The Last Summer Staycation ft Pixar's Luca
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With summer winding down and the city government recommending that all of us stay within the city limits before school resumes Sep 1, there’s never been a better time for a staycation.
Why not consider Wangfujing? It’s the type of place us east-siders don’t get to that often, but it’s a veritable child’s paradise, with toy stores, movie theaters and kid-friendly dining options all on one tight little neighborhood.
Coincidentally, Disney’s new Pixar film Luca comes out this weekend, and Wangfujing’s Novotel Beijing Peace Hotel is offering those who join and book through their ALL (Accor Live Limitless) members’ club a selection of Luca-themed gifts: backpacks, hats, board games, water bottles and coloring books. And best of all: kids under 16 stay for free.
So here’s our suggestion for a quick overnight staycation in Wangfujing:
Day 1
2pm: Check in at the Novotel Peace and take a dip in the indoor pool while the day is hot and the summer sun is still high in the sky.
4pm: Hit the Foreign Languages Bookstore, one of the few spots in town that has a wide selection of English children’s books. There’s a surprising breadth of titles. The collection is spotty though, so as long as you’re not looking for a specific title, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.
5:30pm: Head for dinner at Beijing’s only location of the uber-popular US chain - Cheesecake Factory. With a massive menu that includes an impossibly broad range of western dishes and gigantic portions, there’s going to be something for everyone, including picky eaters.
7pm: Catch a screening of Luca at one of three Wangfujing cinemas: Hengdian Cinema (横店电影城) in the Beijing Department Store building (北京百货大楼); or one of the two Broadway Cinemas (百老汇影城) in the neighborhood, one at the APM Department Store and one at Oriental Plaza.
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8:30pm: As the sun sets and the temperature drops, take a stroll around the Wangfujing shopping street to take in the bright lights of this shopping district at night. For an extra bit of charm, head slightly north to the Wangfujing Cathedral, which is lit up spectacularly after sundown.
9:30pm: Head back to the Novotel for a restful night’s sleep.
Day 2
7:30am: Wake up and enjoy a buffet breakfast at Novotel’s The Square for a dynamite price: all bookings made before Aug 23 can get two breakfasts added on for a mere RMB 2.
9am: Take another dip in the pool as you wait for the toy stores to open at 10am.
10am: Hit up one of the myriad toy stores that call Wangfujing home: the British import Hamleys, Beijing’s Lego flagship store; Toys R Us; or the toy department of the old-school Children’s Department Store.
11:30am: By noon it’s checkout time so get back to your room to pack up. Leave your bags with the concierge and walk west for a mere 500 meters where you’ll be standing in the shadow of none other than the vermillion walls of the Forbidden City. No need to go inside — the walk around the moat outside provides enough stimulation for the senses without it getting too dull for the little ones.
Take your obligatory selfies then dine at one of our favorite Beijing Duck spots — Siji Minfu (四季民福烤鸭店) on the way back to Shopping Central.
Still have energy left over? Hit one of the malls — we like APM with stores such as Nike Kids, Adidas Kids, Levi’s, Li Ning and Uniqlo.
Once your shop-a-thon is done, head back to the Novotel for your bags and hop into a Didi home.
Voila! A getaway without leaving the city. Live it up, refresh your senses, and then get ready for the 2021-22 school year!
To join as an ALL member and book your staycation, scan the QR below:
Images: Accor Hotels, The Beijingers, Jingkids, Mike Wester, beijingapm.cn, giphy
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