Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These help me maintain this site and continue providing free travel tips.
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!
Magda Sawyer
When to Visit Beijing with Kids
Beijing experiences some quite wide range of temperatures - it is prohibitively hot and humid in the summer (but also fun and lively), and bitterly cold in the winter (but also offers an opportunity to ride sledges on frozen lakes).
We experienced both extremes during our travels, which is why I highly recommend taking weather into consideration when planning your trip - especially with toddlers and babies.
Best Times
- Spring (March-May)
- Pleasant temperatures
- Cherry blossoms
- Lower crowds
- Fall (September-October)
- Clear skies
- Perfect walking weather
- Cultural festivals
Times to Reconsider
- Summer (June-August)
- Very hot and humid
- Peak tourist season
- But also party atmosphere everywhere
- Winter (November-February)
- Cold temperatures
- But great for winter activities
Airport Transfers
We only have experience landing at the Beijing Capital Airport - somehow we always ended up taking the Airport Express and metro upon arrival and taking a taxi/DiDi to the airport.
⚠️ Caution: Regular taxis and DiDi do not have child seat
✅ Alternative: if you are travelling with small children, you might want to consider booking an airport transfer - you can use GetTransfer.com, where you can pick a car you want and a child's seat
Magda Sawyer
Where to Stay
Beijing is a big city, so it can be quite difficult to pick the right location.
I would highly recommend considering the distance to main attractions you plan to visit and proximity to the metro station.
Distance to the metro is especially important when travelling with small kids or relying on public transport if you plan to travel by public transport also to the train station and the airport with your luggage.
During our trips we stayed in different hotels, but in Beijing our favourite one is by far Jen Beijing by Shangri-La. It is located near the GuoMao metro station - a central location near CCTV tower, the most distinctive landmark of Beijing. It is quite an expensive hotel, but the buffet breakfast is simply delicious, the views from the room are stunning and staff speaks very good English - which makes the introduction to China's capital smooth.
Daily Transportation
- Metro: Clean, efficient, but crowded during rush hour
- DiDi (Chinese Uber): Convenient and cheap, can be used directly from WeChat app
- Group or Private Tour: Best for sightseeing places outside of the city like Great Wall
We are not fans of group tours - you usually end up doing only half the things you want, eating average food and generally not experiencing what city has to offer.
Private tours/hiring a driver can be a good option for places that are not easily accessible via public transport or require a longer journey. Private tour gives you a lot of flexibility and control over your itinerary.
🚘 You can browse Family-Friendly Private Tours on GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator
Fun Things to do in Beijing
There is plenty of must-see tourist attractions in Beijing, but I highly encourage you to try to visit some of the off the radar places as well.
It is in those places that you experiences real Chinese hospitality and generosity, and it is those places that you will end up remembering
Houhai Lake & Beihai Park
Houhai Lake, and the nearby Beihai Park are one of our favourite places in Beijing 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 City Public Library
Recently opened Beijing City Public Library is not so surprisingly a great place for the whole family to enjoy.
Parents will be simply amazed by the modern nature-inspired architecture and music listening room with best-in-class high-quality CD-players, and kids will love the "metaverse" exhibition featuring an interactive talking AI, as well as rich children section.
Visiting the library will allow you to understand modern China beyond fancy shopping centres and gourmet restaurants!
Magda Sawyer
China National Film Museum
Another place that has both educational and entertainment value is China National Film Museum.
Take walk through time and explore history of Chinese cinema. The museum includes an IMAX cinema, old filming equipment, costumes exhibition and more.
There is an immersive round hall with display screens showing beautiful animations portraying different topics, landscapes and stories - which for kids will most likely be highlight of your visit!
Magda Sawyer
Beijing Pacific Underwater World
When going to Beijing in the summer, Pacific Underwater World is a great 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.
🎫 Skip-the-Line - buy tickets in advance:
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!
Magda Sawyer
Explore current festivals and events
One of the coolest 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!
Magda Sawyer
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 offer 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!
Ready to plan your trip?
Here are some more resources:
Magda Sawyer
Magda Sawyer
Member discussion