With the grey skies clearing and the weather warming, we’re all looking for pretty places to wander out into where we can enjoy springtime with the family. Well, we have just the place for you.

Just within the borders of Shunyi, past the Fifth Ring Road, lies a hidden gem of a restaurant – The Orchard. This lovely piece of property has seen many a wedding reception and banquet dinner, due to its ability to blend the beauty of nature with the cozy comfort of its terraced restaurant, plus, of course, its offering of a high-quality, organic farm-to-table menu. There’s also an authentic boutique hotel on the grounds featuring rustic and culturally-themed rooms, but let’s focus on the namesake restaurant itself.

When you dine at The Orchard, you are welcome to walk through the entire property to explore its lush greenery, lake and orchards, where they pick apples off the trees and juice them up for you (though that comes at a rather high price of approx RMB 150 for a carafe).

The food at the restaurant is fresh and tasty, with a good mixture of Western and Italian flavors. Children’s menus offering pasta and mini burgers are also available at decent prices around RMB 50. They also offer an indulgent Sunday brunch from 11.30am to 2 30pm, priced at RMB 210 for adults, RMB 100 for children ages 4-10, and free for kids under 4. So far, everything we’ve tried on their special menu has been delicious, especially their salads, seafood dishes and heavenly desserts.

This upcoming Easter weekend, The Orchard is partaking in the festivities with an Easter egg hunt on Sunday between 11.30am and 2.30pm. Entry will cost adults RMB 398, and the fee is RMB 198 for kids under 11, while kids under 5 are free! The price includes access to the self-serve buffet, games and of course the Easter egg hunt itself.

At the same time, it’s a great chance to see the stunning spring blossoms on the manicured grounds. Though you are able to just show up, you can WeChat the restaurant on their official account (TheOrchard果园）or call ahead to make sure they still have available spots.

Find it:
Shunyi, Shunbai Rd, Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang Township
顺义区顺白路何各庄村红砖美术馆对面
Tel: 13911211965

KEEP READING: The Best Easter Brunches in Beijing

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Dianping

This year, Easter Sunday falls on March 27. Do you know what you’re doing yet? Click through for our roundup of Easter brunches and activities.

Brunches and Other Dining Events
All events are on March 27 unless otherwise noted.

Running Eggs Easter Brunch
For Easter, the Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace is hosting an egg hunt in the garden, egg painting, a magic show, and a sumptuous lunch buffet.

RMB 688 (two adults and a child), RMB 468 (one adult and one child), RMB 368 (adults), half price for ages 7-12, free for kids under 6. 10.30am-noon (activities), noon-2pm (brunch). Call 6452 1608 for reservations.

Lavish Country Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt at the Great Wall Expect Easter egg hunts for the kids, an extravagant buffet with home-baked goodies and eggs to order, and live jazz. Weather permitting, brunch will be served on a platform surrounded by blooming peach trees and mountain views. Click here to view the menu and book online.

RMB 268 (adults), RMB 138 for ages 4-12, free for kids under 4. 11am. Contact 6162 6506, 6162 6319 or info@brickyardatmutianyu.com for reservations.

‘Eggcellent’ Easter Sunday Brunch at Hilton Beijing Capital Airport
Activities include Easter egg hunts on the hotel lawn, an Easter egg running competition, egg painting, and a kids’ center with an appearance by the Easter Bunny. The brunch itself includes seafood, roast lamb, desserts, and global dishes.

RMB 388 per person (brunch with free-flow soft drinks), RMB 438 (brunch with free-flow champagne, wine, beer, and soft drinks), half price for ages 6-12, free for kids under 6. 11.30am-3pm. All prices subject to 15% surcharge. Call 6450 4788 for reservations.

Bubbly Easter Sunday Brunch at FACTORY
This refined Easter brunch menu features salmon, grilled nectarine salad, coconut milk-marinated halibut, beef tenderloin, truffled polenta, passionfruit pannacotta, and more.

RMB 180 (two courses), RMB 240 (three courses), add RMB 100 for two hours free-flow of champagne or beer. 11.30am-3.30pm. Call 156 5272 9258 for reservations.

Easter Sunday Brunch The Grand Hyatt’s Grand Cafe features premium seafood, Easter cocktails, treasure hunts, and egg painting for kids.

RMB 258 + 15% surcharge. 11.30am-3pm. Call 8518 1234 ext 3628 for reservations.

Sparkling Easter Sunday Brunch at Bistrot B
The Rosewood Hotel serves free-flow champagne, traditional European Easter dishes and a dessert corner filled with gourmet chocolates, cakes and pastries.

RMB 696 per person (includes free-flow champagne), RMB 518 (includes free-flow Prosecco, house wines, and soft drinks), RMB 396 (no beverages), free for kids under 6. 11.30am-3pm. Contact 6536 0066 or beijing.diningreservations@rosewoodhotels.com for reservations.

Family Easter Fun at Hilton Beijing
The Hilton Beijing is hosting Easter events at both Elements and One East. At Elements, there will be a lunch buffet with unlimited soft drinks, juice, tea, and coffee. At One East, there will be a four-course set brunch with free-flow house wine and beer. Kids’ activities include Easter baking classes, egg painting and gifts.

Elements lunch buffet: RMB 258 per person, half price for ages 5-10, free for kids under 5. One East set brunch: RMB 268 per person, add RMB 98 for free-flow house wine and beer, add RMB 50 for free-flow soft drinks and juice. All prices subject to 15% surcharge. 10.30am-2.30pm. Call 5865 5030 or angela.li3@hilton.com for reservations.

Easter Sunday Brunch at Kempinski Hotel Beijing
Bunnies, colored eggs, an Easter egg hunt, and a lavish buffet await at Kranzler’s.

RMB 498 per person (includes free-flow Paulaner beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, and tea), RMB 598 (with free-flow Mumm Champagne), RMB 248 for ages 6-12, free for one child per family for ages 10 and under. 11.30am-3pm. All prices subject to 15% surcharge. Call 6465 3388 ext. 4222 or restaurant.beijing@kempinski.com for reservations.

Easter Celebration at NUO Hotel Beijing On March 27, the Easter buffet at NUO Hotel’s N’Joy restaurant will include handmade chocolate pralines, nests, bunnies, eggs, chocolate-dipped strawberries, Peking duck, Malay curries, Atlantic lobster, roast lamb, glazed ham, and hot cross buns. There will also be a children’s area with Easter egg painting.

RMB 588 per person (includes Perrier Jouet champagne, sparkling, white and red wine, and beer). 11.30am-2.30pm. Call 5926 8281 for reservations.

Egg-Citing Easter at Kerry
Head over to Kerry’s Kitchen for a buffet brunch spread and activities for the whole family, including face painting, egg hunting, and playtime at the Adventure Zone.

RMB 458+ per person. Noon-3.30pm. Call 8565 2088 for reservations.

Easter Wonderland at VIC
Kids’ activities include an Easter egg hunt, egg painting, lucky draws, baking classes, and lollipop workshops. There will also be the customary buffet and a special appearance from the Easter Bunny.

RMB 588 (two adults and one child under 12), RMB 128 (children), RMB 258 (adults). All prices subject to 15% surcharge. Noon-4pm. Call 8599 6666 for reservations.

Asia Bistro Easter Brunch
The JW Marriott’s Easter brunch at Asia Bistro offers grilled seafood, roasted salmon, hot cross buns, and a children’s corner with a visit from the Easter Bunny, face painting, and an Easter egg hunt.

RMB 538 per person, half price for ages 3-12 + 15%. 11.30am-3.30pm. Call 5908 8511 for reservations.

Bubbalicious Bunny Awaits You at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang
Seasonal Tastes is hosting an Easter brunch with lot of family-friendly activities like egg painting, cotton candy-making classes, and an Easter egg hunt.

RMB 388 or 548 + 15%. 11.30am-3pm. Call 5922 8880 for reservations.

Easter Egg Hunt & Buffet at the Ritz-Carlton
With warm sunshine streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoy the celebration with sumptuous food especially prepared for spring. Choose from king crabs, roasted prime ribs, hot cross buns, as well as traditional favorites such as Easter cinnamon and raisin rice tarts, and Easter cupcakes. Children are invited to take part in exciting Easter egg-hunting activities.

RMB 488+ (adults), RMB 244+ (kids 6-12 years old). Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street.

For Kids Only

Hutong Egg Hunt
The Breathing Space Courtyard hosts Beijing’s first-ever hutong egg hunt. On Easter Sunday, more than 200 eggs will be hidden all over the street with goodie bags and fabulous prizes. The grand prize will include a Laser Egg, Origins’ flagship product. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be available after the hunt. Other activities include face painting, an egg relay, hopscotch, sidewalk chalk, a photobooth, and more.

Free. 2-5pm. Click here to RSVP. Email dina@origins-china.com for questions.

Easter Egg Hunt Comptoirs de France will host its annual “Easter Egg Hunt” at East Lake Villa for children aged 2-10 years old.

Free. 9am-3:30pm in East Lake Villa’s Clubhouse Lobby, Gardens of Mandarin Duck and Pavilion Room. To RSVP, visit their shop, or call 6461 1525 for questions.

DIY Bunny and Egg Painting What happens when you put Chinese traditional celadon art and a Western holiday celebration together? EventShare and Celadon Story bringing you a unique Easter DIY experience to Farm to Neighbors farmers’ market! Come learn how to paint a pair of Easter bunny and egg by using traditional Chinese celadon painting techniques!

RMB 200 for an Easter Bunny, RMB 99 for an Easter Egg, and RMB 280 for the pair.  1st session: 12:30-2:30pm, 2nd session: 2:30-4:30pm.  19 East Dongfang Road, The Grand Summit B1 Floor. Call Lianting 139 1017 7410 for questions.

Easter Egg Painting by Lily Yang at Moka Bros Moka Bros is hosting the coolest Easter Egg painting classes together with creative Lily Yang. Make your own Elsa, Olaf or Star Trooper egg.  During this workshop, Lily Yang will take your on the journey from plain white goose eggs to your very own cute and luxurious pieces of Easter art.

80 RMB per person. Click here to purchase a ticket. 2-3pm at Moka Bros, The Place in CBD; or March 26th (Saturday) 2-3pm at Moka Bros, Chaoyang Park Solana. Limited to 20 seats per day.

Other

Sat, Mar 26
Easter Sleepover Package at the Great Wall
What better way to ring in the spring than with an overnight stay at The Brickyard? The package includes private transfers to and from Beijing for two, a superior queen Great Wall view room, and access to the Easter Brunch for two at The Brickyard on Sunday, March 27.

RMB 2,488. Contact 6162 6506, 6162 6319 or info@brickyardatmutianyu.com for reservations.

Easter Chocolate Indulgence Spa Treatment Chocolate takes on a whole new level of decadence this Easter at Sense spa. Available from March 26th to April 30th, enjoy a 60-minute exfoliating chocolate body wrap, using natural cocoa beans with potent antioxidants, followed by a 60-minute Germaine De Capuccini deluxe saffron massage, which uses exotic spices and essential oils to hydrate the skin and revitalize the senses.

RMB 1,280 (120 min) per person. Call 6597 8888 for questions and reservations or email beijing.reservations@rosewoodhotels.com.

Easter Cooking Class Learn to bake Swiss rice cake, Easter bread, and chocolate Easter nest with Kempinski Hotel’s Chef Joachim!

RMB 388 per person. March 26th (Saturday), 2-5:30pm. Kranzler’s Restaurant, Kempinski Hotel. Call 665 3388 ext. 4257 for reservations, or email restaurant.beijing@kempinski.com

Photos: Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Beijing, The Brickyard, NUO Hotel, and Crowne Plaza

This year, Easter Sunday falls on March 31. Originally a Christian holiday that marked the resurrection of Christ, Easter has become synonymous with Easter egg hunts, chocolate giving, the Easter Bunny, and lavish brunches for many families. Whether you’re religious or not, here’s a roundup of Easter 2013 events happening around town next week and beyond.

Playing

Sun, Mar 31
Comptoirs de France Big Easter Egg Hunt
Ages 2-10. To take part in Comptoirs’ annual Big Easter Egg Hunt, kids must find an invitation coupon in one of the shop’s colored eggs (on sale until Mar 30). Register at any of Comptoirs’ locations, then show up on Mar 31 at East Lake Villas for the main event. The grand prizes are big chocolate animals. Free. 10am-noon.

Sun, Mar 31
TreeHouse Easter Egg Hunt
Ages 3+. TreeHouse hosts its first annual Easter egg hunt with games, egg decorating, seasonal crafts, and an appearance by the Easter Bunny at noon. Registration required. RMB 150. 11am-12.30pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Beijing Rego Easter Eggstravaganza
All ages. Beijing Rego British School hosts an Easter celebration with egg decorating and an Easter egg hunt around the school (begins at 10.15am). Pre-registration required before March 24. Free. 9-11am.

Sat, Apr 6
Kids’ Easter Event
All ages. Can’t make it to any Easter events on the weekend of Mar 30-31? No problem. That’s Mandarin hosts an Easter egg hunt in which kids can use their Chinese skills to find eggs. RSVP required by Apr 5. RMB 20. 3-5pm.

April 1-5
HoK Easter Camp
Ages 2-6. For Easter break, House of Knowledge International Kindergarten leads a camp filled with games, arts and crafts, sports, music, and more. Teachers are native English, Chinese, or German speakers. RMB 2,200 (full day), RMB 1,350 (half day), RMB 1,720 (half day with lunch), RMB 200 extra for school bus (dependent on availability). Times vary.

Dining

Sun, Mar 31
Aroma Easter Brunch
All ages. While the kids hunt eggs and receive chocolate from the Easter Bunny, feast on Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Southern Asian and Western dishes at Aroma. RMB 588, RMB 298 for ages 6-12, free for kids under 6 (prices subject to 15% surcharge). 11.30am-3pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Easter at InterContinental Beijing Beichen
All ages. This Easter brunch includes favorites like roast lamb, goose liver, Boston lobsters, hot cross buns, Italian Easter meat pie and Majeiritsa. RMB 398+ (subject to 15% surcharge). 11am-2.30pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Easter Brunch at Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel
All ages. The Easter Bunny will keep little ones entertained with egg painting and face painting at SBDH’s brunch. RMB 428 (add RMB 60 for free-flow champagne), half price for ages 4-12, free for kids under 4. 11.30am-3pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Easter Chocolate Egg Hunt at The St. Regis
All ages. Enjoy free-flow Veuve Clicquot champagne for brunch while the kids go on an Easter egg hunt and receive chocolate gifts. RMB 688. 11.30am-3pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Easter Sunday Brunch at 360°
All ages. Let your kids loose in 360°’s playground; activities include egg painting, a chocolate egg hunt, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. RMB 338 (add RMB 60 for free-flow wine, beer and champagne), RMB 168 for ages 6-12, free for kids under 6. 11.30am-3pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Easter Sunday Brunch at East 33
All ages. Special Easter dishes include smoked salmon with buckwheat blinis and sour cream, organic leg of lamb, braised beef cheeks with root veggies and olives, and more. Kids can participate in an Easter egg hunt and egg painting. RMB 228, free for kids under 5 and half price for ages 5-12. Noon-2.30pm. 

Sun, Mar 31
Easter Sunday Brunch at Kranzler’s
All ages. Expect bunnies, colored eggs, and an egg hunt for little ones at Kranzler’s Easter brunch. Treats include chocolate tarts, carrot and orange soufflés, and Belgian chocolate. RMB 498 (subject to 15% surcharge). 11.30am-3pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Easter Sunday Brunch at SALT
Ages 7+. Find chocolate eggs, homemade desserts, and free-flow drinks. RMB 278 for two courses (RMB 508 with free-flow drinks), RMB 308 for three courses (RMB 588 with free-flow drinks). Noon-4pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Happy Easter at The Westin Beijing Financial Street
All ages. The Westin Beijing Financial Street’s Bubbly Sunday Brunch undergoes an Easter facelift, with an Easter egg hunt, egg painting, cake decoration, and free-flow champagne/wine/beer/cocktails for the grownups. RMB 488, RMB 288 for ages 12 and under (prices subject to 15% surcharge). 10am-4pm.

Sun, Mar 31
Spring into Easter
All ages. The Easter Bunny has arrived at Kerry’s Kitchen! There will also be a special dessert station and activities for the whole family, including a clown performance, face painting, an egg hunt, and Easter prizes. RMB 298, RMB 188 for kids. 11.30am-3pm.

Fri, Mar 29-Sun, Mar 31
Easter Celebrations at Scene a Café
All ages. Enjoy “egg-cellent” Easter favorites like roast lamb and glazed ham while the kids play in the children’s corner and paint Easter eggs. RMB 288 (Easter Saturday brunch), RMB 488 (Easter Sunday brunch). Times TBA.  

Sun, Mar 31
Easter at The Schoolhouse
All ages. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu hosts an Easter celebration with a buffet, live jazz, and an egg hunt for the kids. The Schoolhouse is offering a special room rate of RMB 2,288 for two people at its sister establishment, The Brickyard, for the night before (includes Easter brunch). RMB 288, RMB 168 (kids), free for ages 4 and under. 11am-3pm.

Religious Services

Fri, Mar 29
BICF Good Friday Service
All ages. Beijing International Christian Fellowship (BICF) holds a Good Friday service in English and Chinese. Free. 6-7pm (English service), 7.30-8.30pm (Chinese service).

Sun, Mar 31
He Is Risen: Celebrate Easter with BICF
All ages. This event combines two services in one: BICF’s regular Unity Sunday and Easter Sunday. Free. 9-10.30am (English service), 11am-12.30pm (Chinese service).

Sun, Mar 31
COGS Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Dinner
All ages. Right after its Sunday service, the Congregation of the Good Shepherd (COGS) holds an Easter egg hunt for the kids, followed by an Easter meal. Sign-up required. RMB 200 (regular adult tickets), RMB 100 (subsidized adult tickets), RMB 50 (kids aged 5-12). 10am.

Photo by USACE Europe District (Flickr)