Beijing may be an urban city miles away from the coast, but if we can’t go to the beach, let’s bring the beach to us! After all, what is summer without some fun in the sun, sand and “sea”? These might be the closest things to a beach that you can find within Beijing’s borders.

爱伴Sand乐园

Newly opened this summer, this sand + water play park has been making waves with locals who could not travel outside of the city. Located in the heart of the Beijing Olympic Park, and therefore surrounded by the lake and greenery, the park is perfect for little ones who just want to curl their toes in the sand or dip their feet in cool water (even if it’s just an inflatable pool). There are also paddle boats, floats to ride on, and slides and a playground. Be prepared for crowds by 10am on the weekend. Tickets start from RMB 76 for a solo child above 12, RMB 118 for a child below 12, and RMB 188 for one adult + child, and can be purchased on Dianping or at the door.

Find it:
朝阳区奥林匹克森林公园洼里湖东岸
Beijing Olympic Park East Road, near Wali Lake, 15 Beichen East Road, Chaoyang District

人间花海 (rén jiān huā hǎi) literally “A sea of flowers on earth”

If you’re willing to travel just a little outside downtown Beijing to Miyun District, this park is set amidst the picturesque backdrop of green mountains and valleys of bright flowers. Sporting an outdoor pool and waterpark with twisty slides, plus a sandy beach area, this would make a great day trip for families longing to get out of the city, just a little. There’s a restaurant on-site but it wouldn’t hurt to pack a picnic lunch, especially for the car ride. As the name suggests, the park itself is dedicated to flowers of all varieties, which you can see within the sprawling fields of the park. This scenic spot is definitely Insta-worthy! Tickets are RMB 50 per person, available on Dianping.

Find it:
密云区太师屯镇车道峪村
Yu Village, Taishitun Town Lane, Miyun District

Wenyuhe Park 温榆河公园 (wēnyúhé gōngyuán) 

Last but not least, we’ve mentioned it before but in case you missed it, Wenyuhe Park is a great place to visit with the family for these reasons:

1. Admission is free!
2. It is within the 5th Ring Road and a one-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Beijing.
3. It is huge, with wide-open spaces and green rolling hills, plus no amusement parks in sight! (Though there is a train the kids can ride.)
4. There are bookstore cafes on the premises where you can simply read and sip tea or coffee.
5. There is a sandy beach area by the river which offers water activities like boating.

*Do note that there is another Wenyuhe Park (exactly the same name) in Tongzhou District. That is NOT the one you want.

KEEP READING: My New Favorite Park Has A Sandy Beach And Nature Day Camp

Images: Dianping

For a quick, picturesque nature escape without leaving the confines of Beijing, set your GPS to the stunning but lesser-known Dongjiao Wetland Park.

Located northeast of the Eastern Suburbs Forest Park – the most massive of Beijing’s forest parks (think Olympic Forest Park but eight times bigger) – the thriving ecosystem is part of an urban master plan to create a green corridor close to Beijing’s urban center and to increase the number of wetlands in the capital. In the last five years alone, for example, 12,000 hectares of wetlands have been constructed in Beijing, and last Jun 1, China’s National Wetland Protection Law was enacted to protect spaces just like this.

And because of its proximity to water sources, including the Wenyu River – North Canal and previously abandoned fishponds, this area has become a key element in the capital’s bird habitat conservation plan, and after several transformations is now a must visit for birdwatching enthusiasts young and old alike.

There are two gates to enter the park. If you enter through the west gate – past the car park and onto the cycling path – you’ll be greeted by a stunning, panoramic view of the Jade Water Caltrop Lake. On a clear blue-sky day, the sight of the reflection of the surrounding trees against the water is a refreshing break from the concrete jungle we live in day to day. And for an even better view, climb up to the observation deck and lord over the sights below and beyond.

For those seeking out the sandy areas, head past the viewing platform and follow the road, cross the bridge over the Xiaozhong River, and go back to the flower-lined path, until you see the first of several sunbaked sand dunes. But if the lack of cover makes it too hot to handle, then continue down the path to find sand areas shaded by towering trees separated from the lake by a wooden bridge.

While the official picnic spots are still closed, this has become one of many unofficial picnic spots around the park. On recent trip to the park, on one side, children were dipping their toes into the cool lake and observing the little tadpoles and fish they’d scooped up in bucketfuls of water — later returned to their rightful homes — and on the other side they were rolling around in the sand and building sandcastles. For people considering ordering waimai, that may pose a challenge as it’s a good 15-20 minute walk to the west gate.

It’s nonetheless a great way to spend the afternoon (and forget that, hey, it’s still Chaoyang).

For a more comprehensive guide to the park, follow the park’s official WeChat account (djslgy) where you can also access its bilingual text and audio guide to the different landmarks in the park and its introduction to some of the wide variety of flora grown in the park.

Find it:
Dongjiao Wetland Park 东郊湿地公园
To get there by Didi, type in (English) Dongjiao Forest Wetland Park – West Gate
Tel: 89589506

Entrance is free, but currently capacity is capped at 75 percent and visitors will need a negative Covid test result within the last 72 hours. Register through Meituan or Dianping.

KEEP READING: Our Favorite Free Outdoor Parks With Playgrounds For Kids

Images: Avery Townsend

温榆河公园 (Wēnyúhé gōngyuán) Whenyuhe Park, which just opened last year, is my new favorite natural space in Beijing for so many reasons:

1. Admission is free!
2. It is within the 5th ring road and a one-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Beijing.
3. It is huge, with wide-open spaces and green rolling hills, plus no amusement parks in sight! (Though there is a train the kids can ride.)
4. There are bookstore cafes on the premises where you can simply read and sip tea or coffee.
5. There is a sandy beach area by the river which offers water activities like boating. 
6. Camp Leopard!

Take a walk through the park with us in the video below!

Camp Leopard is a newly-opened day camping facility minutes away from the park’s lake and beach area, offering up to six hours’ worth of family-friendly activities. You can book one of their rustic little tents for just under RMB 700 and choose from a variety of tents overlooking the camp’s golden sunflower field. Enjoy their homemade fruit pizzas, ice creams, or juices (which are included with each tent booking) while sitting inside or outside the tent on a cushy chair. You are also welcome to bring your own picnic lunches.

There’s a small trampoline, hammock, and small kids’ toys available at the campgrounds to keep the kids occupied. Though just exploring nature will already keep your kids busy and out of trouble. For a small additional fee of around RMB 200, the camp’s super-friendly staff will lead the kids in a host of nature-driven activities that include painting a straw hat, learning to identify insects and to catch them, planting rice saplings in the paddy fields, and catching mudfish. Older kids can even learn to cut down the mature rice plants and harvest the grains! This involves handling a small sharp scythe so some parents may want to supervise, but the staff – all of whom are farmers themselves – are more than capable of managing the kids safely.

This brings me to my next point: parents can be as hands-off as they want, or participate in the activities. We sat around and chatted while the kids attended the straw hat-painting and insect identification classes. When it came time for insect catching though, most of us trekked through the tall grass alongside our kids to help them find grasshoppers and crickets, which we later chose to release. (You can bring them home as pets too.)

Even though the kids will don wet gear that covers them up to the chest, be sure to pack at least one change of clothes, for both parent and child, as we all got splashed aplenty as we excitedly stood around the mud pool pointing out mudfish for the kids to catch. Again, you can choose to release the mudfish you catch or bring them home. Apparently, they make an excellent dish served with tofu.

If you are staying in Beijing during the upcoming Golden Week and need a place for the kids to run off some steam, Whenyuhe Park and Camp Leopard are an absolute must. 

Address:
北京市朝阳区孙河乡来广营北路1号院、2号院
Sunhe Township, Chaoyang District, Beijing, to Guangying North Road

KEEP READING: Hole in Fun! Beijing’s Best Family-Friendly Golf Courses

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Qi Shu

There’s a silver lining to every grey cloud, even one as dark as the bleak shade that Covid has thrown over our otherwise sunny days. The silver lining I discovered was that admission to Chaoyang Park is now free! Granted it had only cost RMB 5, but still, you can’t argue with a freebie!

There’s more! While the park was lovely and quiet on a weekday, with plenty of open, available space for picnicking (just stay off the grass) or setting up a badminton game, we discovered a cluster of amazing kid-friendly activities for a full day’s worth of fun!

Watch the video to check out some of the family-friendly fun Chaoyang Park offers!

Aerial Adventure Course

Challenge yourself to a test of bravery and balance in this adventure course off the ground and up in the trees! There’s a variety of challenges, from planks to tunnels, so your kids can discover how to maneuver and master their bodies while navigating each obstacle. Kids 1.05m and above are able to attempt the junior course accompanied by a parent (don’t worry, if I could do the course in ballet flats, you’ll be fine). Kids above 1.4m are able to do all the courses including the junior, intermediate, advanced, and integrated course, as well as a zip line across the lake! Incidentally, tickets are RMB 220 for the junior course and RMB 160 for the advanced, while a parent-child ticket will set you back RMB 320.

Real-life Counter-Strike (with toy guns)! 

Remember Counter-Strike, the first-person multiplayer shooting game that rocked the 90s? Well, this is basically a real-life version of that! Basically, you put on a helmet and/or military-style vest, carry a toy gun, and try to eliminate the other team and capture their home base. Side note: You can bring your own flag if you want. Players can opt to book out the entire place at RMB 150/person for two and a half hours, or simply enter the grounds individually for RMB 160 for two hours. If you want to make it sound cooler with your tweens, then say it’s like “real-life” Fortnite. Anything to get them off the couch and outside of the house, right?

Water activities

There are at least two places that offer water activities such as canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding in Chaoyang Park. One such place lies right around the corner from where the aerial adventure course is, across the bridge and to the left. The other lies north, close to Solana Mall. Both are operated by Whale Sports and offer a 30-minute canoeing experience starting from RMB 109 for one person, to RMB 199 for a three-seater canoe. Be sure to bring a change of clothes though… just in case.

Four-seater family pedal bike

There’s probably a name for those four-seater pedal bikes but I don’t know it. Regardless, this is a fun way to get around and explore the massive park. If you’re not into pedaling, you can even rent an e-scooter, though I’ve really only seen two-seaters for those. There are kiosks littered all over where you can rent these pedal bikes, and one is conveniently located right outside the aerial adventure course grounds! Prices start from RMB 80 per hour.

Amusement park

If all else fails, there’s always the trusty amusement park to help keep your kids entertained, for a price. Individual ride tickets start from RMB 20 but an all-access ticket might be a smarter move if you’ve got an, “I wanna try everything” kid like mine. RMB 88 will buy you a ticket that allows you to choose six out of 18 ride categories. Aside from carnival-esque rides, the park also offers a Dinosaur City, an indoor playground for younger kids, and the Sony Science Center for inquiring minds.

There’s lots to do at Chaoyang Park, and now that it’s free to enter, you’ve got even more of a reason to visit before school starts! Take advantage of the cooler weather, pack a picnic lunch, and head over with the whole family!

KEEP READING: WATCH: Kiddos’ Day Out at MeLand, a 3-Story Indoor Playground

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, DaZhongDianPing

Universal Studios Beijing is opening soon, and you can bet the entire population of Beijing (or even China) will be rushing there to be first in line. But how many times have you fallen victim to the deadly traps of the consumerist world, forgetting that you had already been down that rabbit hole once or twice before? We’ve all been there, and I’m here to shine a light on the situation. Here are five things you should not do in any amusement park. Avoid them at all costs.

#1 Driving there

This may seem like common sense, but the truth is lots of families still drive to amusement parks. And what happens is they spend 30 minutes looking for a parking spot, then 15 minutes walking to the park, then an hour trying to find their parking spot after an exhausting day of fun, and finally another hour getting out of the parking lot, resulting in a total of almost three hours of wasted time.

Do save yourself the trouble, simply take public transportation! Most parks in and around Beijing have subway lines that go directly to the park. For example, both Line 7 and the Batong Line service Universal Studios Beijing via a new transfer station, called Universal Resort station, which has entrances near the park.

#2 Bringing scooters, skates, or other prohibited items

Parks have regulations against scooters, inline skates, and drones. Make sure you don’t bring these items or else you’ll need to store them at the front desk and pick them up when you leave. The ride locations within parks are often relatively close to each other, so after only a short walk you’re sure to be seated on an attraction and giving your feet a rest. If there are little ones with you who are tired, there are benches around most parks where you can rest for a bit before you hit the next ride.

#3 Wearing accessories

No doubt many of us have laughed at those funny videos where a pair of sunglasses is blown off a person’s face during a ride. However, those funny moments can quickly become reality if you have accessories on you. So keep things simple when going on rides, no matter how friendly and tame they may seem. At bigger parks and rides (such as Universal’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) there are cubbies where you can store your hat and sunglasses. Smaller parks or friendlier rides (like the carousels found in almost every park) have benches on which you can temporarily place your bags before you go on the ride.

So, before you get on any ride, store away all of your accessories safely, and then pick them up when you have finished with the attraction.

#4 Forgetting the necessities for all kinds of weather

Just because you aren’t on the beach sunbathing doesn’t mean that the sun’s dangerous rays aren’t still reaching you. And just because it’s sunny now doesn’t mean it won’t rain buckets later. So, make sure you’re prepared for the weather and bring all the necessities: a high SPF sunscreen, a rainproof jacket, and a hat. These essentials will have you covered for a day in the park, and they will also take up minimal space in your backpack so you won’t be carrying a load of bricks on your shoulders.

#5 Purchasing your tickets at the gate

Why should you buy them ahead of time? So you won’t waste money or precious time in the ticket lines! Buying tickets at the gate ensures that you’ll pay the highest possible price. Instead, check on the park’s official website and look for deals or days when admission is cheaper when tickets are purchased ahead of time. If there isn’t a website for the park, there may be deals available on Dianping. But never buy tickets from individual or sketchy sellers. You don’t want to purchase a set of fake tickets for the fam!

KEEP READING: Still Waiting for Universal Beijing To Open? Check Out These Local Theme Parks First!

Images: Unsplash

I got kicked off the grass at Ritan Park.

We were waiting for friends and had brought our lunch, so I laid out a blanket and started to eat. People were staring, but that’s normal in Beijing when your blonde kids go outside. Then the 保安, bǎo’ān, came around. I don’t know exactly what he said, but I understood: Get off the grass!

Gratefully, we were close to another area where we could eat and wait for our friends. But it gets pretty frustrating when you meet at a park and aren’t allowed onto the grassy areas. I’d say that I’m used to it by now, but maybe it’s the onset of spring that made me grumpy about it this time.

That wasn’t the biggest culture shock I experienced when we moved to Beijing, however. No, the top prize for this park-hopping mom was paying to play in a park. Specifically, those little amusement parks or playgrounds within parks where rides cost RMB 20-50 a kid a ride. I’m not used to modifying my kids’ playtime based on a budget for a public park, and those activities, though fun, really add up! And the only part of the park with an actual playground, where kids can run and climb and slide (aside from the exercise areas), is also behind a gate.

Thankfully, half the pay-to-play options weren’t open at Olympic Forest Park.

Now, we love a lazy walk in the park without going on a “ride” as much as the next person. I actually prefer it. And many of the activities are really fun and I understand the economics behind them. But I’d prefer not to have these areas in our parks rather than have to negotiate for every single trip. “Now, honey, we can either take a boat ride or go in the bouncy house,” “You get to choose three rides this visit; which three will it be?”

We love the Kids’ Theme Park when we visited, ironically the only free one.

Then the issue arises that when you meet friends there, you must negotiate the limits ahead of time. I like to buy the actual tickets vs the cards you can refill for rides because a ticket is much more tangible to my counting kids, and they are well aware that you can just go refill a plastic card. But any kind of playdate with friends means you either set a hard limit to the number of rides beforehand or work together to avoid getting near the cost-per-ride area at all! It does help when you’re trying to teach them how to budget, but it just gets tiring to have to say no so often and avoid the subsequent meltdown. Don’t even get me into the plastic toys that line every entrance as well.

So far, the main time it’s been a real problem is either when we’re alone or only with one other family. Luckily for my nerves, the group we met after being kicked off the grass was all in agreement that we wanted to avoid the amusement park areas, and purposely diverted from them. When a couple of the kids sniffed out the pay-to-play arenas, so many others went in the other direction that they decided to choose to stay with the large group over bumper cars. For that, I was very grateful.

Some tips I’ve found to navigate your kids around this little annoyance are:

1. Go in larger groups, as described above.
2. No matter the size of the group, you must set ground rules ahead of time.
3. Meet at an entrance on the other side of the amusement park.
4. Talk with your kids about the price limit or time limit before you go. Better yet, at the entrance.
5. If they make it at the park, they carry it all the way home (I say as I stare at two dinosaur fossils that got chalk dust all over my purse).

KEEP READING: Picking Your Battles With Picky Eaters

Images: Cindy Marie Jenkins

There’s a lot to be said for messing about in boats, and simply drifting lazily on a lake. Boating season in Beijing is now upon us, and many of the boating lakes around the city (mostly located in Xicheng and Haidian districts) have been open since Mar 16.

We’ve rounded up Beijing’s boating options by area, but have left The Old Summer Palace (圆明园) in Haidian and Jingdong Grand Canyon京东大峡谷 in Changping, off the list for now, since they’re currently not available for boating.

Please note that we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy of the prices listed below, as there is a variety of boating options. It is advisable to bring cash with you since some of the parks only accept cash for deposit payments.

Beihai Park

This centrally-located scenic park is home to a lake that covers an area of around 390sqm, and surrounds its iconic white tower. The park has over 460 boats for rental, including electric and pedal powered, at seven terminals scattered in the park. Professional boatmen are also on site to offer boating services.

RMB 120 per hour plus RMB 400 (pedalos)/ RMB 500 (electric boats) for deposit. Daily 6.30am-9pm. 

Houhai

Tucked into one of the city’s most famous hutong areas, the artificial lake of Houhai still retains its charm and liveliness nearly 700 years since it was built, and attracts those who fancy a leisurely afternoon out, thanks to its beautiful scenery, the various entertainment it provides, and the wide option of bars and restaurants nearby.

RMB 120 per hour plus RMB 200 as the deposit. Daily 10am-8pm.

Taoranting Park

Taoranting Park hosts Taoran Pavilion, one of the top four pavilions in China. There are two separate spots in the park that allow boating, with over 200 boats including pedalos, electric and rowing boats. The vintage boats in the west terminal, however, are the most eye-catching and popular.

RMB 120 per hour plus RMB 300 for deposit. Daily 6am-9.30pm.

Yuyuantan Park

Yuyuantan Park is one of the greenest parks in the city and home to a wide range of beautiful cherry blossom trees. The bank along the lake is heavily planted with the photogenic trees, offering a great blossom fix while you drift around on the lake. The park has over 700 boats to choose from, including pedalos and electric boats.

RMB 80 per hour plus RMB 200 as the deposit for 4-person pedalos; RMB 100 per hour plus RMB 300 deposit for 6-person pedalos; RMB 150/180 per hour plus RMB 300/400 deposit for 6-person electric boats; RMB 100/130/150 per hour plus RMB 300/400 deposit for 4-person electric boats. Daily 6.30am-7pm.

Summer Palace

The beautiful traditional royal garden, numerous pavilions and ancient temples make the Summer Palace a great place visit all year round. Kunming Lake covers an area of 2.2 square kilometers, which is five times as large as Beihai, and is one of the most popular skating places in winter, and boating place in summer. Pedalos, row boats, and electric boats are all available.

RMB 60 per hour for 4-person pedalos, RMB 80 per hour for 6-person pedalos, RMB 120 per hour for row boats, RMB 120 per hour for normal electric boats, RMB 180 per hour for antique-style electric boats. RMB 400 deposit for padelos, rowboats and electric boats, and RMB 500 deposit for the antique-style electric boats. Daily 7am-5pm.

Zizhuyuan Park

Located next to Xizhimen, Zizhuyuan is known as “the heaven of bamboos” with pavilions, bridges, and traditional building that are all built from bamboo. Entertainments such as bamboo sedan-sitting and diabolo playing, as well as bamboo-made crafts add extra charm to this long-standing park. Pedalos and electric boats are available.

RMB 80-100 per hour, plus RMB 300 for deposit. Daily 6am-9pm.

READ: The Best Spots to Enjoy Plum Blossom Season in Beijing

More stories by this author here.
Email: kuang@thebeijinger.com

Photos: Unsplash, Beijing.com, Mafengwo.cn