Thanksgiving has left us, and the winter holiday season has officially begun in Beijing. And while Beijing doesn't have the same crazy pre-holiday shopping madness as back home, you can still enjoy some jolly decorations at major shopping areas like Xidan. But if shopping is not exactly your cup of tea, don't worry, because there is plenty else going on around Beijing to keep you busy. Read on to find out more.

Notable News

1) Lost Hikers
Yes, winter is here, and yes, it is getting colder by the day, but that still hasn't stopped Beijingers from enjoying a hike in the surrounding mountains. It's great that more people are trekking out and "getting in touch" with nature… the only problem is that most are far from mountaineers. The result is a growing number of lost and stranded hikers, many of them young students, which must be rescued by knowledge police or locals. During this last weekend alone, 47(!) hikers had to be rescued from Beijing's mountains. With the winter cold moving in, the danger of being lost in the woods has increased substantially, so if you do decide to go hiking… Be Careful!

2) Microsoft planning to build research hub
Microsoft seems to be taking the idea of this being the "Asian Century" seriously, as they recently announced plans to open an Internet centre and research hub in Beijing. While this might be a sly move by Microsoft to gain ground in the Chinese Internet market while its rival Google falters, the immediate influence on Beijing is more apparent: new jobs. So attention all you computer science majors and geeks out there...a new research hub is beckoning!

3) (More) new subway lines
The massive sprawl of Beijing's subway system is already one of the largest in the world. To put it into perspective, the daily passenger numbers exceed the population of many Northern European countries. Just in case that is not big enough for you Beijing will add three new lines by year's end. To learn more, click here. Oh...and by the way, four more lines are scheduled to open in 2012!

Events

1) SALT's birthday bash!
While SALT is always a great place to go for contemporary cuisine or a relaxing cocktail, at 19:00 on December 1st it will be THE place in Beijing to see and be seen at, when it celebrates its fourth birthday. There will be great drinks, Canapés, music and even door prizes. Pre-sale tickets are available at SALT, Terra and Zest Coffee House and cost 250 RMB, while tickets are the door cost 300 RMB. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to UNIFEC, so don't be a scrooge. If you're interested, you'd better act fast, as seating is strictly limited.

2) DJ Krush rocks Yugong Yishan
With so many world-class DJs playing Beijing, it sometimes feels like the city is China's electronica haven. As an early Christmas present, Yugong Yishan is bringing in renowned Japanese groove guru, DJ Krush. With over 12 years of performing behind him, DJ Krush has won awards and topped charts around the world. So get on over to Yugong Yishan on December 1st to experience his grooves yourself. Tickets are 100 RMB, and the show starts at 21:00.

3) Bookworm book bazaar
If you're a book lover, you don't want to miss the Bookworm's book bazaar on December 10th. The Bookworm will be reorganising their vast book collection, and is offering a variety of different titles for 5-35 RMB. It's also offering deals on new books, so be sure you mark the date in your calendar, and head over early for the best selection. The bazaar will be held 10:00-13:00.

Openings/expansions

1) Lush Expanding?
Last watchdog, we reported on the closings of all O2 Sun book locations across Beijing. While the story of how the bookseller closed was quite eye-catching, the question now is what will happen to O2 Sun's former location below famed Wudaokou student hangout, Lush. Many speculate that Lush is looking to expand (and they could definitely use the extra room), but the jury is still on what exactly will happen.

2) New U-Town restaurants
Finally, dining options near Chaoyangmen just got a bit better, with two new additions to the U-Town Lifestyle Mall. Blue Frog just opened a location there, and another new restaurant named Gramercy Tavern is expected to be opening soon as well.

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Keywords: Beijing watchdog Microsoft in Beijing DJ Krush in Beijing Beijing subway Beijing hiking