With the next big holiday in China being two months away, any Beijinger could attest that a break in between is badly needed to maintain any form of sanity in this busy city. Luckily, Beijing has plenty of options for an amazing staycation for that pampered retreat in the cold and gray winter! For those who want to get away without going away, Grand Hyatt Hotel is definitely a perfect escape for the hectic urban family looking to renew energy and share some quality time in the heart of Beijing.

My boyfriend and I had a one night staycation in Grand Hyatt. Unlike most hotels in the area with the overwhelming business vibe, the subtle classical style, blending both western and eastern traditions, creates a sense of calm and pleasure. Located on Wangfujing, within walking distance to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the hotel offers a convenience to an imperial experience. For a more modern experience, head down to the Oriental Plaza Shopping Center located conveniently below the hotel. Finally, there is the Club Oasis, Grand Hyatt’s surprisingly gigantic indoor swimming pool which would be ideal for any family with children.

Grand Hyatt Beijing Grand Club King Room

After checking in around 1pm, we entered our Grand Club King room. The minimalistic design of the room felt both sophisticated and peaceful. We were quite pleased that the room overlooks the front view of the hotel along with the street of Chang’an Dajie. The bathroom was also a good size, with a sink, tub, walk-in shower, and toilet. In addition, the room came with all of the expected amenities which includes, but is not limited to, a safe, snacks, and plushy robes.

Tropical Oasis Club Swimming Pool

The Tropical Club Oasis Swimming Pool is the Grand Hyatt’s can’t-miss attraction. We never expected to see such an impressive tropical pool in the winter. Taking a splash in the pool is usually reserved as a summertime activity but Club Oasis makes it accessible all year round.  Whether it is raining, snowing, or even polluted outside, resident swimmers will be able to blissfully swim without a care in the world and enjoy being transported to Beijing’s hidden tropical island. While swimming around in a 1,500 sqm heated pool, it didn’t take long to completely forget about the blistering cold outdoors.

Ringed by Atlantis-like stone columns, waterfalls, potted palms, Jacuzzi grottos, sauna and massage rooms, and a set of mystical Aborigine-style sculptures with a starry sky, the pool seems like the best place for the whole family in Beijing’s winter. The swimming pool is fun for the whole family to enjoy as the deepest end of the pool is only 1.4 meters and it has its own designated children’s pool area where it is just 0.5 meters deep.

Facilities 

The hotel has some pretty nifty facilities including a 24-hour gym which is next to the pool. The yoga studio hosts a regular schedule of well-being classes for guests and members.

Breakfast at Grand Cafe

Breakfast was served from 6.30am till 10.30am at Grand Café on the second floor. The spread was fairly good both in Chinese and western options, such as salad, yogurt, cereal, fruit, croissants, pastries, cheese, and Chinese noodles.

We enjoyed our breakfast by plating up with a myriad of western and eastern cuisine, accompanied with a cup of latte and a strawberry milk shake. Sitting near the window, enjoying our little relaxing moment, I couldn’t help but think about how long it had been since we just sat down and enjoyed the peace.

Besides breakfast, there are other options as well, but it will be all in the afternoon. If you want to experience Chinese food, Made in China crafts home-style classics from northern China, including the signature Peking Duck and Beggar’s Chicken. On the same floor, Redmoon offers Japanese fare at the sushi bar and live band Jaguar ramps up the energy from 8.30pm throughout the week except Sunday with music, dancing, and drinks until late.

Warm Winter Offer at Grand Hyatt Beijing at Oriental Plaza, Dec 1, 2019 – Mar 31, 2020

Visit the heart of Beijing and stay at Grand Hyatt Beijing to enjoy a special winter offer of up to 20 percent off. The memorable experiences will include comfortably designed guestrooms and the signature resort-style tropical Club Oasis indoor pool. Please note that minimum stay is two consecutive nights and you can save up to 20 percent on the 2nd night when paying the standard rate.

1 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing. 东长安街1号东方广场, 8518 1234, www.grandhyatt.com

Photos: Wendy Xu, courtesy of Grand Hyatt Beijing

The capital has no shortage of things to do. It can actually be quite overwhelming. Also, when you throw in the mix the ease of using public transport or bike-sharing, then you have almost the entire city conveniently at your fingertips. The following are just a couple suggestions to get your feet wet, featuring a little bit of everything, including art appreciation, shopping, and kid-friendly dining. Hopefully, when the weekend arrives, you’ll never have to utter those words “I’m bored” ever again.

The Art Zone

798 Art District is a place where you can go to relax and enjoy all the fantastic types of art Beijing has to offer. I have been there quite a few times, and still, haven’t fully explored the whole area. You can easily spend a day getting lost down one of the many alleyways that lead to cool cafes and unique shops filled with one-of-a-kind collectibles. There are also many sculptures scattered around the area that make it enjoyable for taking photos with friends.

798 Art District

My favorite place to hang out is ACE Café. It is a very family-friendly place, and the menu is designed for all palates. I also enjoyed shopping for unusual souvenirs and sifting through trinkets at art stalls, as well as visiting one of the many art exhibitions. The 798 district is pretty big, so a good starting point is key- if you want to tackle the challenge of exploring it all in one day. Even if you are not an art-lover, there is something here that will capture your interest.

Creepy Snacking and High Street Shopping

Wangfujing

Wangfujing is an exciting place for strange culinary adventures and great shopping with family and friends who are new to Beijing. The snack street is filled with unusual food choices such as scorpions, tarantulas, and other weird insects that you can’t find in the hutongs or more traditional Chinese restaurants. Actually, they are probably just here to trick visitors into eating bugs thinking that it’s some sort of local delicacy. Some stalls serve lamb and beef skewers for RMB 10 a stick, large French fries (seriously like 10cm long), and candied hawthorn apple or other fruits are available if you aren’t interested in chowing down on a couple of predatory arachnids. There are also plenty of shopping malls in the area where you can find everything from designer to teen-chic. My go-to restaurant in the area is the Cheesecake Factory. The food here is delicious, but the portions are enormous, so watch out!

Read or Watch

There are so many cinemas to choose from in Beijing. Unlike England, where you have to pay a minimum of 15 GBP for a ticket, here it is surprisingly affordable, sometimes starting as low as RMB 25. A small selection of western movies are usually being screened, and you can order both your tickets and snacks on the Meituan app (쳄考).  Not only are there many cinemas within a short distance of my apartment, but there are also many different types of viewing experiences such as IMAX, 3D, 4D, and even dinner theaters.

If you are more of the bookish type like me, then you need to check out some of the western book shops that Beijing has to offer. Both the Bookworm and Page One are my top choices; as they are the most likely to have the books you are searching for and also have comfy areas to sit and read. The Bookworm has quite an easy-going atmosphere and a cafe where you can easily spend a day flicking through the pages of a new novel while sampling their tasty menu of casual eats.

The Great Escape

Check out Mr. X if you looking to, quite literally, escape for a couple of hours. It is both a board game café and more importantly, a set of escape rooms. The different escape rooms they have on offer will test your patience; either with the puzzles or your friends, depending on the location. I have been here with my friends on a couple occasions, and I’ve had so much fun taking part in the various challenges these spaces create. When you start a room, you will usually have an experienced guide that helps you to kick off your first challenge. It would be ideal if you could bring someone along that speaks Chinese,  so that you can all enjoy the experience to the fullest. After completing your room, you have an option to roll dice. If the dice lands on a double six, you get to participate in another room for free! There are many different themed rooms to choose from, such as an immersive Area 51 experience or even Alcatraz.

Beijing’s Super Shopping Centers

Solana is one of my favorite shopping malls, due to the full range of restaurants and shops, and the fact that it is both indoor and outdoor. This makes it the perfect place during the warmer months. Again, you could easily spend a day here, and the shops aren’t that expensive. My favorite restaurant in Solana has to be Space Lab, because of the cool way that food is served. It gets shot down from the kitchen on a roller coaster type slide, right to your table! The food is also really affordable.

Space Lab

Indigo is my second go-to place to shop. With a cinema on the top floor, a food court, the luxurious East Hotel, and a supermarket in the basement, it is an ideal place to take friends. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s super easy to get to as it’s connected to the subway station. Indigo is also home to many famous brands that suit the needs of young people’s back to school shopping. These include Muji for school supplies, H&M for clothing that’s both economical and fashionable, Adidas for top-notch trainers, and Starbucks for caffeine!

This article appeared in the beijingkids July-August 2019 Teen Takeover issue

With this series we want to help you plan the perfect weekend out with the family through highlighting great activities going on in different neighborhoods around the city. We hope this helps you to make the absolute best of your weekend leisure time! All of the venues listed are in the same area, which will allow you to easily get between places conveniently on foot or with public transportation.

Jun 29-30 in Wangfujing/Tiananmen

There’s so much to do in these two neighboring areas that are located smack dab in the center of Beijing, but we often avoid the journey as these places are most commonly associated with streams of tourists and tea room scams. But you might not be aware that there’s been a lot of recent developments, in Wangfujing specifically, that should make it a great destination even for seasoned Beijingers. Here’s what’s going on this weekend!

Gogh VR!

Let’s be honest, it’s not always easy to get the kids excited about a trip to the museum. But, when you throw VR into the mix then you have another thing all together. From now until Sep 22, The National Museum of China is hosting this immersive VR exhibition, bringing to life some of the most famous works of famed Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. The experience has more than 200 works by Van Gogh, reconstructed into a multi-sensory experience for new audiences. For more information or to buy tickets, visit here.

RMB 55. 9am-5pm. East side of Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng District. (6512 8901) 东城区天安门广场东侧

Get Stuffed at Cheesecake Factory

Journey north a little ways over to Wangfujing to finally check out the Cheesecake Factory. It has been open for over a year now, so maybe it’s time to finally indulge in a couple of items from their 200 dishes on offer and learn what all the fuss is about. Known for their massive portion sizes, dining at this restaurant doesn’t come cheap, but it’s nigh time to scratch this legendary American restaurant chain off your bucket list once and for all. Following your meal, walk it off with a little shopping at WF Central, then head over to that massive Hamleys toy store which is also in the neighborhood (practically next door).

11am-10pm Mon-Fri; 10am-10pm Sat-Sun. 4F, 412-419 WF Central, 269 Wangfujing Jie, Dongcheng District. (6525 1238) 东城区王府井大街269号4层412-419室

Catch a Performance at NCPA

We know you’ve all been dying to experience some authentic revolutionary ballet. This performance by the Shanghai Ballet troupe, titled Bright Red Star, will provide you and your family with a one-of-a-kind experience that will keep you on your toes, by combining this very traditional western art form with the story of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Don’t expect Swan Lake, but rather a unique form of expression mixed with a creative interpretation of history to create something very special. While this maybe isn’t for anyone, at least we live in a city where stage performances from a variety of genres occur quite often, so feel free to replicate these weekend suggestions on another weekend with a different show at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

With this series we want to help you plan the perfect weekend out with the family through highlighting great activities going on in different neighborhoods around the city. We hope this helps you to make the absolute best of your weekend leisure time! All of the venues listed on either Saturday and Sunday are in the same area, which will allow you to easily get between places conveniently on foot or with public transportation.

Saturday in Solana

Solana is a large, popular open-air mall next to Chaoyang Park. It has become one of the primary places in Beijing for many families wanting to get a bit of shopping in or indulge in one of the many restaurants on the premises.  With plenty of international name brands, a variety of food, entertainment, and kid-focused venues, it’s a great place to explore during the summer months.

Peppa Pig Live at Chaoyang Park

As the largest patch of green space in Beijing, Chaoyang Park is the obvious choice for many families over the weekend. Young visitors can fly kites, rent a pedal boat for the lake, or go on one of the many fairground rides if weather and AQI permit. But, there’s one particular event going down here this weekend that is sure to have many children excited. If your kids like Peppa Pig, you can see Peppa Pig performing this Saturday near the South Gate of the park. The event has four sections, “Peiqi Dance”, “Animal Picture Book”, “Snack Time”, and ”The Animal Song”, which should be more than enough for you Peppa fanatics big and small.

RMB 399 per person. Every Saturday until Jun 29. 10-11am. South gate of Chaoyang Park. (More information please Wechat: Crystal_Jing2)

Discover Wooo Planet

Wooo Planet is a place with all-imported amusement facilities for children to explore, such as treasure hunting art games, a variety of different slides, and plenty of fun climbing opportunities. As it’s inside, Wooo Planet is perfect for those days where the AQI is a little too high for comfort.

RMB 236 per person. Mon-Sun 10am -10pm. K218. Solana, No. 6 Chaoyang Park Road (5905 6322)

Dine at SPACELAB

While SPACELAB at first glance might seem like your run-of-the-mill flashy concept restaurant, this German restaurant chain features western-style fast food, including hamburgers, steak, and spaghetti, served through a automated system of iPad ordering and through a roller coaster-like delivery system. This is the perfect restaurant for families out there looking to experience the final frontier in themed dining.

RMB 145 on average. Mon – Fri 11am-10pm. Weekends 10.30am-10.30pm. No. 12, Solana, No. 6, Chaoyang Park Road. (5905 6269)

Sunday in Wangfujing

Wangfujing is one of the busiest commercial streets in Beijing, with its modern shopping malls, popular snack shops, and the creepy-crawly night market. This area also offers families a lot of options to enjoy time with their little ones. Here, we have listed three of our favorite things to do in Wangfujing this Sunday.

Print Art Exhibitions at National Art Museum of China

The National Art Museum of China is well-known for holding national and international exhibitions. The 2019 International Print Art Exchange Exhibitions are being presented from May 30 to Jun 17. These fine art prints have been collected from China, Japan, the former Soviet Union, Europe, the United States, and more. Visitors will have an incredible insight into this realistic art form, the exchange of modern and contemporary art practices between Europe and America since the reform and opening up period of China, and the current communication under the theme of “One Belt and One Road”.

Free. Closed on Mondays. 9 am-5 pm (No Entry after 4pm). National Art Museum of China. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing (6403 4951)

Have Creative Fun at Lego island

At the beginning of this year, Lego Company launched a flagship store in Wangfujing, Beijing.The store covers an area of 626 square meters. A number of large Lego 3D models are displayed, including a huge roof inspired by the Forbidden City, the majestic Great Wall landscape, stone lion models, and mosaics depicting dragon pillars. For the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, Lego has launched a limited number of dragon boat racing products.

Free entry. Mon-Sun 10 am – 10 pm. The first floor of Yintai Centre, Goldfish Alley, Dongcheng District (5978 5188)

Dine at Tomacado

Tomacado is both a restaurant and a florist. The word “tomacado”, a portmanteau of “tomato” and “avocado“, represents its ideal health values: fresh, delicate, and healthy. Edible flowers are offered here within different cuisines. Vanilla roasted yellow chicken, Tomacado Vietnamese spring rolls, and salads such as organic spring vegetables with avocado and strawberry are recommended here. Afternoon Tea is offered from 2.30-5pm, which includes three different desserts and two beverages.

RMB 206 on average per person. Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, weekends 10.30am-10pm. #402, Floor 4, East Tower, Wangfu Central, No. 269 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District (186 0003 8056)

Photo: dianping.com

There’s not much I find worthy of traveling outside a five-mile radius of my home for. When my husband and I arrange date nights, we usually factor in how long it will take us to get to our destination and more importantly, after a couple of glasses of vino or bubbles, how quickly can we return to the comfy cove that is our sofa and swoon over our sleeping baby.

Rive Gauche is worth that trip outside my date-night-circle-of-trust, and if you have a similar way of deciding on where you will dine out without the kids, then this place is worth ditching the ‘local rule’ for and venturing out into the central heart of the city that is Wangfujing.

A modern oasis awaits, featuring a brand new rooftop terrace, chic bar, and cozy dining area. The staff was attentive and friendly and after approaching the reservation desk with my name, we were whisked off to our seats without delay, offered the wine menu, and asked if we wanted our water with bubbles or without.

Executive Chef Ivan Miguez is the creator behind the fusion French concept that is Eive Gauche. His career has taken him from France, to London, to Shanghai and Mexico and his take on casual fine dining with a Bistro feel is a welcome addition to the foodie scene in Beijing.

To start we ordered a medley of appetizers, followed by some recommendations made by the chef. The Beef Marrow (RMB 98) with tendon crackling, parsley and charred slices of baguette was as indulgent as it sounds. Presented beautifully with robust and heady flavors, matched perfectly with a bottle of Francis Thienpont Bordeaux (RMB 580), this one was a winner.

If an egg appears anywhere on a menu, I’m all over it. The Organic Egg (RMB 98) with crab mushroom, toasted shards of baguette, and parsley, had a brunch-esque feel. Silky egg yolk spills over woody mushrooms, which can gorgeously dress the homemade bread brought to the table once your order is in. It will be easy to demolish the bread served with red onion and salty anchovy butters, but delay the carb fest for this treat and mop up all the yolky deliciousness with something warm and crispy. Add a little sea salt to mix to lift everything upwards. Heavenly.

The Scallops appetizer (RMB 156) was clean and crisp, and by far was one of my favorites of the evening. Little morsels of tender scallops are dressed in Ponzu (a soy-based sauce, traditionally made with citrus fruit, and sweet rice wine), seaweed and hazelnut. The flavors are sweet but slightly sharp with citrus and would be a great accompaniment to a dry and crisp white wine. The same goes for the cold Smoked and Cured Mackerel (RMB 98), served with passion fruit, sour cream, and mint oil, made during a 78-hour process, fresh on the premises. This is a distinguished dish, but needed another texture to take it to higher plains. I would have loved to eat this dish with shards of crispy mackerel skin and a glass of their finest white.

Cote de Boeuf (RMB 148 + 298 for 2), served with beef fries and Béarnaise Sauce, was nicely cooked. My preference was pink, no blood, and it was almost there. The portion was generous but could have packed more of a punch with the seasoning. We decided to partner our slab of meat with Roasted New Potatoes (RMB 68) and Broccolini with Coffee Butter (RMB 68). The sides delivered what it says on the tin, and although the coffee butter was a nice touch, we were expecting this dish to provide something more adventurous and potent.

I’m all about desserts. I like sweetness and stickiness and usually anything that oozes out of the center of something chocolaty and warm. By recommendation, we were presented with popcorn (RMB 68), consisting of a chocolate mousse, salted caramel, and you guessed it – popcorn. I love sweetness with saltiness and this dish could definitely dare to be more risky with this timeless partnership. The popping candy seems to be all the rage at the moment in desserts but I could do without the novelty. The ice cream (RMB 68) was a miss for me and tasted more like a palette cleanser rather than a sumptuous and sweet end to a meal. Next time, I’ll try the Tarte Tatin (RMB 68) served with salted caramel ice cream. Sounds right up my street.

Apart from the tableside decanted wine, this spot, as designed, is casual fine dining and a wonderful environment in which to have a date night. Bring out-of-town friends after a spot of shopping, or for a girls night out, and take up residence at the bar where they serve perfectly balanced coffee Martinis. Wash it down while taking in the city view from the rooftop terrace. Summer is here, and this place is designed for warm nights with friends or a loved one.

Rive Gauche
The Puxuan Hotel, 1 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District (10 5393 6688)information@thepuxuan.com(6.00pm – 10.00pm).

Photos: Nicole Bonnah, Rive Gauche Management

Wangfujing might not be the first place you think of when you want to get healthy grub. This tourist street in the cultural center of Beijing has got tons of food choices that would make you think about rescheduling your diet plans.

Just recently when I visited Wangfujing to get my weekly dose of (joy-inducing) donuts, I learned that our friends from TRIBE Organic recently opened a branch at Wangfu (WF) Central Mall. And hey, they’ve got a new spring menu!

To be honest, I’ve been eating a lot since the recent holidays that resulted in gaining the not-so-cool “winter weight.” Now I find it quite hard to go against my habit of munching so why not feast on something healthy? After all, eating makes us happy. And when the food is free of all things unhealthy, we might as well eat all the time!

So after browsing their new menu…

…I started with what I thought might replace my beloved donuts… the Well-Done Banana Buckwheat Waffles. They’re delicious without the guilt of getting tons of sugar, and in turn, calories. What’s more is that it’s a high-protein and metabolism-boosting meal, making it a nice breakfast or after-workout munchie.

The next one I indulged in was the oddly-named Prawn and On Bowl, which has an interesting mix of flavors. If you’re finding cutting rice out of your big meals very difficult, this dish will be a great replacement. The pickle flavor of turmeric lotus root and seaweed paired well with the grains and the roasted red prawns. This could be my lunch every day! If you’re up to the vegetarian option, the red prawns can be replaced with avocado.

The Surfing That Seafood Pizza is a colorful main course that’d be a sure hit with kids. Okay, many kids are accustomed to the usual meat toppings on their pizza, but this one features bite-sized servings of seafood coated with mozzarella cheese!

If you’ve got seafood allergies, the other pizza option is just as delicious and healthy. The Magical Mushroom Pizza might be full of greens but the pairing of mixed mushrooms and a few chillis works wonders. Don’t let the mention of chillis scare you or your kids off; it’s not really spicy! They just give you a very subtle hint of heat, which works surprisingly well with the combo of buffalo mozzarella and ricotta cheese.

To see more of TRIBE’s spring menu, click/tap here.

TRIBE WF Central
Open everyday, 10am-9pm. WF Central, 4th Floor, East Building, 269 Wangfujing Street (6526 2690)

Photos: Andy Penafuerte III

First opened in Beverly Hills, California in 1978, The Cheesecake Factory has gone on to become an American mall mainstay restaurant for families, high school lovebirds, and anyone looking to pig-out on family-style dining options that boast some of the highest calorific content this side of, well, America.

The entrance of The Cheesecake Factory in Wangfujing Central

Now with over 200 branches to its name, the official opening date for the new 800sqm, 190-seat Beijing restaurant is Monday, Jan 29 at 12.38pm, a time that we’re told is considered auspicious by the branch’s Hong Kong proprietors.

The brand prides itself on making over 200 menu items from scratch every day, a range that covers some significant ground; from their trademark desserts and 22 signature cheesecakes to other dishes with a global twist (think Korean fried cauliflower, crispy Cuban rolls) mixed with hearty fare like pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and burgers. Management has told us that unlike similar international chains, the recipes and portion sizes haven’t been altered to suit local tastes.

Bye bye New Year’s resolutions: Each slice of this tiramisu cheesecake contains approximately 1,000 calories

Beijing’s branch of The Cheesecake Factory is operated by Hong Kong F&B corporation Maxim’s and marks the third of the brand’s East Asia stores, including the first, which opened in Shanghai Disneyland in 2016, followed by Hong Kong’s Harbour City venue in May of last year.

It joins many other venues in the booming Wangfujing (WF) Central, including international stores from the likes of Hong Kong’s Jade Garden and America’s Victoria Secret, as well as new branches of local restaurants such as Tiago and Tribe (also to open later this month).

Having caught flak from some sides for being too unhealthy, the restaurant has made a concerted effort in the past few years to expand their healthier options, including a superfood and “Skinnylicious” range. It will be interesting to see whether the brand will be able to hook the Chinese market past American expats looking for a (big) little slice of home.

Check back for a full review once we’ve got our fill.

The Cheesecake Factory
Mon-Fri, 11am-10pm; Sat-Sun 10am-10pm. 412-419, 4/F, East Building, WF Central, 269 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District (6525 1238; WeChat: CheesecakeFactory芝乐坊)
芝乐坊：东城区王府井大街269号4层412-419室

Photos: Tom Arnstein, courtesy of The Cheesecake Factory

After hours of combing through our archives, we feature some places worth a visit over the holiday period to get the most out of Beijing before the cold has us shuddering at the thought of having to go outside. These places are action packed and hopefully the weather and air quality index permit a day out. Avoid the crowds at places like Tiananmen as even walking 200 meters will take an eternity.

In Wangfujing, you can purchase anything from writhing, skewered scorpions to glowing ivory tusks carved into fine, silky ribbons of light. Here, Buddhist monks walk in clusters past poetic logos in French and Italian. Among shops like Gucci and Cartier, sink your teeth into candied hawthorn. Though shopping is clearly the main attraction here, Wangfujing is also rich in history, culture, and fun things to do.

Wangfujing has its own subway stop at the southern end of Wangfujing Dajie by the Malls at the Oriental Plaza. From the subway stop, head north along Wangfujing Dajie until you reach St. Joseph’s Cathedral (1) between Baishu and Ganyu Hutong. This beautiful church has been torn down and rebuilt countless times, and it is one of the few rare historic churches that remain in Beijing. Its small outdoor square is often an unofficial stage for aspiring hip-hop dancers and skateboarders; kids are certainly free to join in the fun. At night, visitors can also admire the floodlights that bathe the church in a soft glow.

Further south on Wangfujing Dajie is the Foreign Bookstore (2), not to be confused with the Wangfujing Bookstore, located on the southern end of the Wangfujing Dajie. Both have an extensive collection of books in English. You can spend hours meandering through the pages of fine literature, children’s classics, picture books, and even music.

At the corner of Wangfujing Dajie and Jinyu Hutong is the Beijing APM mall, which houses clothing stores like Gap, Zara, and Forever 21. If you are interested in browsing the latest computers, tablets, or other glorious technological tools, it is also definitely worth a visit to the Apple Store. At 4,000sqm, this Apple Store is not only the largest in Beijing; it’s supposedly the biggest in all of Asia. Apple fans and techies of all ages will love testing out the latest versions of Apple computers, iPods, iPads, and iPhones.

What to find out more? Here is the full version.

Photos: Lova Li, blogspot.com

For weekday lunches, the Renaissance Food Studio is packed with business professionals and conference attendees, but that didn’t prevent us from taking our son to their lunch buffet on a rare shared holiday as the location is walking distance from our home. For the Beijing jaunt, it is a great start or end to a day exploring Wangfujing pedestrian-shopping street, Tiananmen Square, or the nearby hutongs.

We purposely timed our visit for a later hour to avoid the rush, and found a table near the coffee bar–far away from the bustling self serve counters. The server went hunting for a high chair, and we parked our stroller in a corner by our table.

Our little Jax, freshly woken up and hungry, but wary of this new environment with quietly conversing business men and women in black and blue suits, watched everyone carefully and was incredibly well-behaved. He made few sounds, dropped very little food, and smiled at the server every time she passed by. What a wonderful lunch!

But what about the food? Food Studio serves Asian and western fusion cuisine. We started our meal with fresh seafood (sashimi, oysters and prawns) and maki rolls, cold appetizers (pasta salad, seaweed), breads, and soup (tomato and broth).  Next, Jax had steamed sweet potato and pumpkin, baozi, and zhongzi from the Cantonese dim sum table, while we served ourselves roast beef, grilled vegetables, and baby herb potatoes.  We also pigged out on curry, chow mein, and “Swedish” meatballs.

We had plenty of fruit, tasty ice cream (green tea, mango, strawberry, taro), macaroons, cheesecakes, tarts, and chocolate cake.  By the end of the meal, we were all in such a food coma, that when the server came to give us the child package, a cute bear coloring set. We didn’t even know how to react.  We were already the last customers there, so rather than opening it, we thanked the staff and took it home. I must note that the place was squeaky clean by 2:30pm

Overall, a good dining experience.  We were asked for last calls before the cleaning process, not rushed at all, and the staff was as pleasant and professional as if we hadn’t used an incredibly affordable Nuomi groupon.  We will definitely be going back!

Lunch buffet RMB 218. Dinner buffet RMB 355.  Free for children under the age of 5.  For reservations, call 6520 8888.

Photo: Renaissance Wangfujing, Jessica Suotmaa