A mother-daughter duo tries out the price scanner in the Magic Bean House's "Green Foods" supermarket. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com]

A large, sunlit room is outfitted with a series of clear tubes where kids can manipulate foam balls with air pressure and shoot them from a huge cannon in a basic encounter with physics.

Parents are encouraged to get in on the action. Informational handouts accompanying several of the exhibits give tips on how to help children get the most out of playtime.

"Our goal is to share different parenting ideas with parents here in China," Zhang said.

If the Magic Bean House's success is any measure, the concept of a children's museum is gaining popularity. According to Zhang, 60 percent-70 percent of visitors learn about the museum through word of mouth. But, she said the museum has not yet devoted much energy to marketing. Zhang recalled that one day, a group of 20 families rented a bus from another Chinese city to come play at the Magic Bean House for a day.

The museum has caught the attention of the expatriate community, appearing in magazines such as "Beijing Kids." But the crowd on Children's Day on June 1 was all local. Magic Bean House staff decorated the place with balloons and set up simple games in addition to the regular exhibits, such as bowling and picking up marbles with chopsticks. Through these games, children could earn stamps to win a treat.

Zhang said she is still looking for ways to improve the Magic Bean House. She is a member of the Association of Children's Museums and continues to travel back to the United States to exchange ideas with her American counterparts. The United States is home to more than 300 children's museums and a wealth of ideas.

Pleased by the positive reception of the Magic Bean House, Zhang says other centers that target different age groups are among her long-term plans.