The world's highest snow sculpture, measuring 35 meters high and 200 meters long, will be shown at the Harbin snow art expo, which is expected to be finished on December 20. (photo taken on Dec.10)		Workers collect ice from the frozen Songhua River in Harbin on December 6 and the Snow World plans to use 120,000 cubic meters of ice this year.

Highlight of This weekend:

Saturday Walk at the Huanghuacheng Great Wall north of Beijing and visit a walled village. Villagers can be seen still chopping wood and lugging bundles of them home to heat their Kangs (brick beds).

Beijing Amblers: Huanghuacheng Wall & Fort Villages Saturday, Dec.22, 10:00-16:30 Go hiking at a leisurely pace with CCC guides along the ancient path leading up to an archway in the Great Wall at Zhuangdaokou and then stroll in a village behind the hill with some original stonework. Price: 160 (Includes transportation; lunch >>> more

What's on in the next few weeks

	Xuanwu Hutong & Courtyard Houses Pedicab Tour Tuesday, Dec.25, 14:00-16:20 Go to the peaceful hutongs (alleys) and courtyard houses in Beijing Xuanwu District, learn the real life of Beijingers in the neighborhood , get into their homes for a chat, check out a kindergarden with lovely kids; see an old opera houses >>> more

6 Days Yunnan: Lijiang & Xishuangbanna Dec.26-31 The 6-day Yunnan tour will explore the subtropical Xishuangbanna (known for various ethnic minority peoples and villages) in the south of Yunnan and Lijiang Ancient Town in the north, and its surrounding Jade Snow Mountain & Tiger Leaping Gorge >>> more

	Hakka Earthen Round Buildings Dec.26-29 Get to know Fujian province, the southeastern end of China's mainland facing Taiwan across the strait. Xiamen, beautiful seaport city with Gulangyu Island; then dirve into the villages in the mountains south and west of Fujian for the magical earthen >>> more

Great Wall Mutianyu & Ming Tombs Wednesday, Dec.26, 09:00-18:30 Mutianyu is a famous section of the Great Wall, and it is not so commercialized but also a moderate section (not so physically demanding). Ming Tombs is the largest and well preserved imperial tomb complex with over 500 years >>> more

	New Year Tour to Harbin--Snow World Dec.30 eve.-Jan.1 Go by air or overnight train to Harbin to catch the famous Snow Sculpture Exhibition and Ice Lantern Festival; appreciate the old Russian style architecture; drive into the Siberian Tiger Safari Park; and dine in the Ice Bar and Russian Restaurant! >>> more

Xuanwu Hutong & Courtyard Houses Pedicab Tour Tuesday, Jan.1, 14:00-16:20 Go to the peaceful hutongs (alleys) and courtyard houses in Beijing Xuanwu District, learn the real life of Beijingers in the neighborhood , get into their homes for a chat, check out a kindergarden with lovely kids; see an old opera houses >>> more

	New Year Eve to Harbin--Snow World Dec.31 eve.-Jan.2 Go by air or overnight train to Harbin to catch the famous Snow Sculpture Exhibition and Ice Lantern Festival; appreciate the old Russian style architecture; drive into the Siberian Tiger Safari Park; and dine in the Ice Bar and Russian Restaurant! >>> more

Great Wall Mutianyu & Ming Tombs Wednesday, Jan.2, 09:00-18:30 Mutianyu is a famous section of the Great Wall, and it is not so commercialized but also a moderate section (not so physically demanding). Ming Tombs is the largest and well preserved imperial tomb complex with over 500 years >>> more

	Ancient City Xi An (Terracotta Warriors) Jan 2 eve.- 4 Take 2 days trip to visit the famous Terracotta Warrior Site; Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi Museum; Great Mosque and Muslim Street; Wild Goose Pagoda, etc. >>> more

weekend Tour to Harbin--Snow World Jan.4 eve.-6 Go by air or overnight train to Harbin to catch the famous Snow Sculpture Exhibition and Ice Lantern Festival; appreciate the old Russian style architecture; drive into the Siberian Tiger Safari Park; and dine in the Ice Bar and Russian Restaurant! >>> more

	Sing Chinese folk songs Saturday, Jan.5, 14:30-16:30 Learn to sing Chinese folk songs and some famous songs with CCC expert. There are over 30 provinces and regions in China >>> more

Tuina Massage Course Monday & Wednesday, Jan.7-30, 19:30-21:30 The 8-session traditional tuina massage course introduce basic Chinese medicine theory, manipulation techniques on relaxing the muscle and vein, and pressing corresponding acupoints; and treatments on common diseases. >>> more

	Ink & Wash Painting Class Tuesday, Jan.8-29, 10:00-12:00 Chinese ink & water painting is a thousand-year tradition, and the xieyi style (free-hand) is one of the most unique style of Chinese painting. The CCCC painting course is specially designed for expatriates. >>> more

Guasha, Baguan & moxibustion Wednesday, Jan.9, 10:00-12:00 Three traditional Chinese healing techniques (Guasha, Baguan & moxibustion) are used to resolve musculo skeletal pain, prevent common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, as well as any chronic disorder involving pain, congestion of Qi and Blood. >>> more

	Foot Reflexology Course Wednesdays, Jan.9-30, 19:30-21:30 4-session foot reflexology course will be instructed by licensed traditional Chinese physician therapist. English narration. Each class is small group with adequate practical exercises. >>> more

Tanzhe & Jietai Monastery and Pagoda Forest Thursday, Jan.10, 09:30-16:00 Tucked away in the mountains in the west suburb, Tenzhe & Jietai Monasteries and Pagoda Forest in the mountains remain authentic and peaceful. >>> more

	Qigong Class (Daoyin style) Thursdays & Sundays, Jan.10-27, 19:30/10:00 Qigong is an ancient art of healing and self-healing which originated in China as early as four thousand years ago. Qigong is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. >>> more

How to steep Gaiwan Green Tea and Puer Tea Friday, Jan.11, 10:00-12:00 Come and learn how to steep green tea with Gaiwan (lid cups) and then learn to brew Puer tea from Yunnan using earthen tools. >>> more

	Weekend Tour to Harbin--Snow World Jan.11 eve.-13 Go by air or overnight train to Harbin to catch the famous Snow Sculpture Exhibition and Ice Lantern Festival; appreciate the old Russian style architecture; drive into the Siberian Tiger Safari Park; and dine in the Ice Bar and Russian Restaurant! >>> more

Chinese Cloth Tiger Pillows Saturday, Jan.12, 14:00-17:00 Hand made tiger pillows are cute toy and pillow for children. It is sewed in detailes with a big tiger's head, paws, and tail. In china, the tiger is the numen for child. It is symbol of power and goodness. >>> more

	Day-trip: Silver Fox Cave Saturday, Jan.12, 09:30-16:00 Enjoy the spectacular sights in the karst cave with the unusual formations and stone flowers. Boating trips run on a stream 106 meters below ground level, where you will see waterfalls along the way. The average temperature in the cave is 14 degrees >>> more

4-session Chinese History Lectures Saturday, Jan.12-Feb.2, 10:00-12:00 These lectures will provide a basic understanding and appreciation of the development of the institutions, religion, science and technology, arts, philosophy, literature, geography, and values up until 1949. >>> more

	Mahjong Workshop Sunday, Jan.13, 14:30-16:30 Come learn or practise this most popular games in China and rest of Asia. CCC boasts to let you grasp this game skills and immediately begin to play independently within one hour. If you are not a beginner >>> more

Calligraphy Class Monday, Jan.14 and 21, 19:30-21:00 Conducted in English, the class teaches everything, from meaning and evolution of the characters, culture to related history and music. You don't have to be able to write Chinese already, just have to be enthusiastic and be willing to hold a brush >>> more

	Language & Culture: Classics & Poetry Tuesday, Jan.15-29, 10:30-12:00 Learn mandarin and Chinese literature and culture through reading and studying original Chinese Classics and poems - the charming way to improve your tone, reading and writing skills, and get to know Chinese literature, culture and philosophy. >>> more

Lecture: Deities in Taoism Tuesday, Jan.15, 19:30-21:30 CCC invites guest speaker Wang Yier, who is the chief editor of China Taoism, official journal of China Taoism Association, and author of "China Taoism" both published in China and abroad in different languages. >>> more

	Cookery Class: New Year breads and Longevity Peaches Thursday, Jan.17, 10:00-12:30 Shoutao ( peach style longevity breads) and other colorful breads of various shapes are usually made at the Chinese New Year or for the elderly's birthday. Come and learn them with CCC chef. >>> more

Great Wall Mutianyu & Ming Tombs Thursday, Jan.17, 09:00-18:30 Mutianyu is a famous section of the Great Wall, and it is not so commercialized but also a moderate section (not so physically demanding). Ming Tombs is the largest and well preserved imperial tomb complex with over 500 years >>> more

	Xuanwu Hutong & Courtyard Houses Pedicab Tour Friday, Jan.18, 14:00-16:20 Go to the peaceful hutongs (alleys) and courtyard houses in Beijing Xuanwu District, learn the real life of Beijingers in the neighborhood , get into their homes for a chat, check out a kindergarden with lovely kids; see an old opera houses >>> more

Winter Tour to Chengde Imperial Mountain Resort January 19-20 Take CCC's comfortable bus to Chende, Hebei Province to see the Summer Mountain Resort (Bishushanzhuang) and its Outlying Temples. The size of Chengde Summer resort is as big as the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace combined. It is surround >>> more

	Spring Couplets and Spring Festival Saturday, Jan.19, 14:30-16:30 Before the Chinese New Year, try your hand at writing chun lian (spring couplets)-- a must for every Chinese family during the Spring Festival! >>> more

Chinese Landscape painting Class Sunday, Jan.20 & 27, 10:00-12:00 Meet different styles of CCC guest artists, pick up the brush and try on rice paper the traditional Chinese Ink & Water Painting! >>> more

	Tanzhe & Jietai Monastery and Pagoda Forest Sunday, Jan.20, 09:30-16:00 Tucked away in the mountains in the west suburb, Tenzhe & Jietai Monasteries and Pagoda Forest in the mountains remain authentic and peaceful. >>> more

Book Club: "The Pool of Unease" Wednesday, Jan.23, 10:30-12:00 "The Pool of Unease", by Catherine Sampson, depicts Robin Ballantyne who investigates the murder of a British man in Beijing. The book is a gritty, fast-paced thriller that exposes the shadowy underbelly of modern China. >>> more

	Tie Chinese knot-Lily shoes Wednesday, Jan.23, 09:30-12:30 >>> more

Farmers' Wholesale Market Tour Thursday, Jan.24, 09:30-12:30 Largest wholesale market in the city proper (within the fourth and fifth ring road), with a new set up modern market building on the spot, surrounded by the old style open-air market (a good contrast). It boosts to be the largest in China. >>> more

	Weekend Tour to Harbin--Snow World Jan.25 eve.-27 Go by air or overnight train to Harbin to catch the famous Snow Sculpture Exhibition and Ice Lantern Festival; appreciate the old Russian style architecture; drive into the Siberian Tiger Safari Park; and dine in the Ice Bar and Russian Restaurant! >>> more

Visit Erguotou Liquor Factory Sunday, Jan.27, 13:00-16:30 Visit the famous Beijing Er Guo Tou Liquor Factory to see the entire traditional production skills such as distilling and fermentation in the gigantic wok; the wine cellar with half-century vintage, and hundred-woman packing line. >>> more

	Weekend Tour to Harbin--Snow World Feb.1 eve.-3 Go by air or overnight train to Harbin to catch the famous Snow Sculpture Exhibition and Ice Lantern Festival; appreciate the old Russian style architecture; drive into the Siberian Tiger Safari Park; and dine in the Ice Bar and Russian Restaurant! >>> more