If you’re taking our advice and involving your child in decisions about their schooling, then you’re likely to have them with you at the Beijing International School Expo. Or maybe you have younger kids and nobody to look after them for you. Either way, it’ll make the experience more enjoyable for everyone if you can promise them some fun, after the serious business of surveying over 60 schools and educational providers.
Just across the road to the south of Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel is the sprawling Viva Mall. On the fourth floor you’ll find plenty for kids to do.
From a soft play area…
… to slot car racing.
There’s even a cinema. Why not round off your day by going to see the new Star Wars movie? Kids love it, even if it’s upset some of the fanboys.
A short taxi ride away, next to Jiulongshan subway station, is the Hopson One Mall, with even more extensive facilties for fun.
A glance at the slot car racing circuit at Hopson One might convince you that going that extra mile is worth it:
Most of these facilties were pretty quiet on the Thursday morning we visited, but Eureka was drawing crowds even on a school day:
You can even go rollerskating!
But if what your kids need is to run around in the fresh air (and assuming Beijing air is fresh on January 13-14), then Qingfeng Park runs along the river, a little to the north of Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel. There’s no playground, but plenty of room to stretch your legs, explore, and maybe play hide-and-seek, as demonstrated by these bronze children:
Photos: Andrew Killeen
