beijingkids are proud to announce the first-ever beijingkids School Choice Fair based on the February release of the beijingkids 2012-2013 School Choice Guide.

This will be an opportunity for parents to “interview” schools in one place, at one time, as well for parents with kids currently in the schools to share their experiences. Here’s the low-down:

While most Chinese parents are trying desperately to get their children into Tsinghua or Peking University (aka Beida) by emulating Western educational virtues such as creativity and the “whole child” approach, one Hong Kong father is on a quest to prove them wrong. He’s doing so by enforcing corporal punishment to make his children succeed in life. And in fact, Xiao’s three children have been accepted by Peking University, a school that most Chinese parents can only dream of.

Xiao was brought up by his mom, who believed in corporal punishment. He was not allowed to arrive home late, to lie or do poorly in his exams. He received one beating for every minute he was home late or every point lost in an exam and, in the case of lying, being beaten until his mouth bled.

Former BeijingKids columnist and renowned Panda Dad Alan Paul has officially announced that the movie rights to his book Big in China, about his experiences living and playing music in Beijing, have been purchased as an option by Ivan Reitman's (Animal House) Montecito Pictures.

For Alan Paul's take on his book and movie to-be, see the full post on beijing-kids.com.

Standing before me is the founder of Guitar China, China’s most comprehensive guitar music website, and all I can focus on is his goatee – perhaps the longest I’ve ever seen on a Chinese man. The man goes by two names: Jiang Wei, christened by his parents, and Mel Gibson, christened by co-workers who thought they were clever (and the result of a surplus of Gibson films in the pirated market). In this interview, we talked about the birth of Guitar China, the upcoming charity concert on July 3 and a band’s penchant for singing about Beijing Duck.

Tonight (June 15) it's once again time for you to put on your thinking caps to help a worthy local charity, have a great time and possibly walk home with stupendous goodies. Turn up at the Sanlitun location of Schindler’s for what is quickly evolving into an annual tradition: the Magic Hospital Charity Quiz Night.

Teams of up to 8 are welcome to join (reservations suggested – team slots are filling quickly as of this writing).

For more information on signing up, what you can win, and the charity you can support, check out beijing-kids.