If your child is looking for an activity-filled birthday party, look no further than Let’s Go’s (乐仕堡) in Wangjing. This imposing outdoor three-storey structure tests participants’ physical and mental skills. After kids are outfitted with safety helmets and harnesses, they must make their way up the climbing frame by completing a series of challenges. These include balancing on a wooden suspension bridge and crawling through metal hoops. There is no time limit and each child’s carabiner stays firmly hooked onto a security rope at all times.
Once the tasks on the first level are completed, your child is asked whether they would like to repeat the level or move up to the next. No two challenges are exactly the same, though the skills required are similar: balancing and shifting one’s weight, upper body strength, core strength, planning, focus, and patience. The course provides not only a full-body workout, but also intellectual stimulation.
Older children (ages 8 and up) should progress quickly to the second and third levels. Once they reach the second level, a coach accompanies them for safety until they reach the end of the course. If a child needs more time to complete a particular task, the coach also ensures that participants at the back of the line give them enough space. There is also a small rock climbing wall suitable even for the youngest of kids, and a bungee jumping area at extra cost.
This birthday activity would be ideal for a group of six to eight children and two to three adult chaperones. At least one adult can supervise from the ground level and offer encouragement if one of the kids get tired; another adult can take the escalators up to the second floor of the adjacent mall and overlook the climbing frame from the atrium. Both perspectives make for interesting photo opportunities.
Make arrangements ahead of your intended party date. You will want to ensure the climbing frame isn’t too full and clarify how many coaches can be assigned to your group. Let’s Go has set up multiple intelligence climbing frames all over China, so the coaches are well-trained and used to working with children. However, they don’t speak English. The frame itself is made of sturdy materials and built to French safety and design specifications.
Be prepared to welcome a group of adrenaline-filled kids back to ground level. They’ll have warmed themselves up from the physical exertion, even in these colder months. Let’s Go is open year-round.
Once your group gets hungry, there’s a McDonald’s about 50m away on Guangshun Beidajie. Better yet, head to Indigo Mall (around 4.5km away) for more Western options like Flamme and Blue Frog. Asian options include banh mi sandwiches at Muse or Chinese food at the food court. For something sweet, go to Cold Stone Creamery or Yogen Fruz.
Let’s Go 乐仕堡
One-off prices: RMB 80 per child (ages 3-12) for the climbing frame, RMB 30 for five minutes of bungee. Member prices: RMB 1,190 (RMB 60/child for two hours on the climbing frame, RMB 22.50/five minutes of bungee) or RMB 2,000 (RMB 44/child for two hours on the climbing frame, RMB 16.50/five minutes of bungee). Daily 10am-4.30pm (winter), 9am-8.30pm (summer). 19 Guangshun Beidajie (south part of Liubaiben Shopping Street next to Dazhong Electronics), Wangjing, Chaoyang District (152 1137 1992, 135 5286 2400) 朝阳区望京广顺北大街19号六佰本商业街南侧大中电器旁边
photos by Ken
This article originally appeared on p23 of the beijingkids October 2013 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com