My daughter had been pestering me to go to this special wooden playground with her. When the heat got unbearable, we went to Indigo Mall and she showed me this playground. I thought it was just a store with wooden knick-knacks, but boy was I wrong. My daughter led me to this wonderful place, probably the first time she has led me around in a shopping mall as she is only five years old.

As I looked in the corner of the store, I found this forest like space with all kinds of games and playthings all made from wood. It was like I walked back to a time with no plastic. I was quickly thrown back to Beijing 2018 when I had to pay the RMB 100 per person entry fee. The price is the same for adults and kids wanting to enter this magic wooden forest.

When I take my daughter to a playground, I usually feel pretty bored and then continue to wish the two hours away as fast as possible. That wasn’t the case this time as I walked around playing with all the games and enjoying the relaxing smell of wood.

I felt like I was in a time warp as these games were so old-fashioned even for me. I bet my grandparents played with some of the toys that could be found in this Wooderfull Life. See what they did here “wonderful life” to “Wooderfull Life.” After actually visiting the place, I quite like the name.

There is a ball bit with wooden stones that felt quite relaxing on my aching, aging body. There are also wooden blocks, rocking horses, adult and kids swings, fairy houses, fishing games, and so much more. This playground is of course not as safe as the cushioned play areas that are all over the malls in Beijing, but to be honest I quite like the risk of getting hit by some wooden toys.

Is it expensive? Yes. RMB 200 for a child and adult, for two hours, was pretty pricey but I must say it was worth it as I also had so much fun.

Wooderful Life
Daily 10am-10.30pm, . 20 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (8426 0898) 朝阳区酒仙桥路20 

Photos: Pauline van Hasselt