Crab Island Amusement Park is part of an enormous resort situated about a fifteen-minute drive from the airport. The resort itself features numerous hotels, restaurants, shops, and conference centers, as well as an indoor water park (next door to the amusement park), a horse riding club, a go-karting facility, and a farm. In short, the amusement park itself has something for everyone, and is definitely worth a visit.

There are rides with varying degrees of intensity: the “play it safe” rides that had my two toddlers squealing in delight and begging for more, and then the “are you sure you want to do this?” rides which are aimed at thrill-seeking big people. The youngsters are banned from such rides and are resigned to staring mesmerized from a distance as these pieces of machinery perform the most breathtaking feats.

Just so you know—some of the “calmer” rides require little children to be accompanied by an adult. Logistically speaking, this might be problematic if you happen to have an infant in a stroller as well as a toddler. I, for one, found it somewhat difficult to be on a ride and stand beside a stroller at the same time. Thankfully, my husband was on hand so one of us could guard the baby while the other one stopped our daughters from trying to stand up during the ride. 

The pricing and ticketing system was difficult to comprehend. There is one price for adults and another price for children, and they change for the evening session and also if purchased via the QR code by the ticket booth. The tickets we eventually purchased were RMB 68 (per child), which allowed us to choose ten rides from a choice of twelve. If you plan on going on multiple rides, this is certainly the most cost-effective option. However, it is helpful to be aware that only certain rides are included in this deal. I strongly recommend taking the time to decipher the list of rides that are printed in Chinese on the back of the ticket. That way you (or your child) can avoid the disappointment of repeatedly being turned away from rides that are not part of the promotion.

It is also possible to buy individual ride tickets (RMB 20) at the booth, but you have to state the name of the specific ride so that you can be issued with the corresponding ticket. Taking a photo of the ride and showing it to the cashier also works well.

Restaurants abound and there’s even a Subway sandwich shop, though you might find it more convenient and cost-effective to just bring your own lunch, snacks, and beverages.

The modest scale of this amusement park means that it does not feel overwhelming and it is easy to navigate without a map. The park is not exactly top-notch and many of the rides could be better maintained. However, despite the peeling paint and broken signs, there’s still a decent selection of enjoyable rides.

Crab Island Amusement Park
Daily 9:30am-9:00pm. 1 Xiedao Lu, Chaoyang. (8433 5566/5588) www.xiedao.com  朝阳区1号 蟹岛路

Photos: Pamela Djima

Shunyi and its environment is catered primarily for families. The school community and sports activities play a large part in the vibe of these neighborhoods. So if you’re looking for a more suburban experience, Shunyi is where you’ll want to be. There are villa compounds, complete with quaint street names and two-car garages. Most families who choose to live here want a posh China experience, need quick access to the airport, or want to avoid the hectic pace of the city. For years, this entire area has been called Shunyi by expats, but technically most of the area is still in Chaoyang District. If you’re talking to Chinese locals or taxi drivers, you’ll want to be sure to specify specific neighborhoods rather than lump the area entirely as “Shunyi.”

Residential Compounds

There are a lot of good options in the area. Most have lots of on-site businesses, like cafes, supermarkets, restaurants, and gyms. Beijing Riviera has large green spaces and an artificial lake, along with a clubhouse, cafe, swimming pool, gym, tennis and squash courts, and a bicycle track. It also features an on-site kindergarten and is located near Didi’s Supermarket and Roundabout’s secondhand store. Right across the street is Quanfa Garden, which can have some lovely homes for rent. Capital Paradise, near to Pinnacle Plaza, is also chock full of active options, features outdoor and indoor swimming pools, gym, squash, tennis courts, sauna, outdoor and indoor children’s playgrounds. Yosemite Compound has a clubhouse, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot springs, and a children’s activity center. Finally, Grand Hills is a popular residential choice for many expats because of its well-kept grounds and relatively new villas. The surroundings include a swimming pool, sauna, and gym with plenty of green space.

Schools

Where do we begin? Most of Beijing’s prestigious international schools are located in this district. Any sort of education you might be looking for is likely here. Harrow Beijing, The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi, Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), Keystone Academy, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), and International School of Beijing (ISB) are just a couple, but you can check out our yearly beijingkids School Choice Guide for complete listings of other great schools as well.

Shopping

The Sci-Tech Outlet Mall at Maquanying on line 15 has popular name brands, like Gap and Ralph Lauren. Other malls include Cathay View, Euro Plaza, Pinnacle Plaza, and the recently-opened Shine City, which is doing a great job in bringing the vibe of downtown Beijing shopping to the suburbs to Shunyi. Roundabout is a great place to pick up second-hand toys and home items at a bargain, while their newly opened boutique and community center is a great place to pick up locally sourced crafts, home décor, and organic cosmetics.

Dining

Dining options abound, and some places are Shunyi institutions. Here, The Orchard, Green T. House, and Doko can be found providing Shunyi residents with a variety of impressive eats. Other western restaurants and brands include Napa, Annie’s, Avocado Tree, Pie Squared, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Get over to Mrs. Shanen’s for homemade bagels and dishes made with organic produce from the restaurant’s farm, Green Cow.

Where to Play

Shunyi and its environs are rich in kid’s activities. For something indoors, Riviera Plaza Mall is another great shopping area with a liberal amount of kid-friendly space sprinkled about. This is a very popular place to not only get some shopping done but to also get your playtime activated. Shine Hills is packed with kids’ stores, kid-friendly activities and play areas.

For something more active, jump around and get loose with your kids at Latitude, a state-of-the-art trampoline park. If you have a little Formula 1 racer in the making, then get over to Red1Karting Beijing to satisfy that need for speed. Located north of Shangezhuang subway station, Red1Karting is a pretty swanky affair, featuring karts manufactured by French company Sodikart and other facilities. Crab Island is a massive amusement park that has a lot to offer visiting families. Some highlights include an ecological science park, go-karting, mini zoo, and water park.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

We often think of Beijing as a massive, cosmopolitan metropolis awkwardly positioned on top of an ancient city, but surprisingly the majority of Beijing is rural. Taking up over 16,000 sqkm of land, Beijing is so massive it actually should be viewed as a county rather than a city. This can make it a daunting task for finding the most appropriate neighborhood for you and your family to settle down.

Beijing itself is broken up into districts, with the center districts considered to be the main part of the “city” of Beijing. Districts themselves can be massive, with populations equaling the size of whole European cities, and they house diverse, ever-changing, neighborhoods within.

Like in all major cities when settling on an area to live in, your neighborhood very much reflects your personality and the unique social, professional, or cultural needs of you and your family.

Areas like Sanlitun, the Central Business District (CBD), and Liangmaqiao are expensive and filled with shopping malls and a more developed western food scene that attracts a wealthier Chinese and expat clientele.

The trendy areas of the city, where many young expats tend to reside would be the hutongs. These neighborhoods are located primarily in Dongzhimen or Gulou and often attract those looking for a more authentic Beijing experience, due to their picturesque though sometimes gritty setting. But this can be an inconvenient option for some families as markets with international goods aren’t very close, the plumbing is old, and these old houses can get cold during the winter.

For expat families who’d prefer to settle down in neighborhoods near reputable schools, Shunyi is likely your best option, but it is a far drive out of the dynamic city center. Far-flung neighborhoods have much cheaper rent, but can often lack nightlife, a diverse dining scene, or many other creature comforts that we crave to maintain our social lives.

In our Beijing Neighborhood Guide you’ll discover all of the pros and cons of each area, which we hope will help guide you in your search for the perfect place to live, learn, eat, and play for as long as you decide to call this incredible city home.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue