If your home country is somewhere in Europe but you now call China home sweet home and you are in need of a dose of hometown nostalgia, Qingdao is just the place for you. Thanks to the extensive high-speed train system, us Beijingers can reach Qingdao within three hours, leaving from Beijing Nan station and heading to Qingdao Bei station.

We had a long weekend, and a long weekend calls for an adventure outside Beijing. Here are some hot spots to visit in Qingdao.

Zhanqiao 栈桥 scenic area is a promenade by the beach where you can go for a walk during a nice day. There are many boat tours where you can buy a ticket to ride around the bay, if you wish, during the hot summertime. You can also have your picture taken by many photographers at the Zhanqiao historical pier. The photographers will actually print out photos right then and there. Our photographer charged us RMB 20 per picture.

Did you forget to bring your beach toys for the kids? Not to fret – there are many locals who will be happy to sell you beach toys for a low price. My family enjoyed playing down by the rocks and looking for shells, but if you are visiting with infants or toddlers, be sure to keep an eye on them because the rocks can be quite slippery because of the algae.

Zhongshan Lu pedestrian walking street is a nice district where you can walk, snack and shop. The architecture is European-influenced, and it reminded my family of Germany!

We visited a small red brick shop called Qingdao Project 青岛计划 (红塔大楼) that sold adorable little accessories and trinkets. Also, in this area, there is a historical Catholic Church, Saint Michael’s Cathedral. This cathedral was built in 1932 but completed in 1934 by a German architect in a Gothic and Roman style. I, myself, did not enjoy visiting the cathedral as much as my parents, who found it quite interesting. The entrance fee was RMB 10 per person. Bonus: Kids are free.

Find it:
Qingdao Project青岛计划（红塔大楼）
17 Zhongshan Lu, Qingdao
中山路17号

Hungry after your beach visit and shopping? I was certainly ravenous! We visit the locals’ favorite, Bulou Youzi 波螺油子•青岛本帮菜. This restaurant is a short walk from Saint Michael’s Cathedral, and it is very popular among both locals and tourists due to the delicious, fresh seafood. Even though most of the dishes were seafood, this restaurant had some kid-friendly choices. I like the steamed clams, string beans with eggs and the prawn stick dumplings.

Find it:
Bulou Youzi 波螺油子•青岛本帮菜（上街里店）
19 Weixian Lu (250m walk from Exit D, Zhongshan Road station, Metro Line 1)
潍县路19号 (距地铁1号线中山路站D口步行250m)

Another good spot to hit is Graffiti Street in Qingdao old town between Longjiang Lu and Longkou Lu. It is an artistic area where you can simply walk around admiring the urban murals painted on the walls of shops. If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli, there are many paintings of scenes from the Ghibli movies. If you are lucky, you may find a street artist who can paint your portrait. My family had our portraits painted, and now they are now our treasured souvenirs.

If you feel like your time at the beach is incomplete, there is another public beach in Badaguan scenic area, 八大关. The walk down to get to the beach from the main roads in Badaguan was serene and calm. Trees created lovely arches, perfect for taking pictures. Badaguan area was especially pretty because of all the deciduous and evergreen trees, the golden gingko trees, the red maples and the evergreen pines. There were many interesting stones washed up by the waves on the beach. I had fun digging in the sand and creating puddles of water. It was nice walking along the beach looking out to the ocean with the beautiful foliage in the background. Unfortunately, the water was too cold to swim in now, and I must confess, it was pretty much torture to have to be by the water but not be able to dip in it!

There were many options for hotels, but we chose the MaxX Hotel Harbour View because we wanted a nice view but did not want to go bankrupt. Surprisingly, our room was spacious and luxurious. We had a wonderful ocean and city view for USD 180 or approximately RMB 1,303 for a two-night stay.  At night, our large window from the room allowed us to view the light show from the other buildings! The breakfast buffet was delicious, and though we did not visit them, there was a pool and gym. My family really enjoyed staying at that hotel for a few days.

Find it:
MaxX Hotel Harbour View
26 Xianggang Zhonglu, Shinan District, Qingdao City
青岛市南区香港中路26号

There you go, another one of Clark Yap’s articles. Stay tuned. And stay reading!

Images: Clark Yap

They called us mad. They said we would not make it and that the odds of survival were slim. But we did it anyway.

Armed with nothing but some travel agency experience and sheer determination (or insanity?), we embarked on an impossible mission: a successful holiday with two girls under the age of 2. Okay, okay, it’s not that big a deal. But there are definitely things that can make or break a family holiday when half the crew is still in diapers.

When you take a pinch of grandma, a pair of little ones, a big dollop of dad and a sprinkle of mom and mix them all together in a pot of traveling, you get a recipe for success or disaster depending on one key element: planning! Did I do everything correctly? Definitely not. Did I learn a thing or two that I would do differently and that could help other families? Yes-siree! Was it all worth it still? You bet your bottom dollar it was. I have split my planning into three groups: 1. The Packing, 2. The Accommodation and 3. The Transport.

1. The Packing: As I Like To Call It, the “Ugh” Part

My least favorite part of any trip (aside from trying to get sand out of awkward crevices) is the packing. It stresses me out. I try making lists so that I won’t forget anything, and then I forget to put things on the lists. Packing for a beach getaway with two under 2 required a strategy that prioritizes organization and foresight. Our approach centered on smart gear: a single large hard-shell suitcase, which doubled as a toddler taxi, was perfectly organized with one side for clothes and the other for all the baby essentials, toys, and toiletries. This, combined with a trusty diaper bag/backpack for daily excursions and a double stroller that also served as a napping spot, streamlined what we had to carry. A baby carrier was crucial for navigating non-stroller-friendly terrain like soft sand and steps.

When it came to content, we learned not to assume anything would be available. Despite a nearby “super”-market, crucial items like swimming diapers and baby shampoo were simply not in stock, and what was there carried a hefty premium. Packing your own towels is absolutely vital. Not only did the pool not provide any, but our hotel supplied only disappointing disposable towels that were essentially oversized paper towels. Bring your own beach supplies, like sand castle toys (the ones provided by the hotel were abysmal) and a second swimsuit for everyone (one to wear while the other dries), and don’t forget extra outfits for the inevitable ice cream spills and sand that gets *everywhere.* Finally, our pro tips: Pack a water bottle for rinsing feet to bypass the fiddly QR-code-operated paid water stations at the beach; by the time the water runs, you’ll be running after your toddler! And bring bedtime books and toys, but only ones you won’t mind losing to the hotel ghosts – a lesson I learned the hard way with an eternally missing puzzle piece from our favorite game.

I have included a nice packing list to help you check off essential items. Scan the QR code below!

2. The Accommodation: A Little Research Goes a Long Way!

While there is an overwhelming number of options for accommodation, and some very well-known names, I discovered that many of these beach towns offer very nice, multi-bedroom, full apartments that have the same or even less expensive nightly rates as standard/single rooms at the well-known hotels. With a newborn and a toddler, neither of whom sleeps properly through the night, we had one child with each parent in a room, and we had my mother-in-law with us. We also wanted the option of making simple meals, since eating out for every meal is neither healthy nor cheap (especially since the small towns can have limited options). This made it important to have a kitchen that provided the option of making simple dishes and keeping refrigerated foods and drinks, not to mention ice and ice cream in the freezer. In Beidaihe specifically, we found the Meisheng hotel group in Seatopia that offers great three- and four-bedroom apartments ranging from RMB 540 to RMB 900 per night, depending on how big they are and how many amenities or features they have (like a private splash pool or kids’ jungle gym, for example). I also checked in advance to make sure that the accommodation was within walking distance of the beach and food spots. Not needing to constantly hop in and out of Didis or keep the kids in their seats is essential with such tiny travelers!

3. The Transport: To and Around the Town

As you might recall from my previous article, we took a car service one way and a speed train back home. Both options comfortably accommodated our double stroller and luggage. The car service was definitely more efficient and convenient, but the economy seats on the speed train were cheaper. One benefit of the train was being able to walk our newborn up and down when she needed to be calmed, offering an open seat for our toddler to sleep on. While it wasn’t a long ride and worked out fine, I would invest in an extra seat if we take the train again next time (as little ones don’t automatically get seats) for our kiddos to have for playing or napping (That’s if we don’t book first class seats, which we still want to try as they fully recline). We easily booked a Didi to get to the train station when it was time to come home, but small towns don’t often have six-seaters available, so our little party of five had to book two separate cars to get there. This meant deciding in advance the best way to divide up the luggage (and children) between the cars. For us, this meant my husband, the big suitcase, and the diaper bag went into one car, while the kids (the smallest in the carrier) and the stroller came with my mother-in-law and me in the second car.
4. Bonus Tip – Daily Plans!

Travelling with two under 2 has one certainty: It is impossible to have a planned itinerary. From a night of bad sleep leading to a late morning to taking an hour to get ready to leave the house due to your newborn’s sudden wave of three consecutive poopy diapers while your toddler is evading getting dressed with the slick agility of a freshly made jiaozi (饺子) slipping through my clumsy chopstick abilities or even just unanticipated rainy days and, in our case, the pool closing for the day due to cleaning, it is almost guaranteed that any rigid plan will flop marvelously. But there is an awesome hack around this. Instead of making an itinerary, compile a list beforehand of the activities your family could do at your holiday destination, noting how much time they require and which conditions (like weather) need to be met. That way, you can pick an activity based on whatever situation you are working with, rather than wasting another hour trying to rehash your plans and figure out your next move.

Despite the hiccups and long list of things I would change on the next trip, we had a great time. Though the task seems daunting, going on a holiday with two little ones can still feel like a holiday. My final advice? Don’t be hard on yourself. It is okay if you don’t get to do everything on your activity list. It is fine if you spend a whole day at the apartment, doing the same things you would have done at home. Nobody will die from your baby having a big cry on the train ride. In essence, be kind to yourself, enjoy the parts of the trip that go as planned, and don’t beat yourself up over the things that don’t.

Images: Janita Shahsavari

Have you ever traveled to another city to escape the blazing heat of your hometown? Well, if you have, that is one thing you have in common with the emperors of the Qing dynasty. The Chengde Mountain Resort, 承德避暑山庄, is where the Qing emperors went to escape the torrid heat of Beijing. In fact, 避暑山庄 literally means “avoiding heat mountain resort.”

Since everyone’s making their way back to Beijing to get ready for the start of the new school year, my family thought it would be nice to go there as our last trip before school starts.

During the Qing dynasty it took about half a month for the imperial family to travel to the Chengde Mountain Resort. It took my family only one hour to get there, traveling from Beijing Chaoyang Station to Chengdenan Station. Horse carriages are no match for modern high-speed trains. A total of about RMB 383, or USD 54, afforded all three of us the train’s second class cabin.

The website Trip.com saves you from having to purchase tourist site tickets one at a time. We purchased our tickets on the site for RMB 260 per person to visit four major sites: Changed Mountain Resort, Putou Zong Cheng Temple, Pu Ning Temple and Hammer Peak.

The Chengde Mountain Resort is like the Forbidden City in terms of the classical architecture, but the colors are a little different from Beijing’s typical palace sites. The beams still use the interlocking system, as many Chinese buildings do. The resort grounds are quite serene. The walls are muted red, and the roof is a colorless grey. The grass sprouting between bricks makes the resort look very connected to Mother Nature. In comparison to the bright and flashy colors of Beijing palaces, the Chengde Mountain Resort is simplistic.

As you enter the Li Zheng Gate, two bronze lions stand fiercely guarding this gate. A scintillating fact is that during the World War II, to stop the Japanese from stealing these precious lions, the locals colored the lion’s eyes with pig’s blood to scare away the Japanese soldiers. It seems to me a clever way to be rid of enemies.  One way to tell the difference between the male and female lions is to look at the paws. The mother lion has the baby lying down underneath her left paw, and the male holds an orb in its right paw.

The resort has many halls and courtyards, just like the Forbidden City. We could peer into some of the windows and see the bedrooms and studies and changing rooms. Almost every room that the emperor visited had a golden chair, almost like a golden throne for him to sit in. In the emperor’s bedroom, there is a long and narrow bed, which represents long and healthy lives. Carved on the windowsill of many windows are bats and peaches. Peaches represent longevity, and bats symbolize good luck. Look for the characters of bat and peach carved on the beams of the roofs, too!  It was an intimate look into the imperial family and how they lived, just like a glance back in history.

At the resort, there is also a huge garden area; this garden is bigger than the garden in the Forbidden City. There are mountains, lakes and even grasslands! We picked the lake route to tour. The lake is natural and was originally part of a river, but the emperor had it made into a lake, just for himself. There are three islands in the lake – one was for the emperor, and he had one made into a school for his children. There was another part of the lake, which was a hot spring, where the emperor would bathe on cold days. The lake has many winding willow-lined paths, and these would have provided shade for the imperial family.

Find it:
Chengde Mountain Resort 承德避暑山庄
6 Shanzhuang Donglu, Shuangqiao District, Chengde, Hebei province
河北省承德市双桥区山庄东路6号
Price: RMB 130 per adult, RMB 65 per child

If you have time, I would also recommend visiting the Putuo Zongcheng Temple, 普陀宗乘之庙, 30 minutes from Chengde city center. The Qianlong Emperor had this temple built in honor of his mother’s 80th birthday. This temple is modeled after the Potala Temple in Lhasa, Tibet. At the bottom of the main temple was a small path lined with pine trees. In China, pine trees symbolize longevity due to their tall stems. The exterior of the temple looks like a plain red cube of clay, but the interior is very surprising, with beautifully decorated pavilions of deep red, golden roof tiles and wooden carved buddhas.

Find it:
Putou Zongcheng Temple 普陀宗乘之庙
Shiziyuan Lu, Shizigou Town, Chengde, Hebei province
河北省承德市狮子沟镇狮子园路
Price: RMB 80 per adult, RMB 40 child over 120cm

If you have more time, you can visit the Puning Temple, 普宁寺, as well, an interesting temple that is a combination of Tibetan and Chinese architecture. It was nice to see many people still lighting incense and offering their prayers.

Find it:
Puning Temple 普宁寺
1 Puning Lu, Shuangqiao District, Chengde, Hebei province
河北省承德市双桥区普宁路1号
Price: RMB 60 per adult, RMB 30 per child over 120cm

One of the things that made our trip extra interesting was the help of a very knowledgeable tour guide. He’s fluent in English, and for RMB 400, he explored his beloved city and shared its history and interesting stories with us. If you want to get in touch with him, add him on WeChat at cd_tour

Stay tuned. And Stay READING!!!

Images: Clark Yap

If you’re like me, you’d rather count smog particles with a magnifying glass than try to merge onto the Third Ring Road. Driving in a foreign country can be daunting at the best of times, and then add to the mix the insurance, number plate rental, license conversion, etc., and most of us just prefer staying far away from it.

We decided on a spur-of-the-moment little beach breakaway and wanted something not too far away, since we are traveling with two under 2. We hoped to try out the first-class train seats for the first time, as they are not exorbitant for short trips. Alas, they were all sold out, and we were left pondering whether to brave it in commuter class with a family of five or find alternative means of travel.

Upon checking whether one could do long trips on DiDi, I found the trip from Beijing to Beidaihe (our chosen beach break destination) was RMB 2,000 with a six-seater vehicle. Now, before you do a spit-take, consider that first-class train tickets would have cost us just over RMB 1,700, plus the DiDi rides to and from the station and all the hassle of clearing security, going through the gate with the swarm of people (with two babies), and boarding and disembarking the train.

Once I saw the DiDi price, I decided to contact a few car services to see what they could offer, because I wanted to be able to book and confirm details in advance and have the flexibility of stopping along the way if needed.

While most of the car services quoted me prices higher than DiDi, May from Show Beijing was willing to organize a car for us that matched Didi’s rate. We decided to book the car for the trip there and economy-class tickets on the high-speed train for the trip back.

Pro Tip: May does more than just help you book show tickets and cars. She also has access to great masseuses and can help you plan amazing boat rides on the Liangma River.

What we loved about the car:

Convenience – With two little ones (one eager to run everywhere), it was so much easier to be picked up right outside our building and dropped off right in front of the hotel check-in. Especially since May and the driver took the time in advance to confirm the correct address with the hotel.
Comfort – The driver brought both ice-cold and room-temperature water bottles for the ride. The car was air-conditioned, and the six-seater gave us plenty of space for all our luggage and for us to sit comfortably.
Speed – Though the train is much faster, when you factor in the trips to and from the stations, along with all the checks, boarding, and queuing at the station, the car service ended up saving us time. With a total ride of about 3.5 hours, the train ride of 1.5 hours turned out to be a five-hour endeavor in total.
Care – May took extra care to check whether we needed car seats for the babies and to ensure that the car was clean and odor-free.Things to consider:

Checkpoints – There are often police checkpoints when crossing provincial borders, so keep everyone’s passports handy for a quick grab if needed. Be prepared to sit tight for a bit as they ask the driver a few standard questions and give the car a quick scan while looking over your passports.
Munchies – We packed a few sandwiches, berries, grapes and dried fruit snacks (and coffee for the adults) as they were great, bite-sized, and mess-free treats that occupied our toddler and served as breakfast, allowing us an even earlier getaway.
Busy bees – We got one of those magnetic drawing boards and downloaded the Finger Sparkles and Fluid apps on our tablet, which kept our daughter wonderfully busy until she passed out cold.

After this experience, we will definitely be booking car services more often going forward. It is hassle-free and convenient, and when travelling with many passengers, it can end up saving money. With so many destinations within driving distance, it cuts out a lot of the 麻烦 máfan of traveling with toddlers. With everything running around in a parent’s mind (“Did I pack the swimming diapers?”, “Did I remember to turn off the AC?”) it is incredibly comforting having an entire aspect of the trip that you don’t need to spend any brain power on.

Images: Janita Shahsavari

When my husband secretly booked a weekend stay at ZhiResort Hotel (北京在之禾酒店), I admit my expectations were low. It’s a local hotel that many have never heard of, but this hidden gem nestled within Ziyu Park – sandwiched between Beijing’s Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads – completely rewrote our definition of urban family retreats.

The hotel shares its grounds with views of the Olympic Tower and direct access to Ziyu Park’s sprawling greenery. Three things to note:

1. Day visitors are allowed from 10am to 4pm (with clearance starting at 3.30pm). We arrived at 2pm and shared the park with outside guests for an hour.
2. Upon reaching the gate, you need to provide the reservation name for entry.
3. Hotel guests enjoy exclusive free parking – a rare perk in Beijing!

​Animal Encounters Beyond Zoos​

The park transforms into a private wonderland after 4 pm when day visitors depart:

• ​Free-roaming friends: Alpacas graze freely (though we missed the sika deer’s appearance).
• ​Feathered performers: Peacocks compete in impromptu feather displays.
• ​Curious residents: Capybaras, monkeys, foxes, and ostriches observe guests from their enclosures.

Feeding guidelines

You can purchase feed from vending machines if you want to feed the animals. There’s no outside food available, so you need to buy it there. They’ve got different selections for different animals, like seed mixes for the birds, carrots for the alpacas and deer, and jerky for the dogs and foxes. However, there’s a strict no feeding rule when it comes to the capybara.

Hotel Highlights for Families​

The property balances functionality with subtle luxury:

• ​Bike adventures: Parent-child bicycles feature clever child seats mounted on adult frames.
• ​Water play: The outdoor pool connects to hot springs. We recommend changing in your room first (no changing room in pool area).
• ​Thoughtful touches: Child-sized toiletries, simple but nice afternoon tea, free mini-bar with soft drinks and beer, and fresh mulberries so sweet they might’ve been picked from the hotel’s own trees.

Pro Tips:​

• ​Bug defense: Arm yourself with plenty of mosquito repellent. There’s plenty of greenery there, which means you’ll need to fight off those pesky bloodsuckers.
• ​Mealtime hacks:
  • Breakfast (served until 11am) offers congee, noodles, Cantonese dim sum, salad, baked food, and coffee.
  • Order delivery to the gate. Staff will happily drive you there via golf cart to pick up your food.
  • Explore off-property dining options for better value.
• ​Golden hour magic: Stroll the forest boardwalks after 4pm for some peace and quiet.

The Price of Exclusivity

​While standard rooms start around RMB 1,500/night (private hot spring rooms may double this), the cost buys what money rarely can in Beijing, which is an unforgettable child-friendly playtime with animals without zoo crowds, space to breathe (literally – the air smells like proper countryside), and the luxury of watching your kids chase alpacas instead of iPad screens.

​In a city of cookie-cutter luxury hotels, ZhiResort delivers something different. Relish serene and pleasant leisure time. Parents rediscover quiet moments, and children learn nature’s rhythms from creatures who’ve never known cage bars. I’m not saying it’s a perfect hotel. Their rooms lack the five-star polish you can come to expect from international luxury chains, but when golden light filters through the park’s mist at dusk, you’ll forget you’re still inside the Fifth Ring Road.

Find it:
1 Ziyu East Road, Chaoyang District
北京市朝阳区紫玉东路1号
Tel: 6491 7488

Images: Siyu He

Traveling with kids and grandparents isn’t about the destination anymore – it’s about surviving the journey in style. How do I know this? Well, I’ve got twin boys so when we travel with the whole family, it takes a lot of planning to make the trip fun for three generations of people – 8 people. Here’s how we upgraded our last big family holiday expedition to Yanqing’s World Garden Park area which was about a two-hour drive from our home!

The Space Solution:

When regular vans failed and two cars meant double the chaos, my husband struck gold on Xiaohongshu when he found an RMB 3,000 round-trip charter (peak season pricing) that gave us VIP mobility for under RMB 400/person for a rolling lounge experience. The Toyota Coaster is essentially a mini bus that comfortably seats up to 13 passengers (excluding the driver).

This wasn’t just hiring a personal driver who had a big car. The entire trip was an unforgettable experience in its own. The whole group had a great time singing karaoke with their built-in system and the ample leg room made what would have been a dreaded long drive into so much fun for the whole family.

Pro Tips:
Confirm mileage limits upfront (we kept single trips under 100km).
Coordinate pick-up/drop-off routes with drivers in advance so you don’t have any unforeseen miscommunications on the day of your trip.

Why We Loved Our Toyota Coaster:

• Airport-grade VIP shuttle comfort
• Zero-gravity seats + strollers-friendly aisle space
• Built-in karaoke system (toddler rockstars activated!)
• Climate control + motion-sickness-friendly suspension

Our “boring 2-hour drive” became a multigenerational concert! From Chinese ballads to nursery rhymes and juice boxes in hand. On the return trip, even our most carsick-prone grandma marveled: ‘These seats are incredibly comfortable to sit in – I didn’t feel nauseous at all throughout the journey!’

We really appreciated our driver taking the extra initiative to arrive 20 minutes early and assist us with all six luggage with the skills of a ninja as well as assist our elderly passengers with boarding and getting comfortably settled in. He took the time to confirm the navigation and provided technical support for the entertainment system along the way.

It’s worth pointing out that families with special needs or requests need to inform the rental company in advance. Things like child seats or wheelchair accessibility will require them to prepare 72-hours in advance.

With all the logistics out of the way, it’s just a matter of making your family’s favorite playlist and packing ample drinks and (non-messy) snacks. Unlike airline services, charter vehicles don’t provide catering – we brought insulated bags with juice boxes and banana bread.

So was it worth the splurge? For our Brady Bunch crew, this meant:

• Parents actually relaxing (no white-knuckle driving!)
• Kids entertained ≠ digital devices used
• Motion-sick grandparents traveling with their dignity intact

For our larger family with three generations traveling together, this chartered service perfectly solved our seating capacity issues while delivering unexpected comfort and entertainment perks – even allowing my perpetually ‘driver-doomed’ husband to finally relax on the road. Though pricier than DIY road trips, the premium paid for this stress-free experience proved a worthwhile investment in family harmony.

If you’d like to book them for your next road trip, get in touch at the WeChat below.

Images: Siyu He

Perhaps you are looking for playing facilities to take your little one to on an eventful weekend, but Universal Studios or Happy Valley might seem like too much. If that’s the case, these places are the spots that you want to take your kids to this summer.

1. Nangong Wuzhou Botanical Paradise 南宫五洲植物乐园

There are a variety of children’s amusement programs here, including the Heavenly Feast in Huaguo Mountain, the East China Sea Treasure Hunt, the Parade Heavenly Palace in the Water Curtain Cave, the Spin Hot Wheels, the mini driving school in the Greenhouse Park, and the parrot show in the Bird Paradise … the list goes on. Your kids will have a lot of fun and won’t want to leave. These attractions are all indoors, so you don’t have to worry about being exposed to the wind and sun at all.

Find it:
Inside Nangong Tourist Scenic Area, 1 Nangong Nanlu, Wangzuo Town, Fengtai District
丰台区王佐镇南宫南路1号南宫旅游景区内

Tickets: RMB 80/person
Opening Hours: 9.30am-5.30pm (no entrance starting from 5pm)
Tel: 8331 8649 / 010-8331 8032

2. China Science and Technology Museum 中国科技馆

As the only national comprehensive science and technology museum, this museum not only imparts scientific knowledge, but it also has a science park, dome, giant screen, 4D, and other special effects theaters for children aged 3-8. The museum has a whopping 48,000 square meter area and a building scale of 102,000 square meters, which is already making me want to go there very badly.

Find it:
5 Beichen Donglu, Chaoyang District (1km away from the Bird’s Nest)
朝阳区北辰东路5号（距鸟巢1公里）

Tickets: Main exhibition area – Regular RMB 30, Student RMB 20 (free for children under 8 years old, those older than 60, and people with disabilities)

Children’s Science and Technology Park – RMB 30/person/session

Special Effects Theaters: Regular RMB 30, Student RMB 20. Must book 7 days in advance through WeChat (中国科学技术馆) or website (https://cstm.cdstm.cn/)
Opening Hours: 9am-5.30pm (no entrance starting from 4.30pm)
Tel: 5904 1000

3. Beijing Zoo 北京动物园

This was China’s first-ever zoo, and with only a ticket price of RMB 15, you can see animals such as giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, flamingos, giraffes, as well as more than 500 different types of animals. I guess summer is the perfect time to let your kids learn a little more about wildlife, right?

Find it:
137 Xizhimenwai Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区西直门外大街137号
Tickets: RMB 15, free entry for children under 6 years old, under 1.2m, and the elderly over 60 years (with ID certificate)
Opening Hours: 7.30am-6pm (no entrance starting from 6pm)
Tel: 6839 0274

4. Beijing Aquarium 北京海洋馆

The aquarium is just north of the Beijing Zoo, and has plenty of wildlife, including penguins, sharks, Chinese sturgeons, and 50,000+ more types of marine species. There are also beluga and dolphin shows daily to keep your kids entertained if they are tired of standing up and walking around a lot.

Find it:
18b Gaoliangqiao Xiejie (6 Qixiang Lu), Haidian District
海淀区高粱桥斜街乙18号（气象路6号）
Tickets: RMB 175, discount ticket RMB 85 for individuals under 18 and those over 60, free for children under 1.2m.
Opening Hours: 9am-5.30pm (no entrance starting from 5pm)
Tel: 6217 6655

5. Military Museum 军事博物馆

China’s first comprehensive military museum, this museum displays pistols, airplanes, tanks, and even large weapons like the Dongfeng 1. The scene is spectacular, and every corner is not worth missing out on.

Find it:
9 Fuxing Lu, Haidian District
海淀区复兴路9号
Tickets: Free
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm (no entrance starting from 4pm, closed on Mondays)
Tel: 6686 6244

6. Shougang Blast Furnace · SoReal Science Fiction Park 首钢一高炉·SoReal科幻乐园

If you are looking for a place that is full of exciting technological exhibits and VR facilities, then SoReal Science Fiction Park is the place to be. With a total of six floors, it is recommended to start on the fifth floor and progress top to bottom, because there is a major VR facility that is definitely not worth missing on the fifth floor. If you are too late, sorry, but you might have to wait in line. There is also a six-story climbing tunnel, so if your child wants a physical challenge, then they might also be interested in this!

Find it:
68 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District
石景山区石景山路68号
Tickets: RMB 76, free for children under 3 years old
Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Thursdays 10.30am-8.30pm, Fridays-Sundays 10.30am-9.30pm, closed on Mondays
Tel: 8829 5181 / 172 0039 7875

Images: Dianping, Pexels

It is way too hot outside right now to let your child play in the heat, thus, indoor activities are definitely preferred.

Museums are not only a way to spend time indoors but also to allow your child to learn more about the world around them, so perhaps this list of family-friendly, interactive museums is what your summer is missing.

1. Beijing Lu Xun Museum 北京鲁迅博物馆

Lu Xun is a famous Chinese writer whose works have impacted generations of people. His book, Madman’s Diary, is the first Chinese book written in modern Chinese, which allowed Chinese civilians who did not understand the “old Chinese” to also be able to read books, not just the royal people. Outside the museum, there’s a cafe that offers more than 20 flavors of ice creams and is also perhaps a must for summer.

Find it:
19 Gongmenkou Ertiao, Fuchengmennei Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区阜成门内大街宫门口二条19号
Ticket: Free (needs booking 3 days in advance)
Opening hours: 9am-4.30pm (no entry starting at 3:30pm, closed on Mondays)
Tel: 5087 2677

2. China Modern Literature Museum 中国现代文学博物馆

We are still in the world of literature, and the China Modern Literature Museum offers a trip back in time into the history of Chinese literature and the evolution of modern literature. You will be able to see all the remarkable writers that have made change to the history of Chinese literature and how their work have reflected the historical background of their time period.

Find it:
45 Wenxueguan Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区文学馆路45号
Ticket: Free (if a personal guided tour is required, then you’d need to book in advance), needs ID card to enter
Opening hours: 9:00-4:30pm (no entering starting from 4pm)
Tel: 5731 1800

3. Beijing Rongtang Comic Book Museum 北京荣唐连环画博物馆

If your child is interested in art and drawing for graphic novels, then the Beijing Rongtang Comic Book Museum is it. The museum offers hundreds of different comics throughout Chinese history and displays how Chinese comic books have evolved over time.

Find it:
14-201 Yixintang Cultural and Creative Park, 1 Dougezhuang, Chaoyang District
朝阳区豆各庄1号易心堂文创园14栋201室
Ticket: Free (needs reservation on official WeChat account: 北京荣堂连环画博物馆)
Opening hours: Contact the phone number provided below for accurate opening hour information
Tel: 6737 9140

4. China Customs Museum 中国海关博物馆

The China Customs Museums offers over 32,000 customs artifacts from the Zhan Guo times to the modern days, including more than 5,000 pictures and more than 13,000 objects. It includes exhibits that explain how Chinese customs have evolved over time and how remarkable figures have changed the course of history.

Find it:
6 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区建国门内大街6号
Ticket: Free, no reservation needed, requires ID for entry
Opening hours: 9am-4.30pm (no entrance starting from 4pm)
Tel: 6519 4458

5. China Printing Museum 中国印刷博物馆

The China Printing Museum offers exhibits and artifacts that display the history and evolution of the printing process in China. The museum also offers realistic figures that mimic the printing scene of workers in the factories, as well as artifacts of the ancient works of famous Chinese writers in history.

Find it:
25 Xinghua Beilu, Huangcun, Daxing District
大兴区黄村兴华北路25号
Opening hours: 9am-5pm (no entrance starting from 4pm)
Ticket: Free, no reservation needed
Tel: 6026 1243 / 8128 2770

6. Beijing Police Museum 北京警察博物馆

The Beijing Police Museum is now open to the public! The museum offers displays of settings of old police stations and figures that simulate the clothes and weapons of police officers throughout Chinese history. The criminal investigation section on the fourth floor, which displays a dossier of site survey, is the most popular part of the entire museum, especially among children.

Find it:
36 Dongjiaomin Xiang, Dongcheng District
东城区东交民巷36号
Opening hours: 9am-4pm (no entry starting from 3.30pm)
Ticket: Free, reservation required, ID needed for entry
Tel: 8522 5018

7. China Post Stamp Museum 中国邮政邮票博物馆

As a person who likes to collect postage stamps, I have a slight bias towards this museum. Still, other than that, the museum setting of post offices and the different interesting postage stamp designs throughout history are also breathtaking. Other than designs, figures of historical letter-writers are also displayed on the third floor.

Find it:
6-D Gongyuan Xijie, Dongcheng District
东城区贡院西街6号D座
Opening hours: 9am-4pm (no entrance starting at 3pm)
Ticket: Free, requires reservation
Tel: 6521 3894

Images: Dianping

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to take the kids to a birthday party in Lucheng, a town in Tongzhou District. It is quite far, and it took us an hour to get there and an hour and a half to get back, but I jumped at the opportunity to have a relaxing afternoon at a nice pool villa, where the party was taking place.

The Didi ride was pretty smooth as the kids were entertained by looking out the windows and commenting on the beautiful surroundings and counting people sitting at the side of the road selling cherries and other produce. My 3-month-old was lulled to sleep by the vibration of the car engine, so when we got to our destination at 11 in the morning, we were in a good mood.

The party was already in full swing, with kids in their swimsuits playing in and around the small swimming pool and the adult guests enjoying their drinks on the patio. The sweet smell of BBQ smoke filled the air as we walked towards one of the five rooms to get changed into our swimwear and join the party.

With the pool season officially starting and the kids out of school soon, renting a villa to spend a weekend at or to celebrate a birthday in seems like a great idea.

These villas come equipped with everything you need to enjoy your stay: fully-equipped kitchen, gas stoves, outdoor BBQ, entertainment rooms with KTV, mahjong, bedrooms with private bathrooms, jacuzzis, outdoor swimming pools, and beautiful views. Some even have parent-child rooms that come with slides, little ball pits and other entertainment options for the kiddos.

The place my friend rented for her son’s birthday last week was a five-bedroom villa with a big yard, a separate BBQ area, a small swimming pool for the guests to cool off in, a room with a big projector screen, arcade games and a huge kitchen with a fridge, an ice-machine and everything else one might need to fully enjoy a hot summer day by the pool.

The villa in Tongzhou

It was a truly fun party to be at and was a perfect way to spend a hot day in Beijing.

Here’s Why You Should Consider Renting Out a Villa…

Other than being the perfect venue to throw a birthday party at for kids in summer, it’s also a much more affordable way to do it, as opposed to paying for a play space for 10-15 kids and their parents. Paying for a birthday package at any of the kid places costs anywhere between RMB 10k and RMB 30k for 10-12 people. The food is usually limited to a few dishes, and the kids get bored after a few hours of playing. Having the party at a big house where they can run around in the yard, take a dip in the pool and enjoy the BBQ smell and taste seems like a much better option.

Most of these luxurious villas are located in Miyun, Yanqing and Huairou, so it does take some organizing, but the pros outweigh the cons.

Here’s How To Find The Perfect Villa…

Finding the right villa for you might take some time, but if you have a budget in mind and know what amenities you’re looking for, booking it is a straightforward process. Tell your agent the number of guests, dates, with/without swimming pool (there are heated and non-heated options), entertainment options and any other detail, and they will send you options with pictures and descriptions so you can choose. After you’ve chosen and paid, they’ll put you in contact with the landlord so you can arrange everything.

You can also look for houses on ctrip.com. Enter your preferences and choose. Easy peasy!

We actually chose to celebrate our son’s birthday at a pool villa last year and it was amazing. We chose a four-bedroom house with a rooftop pool at the foot of Mutianyu Great Wall. The view was breathtaking, and all the kids (and parents) enjoyed it. All adult guests and older kids were required to show their passports at check-in.

We had the meat, cake and drinks delivered, but there were also a few restaurants nearby. The landlady would come every morning to ask us if we wanted anything from the grocery store (bread, eggs, milk) and she would personally go and buy things for us.

We would spend mornings sitting on the patio, grilling, listening to music and taking turns in the pool. One of the rooms was super kid-friendly with a slide and toys, so when it would get too hot outside, all the kids would go inside and play.

As the villa was walking distance to the Great Wall, we went up on Saturday afternoon. We spent two nights at the villa and the price for one night on weekends was RMB 4,400. A deposit of RMB 500 was required, and it was returned during check-out.

If you’re looking into places to celebrate a birthday or simply spend a day or two far from the crowds, why not rent out a whole villa and enjoy the nice weather with friends and family?
Tip: Share the cost with friends and make it an affordable mini-vacation.

Images: Sanja Stojkov