Day Trips
Playtime SOS Part 2
11. Fundazzle
Fundazzle makes young kids squeal with delight, while it makes their parents wince (because it smells of feet), then gasp (at the size of the plastic-ball-filled pool) and finally sigh (as they realize that for a few precious hours, the furniture in their home is safe). This cavernous, indoor playground has a huge two-story jungle gym, trampolines and a toddler area with small cars, swings, seesaws, toy houses and so on.
RMB 30 (kids); adults free (Mon-Fri), RMB 15 (Sat-Sun). Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun and holidays 9am-7pm.
Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6593 6208) 朝阳区工体南路
12. Horse Riding 
The Asgard Horsemanship Club near Shunyi is run by husband-and-wife team Daisy and Ren Yake. In addition to stables, Asgard features a soccer field, children's playground, a fishing and duck pond, petting zoo and a fruit orchard. Accommodation is available for RMB 300 a night.
RMB 380 for a 45-minute single lesson. Memberships available for RMB 2,400 (10 sessions), RMB 6,600 (30 sessions) and RMB 9,800 (50 sessions). Tue-Sun 7am-7pm. Shunhuang Lu (just west of Danshui Restaurant), Chaoyang District (8459 5908); 亚萨园乡村俱乐部.朝阳区顺黄路淡水餐厅西边
Playtime SOS Part 1
1. Goose 'n Duck Ranch
Better suited for younger kids than teens, the ranch's activities include swimming, archery, horseback riding, fishing, soccer, basketball, badminton, softball and paintball. You can stay for a day or spend the entire weekend in one of the cabins. Shuttle buses depart from Goose 'n' Duck Pub. Single-day packages (RMB 260, half price for kids 4-12) include food, beverages and round-trip transportation; two-day packages (RMB 600, half price for kids ages 4-12, free for kids under 4) include the above, plus accommodation. Dogs are welcome. Reservations are required.
Daily 24hrs. Huairou Beizhai, Huairou District (6067 1097) www.gdclub.net.cn 鹅和鸭, 怀柔区北寨
2. Star Trooper Laser Tag
Indulge your trigger-happy children in a very trippy atmosphere. This is a great option for birthdays or large groups (kids must be taller than 1.3m). Each game lasts 15 minutes. Groups of six or more can rent the entire venue for RMB 1,680 per hour. Pizza delivery is available.
RMB 40 (first game), RMB 30 (additional games). Wed-Fri 2-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8pm. B1, 316 Wangjing Xiyuan Sanqu, Chaoyang District (6475 8329, info@startrooper.net) www.startrooper.net 朝阳区望京西园三区316号楼，地下一层
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.
Beijing Activity Guide
Getting the most out of the Capital
Restaurants
Hot Pot: Hai Di Lao
This hot pot joint is a favorite among Chinese families. Noodles are a must order item, as they come with an impressive noodle pulling display. English is limited here so best to bring someone with Chinese language skills. Alternatively, you can simply point to the dishes at other tables and say "Na ge."
For locations, see Directory under Chinese.
Autumn Pickings
Catch the best of Xiangshan’s multi-hued beauty
photos by Jeff Warrington
When was the last time you picnicked in an emperor’s country estate? Seven hundred years ago, Jin dynasty emperors looking for a rustic getaway from Beijing settled on Fragrant Mountain, or Xiangshan, located in the northwest suburban areas of the city. They built imperial palaces and temples on the mountain, which for the next several centuries became an exclusive resort for royal families during summer and autumn.
It wasn’t until 1956 that regular Beijingers could also visit Fragrant Mountain, a spot that the Chinese rank alongside other local treasures such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Besides more than 180 acres of rolling hills, characterized by an array of centuries-old pine trees and maple trees, and a peak that soars half a kilometer into the sky, Xiangshan also provides hiking paths and numerous temples, pavilions and pagodas that will appeal to families looking for a day trip.
On the Dragon’s Trail
Enter a dream world of long and lanterns at Longtan Park
If you’ve ever wondered why Beijing sports so many dragon-themed rooftops, the answer is simple: Chinese people consider themselves “descendants of the dragon” (lóng de chuánrén, 龙的传人). They express their love and respect for this “ancestor” by decorating their houses and clothes with images of the dragon, or long.
At Longtan Park in the south of Beijing, this passion for the mythological creature is on full display. There’s a dragon hiding in every corner of this park, be it a statue, a sculpture, a lantern, a bridge, a boat or a pavilion. Kids and adults alike can soak up Chinese long culture here, all while enjoying the picturesque views and entertainment facilities throughout the park.
Alien Street Market
Kira Quartly is American, 9-months-old and loves when parents Jules and Jackie take her to Alien Street.
Whenever I go to Alien Street, I go home with something cool. It has loads of stuffed animals – some of them three or four times bigger than me! There are also a lot of dolls, and the boys will like the robot-type toys that make a lot of noise and walk around, buzzing with flashing lights. All the salespeople seem to love babies like me, but that doesn’t mean I get a good discount unless Mom and Dad haggle!
Alien Street Market
Yabao Lu (south of Fulllink Plaza)
Chaoyang District.
老番街市场, 朝阳区雅宝路
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Urban Sanctuary
Fun-filled Chaoyang Park offers a haven for families Chaoyang Park does not boast the rich history of many of Beijing’s other parks – it was first built in 1984 and only fully completed in 2004 – but what it lacks in age it more than makes up for in sheer size and variety of attractions. Located between the eastern Third and Fourth Ring Roads, Asia’s largest park offers more than 288 acres of tranquil scenery and features a multitude of recreational facilities suitable for all ages. Park-goers can enjoy serene and refreshing lakes, massive green lawns, colorful flower gardens, an amusement park, a petting zoo and the high-tech Sony ExploraScience Museum.
Escape to the Summer Palace
Where China meets Beijing
Even in modern-day Beijing, it’s possible to imagine how the emperors used to live by spending a day at the Summer Palace. Once an imperial garden, the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) now attracts thousands of visitors a day with temples, gardens, hilly ascents and an enormous lake. History buffs can easily spend a whole day exploring the administrative and residential courtyards of days gone by. However, the massive park also offers plenty of outdoor pursuits and hidden corners to keep kids and families busy.
Adults and kids alike will enjoy the Garden of Virtue and Harmony. Three stories tall, it is supposedly China’s best-preserved ancient theater. The Empress Dowager Cixi used to watch actors perform Peking opera here, but now visitors can view short performances of dance, acrobatics, and martial arts, accompanied by musicians on traditional string instruments.
Lounging Lakeside
Relaxing by the waters of Beihai Park
When warm weather arrives, it’s no wonder Beijing families and visitors flock to Beihai Park. Located south of Houhai and northwest of the Forbidden City, Beihai Park offers over 130 acres of peaceful scenery as an escape from Xicheng’s bustling streets. Whether you want to row a boat on the vast lake, explore caves near the water, or just walk along the tree-lined paths, Beihai has plenty that will appeal to families looking for a day trip.
