*** To war, to war, all ye soldiers. With the Chinese New Year holidays behind us, we look ahead to the tech happenings kicking off the year of itchy sheep.

March 7: TEDx Peking University Edition

In a world gone mad, we need each other to stay alive. We need inspiration to lend meaning to our perspiration. Peking University delivers with an afternoon of eye-watering encouragement at TEDx: “The Ah-Hah Moment”. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll feel the tectonic plates that form the bulwarks of your heart shift and reform, colliding into spiritual mountain ranges of pure success. Hear from CCTV sports commentator Kerry (于嘉), Professor of Australian Studies David Walker, BJU bigwig and head of the Department of Educational Technology Shang Junjie, and three other campus notables as they share their unique perspectives on big-idea-having. The event runs from 1pm to 7pm. Expect to shell out 20-37rmb for students, 60rmb for non-students. Register in advance on Huodongxing.

March 13 - March 15: Spark: Her Startup Academy

I sat down to tackle this blurb and it came out all one-woman NGO, like: “Spark: Her is an initiative by FYSE with the stated mission to drive growth by supporting women’s economic participation.” Jesus, man. I’m killing me here. Anyhoo, if you’re a lady with entrepreneurial ambitions, or if business frameworks and social enterprises get you hot and bothered, do pony up the 500rmb for a ticket to this 3-day guanxi buffet and business incubator. The pitch: "The Spark:Her Startup Academy is a special program for women to explore and develop business ideas that address social and environmental problems in China. It is especially for women who have the motivation to make it happen in the future – but are not fully ready yet. Through experiential learning, exchange with passionate peers and engagement with leading experts participants will learn what it takes to turn their own ideas into a successful venture." This session's in Chinese -- registration here -- but they've got lots of other events on in English you can check out as well.

March 14: M.Y. Comic & Cosplay Festival

Sometimes, in the morning as I dress, I delve too far into the dark corners of my closet, my fingertips brush against my Princess Mononoke cape-pelt, and a thrill runs through the darkest parts of me. Alone, I put my nose to the tatty fur and breathe deeply, inhaling the musky scent of ejaculate and the floral perfume of imaginary lands. And then, with steely self-control, I put it away. “Soon,” I think. “But not today.” That day is coming on March 14, when Beijing’s manga nation will gather at the Guomao International Exhibition Center for a roll in the fields of fandom (京国贸国际会展中心 - don’t get confused by the “Guomao” in the name – this place is actually in Haidian). There will be Cosplay competitions by ChinaJoy, the same guys who organize China’s DragonCon equivalent. There will be hordes of young men carrying cardboard katanas. There will be inexplicable Japanese toys of all varietals. Tickets are 35RMB in advance, and can be purchased on Taobao or via My Comic’s official WeChat account.

March 13 - March 29: The Bookworm Literary Festival

Writers, journalists, academics, poets, random freakish bookish types, and just general folk who pretend that they read are descending on The Bookworm for the last half of March for all sorts of edification, diversion, enlightenment, and entertainment via the yearly Bookworm Literary Festival. Amongst the more literary pursuits there's a few events on for people interested in the tech-ish side of things as well. Here's the whole damn list of events, which is indeed pretty damn ambitious. And here's a few culled from that pack that almost or entirely fall under our purview: March 14: China Environment Panel (2pm) "Here’s a smart discussion that asks the right questions and puts Chinese environmental issues in their proper context. For example, we’re all too familiar with China’s air quality, but what must happen for it to improve? (And is there hope?) What government initiatives should we be aware of? What other issues concern Chinese environmentalists? Longtime China residents Dr. Husayn Anwar, who founded the first private environmental services firm in China, and Gilbert Van Kerckhove, author of Toxic Capitalism, will answer these and other questions. " March 21: Tech in China (4pm) "Innovators, copycats, investors, hackers, gamers, and so many more who fall somewhere in between: welcome to the exhilarating, unpredictable, competitive, and often confounding world of tech in China. What’s the impact of the Great Firewall? Is freedom necessary for innovation? What does the future hold for Alibaba, Xiaomi, Sina, etc.? Industry leaders convene in this star-studded panel to discuss, debate, and disabuse." March 26: Ghost Cities (8pm) "Over the next couple of decades, an estimated 250 million Chinese citizens will move from rural areas into cities, pushing the country’s urban population over one billion. China has aggressively built urban districts over the past 30 years, yet many of these, such as the infamous Kangbashi and Yujiapu, stand nearly empty, construction having ground to a halt due to the loss of investors and colossal debt. In Ghost Cities of China, Wade Shepard examines this phenomenon up close, and posits that the shedding of traditional social structures is at an advanced stage, and a rootless, consumption-centric globalized culture is rapidly taking its place." * Tickets are available for these events from February 28 at The Bookworm. Probably get on those sooner rather than later, as they sell out for the bigger events. *** 'til next time.