Top 5 things to do with kids in Beijing

Beijing may not yet have the sophisticated reputation of younger, larger Shanghai but it offers a fascinating insight into China’s past, and future.

Forget the button up Mao suits, the little red books and soldiers marching in the Square – Beijing is a modern city and it’s moving at an incredible pace, with construction is taking place at a rapid rate all over the city. However, Beijing is a very ancient city, full of rich historical sites. It’s still easy to see the “old China” in Beijing’s quaint teahouses, in the bicycles negotiating the maze of side-streets and alleyways and old men smoking pipes and playing mah-jong in the park.

1. Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum was built in the 15th Century during the Ming Dynasty. A vast complex of courtyards, gardens, halls and pavilions, it was the imperial home of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Today it houses an immense collection of priceless relics and is a stunning example of Chinese architecture and artwork.

2. Summer Palace

Built in the north-west of the city during the Qing Dynasty, the Summer Palace provided a shady retreat for the emperor and his court during Beijing’s sweltering summers. It now serves as a public park, centred around a huge lake and dotted with old buildings and sculptures, including a beautiful 17-arch bridge leading to a small island. Perfect for picnicking and sightseeing from one of the large dragon boats.

3. Tiananmen Square

The largest public square in the world, Tiananmen Square is a great place to observe daily Chinese life in the city. Although it is notorious for tragic massacre of protesters that took place in 1989, it has been the site of many groundbreaking events throughout modern Beijing’s history. The entrance to the Square, the Gate of Heavenly Peace was where Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

4. Beihai Park

Half of this 67-hectare park is taken up by Beihai Lake, a popular place for boating in summer and skating in winter. Qiong Hua Island (Jade Flowering Island), in the southern end of the lake, is reached by an arched marble bridge and is home to the Temple of Eternal Peace.

5. Great Wall of China

One of humankind’s greatest architectural achievements, the Great Wall stretches east-west for more than 5,000 kilometres, beginning at Shanhai Guan on the Bo Hai Sea snaking its way to Jiayu Guan in the Gobi Desert. In the 7th Century, independent kingdoms began constructing separate walls to keep out invaders. China’s first emperor linked these walls together during the Qing Dynasty.

The closest part of the wall to Beijing is at Badaling, an hour’s drive away. Younger kids and people with disabilities will find Badaling easily accessible as you can take a cable car to the top of the wall. It’s generally very busy with tourists however – longer treks can be arranged along the wall but they are generally quite arduous. Well worth the effort if you’re feeling fit!

Heading to China?

You can read our complete family-friendly travel guide to China here.