Hong Kong

Lunar New Year flower markets

It's the start of a busy month as locals obsess over settling debts, and getting haircuts and their houses in order ahead of the Lunar New Year. Search for your auspicious blossoms and greenery for home or office or just come to soak up the crowds, floral airs and aromas at 15 flower markets springing up on both sides of the harbor.

Noon-midnight, Jan 25-31; Midnight-6 am, Jan 31. Various locations including Victoria Park, Hong Kong Island and Mong Kok. Fehd.gov.hk.

Dub (Horse Racing) Step

Hong Kong's Wednesday Happy Valley Race days are getting a digital update with DJ Ricky Stone electrifying the usual humpday beer garden/horse betting festivities with live sets in between the ground-pounding action. The racetrack, one of Hong Kong's oldest institutions, is also hosting a rap battle for aspiring lyricists with HK$1,000 up for grabs for whoever battles their way to champion.

7:15 pm, Jan 22. HK$10. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Racetrack, Happy Valley. Hkjc.com.

- Timo Chui

Beijing

Australian network

The Australia China Alumni Association invites alumni from all Australian universities who are living in China to come together for monthly networking and professional development seminars. There are opportunities for volunteering, too. Austchinaalumni.org.

Secondhand charity

If you've started New Year spring cleaning, gently used clothing, furniture and books are always welcome at Roundabout, a nonprofit group that sells secondhand items to benefit several local charities.

9 am-6 pm, Jan 20-25. Yuyang Xilu (West Road), Houshayu Town (adjacent to Yosemite Villas) in Shunyi district. Roundaboutchina.com. 137-1877-7761.

Fearless mahjong

Tempted to join the fun as you pass locals playing this traditional Chinese board game? Make a Lunar New Year's resolution to learn mahjong at these friendly afternoon workshops.

1 pm, Mondays. China Culture Center, Inside the Maple Drive-in Cinema Park, 21 Liangmaqiao Lu (Road), Chaoyang district. 010-8420-0171. Chinaculturecenter.org.

Happy feet

The Beijing Ballroom Dance Club steps lively every Saturday with dance-centered parties and events. Private and group instruction are available in ballroom, swing and Latin dance. Contact beijingballroom@yahoo.com for details on classes and the next party.

7:30-11:30 pm, Saturdays. Sino-Chu Wine Bar, 18 Liangmahe Nanlu (South Road). 010-8532-2418.

- Mike Peters

Shanghai

Bollywood dance forms

Teenagers and adults can learn the fine art of Bollywood dancing in the heart of the former French Concession today at the hands of veteran dance instructor Geetha Ravindran. This four-hour workshop will detail several forms of Indian dancing including Indian Folk and Classical Bharatanatyam by drawing on the rich experience of Ravindran. She rose to fame as a child star in South Indian movies and opened her Indian Dance Academy in Shanghai after moving to China in 2005.

2:30-6:30 pm, Jan 19. Dance Studio 5, Rm 205, Building A , Mingyuan Art Center, 1199 Fuxing Zhonglu (Middle Road). E-mail: info@dancestudio5.com.

Detox spring clean

This free workshop hosted by Germany's Sabine Hartmann should get 2014 off to a healthy start by providing all the information you need to follow her seven-day detox program. Hartmann, who has 13 years' experience in detox diets, will explain how to properly prepare for the plan and what benefits you can expect from it in terms of giving your body and mind a spring clean.

11-12:30 pm, Jan 21. CCS Minhang Center, 2F, 360 Xingle Lu (Road), Huacao Town. 021-6406-3866. E-mail: minhang@communitycenter.cn.

Jazz age revisited

It may be worth forking out 300 yuan (180 yuan for students) on this night tour of the city for those interested in learning about the past and present of Shanghai's music and jazz scene at the hands of jazz expert Andrew Field. Field, who in 2010 authored a book on the city's cabaret culture, will take you back to the swinging '30s when mobsters and buccaneers whiled away their weekends with singing girls, and Shanghai ranked as the undisputed jazz capital of Asia. The walking tour includes stops at jazz-and-blues specialists Cotton Club and JZs.

8-11 pm, Jan 24. Tour starts at Pushkin monument at the intersection of Fenyang Lu (Road) and Yueyang Lu (Road). 138-1892-2040. E-mail: publicwalks@shanghai-flaneur.com.

- Matt Hodges

Guangzhou

Flea market

Come and join the Mafa Bazaar Sunday flea market to run your own booth or just have fun. It is held at the outdoor car-free yard of the "Sleeping Flower" bar in Zhujiang New Town in Guangzhou. On the shelf are collectables, such as accessories, creative designs and secondhand home appliances, decorations, books and discs. It's good for people to shop with their kids because the bar offers magic shows and live music performances.

10 am-5 pm, Sundays. Free. Sleeping Flower, 30 Liede Dadao (Avenue), Zhujiangdao Square, Zhujiang New Town. 137-2670-0003 (Coco), 139-2510-8826 (Grace).

- Xu Jingxi

(China Daily 01/19/2014 page5)