Get (Back) Into Beijing | Half-Day Family Experiences

Have you explored all of the capital?

After a tough first half of the year, we're sure we're not the only ones feeling a little jaded and unsure how to put that Beijing spark back into our weekends. That’s why this summer, we asked our best Beijing guides to put their heads together and create a number of programs to inspire (or re-inspire) your family's love of living in Beijing. 

The result: a series of engaging and interactive half-day programs designed especially for families living in the capital. With one of our award-winning guides as your captain, you won’t “listen" to history. You and your family will enter history, interpret history, and become people in the story. Have you ever thought about how difficult it was to be an emperor in the Ming Dynasty? Or how Beijing's city wall actually protected the city? 

Now is your chance to find out and start the school year with a renewed passion for China – all without leaving Beijing in the lead-up to starting term. That means no need for extra COVID tests. 

All programs will be held in English and Mandarin (a great opportunity for the kids to practice their language skills too) and led by one of our WildChina guides. We've designed them for children aged 6-11 years old, but older children should also enjoy them.

This Weekend: Ancient City Wall | Ancient Technologies  

Ancient city walls are not unique to Beijing. As a city develops, old city walls slowly lose their functional significance. A city grows beyond them and many of us never think about the important role they used to play. 

However, Beijing's city wall holds an important place in our hearts. It might be partly because we live here but there's a lot more to it than that. Did you know that there is an ancient waterway hidden there? The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal that allowed food and cargo from the south to flow northward into Beijing is located close by. Have you ever seen it?

The canal was built from 486BC (i.e. 2,000 years ago) and is 1,794 kilometers long, making it the longest and oldest man-made canal in the world. But that's not the only reason it amazes us. The terrain of Beijing is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. What kind of magic did ancient Beijinger's use to make water flow upwards? During this half-day family program, we'll uncover the mystery.

We'll then recreate a war scene together on top of the wall. We'll learn the role of the city wall during a war and what means the offensive and defensive sides would use to win ground? With props, scripts, characters, games, and stories, your family will never ignore this part of Beijing again.

Dates

August 15th, August 22nd & August 29th, 2020

Meeting point

Main gate of Dongbianmen Arrow Tower

Start time

9:50am - 12:30pm

Price

One Adult, One Child = 295RMB

Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children) = 400RMB

Additional Children = 80RMB

Please note that entrance tickets are not included

Book this now:

Next Weekend: Forbidden City | Save the Ming Dynasty  

On this half-day program, work together as a family to save the Ming Dynasty in the Forbidden City! From drawing escape maps and finding Ming Dynasty treasures hidden in the Qing Dynasty palace to creeping up on the beasts that lurk in the courtyards, you'll learn what life was like for the doomed Emperor and others in the imperial court.

Dates

August 23rd, 2020 & August 30th, 2020

Meeting Point

The right archway inside of the Meridian Gate (inside the Forbidden City)

Start time

2pm - 5pm

Price

One Adult, One Child = 360RMB

Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children) = 400RMB

Additional Children = 80RMB

Please note that entrance tickets are not included

Book this now:

Coming Up: Qianmen | Looking for Lost Treasure  

Your family are all imperial guards on a secret mission sent directly from the emperor. Your mission: Collect relics, identify clues, and learn Chinese kungfu.

Coming Up: 798 | Cold Wars and Creativity  

What is now a modern art space at 798 was once Cold War factories. During this interactive afternoon, learn how Chinese and world history collided during this fractious period of history and explore the art district that has made this place one of China's best examples of contemporary art. Oh, and get your hands a little dirty as you try some art for yourself. 

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WildChina was born on the sacred slopes of Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. Since WildChina’s first-ever trip in 2000, we have helped thousands of travelers enjoy life-changing experiences in every corner of this vast and endlessly inspiring nation. We never crop out reality or cocoon our travelers in a tourist bubble. We believe in the power of travel to transform, inspire, and bring people closer together, and we work tirelessly to perfect every detail for our guests. It’s this dedication, expertise, and passion for travel in China that makes us an award-winning industry leader.