Classic China Family Vacation

Welcome to the capital of China - Beijing! After meeting your guide at the airport, our driver will drive you to the hotel. Check in and spend the rest of today at leisure.

● Good to know:
We will arrange a smoke-free car to make the whole trip clean and healthy. If you have preference for vegetarian food, please tell us beforehand to customize your meals.

About the hotel: Situated in a historical alley or called Hutong, the Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel we choose for you is itself a place to explore. Like all the traditional courtyard houses found lining Hutongs, this one also has its own history, and a simple appearance seen before its gate. But don’t judge it by its ordinary look – it was actually the mansion of Ji Xiaolan (1724 – 1805 AD), a great Qing-era scholar-official and a household name in China. Its appeal only unfolds as you step into its finely-laid courtyard and rooms.

Accommodation: Double Happiness Beijing Courtyard Hotel - A boutique courtyard hotel in Hutong

After breakfast, our China family vacation packages will start with a tour across the world's largest city square - Tiananmen Square. We will stroll the square until we arrive before the Forbidden City, the next place on our agenda. Covering an area of 72 hectares (178 acres) encompassing some 70 palaces, it will instantly let you know why it’s renowned as the grandest imperial palace complex in the world. After all, it was home to twenty-four emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 – 1911 AD). Abundant cultural relics exhibited here are also a great attraction.

The lunch is an a la carte for you to taste authentic Chinese dishes, in a restaurant whose signature dish is delicious roasted duck, the flagship food of Beijing. If you want to have a try, please inform your guide to make a reservation in advance.

In the afternoon, let’s first climb up the Drum Tower, east of downtown Beijing, to have a bird-eye view of the Hutong area beneath, through which we will go on an exploration later. While in Beijing, the Forbidden City and Hutongs are all must-visits, but unlike the former, these historical alleys are where authentic life of common people happens. You will follow your guide to escape into the quiet alleys, and stop here and there to capture interesting moments. A local family visit to a courtyard house will also be arranged for you to interact with locals and engage in traditional cultural activities with kids, like learning calligraphy, painting face, or cutting paper. An acrobatic show in the Red Theater will be followed to add spice to your today’s trip. China, known for its dominance in the gymnastics front, knows how to make an art of acrobatics. The hypnotic lighting and attire, the flowing maneuvers combing flips and twists, the impossible balance in extreme conditions… It will blow your mind for sure!

After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

This whole morning will see you enjoying a leisure hiking on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, the world’s most magnificent military structure. Do you wonder how it stood rain erosion for centuries intact? Take a look at those drainage grooves, which lie across the pathway at intervals throughout the Wall’s entire length. Water can be drained off thanks to them.

● Additional Fun at the Great Wall
A toboggan ride down: You will take a chair lift up the Wall and a toboggan through a run down – an experience sought by all thrill-loving travelers who get a chance to visit it. The speed is controlled via a brake, so is the level of your excitement. But if you want a more peaceful way down, we can of course arrange a cable car for you.

Picnicking on the Wall: To satisfy your noontime hunger, you can buy some fast food at the foot of the Wall with your guide’s help and picnic on the Wall. How many chances can you have in a lifetime to eat on the Great Wall of China, with your kids by your side?

In the afternoon, we will go to visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties asked for divine blessings from above. In 1998, it was listed as a World Heritage Site. This is the place to find friendly enthusiasts of Tai Chi (a martial art form strengthening body and mind), from whom you are encouraged to learn some moves.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

This morning, have fun with kids spotting cuddly giant pandas at the Panda Hall, Beijing Zoo. Then go on to sightsee the Summer Palace. Built in 1750, it is the largest, best-preserved royal garden in the world. Covering three-quarters of the garden’s area, Kunming Lake is the staple attraction here for how its serene vast expanse adds charm to nearby Chinese buildings and greenery. We will have a boat ride on the lake to savor the sceneries from a distance, which makes a difference. If you want such experience, please come except in winter, when the boat company is closed to ensure tourists’ safety.

In the afternoon, the guide will transfer you to take a high speed train to Xi'an, the next city of your China family vacation packages. After arrival, your local guide in Xi'an will pick you up and lead you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda

Today, we will head to the Terracotta Army Museum. Built on the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC), the first emperor of China, it exhibits a whole army of terracotta soldiers serving as funeral objects for him. Thousands of lifelike pottery soldiers plus bronze chariots and horses, in different branches including a commanding center, will be waiting for you to explore.

● Craft mini terracotta soldier as memento
Strike while the iron is hot! With fresh memories of those terracotta faces, let’s take your family to a workshop to make your own clay warriors. To give you a heads up, there will be three steps involved: 1. Put the kneaded mud into a mold; 2. Fit another piece of mold onto it and press two against each other for minutes; 3. Take the molded mud out and carve it with details as well as your own logo. After it’s air-dried, take your mini clay solider home.Followed is a visit to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built to store Buddhism scripts brought from ancient India. We will next hang out along Grand Tang All Day Mall, a pedestrian street inspired by cultures of the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), a golden time in China’s history. In the ancient capital of Xi’an, you will spot Chinese cultural elements here and there, of which Hanfu (ancient Chinese clothing of Han Nationality) might be the most eye-catching. Particularly on the street, you will meet tourists in Hanfu everywhere. If you’d like to join them, we will have your family dressed up in Hanfu to experience traditional Chinese culture. Imagine your kids in those clothes!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast


The night scenery of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Square is quite charming, especially for the music fountain show at the northern square. If you are not tired after today’s guided tour, you can continue strolling around until you think it’s late, and go back to the hotel by taxi on your own.

The first stop of today's itinerary is City Wall Park, which surrounds the ancient City Wall, a mighty fortification first built in 1370. Locals love the park, as it offers spacious area for them to do morning exercise, practice Taichi martial art, and dance. You will also find a number of people playing ping-pong - hope their passion will move you and your family to challenge or simply join them! Next, we will ascend the City Wall and tour it by bike or battery car.

At noon, pay a visit to the Muslim Quarter, a historical part made up by crisscrossed food streets where you can explore for lunch. As the famous Great Mosque is hidden within, we will seek tranquility in it for some time while appreciating its Chinese-style buildings. Afterwards, the guide will transfer you to the airport for a flight to Guilin. Your local guide in Guilin will be waiting for you at the airport and then escort you to the carefully-chosen hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Guilin Bravo Hotel

The Li River, with its surrounding breathtaking karst landscape, is the essence of our China family vacation in Guilin. In the early morning, pack up your belongings and be transferred to a wharf, from which you will go on a 4-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo along with your guide. Have lunch onboard (the cruise company serves simple Chinese box meal). The driver will take your luggage to the wharf in Yangshuo, where we will meet him. Continue to sightsee the county’s idyllic countryside by car or by bike/tandem.

Rural Yangshuo is the paradise for bikers. You will find yourself amid boundless greenery, passing by rivers, croplands, and undulating grotesque karst hills. You can stop at any place as you like and take pictures at leisure. It’d be an ideal activity for you and your family to relax.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Yangshuo Yitian West Street Hotel

In the morning, you can continue to explore the beauty of Yangshuo, or follow your guide to gain deeper insight into Chinese traditional culture by learning Chinese calligraphy or Kung Fu, which takes 45 min to 1 hour. This afternoon, go on a rafting along the Yulong River, a less spectacular yet more peaceful version of the Li River.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Chinese calligraphy is more than just visual art; it’s a symbol that associates with China’s cultural identity. It’s not about beautiful, but about “strength and balance”, which reflect one’s moral rectitude. Only when you experience it yourself can you truly understand what it means.

Speaking of Kung Fu, you must be thinking of Bruce Lee now. It’s true that Bruce has made this cultural symbol of China known to the world. Different from boxing or Taekwondo, it’s not only for combat, but for self-discipline and spiritual pursuit. A fan of Kung Fu, or just want to stretch your body? Pick it then!

In the morning, we will drive to visit the Silver Cave, a natural wonder formed by karst force and the largest of its kind in Guilin. The cave’s iconic scenery – frozen waterfalls of crystal-like stalactites – will enrapture you for sure.

Later, the guide will escort you to the Guilin airport for the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet your Shanghai guide at the exit and head to the hotel.

● Sleep at the Dreamy Castle of Hengshan Moller Villa Hotel
Aka “Dreamy Castle”, Hengshan Moller Villa Hotel we select for you was once the private mansion of a British Jew merchant Eric Moller. It all started with a dream of her beloved daughter, in which she walked into a fairytale castle. To make her dream come true, the villa came into existence. Its unique charm and profound history have made it a landmark of Shanghai and an important architectural unit protected by the Chinese government. European architects also praised it as one of the ten most classic architectural masterpieces in the 20th century. Long story short, you and your kids will be like walking and sleeping in Andersen’s fairy tales!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Hengshan Moller Villa Hotel - An enchanting fairytale hotel

This morning, we will first go to Shanghai Museum, a treasure house of ancient China’s artworks, whose staple exhibits are bronzeware, ceramics, and calligraphic works. The next stop is Yu Garden, a typical classical Chinese garden aged over 400 years. As the Yu Bazaar – a street to browse for souvenirs in traditional buildings - is nearby, we will stroll around it for a while after we exit the garden.

The lunch is a la carte, so you can taste whatever dishes you’d like to try. In the afternoon, we are going to the Bund to see historical buildings in a variety of western architectural styles, and go on a cruise on the Huangpu River to savor fascinating sceneries on the banks. We will also be lifted to the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower to visit Duoyun Bookstore, the highest bookstore in the world. Here, you can read English books or admire a panorama of the Bund area, over a drink we treat you to.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch


As for dinner, how about surprising your kids with dishes delivered by track cars from above? Try Spacelab Weightless Restaurant at Century Link Mall then, the design of which themes around outer space. If you are interested, we can help you book seats and transfer you there. After the meal, please go back to your hotel on your own.

We will leave a whole day’s free time for you to enjoy with your family the kaleidoscopic metropolis of Shanghai.

If you come with kids, one site you might not miss is its Disneyland. As the largest in Asia and the world’s most complete Disney park, you are going to encounter all its classic themed lands, and be surprised by can’t-miss innovations including Chinese cultural elements, princesses from all Disney movies, the longest parade route, as well as the first pirate-themed land, where you can take a mind-blowing ride passing by wicked cool animatronic characters. There’s also a firework display to enjoy in the evening. We can help you book the tickets if you’d like to go. Have a quality private day with your family and go back to hotel on your own.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today, you will be transferred to the airport or train station according to your schedule. Wish you a smooth journey.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast