Wondering if Beijing is worth hanging around in when traveling with kids?
On our first trip we were not very keen on exploring the cities but I cannot believe how wrong we were - having so much to offer fo both kids and adults, Chinese cities are a perfect gateway to exploring Chinese culture, sampling delicious foods, people watch and get some world-class entertainment!
Join me and find out what are some of the best kid-friendly activities that should be on top if your list!
Houhai Lake
Houhai Lake, and the nearby Beihai Park are one of our favourite places in Beining to take a walk in the evening.
In the summer, the party atmosphere is all around, and you will quickly immerse yourself in the relaxed vibe. There is loads of street food, karaoke bars, old ladies dancing and much more!
Houhai lake checks all the boxes for both little ones and their parents!
Beijing Pacific Underwater World
When going to Beijing in the summer, Pacific Underwater World is a greaf option to escape the heat. Located under the CCTV tower, and near a big park with a lake one can rent a pedal bike on, it is a good option for half day activity.
The fish are mesmerising for the kids - we particularly loved the jelly fish. There is also a little pond where you can feed little fish yourself.
Be1st Indoor Playground
Traveling and walking around a new city can be tiring for the little explorers, which is why I recommend including a “pure fun” day somewhere along the way.
There are a lot of different indoor playgrounds in Beijing, and Be1st is the one we found and enjoyed, which is why I am recommending this particular one.
It is a great option even for older kids (or especially for them) - limited options for the toddlers but we they also don’t need much.
The play center is heavily equipped in VR and other tech - you can do some trampoline jumps while fulfilling an on-screen challenge, pedal a bicycle while watching a little bicycle is moving on a mini track and do a workout in front of a small mirror.
Best of all are activities animated by the staff - we enjoyed the human “whack-a-mole” game where little mischiefs were going through the tunnels and trying to steal corn!
Art District 798
While not dedicated to kids specifically, we had loads of fun exploring it. Built inside an old industrial district, it is now a cradle of creativity.
There are interesting artsy shops, cafes and restaurants, an art museum that has workshops for kids (make sure to check times and days in advance). There is even an artisan cafe with French pastries inside an old train carriage!
Explore current festivals and events
One of the cooles things we have experienced on our trips was visiting the Megalights Wonderland at Beijing Wenyuhe Park - a lantern exhibition originally opened for Lantern Festival but extended until 31.07.2024 due to its immense popularity.
This exhibition had everything needed for a perfect outing with kids - captivating lanterns park, street food, a live entertainment show and (completely unrelated to the exhibition itself) stationary bikes that blow bubbles. We had so much fun there that Hanna didn’t want to go back to the hotel.
While this particular event might be over, I encourage you to research what is currently happening and try to visit - use social media, official tourist sites or any other means to find the events.
From our experience everything that includes costumes, performance, singing and food will be a great experience!
Additional tips for sightseeing with kids
You always need to have your children's needs in focus when traveling. Sightseeing and walking around the city for hours at a time can be exhausting - not to mention when hot weather, queues and hunger come into play.
It is much better in the long run to skip an attraction altogether than risking everyone being miserable and cranky! There will always be a next opportunity, and even if not, it is much more important to keep having fun than to see everything there is to see.
Here are some additional tips:
- If some attractions require queueing for a long time, think twice if it is really worth it to go
- Always have plenty of simple snacks (not sweets though) and water - while you will be able to buy something in most places, don't bank on it
- Make sure to mix exploration days with kids days, either by having one "adult day" followed by a "kid day", or including both types of activities in the same day, for your kid to have something to look forward to
- Never expect your child to "understand" and act like a grown up. They are NOT grown ups and will have a meltdown if they feel bad no matter how inappropriate it may be.
Final thoughts
This post was meant as an inspiration rather than a concrete guide on how to plan your trip.
Beijing has plenty to offfer for everyone but I encourage you to see what is happening in advance and pick a few things you think kids might enjoy.
Happy planning!
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