China Travel Guide - Choosing Your Family-Friendly Itinerary

Traveling to China with kids? China is such a great land, where should you go? what is there to do with the children? what's the best way to get there and around? We try to answer these questions in the following pages, as well as give you some ideas of what has worked for us when traveling with our kids in China.

Plan your family-friendly itinerary to include a Pedicab trip through the Beijing alleyways, a Toboggan ride down the Great Wall, biking through the countryside among gumdrop mountains... planning a trip to China with the kids will take a little more work, but in the end, it's all worth it!

Don't try to cram too many places in a short period of time. After all, you wouldn't try to see the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Yosemite, New York City, Disneyworld, the Florida Keys and the Everglades all in two weeks...

Yes, China is BIG, and there is so much to see and experience. This is one of the world's ancient civilizations and is so full of history and culture. When all that history and culture becomes "too much" for the kids, take a boat ride, fly kites, watch a kung fu show!

Here are a few of our favorite places for a great China Family Adventure:

Beijing

Beijing, the capital of the Republic and home to many of China's most famous historical sites, including the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. It is also the gateway to the Great Wall

Kids will enjoy a ride in a rickshaw through the old alley ways, dragon boat rides, flying kites in the world's largest square, kung fu shows...

The Great Wall

The Great Wall is of course a "must" when visiting China. Kids will enjoy climbing the watchtowers, but they will looove toboganning down this historical site.

There are many sections of the Wall that can be visited, some offer cable cars, toboggans, and roller coasters... check them out and decide which one to visit.

Xian

Xian's claim to fame is the Army of Terracotta Warriors, a most intriguing archaeological discovery. But there is more to Xian than the Terracotta Army.

Kids will enjoy riding bicicles on the ancient city wall, visiting food markets, musical fountains and more.

Shanghai

Shanghai is the nation's business and financial center. A place where East meets West, old meets new... One of the world's most vibrant cities.

There's much to keep everyone entertained, from a boat ride through an ancient and quaint watertown to riding the fastest train in the world... gardens and bazaars...

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a complex modern metropolis where glass and steel skyscrapers bond with the ancient culture giving this city such an exotic flavor... Kids will enjoy the Star Ferry, getting up Victoria Peak, the markets and yes, there is Disneyland!...

Visit our sister website for more on Travel Hong Kong Attractions and Landmarks .

Chengdu

Chengdu you will see Pandas as close to their natural habitat as you can get, a great treat for the kids to come face to face with one of these wonderful creatures.

Chengdu is a good place to use as a base for exploring the nearby area and is also the gateway for travel into Tibet.

The Yangtze River

The Yangtze River offers charming mountain scenery at the Three Gorges and the largest hydroelectric project at the Three Gorges Dam where crossing the locks was a highlight.

A visit to an ancient ghost town is on the way, and riding the peapod rafts is also great fun.

Big Buddha at Leshan

Leshan boasts some beautiful countryside as well as the world's largest Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kids will enjoy climbing down to Dafo's feet and having a picnic on one of the gigantic toe nails!

Guilin/Yangshuo

Guilin and Yangshuo is where you find those picture-perfect magical limestone peaks... You feel as if you were in the middle of a classical Chinese painting...

Children will enjoy a bike ride through the countryside, or cruising the rivers on bamboo rafts... it's a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou: This bustling city is a mix of traditional Chinese structures and ultra-modern skyscrapers with an ever-changing skyline.

Riding the bubble tram atop China's tallest tower, a fantastic world-class circus, and a very unique safari park give kids and families plenty to do at this mecca for trade fairs and exhibitions.

Famous Mountains

Several places in China claim to be the model for the beautiful floating mountains featured in the movie Avatar. Both the peaks of Zhangjiajie National Park and the Chinese Mountains at Huangshan are the biggest rivals. Besides the jaw-dropping scenery, there are plenty of activities for the active families like hiking and rafting.

Yunnan Province

Yunnan Province is China's South-West jewel, with an incredible variety of striking landscapes, ethnic cultures and wildlife. It claims to be the home of fabled Shangri-La, from stone forests, snow-caped mountains, deep ravines and rice terraces, Yunnan has been blessed with some of the country's most spectacular scenery.

Tibet with Children?

What about Tibet?

Is it OK to travel to Tibet with children?

Here are some answers about altitude sickness, strong sun, food, Tibetan dogs, and alternative family-friendly choices to experience Tibetan Culture.

Remote China?

What about traveling to the more remote areas of China?

Some "off the beaten path" places away from the main tourist sites that can be visited with children?

Try some of these recommendations:

Use this link to the China Map for a quick reference when planning your itinerary!

Check out these China Travel Guidebooks and start planning your destinations!

You are here: Home > Great China Destinations for Kids

Thank you for visiting China Family Adventure!

Español

Like our site? Follow Us!

China Family Adventure

Follow @ChinaFamAdv

ChinaFamilyAdv

Like this page? Please share it!

Tweet