the Beijinger

This women's shoe brand, first founded by expats in Shanghai in 2007, is now up to 14 Beijing branches and counting. (For a list of all existing store locations, click here.) According to their website, D:FUSE "strives to bring the latest Scandinavian urban trends to the fashion forward Chinese consumer."

It just so happens that their trend-conscious footwear appeals to us expats as well. And now, one lucky reader has the chance to win a pair of free shoes! Whether sandals or pumps, their designs typically range from RMB 600-1,500, with most of them priced at around the RMB 700-800 mark. You can check out some of D:FUSE's latest styles below, or peruse the full collections here.

The rules? With the exception of the higher-priced Desire line, you can choose whatever pair meets your fancy (though do note that their largest size available is 39).

Fancy a bit of Mala Xiangguo? Order your chicken wings biantai la? Put your Sichuan friends to shame by ordering the extra spicy broth at the local hot pot joint? Then we invite you to step up and take part in the Fourth Annual Beijinger Chili Pepper Eating Contest being held as part of the Canada Day celebrations at the Canadian International School this Sunday.

Until recently, the local front in the Nike versus adidas war has been played out on the billboards lining Wangfujing and Xidan. The two global brands are also struggling to be the providers of whatever sporting apparel athletes choose, or are instructed, to wear at the Beijing Olympics. The competition between the two brands in the Chinese market heats up with the opening of adidas' flagship store at Sanlitun's village tonight. The Beijinger's Fashion and Beauty Editor Halla Mohieddeen got a chance to take a sneak peek at the store yesterday and gives us her take below. Images by Simon Lim

adidas Brand Center
Daily 10am-10pm. Bldg 11, South Area, Sanlitun Village, 19 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District.
朝阳区三里屯南路19号11幢

Designed to create a village within a city, the striking development in the heart of Sanlitun is slowly taking shape. The boards have come down, and we're now starting to see more of the eclectic mix of structures that will make up the shopping and entertainment district. The first store to throw open its doors is the new adidas Brand Center, adidas' global flagship store.

Boasting 3,170 sqm of floor space, this new store will be adidas’ largest worldwide. What's more, it brings together all the brand's concept lines under one roof, another first for the brand. This means that whether you want shoes, kids clothing, accessories and apparel, or lines such as Y-3 or adidas by Stella McCartney, it's now all available under one roof.

By now you’ve likely heard that Plastered T-shirts has opened a second Beijing branch in 798 Art District. (If not, catch up on all the details here.) Now we have even more photos of the store interior which, according to their blog, was designed by founder Dominic Johnson-Hill himself.

Looking for details on 2011 New Year parties? You've come to the wrong place - this is the 2010 post. For details of what's happening on December 31, 2011, click here.

The new year is almost upon us, but there's still time for one more drink, one more dance, one more band before the sun sets on another year in the capital. Here's your one-stop guide to what Beijing has to offer this New Year's Eve.

Global Times China Publicly burns 5.2 million pirated DVD's and Books.

China's anti-piracy authorities organized public burnings of 5.2 million pirated books and compact discs Monday in several localities across China. The items were incinerated in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as Shanxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces. As of December 31, 650,000 law enforcement personnel had been dispatched to examine producers and sellers of books, software and video products. Buy up, buy up fast!

Global Times 1 billion-euro 7 star hotel in Burj Dubai style for Beijing

Expats who rely on the material comforts of home may be disheartened to hear that ShopWeShip.com, previously known as Dong-Xi.com, has just announced that it will soon be discontinuing its services.

ShopWeShip.com was first established to give Chinese residents access to e-commerce sites that only shipped to US billing addresses. Back then, our options were few – we could hardly find quality Western food around town, let alone chic clothes from mid- to high-end retailers.

By now you’ve probably heard that five up-and-coming Chinese designers are now having their work showcased and sold on TheCorner.com.cn, the Chinese-language version of a YOOX-owned luxury retail website. (If you haven’t, check out our 2011 Style-Phile Roundup, which will get you up to speed on all the latest developments in Beijing's shopping scene.)

The selected designers are as follows: Uma Wang (of Uma Wang, and famed recipient of the 2011 Audi Progress in Design Award), Christine Lau (of Chictopia), Riko Manchit Au (of Ricostru), Shangguan Zhe (of Sankuanz) and Zou You (of This Is You’z Clothing). Click here to access the special “Vogue Talents Corner” capsule collection.

We already compiled a list of online shopping options earlier this year, but since then a number of luxury brands have begun clamoring to enter China. Plus, deals and discounts abound at the moment, just in time for the holidays. We’ve identified the ones that will serve you best below.

Here’s our pick of splurge-worthy e-shops that now ship to Beijing.