Traveling China with kids: 15 Essential tips you should know

China is full of great attractions and activities that wow families with kids of all ages. Traveling in China with kids will be a more challenging experience than traveling solo or with adults, but it’s definitely a worthwhile one, as it provides a rare opportunity to make deeper connections with your kids. There might be some difficult moments and it never goes perfectly, but those are memories to be cherished. When you receive the right knowledge and make good preparation, it won’t be a headache to travel with kids through different time zones, and with currencies and languages changed. Here are 15 essential tips to help get you started for your China tour with kids.

• A visa is required to travel to China with kids
• Choose the best destinations for kids
• Highlight the trip with kid’s entertainment
• Keep your schedule loose
• Dining with kids
• Explain the trip with kids ahead of time
• Find family-friendly accommodations
• Pre-book everything you can
• Prepare basic medicines prior to departure
• Keep track of you kids
• Be sure to have a reliable VPN before leaving for China
• Take a stroller or sling
• Bring or rent a child seat
• Pack as less as possible
• Discounts for kids

Except for Singapore, Brunei, and Japanese citizens who enjoy visa-free access to China for up to 15 days, everyone requires a visa to visit China, including kids and infants. The procedure can be varied with different visa types, thus the easiest way to get the visa is to contact the Chinese Visa Center or Consulate.

There are so many destinations to explore with your kids in China, so don’t think that Disney is your only option. Popular tourist cities like Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Hong Kong may be at the top of your list, especially for the first-time traveler; but don’t pass destinations like Guilin, Yunnan, and Guizhou, because traveling to spots with idyll scenery and minority features will open your kid’s eyes to parts of China most people never get to see. Below cities that are filled with interesting activities are for your inspiration.

• Beijing: The best gateway city to China has many kid-friendly museums, plus lovely hikes to the Great Wall with toboggan down, cruises in the imperial Summer Palace, and rickshaw rides in the hutongs.
   
• Shanghai: Get atop the world’s highest observation deck for the gorgeous city view, head to Disneyland, or just stroll along the Bund to appreciate the colonial-era architecture.
   
• Xi’an: Make a mini terracotta warrior with your kids when visiting the Terracotta Army, have a cycling experience on the City Wall and learn the ancient art of paper cutting or calligraphy.
   
• Chengdu: The Panda Bases/Centers are well worth planning a vacation around, or even join in a volunteer program to look after the lovely giant pandas.
   
• Guilin: Be amazed by the breathtaking natural beauty with your kids by either hiking, trekking, biking, bamboo rafting, or cruising.
   
• Guangzhou: The city has an unrivaled allure for families with the largest eco-zoo in Asia - Chimelong Safari Park and diverse kinds of delicate dim sum.
   
• Hong Kong: Hit Disneyland or the sea-themed Ocean Park, take a ride on the historic Star Ferry, and be surprised when your kids bargain for the toys in the street markets.

There are plenty of activities to do in China with your kids, to keep the trip a fun one instead of a stressful one. It can be an outdoor adventure, such as hiking and camping on the Great Wall, cycling through the countryside in Yangshuo villages; or it can focus on the theme parks & zoos, like Shanghai Disneyland, Chengdu Panda Base, Chimelong Safari Park; or it can include some indoor activities in case of rainy days, for instance, painting an opera face mask, learning to play Mahjong, having a cooking class, etc.

When traveling in China with kids, most things would take longer than you expect, such as checking in at the airport and getting through security. Do not cut everything that close, and it’s better to leave plenty of time for adjustment, which means you have enough time to take care of your kid’s needs. For example, if the kid needs to use the bathroom 3 different times, you have time for that. A flexible schedule means less stress for you and your kid, which leads to a happier trip overall.

Basic food such as rice, noodle, fruit, bread, and eggs can be easily found anywhere. If your kids have some food intolerances or allergies, make sure you can explain it while on your trip or have your tour guide know in advance, so you can avoid an unnecessary allergic reaction. While a few restaurants have an English/Chinese menu, it's highly recommended to have your private guide or someone from your hotel write the foods you prefer in both English and Chinese. If your kids are tired of Chinese food or get homesick, western dishes and fast food are available in most cities. However, do not let your kids eat food from a street vendor, which is unfit for their sensitive stomachs. In addition, tap water is not drinkable in China, you can either buy bottled drinking water or boil tap water.

As there are a lot of new things going on during the China trip, kids are likely to get precarious. When they are uncomfortable, they are not joyful. For first-time travelers with kids in tow, it is especially important to give a hand to the kids to understand what will be happening on the trip. Then they will expect what’s coming next and tend to be enjoyable with what’s going on around them. Explaining the trip can involve introducing what they can await at the airport/train station, on the plane/train, and once arrived at the destination. Also, you can take the opportunity to detail your expectations for their action on the road.

Most hotels in China typically have rooms with twin single beds or one double bed. For a family of 3, some hotels allow adding one rollaway bed with an extra charge or a free crib into the room. While for a family of 4 or more, a suite hotel or a hotel with adjoining rooms available provides more flexibility for the kids to move around. Apart from enough space, a family-friendly hotel should also be in a good location, with a few kid-friendly items on its room service menu and laundry service.

It doesn’t work for family travel with kids by arriving at a destination, getting a feel for the city, and selecting a place to stay. Pre-booking can make it possible to go straight to the hotel, drop off luggage, get more time to relax and enjoy the destination. Things you can book in advance shouldn’t end with flights and hotels, they can also include transportations, private guides, sightseeing tours, and tickets for the theme parks, zoos, museums, and attractions, etc. One more thing you book ahead of time, one less thing you have to worry about on the trip.

If you or your kids get sick, the day of travel or even the entire trip can be ruined. There are lots of drug stores in each city of China, but most drug stores only sell medicines labeled in Chinese and most pharmacists do not speak English, it is useful to be prepared with practical medicines for minor emergencies. A medical kit, as a necessity for parents and kids alike, may include medicines for headache, allergy, upset stomachs, motion sickness, fever, cough, flu, and any other medical essentials that might apply to your family.

It is the worst moment of panic when you don’t know exactly where your kid is while you are traveling. You never know when your kid might wander off to check out a toy shop or a cool view and then not know how to get back to you. You may get caught up in logistical problems, but you always need to keep an eye on your kids, no matter what you’re doing or whether things are going as you expected. If necessary, have them sit in your line of sight or hold their hands. In addition, it is important to have your kid have your contact information, including name, phone number, email address, and local address. For young kids, a note with the contact information can be put in their pocket, tied to their belt loop, or stick it in their shoe, but be sure your kid knows where the note is. For older kids, it’s better to remember your phone number and write down the local address for them.

Since many websites and apps are blocked in China, which makes traveling with kids to China difficult. Before you leave for your trip to China, you should download a VPN app on your phone, because many VPNs cannot be downloaded once you step into China. Otherwise, it’s almost impossible to download your kid’s favorite shows, or navigate by Google Maps, or communicate with locals through Google Translate. A good VPN is a must to help you bypass the Great Firewall to connect with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Whatsapp, Google, and YouTube. A paid VPN is usually more reliable, faster, and easier to use. Though there are numerous options, we would recommend one of the best VPNs - Astrill VPN.

Taking a stroller is a great idea when it comes to visiting shopping malls, zoos, theme parks with paved streets and sidewalks, or if you plan to travel to a warm destination. However, when traveling to the sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City where the surface is uneven, a sling or backpack might be more acceptable to cart around your little baby. Besides, if you are heading to a cold location, a sling will also be a better option to keep both you and your kid warm when going outside.

You’d never consider taking your little one out for a journey in a car without a child seat. The rule doesn’t change when you travel to China. However, taxis in China don’t necessarily have seatbelts, as there is no culture of child seats in China. It’s better to bring a child seat that’s light and easy to transport if you plan to rent a car or most of your tour involves the use of a car. Or you can ask the local China travel agency which you are booking a tour with, to see if they can provide a child seat for your use.

Parents tend to pack everything kids use at home, but it’s not a good idea to overpack. The particular part about traveling is wherever you go, live there. Stores in most cities of China stock similar stuff with baby food, wipes, diapers, and toys, so you can always buy essentials you need to care for your kids. However, if you plan to visit the remote region, such as Tibet and western Sichuan, you do need to pack the essentials for you and your family in advance or buy them from the big cities before departure.

Kid concessions usually apply for public transportation, entrance tickets, tours, and restaurants, or even benefit free of charge as long as meeting the specific requirements. However, being different from the flight which decides the discounts with ages, China trains, and some attractions offer free or discounted fares according to the division of heights of the kids.

The final tip we offer for traveling in China with kids is to stop postponing and get out for traveling now. Things might go wrong or take more time than you expected, and places might be closed, but all the new experiences can open kids’ minds. From landscape to architecture, food, transportation, people, everything you’ll meet during the journey will be fascinating and an adventure for your kids. To ease your trip and enjoy your China trip to the fullest with kids, come back to our tips above for reference any time, or easily contact us to create a unique family experience in China.