China Travel and Cultural Wonders
... from Our Family to Yours
Whether you will be traveling to China with the children, or just want to learn more about those mighty Chinese Dragons... We bring China to you in these pages, we hope you enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed putting them together!
China travel is not only about temples and imperial palaces, Peking Opera and Buddhas... Your China Family Adventure is about climbing watchtowers... exploring narrow alleyways... flying kites... coming face to face with giant Pandas... cruising rivers on bamboo rafts... and so much more! Click on the arrow to take a peek!
China is on everybody's mind. As hosts to the 2008 Summer Olympic
Games, China's role as an economically dynamic and politically controversial nation is visible
everywhere. China is emerging as a leading tourist destination. People want to find out what the
fuss is all about...
With the Children?...
China is not regarded as your typical destination for a family vacation with small children.
People will tell you it's too crowded, too polluted, all that sightseeing, culture and history
will bore the daylights out of them...
Well yes, it will be crowded and the air quality is a real problem, but with a little planning
and an open mind, a China travel experience can be such an eye opener, an exploration journey
and fabulous adventure for the family!
Ours started when my parents, who are originally from South China, were keen on visiting their
homeland and wanted to bring the grandkids along...
A trip to the Past...
Planning a trip to China with children takes on a different meaning. It has to be beyond
the rich culture and beautiful scenery. It's about making more than five thousand
years of history come alive...
- about exploring those ancient walls... by bicycle
- about cruising the waters traveled by emperors long ago... on a dragon boat
- about flying kites... in the world's largest square...
How else could we keep Christopher, 8, and
cousin Jonathan, 10, engaged, involved, entertained and out of trouble?...
A Look Into the Future....
But your China travel experience isn't just history and the past, it's also about the future,
about the impressive transformation this land of contrasts is going through... about the
progress and the serious challenges.
We rode the fastest train in the world... at 433 km/hr
it took all but 5 minutes to get to the airport in Shanghai.
And cruising through the largest hydro development project ever built at the Three Gorges Dam was like a ride out of Starship Enterprise... truly amazing.
And Learning About Chinese Culture...
...At every turn. Chinese Ghosts, Chinese Dragons... Good Luck Numbers, Bad Luck Numbers... Foods, Festivals, Lion Dances... We take you on that journey as well...
We want our kids to have a better appreciation for their roots and most of all,
to learn to value all that we have at home and that we so often and easily take for
granted.
We are here to share experiences from our family
travels in China as well as from our own cultural heritage, and help you on your way to having your own China Family Adventure!
Let's get started!
China Travel Guide - Choosing the Best Way to Travel...with the Children
China Travel Guide: the range of options to travel in China is vast. Should you use a Travel Agent? Go with a group or on your own?
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China Travel Guide - Family Friendly Destinations
China Travel Guide: China is such a great
land, where to go? what to do with kids? Plan your family-friendly
itinerary to include a Toboggan ride down the Great Wall, biking
in the countryside...
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China Travel Info and Tips, when to go, how to get there... how can I charge my iPod?
China Travel Info and Tips: when to go, how to get there, all from visas to electricity in China, and practicalitites you need to know for your trip to China
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China Travel with Children - Our Tips
Our tips for China Travel with Children: History and culture too boring? put a camera in their hands... What about Chinese toilets, what's this squatting thing?...
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Beijing Travel with Kids
Beijing Travel with Kids. The Forbidden City... the
largest palace in the world...the sight is impressive. Yet, to the kids the rows
of buildings are starting to look all the same. What to do?
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Great Wall of China... Climb up and Toboggan Down!
Journey to the Great Wall of China... several portions of the Wall are now accessible, where should you go with the kids? will grandma be able to climb? Badaling? Mutianyu? Simatai? Read more...
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Things to do in Shanghai with kids
You will never run out of things to do in Shanghai. This is a place where East meets West, Old meets New... One of the world's most vibrant cities.
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Xian, China - Travel to the Eastern end of the Silk Road
Xian, China - Traveling with the family to this ancient capital? Between the nearby Terracota Army, bike rides on the city wall, bargaining at the Markets, you have it covered!
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Xian's Terracotta Army
Xian's Terracotta Army is a fascinating collection of +8,000 life-size warriors built more than 2,000 years ago by Emperor Qin to protect him in the next world. Take a look at this magnificent archaeological treasure...
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Travel to Hong Kong with Kids
Travel to Hong Kong with Kids: ferry rides, big buddhas, colorful markets, thrilling rides, pandas, temples, fun foods, and yes, even Mickey Mouse!
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Guilin and Yangshuo: Magical Chinese Mountains
Guilin and Yangshuo are the perfect place to take a break from the fast pace and glitz of the big cities and head over to the countryside. The children will enjoy biking through small villages and rice paddies and cruising down the rivers in small bamboo rafts...
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Cruising China's Yangtze River
Our cruise through China's Yangtze River gave us a chance to see some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. It also gave us a glimpse of modern China at the world's largest power plant!
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To Chengdu with Children - More than Giant Pandas!!!
If you are traveling to Chengdu with children, a stop at one of the Giant Panda Reserves will be a must. But that is not all there is to see and do in Chengdu. Come take a look...
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Traveling to Tibet - with Children?
For travel to Tibet with children, there are a number of issues that need your consideration: altitude sickness, strong sun, food, tibetan dogs. Here are tips on dealing with them, and family-friendly alternatives to experiencing Tibetan culture.
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The Leshan Buddha
A day trip to the Leshan Buddha is easily made from Chengdu. At 71 meters high, this is the largest Buddha in the world. It is carved on the side of the hill, where he sits overlooking the river.
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Remote China: Off the Beaten Path... with kids
How about traveling to the more remote areas of China, the off the beaten path places away from the main tourist cities. Can this be done with children? Is it safe? Is it worth it?
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Famous Chinese Mountains: Huangshan - Yellow Mountain
As famous Chinese mountains go, Huangshan or Yellow Mountain in China is at the top of the must-see list.
It is not just the oddly shaped towering peaks surrounded by a sea of clouds, but also the ancient dwarf pines growing from any crevice imaginable, the hot springs in the mountain, the amazing sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, the waterfalls and streams...
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Zhangjiajie Stone Forest - China's Avatar Mountains?
Zhangjiajie's Stone Forest in China's Hunan Province, are these the striking hanging mountains in the movie Avatar?
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Our China Photos
China Photos from our China trips with grandma, grandpa and the kids. Lots to do in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and the Yangtze River Cruise...
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Our China Video Gallery
China Video Clips from our 2007 Trip. Join us as we fly kites in Tian'an Men Square, climb the Great Wall and toboggan down, bike in Xian, and more...
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Chinese Culture... for kids!
Let's explore the many aspects of Chinese culture, from food to festivals, to dragons and tigers. 2012 is the year of the Dragon! Come and learn with us!
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Chinese Zodiac for Kids
There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. They came when Buddha summoned them to him. A race was held to determine which would be first in the cycle, guess who came in first and why?
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Learning Chinese Writing Symbols for Kids
Chinese writing symbols go back more than 3,000 years. Characters began as pictures. Pictures were drawn to resemble the items they represented.
Students have to memorize many 'pictures' to be able to read and write, want to give it a try?
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Traditional Chinese Festivals for Kids
Traditional Chinese Festivals are the life-blood of Chinese life and culture. They are all rich in tradition, history, great food, dazzling lights and flashy decorations!
Take a look at these wonderful celebrations!
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Are Chinese Dragons evil?
Unlike the western counterpart, Chinese Dragons are not considered bad enemies to be defeated. In Chinese culture, dragons are a symbol of wisdom, power and nobility and are found in everyday life.
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Chinese Food for Kids
How different is Chinese food in China from what you are used to back home? In a country as immense as China, the diversity of its food is vast, these are the major styles you will encounter in the different regions.
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China Map
China Map with places of interest for the kids: Where can you see the Great Wall? Where do Pandas live?
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Blog
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