Kids Fascinated by Reptiles and Bugs? Get Up Close With 100+ Creatures Here

You’re either going to get excited “ooooohs” or grossed out “eeeeeews” with this one. If you’ve got a kid who’s interested in insects and reptiles, this one is for you!

Wangfujing is one of those destinations that tend to only be on the weekend plans of first-time visitors to Beijing, but now there’s a really cool reason for us all to pay the place a visit. Located on the main pedestrian street, on the fifth floor of the New China Children’s Store (新中国儿童用品商店), which has been a landmark building for decades, is the recently opened Chongming Exploration: Living Nature Museum.

For about RMB 100 per person, you and your kids can get up close and personal with over 100 types of insects and reptiles, some that you’ve probably only seen on National Geographic, from the commonly found bearded dragon lizards to more exotic stuff like rhinoceros beetles, giant praying mantises, various types of snakes, tarantulas, and a section that’s just dedicated to spending some quality time surrounded by fluttering butterflies.

Pro Tip: If you’ve got young kids, don’t let your kid wander about the exhibition on their own. There are live creatures all over the place, and the exhibition is housed in a space that’s over 3,000sqm. There’s definitely a chance your kids will get lost in the maze alone.

Museum staff give guided tours multiple times a day. They’ll take you in small groups throughout the exhibition and explain and even let you hold some of the creatures. However, the tours are all conducted in Chinese.

The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 8pm. Upon entry, you’ll get a wristband that allows you unlimited re-entry throughout the day, so if you want to make it an all-day affair, there’s plenty of time to stop by one of the many tasty restaurants in Wangfujing for a quick lunch before diving back into a world of insects.