Bring the kids to China Horse Town for a summer escape and check in at a five-star grassland resort

Beijing is too hot. The kids are stuck in air-conditioned rooms every day. Better to let them run wild on a big, naturally cool grassland. I heard that #SummerEscape to China Horse Town only takes about a 3-hour drive to reach a summer haven. So we came here, started our family trip, and at 17°C, we were simply overjoyed.

Getting there: From downtown, take S11 Jingcheng Expressway, then transfer to Jingmi Expressway, pass the Yanqi Lake Connector, get onto Jingjia Road, then onto G111 National Highway. Merge onto G95 Capital Ring Expressway, pass through Qiansongba Tunnel, exit at Datan Town, then take Yingbin Road, then Huibin Road into Datan Town. The drive takes about 4 hours, roughly 260 km.

As we got closer to the China Horse Town resort, the mountains on both sides of the highway grew greener and the sky bluer. From inside the car, the white clouds above felt so close you could almost touch them, sweet like giant cotton candy. The moment we drove into the scenic area, my first thought was that we'd made the right choice. It's perfect for a family trip. My son couldn't resist rolling down the window to wave at the little horse topiaries and mascots made of greenery.

We stayed at the Dream Horse Hotel. After checking in at the lobby, we headed towards the elevators. While waiting, my son spotted the kids' play area right next to the elevator on the first floor – an unexpected find. I have to say the hotel did a great job with the details. Having a place for kids to play really enhances the stay. They'd turned a whole room into a children's playground, with a ball pit, slide, and all sorts of things kids love. Traveling with a little one felt lighter. The hotel is fully equipped, and the kids have a place to have fun and even make new friends.

Ding-dong! We arrived at our room. Opening the door revealed a warm and cozy family room. The hotel is a high-end property in China Horse Town, combining conference, business, accommodation, dining, and leisure facilities. It's especially great for families: the room had a double bed and a single bed, comfortably accommodating a family of four.

The resort has many distinctive restaurants. Since we were on a two-day, one-night trip, we could only pick a few special ones. We checked out the #NumberOneRoastWholeLamb Restaurant, where they serve lamb six ways – a unique and creative take, incredibly delicious. (I'm salivating just thinking about it!) It's on China Horse Town Food Street, which has gorgeous views. In the evening, you can head to Bar Street for a drink.

And now for the main event: the roast whole lamb requires advance booking. It's a signature dish of the pastoral ethnic minorities, a famous banquet dish on the grasslands. The roasted lamb is golden and fragrant, the meat sliced, not gamey or greasy – just supremely delicious.

Play tips: Recommended activities

When you're here, you absolutely must visit #DancingHorseWorld Theme Park. The kids had a blast as soon as they entered. Let me introduce some family-friendly experiences: pony rides, a cute animal petting zone, the Soaring Pegasus Funland, and immersive interactive performances – a whole new way to play. Be sure to check them all out.

Dancing Horse World Theme Park sits at the heart of China Horse Town. The park is very large, and through creative entertainment, trendy shops, interactive performances, and tech-driven experiences, it vividly recreates the natural grassland ecosystem and lets you feel the evolving relationship between humans and horses.

I suggest grabbing a show schedule at the entrance or following the China Horse Town resort's official WeChat account. You'll find various performances at different times. Remember that Dancing Horse World Theme Park is open from 9:30 to 21:00.

'God of War Zhao Zilong' is an original, epic, large-scale live-action equestrian show created exclusively by Dancing Horse World, performed twice daily to rousing effect. Each show seats over two thousand spectators. The brilliant performance is thanks to the hard work of the cast, and the stage effects are stunning – sandstorms, torrential rain, and more that you can actually feel. Many thanks for such a spectacular show that transported us back to childhood dreams of the Three Kingdoms.

As long as you stay inside Dancing Horse World Theme Park, you can enjoy rides during the day, watch shows in the evening, plus EDM parties and fireworks displays. You can easily spend a whole day here. Families with little ones: bring bottles, formula, and a stroller. Strollers can also be rented inside the park.

For little ones, I recommend the children's playground. My son's favorite is the carousel. What does a carousel mean to you? A childhood memory of happiness, a cherished dream in your heart, sweet romance with a loved one, or the loneliness of Faye Wong's 'Carousel' song? Here, what I saw were children's beaming faces. It's a must-do for every kid.

My son also loved the piglet race activity, where you can take part. The rules are simple: a piglet is assigned to you, and you chase it to the finish line. The first one to arrive wins. Don't underestimate those little pigs – it really takes wit and grit. And yes, the first-place winner gets a prize.

Most rides are open during park hours. Bumper horses, children's extreme racing, frog jump – these are all perfect for younger toddlers.

One important tip: when you come to China Horse Town, don't forget horseback riding – but it's only for the kids! Let them have a close encounter with the horses, listen to their inner world, and experience the joy of riding. A lap around the paddock on a horse is a wonderful thing. Near the stable area, you'll find a European-style stable where, I'm told, all the horses are noble breeds, each worth several hundred thousand yuan.

If you still haven't had enough, hurry to the evening EDM party. Fireworks light up the dance floor. Even from outside the park, you can hear the pulsating music, and you can't help but quicken your pace to the beat. Heads up: if you're late, it's hard to squeeze to the front. So go early! #SummerEscape to China Horse Town

Well, that's all for today. For a summer escape, head to China Horse Town. More excitement awaits – come and check it out!