11 amazing China holidays to take with your kids this summer

The Silk Road, which took tradesmen and monks from Europe to Asia, evokes images of long caravan lines stretching across vast sand dunes and dusty travellers relaxing in the shade of a desert oasis. Explore it as a family this summer by riding camels and sliding down sand dunes in the Gobi desert, wandering through impressive grottoes at Dunhuang, and stopping by Kashgar to catch the biggest farm market in central Asia. This trip is recommended for travellers six years and above. 

Travel company Country Holidays.

When to go May through October.

How much From 16,990RMB per adult and 14,180RMB per child for seven days including  flights and entry-level hotel.

For a close encounter with giant pandas, sign up for a volunteer session at the Ya’an Bifengxia Reserve

in Sichuan province. Kids will get to help clean up their living quarters (or actually pet a panda for a few minutes, although it’s not cheap). This three-day holiday also offers families the chance to take a short boat ride and hike up the Leshan Buddha, the largest carved Buddha statue in the world (its toe alone can fit more than 20 people).

Travel company Country Holidays.

When to go March through May; October through November.

How much From 8,250RMB per adult and 4,780RMB per child for three days including  flights and entry-level hotels.

Leaving from Dali, this three-day trip starts off in Heijing, a sleepy ancient town in Yunnan province where families can walk along cobbled streets or head out to the hills and visit temples. A three-hour drive, the ancient forest of Yuanmou is a completely different story, home to dinosaurs millions of years ago. Nowadays however, kids will have fun climbing over the maze of jagged and spectacular clay formations that dot the area.

Travel company China Minority Travel.

When to go All year round.

How much 9,860RMB for a family of three to four includes accommodation, private car and English-speaking guide.

Deep in the remote forests of southwest China lives the Yunnan Golden Monkey (also known as the snub-nosed monkey), whose human-like features have made them the subject of centuries-old legends, and yet they’re one of the world’s most endangered primates with less than 2,000 remaining in their native China. Venture out to the UNESCO World Heritage sites where they live to observe the monkeys in their natural habitat and work with local ethnic minorities to raise awareness about their plight.

Travel company EcoAction.

When to go Between March and April, September

and November.

How much From 10,000RMB per person for seven days, which covers most costs except  flights.

During the second week of July, Nadaam Festival takes place across Inner Mongolia, celebrating nomadic culture with wrestling, horse races and archery popular for tourists of all ages to observe. If you can’t make it to the grasslands exactly in time for Nadaam, kids will still love watching sunrise on horseback or staying up late to ride camels into the desert.

Travel company Country Holidays.

When to go June through September.

How much 8,890RMB per adult and 7,830RMB per child for five days including flights.

Maybe your young children aren’t prepared for a full-on camping experience. Find a happy middle-ground by escaping the summer heat and heading to Gansu, where you can experience sustainable luxury glamping (glam camping) at Norden Camp, founded and staffed by local nomads. As part of the four-day ‘Tibetan Camping Retreat (Norden Camp)’, go stargazing while wrapped up in cosy hand-woven yak blankets, hike through the surrounding countryside or visit a local nomad family. During the summer months, the grasslands are the greenest they are all year and you’ll get to see plenty of wildlife.

Travel company WildChina.

When to go May through October.

How much From 10,300RMB per person, including accommodation and breakfast, English-speaking guide, local transportation, snacks and drinking water, admission fees and activity expenses.

Just outside of Shanghai, the dramatic rocky peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Anhui province are now easier to reach than ever via bullet train. As part of a four-day trip from WildChina called ‘The Yellow Mountain’, step onto the set of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as you wander through sleepy Hui villages and lush green bamboo forests. Go on a hike and marvel at the ever-changing sea of clouds weaving in and out of towering peaks or get tough in kungfu classes.

Travel company WildChina.

When to go All year round. In spring and summer, you’ll find melting streams and blooming flowers. In autumn, Huangshan’s fall foliage is some of the most beautiful in all of China. And in winter it will be cold, but you’ll be treated to picturesque winter scenes.

How much From 12,375RMB per person for a family of four, including accommodation and breakfast, English- speaking guide, local transportation, snacks and drinking water, admission fees and activity expenses.

Guizhou, a mountainous province in southwest China, is dotted with villages of the Buyi, Miao and Gejia people, many of whom still live in traditional wooden houses. Some of these have been converted into guesthouses where visitors can stay overnight – a great experience for families. Kids can swim in the river, explore caves and see how colourful paper or tofu is made.

Travel company China Minority Travel. timeoutshanghai.com/family Summer 2018

When to go Spring and autumn.

How much 4,500RMB per person for four people, including private car, guide and accommodation.

Go deep into Hainan province and visit Yinggeling, one of the best nature reserves in China. Stay with the villagers and help with their farming, and listen to expert local guides who will introduce your kids to ethnic minority culture, tropical forest species and local cuisine.

Travel company EcoAction.

When to go Spring through Autumn.

How much From 12,000RMB per person for seven days, which covers most costs exceptfl ights.

Lijiang is the heart of the Naxi minority. Explore ancient old towns, well-preserved houses and Naxi women selling their trade. The highlight of this trip is the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike, where kids can tramp through lovely terraces along precipitous gorges with the snow- capped Jade Dragon Mountain in constant sight. This trip includes a two-day hike, and is recommended for kids six years and above.

Travel company Country Holidays.

When to go March through June; September through November.

How much 12,330RMB per adult and 7,890RMB per child for six days including flights.

 Head to the Southeast tip of the Tibetan Plateau to discover dramatic landscapes – from towering gorges and fertile valleys to Yunnan’s highest and holiest summit. During an eight-day trip from WildChina titled ‘The Songtsam Circuit’, immerse yourself in rich Tibetan culture as you relax in secluded, Tibetan-style lodges and visit locals in their homes for dinner and chant sutras with a monastery Lama. On this trip suited for travellers ten years and up, kids will love tracking snub-nosed monkeys at the national reserve, or trying out the activities including painting and yoga available at the lodges.

Travel company WildChina.

When to go Spring, summer and autumn. 

How much Starting from 20,100RMB

per person for a family of four, including accommodation and breakfast, English- speaking guide, local transportation, snacks and drinking water, admission fees and activity expenses.