Where to Go with Kids in Beijing
Beijing is the time-honored capital of China. All around you’ll find historical relics, antique hutongs and gardens, advanced art zones, and tasty food. These all make Beijing an ideal place for you to travel with your kids.
Here we’re going to list some venues you shouldn’t miss when planning your Beijing trip with kids.
1. The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
Family Tour on Mutianyu Great Wall
On speaking of China, many people first think of the Great Wall. With a total length of 21,196 kilometers, which section of the Great Wall would be best for you to tour with kids? Mutianyu.
The Mutianyu (慕田峪) section, rebuilt with smooth and even steps, is the longest fully-restored and most child-friendly section of the Great Wall. Besides, the cableway and slipway will make your parent-child journey more exciting and less tiring.
If you are planning a self-guided tour, check Visiting the Great Wall with Kids first would be better.
2. Gubei Water Town
Gubei Town and Simatai Great Wall
Gubei Water Town, at the foot of the Great Wall at Simatai – the only section of the Great Wall open for night tours – has been a vacation resort since 2010, small but delicate, renovated from an ancient town.
You can take a little boat at sunset around the canals by the lake, or enjoy a wonderful family dinner, or even tour the Simatai Great Wall at night with a cute Chinese oil lamp…
When night falls, the illuminated wall and brilliant ancient town make for stunning night views. It is really a gorgeous place for family fun.
Try our Night Tour on the Great Wall and you’ll get what’s mentioned above.
3. The Forbidden City
Our Customers and Guide
The Forbidden City, also called the Palace Museum, should be at the top of your to-do list if your children are interested in Chinese traditional architecture and imperial palaces. You can reach its entrance by walking through the world’s biggest city central square – Tiananmen Square.
The Forbidden City, with Tiananmen Rostrum as its front gate, is the largest ancient palatial complex in the world. It was home to China’s last 24 emperors and their households.
The City is also the biggest museum with the largest antique collection in China, with over 1,050,000 items of cultural relic, including gold and silverware, jade ware, seals, swords, and porcelain, providing a great learning opportunity for your kids.
Learn about How to Plan a Forbidden City Tour
4. Beijing Hutongs
Beijing Hutong Experience
Beijing Hutongs are narrow streets and alleys through lines of siheyuan (Chinese traditional courtyard residences), at the center of traditional life in Beijing. Numerous hutongs form a crisscross network, surrounding Shichahai like a labyrinth. It would be an unforgettable memory for kids to tour through the hutongs on a Beijing-style tricycle.
Furthermore, China Travel has developed some special activities in Beijing hutongs, including a mysterious place for your kids to experience traditional Chinese folk art and customs, like paper-cutting, Chinese calligraphy, making Peking opera masks, and making dumplings. Contact us if you want to add these activities to your itinerary.
5. Summer Palace
Summer Palace
Located in the western suburbs of Beijing, the Summer Palace contains the largest and best classical garden of China. Once a summer retreat for royalty, it is now still a retreat for crowd-weary tourists, who can relax here or stroll around ancient pavilions, mansions, temples, and bridges, stopping occasionally at a shop or teahouse.
For kids, however, there is nothing better than boating on Kunming Lake, a huge lake occupying 75% of the garden grounds. Or, they can have fun ice-skating on the frozen lake in winter.
6. Temple of Heaven Park
Temple of Heaven
Built-in 1420, the Temple of Heaven was the place where emperors of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1636–1912) dynasties offered sacrifices to Heaven in order to pray for good harvests each year.
Now it is often likened to the lungs of Beijing because of the luxuriant greenery in the park.
The Temple of Heaven is a popular place where local people, the elderly and retired in particular, gather to do morning exercises like tai chi, to play Chinese chess, cards, mahjong, Chinese musical instruments such as the erhu, and to sing. It is an interesting place for foreign kids to experience the local life in Beijing.
Our English-speaking guide will explain the stories behind the park and share some fun gossip about locals if you tailor-make a private child-friendly tour with China Travel.
7. Beijing Olympic Park (Olympic Green)
Water Cube at Night
In 2008, Beijing Olympic Park was a great venue for the Olympic Games. The park’s essential attractions include the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. There are always loads of people hanging out there. Kids can fly kites on the lawn, skateboard outside the Bird’s Nest, or splash about in the Water Cube’s swimming pool.
PLEASE NOTE that the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube have been closed since 1 April 2019 and the time to reopen remains to be announced.
8. Beijing Zoo
Panda at Beijing Zoo
Beijing Zoo is the most accessible place to see giant pandas in Beijing. It is an important center for endangered animals, especially the vast variety of pandas. Don’t miss the Panda House at the zoo! Your kids will easily get up close to the cuddly and gentle giant pandas.
The aquarium is another important attraction in the zoo, a big draw for sea-lovers and children alike. You can find thousands of colorful and rare water species there, such as jellyfish (interesting and a bit artsy), Chinese sturgeon, sea elephants, man-eating fish, and sharks. Performances are organized with whales, sea lions, and dolphins.
9. Red Theatre
Kung Fu Show
Kung Fu is an ancient Chinese hand-to-hand martial art. After dinner, you could go with your kids to the Red Theatre to admire a traditional kung fu show.
Starting at 19:30, the performance is about how a monk named Chunyi becomes a grandmaster by working hard, with the theme of hardship and growth. The show combines music, dance, and acrobatics. English subtitles are available. The average age of these talented performers is only 17.
Alternatively, visit Beijing Chaoyang Theatre for an acrobatics show, or Lao She Teahouse for Beijing-style dim sum and afternoon tea.
10. Experience a Family-Friendly Tour with China Travel
Family Tour in Beijing
Beijing is a great destination for your family holiday, but as certain concerns might arise, you should choose an experienced and caring guide.
We can help you deal with all your hassles, including where to go, how to get there, and what to eat. And, of course, you are always welcome to contact us if you have any questions or requests.