Beijing Women's Federation

To comprehensively advance child-friendly city development, promote public facilities and services that fully respect children’s characteristics and prioritize their needs, and build broad social consensus on caring for and protecting children and supporting child-friendly development, the Office of the Beijing Municipal Working Committee on Children and Women, together with the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Management, and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, jointly launched a publicity and promotion campaign on child-friendly development. On the eve of International Children’s Day, they officially released the “Beijing Through Children’s Eyes” child-friendly themed routes.

Route 1: Little City Planners Along the Beijing Central Axis

Traveling from south to north along the Beijing Central Axis, children take on the roles of “little planners,” “junior guides,” and “young reporters” as they immerse themselves in the cultural heart of the ancient capital. From time-honored intangible heritage brands in Dashilan to the architectural wonders of Xiannongtan; from Tianqiao’s artistic landmarks to Qianmen’s century-old commercial streets; from the city models at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall to the hutongs and waterways of Shichahai; and finally ascending the Bell and Drum Towers to overlook the magnificent panorama of the Beijing Central Axis.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Create a mini urban planning proposal in Dashilan
• Serve as a junior guide in Shichahai
• Design an ideal street at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall
• Recite poetry at the Bell and Drum Towers

Route 2: Little Hutong Gardeners Beneath the Imperial City Walls

This route focuses on micro-garden projects created through old-city renewal initiatives. Children explore hutongs in Jingshan Subdistrict and visit more than 30 miniature landscape gardens co-designed by children, becoming “guardians of micro-gardens.” They can also participate in pop-up suitcase markets or children’s festivals at Meihou Sishi, and read Beijing-themed picture books inside the historic Corner Tower Library.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Discover the secrets of plants in pocket gardens
• Set up a toy-swap stall in the courtyards of Meihou Sishi
• Read a Beijing story together in the family reading area of the Corner Tower Library

Route 3: Little Inventors of Zhongguancun

Along the “Colorful School Route,” children can experience interactive installations such as the “Growth Ruler” and “Urban Kaleidoscope,” while learning about scientists who emerged from Zhongguancun. At Zhongxianghui, they can observe more than 60 species of plants and animals in ecological gardens and along glow-in-the-dark running tracks. At the Soong Ching Ling Center, children create technology-themed projects designed for different age groups.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Record your height on the “Growth Ruler”
• Complete a nature journal in the ecological garden
• Experience future dining in a robot restaurant
• Participate in the “Little Naturalist” program

Route 4: Young Science Explorers Under the Stars

Three museums join together to provide a one-stop science enlightenment experience. At the Beijing Planetarium, children can “travel” through the solar system in the dome theater and build telescope models by hand. At the Science and Technology Museum, they can experience electromagnetic interactive exhibits, simulated cockpits, and live science demonstrations. Finally, at the Museum of Scientists, they can learn about and experience the spirit of Chinese scientists.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Watch a dome theater film together
• Participate in a live science demonstration
• Complete “Science Passport” stamp check-ins
• Build a telescope model at the Planetarium
• Discover ancient Chinese inventions in the “China’s Ancient Science and Technology” exhibition hall

Route 5: Young Nature Explorers in the City’s Green Oases

This route connects four major ecological spaces across Beijing. Children can observe water birds beside the lake in Olympic Forest Park; touch tree bark and taste honeycomb at the Botanical Garden; learn the story of the milu deer’s return to China and climb the deer-watching platform at Milu Park; and dig in the sand, feed alpacas, and ride a jungle mini train at Wenyu River Park.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Observe water birds at Olympic Forest Park
• Touch tree bark and taste honeycomb at the Botanical Garden
• Learn the story of the milu deer’s return to China at Milu Park
• Climb the deer-watching platform
• Dig in the sand, feed alpacas, and ride the jungle mini train at Wenyu River Park

Route 6: Little Ecological Observers Along the Green Heart and Grand Canal

Children can run through the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms Forest Grove” in Green Heart Park; learn how the Grand Canal shaped Beijing at the Grand Canal Museum; listen to stories in a forest-themed children’s library; and cycle through the Grand Canal Forest Park while admiring lotus flowers, watching water birds, and enjoying the sunset.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Discover knowledge related to the twenty-four solar terms
• Experience a 4D film
• Complete a family cycling activity
• Collect Grand Canal-themed commemorative stamps

Route 7: Little Reading Ambassadors in Bookish Beijing

Children explore four distinctive bookstores across Beijing. At Zhongshuge, they can search for Peking Opera mask motifs; at the Honglou Library, converted from an old cinema, they can discover traces of its cinematic past; at Wangfujing Bookstore, they can enjoy storytelling sessions; and at Page One, they can take photos with Zhengyang Gate framed by Page One’s floor-to-ceiling windows

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Search for Peking Opera masks at Zhongshuge
• Discover traces of the Honglou Library’s cinematic past
• Listen to stories at Wangfujing Bookstore
• Take photos with Zhengyang Gate from Page One’s floor-to-ceiling windows

Route 8: Little Olympic Champions on the Ice Ribbon

Children explore Beijing’s “Dual Olympic” core area. They can skate on the Winter Olympic ice surface at the National Speed Skating Oval (“Ice Ribbon”); climb to the top of the Bird’s Nest and pose for photos on the champions’ podium; enjoy water activities or family swimming activities at the Water Cube; and watch birds or play in Olympic Forest Park.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Participate in a mock “Young Olympic Reporter” interview
• Take photos with Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon
• Enjoy a family run or cycling activity
• Collect “Olympic Passport” stamps from the three major venues

Route 9: Little Farmers in Beijing’s Countryside

Children venture into Beijing’s rural outskirts. In Xinzhuang Village, they can browse eco-friendly markets and attend sunset concerts; in Liugou Village, they can push stone mills to make tofu and create mugwort sachets; and at an urban farm, they can milk cows, feed calves, learn about vegetables, and harvest seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Participate in bamboo craft activities and toy exchanges
• Push stone mills, make tofu, and create sachets together
• Experience milking cows and learn about “the journey of milk”
• Harvest seasonal fruits and vegetables

Route 10: Young Successors Exploring Red Heritage

Children explore a century of Party history. At the Museum of the Communist Party of China, they learn about the Party’s centennial history through artifacts and immersive exhibits; at Jiaozhuanghu, they explore authentic tunnel systems and discover wartime ingenuity during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression; at the Former Residence of Li Dazhao, they pay tribute to revolutionary pioneers; and at the Fragrant Memorial Hall, they experience the story of how “the People’s Republic set out from here.”

Parent-Child Activity Card

• Find and share the artifact that impressed you most
• Explore tunnels and experience farm work together as a family
• Participate in stamp-collecting activities and take photos with your favorite historical exhibit