Indoor Fun: A Magical (ish) Harry Potter Holiday at Indigo Mall

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Winter is coming. As the breezes get brisker and chills get chillier, we need more indoor places for our kids to play. So welcome to this new Tuesday series, where we’ll share all our latest findings for winter play spots! Comment if you have suggestions.

Are your kids dying to be wizards? Can’t wait for the Hogwarts Express to pull into Tongzhou for the new Universal Studios Beijing Theme Park? Then you’ll want to head over to Indigo Mall for their special event, A Magical Harry Potter Holiday.

First things first. You need a reservation. Like, now. Scan the QR code in the photo below and be flexible with the date and time you can make it. As of the publishing of this article, there are sporadic times available in November but you will definitely need to reserve a spot for December. Reservations are free and you just show your code at the entrance to the area. Be ready to stand in line, as they only allow a certain number of people in to enjoy the festivities at once.

Once you’re inside, it is a blast for adults and kids alike. I was worried that because we’d been to both Hogsmead and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida it wouldn’t feel as fun. These are basically cutouts of the real themed buildings in those parks. You can’t order a butterbeer or buy Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans here, nor are there real magic tricks for purchase.

You can’t buy candy at this Honeyduke’s, but it does feel sweet.

Not to fear. The magic is not lost, not even nestled right next to a Blue Frog Restaurant. Something about the excitement and anticipation, plus some nicely chosen pastel colors that create a little bit of magic, help you journey through a different kind of Harry Potter experience, and one that makes sense inside the massive Indigo Mall.

Of course, there’s a gift shop. Why not?

Indigo Mall offers cool benefits for their members, like exclusive entry into the Niffler’s treasure chest (the crane working outside lost a bit of the magic, but hey). Here you pile oversized gold coins onto the Niffler’s stomach, balancing and unbalancing them until they fall onto one of the receptacles on either side. Kids can either work together and help one another or compete with each other.

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You’re actually supposed to be taller to play, but they let us in any way.

It wouldn’t be a visit to Hogsmeade without Platform 9 3/4 and the Hogwarts Express. They did a nice job of recreating the photo op train in all of the parks, but it does fall a little short that you’re not allowed to sit on it for a picture. I mean, what else are you going to do?

Don’t tell, but we did sneak a sit-down photo. You just have to be fast!

When not a Hogsmeade display, this area is merely for resting and playing, a part of the mall where kids are allowed to run and romp, aunties or grandparents can chill on the benches, and parents can sit in peace. That was the part of this adventure that my kids enjoyed the most after an hour or so of wandering the mall: a place where they could just run and be happy.

The “grassy” hills had nothing to do with Harry Potter, but they were great for rolling, running, and staring up at the ceiling.

We didn’t buy a wand, but if you did purchase one then they also had an area where you can practice your magic spells. They also had a special experience inside one or two of the stores.

Every window held a display that was at least pretty to look at.

All in all, this is one of those low impact outings that can also center around holiday shopping or dinner out. We also ventured downstairs to Page One, a great bookstore with both Chinese and English language books, and the LEGO Store near it. That’s probably how I resisted this adorable Dumbledore Funko and friends; we’d already made some nice purchases.

If they had stocked a Snape, I would have been a goner.

If it sounds like your cup of Treacle Tart Tea, scan their QR code and find a time you can attend. I’d suggest using the subway or a car service, however, as there was some sort of altercation in the parking garage on the day that I visited.

A Magical Harry Potter Holiday at Indigo Mall in the Winter Garden
Address: 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
颐提港：朝阳区酒仙桥路18号
Hours: Daily 10am-10pm, event runs until Jan 3, 2021
Phone: [phone]
Website: www.indigobeijing.com
Reservations: Scan QR code

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Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins, Courtesy of Indigo Mall 

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