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There are so many ways to live in this city. As a tourist, a local, and finally as a lover… For Beijing knows how to make you fall in love with its craziness.
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Festivals
Dragon Boat Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
Chinese Mythology
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Top Summer Sights
Qianmen
Houhai
Live like a Beijinger
Weird and Wonderful Activities
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Dragon Boat Festival
端午节
Also known as Duanwu Festival or Double Fifth Festival
Occurs on the 5 th day of the 5 month of the lunar calendar th
HOW TO CELEBRATE:
EAT “zongzi” (sticky rice treats wrapped in bamboo leaves)
DRINK “xionghuangjiu” (also known as realgar wine)
WATCH dragon boat races
ORIGINS OF DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL:
The festival is to commemorate the death of the famous poet Qu Yuan 屈原 (c.340-278 BC) who lived in the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States period of the Zhou
Dynasty. At this time, China was divided into eight separate states (including Chu) that were frequently at war.
The king had decided to ally himself with the increasingly powerful state of Qin and Qu was banished and accused of treason for opposing the alliance. In despair, the poet committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River.
It is said that the local people, who admired him, raced out in their boats to save him or at least try to retrieve his body.
This is said be the origin of the dragon boat races.
When his body could not be found, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the river so that the fish would eat them instead of Qu’s body. This is said to be the origin of zongzi .
ORIGINS OF MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL:
T he festival’s association with the full moon and with practices of moon worship and moon gazing give the celebration its name “Moon Festival”.
The Moon Festival celebrates three important events: l The gathering of family and friends to harvest crops for the festival l To give thanks for the harvest, a kind of Chinese
Thanksgiving l Praying, for example for babies, a spouse, beauty, longevity or a good future
Q&A: Why are the moon cakes in round shapes?
In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and unity. Thus, the sharing of round moon cakes among family members symbolizes the family unity.
Mid-Autumn Festival
中秋节
Also known as Moon Festival or Moon Cake Festival
Occurs on the 15 th day of the 8 month of the lunar calendar th
HOW TO CELEBRATE:
EAT “yuebing” (moon cakes; with sweet bean/ fruit fillings)
WATCH the moon
ENJOY family time
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An important part of the Moon Festival celebration is moon worship. The Zhuang people for example, have an ancient fable in which the sun and moon are a couple and the stars are their children. When the moon is pregnant it becomes round, before becoming a crescent again after giving birth to a child. Offerings are also made to a well-known lunar deity, Chang’e, known as the Moon Goddess of Immortality. The myths associated with Chang’e explain the origin of moon worship during the festival. Below is one version of the story as described in Lihui Yang’s
Handbook of Chinese Mythology .
In  the  ancient  past,  there  was  a  hero  named  Hou  Yi  who  was  excellent  at  archery.  His  wife  was  Chang'e.
One  year,  the  ten  suns  rose  in  the  sky  together,  causing  great  disaster  to  people.  Yi  shot  down  nine  of  the   suns  and  left  only  one  to  provide  light.  An  immortal  admired  Yi  and  sent  him  the  elixir  of  immortality.  Yi  did   not  want  to  leave  Chang'e  and  be  immortal  without  her,  so  he  let  Chang'e  keep  the  elixir.  But  Peng  Meng,   one  of  his  apprentices,  knew  this  secret.  So,  on  the  fifteenth  of  August  in  the  lunar  calendar,  when  Yi  went   hunting,  Peng  Meng  broke  into  Yi's  house  and  forced  Chang'e  to  give  the  elixir  to  him.  Chang'e  refused  to   do  so.  Instead,  she  swallowed  it  and  flew  into  the  sky.  Since  she  loved  her  husband  very  much  and  hoped  to   live  nearby,  she  chose  the  moon  for  her  residence.  When  Yi  came  back  and  learned  what  had  happened,  he   felt  so  sad  that  he  displayed  the  fruits  and  cakes  Chang'e  liked  in  the  yard  and  gave  sacrifices  to  his  wife.
People  soon  learned  about  these  activities,  and  since  they  also  were  sympathetic  to  Chang'e  they   participated  in  these  sacrifices  with  Yi.
Yang  also  describes  another  version  of  the  tale,  which  provides  a  different  reason  for  Chang'e  ascension   to  the  moon:
After  the  hero  Houyi  shot  down  nine  of  the  ten  suns,  the  thankful  people  pronounced  him  king.  However,   he  soon  became  a  conceited  and  tyrannical  ruler.  In  order  to  become  immortal,  he  asked  for  the  elixir  from
Xiwangmu.  But  his  wife,  Chang'e,  stole  it,  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  because  she  did  not  want  the  cruel   king  to  live  long  and  hurt  more  people.  She  took  the  magic  potion  to  prevent  her  husband  from  becoming   immortal.  Houyi  was  so  angry  when  he  discovered  that  Chang'e  took  the  elixir  that  he  shot  at  his  wife  as   she  flew  toward  the  moon,  though  he  missed.  Chang'e  fled  to  the  moon  and  became  the  spirit  of  the  moon.
Houyi  died  soon  after  because  he  was  overcome  with  great  anger.  Thereafter,  people  offer  a  sacrifice  to
Chang'e  on  every  lunar  fifteenth  of  August  to  commemorate  Chang'e's  action .
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Highlights of the Area: l Qian Men Da Jie l Tiananmen Square l Forbidden City l National Museum of China l WangFuJing Night Market l Bei Hai Park l Zhong Shan Park l Jing Shan Park
Dashilan 大栅栏
Qianmen subway station, exit C
This is a place to explore the ‘old’ Beijing. Take a stroll in the hutongs filled with many Chinese restaurants and souvenir shops. Starbucks look extremely exotic here!
Jing Shan Park 景山公 园
For an amazing view of Beijing and the
Forbidden City, you can climb up to the pagodas in the middle of this park. Pay 2RMB to get in.
Hot Tip: Wear comfortable shoes whilst visiting this area.
前门
Subway Line 2:
Qianmen Station
A B C e Performing Arts
Cotton candy for 20 RMB
National Center for the Performing Arts
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Highlights of the Area: l Prince Kung’s Mansion l Nanluoguxiang l Bell & Drum Towers l Shichahai l No Name Yunnan Restaurant l East Shore Live Jazz Cafe
The Houhai area has so much to offer, especially in the summer! Walk/bike around Houhai Lake, take a rickshaw to explore neighboring hutongs or take a boat/kayak out on the lake on a summery afternoon… The lake is also surrounded with many bars and restaurants where you can often hear karaoke or live performances long into the night. You can find all types of music here!
Did I mention you can also dine on a boat in the middle of the lake? Can’t complain!
Hot Tip: Rest up the night before you visit! Things get crazy here!
后海
Subway Line 6:
Beihai North Station
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Beautiful Houhai Lake
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Take a break on these cozy sofas!
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Rickshaw ride
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Eat chuan’r (skewer/ meat on the stick) on a summery evening with your friends in the
Beijing hutongs.
Perfect for that 2am snack after a night out!
Guess what this man is doing… Yes, he’s flying a kite! People in Beijing love flying a kite no matter how old they are.
Not a bad way to spend a summer afternoon.
Beijing parks really come alive in the summer.
Beijingers love to exercise, especially in the summer. You can find hundreds of them working out or dancing in parks or even in the middle of the street.
Join them!
How would you normally dress for a walk? Hey, next time why not put on your fancy pajamas to go on your stroll. Perhaps it can help you fit in with the locals!
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Contact number: 1390 103 9857
Photo Credit by JFLawyer
Look for Jin Fan Water Sport Club
Photo Credit by Jin Fan Water Sport Club
www.sixstepretreats.com
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Photo Credit by Six Steps Buddhist Retreat

Eat skewers
It’s too hot!
Waiter/ waitress
Drink Chinese Fanta!
Eat dumplings
Pretty
girl!
Drink water
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