We love China, and we’re excited to share our top 10 places to visit with kids in China. Traveling with children is China is easy! It’s Emmie’s favourite country – and not just for Disneyland Shanghai – she adores the people, the xiaolongbao, spending time in the most amazing nature and having adventures like walking on the glass walkways in Zhangjaijie. If you’re planning visit China with kids then read on for our favourite places!

If you’re worried about communicating read how we got around China without knowing the language.

You will need a VPN in China, this is because most sites that we use daily (like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google) and are blocked in China. You can read more about why you need a VPN here. Make sure to organise your VPN before you go – it will keep your data safe and you’ll be able to access all the social media sites that are blocked in China (as well as your favourite shows from home).

We love Express VPN and you get 49% off when you use this link. Sign up for 12 months and get  3 months free and pay only $6.67 per month (instead of the normal price of $12.95).

Please always travel with insurance. We’ve used ours a lot – mostly from illness but we were recently robbed of EVERYTHING in Spain. We use Covermore and they’ve never let me down in 22 years.

The best things to do with kids in China:

Here’s our list of the best things to do in China with kids:

The Great Wall of China, Beijing

It’s hard to beat a night camping under the stars on the magnificent, spiritual Great Wall of China. Take a small group tour with China Hiking and after lunch with a local family hike up the mountain to reach the original Great Wall of China. We set up our tent on the top of the Jade Watchtower and I still get goosebumps when I think of the incredible atmosphere.  We woke to the wall in mist as it uncurled before us through the forest across valleys and mountains. Emmie absolutely loved it. A must do in Beijing for families with kids 5 or 6 and up. Emmie was six when we did it and managed it all really well.

We stayed at the Shangri-La Beijing for some extra luxe and the amazing indoor swimming pools. Our room here were incredible and just what we needed after our hike and sleepover.  We also stayed in the Novotel Beijing Peace which was also fabulous and in an awesome location within walking distance to many attractions like the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the shopping mall at Wangfujing (where you’ll find McDonalds!).

Read all about our overnight adventure on the Great Wall of China here.

Yangshuo, China

 

Straight to the Spirit Town list with Yangshuo. This little village surrounded by karst mountains and nestled on the Yulong River is one of our favourite Chinese towns. If there is one particular feeling I had in Yangshuo it was joy. Joy is everywhere, it’s just a vibe and you feel it even more when floating downriver on bamboo rafts, hiking in the mountains and riding bikes around the rivers and fields and watching the spectacular Impressions performance within the natural limestone amphitheatre – a must do, I was in tears. Emmie and I went into the Cold Water Caves  – read all about it here – and slid down a mud slide into a mud bath, it was so much fun. The best cooking classes are in Yangshuo – try this cooking class with the family. We stayed at the incredible Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, and loved it so so much. We just had a lovely time here and I was really, really sad to leave, even having a few tears in the taxi.

Where to stay? We loved the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat.

Juizhaigou National Park China

 

Often when westerners think of China we think of overcrowding and industrial areas – but China is actually full of stunning untouched and protected nature.  There is so much beauty to see in this amazing country and the Juizhaigou National Park is spectacular. The lakes here are that incredible vibrant blue green yet also completely clear, so you can see right to the bottom, there are so many dazzling waterfalls and green forest. The park is huge and a bus-system carries tourists around – it is popular and may be crowded but it is a spectacular display of nature and something we will never forget. Hot tip – start at the top of the park and work your way back.  Read all about our adventure here. 

We organised a trip at our hostel – the best hotel in Chengdu!

Giant Pandas in Chengdu China

 

Chengdu is where you go in China to eat traditional hotpot and to visit the Pandas at the Chengdu Base of Giant Panda Research – get your discounted tickets in advance here. The pandas are amazing and are so much fun to watch as they bumble around and play – and their grounds are really large, they have a lovely place to live. We saw newborns while we were there – amazing! This is a great activity for kids and families in China, we loved it. Our favourite hostel of all our trip was in Chengdu, it’s called the Hello Chengdu International Hostel and is definitely worth a stay – read our review here. If you’re after something a little more fancy the Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel is central, has a sunny outdoor swimming pool and is really affordable for a five star hotel (around $110 AUD per night) and as you know we love the Shangri-La Chengdu which is a little more expensive but fabulous.

Read all about our time visiting the pandas here.

Where to stay: We loved the Hello Chengdu International Hostel and the Shangri La Chengdu.

Wuxi

 

Boat rides down ancient canals, traditional villages, chairlifts, mountains, parks, lakeside fun parks and lookouts, Wuxi has so much to see. It also has claims on being the birthplace of xiaolongbao, although they are quite thick and we opted out of the traditional soup dumplings to a table at Din Tai Fung in one of the awesome shopping centres. Note that like many of China’s larger cities Wuxi often has a high pollution reading.

We loved it and had such a great time exploring and eating – read all about our Wuxi love here. 

Hangzhou

Hangzhou is one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China, the birthplace and headquarters of the Alibaba empire and home of the stunning West Lake, a UNESCO world Heritage site for its natural beauty and significance in Chinese history.

We visited Hangzhou twice  – it’s such a beautiful city and there’s so much to do. Visit West Lake and take a boat ride, wander around the beautiful gardens and lakeside pagodas, east, shop and watch cultural shows and lotus flower light shows on the lake side. We stayed at the Hangzhou Sofitel – omg amazing – and the Mingtown Hangzhou Hostel where Emmie had a ball playing pool with young Chinese travellers.

Hangzhou is only one hour from Shanghai on the bullet train- read all about our stay here.

Zhangjiajie

We visited Zhangjaijie thanks to Emmie discovering the glass walkways while looking up China on the computer. She wanted to do it and so we made plans and off we went. This whole area of China – around Zhangjaijie and Wulingyuan- is amazing. We want on glass walkways, glass elevators inside mountains, on the worlds biggest cable car and chair lifts and beautiful hikes. Our only problem was that it was super foggy when we were there! So we didn’t get to see much of the Avatar Mountains and we will have to return!

We loved staying at the Zhangjiajie Yijiaqin Hotel  It was cheap, in a great location with huge beds and rooms, good showers and the best host, Rocky who was so so helpful and kind and went out of his way to help us with everything from tickets up to the mountains to fixing my train tickets and helping me rebook when we missed our train! I absolutely recommend this hotel.

We also stayed at the Number 5 Valley Lodge up in the mountains which was beautiful and more expensive, with a pool, gorgeous rooms, delicious food and just a short cable car ride up to the mountains. Honestly can’t wait to get back.

Xi’an

 

Most people come to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors which are amazing to see – once you get through the shopping centre-like gauntlet of Starbucks, Maccas and other food and souvenir outlets. THere’s amazing food here to especially in the Muslim quarter of town. But our favourite part was riding bikes along the top of the Xi’an city wall. It’s so much fun and again, props to the Chinese for coming up with the best activities hat combine fun and education about ancient life. We stayed in a hostel called the Xiangyuan Inn and I booked directly via their website.

Shanghai

 

It’s busy and crowded and it’s so much fun. Colourful, energetic and organised, in Shanghai you can easily catch a hop on hop off bus around the main sights, visit temples and shop in fancy shopping centres and enjoy time on the Bund with its incredible futuristic skyline on one side and British colonial architecture on the other. Take a boat ride along the Bund, or just grab a ferry from one side to the other. We found a Din Tai Fung to enjoy xiaolongbao in and took pot luck in cheap, local restaurants – always a great choice.

We stayed at the Fish Inn on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, it was really nice and was in walking distance to the Bund, shopping centres and local restaurants. They also have a hotel closer to the Bund.

Shanghai Disneyland

 

We have been here twice and we just love it. In our experiences people have been patient and kind and it’s not at all been pushy or chaotic. There is so much to see here, the parades are huge and energetic and new rides like Tron are super fun [get there early and ride over and over again] and Pirates of the Caribbean is mind-blowing. Toilets are big and clean and food is fresh and affordable. We stayed at the Toy Story Hotel at Disneyland which was AMAZING but Disneyland is so close to Shanghai if you want cheaper accom you can stay there or in some of the hotels that have popped up around Disney. Book your discount Disneyland tickets here for same day entry and early bird Disneyland tickets here. This link has a good discount for a two day pass into Disneyland Shanghai. Don’t forget to take your passport or identity documents with you.

Read all about our visit to Shanghai Disneyland here. 

Getting around China

Worried about how you’ll get around without speaking Chinese? Here are some tips from us…and it’s easy!

How to get around China when you don’t speak the language.  Don’t forget to get your VPN with. 49% discount before you go.

And if you’re feeling nervous about travelling check out our comprehensive family travel safety guide HOLIDAY SAFE: The complete guide to staying safe when traveling with kids It has everything you need to know about traveling safely on our family holiday or extended trip.