China Travel with Children - Our Tips

At the top of the list of Tips for China Travel with Children is to bring an open mind and the right attitude. A trip to China with the kids could be a test to your nerves... but also a very rewarding experience... Here are some tips to get you over and back with your sanity intact...

• So history and culture too boring? Put a camera in their hands...
  
  
• Is China a safe place for my kid?
  
  
• How to deal with pollution in China, is it really that bad?
  
  
• What about Chinese toilets, what's this squatting thing?...

So let's get started!

China Travel with Children Tip #1 -
How to Avoid Boredom -- the Camera Trick

Oh mom, not another temple!!!

Even with good planning and lots of "child-friendly" activities here and there, let's face it, even we as adults get a bit weary after the whole lot of shrines, palaces, mosques... never mind museums and tombs... one after the other... to the kids, well, it could be their version of ancient Chinese torture...

Putting a camera in their hands could be the solution to this common problem. Instead of looking at "just another temple" they can look for specific things to photograph. Take the Forbidden City for example. This is probably one of the more challenging places to navigate with children just because of the sheer size of it. So how do you get through 9,999 rooms of what seems to be "the same old thing?" Give them a couple of assignments, cameras in hand:

• How many Lions can you find?
  
  
• Who can photograph the most animals, mythical or real, (phoenixes and dragons count). Tip: a lot of stuff on the roofs... look UP!!!
  
  
• First one to find the Turtle wins...
  
  

And at other sites as well:

• How many cannons did you see at the Great Wall?
  
  
• Can you find the "Kneeling Archer" from the Terracotta Army?
  
  
• Find the fattest Buddha, a police car, a cool garbage can...

You get the picture! For some ideas, flip through your guide book to find stuff to photograph ahead of time, or buy a bunch of postcards of the places you will be visiting (they are very inexpensive) Show them the stuff to look for, hand them a camera and off they go!

Taking pictures is a great way to get the kids involved and instill a little appreciation for all that "boring history". And who knows... you might end up with some really nice photos for your scrapbook!

Click here for tips on selecting a camera and to show off what you found!

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China Travel with Children Tip #2 -
Personal Safety on the Streets

Generally speaking, China is not a dangerous place in terms of crime and personal safety. We never felt threatened in any way. That being said, there is always the occasional pick pocketer here and there and you need to beware in the crowded areas specially where there are a lot of tourists.

Now the chaotic traffic poses more of a threat, specially when traveling with small children. Crossing an intersection can become an adventure. Be careful crossing the streets even if you have the "green walk sign" as traffic lights are not always respected.

The crowds are sometimes hard to cope and a child could easily get lost in all that congestion specially at public places and major tourist sites. There is a couple of things you should prepare for in case you get separated.

We hung an id card from each kid's neck with their data and the name, address and phone number of the hotel where we were currently staying (in English AND Chinese). If that doesn't work (card always getting lost) write down the information with non-washable INK on his/her upper arm under the sleeve. That can't get lost.

At the same time, coach the kid on what to say and do if this ever happens, i.e. go to the nearest shop assistant or official-looking person, point at the info just in case they do not understand, etc.

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China Travel with Children Tip #3 -
Pollution in China

The rapid pace with which China has grown in the past few years has taken its toll on the environment.

Air pollution has become a major threat to the population's health. We noticed the heavy smoggy air as soon as we got off the plane.

In urban areas, heavy traffic and increased number of cars contribute to the permanent hazy layer covering the cities.

As we traveled inland the problem did not go away. The fast pace of industrialization and migration to urban areas is well beyond the heavily populated areas of the coast. Most of the energy supply comes from coal, not the cleanest of sources but most readily available.

You might experience the effects of the poor air quality in different ways:

• Dry eyes: bring eye drops to relieve irritated eyes. If you wear contact lenses, make sure you bring your glasses as it might be uncomfortable to wear contacts with that constant gritty-grimy feeling. And always carry the rewetting drops.
  
  
• Nasal congestion: bring a nasal solution to "rinse" the nostrils at the end of the day. Just this little bit helped a lot.
  
  
• Tiredness and an occasional minor headache: drink lots of water (bottled) to avoid dehydration, and don't pack the day full of activities, keep a slower pace if you feel the troops are getting tired.

Take special precautions if you or anyone in your group suffers from asthma, other respiratory diseases or heart concerns. It is always best to consult your doctor before you go.

Learn more about Pollution in China from a research paper writen by a 9th Grader for her Geography class. You can find answers to questions like the effect of pollution on Chinese everyday life and main causes of pollution in China.

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China Travel with Children Tip #4 -
Chinese Toilet Tips

Looking for a clean bathroom when you most need it can be a challenge in China. Your best bet will be at hotels and western style restaurants. When you see one, use it, don't wait until the situation gets desperate, make the little ones go even if "they don't have to". You never know when or where the next one will come, or how much worse it could be...

• Always bring toilet paper with you. Some places have one big roll at the entrance, but this is really hit or miss. Be safe.
  
  
• Bring hand sanitizer (the waterless antibacterial kind) and baby wipes also come in handy.
  
  
• A smelly bathroom is the rule more than the exception. It's amazing how long you can hold your breath when you have to... One tip we found helpful at one of the travel forums, was to bring mint or some other strong smelling chapstick and apply some right under the nose to sort of camouflage the stink.
  
  
• Even if you stick to the rule of using that clean bathroom at the hotels or restaurants, eventually you will have an encounter with the dreaded "squat toilet". The kids will take their cues from you so try to play it cool with the squatty potty. If this is your first time confronting one of these contraptions, try to get some practice at home before your trip.

  Here's some tips for the squat toilet:
  
  

  • Don't carry anything in your hands but toilet paper, there might not be a place to put a purse or camera so leave that with someone else
  • If you're wearing long pants, roll them. The wet stuff down there might not be water...
  • Stand with your feet apart, facing away from the hole. The feet go in the "grids" on both sides of the toilet. Push pants and underwear down, a bit past your knees. Skirts are easier, just lift and keep away.
  • Lower yourself to a squat position, as far down as you can go, try to maintain your balance and do your business...
  • If you have problems standing up or you tip over, you need to practice some more. If you have mastered this, then you can graduate to the next level: doing the same during a bumpy train ride...
  • Do not, I repeat, DO NOT flush the toilet paper away as some of the plumbing cannot handle it. Instead, do a Michael Jordan and toss it in the basket (hopefully there will be one)
  
  
  
• Sometimes if you go to the very end of the row, you might find the one "sit down" toilet right at the last spot, so check and you might get lucky.

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We will be adding tips as our website grows. If you have any tips you would like to share with the world... here's your chance!

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And here for China Travel Tips shared by other visitors

Tips for Travel to China with Toddlers and Preschoolers: A frequent traveler to China offers her tips and stories of traveling to Beijing, Guilin/Yangshuo, Chengdu, Shanghai and more with kids in tow.

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