The long weekend combined with a large dose of summer vibes, has soften the hearts of the beijingkids editors. So we’ve decided to release a snippet of our double summer feature. And we’re pretty sure we know what you’re looking for this Dragon Boat Festival holiday: Water! Read on for a selection of our top pool picks.
1. Tuanjiehu Park
Ages: All
Cost: Park: free. Pool: Mon-Fri RMB 40, Sat-Sun RMB 50.
Transportation: Taxi, car or bus
Good to know: It’s best to visit the pool at the start of the summer season, before it gets too crowded and the "sand" gets too dirty.
Park: Daily 10.30am-9.30pm.
Pool: Open June 1 to August 31. Daily 10.30am-8.30pm.
Address: 16 Tuanjiehu Nanli, Chaoyang District 团结湖公园, 朝阳区团结湖南里16号Contact: 8597 3603 (park), 8597 4677 (pool)
This secluded faux beach is a secret no more. Packed on the weekends, the pool has two super-fun (but small) slides, a deep-end swimming pool, a play area for toddlers, and a large beach pool.
Getting There
Take bus 43, 113 and 350 get off at the Baijiazhuang (白家庄) stop. By car, the east entrance of the park is located on the Third Ring Road between Guo Mao and Changhong Qiao. Parking is available on any one of the side streets leading off the Third Ring.
2. Happy Magic Water Cube
Ages: All
Cost: RMB 200, RMB 160 (kids)
Transportation: Taxi or subway
Good to know: Lockers are available for RMB 20 with an RMB 80 deposit.
Address: Daily 10am-9.30pm. Olympic Park, 11 Tianchen Donglu, Chaoyang District 朝阳奥林匹克公园天辰东路11号水立方嬉水乐园
Contact: 8437 2030
This place packs a kitschy punch but it’s worth going just to say that you have swam inside the Cube.
Getting There
Catch subway line 8 and get off at the Olympic Sports Center stop, then walk north a short distance.
3. Crab Island, City Seaview
Ages: All
Cost: RMB 60, RMB 40 (kids under 1.4m); an additional RMB 1 for insurance. Entry into Crab Island is free.
Transportation: Taxi, car or bus
Good to know: The mini-supermarket opposite the entrance of City Seaview sells towels and bathing suits.
Address: May 27-Aug 27, daily 9am-8pm. 1 Xiedao Lu, Chaoyang District 蟹岛绿色生态度假村, 朝阳区蟹岛路1号
Contact: 8433 9689/9191, cityhj@sina.com, www.cityseaview.net (all Chinese-only)
With gentle waves from the wave pool and soft, warm sand, it’s the closest thing to a beach in Beijing. Plop down under a free sun umbrella, get your thrills on the two water slides, spike a ball at the beach volleyball court, or splash around in the designated children’s play area.
Getting There
Take Bus 588 to the Xiedao Dongmen stop; or Bus 418, 909 to the Xiedao stop and then follow the signs labeled "Xiedao" (蟹岛), head north 600 meters. By car, take the Weigou Exit off the Airport Expressway and follow the signs labeled "Xiedao" (蟹岛). Parking is free.
4. Qingnianhu Park
Ages: All
Park: RMB 1. Daily 6am-9pm.
Water World: RMB 30, RMB 20 (children under 1.3m). Daily 9am-5pm.Beijing Youth Lake International Golf Club: RMB 4,000/year. Daily 7am-10pm.
Transportation: Taxi, car or hotel shuttle
Good to know: This is a local hangout, so do not expect attendants to speak English. Address: Qingnianhu Park, Andingmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District. 青年湖公园,东城安定门外大街
Contact: 8411 6224 ext 8032 (Water World), 8411 6911 (Beijing Youth Lake International Golf Club), www.qingnianhu.com (Chinese-only)
Open since 1993, Qingnianhu Park Water World occupies 15,000sqm of space and houses 13 waterslides and man-made waterfalls. Water is 1.5m deep, but there are also small pool areas for kids.
Getting There
Take subway to Andingmen station, or take Bus 18, 104, 108, 119 to the Ditan stop (地坛), or Bus 27, 380 to the Dixingju stop (地形局).
5. Jinhai Lake
Ages: 8 and up
Cost: RMB 36/person (Apr-Oct ), RMB 23/person (Nov-Mar)
Transportation: Taxi, bus or car
Good to know: The lake is about two hours away from Beijing, so visitors should consider staying overnight.
Address: Daily 8am-5pm. Jinhaihu County, Pinggu District 金海湖,平谷区金海湖镇Contact: 6999 1356, 6999 3943, www.jinhaihu.cn
One of the biggest reservoirs in Beijing, Jinhai Lake has a multitude of water sports for families. Rent a motorboat for RMB 45/person, or try an inflatable motorboat (RMB 15/min) or row boat (RMB 50 for 10min). Water sports for adult and teen thrill-seekers – include jet skis (RMB 18/min), water skis (RMB 10/min), and parasailing (RMB 100/person).
Getting There
Take bus 918支 from Dongzhimen, or take 游 bus 14 from Dongdaqiao (东大桥) or Zhanlan Lu (展览路) to Jinhaihu（金海湖).
That’s all the crumbs you’ll get from us for now. For complete write-ups of the watery playgrounds mentioned above, as well as our full list of pools and summer activities, you’ll have to wait until our summer issue hits the stands this Tue 7. Until then, happy Dragon Festival everyone!
