For the kids · Beijing, China
14 Things to Do in Beijing with Kids
Parks, zoos, hands-on museums and rides: the Beijing the kids will actually remember.
Kid-oriented places (parks, zoos, theme parks, hands-on museums) ranked by traveler review volume, out of 122 tracked Beijing places. Updated monthly.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Park & natureMutianyu is the stretch of the Great Wall most visitors to Beijing should choose: it's beautifully restored, wraps over densely forested ridgelines that turn gold in autumn and white in winter, and…
Read our full guide →Jingshan Park
Park & natureJingshan Park is the perfect complement to a Forbidden City visit, an imperial park built around an artificial hill directly behind (north of) the palace, created from the earth excavated to make the…
Read our full guide →Beihai Park
Park & natureBeihai Park is a historic imperial garden in central Beijing, originally built in the 10th century.
Read our full guide →Beihai Park (Beihai Gongyuan)
Park & natureBeihai Park is one of Beijing's oldest and most beautiful imperial gardens, a serene 1,000-year-old royal park just northwest of the Forbidden City, arranged around a large lake.
Read our full guide →National Centre for the Performing Arts (China)
EntertainmentThe National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is an arts centre and opera house in Xicheng, Beijing.
Read our full guide →John - Driver in Beijing
Park & natureFree entryLocated in the heart of Beijing, this park offers a tranquil escape from the city's bustling streets.
Read our full guide →Ritan Park (Ritan Gongyuan)
Park & natureFree entryRitan Park, or Ritan Gongyuan, is one of Beijing's oldest imperial parks, originally built in 1530 during the Ming Dynasty as a site for the emperor to worship the sun.
Read our full guide →Chaoyang Park
Park & natureFree entryChaoyang Park is a sprawling urban oasis in the Chaoyang District of Beijing, covering over 288 hectares.
Read our full guide →Zizhuyuan Gongyuan (Black Bamboo Park)
Park & natureFree entryZizhuyuan Gongyuan, also known as Black Bamboo Park, is a tranquil escape in the bustling Haidian district of Beijing.
Read our full guide →Cherry Valley Botanical Garden
Park & natureCherry Valley Botanical Garden, located in the northwestern outskirts of Beijing in Haidian District, is a sprawling green space dedicated to plant conservation, research, and public enjoyment.
Read our full guide →Shicha Lake Park
Park & natureFree entryShicha Lake Park, also known as Shichahai, is a picturesque area in central Beijing comprising three interconnected lakes: Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai.
Read our full guide →China Railway Museum Zhengyangmen
MuseumThe China Railway Museum Zhengyangmen is a compact but fascinating museum located in the former Zhengyangmen East Station, a Beaux-Arts building dating from 1906.
Read our full guide →Haidian Park
Park & natureFree entryHaidian Park is a tranquil green space located in Beijing's Haidian District, near the Northeast Corner of Wanquanhe Junction.
Read our full guide →Beijing Yuetan Park
Park & natureBeijing Yuetan Park, also known as the Temple of the Moon Park, is a historic imperial altar complex located in the Xicheng District of Beijing.
Read our full guide →
How we pick these
We keep only child-appropriate venue types — parks, zoos, hands-on museums, theme parks — then rank them by how many families actually review them well, out of the 122 Beijing places we track. Refreshed monthly, with no paid placement.
Good to know
Most picks suit ages 2 to 10; a few also work for older kids and teens.
Popular museums and parks in Beijing are calmest right at opening or after 3pm.
Keep one indoor pick in your back pocket in case the forecast turns.
Common questions
Is Beijing good to visit with kids?+
Yes. Parks, boat rides and hands-on museums make it easy to break up sightseeing with things children enjoy, and every spot on this list is one families rate highly.
What can you do for free with kids in Beijing?+
Plenty of parks and playgrounds cost nothing. See our free things to do in Beijing for the full set.
How many days do you need in Beijing with children?+
Two to three days is enough to cover the highlights at a relaxed, kid-friendly pace.
Rather have a human do the planning? A Local Friend can build this day for you, at local prices.