4 Days, 5 Nights in Beijing: Wrestling a Toddler and a Pocket Stroller on its Last Leg.

[Marion Barrows]

Wow, it's too "extraordinary" and funny to be true!

Here is what happened:

• We have a collapsible stroller which needs to have its front wheels taken off before going through the security check so that we can fit it into the airplane’s overhead compartment.
• Once I arrived in Beijing after landing and disembarking from the plane (using a taxi app called Didi, which is similar to Uber or Grab), I thought I had successfully reassembled the stroller's front wheels on my way to the hotel. Everything seemed good and smooth at this point.
• Alert: At breakfast the following morning, I realized to my horror that the front wheel had been missing since the previous night upon checking photos (please see Photo 1⃣️). It was a mix of humor and frustration.
• I then approached one of the Didi drivers I had contacted, who had indicated that no such wheel was found inside the taxi. In any case, it seemed impossible to immediately source a replacement wheel.
• As a result, we improvised and pushed on with the "tricycle," which surprisingly worked just fine. I'm not sure whether it speaks more to the quality of the stroller than to my lack of attention, but it was indeed a pleasant surprise.

️ Travel tips and traps to avoid:

• Concerning collapsible strollers: Please ensure very carefully upon landing that all parts have been properly reassembled before proceeding. Otherwise, you may end up like me with a "special edition" three-wheeled stroller, turning heads across Beijing!
• Unforeseen situation handling tricks: It’s essential not to be overly upset when things don’t go as planned during a trip. Even when you lose a wheel, you can still enjoy your travel. For instance, with only one less wheel, I made my way around Beijing with my “unicycle” stroller without much difficulty.

All right, although there were some twists and turns, we still explored quite a few attractions with our "three-wheeler" (just to be clear, it’s a stroller with three wheels):

• Wuhoushi Walkway near Five Trees in Wanjie District (Photos 2⃣️ and 3⃣️): A trendy commercial zone filled with great food and stores to browse.
• Beihai Park (Photos 4⃣️ and 5⃣️): This imperial garden has many fun things to see, including taking photos in Hanfu costume.
• Tiananmen Square (Photo 6⃣️): Along with the unavoidable queues, visitors are often outnumbered by the crowds that gather here.
• Jingshan Park, walking towards Nanmen Lamian Restaurant (a well-known lamb shabu-shabu establishment in Beijing) - My kid fell asleep in the stroller en route. Not only did I push a three-wheeled stroller but also needed to do so sideways (due to missing a single wheel) to make steady progress - pushing the cart through for half an hour! It truly tested my physical power!
• Flower Town Outlet Mall (8⃣️): Converting my stroller into a shopping cart, I enjoyed the shopping spree.
• Summer Palace (Photos 9⃣️ and A magnificent imperial park with lots of beautiful scenery, however we happened not to capture photo moments of it with my stroller.

See you again, Beijing! (Photo 1⃣️1⃣️)

#BeijingTravelEssentials #StrollerReview #FamilyTrip

[Andrea Hand]

With the handlebar installed, is the stroller still easy to fold?

[Wayne Marvin]

Yes, it's still easy to fold.

[Tanya Bogisich IV]

Your makeup and hairstyling look great! Where did you get it done? I'm planning to take my parents there at the end of the month too.

[Orville DuBuque]

It's on the third floor of Wangfu Century. The entire floor is full of shops like that. The one we went to is called Menghualu.

[Linda Dietrich]

I didn't notice it at first! But after reading your post and taking a closer look, it's hilarious!