the public as part of the troupe’s 60th anniversary celebration.

Playplaces around town to drop the kids off

As middle-class families spend more on their children’s development, more play and learning centers are opening in Beijing. Parents are especially fond of these centers during the winter because kids can no longer play outdoors.

Ask Beijing Today

I learned several days earlier that indoor heating will be turned on at the beginning of this month. On what day, exactly?

Beijingers can soon use mobile phones to pay transit fares

Mobile phones can be used in lieu of IC cards to pay for public bus and subway fares in Beijing starting next month, China Unicom announced on Monday.