The act of trying to knock over a series of pins by rolling a heavy round object towards them may not be new, but this great activity is as challenging and engaging today as it was in the past. Archaeologists have evidence of bowling-type games from as long as five thousand years ago. This makes bowling one of the oldest sports on record, dating all the way back to the civilization of the ancient Egyptians. So when you pull on those bowling shoes and head to the lane to try and hit a few strikes, you are effectively participating in a ritual that has amused humans since the year 3200 BC.
Cosmic Bowling’s 20-lane ally at Metropark Lido Hotel is your typical western bowling alley. One of the better bowling ally’s in Beijing, all of the lanes actually work and the balls are in pretty good condition, with a good range of weights available. The staff are helpful, especially in setting up the automatic scoring screens so they’re in English. For kids there are bowling ramps, so they can just roll the ball down and therefore have a chance of scoring. There are no bumper lanes or gutter guards however. Shoe rental is available, and the shoes are in pretty good condition. For younger kids, small sizes are not available, so make sure they wear suitable shoes.
Cosmic Bowling is pretty good value for a couple hours of entertainment. Great fun if there’s a group of you, hiring a couple of lanes. It also makes a good venue for a kid’s Birthday party. If you want to go without the kids, after 10pm the price gets cheaper. Although expect to be humiliated by the local professionals, with their personalized bowling balls and shoes. Beverages and snacks are available, but the choices are a bit limited. Metropark Lido Hotel offers a wide selection of restaurants. Choose from Texan Bar & Grill, Pure Lotus Vegetarian, Taj Pavilion Indian, Mugen Japanese, and Phrik Thai Restaurant. If you want to venture out from the hotel complex, just a short walk away and you’ll find Eudora Station, Element Fresh and plenty more dining options in this part of Lido.
Cosmic Bowling 北京沙明建保龄球俱乐部
Daily 9am-2am
RMB 150/hour before 6pm, RMB 200/hour
3/F, Lido Hotel, 6 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (6437 6688 ext 3801) 朝阳区将台路6号丽都饭店三层
beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.
Photos: Dwayne Madden (Flickr), courtesy of Metropark Lido Hotel
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As of June 2018, this place has been closed.