Find Those Easter Eggs
Easter is an annual Christian festival that traditionally marks the end of Lent, a 40-
day period of fasting and penance. The holiday is also celebrated in a secular way,
with Easter egg decorating, egg hunts, gifts of chocolate, and a meeting with the
Easter Bunny. This year, Easter Sunday falls on April 8.
Ring in the Spring with beijingkids’ Mai Fest
On May 5, beijingkids and Kempinski Hotel host a special Family Saturday Lunch
as part of Maifest (May 2-6), a Bavarian spring tradition. Paulaner Brauhaus patrons can enjoy German music and food, a special kids’ menu, spring crafts, games, activities, and more. Did we mention the inflatable castle? For more details, see Events.
Take the Green Pledge for Earth Day
April 22 marks Earth Day, a campaign to raise awareness of environmental issues. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day is now observed in 175 countries every year with activities like tree planting, nature crafts, environmental education, Earth Day fairs, and more.
Dust Off Your Bike for Spring
Start off the season on the right foot (wheel?) by taking your bike for a tune-up (调整) at your local shop. Take the family on a self-guided bike tour around the Lama Temple or Houhai for local flavor, Peking University’s sprawling campuses for peace and quiet, or Beihai along Fuyou Jie for romantic, tree-lined streets. If you’re the sporting kind, sign up for the third annual Bohai or Bust charity bike event taking place on April 14. For details, see Events.
The Hutong Heyrobics Health Rave Challenge
On April 29, The Hutong and Heyrobics team up for a day of health awareness
and activities that mesh exercise, food, music, and drinks. Participants start off with a warm-up session at Ditan Park, then take a spin in a secret location for some Heyrobics. After that, they’ll run 4km through the parks and back alleys of Beijing to The Hutong, where there will be a barbecue, drinks, and music on the terrace. But wait, there’s more! There will also be activities, workshops, and interactive talks, as well as discounts on sports gear. For details, see Events.
Adopt Greener Methods at Home
Spring cleaning is the practice of cleaning the house from top to bottom during the first warm days of the year. This is the time to get rid of unwanted clutter, donate old clothes and toys, and give your attention to all those little things that need fixing around the house.
Trek Through the Ming Dynasty Tombs
Located 50km north of central Beijing, the Ming Dynasty Tombs (明十三陵) are the resting place of 13 Ming emperors. Carefully laid out according to the principles of fengshui, the Tombs cover an area of 40sqkm and were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Currently, only three tombs are open to the public: Changling, Dingling, and Zhaoling.
Pick Your Own Veggies at an Organic Farm
Eating well is one of the biggest challenges of living in Beijing – particularly when kids are involved. Luckily, several organic farms around the city provide sustainable and pesticide-free products, including fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, and meat. Many of them rent out plots for individuals and families to grow their own produce, while others allow members to buy in to the farm through a CSA (communitysupported agriculture) model.
Gallivant Through Gongti
Located a stone’s throw away from Sanlitun and Dongzhimen, the Gongti area is
replete with kid-friendly venues and activities. Even if you’ve been here before,
there’s bound to be new things to discover. Stop by Blue Zoo Beijing, Fundazzle,
the French Cultural Centre, Gongti 100, Pizza Buona, and more with our What’s
Fun In guide.
Swim Like You Mean It
Can’t wait until the city’s outdoor pools open? Make a splash at one of these indoor venues:
Merry Water World 摩锐水世界
Mon-Fri 1.30-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-10.30pm. RMB 98, RMB 60 (kids under
1.4m), free (kids under 1.2m). Weekends: RMB 138, RMB 60 (kids under 1.4m),
free for kids under 1.2m. Tulip Garden Hot Spring Resort, Dongwei Lu, Chaoyang District (8433 0606 ext 5104) 朝阳区东苇路金盏郁金香温泉花园度假村
Splash Recreation Club 浪花俱乐部
Daily 6am-10pm. RMB 80, RMB 40 (kids 0.9-1.2m), free for kids under 0.9m.
Sino-Swiss Hotel, 9 Xiao Tianzhu Nanlu, Shunyi District (6456 5588 ext 1217) 顺义区小天竺南路9 号国都大饭店
This article is excerpted from beijingkids April 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.