Meet You on the Slip Slide: Five Beijing Pools
It’s that sweltering midsummer heat that Beijing does so well. The air is so heavy with humidity, it already feels as though you’re in the water, so might as well hit up some water parks while you're at it. Here are a few places to take the plunge.
Happy Magic Water Cube Water Park (水立方嬉水乐园)
The most famed of Beijing’s spots for a dip, the Water Cube was transformed into a fantasy of a water park in 2010. With its tall slides, lazy river for tubing, and spa pools for soaking, your entry fee will be well spent for a full day, provided you can bear the crowds. RMB 200. Daily 10am-9pm. 11 Tianchen Donglu (in Olympic Park, near the Bird’s Nest), Chaoyang District (8437 8086) 朝阳区北四环中路奥林匹克公园内(近鸟巢)
Happy Water Rubik’s Cube (欢乐水魔方水上乐园)
Happy Water Rubik’s Cube is Beijing’s biggest open-air water park. You’ll have to jaunt out to Fengtai outside East Fourth Ring Road but you’ll be rewarded with a selection of 15 different rides, including flumes, raft rides and a wave
machine to help you while away a day of summer heat. RMB 200. Daily 10am-7pm. No.11 Xiaotun Lu (next to Meishikou Lu), Fengtai District (8860 9999) 丰台区小屯路11号(近梅市口路)
Tuanjiehu Water Park (团结湖水上乐园)
Tuanjiehu may be most familiar as the subway stop for Sanlitun, but if you’re tired of the area’s non-stop consumption of every variety (shopping, dining and drinking), kick back and take a break from it all at the neighborhood park. It hides away a modest water park, beach and wave pool. If swimming’s not your thing, then check out the paddle boats for rent or the roller-skating park. RMB 40 (weekdays), RMB 50 (weekends). Summer season, daily 10am-10pm. 16 Tuanjiehu Nanli, East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District (8597 4677) 朝阳区团结湖南里16号,东三环东团结湖公园内
If you’re a serious swimmer, then skip the park play and jump straight into the lanes. Beijing has countless public pools for those of you on a budget, and there is even a handful of classy hotel pools open to the public, but for a price. Here are a few to get your stroke started.
SWIMMING POOLS
Dongdan Swimming Pool
Not the cheapest of public pools and the opening hours won’t allow for a pre-office swim, but this 50-meter pool is one of Beijing’s best in the category. RMB 50. 10am-9.00pm. A2 Dahua Lu, Dongcheng District. (6523 1241) 东城区东单大华路甲2号.
Westin Chaoyang Heavenly Spa
If your ideal workout environment offers city views and an ambiance of luxury, then this 25-meter indoor pool will fit the bill. You’ll have to shell out, but the tranquility may well be worth it. RMB 400. Daily 6am-11pm. 7 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District (5922 8888) 朝阳区东三环北路7号
Read more Beijing water guides in the July issue of the Beijinger magazine here.
