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 Great Wall.

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

Yangtze River Cruise and Three Gorges The Yangtze River offers charming mountain scenery at the Three Gorges and the largest hydroelectric project at the Three Gorges Dam

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.

Chengdu In 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. However, due to the widespread damage to Sichuan Province as a result of the Wenchuan Earthquake, some areas, specially in Chengdu, are understandably still currently closed to visitors. That includes the many Panda Preserves in the area. Click here for more on the China Earthquake, latest updates and how you can help.

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.

Leshan Leshan boasts some beautiful countryside as well as the world's largest Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area of Sichuan Province which was shaken by the Earthquake in May 2008 was not damaged and is fully open for tourism.

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, and the many parks... Click here for more on Hong Kong travel tips including things to do, shopping tips, food, etc from Anna, a native Chinese residing in Hong Kong, and her day trip to Disneyland Hong Kong.

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

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:

• Inner Mongolia: Horseback riding in the grasslands, camping out in a yurt, get a taste of Mongolian culture...

• The Great Wall on the North Korean Border: no crowds, beautifully restored.

• Mount Emei, Sichuan Province: One of China's four famous Buddhist mountains, great for hiking...

• Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve: Gorgeous scenery, hiking, horseback riding, visit Tibetan villages...

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.

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

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