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Beijing Family Vacation
Explore Beijing's offerings for the young and young-at-heart
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This itinerary is not that much different that the typical Beijing fare, but seven days allows time to explore the capital at a more leisurely pace, especially for those who might need a nap every once and awhile. The Hyatt makes a convenient jumping off point for day time touring and offers a quiet haven at night. Don't forget to pack your suit and take time to enjoy the incredible pool and spa. Although Beijing's crowds may be a bit intimidating at times, most attractions offer kids plenty of open space to play. Most restaurants are very casual, and Chinese parents show no hesitation about toting their little ones around town.
 Day Note
Start your stay in Beijing with the highlights in the center of town. Pick up breakfast in the hotel or one of the cafes or bakeries in the adjoining complex. Then stroll down Chang An Avenue and take in the atmosphere at Tiananmen Square. You may want to check out the view from the ZhengYangMen Gate or line up for a glimpse of the embalmed Chairman Mao, but don't waste too much time before heading into the Forbidden City. There are few snacks inside the grounds, so you may want to bring a few provisions. After your visit, you'll certainly be hungry so head back to Wangfujing Street. Check out the bizarre delicacies at the Dong Hua Men Night Market (also open during the day). Assuming you don't find anything appetizing there, head back to the Oriental Plaza Mall underneath the hotel. They have a variety of restaurants as well as an excellent Chinese food court. In the afternoon, get a bird's eye view of Beijing from the hill in JingShan Park. By the end of the day, you'll no doubt still feel a bit jetlagged, so grab dinner near the hotel. The Peking duck at the Wangfujing Quanjude branch makes an excellent introduction to Beijing. South Beauty is a slightly more upscale, less touristy option in the Oriental Plaza complex.
Another one from the Hyatt stable, this hotel will offer you luxury beyond imagination. Steeped in Oriental traditions, yet very modern in design and amenities, the Grand Hyatt ensures a comfortable stay. Apart from the regular luxury features present in all the 825 rooms and suites, this hotel also has a swimming pool, a spa, a fitness center and a business center. It even provides limousine services, sight seeing tours, secretarial services and more.
This is Beijing's most famous Peking Duck restaurant, and also one of the oldest, having been established in 1864. The huge, plush dining hall is filled with diners eager to try this dish in its most authentic setting. A basic duck starts at CNY108, but the pancakes, scallions and sauces are extra. For CNY168 you can choose your bird before it is roasted, and get all the trimmings "for free". The menu also has dishes made from every other part of the duck, save the quack. Beers, spirits and soft drinks are served, and there is a separate fast-food section.
One of a growing number of restaurants in the capital to offer authentic, good value Sichuan food in a upscale environment, South Beauty has proven extremely popular with locals and visitors alike. With a glass front, immaculate mirrored bar and comfortable booth seating, the atmosphere here is ideal for dates or business meals, and the food never disappoints. All the spicy Sichuan favorites are present.
Tiananmen is the largest public square in the world and is considered a symbol of the People's Republic of China. The square is surrounded by a cluster of massive buildings including Tiananmen Gate, The Forbidden City, the Great Hall of the People, The Monument of the People's Heroes and the Mao Zedong Mausoleum. Tiananmen attracts thousands of visitors every year from throughout China due to its political and historical significance. The square was recently renovated for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Standing on the rostrum of the Gate of Heavenly Peace, visitors have a panoramic view over Tiananmen Square. Built in 1417, the 33.7 meter high gate consists of a terrace and a tower. The site was used for grand ceremonies in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has been renovated four times in the past 50 years and was opened to the public on July 1, 1988. Tiananmen, the front gate of the Forbidden City, is considered the center of Beijing.
The most striking aspect of this park is the hill. It was made from earth dug-up to create the moat around the Forbidden City. Five pavilions stand symmetrically on the hill with the top pavilion offering a magnificent view of the city. This park is also (infamously) known as the place where the last of the Ming Emperors (Chong Zhen) committed suicide. He selected one of the park's locust trees to hang himself from after he killed his family.
Wang Fu Jing Avenue, or the "walking street", is lined with shops selling everything from women's fashions to eyeglasses and Chinese tea. There are several shopping centres like the Beijing Department Store, Sun Dong An Plaza, and Wang Fu Jing Department Store. Running parallel to Wang Fu Jing Avenue are Dong Dan Bei and Dong Si Nan Avenues, with a high concentration of small restaurants, shops and boutiques. Evening shoppers should not miss Dong An Men Avenue where a variety of street food-stalls sell everything from noodles to dumplings. If feeling brave, try the Deep-Fried Scorpion or Grasshopper.
Also known as the "Former Palace," this was the imperial residence of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. The complex has 70 structures and more than 9,000 rooms. It is surrounded by a high wall and encircled by a moat. Turned into a museum in the early 20th century, it houses a great collection of fine treasures. The Nationalist Party took a large number of these treasures to Taiwan in 1949, but 900,000 relics remain. Behind the palace is a delightful royal garden.
This night market has to be seen to be believed. Eager crowds jostle alongside red and white stalls, responding to the calls of vendors or the sight of something delicious or extraordinary to behold. Food comes on skewers, in soup bowls, wrapped in tortillas, or even in half a pineapple, and includes familiar fried and roasted meat, fish, seafood, vegetables and fruit, alongside hearts, brains, stomach and other innards. Try baby sparrows, scorpions, crickets and silkworm grubs. Glutinous and sticky, savory and sweet rice dishes are filling and cheap. Vegetarians can eat corn, broccoli, mushrooms and noodles.
The Chang An Avenue, stretching 38 kilometers and running east-westward through the Beijing city proper, is known as the first street and façade of the capital. It is definitely a must-see for first-time visitors. Both sides are lined with famous high-rise buildings. The avenue offers a rare opportunity to reflect on the city's past, present and future. The Tiananmen Square, located in the middle reach of the street, is filled with historic relics and legends, and the flag raising and lowering ceremonies there often attracts a large crowd of observers.
Grand Hyatt Beijing
Day Note
After breakfast on the second day, trek out to the Summer Palace on the west side of town. There's plenty of space for the kids to stretch their legs. You may also want to try flying a kite or taking a boat ride. When you're hungry, head to the Beijing Zoo and stop at one of the international fast food chains near the front gate. The zoo's exhibits can seem a bit spare, but the giant pandas are a delight and the aquarium (inside the zoo grounds) is top notch. If you've still got the energy, ZiZhuyuan, just next to the zoo, is one of Beijing's nicest parks. Da Dong Roast Duck is often rated Beijing's best, and extensive menu means everyone can find something to suit his or her taste. The Dongshisitiao branch has the nicest decor.
Another one from the Hyatt stable, this hotel will offer you luxury beyond imagination. Steeped in Oriental traditions, yet very modern in design and amenities, the Grand Hyatt ensures a comfortable stay. Apart from the regular luxury features present in all the 825 rooms and suites, this hotel also has a swimming pool, a spa, a fitness center and a business center. It even provides limousine services, sight seeing tours, secretarial services and more.
Located at the south end of Bai Shi Qiao Road and near the west of the Capital Gymnasium in Hai Dian District, the Purple Bamboo Garden is a mountain-water landscaped garden. As the name suggests, the garden has a large variety of bamboos, more than 50 species, with the most prominent being the black bamboo. It covers an area of 140,000 square meters, including three lakes and two small islands on the lakes. Five arched bridges connect the lakes, isles and main garden area and there are scattered corridors and pavilions throughout.
This is the biggest zoo in China, with more than 3,500 species from almost every corner of the world. Besides featuring China's famous 'mascot', the adorable panda, the zoo has an assortment of elephants, monkeys, tigers, bears, zebras, and many exotic birds. This fantastic collection attracts hundreds of thousands of kids and adults every year. Visitors can also pick up some zoological knowledge by visiting the various theme areas, such as those housing pandas and amphibians.
Da Dong's duck is as meltingly succulent as any; it claims to be lower in calories, but it sure doesn't taste like it. We know it's tough, but don't stuff yourself on the main event and overlook other dishes—the fried oysters in Sichuan pepper-salt are a must. Perfect for fans of traditional style duck dining.
This world-class aquarium of oceanic proportions features dolphin shows, a man-made rainforest, touch pools and junior-sized sharks. Fish tanks - lots of them - are everywhere. The aquarium used to have a bad reputation for not supervising children, who would bang on the glass and scare the fish, literally, to death. However, it is now a very well organized and enjoyable facility to visit. It is particularly convenient for visitors staying in western Beijing, especially those around the university area.
Located 15 kilometers from central Beijing, this World Heritage Site is a popular tourist attraction. The Summer Palace is a breathtaking display of ancient art and architecture, lush royal gardens and amazing views. The Palace consists of numerous pavilions, towers, bridges and corridors and the gardens are some of the best preserved in China. First built in the Qing Dynasty in 1750 and known as the Garden of Clear Ripples, the Palace was almost completely destroyed in the war of 1860 and was restored in 1886.
Grand Hyatt Beijing
Day Note
No trip to Beijing is complete without a visit to the Great Wall. The hotel can arrange a group tour, but a private car is often an affordable alternative that will allow more freedom to set your own schedule. It is worth the slightly longer drive (an hour and a a half) to Mu Tian Yu to avoid the crowds. This section of the Wall is also famed for its toboggan run. Consider bringing lunch sandwiches from one of the shops in Oriental Plaza and certainly bring snacks. The quintessential Beijing day is best topped off with a dinner at world famous Din Tai Fung. The delicate xiaolongbao soup dumplings are not to be missed. There is a convenient location in the Xin Kong Plaza Shopping Center.
Another one from the Hyatt stable, this hotel will offer you luxury beyond imagination. Steeped in Oriental traditions, yet very modern in design and amenities, the Grand Hyatt ensures a comfortable stay. Apart from the regular luxury features present in all the 825 rooms and suites, this hotel also has a swimming pool, a spa, a fitness center and a business center. It even provides limousine services, sight seeing tours, secretarial services and more.
Selected by the New York Times as one of the world's best restaurants 20 years ago, this Taiwanese dumpling chain has been riding the publicity ever since. Now with branches all over the world, this restaurant developed a faithful following with its dumplings, lovely service and sleek modern design. A playroom for the kids makes it a family favorite. Perfect for world famous dumplings.
To the east of the Great Wall at Ba Da Ling and 70 kilometers from the city is this restored section of the Great Wall. This three- kilometer stretch has 25 beacon towers, watch towers and lodging houses. Historically, the construction here required the largest number of laborers to construct and produced work of extremely high quality. It requires a more rigorous climb than Ba Da Ling, but the views are more striking and there are cable cars to take you to the top and even the option of an exhilarating toboggan ride back down.
Grand Hyatt Beijing
Day Note
No doubt you'l be a bit tired after three full days in Beijing, so take your fourth day easy. Start with a sumptuous dim sum brunch at Crystal Jade. The Urban Planning Museum is worth the visit for the gigantic 3D map of Beijing alone. Then head to Chaoyang Park where you can rent bikes or paddle boats. Just outside the west gate of the park, there is an excellent selection of restaurants including expat favorite Annie's. If you want a new location for the afternoon, try Tuanjiehu Park, complete with go-karts and a beach. If you haven't already had enough pizza for the day, seek out The Tree for wood-oven delights. (It is behind the 3.3 Mall on Sanlitun Bar Street.) In the evening, check out the famous Beijing acrobats at Chaoyang Theater. Call ahead to reserve tickets.
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