Places to Visit in Beijing

While you must have showed your kids the majestic Forbidden City and the Great Bell Temple, you should not forget the fact that kids expect some fun and frolic during their travel time and for them, merely visiting places of historical importance or architectural marvel, may not make much sense. Unless they are exhausted because of playing, running and doing something that relates to their age, they may feel, as you can imagine, all lost and may complain that Mom, something is missing! You must show them the architectural beauties but don't let them feel bored by not taking them to some places where kids can be themselves.

Toy Shopping

Go for a Toy Shopping Bonanza

Chinese markets are known for variety of toys and that too, at affordable prices. Enter with your kids in famous toy markets in Beijing and you will find it difficult to leave it without buying anything. Stuffed pandas, helicopters, dolls and any other toy, you always wanted to gift to your kids, these toy super markets will surely be an answer to your kids dream world.

Marine World

Explore the Phenomenal Marine World

Imagine watching killer sharks, sea lions and dolphins all through the windows in the walls of an aquarium. It would indeed be mesmerizing to experience marine life so closely. Hailed to be the largest inland aquarium in the world, the Beijing Aquarium in Haidian District, houses nearly 1,000 species of freshwater fish and marine animals. It is located inside the Beijing Zoo.

the Greatest Wall in the World

Sweat Out on the Greatest Wall in the World

One of the best Beijing attractions for kids is to explore the Great Wall of China. The most enjoyable section for children would be the Mutianyu section. It is the best preserved part of this magnificent wall and is opened to visitors. It consists of 22 watch towers in which you can go and watch the magnificent China and forest and woodland surrounding the Great wall. Your teenager kids will love some adventurous stuff on the Great Wall of China, like hiking or the cable car ride. You shouldn't miss the experience of sleeping on the Great Wall because accommodation is provided in the watch towers.

Olympic stadium of Beijing

Watch the Bird's Nest More Closely

Your Kids will find it amazing to watch the Bird's Nest, the iconic Olympic stadium of Beijing, from close quarters. The recent Olympic hosted by China has proved to the world the Chinese economic power. Visiting the historical stadium will be a great experience of learning for your family.

the Forbidden City

Get Awestruck at the Marvel of the Forbidden City

Forbidden city is one of the few royal palaces left in the world and stands testimony to the prosperity and magnificence of Chinese dynasties. This 961 meter long palace is said to have nearly 9,000 rooms. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, citizens were not allowed to enter in this palace, it was called as 'Forbidden city'. A UNESCO world heritage site, Forbidden city is a great place to let your kid learn about the real Chinese art, history and culture.

Places to Visit in Beijing

The capital city of China, the mesmerizing Beijing, offers multitude of options for kids to enjoy their journey to the fullest. There are some fascinating tourist attractions in Beijing, dedicated exclusively to kids. Beijing attractions for kids include amusement parks, water parks, science museums and what not. Kids will have a life time experience from their trip to Beijing because there are some excellent options for them to freely enjoy.



While you must have showed your kids the majestic Forbidden City and the Great Bell Temple, you should not forget the fact that kids expect some fun and frolic during their travel time and for them, merely visiting places of historical importance or architectural marvel, may not make much sense.

Beijing World Park

Journey Around the World in Beijing World Park

With nearly 1.5 millions visitors flocking to this park, every year, it is not a surprise if you get lost in this huge 46.7 hectare area theme park. It was built in 1993 with the sole aim of providing its visitors an unique experience of the world community without leaving Beijing. The most fascinating attraction inside this park is that it includes miniature models of nearly 100 famous world monuments. Right from India's Taj Mahal to America's Empire State building, it includes almost all monuments you can think about. It is open from April to October for visitors. Besides the opportunity to see world class attractions in mini sized models, made almost of the same materials as the original one's, this world park will give your kids a slide show depicting the world. The journey will make you feel as if you have seen the entire world in a day. Music, dance, food and drinks from different parts of the world are some other things that kids can enjoy in this park.



Get Mesmerized at Sony Explora Science Museum

This science museum will amuse your kids to the core. It doesn't matter, if they are still not interested in science, numerous things in this museum are bound to enthrall them. Located in Chaoyang Park, this high tech, interactive museum will certainly bewitch them by the wonders of latest technology and human interaction.

Real Kung Fu Fighting - Beijing

Experience the Real Kung Fu

Your family, especially your kids who must be in awe of the Kung Fu Panda, will be delighted to see some real Kung Fu fighting. In Beijing, Kung Fu shows are organized at various places, as a part of cultural events. Don't you dare to miss them.



Be Friends with the Pandas

In the Beijing Zoo, kids will find numerous varieties of animals and they will also get chance to see Pandas. Well, kids would certainly wish, if it was the Kung Fu panda, their cuddly Po. Observing rare Pandas from up close will really make your kids exhilarated.

Beijing 2009 - Adios Beijing !

It's been a long 2 months posting about my trip to Beijing, and I was only there for 7 days ! There is so much to see there, and to make the most of it you really have to plan ahead. The Web is such an indispensable tool for travel nowadays. 

My friend Pegs had compiled our hectic Itinerary on her Site. Check it out here:  Cloth with Pegs - Beijing

Day 1
arrived in Beijing Terminal 2
dimsum breakfast
Tiananmen Square
Beijing Centre for the Performing Arts
Forbidden City
Tea Shop
check-in to Taly Plaza Hotel
dinner

Day 2
Beijing Institute of Architectural Design
Planning Exhibition Hall
Peking Duck lunch at Quanjude Peking Duck Restaurant
Opposite House (hotel) by Kengo Kuma
The Village at Sanlitun (shopping centre)

Day 3
Temple of Heaven
SOHO Jianwai
SOHO Shangdu
CCTV/ TVCC
Linked Hybrid (Grand MOMA Beijing)
798 Art Zone
Tenggili Tala dinner

Day 4
Summer Palace
Hotel 61 Cote Cour
Hotel Kapok
WangFuJing Shopping and Food Street
Szechuan dinner
JiuBaJie (Bar Street)

Day 5
Great Wall at Badaling
The Commune by the Great Wall
lunch near Olympic park
Jade Shop
Dinner at Maison Boulud

Day 6
rickshaw ride in Hutong
Water Cube (Olympic Aquatic Centre)
Bird's Nest (Olympic Stadium)
acrobatic performance
dinner
nite scene of Water Cube & Bird's Nest
(supper near hotel)

Day 7
Sneak peek at Beijing Terminal 3

Home to Malaysia

Before we left Beijing, we went for a short visit to Terminal 3, the spanking new airport built for the Olympics. It was designed by famous UK architect Sir Norman Foster. Having visited the Chep Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong by the same architect, I kind of knew what to expect. To me his airport designs always feel a bit cold and impersonal. Kind of like a factory. Beijing Terminal 3 felt the same.

Malaysia Airlines didn't get the privilege of using the new airport, so we left via Terminal 2 which was a much older airport. We were very reluctant to leave, as there was still so much more to see in Beijing. Beijing is not really a place for a holiday, but a place for adventure. Till next time !

Beijing 2009 - Beijing Faces

One of the things I noticed about Beijingers while wondering around the city is that they are very unselfconscious. They are not shy at all about having their pictures taken, and generally go about their own business without worrying too much about the spectators. I got some really nice shots during the trip.

These Beijingers were having a break near Tiananmen Square.

The street performers were everywhere, and they were just doing it for their own enjoyment, and of course the spectators.

A group of hair stylists in the Hutong.

This mother and daughter team run a small grocery shop in the Hutong. 

An old man proudly showing off his prized bird.

Beijing 2009 - The Commune by The Great Wall

The Commune by The Great Wall is one of the most unique projects in Beijing which we visited. It is actually a luxury hotel located at the foot of the Great Wall at Badaling. Developed by the SOHO Group, the hotel is a collection of private villas designed by 12 Asian architects from around the region. The villas are full-sized mansions complete with living areas, kitchen, dining and several bedrooms. They are essentially designed as private homes. 

What is amazing about this project is that the developer had the vision and resources to bring together such an eminent group of architects to work on the project, and to actually pull it off to such a high level of quality, at the same time preserving the natural beauty and environmental quality of the site. It must have been a mammoth task getting the project realised. This is one of the places you shouldn't miss when visiting Beijing.

The main Reception Building - designed by South Korean architect Seung H-Sang. It is a masterful composition of light, space and materials.

The understated entrance porch.

The lobby which is faced on both sides by 2-storey high glass walls.

The terrace dining area with great views of the Great Wall.

 A view from the landscaped terrace.

The "Furniture House" by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban.

The "Airport House" by Taiwanese architect Chien Hsueh-Yi.

The "See and Seen House" by Chinese architect Cui Kai.

The "Distorted Courtyard House" by Hong Kong architect Rocco Yim.

The famous "Bamboo House" by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. It has spawned many copies around the world. 

The "Shared House" by Thai architect Kanika R'kul.

The "Twins House" by Singapore architect Tan Kay Ngee.

The "Cantilever House" by Antonio Ochoa. 

The "Forest House" by Japanese architect Nobuaki Furuya.

This is one of those projects which seem to exist only in an architectural dream world. Go and see it !