If you have kids who are not content with a park for the day, then plan a trip to one of these more thrilling activities. From paintball to go-karting to rock climbing, here are our ideas for the best family-friendly activities that will have any child motivated to leave the house.
Rock Climbing
Lying on the alluvial plain of the Yangtze Delta, Shanghai really is as flat as a city can get. One way to defy gravity is rock climbing. Its popularity in the Middle Kingdom is surging and this trend will likely continue after being listed on the gaokao PE Program in early 2018. Providing a full-body workout, rock climbing trains kids to apply strength, flexibility and problemsolving skills that go beyond the walls.
A company that hosts rock climbing for kids in Shanghai is Rockdancing. They have two branches in the city: their headquarters inside the Mercedes-Benz Arena and a second location with outdoor walls in Hongkou. While the former boasts a premium family-friendly location, the latter offers outdoor walls for the real monkeys. Each has a 300-square-meter climbing space that accommodates casual climbing, bouldering and training sessions. There are eight levels in total and the first four are suitable for kids. They have classes available at a monthly rate; starting from RMB2,500 for beginners, which includes 10 all-access sessions.
Paintball
The history of paintball is the manifestation of how a humble piece of farm equipment can be reinvented into a popular suburban sport. It places participants in battlefield scenarios and pushes them to combine strategic thinking, concentration skills and athletic prowess to accomplish tasks. Whether you’re looking for something to do in the suburbs or simply trying to drag your kids away from their PS4, this is one way to wear them out while having fun.
In Shanghai, the best place to paintball is at Green Team. Located 30 kilometers outside central Shanghai in the Qingqing Tourism World, the woods and pastures allow for an immersive gaming experience. Kids can try the ‘Under 18’ program, which emphasizes training over competition and walks them through scenarios before a team elimination game. This definitely requires a full day and should be booked in advance. Packages (RMB130 for 100 paintballs) can be booked online and include uniform rental and locker space. Be sure you bring your own food and drinks to sustain the children while they combat their way through the game.
Go-Karting
Since the first go-kart was invented in LA some 60 years ago, the sport has been steadily gaining momentum in China. With tournaments like the F1 Grand Prix keeping the blood racing, it also sparks enthusiasm for kids to get on the tracks and experience the thrill for themselves. Be sure to dress in comfortable shoes and clothes, then switch on the competitive nerves and go.
There are two locations in Shanghai offering dual seated go karts, where parents can buckle up for the fun right next to their kids. The first is the SIC Kartworld located right next to the Formula 1 track. It’s close to the real deal and is allegedly the best of its kind in Asia. Dual seaters are priced at RMB180 for 8 minutes and a mini kart is RMB100.
LynnShine Karting Club near the Shanghai Expo Museum is the formal training ground for China Karting Championship contenders. It occupies 20,000 square meters of land and offers more than 10 types of bends on the track. Single go-karts are priced at RMB120 for 8 minutes, while double go-karts charge RMB200 for the same amount of time. Helmets and gloves are included and safety instructions will be given before the engines start.
A recent favorite is K Ground, which, in addition to cutting edge track design and extreme motorsport culture, serves as great venue for parties and team building events. The Drive Cafe & Bar offers cocktails, snacks and other refreshments while you watch a live feed of the races on one of their television screens.
See listings for SIC Kartworld, LynnShine Karting Club, and K Ground.
