Feng Cheng and Kitty Wang are from Tangshan and Zhengzhou respectively. After being set up by friends, they now have two kids: Claire (age 4) and Sean (almost 2), both students at The Children’s House International Montessori Kindergarten. Feng Cheng is the director of China Culture Center (CCC) and Kitty is a full-time mom. Recently, we caught up with Feng Cheng to find out what he and his family like to do in their spare time.
Favorite Day Trip
We sometimes go the suburbs of Haidian (particularly the Sijiqing area, where there are many gardens with fruit and vegetable picking as well as chickens, geese, and pigeons. My kids love them.
Weekend Activities
We go to Chaoyang Park or Si’de Park if the weather is good or drive out of the city to greener areas.
Best Places to Shop
Solana or Indigo Mall because they are conveniently close to us.
Date Night
If we’re tired, we might find a peaceful restaurant or coffee shop simply to talk to each other. Sometimes, we go to the movie theater while leaving the kids with the grandparents or ayi.
Favorite Way to Relax
Find a green area, lay a mat on it, sit or lie down, and let the kids play freely. It is simple and easy.
Family Rituals
We have lunch on Sundays with my mother and my sister.
Rainy Day Activities
I bring the kids out in their rain boots and raincoats. Though the rain can be messy, they get very excited about it and it’s rare here.
Favorite Neighborhood
Lido because it’s less crowded and has fewer high rises, with many good restaurants, bars, shops, and parks. It’s also close to 798 Art District.
Favorite Summer Activity
Swimming at Chaoyang Park’s summer beach and pool, but it can get crowded. We sometimes go to the Lido Hotel pool instead.
Photo by SUI
This article originally appeared on p96 of the beijingkids April 2014 issue. Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com