"Inside painted"snuff bottles were used to hold powdered tobacco.

Artists use a slender bamboo stick dipped in colored ink to paint on the interior surface of the bottle. Symbols are derived from legends, history, religion, and so on.

It is also an object of beauty and a way to represent status.

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

See this huge snow ball I made!

Heavenly snow covered Beijing on a couple of days ago, so children enjoyed another day of snowball fights and snowman-building.

Even teenagers and young adults were enjoying the snow.

I also like the snow very much, see this huge ball that I made yesterday!

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

This is the Olympic Bird's Nest in the snow

On Nov. 12th, the third snowfall has fallen in Beijing this year. According to the record, it is the heaviest snowfall in the Chinese capital in 54 years.

Tourists flocked to many scenic spots and took pictures of the beautiful snow-covered landscape.

Shown here the Olympic Bird's Nest in the snow.

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

Tang Juan Guo is a renowned snack in Beijing

This is one of the renowned local snacks in Beijing-- Tang Juan Guo, or Chinese yam and date rolls.

The main ingredients are yam and jujubes. Full of protein and vitamins, they are good for your body, especially for women.

It’s sweet and delicious!

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

Bing Tang Hulu is a common snack in China.

Bing Tang Hulu a common snack for children, widely available in China. It is part of their childhood.

It could be a primitive but traditional candy that is made of fresh fruit, particularly wild fruit like hawthorn.

Especially during winter, it is common to see hawkers selling these sweet delicacies in the streets of Beijing.

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

Mao hou has a long history in China.

Mao hou, or the furry monkey, has a history of several hundred years in China. It is made of cicada shells and magnolia buds.

Look at how these artists stage the little monkeys in a huge set that describes everyday life in old Beijing.

Look at that! They are celebrating a wedding ceremony.

--by Cathryn, your shopping assistant in Beijing

This is a very popular Chinese toy

This is a toy every child in China is very familiar with: "Bu Dao Weng."

In Chinese, “bu dao weng” means something like "grandpa don’t fall."

And this one was painted into a lovely traditional doll. The words on the surface of the doll mean "Live a long life."

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

"Golden Foal" is a typical old Beijing toy

This is a typical item found in Beijing, the "Golden Foal."

Look at the golden ingot on the back. In old Beijing, it was a symbol of richness, so every year the local people would invite the foal to their home, wishing they would become rich in the future.

This art is on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritages of Beijing. People also call this craft a "living fossil."

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing

They are made of newspaper

I found these colorful pencils in a small shop in Beijing, and I was immediately attracted by their interesting designs. 

The shop owner told me that they are made of aged newspaper! 

What a wonderful utilization of old materials.

--by Cathryn, your personal shopping assistant in Beijing

The Door God can chase away evil spirits.

The art of Chinese woodblock painting is an art by Chinese farmers. The original purpose of the paintings was to ward off evil.  

This is a woodblock painting made in Shaanxi province, it’s the Door God.  

The Door God can chase away evil spirits, so people put him on their doors and windows to welcome in the New Year.

--by Cathryn, your tour guide in Beijing