Ancient Coin Museum
Over 10,000 ancient coins on display including shellfish coins and silver coins from the Qing Dynasty. Coin exchange market for budding coin entrepreneurs.
Deshengmen Tower (Deshengmen Jianlou), Xicheng District, 6201-8073, 9 am-4 pm, Monday closed, RMB5

Ancient Observatory
Look at old (perhaps ancient) astronomical instruments on an intact piece of the old city, 9-11 am, 1-4 pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, RMB10
2 Dongbiaobei Hutong, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District,
6524-2202/2246.

Baby Penguins Expected (NEW!)
Mother penguin laid an egg this February and it is expected to hatch in 50 days.
Also enjoy scuba diving and aquarium. (See Sports Scene)
Taipingyang Underwater World, west Third Ring Road,
6846-1173, 9 am-5 pm, RMB60

Beijing Museum of Natural History
Dinosaur fossils are popular with kids, dismembered body parts are particularly enjoyed by little boys.
Daily 8:30 am-4 pm, 126 Tianqiao Nandajie, 6702-4431

Beijing Zoo
Lions, tigers and giant pandas.
143 Xizhimenwai, 6831-4411 ext. 251, 7:30 am-5 pm, RMB5

Blue Zoo Aquarium
Sharks, lobsters and weird fish in massive tanks.
Daily 8 am-8 pm, kids RMB50 adults RMB75.
South gate of Workers Stadium, 6593-5263

China Aviation Museum
Helicopters, fighter planes and bombers.
Crawl around in Chairman Mao's old plane.
Kids RMB17.50, adults RMB35, 7:30 am-5:30 pm.
Xiaotangshan, Changping County, 6178-4883

Five Colors Earth Craft Center
Do-it-yourself craft center offering rope-art, pottery and tie-dye classes.
Not only for kids.
10 Dongzhimen Nanlu, Dongcheng, 9 am-6 pm,
RMB50 per hour, 6415-3839.

Fundazzle
Let your hyperactive kids release some energy at these indoor game rooms with slides, climbing wall and enormous ball pool.
RMB30 for two hours, 9 am-5:30 pm
Two locations: Gongti Lu, Chaoyang District,
6593-6193 and Zhongguokejiguan Beisihuan Anhuaqiao, Chaoyang District,
6237-1177 ext. 7110

Green Homeland
Tropical plants from Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province preserved using wrapping and burying techniques.
Beijing Museum of Natural History, 8:30 am- 4 pm, RMB15

Martial Arts
Children's classes for grade 1-6. Non-contact program designed to give children a better understanding of Chinese culture as well as developing total body coordination.
Thursdays and Saturdays at the Lido Hotel,
contact Derrick Cope 139-133-4907

Pottery Workshop
Chinese professors teach the art of sculpting to the sounds of traditional Chinese background music.
Dizhi Daxue (Geology University) East Gate,
8232-2039, 9 am-9 pm, RMB10 per hour

Putonghua Chinese Language Program
Enroll your kids in a 21-day Chinese language summer session between July 20 and August 9.
Yew Chung Beijing International School,
8583-3731, email: vcbis@public.bta.net.cn

Universal Studio Theme Arcade
Get a behind the scenes look at Hollywood movies right here in Beijing.
Henderson Shopping Center, 6518-3404,
10 am-9 pm, RMB35, RMB25 children

Also See:

Picks of the Week

Art Scene

Stage Scene

Cinema Scene

Exhibition Scene

Kids Scene

Sports Scene