Top Family-friendly Activities in Beijing

Your kids won't be strange at the Great Wall always appears in the TV, books or others. Now it is time to take theme to visit the real Great Wall. Your family will definitely amazed by this masterpiece of man-made architecture. The Great Wall enjoys a total length of more than 8,850 km (5,500 miles) and Beijing proudly keeps 573km (356 miles) of it, including the most famous sections – Mutianyu, Badaling, Jinshanling, Simatai, etc. Mutianyu Great Wall and Badaling Great Wall are recommended because they offer best preserved walls, well-maintained facilities.

For young kids without enough physical strength, it is available to take cable car to ascend and descend the Great Wall. The Toboggan ride on the Mutianyu Great Wall is very popular with kids. It is an exciting and safe ride from the upper location of Great Wall to the lower place.

Hutong is traditional alleyways connecting Beijing's Siheyuan (quadrangle dwellings) together. Now many hutongs are still well-preserved in Beijing and accommodate many locals. Riding through Hutongs, by bike or rickshaw, you will catch a glimpse of the traditional courtyard residences. It is available to take a visit to local family in Hutong and experience the real normal life of the people. Sitting together with the Chinese family, learning to make dumpling or tasting some local family food, it will be a fresh experience for you.

Traveling with China Discovery, we can also offer handwork classes for you kids, like making facial makeup of Peking Opera, learning paper cutting, learning Chinese calligraphy, etc.

Visiting Beijing, you can't miss the great nightlife. Other than bars and karaoke. traditional show are best choice for family with kids of all ages. The most exciting Kungfu show at Red Theater is rather favored by Kungfu fans. It tells a moving story with amazing dance and music. Many younger kids also like acrobatic performance in Chaoyang Theater which is one top venue to admire traditional acrobatics in China. Interesting shows include bicycles, ballet, hoop jumping, ball skills, contortion and Chinese magic tricks, etc. For elder children who have an interest in opera, appreciating Peking Opera in Liyuan Theater is a good choice as well. Beijing opera is the most dominant form of Chinese opera and offers a great opportunity to understand Chinese culture.

Beijing Zoo and Beijing Aquarium within the Zoo are highly recommended for family with kids. Here you can see the lovely-pandas in the Panda House, beautiful sea creatures and appreciate the interesting Dolphin & Seal Performances in the Aquarium.

Beijing Happy Valley has become pretty popular with both adults and children for 40 different rides and quite cool themed areas. The teenage children can take some thrilling adventures rides and there are lovely shows suitable for little ones. The night performances in summer are brilliant for whole family.

Another featured theme park is the Happy Magic Water Cube Waterpark in the Olympic Park. Yes, just get inside the Water Cube. After Beijing Olympic Games, the Water Cube has been turned into a modern day waterpark. The theme park inside it offers huge water roller coasters and rockets firing people into the tube, artificial beach inside as well, very exciting and fun.

Summer Palace is the best-preserved royal Garden of China. With natural beauty in artificial garden, it shows the philosophy of balancing the works of man with nature. Kunming Lake is a highlight of Summer Palace and taking a boat is the best way to enjoy a different view of the scenery around. You can choose a small boat, oar, peddle or electric one to ride on the lakes.

In addition to Summer Palace, you can ride a boat in some other parks, such as Beihai Lake, Yuyuantan Park, Qingnianhu Park, Yuanmingyuan Park, Zizhuyuan Park, etc. Among these parks, Summer Palace and Beihai Park enjoy the largest water areas.

The best time for flying kites in Beijing is spring and autumn, when you and your kids can fly a kite in a pleasant breezing day together with the locals. Especially in spring, flying a kite is a rather popular way to embrace the arrival of spring.

Most locals choose to fly a kite in Haidian Park. There is a big grass lawn at its center providing an ideal site for kite lover. It is available to fly a kite in Olympic Park as well and you can also enjoy some well-known modern buildings, such as Bird's Nest and Water Cube.

Many children, especially teenagers, love skiing. If your children are kind of snow-lover, take then to the ski resorts around Beijing. Lots of ski resorts for your choice, including Haibei Ski Resort, Snow World Ski Resort, Nanshan Ski Resort, Badaling Ski Resort, Yuyang Ski Resort, Jundushan Ski Resrot, Yunfoshan Ski Resort, etc. Some ski resorts also allocates a big portion for children's playground which is loved by younger kids.

Also, there's another winter highlight in Beijing, that is skating on lakes or rivers in local parks, such as Beihai Park and Summer Palace. Both are great places for travelers and local people to have fun in winter.