Twistin' by the Pool
Speedos A-gogo at City Waterparks
By Tom Buffalo

Nothing beats taking of almost all your clothes and splashing around semi-naked in a crowded pool of strangers.

But before you plop in, three tips: One, bring suntan lotion. The one waterpark that had lotion offered a choice of factor 8 or factor 8. Two, take sandals: cement gets hot. Three, bring a swimming costume. Public nudity is against the law in China.

Lakeview Waterpark

44.jpg (13912 bytes)Don't be fooled by the front gate, which at first glance suggests this place is just another disappointing tourist trap.Lakeview Waterpark, in Yanxi Lake, Huairou is frankly anything but.

Boasting about 100,000 square meters of pools, slides, inner tube rides -- restaurants, shops, drinks stalls -- this is one of the largest water theme parks in China.

It's like one of the popular waterparks in the USA, only at the moment, the lines are much shorter and the children slightly cuter. Designed by Whitewater West Industries, designers of more than 100 theme parks including Disney Water Adventures in the USA, the theme of the park is Caribbean, and the friendly, cool staff and laid back vibes of this place quickly relegate any afternoon travel plans to "another day". This may be the only place in China where the piped music doesn't make you want to drown yourself.

The buildings, the decoration and landscaping come in play school bright colors, a real tropical environment. All the park equipment comes with the latest technology available from U.S.A, Canada and Europe.

Owned and operated by a joint venture company, Lakeview Waterpark is managed by a team of international and local Chinese managers. Management is committed to providing a high quality standard of service.44-1.jpg (11462 bytes)

With the support of the local government, the waterpark is one of the most important tourism attractions in Huairou. Since it opened in August last year, Lakeview Waterpark has been advertising heavily as Beijingers have been a little slow to take on the idea of water fun and excitement for the whole family.

Some people seem to walk into the park, straight to the Grenada Surf Beach Wave Pool and never leave. It ain't the seaside, but the screams are authentic all under the stern gaze of strapping lifeguards. Whether floating on a tube or flapping about in the surf, this 3,000 square-meter pool with its eight wave modes and crystal clear water is really the heart of the park.

Other attractions include the Jamaica body slide, Bahamas Mamas tube slide , Amazon Lazy River, Caribbean interactive island, interactive pool, tots play pool, spa and a vortex pool especially designed for kids and family.

Besides the water attractions, there are five restaurants featuring Western and Chinese food, gift shops with films, disposable cameras, sunscreen, shampoo, soaps, towels, combs, sunglasses. There's a picnic area and first aid center.

To ensure the high quality of the daily 650 tons of water, Lakeview uses Starlite filtration system, which was also used for the1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Access to all water attractions, deckchairs, tables, umbrellas and picnic area is free and unlimited upon adult or child admission.

Address: 118 Quanshitou Road, Yanxi, Huairou County.

How to get there:

By bus: round trip, 30 yuan.

Departure: Xuanwumen, east to the Church (8 am) -- Qianmen, near the bus station of No. 120 (8.15) -- Chongwenmen, near the bus station of No. 103 (8.30) -- Dongzhimen, near the bus station of No.117 (8.45) -- Lakeview Waterpark (10)

Return: 4 pm.

For further information, call 6601-8252, 6605-4851

If you want to leave late, then the last long-distance air-conditioned 916 bus to Dongzhimen out of Huairou leaves 6.30 pm. It's a 20-minute, 15-yuan miandi ride back to Huairou from the park.

By train: round trip, 12 yuan; one-way, 8 yuan. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office of Beijing Railway Station and Beijing North Railway Station.

For Chinese information, call 6563-5179, or 6563-5189.

Tourist Train 1. From Beijing Railway Station to Lakeview Waterpark (Fan Ge Zhuang) 8:32 am

Tourist Train 2 From Lakeview Waterpark to Beijing Railway Station 4:01 pm

Tourist Train 3

From Xizhimen Railway Station to Lakeview Waterpark (Fan Ge Zhuang) 7:18 am

Tourist Train 4

From Lakeview Waterpark to Xizhimen Railway Station 6.40 pm

Tel: 65681061

Shijingshan Water World45-3.jpg (12916 bytes)

This consists of large slides, man-made wave pools, special-shaped swimming pools, children's swimming pools, the first family raft slides and a wave-swaying slide.

The family raft slide is 11 meters high and 135 meters long. Visitors take the rubber rafts to go downstream in the 2.2- meter wide trough made of glass fiber reinforced plastic.

The high-speed slides slope 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

Day: RMB 20(adult), RMB15 (children ,less than 1.4 meter high).

Evening: RMB 10 (open during the summer vacation)

45-4.jpg (12173 bytes)How to get there:

Change at Fuxingmen for the red line subway to Bajiaocun.

The park is north of the subway station.

Tel: 6887-4060 (Chinese only)

Jinhai Lake

Jinhai Lake is the third biggest reservoir in Beijing, 18 kilometers east of Pinggu, the first place in Beiijng to develop comprehensive water sports. Tourists can try out water bicycles, motorboats, or head to the water slide, swimming beach or fishing area, or try parachuting.45.jpg (11232 bytes)

Tourists will also have the chance to try the "fish banquet" and the local delicacies. There are more than 30 hotels nearby.

Around the lake is a mountain. Besides water sports, tourists can also climb the mountain, featured by various caves.

Entrance ticket: RMB 12/person

Motorboat: RMB40/person

Self-driven motorboat: RMB 6/min, RMB 5/min

Water skiing: RMB10/min

Pneumatic boat: RMB80/h, RMB 70/h

Swimming: RMB10/h, RMB 10/p

Discount for groups (minimum 30 persons)

How to get there:

Transport: Take bus 918 from Dongzhimen, or take Tourist bus 14 from Dongdaqiao or Zhanlanlu

Tel: 6999-1046 6999-1736

Qingnianhu Park "Waterworld"

45-7.jpg (15249 bytes)Qingnianhu Park Waterworld merged swimming and entertainment in 1992. The 6,200 square-meter twin-pool area holds 3,000 visitors, with water slides and children's recreational facilities. First aid equipment and lifeguards are ready.

Address: Qingnianhu Park, Andingmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng.

Ticket: RMB15/person, RMB 10/child (less than 1.3 meter high

Open: 8:30 am-10.30 pm.45-6.jpg (13366 bytes)

How to get there:

Transport: Take subway to Andingmen station, or take Bus 18,104,108,119 to Ditan stop, or take Bus 27, 380 to Dixingju stop

websites: http://www.qnhpark.com.cn