Despicable Me 4 is out in Beijing cinemas and we know the best kids’ cinema to watch it in, just for this week!

I first discovered the 亲子厅 qīnzǐ tīng (parent-child cinema) at Hopson One a few years ago and still continue to be awed by its offering of a long slide into a ball pit and sofa arm chairs right inside the movie theater! Not to forget its cosy indoor playground right outside the theater, perfect for younger kids who might need a little more wiggle room during the course of the movie (and after!).

Sadly, this cinema usually only plays kids’ movies in Chinese, so I know it’s not ideal for children who might not be so well-versed in the local language. Luckily, I found out that for the first week of an international movie’s release, the cinema will offer some showtimes in the original English language! Since Despicable Me 4 was just released last Friday (Jul 12), it’s still playing in the Hopson One 亲子厅 in English a few times a day! When we checked today, future screenings beyond this week do not show that there will be screenings in English at this particular family-friendly cinema … so take advantage now!

On either WeChat (Me – Services – Event Tickets – search 朝阳合生汇) or Dianping where you’re looking up the movie timings, pick the correct movie poster and scroll down – you’ll want to see the words 原版 yuánbǎn or 英语 yīngyǔ next to the movie timing to know that it’s in the original language or in English. You can also proceed to buy the movie tickets right there online to save time and choose better seats.

From what we see, the English 3D movie ticket prices are at RMB 95.9 apiece and kids pay the same price as adults. Ticket prices include complimentary single-use shoe covers, though our kids were more than happy to throw off their shoes and run around in socks.

As for our thoughts on the film, let’s just say that as a fourth (or sixth installment, depending on how you count it) in the Despicable Me/Minions franchise, manage your expectations and expect plenty of wacky absurdities with a half-baked plot line that hardly maximizes the vocal talents of the A-list cast list, especially Sofia Vergara. Still, the studio’s counting on the loyalty of its kid fanbase to lure you back to the cinema, and you know you’re going to watch it anyway…

Hopson One is located at 21 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District (朝阳区西大望路21号).

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Images: Dazhongdianping, Vivienne Tseng-Rush

So much for outdoor summer fun huh? This week’s weather forecast is predicting rain all week, so we’ve decided to share one of my most well-kept secret indoor hangouts to give you some shelter (both physically and mentally). As a self-declared cinephile, I just had to find a cinema that I could bring my kid to when we first arrived in Beijing. By lucky coincidence, I found that I could buy movie tickets on WeChat (step-by-step guide below), and at that time, the closest cinema in my vicinity was at Hopson One. The only animated film I was remotely interested in was showing in the 亲子厅 (qīngzǐtīng) parent-child cinema, so I bought the tickets and made my way to the very popular mall.

Introduction to Hopson One: This family-friendly mall is in the heart of Shuangjing, and boasts a six-floor shopping and dining paradise, with the third floor dedicated entirely to kids products and services. During the holidays, the sixth floor usually puts up temporary kid-friendly installations like ice-skating rinks and basketball courts.

There’s no poetic way to translate this, but I learned that the qingziting is basically the family-friendly cinema. How is it family-friendly you ask? Well, check out the video below and see for yourself!

Outside the cinema is a small but perfectly adequate playground with a mini rock wall and trampoline, but the real prize lies within the theatre itself. The interior is decked out in welcoming colored sofas, and features a…wait for it…5m-long slide with a ball pit! In my experience, all the kids generally behave really well and practically play in silence while the film is on. In fact, most often, they end up watching the film from the ball pit, as you can see in the photo below.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to purchasing movie tickets on WeChat. Qingzi ting cinema tickets are RMB 80 apiece, and both you and the kids will need to purchase a full-priced ticket. Ticket prices include complimentary single-use shoe covers, though our kids were more than happy to throw off their shoes and run around in socks.

Go to WeChat Pay and scroll down to the Event Tickets option. That will bring you to movies straight away. The family-friendly cinema option is qingziting and movies in English are listed as 英语 yīngyǔ English-language.

The films they show in Hopson One’s qingziting are mostly in Chinese, which is great for an immersive language experience for parents and children alike. Plus, they’re animated films which have universal appeal. Worst-case scenario, you’re lying back on a roomy, comfy sofa watching a cartoon while your kid is safely, happily, and pretty quietly occupied, all for under RMB 160. For me, that’s worth the price. Side note, my non-Chinese speaking kid was engaged the whole time, and could even make out some of the plot. So if you’re looking for an indoor cinema retreat, this is the place to go. And afterwards, there’s a Haagen Dazs and Pizza Marzano right outside for eats. Enjoy the movies!

Hopson One is located at 21 Xidawang Lu Chaoyang District (朝阳区西大望路21号).

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Images: Dazhongdianping, Vivienne Tseng-Rush