Beyond the Skyscrapers
Feast in Peace
Thanks to the children’s playground at its doorstep, tasty Italian joint Casa Mia lets you savor your meal in peace without having to worry about your little ones overturning the table after bolting down their food – grab a seat outside and you can keep an eye on things while you spaghetti-twirl. The menu is full of family-friendly pizza and pasta offerings with reasonable price tags. Casa Mia. (Some English spoken; English menus.) Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. 1/F, Bldg C2, Sunshine 100, Tower C, Guanghua Lu (next to the children’s playground), Chaoyang District (5100 2522) 卡萨米亚意大利餐吧, 朝阳区光华路2号阳光100国际公寓C座底层 (儿童游乐园旁边)
Movies With More
You want to get good seats, but watching one second melt into the next while you wait for your movie to start is mental torture – when there are impatient and restless kids involved, it is a task that takes parenting to a whole new level. Thankfully, the stylishly designed Wanda International Cinema makes the waiting game a little less painful with its range of entertainment facilities. Teens can pay the Flyhigh Arcade a visit for an instant boredom killer, while tots can let loose in the colorful children’s play area nestled in the hallway leading to the cinema (parental supervision and a ticket purchase required). Wanda screens the most up-to-date flicks from both China and Hollywood, and offers a 50% discount for kids (older kids should be sure to bring their student ID card), and it’s half-price for everyone on Tuesdays! Wanda International Cinema. (Some English spoken.) Daily 9.30am-10.30pm. 3/F, Bldg B, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (5960 3399) 万达国际电影城, 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场B座三层
Makeup Magic
Preteen and teenage girls who have recently discovered the allure of makeup will find it hard to resist Sephora. Rows of multicolored perfume bottles release a cloud of fragrance into the hallway, luring shoppers inside. Deeper in the store, blush, lipstick and other girly temptations sparkle and twinkle from shelf after shelf. But before you release your daughter for a full-on spree, be warned that the goods here are seriously ritzy and the price tags correspondingly high! However, if you’re a softie and spend RMB 600 on a single visit, you are automatically entitled to become a Sephora cardholder and can start earning points towards free makeovers, makeup classes and other perks. Sephora. (Some English spoken. Makeovers/makeup classes only available in Chinese.) Daily 10am-10pm. NB 128, B1/F, China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6505 6726) 丝芙兰, 朝阳区建外大街１号国贸商城地下一层NB128
A Treat for Toddlers
Running out of places to go with a toddler in tow? Give Gymboree a shot – their music, art and play programs are specially developed for newborns to 5-year-olds. Their bilingual classes take place in padded and jubilantly colored rooms, and are a good choice for those last sticky days of summer when heading to the park is just not an option. Gymboree throws public parties for Christmas, Halloween and other special occasions, but if you want a more exclusive affair, you can arrange a private birthday party for your little prince for RMB 2,000 – decorations, refreshments and entertainment are all included. Normal classes range from RMB 150-260. Gymboree Beijing. (English spoken.) Daily 9am-6pm. 5/F, Bldg B, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (5869 4087) 金宝贝, 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho B座5层
Caught in the Moment
Dkids Photography takes a hi-tech approach to the old “a picture speaks a thousand words” cliché and keeps memories alive by snapping high-quality, multi-megapixel family portraits. The company strives to capture your cherub’s most natural and innocent expressions, preferring to photograph your kids (and you with them, if you’d like) while they are at play inside or outside the studio. The results of your photo shoot can be transferred to CDs, calendars, posters, and other creative mediums, leaving the grandparents with no excuse not to wear your kid’s countenance on a T-shirt. Dkids Photography Studio. (English spoken.) Tue-Sun 9.30am-6pm. Rm 707, Bldg B, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (5869 1527) 守望者儿童摄影空间, 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho B座707室
Once Upon a Time
Follow the rainbow lane that leads you up a stairway and into the magical storybook world of the beautifully designed Poplar Kids Republic Bookstore. Spend an afternoon browsing the wide selection of English, Japanese, and Chinese books catering to kids of all ages. Alternatively, head there on a weekend for the free, hour-long storytelling session, which takes place in a snug, carpeted area on the ground floor. Poplar Kids Republic Bookstore. (English spoken.) Daily 10am-6:30pm. Rm 1362, Bldg 13, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (5869 3032) 蒲蒲兰绘本馆, 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho13号楼1362室
Watch the World Spin By
The brightly colored carousel in the plaza next to Building B at Jianwai Soho sometimes looks a little lost amidst the confusion of suits and heels. Many visitors walk past it on hurried journeys, but few realize that its charming horses actually do spring into life when there are at least five kids to mount them. In fact, all under-16s are welcome to catch a free ride – just gather up a group and give the guard a wave, and he’ll flip the switch and get the merry-go-round going around! The plaza next to Bldg B, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District 旋转木马, 朝阳区东三环中路39号建外Soho B座旁边
