Perhaps you are looking for playing facilities to take your little one to on an eventful weekend, but Universal Studios or Happy Valley might seem like too much. If that’s the case, these places are the spots that you want to take your kids to this summer.
1. Nangong Wuzhou Botanical Paradise 南宫五洲植物乐园
There are a variety of children’s amusement programs here, including the Heavenly Feast in Huaguo Mountain, the East China Sea Treasure Hunt, the Parade Heavenly Palace in the Water Curtain Cave, the Spin Hot Wheels, the mini driving school in the Greenhouse Park, and the parrot show in the Bird Paradise … the list goes on. Your kids will have a lot of fun and won’t want to leave. These attractions are all indoors, so you don’t have to worry about being exposed to the wind and sun at all.
Find it:
Inside Nangong Tourist Scenic Area, 1 Nangong Nanlu, Wangzuo Town, Fengtai District
丰台区王佐镇南宫南路1号南宫旅游景区内
Tickets: RMB 80/person
Opening Hours: 9.30am-5.30pm (no entrance starting from 5pm)
Tel: 8331 8649 / 010-8331 8032
2. China Science and Technology Museum 中国科技馆
As the only national comprehensive science and technology museum, this museum not only imparts scientific knowledge, but it also has a science park, dome, giant screen, 4D, and other special effects theaters for children aged 3-8. The museum has a whopping 48,000 square meter area and a building scale of 102,000 square meters, which is already making me want to go there very badly.
Find it:
5 Beichen Donglu, Chaoyang District (1km away from the Bird’s Nest)
朝阳区北辰东路5号（距鸟巢1公里）
Tickets: Main exhibition area – Regular RMB 30, Student RMB 20 (free for children under 8 years old, those older than 60, and people with disabilities)
Children’s Science and Technology Park – RMB 30/person/session
Special Effects Theaters: Regular RMB 30, Student RMB 20. Must book 7 days in advance through WeChat (中国科学技术馆) or website (https://cstm.cdstm.cn/)
Opening Hours: 9am-5.30pm (no entrance starting from 4.30pm)
Tel: 5904 1000
3. Beijing Zoo 北京动物园
This was China’s first-ever zoo, and with only a ticket price of RMB 15, you can see animals such as giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, flamingos, giraffes, as well as more than 500 different types of animals. I guess summer is the perfect time to let your kids learn a little more about wildlife, right?
Find it:
137 Xizhimenwai Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区西直门外大街137号
Tickets: RMB 15, free entry for children under 6 years old, under 1.2m, and the elderly over 60 years (with ID certificate)
Opening Hours: 7.30am-6pm (no entrance starting from 6pm)
Tel: 6839 0274
4. Beijing Aquarium 北京海洋馆
The aquarium is just north of the Beijing Zoo, and has plenty of wildlife, including penguins, sharks, Chinese sturgeons, and 50,000+ more types of marine species. There are also beluga and dolphin shows daily to keep your kids entertained if they are tired of standing up and walking around a lot.
Find it:
18b Gaoliangqiao Xiejie (6 Qixiang Lu), Haidian District
海淀区高粱桥斜街乙18号（气象路6号）
Tickets: RMB 175, discount ticket RMB 85 for individuals under 18 and those over 60, free for children under 1.2m.
Opening Hours: 9am-5.30pm (no entrance starting from 5pm)
Tel: 6217 6655
5. Military Museum 军事博物馆
China’s first comprehensive military museum, this museum displays pistols, airplanes, tanks, and even large weapons like the Dongfeng 1. The scene is spectacular, and every corner is not worth missing out on.
Find it:
9 Fuxing Lu, Haidian District
海淀区复兴路9号
Tickets: Free
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm (no entrance starting from 4pm, closed on Mondays)
Tel: 6686 6244
6. Shougang Blast Furnace · SoReal Science Fiction Park 首钢一高炉·SoReal科幻乐园
If you are looking for a place that is full of exciting technological exhibits and VR facilities, then SoReal Science Fiction Park is the place to be. With a total of six floors, it is recommended to start on the fifth floor and progress top to bottom, because there is a major VR facility that is definitely not worth missing on the fifth floor. If you are too late, sorry, but you might have to wait in line. There is also a six-story climbing tunnel, so if your child wants a physical challenge, then they might also be interested in this!
Find it:
68 Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District
石景山区石景山路68号
Tickets: RMB 76, free for children under 3 years old
Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Thursdays 10.30am-8.30pm, Fridays-Sundays 10.30am-9.30pm, closed on Mondays
Tel: 8829 5181 / 172 0039 7875
Images: Dianping, Pexels
