Though Meeple Factory has shelves of inside games for birthdays or fun on the north side of the city (p14), those on the southern side can seek a day of refuge from the cold and haze in the spacious malls of Daxing. This southern most district of Beijing holds some of the city’s largest parks and malls.
Guinness World Committee parked the record for largest underground car lot at LIVAT Mall, with 6,500 parking spots. A three-story Ikea, Decathlon with a rock-climbing wall, Old Navy, Coldstone Creamery, Zara, electronics stores, and a movie theater all call LIVAT home. Families can get lost in this large mall that was just opened earlier this summer. We suggest moms and young ones stop here at Xihongmen Subway Station (line 4) for Ikea and clothes shopping. Like other LIVAT malls, guests can take advantage of LIVAT Junior, which offers two hours of free kid entertainment. Then send dad and olders kids along to the five story Paradise Walk Mall at the Biomedical Base on the same line, a few stops further south.
Those with young ones can spend a day at the two-story indoor playground translated name, “Naughty Kids,” on the third floor, reminiscent of Fundazzle. A ticket for one child and one adult for one day will set parents back a chilly RMB 160, though large package membership cards (RMB 3,500) are available, averaging the cost to a more bearable RMB 100 per day.
Parents with adventurous older children can stop by the ice skating rink for two hours of active play for only RMB 80 per ticket, which includes shoe rentals. Otherwise, we suggest gaming dads and kids alike stop for a tech-ed out day at Coolplay on the second floor. At this virtual reality boutique, techies can enjoy a double player hanging virtual reality game, a double-seating VR pod with 19 different virtual reality films, a single player VR pod with 720 degree rotation (players must be fourteen years of age or older), and a glider simulation virtual reality game.
The boutique also has racing games, a archery shooting range, bubble soccer areana for group games, laser counter strike, mini KTV booth, and billiards. A party room is also available for parties or group gatherings. Prices for each equipment ranges between RMB 25 and RMB 60, with most games costing RMB 30. Membership cards are available.
LIVAT Mall (Huiju Shopping Center)
Daily 10am-10pm. 15 Xinning Jie, Daxing District. (6028 5656) 大兴区欣宁街15号院
Paradise Walk Mall (Tianjie Shopping Center)
Mon-Fri 10am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm. 5 Yongxing Lu, Daxing District. (5280 3300)大兴区永兴路5号院
This article originally appeared on page 25 of the October 2016 Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF COOLPLAY
