Beijing is a true Aladdin’s cave of parks and play areas for kids. One of the things I struggled with when we first arrived was entertaining my child. When my husband went to work, we were left in the hotel with nowhere to go. That was until we found the kids play area at Solana mall. Kid’s areas in Beijing malls are truly amazing and created exclusively for families, with many surrounding toy stores, play spaces, and kid-friendly restaurants. Here you can sit and watch your child play for hours, forgetting for a minute that you’ve moved to the other end of the world, and still need to find a home and school. Keep in mind, when looking for a place of residence that apartment compounds also usually have great playgrounds or parks nearby, which is a godsend if you have young children to entertain.
Shuangjing 双井
Qingfeng Park
Along the Tonghui River, with beautiful landscapes, a clear river, and relatively few tourists, the park is a quiet and ideal place for spring outings or just break from the madness of city life. 34 Qingfengzha Qianjie, Chaoyang. (Need Chinese address)
VIVA Beijing Plaza
This large mall serving the greater Shuangjing area, has a variety of stores, like Miniso, Select, C&A, and Mango. Its restaurants include McDonald’s, Sanqianli Korean BBQ, Food Republic, Starbucks, Bread Talk, and more. (5903 7478) 65 East Third Ring Central Road, Chaoyang (Subway line 10, Shuangjing, exit A). 朝阳区东三环中路65号.
CBD (Central Business District) 北京商务中心
Ritan Park日坛公园
Ritan Park is a green oasis in the middle of CBD’s concrete jungle. It’s a great place to let kids burn off their energy and learn about some Beijing history and culture. There are also some modern-day touches, like a climbing wall and a decent playground. (8562 2612) 6 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang.朝阳区 日坛北路6号
The Place
This landmark shopping mall has a Zara, Uniqlo, and other fashionable clothing stores. The Place is also home to a number of great kids play areas both inside and outside the facility and hosts the popular Monday morning Bumps2Babes baby and toddler play group at My Gym. (6587 1188) 9A Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区光华路甲9号
Parkview Green Mall
A regular destination for mums and babies is visiting Little Oasis, a popular indoor play area. Moms would be glad to know that breastfeeding and baby changing rooms are particularly plentiful and clean at this fancy shopping mall. (8563 0400) 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区东大桥路9号
inKIDS with LINE FRIENDS
The inKIDS with LINE FRIENDS Playground, located on the third floor of the Yintai Centre in Guomao, features a ball pit as well as white netting running across the open space of the upper floor where kids can safely bounce around above their parents’ heads. The space also has a café and sitting area for parents who want to relax while their children play. (6566 6060) 3rd floor of Yintai Centre, No.2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang. 朝阳区 建国门外大街2号
Ready Reading Library
This bilingual kids library offers an extensive selection of books catered towards children under the age of nine, and also sells an array of kid’s toys, organizes arts and crafts classes, and often puts on fun live storytelling events. (5368 5569) Guanghualu Soho, Level 15, Block 1 no.22 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区光华路SOHO一期一单元15层，光华路南侧，都是圈的那个楼
Sanlitun, Xingfucun, and Dongzhimen 三里屯, 幸福村, 和东直门
Tuanjiehu Park 团结湖公园
Tuanjiehu is home to downtown Beijing’s best and most mindful water park, which is great fun on weekdays but can get very crowded on weekends. Tuanjiehu also features a roller-skating park, several rides, and boats. (8597 4677) 16 Tuanjiehu Nanli, Chaoyang. 朝阳区 团结湖南里16号
Taikoo Li Sanlitun 太古里三里屯
The area in and around Taikoo Li Sanlitun is an expat hub, with loads of international shops, restaurants, bars, beauty services, and more. In the summer, the fountains in front of the Apple Store attract lots of kids, who play and run through the water jets as their parents look on. Taikoo Li also has a Megabox Cinema that shows a handful of Hollywood. Bar Street also has two DVD stores where you can buy cheap international movies. A must for polluted days. (6536 0512) 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village
Blue Zoo Beijing 富国海底世界
Located at the south gate of Worker’s Stadium, Blue Zoo Beijing is worth about half a day’s visit. Visitors can spot parrot fish, nurse sharks, leopard sharks, stingrays, moray eels, daily mermaid shows, and the occasional underwater marriage ceremony. This is also where SinoScuba holds confined water sessions for the PADI Open Water certification. (6591 3397) Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区工人体育场南门
Bookworm
Bilingual bookstore and book lending library with regular story times and baby sing groups. Serving coffee and food, making it a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the Sanlitun area. (6586 9507) Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu Chaoyang. 朝阳区工体北路4号院
Chaoyang Park and Liangmaqiao 朝阳公园和亮马桥
Chaoyang Park 朝阳公园
As the largest patch of green space in Beijing, Chaoyang Park is a no-brainer for families; entrance fees are cheap, and there are lots of areas to play. Young visitors can fly kites, rent a pedal boat for the lake, go on fairground rides (including a merry-go-round and bumper cars), or play on the bouncy castle. There’s also a treetop obstacle course called Happy Gorilla with a network of bridges, swings, and zip lines. (6506 5409) 1 Nongzhan Nanlu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区农展馆南路1号
Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park 蓝色港湾
Located a stone’s throw away from Chaoyang Park, this family favorite has been open since 2008 and carries brand names like Zara Home, H&M, Mothercare, and more. The village-style layout offers plenty of space for kids to run around in, including the popular central plaza, with its fountains and whimsical decorations. Indoors, there’s an entire children’s wing with play facilities and family-oriented shops. Solana also has a cinema, western restaurants, and an indoor ice rink. (5905 6565/68) 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区 朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾国际商区
Wangjing and Lido 望京和丽都
Indigo Mall 颐堤港
Located just south of 798, the mall hosts regular kids’ events in its airy atrium space. In the warmer months, families can access the Indigo Playground out back, which features a fountain and two play areas connected by a garden. Indigo Mall also has numerous restaurants, children’s brands, and play centers. (8426 0898) 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区酒仙桥路18
Si’de Park 四得公园
Located in Lido, this modest park is a popular destination for families. Si’de Park features a running track that winds around the entirety of the park, along with a roller skating rink, a fishing pond, soccer pitches, playground, a bouncy castle, and fairground rides. (6438 6093) Jiangtai Xilu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区将台西路
Lido Place
A popular apartment and mall complex where many foreigners reside and also many fairs and bazaars are held. This can be great for those looking to connect with the local crafts scene or the occasional farmer’s market. (6437 6688) 6 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang.朝阳区 将台路6号
The New City Center
Tucked away above the Yuan Art Museum in Wangjing, the New City Center is a cross between a cafe, community center, and events venue. Founded by expat Canadians, the Center offers children’s programs and after school classes. (6475 1066) 112 Lize Xiyuan, Guangshun Beidajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang. 朝阳区 望京广顺北大街丽泽西园112号 (www.thenewcitycenter.com)
Laiguangying and Beigao 来广营和北皋
Riviera Plaza Mall
Another great shopping area with a liberal amount of kid-friendly space sprinkled about. This is a very popular space to not only get some shopping done but to also get your play on. Opposite West Gate of Lane Bridge Villa, 5 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang. 朝阳区来广营东路5号 香江广场
Red1Karting Beijing
Do you have a little Formula 1 racer in the making? Then get over to Red1Karting Beijing to satisfy that need for speed. Located north of Shangezhuang subway station, Red1Karting is a pretty swanky affair, featuring karts manufactured by French company Sodikart and other facilities including a cafe, entertainment room with billiards and foosball tables, and KTV. (186 1015 8386) Laiguangying Donglu, Cuigezhuang, Chaoyang. 朝阳区崔各庄乡善各庄村来广营东路88号
Crab Island
This family friendly park covers an enormous amount of space and has a lot to offer visiting families. Some highlights include an ecological science park, go-karting, mini zoo, and water park. (8433 5566/5588) 1 Xiedao Lu (take Weigou Exit off Airport Expressway and follow signs), Chaoyang.朝阳区1号 蟹岛路 (苇沟出口)
Shunyi 顺义
Shine Hills
Packed with kids’ stores, family- friendly restaurants and big names like Uniqlo and Gap, this shopping center has a little for everyone. There is even a cinema on the premises so you can relax and catch a flick after all that playtime. 9 Anxiang Dajie, Shunyi. 安祥大街9号院中粮.祥云小鎭
Shunyi Jian River Park
This park is located at the joining of the Jian and Chaobai Rivers and extends down 3.8km to Nanbei Road. That’s a lot of space to run around and go wild on with your little ones, especially on those clear spring and summer afternoons when you just need to get out.
Latitude
Jump around and get loose with your kids at this state-of-the-art trampoline park. Along with boasting tons of bouncy fun, there is also an array of climbing walls, obstacle courses, a dodgeball court, and more. (8047 6556) Anping Street, Houshayu, Shunyi. 顺义区后沙峪安平街3号（枯柳树环岛国门一号）
Atelier
Get your child’s creative juices flowing with this arts-focused school for kids and adults. They have classes in drawing, painting, along with a couple new media focused programs to help your kids get ahead with their creative endeavors. (5686 4243) 204-205, Building 2, Central Park, No.16 Road Yufeng, Shunyi. 顺义区裕丰路16号院会展誉景2号楼204-205
Photos: Uni You, Ember Swift, Sui, and Kids Stream
This article originally appeared on p 18-21 of beijingkids May Issue Home & Relocation Guide. Download a copy here.
