China

China family holidays

China is immense, a country where ancient and modern collide head-on. On any family holiday here, you will see futuristic skyscrapers, gleaming shopping centres and state-of-the-art technology. But you will also find bucolic scenes where buffalo slowly plod through the paddy fields against a picturesque backdrop of spiny mountains. There is always something to marvel at and plenty to challenge and delight the children.

The kids will love the sheer range of activities, with kung–fu shows, acrobatic performances, pandas and cooking classes. You can explore by bike, tram, ferry, cycle rickshaw, bamboo raft, bullet train and many more. The food is probably the best in the world (yes, really), the culture is richly diverse and the landscapes are as varied as they are spectacular.

Great Wall of China - child on family holiday

Walk along a section of the Great Wall of China

Nothing prepares you for the majesty of the Great Wall and the quiet gaze of the 2000-year old Terracotta Warriors. But we often find that the places that families enjoy most are those which they had never heard of. Places like the terraced hillsides of the Dragons Backbone, the deserted sand cities lost in the Taklamakan Desert and Tiger Leaping Gorge, a deep chasm carved through the mountains by the Yangtse.

Family on rafting in Yangshuo River, China, shaded by a huge umbrella

Sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery on a Yangshuo River trip

Why take the kids to China?

As one of the largest countries in the world, it perhaps goes without saying that there are a lot of activities that you can include on your China family holiday. Some of our favourites include:

Walking a spectacular (and lesser-visited) section of the Great Wall
Gazing at the vast army of terracotta warriors at Xian
Hiking small mountain trails through impressively steep rice terraces
Taking a kung-fu class at the Shaolin Temple
Cycling amongst the paddy fields in Yangshuo
Visiting the Panda Research Centre in Chengdu
Sampling Sichuan treats in tiny lantern-strung alleyways on a food tour
Painting a traditional fan in a tiny village on the banks of the Li River

China is a living history book where families can walk in the footsteps of long-dead emperors, visit the starting point of the fabled Silk Road and learn about the rise of communism in the 20th century. The only challenge is selecting which of the hundreds of places you want to visit and what you can incorporate into a family holiday in China.

Family with teenagers visiting the Temple of Heaven, Beijing, on family trip to China

Explore Beijing’s famous sites, including the Temple of Heaven

Our China with Kids Top 10 feature covers some of the places families tell us were their favourites, and our China Travel Guide is full of tips and local knowledge.

How do I choose where to go?

It may initially appear bewildering to know where to start when planning your family holiday in China. But we have travelled from north to south and east to west and know which of the main highlights are really worth seeing, and which are the hidden gems that you can’t miss. The recipe for a successful trip is to tick off some of the ‘must-see’ sights, but to make sure that you allow time to visit the rural areas. China is changing and it’s changing fast, but there are still glimpses to be had of a way of life that has been lived for millennia.

We’ll give you the lowdown on where to visit and the best international flight routes. And when you arrive, you’ll be looked after by our fantastic family-friendly guides so that you can concentrate on perfecting your chopstick technique and leave the arrangements to us. If you are ready to move ahead, call us, and we can help you start planning.

Family holiday itineraries to China

All of our China itineraries are bespoke and are tailor-made for your family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget, and so on. Our sample itineraries, China in 11 Days and 2-week China Highlights, will help to give an idea of how much you can fit in, depending on how long you have.

See our Places to Visit in China section if you need further inspiration. And lastly, check what the weather will be like at the time that you want to travel.

Every family travels differently, so we’d be delighted to help create a China holiday itinerary that’s tailored to your family’s interests, pace, and sense of adventure. Simply ring our expert team or use our contact form.