There’s no better way to escape Beijing’s sweltering heat than to take a dip in a swimming pool. However, since moving to Beijing, I’ve learned that outdoor pools and splashing around in the water for fun aren’t really a thing here. There are some pretty cool indoor pools, I have to admit, but nothing comes close to soaking up the warm sun of a pool with nothing but blue skies above. Just the thought of a summer evening with the sun casting its rays across the water… that’s exactly what summer is.
So last weekend I decided to take the kids swimming somewhere and we ended up in Shunyi. There’s this outdoor pool there that was mentioned and recommended in some of the WeChat groups, so I wanted to check it out. It is located on the grounds of the Guoce International Conference and Exhibition Center.
When I told my husband about it, he said “Shunyi?!” But I’ve never been lazy for fun things, and the distance to Shunyi has never been a problem for me, so the 45-minute drive northeast didn’t bother me. Center manager Linda sent me the scan code to buy the tickets, and we packed a change of clothes for ourselves as well as baby food and hit the road. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs 398 RMB, but there are other options available: 328 RMB for two adults and one child, 198 RMB for one adult and one child, 258 RMB for two adults and 158 RMB for one. adult ticket.
We got to the pool around 1pm, and as soon as we got there I could tell it was going to be a great day. Changing rooms and showers are located at the entrance to the pool, and this is where you can get clean towels. We quickly changed and headed to the available lounge chairs which lay comfortably in a fair amount of shade. It was Saturday, but the place was far from overcrowded. The water was clear and just the perfect temperature. We all walked in and were ready to start our family day at the pool.
The kids had a blast with all the inflatable pool toys that people could use for free. We especially enjoyed a little clear plastic boat which was so much fun for kids and adults to ride.
There is more to this story! This article originally appeared on our sister site, Jingkids International.
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READ: Beat the heat: 3 places to host a summer pool party
Images: Sanja Stojkov
