Traveling is an adventure. Traveling with children is an art. Finding the balance between destinations that offer culture and excitement and destinations that are child friendly is the challenge. With a little bit of planning in advance, you can ensure that everyone has an enjoyable time.
Traveling to China with children is surprisingly fun. Every major city from Beijing to Hong Kong has plenty of child friendly attractions that are also fun for adults.
Beijing
Beijing is a bustling city but it also has many great child friendly attractions that the whole family can enjoy.
Beijing World Park
One place where children can really enjoy themselves is the Beijing World Part. This place is an extremely educational and entertaining attraction. This theme park has miniature monuments of world landmarks and many great cultural performances.
Beijing Aquariums
Beijing has two great aquariums – Beijing Ocean Park and Pacific Underwater World. The Beijing Ocean Park is an indoor aquarium where you can view thousands of aquatic species. The Pacific Underwater World is a touch friendly attraction where you can touch different aquatic creatures in the Touching Pool and view many more at the Cabin Walking Zone and the Underwater Tunnel. You can also enjoy performances by penguins at the Marine Animal Performance Pool.
Great Wall of China
Marvel at ancient architecture while enjoying a thrilling ride when you visit the Great Wall of China. Entertain your children (older children) with a 723 meter ski lift ride up Mutianyu. It is part of the wall approximately 75 km of Beijing. They can then take a 1580 meter toboggan ride down to the valley. But the Great Wall has many different sections of the wall to visit. If you grow tired of the “touristy” places, try visiting the “wild wall” sections. There are even places along the wall where you can stay with local villagers who know some great stories about the wall.
Shanghai
There are many child friendly activities in Shanghai from amusement parks to zoos to much, much more. Here are a couple of notable examples:
Shanghai Circus World
Head to Shanghai Circus World to watch acrobats fly, jugglers juggle and other performers perform death defying stunts.
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
Visit the Shanghai Wild Animal Park to get a chance to see and feed wild animals.
Fuxing Park
Spend your morning flying a traditional Chinese kite and having a picnic and then spend the evening riding retro carnival rides only at Fuxing Park.
Chengdu
Chenghu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You can visit this center to get the chance to cuddle and feed a Panda. It is an unforgettable experience for children and adults
Hong Kong
Last but not least, you can visit Hong Kong and enjoy the many amazing rides at Disney land, visit the Victoria’s peak, and if you’ve been on the Mainland for a long time, eat some familiar Western foods.
Now it’s your turn! What are the best child-friendly places in your neck of the woods? Comment below and share.
Founders of havingababyinchina.com, Jeremy and Jacquelyn have four children. The first three were born in three different hospitals in China and the last was born at home in the US. Jeremy and Jacquelyn created havingababyinchina.com in 2009 after they found little information for foreigners having babies in China. They love connecting with other foreigners having babies. Learn more about them on the about page.
This is just so basic…
To start with, just join of the numerous “new arrival groups” in any big city.
If you live in a mostly foreigners compound, you will also find numerous notices about all sort of child activities, child lectures, theater and the list is never ending.
Then just check any of those local papers such as Beijinger etc.in there you will find just millions of activity groups, events, etc for all age group.
And indeed, just as in any city in the world use your own initiative to visit one of the endless activities on offer…
Didier Boon » Excellent thoughts, Didlier! Any specific places or activities that you could share?