Are you on China’s essential dining and exploring app Dazhong Dianping better known simply as Dianping (DP) yet? Think of it as a Chinese Yelp – which can really help you to discover new places in the neighbourhood and beyond. Our Jingkids account on Dianping offers full reviews in English so that our expat families can easily access our noteworthy places.
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Our most recent discovery of the Le Xue Le Chong Parent-Child Club Inquiry Learning Center (乐学乐宠亲子俱乐部) in downtown Beijing comes just in time for the summer holidays since it’s a fun educational play space + petting zoo + library with bilingual-speaking staff!
The humble storefront belies a tonne of fun for both kids and adults alike – from their make-believe kitchen and market play area to various intellectual toys such as the musical marble run Xyloba to Hot Wheels and kinetic sand pit complete with play dinosaurs and volcanoes. They are even equipped with microscopes and genuine trilobite fossils for a little bit of archaeological fun. Want some Chinese culture? Check out the calligraphy corner where they sometimes have instructors to teach ancient traditional art too.
If you’re in need of some fur therapy, head on downstairs to their petting zoo where you’ll get up close and personal with meerkats, raccoons, minks, piglets, plus the more common poodle puppies and hairless cats. If you prefer cold-blooded creatures, their petting zoo also boasts several exotic lizards. All the animals are also available for sale if you fall in love with any of them.
You’ll also find an intimate dining area on the lower level where you are welcome to have your own snacks or even your waimai meals. They also have chilled bottled drinks for sale. On the mezzanine level, you’ll find a cozy little library with both English and Chinese books.
The Le Xue Le Chong Parent-Child Club was created by Xue (Angela) Rong, a Beijing native who studied and worked overseas in England and US, for her two daughters – so you can think of the place as a really generous playroom full of parental guidance and support. A firm believer in inquiry-based play, Angela seeks to provide an engaging and educational environment with the support of proficient educators to spark kids’ natural enthusiasm for learning. She’ll be happy to chat with you about her parenting philosophy while your kids explore and play in the Club with her two lovely daughters Esther and Esna who are also helping to run the place! In fact, they made this video to introduce the store – check it out!
All-day admission and unlimited access to the Club costs RMB 260 for one parent and child, with multiple entries through their working hours from 10am – 10pm. It’s located in the same building as Alice Beauty Spa, across from Viva Beijing and Landgent Space3 building in the Shuangjing area of downtown Beijing. Just follow the location pin below and give them a call (152 0111 0424) if you need help finding your way there.
Be sure to follow us on Dianping for more reviews of family-friendly places and restaurants!
Images: Dianping, Vivienne Tseng-Rush
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