The year of the Mouse is almost at an end and the year of the Ox is almost upon us.

Traditionally, the Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. The Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

Very appropriate for our current economic climate we think! In the meantime however, for those of you staying (or heading to) Beijing for the Chinese New Year, make the most of this opportunity by joining some of the local celebrations.

Our Beijing Temples Fair Tour (26th Jan and 27th Jan) allows you to experience three different styles of Temple Fairs – a traditional temple fair, a beautiful garden fair and a carnival-style street fair. Traditionally, temple fairs were a means to attract worshippers. However, over hundreds of years they have become celebrations for the whole community. Acrobats perform daring stunts, dragon dancers weave in and out of the crowds, vendors sell all things festive, and of course local xiao chi (snacks) are available everywhere. We will also have a celebratory lunch in a nice Chinese restaurant.

On the 28th January, we invite you to join us in a small village on the outskirts of Beijing to Celebrate Chinese New Year in a Village - an exclusive event organized by the CCC.

You will be welcomed with firecrackers and lively folk dancers, performers and crowds of hospitable, curious farmers (and be invited to join them dancing in the street). In small groups we will visit in the homes of the villagers who will offer us tea and snack and good cheer – and teach you how to make "jiaozi & baozi". You will visit an artist who makes life-sized replicas of carts and horses out of paper for use in Chinese funerals. Finally, we will be rewarded by a performance of a troupe of old Beijing street entertainers, which can rarely be seen elsewhere. 

Places are limited on both of the above tours so please register soon. Our office will be closed from Sunday 25th January and will re-open on 1st Feb.

Until then we wish all our clients Gong Xi Fai Cai!

This week Classes and New Year Tours

Zen Meditation Workshop Thursday, Jan 22, 19:30-21:30 Join us each week for an insight into the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism. We'll be guided on our journey of self-discovery by a Buddhist layman and learn about Zen through its music, its stories, its art, its rituals & martial arts. >>> more

	Cookery: hand-pulled noodles and dumplings Thursday, Jan 22,10:30-13:00 Try pulling dough into Beijing style thin longevity noodles in a minute! And then make dumpling (jiaozi) with two different fillings and flavours. CCC invites professional cook to instruct you for these two marvelous culinary skills. >>> more

Meandering Mandarin - Eating out Thursday, Jan 22, 09:00-12:30 The Meandering Mandarin course is an eight-week language program with most common ten, real-life situations that people always encounter in their daily life and pairs this excursion trip with a formal two-hour language lesson. >>> more

	Zen Meditation Workshop Saturday , Jan 24, 10:00-12:00 Join us each week for an insight into the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism. We'll be guided on our journey of self-discovery by a Buddhist layman and learn about Zen through its music, its stories, its art, its rituals & martial arts. >>> more

	Beijing Temple Fair Tour Monday & Tuesday, Jan.26/ 27, 09:00-16:00 If you've never visited temple fairs of Beijing, then you must experience this style carnival with the locals and feel the bustle and lively New Year atmosphere of Beijing >>> more

	New Year Celebrations in the Village Wednesday, Jan.28, 09:00-16:00 CCC will organized an exclusive event to celebrate the Spring Festival in a village of the suburb Beijing. We will be welcomed with firecrackers and gaily bedecked, lively folk dancers, performers and crowds of hospitable, curious farmers. We will >>> more

New Courses and Lectures and Workshops in February

	Calligraphy Class (1) Monday, Feb 2, 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

Tuina Massage Course Tuesdays & Thursdays, Feb 3-26, 13:30-15:30 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

	Ancient Chinese History Lectures (1) Tuesdays & Thursdays, Feb 3-19,10:00-12:00 The Lectures provide a sound understanding and appreciation of the evolution of politics, institutions, important personages, religion, philosophy, geography, arts, literature, science & technology in six sessions. The lectures will be in English. >>> more

Chinese Landscape painting Class (1) Tuesday, Feb 3, 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

Ink & Wash Painting Class (1) Sunday , Feb 8, 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

	Backstreet Beijing Walk - Zhushikou & Xiannongtan Sunday, Feb.8, 10:30-13:30 Explore a protestant church and neighborhood and hutong south of Zhushikou till to the ancient imperial altar dedicated to the first farmer of China. Once shared the same size of the Temple of Heave with royal level of architecture. >>> more

	Foot Reflexology Course (1) Mondays & Wednesday, Feb 9-18, 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

Backstreet Beijing Walk - Zhushikou & Xiannongtan Friday, Feb.13, 10:00-13:00 Explore a protestant church and neighborhood and hutong south of Zhushikou till to the ancient imperial altar dedicated to the first farmer of China. Once shared the same size of the Temple of Heave with royal level of architecture. >>> more

	Lecture - Neo-Taoism or Mysterious Study Saturday, Feb. 14, 14:00-16:00 Xuanxue or Neo-Taoism is to study the very nature of being, similar to ontology. Mr. Xu Kangsheng, one of the most famous living professors, will explain this study of the deep, profound or meta-nature of being or not being, Tao, etc. >>> more

Book Club: "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant" by Yu Hua Tuesday, Feb 24, 10:30-12:00 Join our monthly book chat and this time we will discuss the book "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant" by Yu Hua. >>> more

	Illustrated Talk: Qing Painter & Monk Shi Tao Wednesday, February 25, 19:30-21:30 Shi Tao is one of the most famous individualist painters of the early Qing dynasty. Come and join our illustrated talk with artist Zhang Yuan, who will share with us his spiritual pursuit; life as a failed monk and his unique art works. >>> more

Yunnan's Yuanyang (Hani Rice Terrace), Jianshui Feb 26-Mar 1 Yuanyang, southeast of Yunnan, is renowned for its rice terraces crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people since one thousand years ago and even today, the world largest nature wonder. Luoping is famous for its blossoming of rapeseed flowers. >>> more

Meandering Mandarin - Hair or Beauty Salon Thursday, Mar 5, 09:00-12:30 The Meandering Mandarin course is an eight-week language program with most common ten, real-life situations that people always encounter in their daily life and pairs this excursion trip with a formal two-hour language lesson. >>> more