US-born Robert Berkowitz, a director at technology company Lenovo, has lived in Beijing for seven months with his wife Julie and their three kids Wyatt (age 9), Seth (6), and Ada (20 months). Wyatt and Seth attend the International School of Beijing. The family also has a pet pug called Gargoyle, whom they got from a Beijing pet market. We caught up with Robert to find out the family’s favorite spots in Beijing and beyond.
Favorite Family Restaurant
South Beauty at Europlaza in Shunyi and the Guomao branch of Grandma’s Kitchen. The kids also love the awesome burgers The Garage.
Favorite Snacks
Candied hawthorn berries, fried vegetable-filled pies from a street vendor, and curly potato on a stick. Actually, pretty much anything on a stick.
Best Way to Relax
At-home foot massage by Le Spa
Favorite Neighborhood
Nanluoguxiang. We love the shopping, snacks, and just wandering around the hutongs taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Beijing.
Best Places to Play
Fundazzle on pollution-heavy days, Tuanjiehu Park for a cool-off in the summer, and Beijing Zoo and Aquarium, where the beluga whale was a huge hit (especially the call it makes).
Weekend Activities
We love hiking at least once a month with Beijing Hikers.
Favorite Places to Shop
Wangfujing and Panjiayuan. The kids also love to practice the Chinese art of bargaining at the Silk Market.
Favorite Day Trip
We love going to Mutianyu Great Wall to hike in the fall, having an early dinner at The Schoolhouse and watching the glass blowing demonstration, followed by some fruit picking at a local orchard.
Photo by Ken
This article originally appeared on p96 of the beijingkids March 2014 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com