the Beijinger

We're delighted to launch our first-ever writing contest. You're all invited to enter. In fact, to make sure that the competition is open to everyone, we've given it a bit of a twist. All we want from all of you budding wordsmiths is just six words.

Smith brought the world the Six-Word Memoir. Before that, as legend would have it, Hemingway wrote his best work in just six words: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

You too can wow the world in six little words. Your story could win you worldwide fame, VIP status and a new life. Well, maybe not all of that ... but you will get your words in print as well as prizes from us and our friends at The Bookworm International Literary Festival (BLF). Read on to learn more.

Last week we launched our first-ever writing contest, asking you to describe your Beijing in six words. The entries so far have been of a refreshingly high standard. However, we know that you've all got a little more left in the literary tank. You've got until 9am on Thursday, February 16 to tell us your tiny stories.

You can enter as many times as you like. The only rules are that each of your entries must be six words long – and that all of the words must be in English. Send them to sixwords@thebeijinger.com.

Do you love exploring the city to find new restaurants and dining options? Do you like the grubby alleyway dives as much as the high-end venues? If you have a way with words and never tire of talking about food, then the Beijinger wants you.

Do you like winning things? All you need to do is to find this month’s issue of the Beijinger and answer some questions correctly. You can earn yourself a Valentine’s Day dinner for two at Compass Grill (worth RMB 999) , or a Valentine’s Day dinner at Kerry’s Kitchen (worth RMB 688). Enter to win both but remember that you'll only win one, you can't physically be at two places at the same time. Not with Beijing traffic. And there's even more you can win ...

We're delighted to belatedly tell you what your great efforts at The Beijinger 2011 Charity Super Quiz raised. The grand total was a whopping RMB 28,042. Well done to everyone involved. We'd like to thank everyone who came out and attended the event. We'd like to thank the quizmasters (and Tuba John) for helping and Chocolate for hosting. Most of all, though, we'd like to thank the Holt Ping An Medical Foster Home for the good work they are doing with the money that you all raised.

While everyone's still on holiday we thought we'd let you have some fun and give you the chance to win some prizes. All you have to do to win something drawn at random from our prize cupboard is create a caption for the above photo. Leave it as a comment below. The best - as in the one that we like the most - will be determined the winner. The competition is open until we're all back at work on Sunday. Good luck.

The results are in, the votes counted. Time now to unveil the winners of the Beijinger's 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards - Beijing's most comprehensive, most trusted and most prestigious survey of the capital's dining scene. Almost 200 restaurants were nominated across 45 categories - and the winners are ...

Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese)
Best: Maison Boulud
Outstanding: Capital M
Outstanding: Mosto

Restaurant of the Year (Chinese)
Best: Da Dong
Outstanding: Made in China, Grand Hyatt
Outstanding: Haidilao
Outstanding: Dali Courtyard

New Restaurant (Non-Chinese)
Best: Modo
Outstanding: Kro’s Nest
Outstanding: Agua
Outstanding: Flamme

New Restaurant (Chinese)
Best: Little Yunnan
Outstanding: Fook Lam Moon, China World Summit Wing
Outstanding: Yan Can Cook

We're well aware three days into this work week that we're not on holiday but everyone seems to like these caption contests. Let's have some more fun with this one. All you have to do to win something drawn at random from our prize cupboard is create a caption for the above photo. Leave it as a comment below. The best - as in the one that we like the most - will be determined the winner. The competition is open until we can open the prize cupboard. Good luck. Winners will be picked by the end of this week ... and there really are prizes to be won.

Love is … in the air, although you might not be able to see it among the particulate matter.

Who do we want to be our Valentine? Take a guess.

We Heart Beijing. How do we love thee? In our Cover Feature we count the ways.