If you can’t make it to one of the city’s pools, consider bringing the family to a fountain for their water-play fix. We round up the most kid-friendly fountains in the city below. Just don’t forget to pack some dry clothes for both you and the kids.
Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park
Solana has three fountains: one at the entrance in front of Starbucks, another in front of Zara, and a smaller one beside the second. The first two fountains are blocked off to prevent kids from getting in the water, but the smaller one is reserved for play. At night, the main fountain in the plaza features a water show with colorful lights and music.
Galaxy SOHO
With a futuristic design usually reserved for sci-fi films, Galaxy SOHO has kid-friendly fountains complete with water archways, mist, and light features. There’s also space for parents to sit down, making the location an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee from Santorini Coffee or Pacific Coffee Company while the kids cool off on a hot afternoon. After working up an appetite, head over to popular Spanish restaurant, Saffron for some Mediterranean-inspired tapas. Take note, however, that SOHO complex has otherwise limited western options. If you’re in need of a bite to eat, Raffles Mall, Oriental Plaza, and Ritan International Hotel are all close by – if you can manage to tear the kids away from the fountains that is.
Taikoo Li South
We can’t write about fountains in Beijing without mentioning Taikoo Li South in Sanlitun. Formerly known as The Village, Taikoo Li has one of the most recognizable fountains in the city. The wide, open space adjacent to Starbucks and the Apple Store is great for playing in as jets spurt water high into the air. Taikoo Li also has tons of restaurants and shops to choose from. Families can also visit bookstore Page One, or catch a movie at Megabox Cinema located in the basement. Element Fresh, Wagas, and Blue Frog are all located upstairs on the third floor when the kids get hungry.
Wangjing SOHO
Wangjing SOHO, the newest addition to the SOHO empire, has a huge fountain located on the north side of Tower 1. Stroll along the perimeter of the building and through the small garden path to reach it. Catch a fountain show with lights and music in the evenings otherwise, the fountain runs all day. Wangjing SOHO is also great for kids on wheels. The pavement provides a smooth surface for skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades. If you’re in need of a bite to eat, there are a few coffee shops as well as a recently-opened bakery and Korean chain, Bibigo. Also find a Seven-Eleven, Costa Coffee, Obentos, Zoo Café, Burger King, and Japanese buffet Matsuko across the street. If the kids still have energy to burn, head Southeast of Wangjing SOHO to Zhongyang Gongyuan (Wangjing Central Park).
Resources
Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park 蓝色港湾
Daily 10am-10pm. 6 ChaoyangGongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District (5905 6565/68) www.solana.com.cn/english/web/index.asp朝阳区朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾国际商区
Galaxy SOHO
2 Nanzhugan Hutong, Chaoyangmennei Dajie, Dongcheng District (8610-5957) galaxysoho.sohochina.com/en 东城区朝阳门内大街南竹杆胡同2号
Taikoo Li Sanlitun 三里屯
Daily 10am-10pm. Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6417 6110) www.taikoolisanlitun.com 朝阳区三里屯路19号
Wangjing SOHO 望京SOHO
10 Wangjing Jie, Chaoyang District(400 815 9888)
wangjingsoho.sohochina.com/en
朝阳区望京街10号
Photos: Courtesy of Solana, Galaxy Soho, Taikoo Li, and Chris Lay
This article originally appeared on pages 54-55 of the beijingkids July 2015 issue. Click here to read the issue for free on Issuu.com. To find out how you can get your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.
