Often, we are told of the best playgrounds, family-friendly restaurants, or shopping centers with large numbers of maternity, baby, and kid friendly stores, but how often do we get a recommendation because we might like the mall ourselves?
As a new mother, I still want to shop at the stores I’ve always shopped at, my son is too young for children’s menus, and he’d rather spend time with me than at a playground (without me). However, my son is still in diapers, so I always have an eye out for changing rooms, family restrooms, and nursing rooms–choosing my favorites based on their availability.
As a result, I have compiled Beijing’s top five malls based on what’s close to my heart: the variety and number of stores, affordability, location (I live in Dongcheng district), and whether they have clean restrooms with changing tables or child seats (where you can park your child while you’re on the potty).
1. APM (Wangfujing, Chaoyang district)
Stores I visit:
Forever 21, H&M, Zara, Apple, MAC, Make Up Forever, Mannings
Food:
Food court, Nine Road Pizzeria, Saboten
Restrooms:
Large family rooms with separate mini toilet stalls and baby parks (chair in the stall).
More:
Hongkonese APM is located in the Middle of Wangfujing, surrounded by several other malls, stores, and restaurants. It’s subway accessible (Wangfujing, line 1), but I don’t recommend it for all the stairs. If you drive, they do have free parking.
2. Solana (Chaoyang park, Chaoyang district)
Stores I visit:
American Eagle, Gap, H&M, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Bershka, Bread n Butter, Zara Home
Food:
BHG, Moka Bros, Zoo Coffee, Tubestation, La Pizza, Pacific Coffee, Let’s Burger, Costa Coffee, 7/11
Restrooms:
Restrooms have changing tables. More:
Saga cinema, ice skating rink. Subway accessible location (Liangmaqiao, line 10 and Zaoying, line 14) by Chaoyang Park. Outdoor malls have their perks when the weather’s nice, but when it’s cold and you have to get from one wing to another (e.g. mommy wing to baby wing) and it involves catching a toddler and dressing him in his winter gear–not so fun any more. Outdoor malls should also be avoided on polluted days.
3. Indigo (Lido, Chaoyang District)
Stores I visit:
Muji, H&M, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Gap, Page One, Sundan, Watsons, J.Lindeberg, Giordano Ladies,
Food:
Food Republic, Dumpling Bar, Jazz Ya, Starbucks, Taco, Bibigo!, Blue Frog, McDonalds, BHG, Tous le Jours, Meshiya, Bento Rang, Coldstone, Costa Coffee, Element Fresh, Lime, Middle 8
Restrooms:
Changing rooms with multiple changing surfaces, sinks, and space for strollers. A few even have a family restroom with a relatively comfortable chair for nursing.
More:
Indigo has an outdoor play area (pictured) and a few indoor play clubs on their kid floor. It is subway accessible (Jiangtai, line 14) with the subway being conveniently underground. Indigo has underground parking as well.
4. U-Town Life Shopping Center (Chaoyangmen, Dongcheng District)
Stores I visit:
Old Navy, Muji, Uniqlo, Zara, H&M, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear,
Food:
Lotte market, Yonamja, Kro’s Nest Lite, Ajisen Ramen, Sushi Express, Subway, Burger King, Blue Frog
Restrooms:
Family rooms have changing tables and toilet seat covers.
More:
U-town is known as a fashion mall, but has a whole other wing with children’s stores, play areas, and various classes. It’s subway accessible (Chaoyangmen, line 2 and 6) and located right by the Russian Market/district (Alien Street).
5. Carrefour Siyuan Plaza （Wangjing, Chaoyang district)
Stores I visit:
Uniqlo, C&A, Carrefour
Food:
Starbucks, Food court, Bellagio,
Restrooms:
Changing tables in both men’s and women’s restrooms.
More:
The Carrefour center has built in air purification system and ecofriendly water recycling systems, making it a great indoor escape on polluted days. My son loved the car attached to the shopping cart, which you can push all over the mall as well as into Carrefour. The Carrefour is a mega center with the largest import food section I’ve seen thus far, and a wide selection of children’s supplies. They have children’s playgrounds dispersed throughout the mall. Ikea is also right next door, so we usually combine the two places into one visit.
Was your favorite not listed? I also like to shop at Galleria (Sanyuanqiao, Chaoyang district) for its peacefulness, The Place (CBD, Chaoyang district) for its close proximity, and Capitamall Wangjing for its variety.
