For those who are still wondering what to do this summer, why don’t you give sailing a try? Learn how to steer a boat or just chill out in the deck while the sea breeze and lapping waves cool you down.
The Beijing Sailing Center is solid value for your dollar. Located 90mins from Beijing by train, the Beijing Sailing Club provides a range of dinghy sailing boats to suit all abilities and age groups, from Optimists for kids fun, Topper Topaz for adult learners through to the Topper Omega for spinnaker and trapezing experience. They also offer English-speaking instructors for those of us who are just starting to use our sea legs.
Also worth checking out is Aofan Sailing Club. Conveniently located inside the Beijing Olympic Rowing- Canoeing Park, the club takes full advantage of the 2.5km-long man-made lake. Although there’s a cafeteria nearby, we recommend bringing a picnic and making a day of it. For large groups, the owner (Ms. Meng Haiyin, speaks some English) can arrange for food to be delivered.
To get there, take the Mapo Qiao (马坡桥) or Baima Lu (白马路) exit on Jingshun Lu (京顺路) and follow Baima Lu (白马路) heading east. By subway, get off at Houshayu Zhan on line 15 then take a taxi to Beijing Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. Enter via the east gate keep driving until you see the club’s two white tents.
Kids sailboat (age 8-18, maximum passengers: 1), RMB 120/h; kids classes: RMB 220/h, RMB 2,000 (14 classes). Adults sailboat (maximum passengers: 2), RMB 150/h; adult classes: RMB 250/h, RMB 2,500 (14 classes). Large family-sized boats are also available, call ahead for prices and details (139 0113 4744, basic English spoken).
