What To Do in Beijing When It Rains: Seven Indoor Escapes

Thunderstorms are predicted for this weekend and far of subsequent week, and it may be laborious to make plans while you’re undecided if the skies are about to open up and unleash their fury on you in a wet downpour. However don’t be concerned! A wet day in Beijing doesn’t suggest simply staying at residence doom-scrolling all day; there are loads of indoor actions you may hold your self entertained with when these summer time storms do hit.

We have put collectively just a few of our high suggestions. 

1. Embrace Your Inside Little one With Indoor Leisure

Indoor leisure is not only for youngsters! Beijing has a variety of indoor leisure choices. Why not go to a bowling alley, climbing heart, escape room, arcade, or trampoline park and check out one thing new! There are additionally plenty of malls and indoor amusement facilities like VS Sports activities Park, which have all the above housed in a single advanced. Seek for “运动玩” yùndòng wán (sports activities play) on Dianping, and it is best to see a spread of choices. 

2. Get Cultured at a Museum

Take shelter in considered one of Beijing’s many desirable museums. Whether or not you are into historical historical past, imperial treasures, the historical past of the hutongs, or watermelons (extra on that later), there isn’t any scarcity of spectacular collections. You may head to a number of the greater, extra well-known museums just like the Capital Museum (首都博物馆) or the Nationwide Museum of China (中国国家博物馆), or maybe smaller locations just like the Dongsi Hutong Museum (东四胡同博物馆). Should you’re actually in search of one thing totally different, although, why not go to a extra area of interest place just like the China Watermelon Museum (中国西瓜博物馆) (sure, that’s an actual place) or the Maotai Museum (茅台博物馆). 

3. Curl Up in a Studying Café

There’s nothing extra soothing than a drink, dim lighting, and the sound of rain in opposition to the window. Throughout Beijing, you will discover quiet cafés designed for studying, journaling, or just watching the rain fall outdoors. Search for spots with gentle lighting, window seating, and loads of nooks to curve up in. Any of Web page One’s quite a few areas are certain to hit the spot, or you may strive hutong cafes like Zarah.

4. Discover Galleries at 798 Artwork District or Caochangdi

Each 798 and its quieter sibling Caochangdi (草场地) are residence to quite a few artwork galleries which can be nice to discover on a wet day. Plus, outside drizzle solely enhances 798’s industrial-chic vibes. You may spend hours hopping between thought-provoking exhibitions, searching impartial designer items, and stopping for espresso in artsy cafés. In 798, Yanran Chen’s first solo exhibition, “Neon Dreamland,” housed in ART FOCUS, is at the moment nonetheless displaying, and for extra exhibitions that may ending quickly, you may try this put up. 

5. Unwind at a Bar With Video games and Good Vibes

If you’re seeking to have just a few drinks but in addition need some leisure on the facet, then why not head to considered one of Beijing’s many bars that even have a pool desk, darts board, or a foosball desk for a little bit of pleasant competitors. Locations like Spuds, Eudora Station, Pool Bar and The Nook Bistro have a mix of two or all three, so you may take pleasure in switching between just a few totally different video games. 

6. Catch a Film on the Cinema

Wet days have been made for film marathons – and Beijing has you lined. Catch the newest native or Hollywood blockbusters at cinemas like Megabox or UME, the place you will discover comfortable seating, snacks, and often bilingual subtitles. For one thing extra atmospheric, go to Cinker Footage in Raffles Mall. This boutique cinema has VIP recliners, plush leather-based seats and footrests, plus cocktails, different alcoholic drinks and snacks. They even have some particular scorching pot screening rooms if you would like a really distinctive movie-going expertise!   

 7. Store Until You Drop at Indoor Markets and Malls

Beijing’s indoor markets are good for rainy-day retail remedy. Should you’re within the temper for a little bit of haggling and wish some souvenirs or knock-off trend, then you may’t go flawed with the Pearl Market (红桥市场) or Silk Avenue (秀水街). For individuals who wish to do some extra simple procuring, simply hit up considered one of Beijing’s many, many malls. Large ones like Chaoyang Pleasure Metropolis even have an arcade, cinema and tons of eating places, so there’s a lot to maintain you entertained for hours whilst you shelter from the rain!

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Photos: Unsplash, courtesy of the venues, Uni You, the Beijingers