A Beijing Family Break
Description:
Organising a family holiday to an exotic locale can sometimes seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. Just because you have children doesn’t mean you have to take the ‘safe’ option of going to somewhere you know well. Although Beijing might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of a family holiday, there are plenty of great places for families to visit in this city. You can get a good mix of activities that will please both children and adults, and make sure that despite the exotic location you can have a fun and relatively stress-free family vacation in Beijing. Beijing for families is best done as a short break whilst taking in other locations around Asia – that way you get to see everything you want to and the children don’t get too bored by being stuck in one place.
Author: BeijingBoy
Day 1 - Beijing
The Sheraton Great Wall is quite an expensive hotel, but it caters for families and children and there are plenty of facilities to keep them happy. Spend the first day at the Beijing Aquarium – the largest inland aquarium in the world. Admission to the aquarium also includes tickets to the adjacent zoo. Whilst the many parts of the zoo are quite run down, it is worth seeing the Pandas at least. Enjoy simple Beijing cooking done the right way at Xiao Wang’s home restaurant. This place is popular with foreigners and gives a good balance between traditional Chinese food and a menu that will have something your child will like to eat.
1
Sheraton Great Wall
Location:
view in google mapsEast Third Ring Road North Road
Chao Yang District
100026 Beijing, China
Phone:
+86 (0)10 6590 55662
Beijing Aquarium
Location:
view in google mapsXi Zhi Men Wai Avenue
Just inside the zoo's north gate
100044 Beijing, China
Phone:
+86 10 6833 87423
Beijing Zoo
Location:
view in google maps131 Xi Zhi Men Wai Avenue
Xi Cheng District
100044 Beijing, China
Phone:
+86 10 6831 44114
Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant
Location:
view in google maps12 Jian Guo Men Wai Er Dao Street, behind Sci-Tech shopping center
Ritan Park, Chaoyang
100020 Beijing, China
Phone:
86 0 10 6566 5203 / 86 0 10 6566 0610Day 2 - Beijing
Spend day two walking around Chaoyang Park for a nice mix of history and modernity. There are traditional parts to this park as well as areas where kids can enjoy sports and games, meaning the whole family will enjoy it. An acrobatics performance in the afternoon will give everyone a taste of Chinese culture in a fun and stimulating environment. If you found it hard to convince the children to eat Chinese food everyday, then head to Annie’s for a child-friendly atmosphere and quality Western food at affordable prices.
1
Chao Yang Park
Location:
view in google maps1 Nong Zhan South Road
Chao Yang District
100026 Beijing, China
Phone:
+86 10 6506 54092
Acrobatic Displays
Location:
view in google maps14 Dong Zhi Men South Ave
(Poly Plaza Theater, Dong Cheng District)
100027 Beijing, China
Phone:
+86 (0)10 6500 11883
Annie's
Location:
view in google mapsWest gate of Chaoyang Park
West Gate of Chaoyang Park
100022 Beijing, China
Phone:
86 10 6591 1931Day 3 - Beijing
Day three involves shopping on Wangfujing Street. This street has all the modern facilities of a Western shopping area, but also historic elements like the traditional Beijing shops and the snack streets where you can pick up cheap and delicious local food items. Take the children to see a traditional Chinese puppet show in the afternoon that you will enjoy just as much as the kids. Round off the adventure with the quintessentially Chinese dish of roast duck at the excellent Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant.
1
Wang Fu Jing Shopping Area
Location:
100005 Beijing,2
China Puppet Theater
Location:
view in google maps1A An Hui Xi Li
North Third Ring Road Central Section
100028 Beijing, China
Phone:
10 6425 47983
Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant
Location:
view in google mapsBackside of Nanxincang Int'l Building, Dongsi Shitiao
Southwest of Dongsi Shitiao Bridge
Beijing, China
Phone:
86 10 5169 0328