Kara Chin
Beachside Fun
Crab Island
The Crab Island resort reportedly sprawls over 1 million square meters. What's not in question is the wealth of family fun that if offers: a lake with paddle boats, fishing ponds, go-karting, grassland carting, a zoo, and an "organic" farm complete with egg picking. There are two amusement parks: one with a carousel and bumper cars, the other with a big playground, aqua bumper boats and a swinging boat. The zoo features ostriches, camels, llamas, bunnies, exotic birds and deer.
China Excursions Part 2
Dali
This town in central Yunnan combines natural beauty with exotic local flavor. Dali has a striking physical location and an interesting history as a former capital. The Bai people have inhabited the area for thousands of years, and their cultural influence is immediately evident in the food and romantic legends of the region.
If your family is feeling adventurous, renting bikes is a great way to explore the area and avoid the tour buses. Since the town is small, it's no hard task to navigate its thin, cobblestone roads and ancient walls. Its small-town charm has attracted a fair-sized foreign community, which means that decent Western cuisine such as pizza, coffee and pancakes can easily be found. History aficionados will find the Dali museum and its three main pagodas particularly interesting, while hikers can explore Mt. Cangshan - an exquisite mountain famous for strange cloud formations. The nearby Erhai Lake, one of the seven largest lakes in China, is surrounded by tiny villages.
China Excursions Part 1
Inner Mongolia
The trek to Inner Mongolia may lead some travelers to question whether or not they are still in China. The flowing grasslands and desert expanses of this exotic land are a far cry from Beijing, and the capital city Hohhot offers exposure to mystic traditions and delicious cuisine. While organized tours are available in and around Hohhot, families with older children may want to visit more remote towns and villages. Spend a night in a traditional nomadic yurt and visit the mausoleum of Genghis Khan. Culture-seekers can soak up traditional Mongolian singing and dancing, while adventurers can try horse and camel riding. Due to the normally harsh climate in this part of the country, visiting between June and September is recommended.
Talking Climate Change: Are you willing to take responsibility for the planet?
This year, Beijingers only saw a sliver of spring and experienced the chill of a prolonged winter instead. Whether climate change is the culprit is debatable, but we can no longer deny that sea levels are rising, ice caps are melting, volcanoes are erupting and earthquakes are brewing. The students of Yew Chung International School of Beijing expressed their growing concern about climate change, why they think it is real and what developed countries can do to lessen their impact on our planet.
Bye Bye Winter
Munkhzul Baatar
Where are you from?
Mongolia
How old are your children?
My daughter is 5 years old and my son is 1 year old.
How long have you been living in Beijing?
Two years
Where do you like to shop?
I like shopping at Yashow and Sanlitun Village. I like Uniqlo, Mango and ONLY.
Do you have a favorite spot in Beijing?
We like Chaoyang Park and Tuanjiehu Park.
Where is your outfit from?
My cardigan and jeans are from Vero Moda and my shoes are from Yashow.
Do you have plans for the summer?
We will go to Ulaan Batar in Mongolia.
Do you miss winter?
I like summer; the weather is nicer.
I Want To Be an Editor
Vermont native Shaan Khan first came to China in 2002 after graduating from Skidmore College with a degree in English Literature. After teaching English at China University of Petroleum in Shandong province for two years, he completed an MFA in Fiction at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Shaan is currently based in Beijing and works as a writer for Waggener Edstrom, one of the largest independently owned PR agencies in the world. He works with global clients that include Microsoft, Joyo-Amazon (China's Amazon), and Hewlett Packard. Shaan spokewith students at Dulwich College, sharing his love of the written word and explainingthe intricacies of writing and editing as a profession.
Family Favorites
The Amazing Aylmers
British Daniel Aylmer, the General Manager of the Westin Chaoyang Hotel and Indonesian Poppy Aylmer, the China Clinics Marketing Manager of International SOS, have two sons, Joshua (4) and William (5 months). The Aylmers have been living in China for over ten years and in Beijing for over two. Despite having lived in Nanjing, Sanya and Suzhou, Beijing is their favorite for family-friendly spots. Want to share your Beijing favorites? E-mail editor-kids@beijing-kids.com.
Best Outdoor Activity
Chaoyang Park
New Hangout
Family Box - it's a bit pricey, so it is a treat to go there.
Family Rituals
The weekend is reserved for father-son time, which includes bath and storytime.
Best Day Trip
As city-dwelling folk, we love going shopping and sitting in cafes. In the summer, we head to Sanlitun Village for the kid-friendly water fountain.
Exploring Egypt with the Murphys
The Travelers
Mike Murphy, his son Bowen (5) and daughter Ingrid (4).
The Plan
Cashing in their frequent flyer miles, the Murphys flew business class on Cathay Pacific Airlines to Hong Kong and then Gulf Airlines to Bahrain. The points also allowed the family to stay in luxury hotels during their travels.
The Murphys arrived in Cairo and stayed at the Hilton Pyramids Golf Resort for four days. On the second day, they met with their good friends, the Maos (see p37). The two families then traveled via night train to Luxor.
Having been to Egypt before, Mike revisited the sites that he wanted to share with his children. They explored the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak, Luxor Temple and King Tut's Tomb. After three days in Luxor, they took an evening flight to the diving resort of Sharm El Sheik. While there, they enjoyed the luxuries of the Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh, including its 80m-long waterslide - the longest in the Middle East.
Japanese Snowflakes
The Travelers
Alexander John Key, his wife Jacqueline Renee Cohen and son Nathaniel (4) and daughter Saskia (3).
The Plan
The family booked their trip to Niseko, Japan with Holly at Mercury Travel. China Air offers direct flights every Wednesday and Saturday to the New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. The flight was a mere four hours and the drive to Niseko is approximately two.
Located on the northern island of Hokkaido, Niseko is the perfect year-round getaway for skiing and snowboarding. The area is famous for its fresh seafood and local produce. Summer travelers can pick their own fruit at a local farm.
Families should stay clear of Hirafu, because of its nightlife and bar culture. Instead, the family recommends the Niseko Country Resort (www.nisekocountryresort.com) as a safe and quiet place to stay. Their concierge can help you rent a car or book the Sky Bus shuttle that takes you to your chalet door.
A Mao Family New Year
The Travelers
Victor Mao, his wife Yue Zhuge, their sons Colin (12) and Stanley (7), Qihua's father Kecheng Mao, his aunt Xiaolan Lu and Yue's mother Xiang Chen.
The Plan
Instead of celebrating Chinese New Year in China, the Maos opted for an exciting trip to Egypt with the extended family. The eldest and youngest of travelers were 70 years apart.
The Maos flew from Beijing to Cairo via Dubai. In Cairo, they spent two days visiting Giza, the Sakkara pyramid and Coptic Cairo. Then, they boarded an evening train from Cairo to Luxor, where they spent three days. An evening flight with a local airline took them to their next destination, Sharm El Sheikh. After three days there, they took a van back to Cairo via Suez. Their last day was spent in Cairo visiting a citadel and local markets. After their big adventure, the Maos flew Gulf Air back to Beijing.
