The Amazing Aylmers
British Daniel Aylmer, the General Manager of the Westin Chaoyang Hotel and Indonesian Poppy Aylmer, the China Clinics Marketing Manager of International SOS, have two sons, Joshua (4) and William (5 months). The Aylmers have been living in China for over ten years and in Beijing for over two. Despite having lived in Nanjing, Sanya and Suzhou, Beijing is their favorite for family-friendly spots. Want to share your Beijing favorites? E-mail editor-kids@beijing-kids.com.
Best Outdoor Activity
Chaoyang Park
New Hangout
Family Box – it’s a bit pricey, so it is a treat to go there.
Family Rituals
The weekend is reserved for father-son time, which includes bath and storytime.
Best Day Trip
As city-dwelling folk, we love going shopping and sitting in cafes. In the summer, we head to Sanlitun Village for the kid-friendly water fountain.
Best Date Spot
Enoteca. It’s great for people watching and the wines are reasonably priced.
Weekend Activity
We go to the Bubbalicious Brunch a lot, because Josh loves the play room and sweet shop.
Rainy Day Agenda
Swimming at the indoor Westin Chaoyang Hotel pool.
Best Shopping Spot for Kids
Yashow is great for clothes for growing kids. Solana, which has Mothercare and Okaidi are also great places to shop.
Family-Friendly Restaurant
Element Fresh and Din Tai Fung have great food choices for kids. Their service is quick and friendly, which is important when you have hungry kids! For dinner without the kids, we love Hatsune and Middle 8.
