Family Activities in Beijing: The Ultimate Fun List

Looking for great ways to keep your little one's busy and help them learn at the same time? Then check out our guide.

China’s capital strive to impress. From the iconic grandeurs of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace to Tiananmen Square’s imposing communist era edifices, there’s an iconic sense of the familiar about Beijing, as though walking through a film set.

With a population of around 20 million, and ever-present smog that lends the city a somewhat apocalyptic backdrop, Beijing is not an obviously family friendly destination. However, this very modern and very grown up city has a young heart, and in fact, families will love the cultural mix of quirky and controlled, historic and modern.

Simple pleasures, such as watching kites in Tiananmen Square or taking a rickshaw through atmospheric Hutongs, can make for memorable days out with the family; particularly when those days conclude with a kickass Kung Foo show at the Beijing Red Theater.

Your kids will get a warm, tolerant reception from locals, and there’s rarely a restaurant or situation where children are not welcome in China. But do get used to waiting in line. There’s a noticeable difference in the concept of personal space as well, and failing to fill a gap between you and the person in front may result in the gentle pressure of a dozen elbows prompting you to do so. Keep a sense of humor, bring snacks and games to keep the kids entertained, and you’ll get along just fine. A sweetener for many families is that kids under 1.2m generally enjoy free entry to museums.

Getting around Beijing is relatively easy. The subway system is fast, clean and efficient and taxis are cheap and plentiful. Keep in mind that although many drivers can speak a little English, it helps to have your destination clearly written down in Chinese. Or, can hire an English-speaking taxi driver through beijing-driver.com.

Here’s our pick of the best family friendly activities in Beijing:

Historical Attractions

Great Wall at Mutianyu

Although long debunked by Chinese astronauts, the myth of the Great Wall of China being the only man-made project visible from the moon still persists. At a staggering 6,400 kilometers in length, the Great Wall is truly awesome. Incredibly, experts now think building on the wall was started earlier than the already ancient, Qin Dynasty timeframe (around 200 BC). The section at Mutianyu is a little further away from Beijing than the most popular section at Badaling, but crowds are fewer and this section is fully restored, with handrails to assist on steeper parts. The views are spectacular, and there are cable cars to take you the top of the wall and back down again. Take in the show-stopping view and capture some cherished family moments on one of the true wonders of world.

Forbidden City (Imperial Palace)

This iconic temple complex has around 9,000 rooms and is spread over 250 acres. It was first built in the 1400s century, and during the Qing Dynasty, the palace was completely renovated. It is impressive and stately with beautiful gardens, its vast size means you’ll do a lot of walking - be sure to take the stroller and plan your visit well if little ones are involved.

Summer Palace Yiheyuan

Take some time to stroll around this vast 290-acre park with ancient pavilions, temples and bridges, or take a boat ride on the huge lake and be sure to visit a teahouse. Climb to the top of the palace for stunning views over the lake and city. The pagoda-like Long Corridor makes for wonderful photo opportunities too. A beautiful retreat from Beijing’s fierce summer heat, the palace is equally lovely on a crisp winter morning, when crowds are few.

Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Park)

A six-century old UNESCO listed temple complex, the Temple of Heaven has exquisite decoration and is set in gardens surrounded by historic pine trees. The area is great for people watching, and the verdant park offers a scenic escape from the city.

Water and Theme Parks

Happy Magic Water Cube

The largest outdoor water park in Beijing features a wave pool, lazy river, various chutes, flumes and the terrifying Plummet Bodyslide. The Octopus Racer is also great fun.

City Seaview Crab Island

Located inside the Crab Island Resort, this 60,000 square meter water park features the biggest man-made beach in China, six outdoor pools, slides, a wave pool, a toddler pool and more. After tiring of splishing and splashing, visit the small theme park and rent go karts, or try your hand at fishing in the indoor pond at Crab Palace - when you’re done, the organic restaurant will cook up whatever you catch. Outside and nearby there’s even a small zoo housing a few animals.

Tuanjiehu Park

Situated right near the busy third ring road inside one of Beijing’s more modest parks, Tuanjiehu Park is overlooked by the majority of tourists. But the conscientious approach to hygiene standards, and fewer crowds, make this unpretentious waterpark a real gem for those looking to escape the city without traveling far. There’s a man made beach, water slides, swings and a volleyball court. 16 Tuanjiehu Nanli, Chaoyang District.

Happy Valley Amusement Park

This is Beijing’s answer to Disneyland; it’s surprisingly slick, though heavy crowds can make for very long waits to see attractions. Happy Valley is part of a chain, and this particular site has six themed areas including the Aegean Sea and the Lost Maya. There are 40 state-of-the-art rides (10 being extreme) scattered over 100 acres, and the park also includes China’s longest rollercoaster. Kids under 1.2m get are free.

Playrooms

Fundazzle

Beijing’s favorite indoor playroom has a huge two-story jungle gym with slides that launch delighted kids into a colossal ball pit. There are also inflatables, trampolines and a toddler area with sand box, cars, swings and little toy houses. On weekends, staff teach arts and crafts and organize songs and shows. Gongti Nan Road.

Family Box

Describing itself as a ‘recreational and educational center,’ Family Box is part kindergarten and part playroom. The center is housed in a very groovy three-storey building, and holds a large playroom for kids aged 0-12 with an obstacle course, trampolines, bubble zone, swimming pool, crafting room and more. There are lots of courses and activities on offer, and the café makes it a great place to hang out as a family.

Star Trooper Laser Tag

A slightly more grown up take on a playroom: imagine the movie Tron come to life, and you’ll have some idea of what this place is all about. Laser tag is played in an indoor, themed arena with lighting effects, fog and music for ultimate family challenge. Suitable for kids 1.3 metres or taller.

Museums

National Museum Of China

Free if you show your passport, this museum is huge, fascinating and immaculate. With so much to see, it’s easy to spend an entire day here. Limited descriptions in English can make for a frustrating visit, but the quality of the exhibits makes up for this.

Planetarium

One of Beijing’s more modern attractions thanks to a RMB 300 million facelift, the Planetarium is certainly worth an hour or so distraction for the kids. There’s a laser filled theatre taking you on a tour of the cosmos, and another 4-D theater where you strap on a pair of goggles and watch a film about the creation of the solar system and earth. There’s also a 3D space shuttle simulator.

China Science and Technology Museum

Housed in a huge new 48,000 sqm facility, the China Science and Technology Museum features exhibition rooms, each with a different theme: Exploration and Discovery; Science, Technology and Life; Challenges and the Future; and more. It’s hands-on heaven for kids that love to get involved, and for most youngsters it doesn’t seem to matter that the instructions are not in English. There are also state-of-the-art 4D and 3D cinemas, as well as decent dining options.

Sony ExploraScience

Kids will enjoy the interactive displays including musical sculptures, sound and light distortion machines, soap bubble rings and an animation section. When leaving, don’t forget to collect the photo taken of you at the start. RMB30 (adults), RMB20 (students), free (kids under 1.2m); buy your tickets at the museum booth outside Chaoyang Park’s south or east gates and you won’t have to buy park tickets as well.

Chinese Aviation Museum

Aviation enthusiasts of all ages will love this highly diverting museum containing over 300 exhibits including old fighter planes, some of which the kids can climb around on. Situated in Changping County, the museum is located about 45km by road from central Beijing. RMB50 (adults), RMB25 (kids).

China Railway Museum

Located on the outskirts of the city, the Railway Museum is a little tricky to get to but worth the effort for railway buffs of all ages. The large hangar is tightly packed with steam, diesel and electric locomotives, along with various coaches spanning the 1880s to the 1970s. Exhibits include a few foreign made trains, and some can be boarded.

Paleozoological Museum

It’s seen better days and most descriptions are in Chinese, but dinosaur enthusiasts will enjoy an hour or so perusing the reconstructed fossils and exhibits, including a 22-meter Brachiosaurus, at Asia’s largest paleontological museum. It is located close to the zoo and planetarium, so consider a detour here if you still have the energy. Free for kids under 1.2m.

Geological Museum of China

Another much less frequented choice, but if rocks, minerals and gemstones appeal to your family, then this museum is well laid out, with plenty of exhibits and informative English descriptions. Well worth an hour or two of your time.

Beijing Natural History Museum

It may have seen better days, what with Chinese-only descriptions and dated exhibits. Many of the digital displays and animatronic exhibits are broken, but there’s a half decent aquarium in the basement, and the startling expressions of the taxidermied animals make for an amusing distraction.

Dynasty Wax Works Palace

An interesting way to visualize how a selection of China’s famous historical, political and cultural figures – 53 in all – might have looked in the flesh.

Animal Attractions

Beijing Aquarium

This modern, thoughtfully curated aquarium features lots of great exhibits with freshwater and saltwater fish from around the world. There’s even an entire coral reef in a huge tank, and plenty of sharks. Be sure to time your visit with one of the scheduled shows featuring seals and dolphins.

Beijing Zoo

The newer panda and chimp enclosures are well worth seeing, but animal lovers may have a hard time seeing the living conditions for the rest of the animals. The behavior of some visitors, who seem to have a penchant for taunting animals, may also prove less than appealing. Consider yourself warned.

Butterfly Valley

Situated a short drive outside of Shunyi, Butterfly Valley is home to more than 30 species of butterflies which fly around freely inside the enclosures, making for great photo opportunities if one should land on you, and a chance for little ones to get up close to these delicate insects. There’s a breeding center where over 500 native and Japanese species are bred annually, and it’s possible to watch caterpillars transform in the center’s cocoon rooms. Crafting activities are available and one fun – if mildly creepy - option is the chance to make collages using real butterfly wings that the creatures have shed naturally. The results are prettier than they sound. Bring BBQ supplies, rent one of the centers outdoor BBQ grills, and make a day of it.

Parks and Nature

Olympic Forest Park

Constructed for the 2008 Olympics and considered by locals to be Beijing’s best park, particularly for runners who lament the lack of good outdoor opportunities around the city. There is a carp lake where boats can be hired, a sculpture garden, lots of pleasant walkways and plenty of space for a picnic in summer. 33 Kehui Lu, North Fourth Ring Road, Chaoyang district.

Chaoyang Park

A popular park, with plenty of trees, and Chaoyang actually allows ball games and picnics on the grass in the summer. There are lots of sports facilities, including basketball and football pitches, and even an amusement park and boating lake. It’s a great spot to watch people flying kites.1 Nongzhan Nan Lu, Chaoyang district 5RMB admission

Agrilandia Italian Farm

This is a small organic farm that features a fruit orchard with peaches and plums which can be picked, for a small fee. Sponsor a tree and help yourselves to fruit all season. There is also a small petting zoo, making this farm a rare chance to experience rural life while enjoying tasty, organic produce.

Snow and Ski

Qiaobo Ice and Snow World

The first and only indoor ski resort in Beijing, Qiaobo features two slopes: one for beginners (150m) and one for intermediates (260m). It won’t challenge experienced skiers but it certainly makes for a welcome chance to cool off in the summer.

Huaibei Ski Resort

Situated just 70km from downtown Beijing (approximately 1 hour's ride) in the Jiugukou Natural Scenic Area, near the Great Wall. There are seven trails, one grass run, three beginner trails, one intermediate trail and two advanced totaling 3,100 meters in length. There’s also a cable car running to 1,200m. Non-skiers will appreciate other activities such as snowmobiles, horse drawn sleds or even snow archery. Ski hire and accommodation available.

Dining

The English Tea Room

A quintessential slice of Cath Kidston adorned Englishness serving classic British breakfast, home made cakes and a variety of imported teas. There’s even a delightful children’s tearoom to keep little ones amused.

Switch Grill

A stylish, family friendly grill with an all day menu to suit all tastes and a separate ‘Kids Zone’ with tiny tables, chairs and kid friendly decor.

The Filling Station

An American style family restaurant serving tasty classics - burger and fries type fair. There’s a great kids menu serving imaginatively titled choices and a playroom with retro video games, table football and slides.

Din Tai Fung

This Taiwanese owned chain’s reputation has reached legendary status in most cities across China and Hong Kong; Din Tai Fung has some of the tastiest Chinese food to be found anywhere in Asia. The dumplings are sensational. Immaculate kitchens make it a favorite with foreigners and locals alike, and the Beijing branch even has a supervised playroom for kids. Perfect.

Grand Hyatt Sunday Kids’ Club Brunch

Sunday is about brunch in Beijing, and Grand Hyatt hosts the ultimate family style buffet, with a playroom for kids of all ages featuring their own miniature buffet. The kids’ buffet is complete with a post-breakfast chocolate fountain and candy, and a chef is on hand to teach basic culinary techniques. Adults will love the grown up selection of food and relaxed vibe.

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