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Sanlitun and Liangma Qiao Tuanjiehu Park 团结湖公园 This park is very popular among local Beijing families. Within the park is a water park (open Jun 1-Aug 30), complete with two slides, a deepend swimming pool, a play area for toddlers, and a large beach pool. It is packed on the weekends, so go during off-peak hours if possible. Inside, lockers can be rented for RMB 10 (with RMB 20 deposit) and there is a snack bar with Chinese snacks and barbecue. Also within the park is a roller skating rink (RMB 5 entrance, RMB 10 skate rental) and a large carp pond with electric boats and paddle boats for rent (RMB 30-60/hour, RMB 50-200 deposit). It’s also a nice park to stroll through; locals gather frequently for dancing and water calligraphy practice. Park: Free. Daily 10.30am-9.30pm. Pool: RMB 40 on weekdays, RMB 50 on weekends, free for kids under 1.2m. Mon-Fri 10.30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 6am-9pm. 16 Tuanjiehu Nanli, Chaoyang District (8597 3603 park, 8597 4677 pool) 朝阳区团结湖南里16号
The Westin Beijing Chaoyang 金茂北京威斯汀大饭店 Spoil yourself for once and enjoy Seasonal Tastes’s Bubbalicious brunch on Sundays. The food selection is expansive and includes seafood, sushi, Indian cuisine, a cheese platter, and a room full of desserts. Kids will love the carnival food station with popcorn, hot dogs and cotton candy. There is a large kids’ area monitored by staff filled with toys and games, including balloon animals, face painting and two X-Boxes. Before or after your big meal, take a dip in The Westin’s 25m, 1.2-1.5m deep indoor pool or relax in their sauna and jacuzzi. Pool: RMB 400, RMB 300 for kids, RMB 19,800 (one-year membership). Daily 6am-11pm. Bubbalicious brunch: RMB 458 (free-flow soft drinks), RMB 488 (wine and soft drinks), RMB 528 (free-flow champagne, wine and soft drinks), RMB 229 for ages 4-12, free for kids under 4. All prices subject to 15 percent surcharge. Sun 11.30am-3pm. 7 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District (5922 8888) 朝阳区东三环北路7号
Liangma Flower Market 亮马花卉市场 On the first floor of this market, you can find almost every variety of cut flower or potted plant you need. The second floor has items for home decor, as well as gardening tools. In general, this is a great market to find materials for crafts. Don’t forget to bargain for a good price. Daily 8.30am-6.30pm. South bank of Liangma River, 758 Dongsanhuan
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beijingkids
2013 June
Beilu, Chaoyang District (6504 2446 or 6466 9444) 朝阳区东三环北 路758号亮马河南岸
Ladies’ Street Market 女人街 This market has more than 700 stalls of women clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories. There is a flower market with all kinds of potted plants (indoor and outdoor). Looking for an addition to the family? There is a fish market, which also has other small creatures for sale. Daily 9am-7pm. Tianze Lu, Liangmaqiao, Chaoyang District (6462 8558) 朝阳区亮马桥天泽路
The Treehouse Family Cafe and Playground The Treehouse often hosts activities like playgroups, cooking classes, language classes (English, Spanish, German), movie nights, and drama classes. The selection of activities is endless; visit beijing-kids.com to see the schedule of their most recent events. The cafe offers drinks (coffee, soft drinks, fresh-squeezed juices) and Western cuisine. Tue-Sun 10am-8pm. Sanlitun SOHO, building 1, B1-115, Chaoyang District (8590 0746, 158 1132 5578) 朝阳区北京市朝阳区三里屯SOHO 1座B1—115
Blue Zoo Beijing 富国海底世界 Not to be confused with the Beijing Aquarium or Beijing Zoo, the Blue Zoo Beijing is an aquarium situated in the heart of Gongti. Step inside the longest underwater walkway (120m) in Asia to admire all kinds of fish and water creatures, including sharks, parrot fish, starfish and jellyfish. See the schedule to catch a turtle feeding or shark feeding. You might even see a mermaid! If you want to swim around in the tank with the marine life, contact scuba diving operator SinoScuba. Children must be at least 10 years old and up to dive. Blue Zoo Beijing: RMB 90, RMB 60 for kids above 1m and under 12, free for kids under 1m. Daily 8.30am-6.30pm. Scuba diving all day (except noon-1pm); Turtle feeding 9.40-9.50am; Shark feeding 9.50-10am; shark show 10.10-10.30am, 2.30-2.50pm; ocean show 10.30-10.50am, 2-2.20pm; mermaid show 11-11.10am, 1.30-1.40pm; Water ballet 11.10-11.20am, 1.40-1.50pm. Workers’ Stadium South Gate, Chaoyang District (6591 3397) www.blue-zoo.com 朝阳区工人 体育场南门