PEOPLE AND CULTURE - Living Abroad in Beijing - page 76

months. Outdoor climbing in out-of-town areas such as Miyun can also make for good
weekend escapes. For sport on wheels, cycling is just starting to emerge. On the odd Sunday
morning you'll see Lycra-clad teams relaxing with a post-ride coffee in Central Park.
Groups such as Beijing Peleton ( http://beijing.mongoliaprocycling.com ) or TriBeijing
( www.tribeijing.org ) lead rides farther afield. Thanks to China's progress in the tennis
world in recent years, as well as the government's determination to turn the China Open
into a Grand Slam event, tennis clubs and courts are relatively easy to locate. Try such
places as Potter's Wheel ( www.potters-wheel.cn ) in Chaoyang, Broadwell Tennis Club
(sports.broadwell.cn) beside Chaoyang Park, Kerry Sports ( www.shangri-la.com/beijing/
kerry ) near the Central Business District, or one of the universities in Haidian. For
something more amusing, try Heyrobics ( www.heyrobics.com ) , Swedish-style workouts
that are popular with guys, girls, the super fit, and the non-athletic alike. Classes are
held in multiple sessions around the Chaoyang and Shunyi. Beijing Sailing Center
( www.beijingsailing.com ) will get adults or kids out of the city for some fun time on the
water. Come for a one-day course, or commit yourself to something longer. Kids can also
make friends at the camps. Outside of these, you'll also find gyms, yoga studios, swimming
pools, basketball courts, hiking groups, ice hockey clubs, Frisbee clubs, and even dragon
boating clubs. If all else fails, you can head to your local park at dawn and join the locals
for tai chi.
Volunteering
A fantastic way to get out into the community and really come to understand what's hap-
pening in Beijing and China as a whole is to volunteer. The expat nooks of the city are sleek
and sanitized, but not far from where you'll live or work are adults and children who missed
the elevator ride to wealth. Millions in the city are deprived of health care, education, shel-
ter, or support and need a helping hand. While it mightn't seem very PC to pick and choose
a charity, like anything in life, you'll probably do a much better job at something you have
a vested interest in. So it will be far more rewarding if you take time to find a charity that is
compatible with your interests and values.
Don't worry if you don't speak Chinese. Many existing charities and NGOs are managed
by international teams, so not speaking the local language isn't necessarily going to be an
obstacle. In fact, speaking English can be an advantage. Many volunteer groups eagerly
welcome people who can teach English or write and edit.
Most of the major international organizations are represented. You'll find the likes
of Rotary (rotaryclub-beijing.org), UNICEF ( www.unicef.org ), Greenpeace
( www.greenpeace.org/china ) and many others all quartered here. However, if you'd prefer