Elizabeth Wu

Dating back to the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), Jingshan (which means “scenic mountain,” and is referred to as Coal Hill) was transformed into an imperial garden annex of the Forbidden City during the Ming dynasty (circa 1420). It contains five peaks highlighted by the eponymous artificial hill created using soil dug out from the moats around the Imperial Palace. In fengshui tradition, residing to the south of a hill is auspicious, thus Jingshan (also known as Fengshui Hill) was built to the south of the Imperial Palace. Picturesque Wanchun Pavilion is situated on the very top peak and offers truly spectacular views of the Forbidden City complex.

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Located beside the river, across from the Western Academy of Beijing, Filling Station is an American classic with a touch of modern interiors. This funky diner gets bonus points for promptly serving jumbo glasses of ice water to patrons without prompting – a refreshing rarity for Beijing restaurants. The adult menu features a selection of burgers (RMB 58-98) that include a side of fries dusted with chilli pepper and a range of hotdogs (RMB 38-58). The ample kids menu features Sausage Spiders (hot dog sausages with spaghetti legs (RMB 35) and Easy Peasy Mac ‘n Cheese (RMB 35). Other offbeat selections designed especially for kids are banana pancakes (RMB 35) and mocktails (RMB 20). When hungry bellies are full, the playroom awaits – with slides, a selection of retro video games and a foosball table.

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Butterfly Valley, while a tad lo-fi, is a great excuse for a day trip. The park is fairly quiet on weekdays and doesn’t see many visitors, making it the perfect place to get away from the bustling city.

Located a short drive outside of Shunyi, Butterfly Valley is home to more than 30 species of butterfly. The center also doubles as a breeding center – over 500 Chinese and Japanese species are bred here annually. If you’re lucky, you can even see caterpillars transform into butterflies in the center’s cocoon rooms.

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Nestled in the hills near the Summer Palace, Villa Castanea is a picturesque German restaurant. Meateaters will feel at home here: traditional homemade German sausages (RMB 158) come in eight varieties and should be the main event of your meal. The beef burger (RMB 108) is huge and will suit fussy eaters. While vegetarians will find options a little slim, the Caesar salad (RMB 88) should tide you over. To finish, the Bavarian cream desserts (RMB 65) are a must. Moms and dads can sample Villa Castanea’s four varieties of homebrewed beer. The location is what impresses at this eatery. Lush gardens are dotted with pink and coral roses and there are grass fields aplenty for the kids to play in. We recommend going during daylight hours to make the most of the fresh air. Large private indoor and outdoor spaces are available for group bookings.

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If a day of sand and sun is what you’re after, head where the local go: City Seaview water park. Located within the Crab Island complex, City Seaview is an oasis of water-themed fun. Build sandcastles on the shore of the faux beach, be swept away in the wave pool or just read a book under a generously sized beach umbrella. When you’re all beached out, the surrounding Crab Island offers a range of family-friendly activities including go-karting and fishing. A short ten-minute drive from Lido, it beats having to trek out to Beihai to enjoy a day by the sea.

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