ubcsala [china] 2007

What is wonderful about Beijing is the diversity of leisure spaces and leisure activities available. People can enjoy the many public parks and community centers of the city or set up their own leisure spaces in their front yards or on an empty street in their neighborhood. The concepts of leisure and leisure space are […]

Beijing to Build Largest Green Space Around Silicon Valley
A 40-hectare green square will soon be established near Zhongguancun, known as China’s “Silicon Valley” in Haidian district of China’s capital. It will become Beijing’s largest vegetation-covered square, whose total area will be equal to around 60 soccer fields. Construction of the Wanliu Century Square will feature […]

The word of leisure came into vogue in China in the 1990s. It is among the 52 most popular vocabularies listed by a scholar since the Fourth Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee held in 1989. Since 1995, China has introduced the system of five-day-work week. Beginning in 1999, the Spring Festival, May Day […]

A ubiquitous leisure space is the shopping mall. In most malls one can find anything and do almost anything: buy clothes, cars, housewares; eat at restaurants or food stalls; pay the telephone bill; buy groceries; get a haircut; chat with friends while window shopping; sit and watch people go by…Many malls also open before peak […]

Leisure space can be public or private. It’s everywhere and situated in the everyday. It can be the foosball room in a busy architecture office, a bench off a sidewalk, a neighborhood café. It can also be one’s living room, the front yard, or the space inside one’s mind. In Beijing, the concept of public […]

2005 Survey on Beijing Women’s Thinking and Living
In 2005, the Beijing Women’s Federation conducted a survey on Beijing Women’s living conditions and attitudes towards different aspects of life. (Source: china-woman.com / Translated by Women of China)
The survey found that women’s three main leisure activities were “watching TV” (86.6percent), “housework” (76.7 percent), and “reading books and […]

I’ve been spending a lot of time walking around my neighborhood, which includes the commercial area around Wudaokou station. Almost everyday we walk from our precinct, the Beijing Language University grounds, and pass by the shops in and around the station. There is a lot of street life here. Many are on their way […]