Beijing Family Vacation

Description:

Author: Jennifer

Day 1 - Beijing

Start your stay in Beijing with the highlights in the center of town. Pick up breakfast in the hotel or one of the cafes or bakeries in the adjoining complex. Then stroll down Chang An Avenue and take in the atmosphere at Tiananmen Square. You may want to check out the view from the ZhengYangMen Gate or line up for a glimpse of the embalmed Chairman Mao, but don't waste too much time before heading into the Forbidden City. There are few snacks inside the grounds, so you may want to bring a few provisions. After your visit, you'll certainly be hungry so head back to Wangfujing Street. Check out the bizarre delicacies at the Dong Hua Men Night Market (also open during the day). Assuming you don't find anything appetizing there, head back to the Oriental Plaza Mall underneath the hotel. They have a variety of restaurants as well as an excellent Chinese food court. In the afternoon, get a bird's eye view of Beijing from the hill in JingShan Park. By the end of the day, you'll no doubt still feel a bit jetlagged, so grab dinner near the hotel. The Peking duck at the Wangfujing Quanjude branch makes an excellent introduction to Beijing. South Beauty is a slightly more upscale, less touristy option in the Oriental Plaza complex.


1

Grand Hyatt Beijing

Location:

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1 East Chang An Avenue
100738 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 8518 1234


2

Stroll on Chang An Avenue

Location:

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Chang An Avenue
100004 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 8119 1011


2

Hutong Pizza

Location:

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Yinding Qiao Hutong 9
Nan Gong Fan Hutong, Hou Hai
Beijing, China

Phone:

010/6617-5916


2

Kempinski Hotel

Location:

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58 Liang Ma Qiao Road
Chao Yang District
100016 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 (0)10 6465 3388


3

Tiananmen Square

Location:

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Chang An Avenue
Dong Cheng District
100006 Beijing, China


4

Tiananmen Gate

Location:

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North end of Tiananmen Square
Dongcheng District
100006 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6512 3043


5

Forbidden City (Gu Gong)

Location:

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North of Tiananmen Square
Dong Cheng District
100009 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 0 10 6512 2255 / +86 0 10 6513 2255


6

Wang Fu Jing Shopping Area

Location:

100005 Beijing,


7

Dong Hua Men Night Market

Location:

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Xing Dong An Plaza
off Wangfujing Daije
100005 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 8119 1011


8

Jing Shan Gongyuan (Jing Shan Park)

Location:

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Jing Shan Qian Jie 1
Dong Cheng Qu (opposite Forbidden City north gate)
100009 Beijing, China

Phone:

010/6404-4071


9

Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Location:

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32 Qianmen Avenue
100051 Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6701 1379


10

South Beauty

Location:

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L220, 2F, China World West Tower, 1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Chao Yang District
100004 Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6505 0809 / 86 10 6505 2288 (ext 80220)

Day 2 - Beijing

After breakfast on the second day, trek out to the Summer Palace on the west side of town. There's plenty of space for the kids to stretch their legs. You may also want to try flying a kite or taking a boat ride. When you're hungry, head to the Beijing Zoo and stop at one of the international fast food chains near the front gate. The zoo's exhibits can seem a bit spare, but the giant pandas are a delight and the aquarium (inside the zoo grounds) is top notch. If you've still got the energy, ZiZhuyuan, just next to the zoo, is one of Beijing's nicest parks. Da Dong Roast Duck is often rated Beijing's best, and extensive menu means everyone can find something to suit his or her taste. The Dongshisitiao branch has the nicest decor.


1

Summer Palace (Yi He Yuan)

Location:

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Hai Dian
100091 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6288 1144


2

Beijing Zoo

Location:

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131 Xi Zhi Men Wai Avenue
Xi Cheng District
100044 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6831 4411


3

Beijing Aquarium

Location:

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Xi Zhi Men Wai Avenue
Just inside the zoo's north gate
100044 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6833 8742


5

Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant

Location:

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Backside of Nanxincang Int'l Building, Dongsi Shitiao
Southwest of Dongsi Shitiao Bridge
Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 5169 0328

Day 3 - Beijing

No trip to Beijing is complete without a visit to the Great Wall. The hotel can arrange a group tour, but a private car is often an affordable alternative that will allow more freedom to set your own schedule. It is worth the slightly longer drive (an hour and a a half) to Mu Tian Yu to avoid the crowds. This section of the Wall is also famed for its toboggan run. Consider bringing lunch sandwiches from one of the shops in Oriental Plaza and certainly bring snacks. The quintessential Beijing day is best topped off with a dinner at world famous Din Tai Fung. The delicate xiaolongbao soup dumplings are not to be missed. There is a convenient location in the Xin Kong Plaza Shopping Center.


1

Great Wall at Mu Tian Yu

Location:

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San Du He Village
Huai Rou County
101400 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 (0)10 8119 1011 (Tourist Information Center)


2

Din Tai Fung

Location:

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24 , Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie
Northwest of Yu Yang Hotel
100000 Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6462 4502

Day 4 - Beijing

No doubt you'l be a bit tired after three full days in Beijing, so take your fourth day easy. Start with a sumptuous dim sum brunch at Crystal Jade. The Urban Planning Museum is worth the visit for the gigantic 3D map of Beijing alone. Then head to Chaoyang Park where you can rent bikes or paddle boats. Just outside the west gate of the park, there is an excellent selection of restaurants including expat favorite Annie's. If you want a new location for the afternoon, try Tuanjiehu Park, complete with go-karts and a beach. If you haven't already had enough pizza for the day, seek out The Tree for wood-oven delights. (It is behind the 3.3 Mall on Sanlitun Bar Street.) In the evening, check out the famous Beijing acrobats at Chaoyang Theater. Call ahead to reserve tickets.


1

Crystal Jade

Location:

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1 Dongchang'an Jie
Basement of Oriental Plaza Mall
Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 8515 0238


2

Urban Planning Museum

Location:

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East Qianmen Avenue
Southeast corner of Tiananmen Square, behind the old train station
Beijing, China


3

Chao Yang Park

Location:

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1 Nong Zhan South Road
Chao Yang District
100026 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6506 5409


4

Annie's

Location:

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West gate of Chaoyang Park
West Gate of Chaoyang Park
100022 Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6591 1931


5

Tuanjiehu Park

Location:

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On East Third Ring Road
Chaoyang District
100026 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 8597 3603


6

The Tree

Location:

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43 Sanlitun Lu
Behind 3.3 Mall
Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6415 1954


7

Acrobatic Displays

Location:

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14 Dong Zhi Men South Ave
(Poly Plaza Theater, Dong Cheng District)
100027 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 (0)10 6500 1188

Day 5 - Beijing

Today, go local and explore Beijing by bike. The hotel can arrange a day long rental. With a good map in hand, head towards the Lama Temple. Don't be intimidated by biking in the large boulevards. There's no need to rush and it will be easier once you are in the hutong neighborhoods. Head into the hutongs west of the Lama Temple and find the Vineyard Cafe for lunch. Then continue peddling until you reach Nanluoguxiang. Explore the boutique shops and cafes; Fish Nation also makes some excellent pizza. Exiting Nanluoguxiang to the south, you'll be at the north entrance at Bei Hai Park. Leave your bikes outside and enjoy. In the evening, watch the lights come up over Houhai Lake. Sample ethnic Yunnan specialties at South Silk Road.


1

Yonghe Gong (Lama Temple)

Location:

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Yong He Gong Dajie 12
South of the North Second Ring Rd. (entrance on the south end of the complex)
100007 Beijing, China

Phone:

010/6404-3769


2

Vineyard (Putaoyuan'r)

Location:

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Wudaoying Hutong 31
Just north of the Confucius temple
100007 Beijing, China

Phone:

010/6402-7961


3

Nanluoguxiang

Location:

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Runs north to south between Jiugulou Dajie and Dianmen Dajie, respectively
Southern entrance a few blocks east of Houhai
Beijing, China


4

Bei Hai Gongyuan (Beihai Park)

Location:

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Wenjin Jie 1
Xi Cheng Qu (south entrance is just west of the north gate of the Forbidden City; east entrance is opposite the west entrance of Jing Shan Park)
100034 Beijing, China

Phone:

010/6404-0610


5

South Silk Road

Location:

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19 Lotus Lane
Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6615 5515

Day 6 - Beijing

As your stay in Beijing comes to an end, it is time to pick up some souvenirs for those you left back home. But first, spend a little time at the Temple of Heaven. Then, just outside the northeast gate of the temple complex, you'll find the Beijing Pearl Market. The best strands are on the top floor, but you should bargain hard everywhere. When you've nearly shopped 'til you drop, head to the south gate of Ritan Park. There you'll find a nice selection of international restaurants. Spend some time in the park before another shopping stop at the famous Silk Street Market. There's nothing you can't find at this knock-off super store. In the evening, go for a traditional dinner at Hua Jai Yi Yuan.


1

Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan)

Location:

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Tian Tan North Road
100050 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 (0)10 6702 2242


2

Pearl Market

Location:

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16 Hongqiao Lu
On the northeast corner of the Temple of Heaven
Beijing, China

Phone:

01067117429


3

Serve The People (Wei Renmin Fuwu)

Location:

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San Li Tun Xi Wu Jie 1
Behind German embassy
100027 Beijing, China

Phone:

010/8454-4580


4

Tankstelle

Location:

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South Gate of Ritan Park
Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 8562 6439


5

Ri Tan Gongyuan (Ri Tan Park)

Location:

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Ri Tan Lu 6
Chaoyang Qu
100020 Beijing, China

Phone:

010/8561-1389


6

Xiushui Silk Market

Location:

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East Jianguomenwai Dajie
Directly above Yong'an Li subway stop
Beijing, China


7

Huajia Yiyuan

Location:

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Dong Zhi Men Nei Dajie 235
Beijing, China

Phone:

010/6403-0677

Day 7 - Beijing

Start your last day in Beijing with a hardy Western breakfast at the appropriately named Grandma's Kitchen. Today, you have a choice. You can test your nerves at the Beijing amusement park or head back to the west side of town for outdoor adventure. The Botantical Gardens make for beautiful picture taking. Eight Sites Park, in particular Fragrant Hills, makes for a more strenuous day of hiking rewarded by breathtaking views of the city. Enjoy your last meal in Beijing at hip Taiwanese eatery Bellagio. The kids will love the giant shaved ice creations for dessert.


1

Grandma's Kitchen

Location:

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11A Xiushui Nanjie, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区建国门外秀水南街甲11号(友谊商店后面)
Behind the Friendship Store
Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6503 2893


2

Beijing Botanical Garden (Cherry Valley)

Location:

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Haidian District
100093 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 8119 1011


3

Eight Sites Park

Location:

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Near the Fragrant Hills
Shi Jing Shan District
100041 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 8119 1011


4

Beijing Amusement Park

Location:

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1 Zuoanmen Nei Dajie
Chongwen District
100061 Beijing, China

Phone:

+86 10 6714 2324 / +86 10 6714 3611 / +86 10 6714 6909


5

Bellagio

Location:

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6 Gonti Xilu
Opposite Destinations
Beijing, China

Phone:

86 10 6551 3533

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