798 Art District 798艺术区
Though many complain about 798’s increasing gentrification, the area remains the city’s art district par excellence. More intrepid art lovers may want to venture to Caochangdi (located just north of 798) or Songzhuang Art Village in Tongzhou, but families – especially those with younger children – will want to stick with 798’s paved sidewalks, wide open spaces, Western cafes, and relatively clean bathrooms.
Notable galleries include the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), which boasts a UCCA Kids Club (RMB 6,500/year for a family of four) and hosts weekly kid-friendly workshops in English and Chinese. Another long-running gallery is 798 Space, housed in a former munitions factory with dramatic vaulted ceilings and remnants of Communist-era writing on the walls.
When you’re hungry, try the cozy At Cafe for bistro-style mains, pizza, and sandwiches. Coffee addicts are in luck; Rickshaw Roasters can be found at Cafe Flatwhite’s 798 branch. Founded by a team from China and New Zealand, the company sources arabica coffee beans from around the world and roasts them fresh. A kilogram of their dark, medium or medium/light roasts costs RMB 250. Rickshaw supplies other cafes around Beijing, including Beiluo Bread Bar, Nanda Organic Bakery, Serk, and more.
Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) 尤伦斯当代艺术中心
RMB 10, free on Thursdays and for students, members, kids under 1.3m, disabled visitors, and seniors. Tue-Sun 10am-7pm. 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5780 0200, visitor@ucca.org.cn) www.ucca.org.cn 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区
798 Space 798时态空间
Daily 11am-9pm. 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (6438 4862, 6437 6248) www.798space.com 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区
At Cafe 爱特咖啡
Daily 11am-midnight. 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5978 9942) 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区
Rickshaw Roasters
Cafe Flatwhite, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianiao Lu, Chaoyang District (info@rickshawroasters.com) 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区（仙英咖啡旁边）
The Familier 和美乐家庭会所
Located within 798 Art District, The Familier is a long-running play center with classes and activities for ages 0-10. Facilities include an indoor playground (with soft play for babies and toddlers) and a cafe with a nutritionist-designed menu. Programs, which include art and language classes, are offered in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Discounts are available through The Familier’s membership cards, which start at RMB 300 for six months.
Family play: RMB 70 (two hours), RMB 100 (full day). Dropoff: RMB 88/child (valid for four hours), RMB 35 extra per additional hour. Daily 10am-7pm (play center and cafe), Mon-Fri 10am-7pm (dropoff service). D05, Zhong’er Jie, 798 Art District (between UCCA and the Big White Bird Cage), Chaoyang District (5762 6017, service@thefamilier.com) www.thefamilier.com 朝阳区798艺术区中二街D05（尤伦斯美术馆和鸟笼之间）
Indigo Mall 颐堤港
There’s lots to do at the new Indigo Mall, which is accessible through free shuttle buses from Liangma Qiao, Wangjing, Nanshiliju, and 798 Art District on weekends. There’s a movie theater on the fourth floor and lots of kids’ stores on the third, including the newest branch of Counting Sheep. The basement is home to kitchen heaven Cuccina and book powerhouse Page One, while the mall’s restaurant selection includes Blue Frog, Hercules, and Flamme.
Daily 10am-10pm. 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (8426 0898) www.indigobeijing.com 朝阳区酒仙桥路18号
Photo courtesy of UCCA
This article originally appeared on p49 of the beijingkids June 2013 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com.
