A 3-Day 2-Night Trip to Yanqing with Kids – These Pitfalls Had Me Crying in the Hotel!

Last week's adventure in Yanqing with my kid left me exhausted like Ge You😭, but my child screamed "I want to stay at the Marriott for 100 more days!" on the way back. This brutally honest guide is a must-read for moms planning a trip – just copy this itinerary📝 🚗 Brutal Truth About Transportation: Don’t believe the "1.5-hour direct drive" myth! Leaving at 10 AM on Saturday, we were stuck in traffic for 3 hours, with the Changping section turning into a parking lot🅿️. Either leave before 8 AM or take the high-speed train to Yanqing Station and then a taxi (20 minutes to the Marriott). 👨👩👦 Optimized Itinerary (Tested with Blood and Sweat): **Day 1**: Check in at Marriott → Dim Sum Buffet → Guihe River Bike Ride → Mongolian Grilled Lamb Ribs **Day 2**: Hike at Longqing Gorge → Frisbee at Expo Garden → Stove Fish → Werewolf Game at Western Bar **Day 3**: Hot Spring Relaxation → Head Home ⚠️ Life-Saving Pitfall Avoidance Guide: 1️⃣ Marriott’s buffet service is painfully slow! We waited 30 minutes for shrimp dumplings. Pro tip: Order while checking in (we ate at 1 PM off-peak and got food faster). 2️⃣ Avoid the parent-child bikes at Guihe River! The two-seater with a child seat is impossible to pedal – we ended up pushing it for 3 km😤. 3️⃣ Expo Garden Hot Spring Hotel is a scam! At ¥310/person, the Marriott pool is a better deal. Plus, lockers require a ¥20 deposit. 4️⃣ Guimi Western Bar isn’t kid-friendly at night – it’s full of drinkers and card players. My kid was so tired they rolled around on the couch😵. 📸 Instagram-Worthy Spots: ✔️ Guihe Forest Park Reed Area (shoot silhouettes at 4 PM with backlighting) ✔️ Longqing Gorge Boat Deck (capture hair flying at departure) ✔️ Expo Garden Dutch Pavilion (pretend you’re in a tulip kingdom🌷) ✔️ Marriott Lobby Spiral Staircase (wear a light dress for a socialite vibe) 🍜 Foodie Red & Black List: ✅ Gerile Mongolian Grilled Lamb Ribs – crispy outside, tender inside! My kid devoured three. ✅ Stove Fish – choose catfish for tenderness! Cornbread dipped in soup? We finished five. ✅ Marriott breakfast has made-to-order wontons – a savior for northerners. ❌ Western Bar’s kids' meal is just frozen fries and nuggets😱. ❌ The hotel’s "welcome fruit" was three jujubes🙄. 👶 Kid Survival Kit: 1. Foldable bike seat pad (rental bikes are hard as steel). 2. Hiking poles for Longqing Gorge (endless stairs will wreck your legs). 3. Waterproof phone lanyard (no drops during boat photos). 4. Portable thermos (pack breakfast porridge for the road). Worst Moment: Searching for a toilet at Expo Garden while my kid danced in desperation… ending with "watering" the French Pavilion’s roses🌹. Best Surprise: Marriott’s pool has free arm floats and a heated kids' pool – a lifesaver! Verdict: Best for energetic kids aged 5+. Three days here was more exhausting than school, but my kid said it beat Sanya😂. Pro tip: Pack extra layers – Guihe River evenings are freezing (I wanted a down jacket❄️). Despite the pitfalls, seeing my child cheer on the boat made this mom silently open the booking page for next time🥰.