In my family, celebrating milestones is very important. I just completed fourth grade at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).

Our family loves to explore the world! When my dad asked, “Where would you like to go when school’s out?” I wasn’t sure at the moment, but a few days later, I had the perfect answer: camping.

I enjoy living in the city, but just like how many children like candy, if they have too much candy, then they get sick of it. It was the same with city life. So I decided it would be nice to explore the countryside. But there was only one problem . . . MOM.

My mom can’t go a single night without the following objects: bathroom, hair dryer, skin care, and other stuff that she insists are essential, while I find myself questioning, “But are they really?” There is nothing wrong with this; it is the way of the world. But believe me when I say that it is the toughest thing in the world to convince the lady in my family to go camping. So instead of dragging my mom kicking and screaming, we came up with a compromise. Dad booked a glamping (glamorous camping) site for us, fully furnished with our own bathroom and toilet. Perfect to convince my mother to come along.

Beijing Toye Glamping is only a 1.5-hour car ride from Beijing. There are many glamping choices to choose from, ranging from basic tents, deluxe recreational vehicles, space capsule starships, to large tents.

Our campsite was a large tent on a wooden plank. It looked over the treetops and mountain ranges, giving the perfect view of the horizon. Beautiful sunsets could be clearly seen over the rustic balcony. We had a nice private bathroom and conveniently provided chairs and a table. The campsite also had a playground, a lake and many other things that would make visitors have an enjoyable time.

The campsite also had a cute little garden cafe that sold nice coffee and drinks. The garden made me feel like it was straight out of Alice in Wonderland. With cute tea tables, lovely benches, and water features, it was perfect for enjoying a nice summer day. Overall, the campsite was a lovely place to enjoy a break from the chaos of Beijing.

My Dad had reserved this glampsite because it was near many historical places, making it easy to go sightseeing. But let’s rewind: Before we even got to the camp, we visited the Ming Tombs.

The Ming Tombs, the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming dynasty, are a collection of mausoleums built by the Ming emperors. It is a UNESCO heritage site and the ticket price is RMB 98 per adult and RMB 22 per child. This gets you access to everything there. At the Ming Tombs, there was a long walkway with marble statues of different animals along each side of the path. This is the Sacred Path. If you are not a history person, as I am, skip this one.

We also visited the Longqing Gorge, roughly 25 minutes away. This gorge includes a boat ride, toboggan sledding, and gondolas. If you are visiting in winter, there will Ice Lantern Festival similar to one in Harbin. To get to the top of the dam, there is an escalator in the shape of a dragon. The top of the dam is where you can begin your boat ride adventure. The entrance fee was RMB 140 per adult and RMB 100 per kid, which included the boat ride, but not the gondola. That was another RMB 68 per person for both kids and adults.

At the end of the gondola ride, you will be near the highest peak of the gorge. There is a nice hike up the mountain. Along the hike, you will encounter a temple, a convenience store and a piece of Chinese history. There is a magic basin on the side of the temple. This basin is special because it is said that the water was provided by the gods, and that is why, even in the worst droughts, the water never drains or evaporates. In all, nature lovers are recommended to come here.

But my favorite sightseeing place was the Guyaju cave dwellings. These caves had been hand-carved out of the mountains! The Guyaju cave dwellers are a bit of a mystery because nobody knows who lived in the caves. Though the Guyaju caves were grand and magnificent, beware the hike. The hike took approximately 30 minutes! My piece of advice: Bring an umbrella and lots of water. Luckily, there are many little tables along the mountain for a rest stop. Also, the cave dwellings are the perfect place for little story makers. I tried making a short story based on the mystery of the cave dwellers. These caves are a perfect way to explore the history of China.

So, there you have it! Our memorable trip through isolated China. And in case you’re wondering, my city-loving mom actually enjoyed the glamping!

Find it: 
Get in touch with Toye Clamping on WeChat at WeChat ID: ty15652031788. As is the case with anything travel-related, prices may vary depending on the time of year.

Images: Clark Yap

Expat families will never lack cool places to squeeze a Beijing adventure into their busy lives. But sometimes it gets tiresome to simply check off the list of top ten tourist stops, and you want to experience something different.

No matter the age of your kids, FunHill Hotel in the Fang Shan District is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air two hours away from the city. At the foot of the Taihang Mountains, your lungs and spirit are sure to enjoy this locale while having a family-oriented retreat to lay your head.

FunHill opened this October, and its one-story buildings feel modern yet steeped in tradition, where you are truly guests in someone’s home. Each of the three separate Chinese villas has its own unique layout, with two boasting large dining tables, perfect to host either a small company retreat or, like the night we stayed, a birthday party. Fun family activities like Jenga, miniature bowling, and puzzles are available to be pulled out for group games.

With a total of ten king-size bedrooms and three more private Japanese tatami rooms, their comfortable furnishings and tall windows frame the experience very nicely. Decorative display gardens add an aesthetically pleasing gap between your window and the courtyard, emphasizing an understanding of how to combine personal and social space that resounds through this mini resort.

Guests can take advantage of access to a fully equipped kitchen and make their own meals, along with complimentary breakfast and DIY pizza nightly baked in their outdoor oven. Coffee and tea are brewed all day, and the management team is available to suggest restaurants within walking distance or to order for delivery.

Load up on sightseeing over a couple of days (the Ju Ma River, Yunju Temple, and the Shidu Scenic Area are just some of the sights), or take time between tours to relax. December through March you can also visit the Yunju Ski Field. If you mostly want to get out of the city, then take your time to enjoy their courtyard (or the playground, as our five-year-old called it), with two sunken seating areas, a trampoline, sandpit, and water features. The view of the mountainside on the 500 sqm roof alone was worth the trip, and by the summertime will host a vegetable and herb garden for guests. They also have plans to build a swimming pool up there.

Since they just opened a little over a month ago, the staff is still working out some small kinks. Our shower didn’t drain very quickly and so we sped up our bathing time, and there’s only a bathtub in one of the rooms. These are quibbles compared to the vibe of really feeling at home with just enough modern convenience. For instance, both sides of the bed had not just an outlet, but two USB ports apiece.

Instead of taking a chance on a stranger’s listing or a random hotel, choose the place that cares about every person who arrives as their guest. If you’re lucky, you might also get invited to the neighbor’s hot pot.

Booking Channel

• Airbnb
• Tu Jia APP （途家app）
• Ctrip

XiBaiDai Village，ZhangFan Zhen, Fang Shan District, Beijing, 北京市房山区张坊镇西白岱村 “静观云居”, Mr. Ken Wang, 130 2006 3551

Guest Rooms
– Villa 1 (2 Garden View Rooms, 2 Japanese Tatami Rooms, 1 living-room, and open kitchen）
– Villa 2 (2 Garden View Rooms, 1 Superior Room, 1 Japanese Tatami Room, 1 suite room）
– Villa 3 (2 Garden View Rooms, 2 Superior Room, 1 living-room and open kitchen）
– Bar/kitchen (serve breakfast, guests are able to use the kitchen equipment to cook by themselves）

Sightseeing

Yunju Temple
7km away from the hotel
Yunju temple was established in the Sui Dynasty (A.D 518).

Yunju Ski Field
7km away from the hotel
Opened in 2005, the Yunju Ski Field is open every December to early March. There are a total of eight ski tracks for beginner, intermediate, and expert skier. Yunju Ski Field also operates at nighttime.

Ju Ma River
1km away from the hotel
One of five major rivers of Beijing, the Ju Ma River is 300km long. The river water is very clear with a cobblestone river bed that’s ideal to swim and fish in during the summer.

Shidu Scenic Area
20km away from the hotel
Often referred to as “the Guilin of the North,” Shidu Scenic Spot is located along the middle-upper reaches of Ju Ma River. There are ten river bends along this segment of the river, o­n each of which a ferry crossing was set up. Hence the name Shidu, which means “10 ferry crossings” in Chinese.

Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins

Are you looking for a weekend getaway that won’t break the bank but will be fun for the whole family? Well, make use of the shared economy possibilities of Airbnb, and head for the great outdoors this summer. There are plenty of stunning properties available that can fit one or even a couple of families, so that you can soak in the sun and a bit of nature for a couple days at a place that’s only a short car trip away. The best part of all is that the prices aren’t that bad when compared to a decent hotel anywhere in the world. We’ve scoured Airbnb to find some of the best locations so that you don’t have to.

Chengde Mountain House with Lake Access
We’ve had numerous acquaintances visit this mountain house in Chengde. Due to it being near a lake, having an onsite BBQ pit that’s just calling for a lamb feast, and the ability to accommodate at least 16 people, we can understand why. Also, we can see from the reviews that both the landlord and old dog on the premises are sweet and very accommodating. Accommodates 16, RMB 2,731 per night.

Chic Mountain Village Home
A group of young architects built this spectacular, modern courtyard facility in Changping. Surrounded by scenic mountains, it is about a 50 km ride from central Beijing. Though it may seem a little pricey, if you join forces with a couple of other families it could actually be a very cost-effective place to spend a long weekend in rural luxury. The entire complex is 800 square meters, and includes a self-service kitchen, restaurant, bathroom, roof terrace, and each room has its own independent courtyard. Check out the pics here to get a better idea of just how smart this place really looks. Accommodates 16. RMB 5,991.

Galaxy House
These fantastic looking structures should appeal to any of the space cadets in your family. In what appears to look like a transparent shell covering a small room with a queen size mattress, this is the perfect place if stargazing and nature are what you fancy during your weekend sojourn outside the city. This place is also not far from the Great Wall, making it a convenient spot if you want to get some hiking done. Keep in mind that the facilities here are pretty minimal, so please have an open mind regarding the shared bathrooms and the expected amount of insects that might make their way into bed with you throughout the night. One bed per galaxy house (a total of ten on site). RMB 420.

Mountain Courtyard
90 km away from the city in Fangshan District is this quaint courtyard surrounded by pure unadulterated nature. There are two rooms, a woodsy decorated kitchen, a simple toilet, and a terrace so that you can soak up the sun in true rustic fashion. From the pictures, it looks like there should be plenty of mountainous fun to be had in the area. Accommodates 6. RMB 1,699.

Single-Family Villa with Swimming Pool
Last but not least, this spot located near the mountains, rivers, and Ming Tombs of Beijing’s Changping District, this cost-effective property should please even the most discerning of Airbnb’ers. Between the scenic surrounding, secluded vibe, top notch amenities, there is also a pretty impressive pool located on the premises so that you can soak and swim the day away. For that fact alone, this is probably the most suitable choice for kids, as private access to a pool is a luxury that can’t often be afforded in Beijing. Accommodates 6. RMB 1,383.

photos: www.airbnb.com

Here’s a quick review of our weekend trip to Shanghai (with apologies to Harper’s Index).

7: The number of hours, in total, that our flights to and from Shanghai were delayed

2: Total hours spent sitting in the plane on the tarmac in Shanghai

4: Total hours in flight

3: Total hours spent sitting in the plane on the tarmac in Tianjin after being diverted from landing in Beijing due to bad weather/electrical problems

5: Total hours that the air conditioning was not working while we were sitting on the tarmac in Shanghai/Beijing

.5: Total number of hours that air conditioning was working while we were on the tarmac in Tianjin

25: Number of irate passengers who stormed to the front of the plane complaining about the lack of air conditioning while on ground in Tianjin

40: The approximate amount, in percentage, of passengers who were allowed/opted to de-board in Tianjin to find their own way back to Beijing

200: The amount, in RMB, we paid for an infant ticket on Air China (10% of adult roundtrip fare, with no seat)

3: Total hours spent holding/carrying our baby while walking up and down the airplane aisle during the flights

2: Approximate total hours Marianne spent crying during flights

45: Approximate total minutes she was absolutely hysterical to the point that the entire plane was staring at us during the flights

4: Number of diapers used on the way to Shanghai

6: Number of diapers used on the way back

20: Number of diapers used the entire trip

10: The number of hours, in total, spent trying to come back to Beijing from Shanghai

34: The average daily high in Shanghai over the weekend

79: The average high, in percentage, for humidity

3: The average number of showers, per day, taken

3: The number of “hong bao” (red envelopes) given to Marianne by her relatives

5: The number of new words/phrases (“yes,” “no,” “bye bye” – English; “Xiao Mei” 小美and “xia qu” 下去in Chinese) spoken by Marianne over the weekend

40: The RMB price, per adult, to take the underground river tunnel ride from Lu Jia Zui to the Bund

320: The price, per night, for our double bed hotel room at Home Inn in Changning Qu

3: The number of nights we stayed

140: Approximate number of days until our next anticipated plane trip (13 hour trans-Pacific red eye) with Marianne