I found it. Paradise. Right here in Beijing, within the 5th Ring Road.
Of course, my idea of paradise may differ just a little from yours. But if yours has anything to do with kids having fun in a safe outdoor space while you sip *insert beverage of choice* and eat barbecue fresh off the grill before retiring to a warm bed in the middle of the woods, then we’re in business. The WOOTA glamping business, to be precise!
WOOTA, which loosely translates to ”tall house,” is the site of Beijing’s premier glamping grounds. Situated just ten kilometers (or an under-45 minute drive) from the city center in a private park, WOOTA has everything you could need for spending a night in the outdoors, all set up and ready for your enjoyment. The glamping grounds feature twenty roomy, waterproof canvas tents furnished in rustic natural decor that comfortably sleep up to four, maybe five, people. Facilities include clean toilets, warm showers, a playground with sand, a giant outdoor trampoline, a sheltered stage, and a movie projector plus screen. There are a number of activities to keep the kids occupied, including: Ride-an-ATV, archery (for older kids), wood-chopping, a campfire, an outdoor foam party, movie screenings… The list goes on and on! Though, honestly, my kid spent 90% of his time just bouncing on the giant outdoor trampoline, which is well worth its weight in gold.
Even the WOOTA mascot can jump on the giant trampoline – it’s THAT big!
As for activities to keep parents occupied? Well, so long as our kids have something to do, we are likely content to just sit, chat, and enjoy the fresh air in a natural setting. During our visit, the parents around me seemed completely worry-free as their kids roamed and played freely. Alright, perhaps the near-endless supply of alcoholic beverages helped a bit, but one cannot deny that the magic of simply being outdoors was a huge factor in taking the edge off. But as laissez-faire as we were, parents always have the option to take part in activities with their offspring. Many of us rode ATVs with our younger children, while the bigger kids had the option to ride a smaller ATV on their own.
But the real magic of camping, and even glamping, was watching the sun go down and everything change color as the night was lit up by the romantic hue of firelight. And after all, what screams summer more than roasting s’mores and marshmallows over a campfire?
Well, how about a movie under the stars?
Renting a tent at WOOTA will set you back RMB 2,380 for the night, which includes dinner and breakfast, as well as access to all the aforementioned activities. It’s basically the cost and experience of a night’s stay in a 5-star hotel in Beijing, with one major difference: At WOOTA you’re right in the peaceful embrace of Mother Nature!
Tents are furnished with double mattresses, basic amenities and decorated in a rustic wood theme
Have I mentioned the personalized and excellent service the family that runs WOOTA provides? The husband and wife team were available almost 24/7 throughout our stay of two days and one night, despite having just had their first baby six months ago. Hunter, the husband, and manager spoke excellent English, and grilled our barbecue dinner himself. He also took some of the younger kids on ATV rides around the grounds. You can tell when someone enjoys and takes pride in his work, and it shows in every aspect of WOOTA’s glamping experience.
As a little parting souvenir to commemorate their stay, families are invited to build their own canvas folding chair with their name laser-cut into the wood frame. Assembling the chair turned out to be more of a challenge than most of us were prepared for, and the staff graciously allowed us to take the pieces home to assemble at our leisure. My tip would be to set aside at least two hours for this activity, which usually takes place on the second day.
As an added bonus, dogs are more than welcome at the WOOTA glamping grounds! The owners have their own rescue dogs on-site, which is just another reason to like them. After all, is said and done, WOOTA certainly lives up to the glamping hype. Whenever you need a quick getaway from the urban jungle, this glossy little slice of nature will be right here for you to recharge your batteries and refresh yourself.
To book one of these super cool glamping trips for your friends and family, add WeChat ID WOOTA01 from Woota for more info! Have fun!
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Images: Andrew Eitingon, Joas Fritz, Jenny Williams, Vivienne Tseng-Rush, Dazhongdianping
