Spotlight Experiences for China Family Tours

To open the eyes, to learn, to experience, to be together... We understand what you expect for a great family trip with kids is more than the sightseeing. China might be quite different from other destinations you have been to. In your family tour with China Highlights, you will discover China's history, culture, natural beauty, and development in your own way.

The activities below, split into guideline age groups, might give you some ideas about what you can enjoy with your children during your China trip, besides visiting the must-sees. Let us know your dreams for your family trip, and we will make them come true.

High-Schoolers

One-Day Panda Volunteer Program

City: Chengdu, Duration: 1 day

Dujiangyan Panda Base, short for 'Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding Dujiangyan Field Research Center for Giant Pandas', is located 60 kilometers or one and a half hours by car from Chengdu City. By taking part in the Panda Volunteer Program, you will get to know more about this endangered species and help take care of them with the guidance of staff.

The program starts at 08:30am and finishes at 16:00, with a 2-hour noon break. In the morning, you will help clean the closure, carrying bamboo and watch the keeper feeding the panda. There is a panda movie available at noon. In the afternoon, you will continue with volunteer work, and learn to make a panda cake for panda. At the end of the program, you will receive a volunteer certificate.

Get a certificate of the panda volunteer

Treasure Hunting in Ancient China (Visit the National Museum of China)

City: Beijing, Duration: 2 hours

In the National Museum of China, the doorway to ancient China is held open for you. Go into the exhibition hall for Ancient China and begin a treasure hunt, following tasks given to you by your guide. Find the 10 celebrated objects described on the task list. They will unlock the "code" for those splendid dynasties.

What did the first dragon of China look like?

What did the ancient Chinese use for currency?

Who created the most famous style of Chinese porcelain, called Blue and White Porcelain?

All of your family members can have a competition and then your guide will reveal the answers. Sit down for a while and enjoy some snacks. Your guide will uncover the interesting stories behind every object.

The National Museum of China

Experience Modern Beijing "Smart" Restaurant and a No-Cash Supermarket

City: Beijing, Duration: 3 hours

Try a hot pot meal, which is loved by Chinese families, in the first "smart restaurant" in China.

Before feasting on the tasty soup, don't forget to try the foodie's video game with other guests in the waiting area.

Learn how the smart manless system works so smoothly from allocating and serving to cleaning and making a dream kitchen. Be amazed by how the automatic machines tailor-make soup according to your preferred flavors. Order your dishes and they will be served by a robot in just 3 minutes.

Your guide will uncover the profound changes that have impacted social life during the previous decades.

After your meal, buy some snacks in the first no-cash supermarket in Beijing. Experience the most popular payment method in China' mobile payment.

Video game in hotpot restaurant

Find your Master Shifu in the Shaolin Temple

City: Luoyang, Duration: 2 hours

Where did your interest in Chinese kung fu come from? Was it from Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, or Kung Fu Panda? If you or your kids are fans of Chinese kung fu, we believe a kung fu show in a theater might not be that much fun for you.

Visit the Shaolin Temple, which is the home of Chinese kung fu. Let your kids find their Master Shifu just as Po did in this old temple that's hidden in the mountains. This is a great and unique kung fu experience.

A monk will show you around the main buildings of the temple, sharing interesting stories with you about the temple and what the Shaolin monks study.

Then open the door and step into a quiet courtyard. Your "Master Shifu" might be standing under the eaves, waiting for you. Learn a set of kung fu moves from a monk right there in the temple, not just from a kung fu school nearby. Feel the spirit of Chinese kung fu and the atmosphere of Zen. Let Chinese kung fu awaken the bravery and strength in your heart.

Shaolin Temple

100% Real China Caving! (No colored lights and concrete steps)

City: Guilin, Duration: 3 hours

This cave has never been touched by ordinary tourists. Your professional caving guide will arrange all of your equipment and then detail the safety concerns before you start your caving tour. Then You will explore an amazing limestone cave, using a professional rope system and with the help of your caving guides.

The magnificent stalactites and stalagmites in the cave will tell you the age of this cave and show you the power of the water that has dissolved the rocks for millions of years. The limestone will only be lit up by your torch, not by any colored lights that have been fitted by the government for tourists. Listen to the dripping water " it seems as though the sound is from millions of years ago. You will feel like this is a private journey to an amazing underground world.

explore a limestone cave

Junior-Schoolers

The Forbidden City Discovery (Specially Designed for Groups with Kids)

City: Beijing, Duration: 2.5-3 hours

The largest and best-preserved ancient imperial architectural complex in the world, the Forbidden City, will impress you with its magnificence and history. Follow your private guide to explore this mysterious palace complex with your family in an interesting way.

Avoid the routine route and, as well as the six main palaces on the axis, explore some sites that interest your kids more, such as the princes' library, the archery pavilion (army weaponry gallery), and the Hall of Clocks and Watches. Play a game in the imperial garden to discover places where famous members of the royal families have been.

Your guide will give you detailed information about the history, culture, and architecture of the Forbidden City, bringing the stories alive for your kids. Learn and enjoy together without ever feeling bored or getting tired.

Discover the Forbidden City

Be Like a Chinese Child in the Hutongs

City: Beijing, Duration: 2 hours

Walk into a traditional courtyard and visit a hutong family. Discover the traditional lifestyle and let your kids be like Chinese children living in a hutong as they experience how they study and play, and taste the snacks they love.

Learn something about Chinese calligraphy. Try to write some simple characters with a brush. Learn to write the Chinese character for "family" together.

Play with a Chinese yo-yo made of wood or bamboo in the courtyard.

Finally, taste a popular snack loved by hutong children. This is also an amazing traditional Chinese form of folk art called sugar painting. Try to use a spoon to design some candy if you would like to.

Learn Chinese calligraphy

Learn to Make a Mini Terracotta Warrior

City: Xi'an Duration: 1 hour

Visit the cave dwelling family workshop in the countryside, learn how to make Terracotta Warriors from a local artisan. Do you know how life-sized warriors been made in the ancient time? Do you know what is the most difficult step? Find the answers by visiting the place. Not only know detailed steps of making procedure, but also have a nice interact with the local.

Learn to make a mini terra-cotta warrior

Experience SUP on a Pretty River

City: Yangshuo, Duration: 1.5 hours

If you love relaxing outside and cooling off with a swim, Yangshuo is the perfect place to go. To make swimming even more fun, we can upgrade your experience by introducing an activity that is not known to about 90% of Yangshuo visitors. How can an outdoor hotel swimming pool satisfy a true outdoor enthusiast? It usually can't, so let's head out and have fun on the river!

For this activity, you will go to a quiet section of a tributary of Li River, which is a less touristy area. Here, an experienced coach will teach you how to use a SUP (Stand up paddleboard). You can enjoy gliding up and down the river and can even challenge your balance by changing positions from kneeling to standing.

Spend time enjoying the limestone mountains around you. After expending some energy on the SUP, you can lie down on the board and enjoy the sunshine while watching the clouds pass by above you.

Have fun with SUP on a beautiful river

The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center: The Magic City's Future Plan

City: Shanghai, Duration: 1 hour

Shanghai is also called the Magic City in China and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center contains everything you need to know about it.

The features range from a city model that's over 600m2 to a 360-degree 3D animation exhibition hall, and from the lifestyle in old Shanghai to today's garbage classification display.

You will learn about China's Five-Year Plan, hear the story behind QR codes, and play some games. With your guide's insightful explanations and some interactive games, you will have a better understanding of Shanghai and China.

The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center

Pre-Schoolers

Han Chinese Clothing and Customs Experience

City: Guilin, Duration: 2 hours

The costume of a nationality is, of course, part of its culture. Han Chinese clothing refers to China’s traditional national costume. It has a long history and its style varied in different periods and dynasties.

Within about 2 hours, your guide will teach you the basics about Hanfu, and you will have time to dress up in the costume to experience what it is like to wear one and imagine the ancient culture. It will be a unique experience to have family pictures taken with you all wearing traditional Chinese costumes and to learn some of the etiquette involved with making and serving tea at home.

Han Chinese Clothing and Customs Experience

Tell a Story about Your Family Using Chinese Shadow Puppetry

City: Xi'an, Duration: 45 minutes

Before movies were invented in the West, there was a performance on the white screen that was popular in China. It is what movies originated from " Chinese shadow puppetry. This form of entertainment prevailed in Xi'an about 1,000 years ago and has become a famous intangible cultural heritage.

You will have an opportunity to visit a studio to learn about the history of this art and its new lease of life. Be impressed by the production process of shadow puppetry as well as the cooperation between Chinese art and international brands, such as Patek Philippe, Hermes, Fendi, and Burberry.

Try your hand at dyeing a carved puppet. The teacher will show you how to operate the puppets behind the curtain. Tell a Chinese story you know or a story about your family using Chinese shadow puppetry. Enjoy this traditional art and have a great family time.

Chinese Shadow Puppetry

Learn How to Make Bamboo Stuffed Rice

City: Guilin, Duration: 30 minutes

Bamboo stuffed rice is a famous food in Longji. It is sticky and has a fresh bamboo flavor. Local people will show you every step of how to make it. Try your hand at making this traditional food and cook it in a smart and tasty way in about 40 minutes.

You will get a chance to chat with the family and walk around their 50-year-old wooden house. Visiting a local minority family is a feast for your stomach as well as your eyes.

Bamboo Stuffed Rice

Learn to Apply Facial Makeup for the Peking Opera

City: Beijing, Duration: 30 minutes

Applying the facial makeup for Chinese traditional opera is a traditional art. It is characterized by exquisite patterns of bright colors and fine, smooth lines applied by painting with brush and by applying by hand to achieve artistic exaggeration.

Get a taste of this art form from an expert teacher as you apply the makeup to a mask. You can choose the make up for your favorite character.

Facial Makeup for the Peking Opera

Shanghai Disneyland

City: Shanghai, Duration: 1 day

Beginning June 16, 2016, discover a never-before-seen world of wonder where you can ignite the magical dream within your heart. This is Shanghai Disneyland, a fun experience filled with creativity, adventure and thrills!

Set your sights on Enchanted Storybook Castle "the largest Disney castle on the planet" and then get ready to explore as you come upon 6 unique and unforgettable lands: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove and Tomorrowland.

Shanghai Disneyland

98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+

98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+

Great tours! I had an amazing two trips on the Great Wall and the Forbidden City with the guide Ivy during my stay in China. She was very helpful and answered all of our questions with an enthusiastic approach. I have nothing to say but to highly recommend the trips they offer on the Great Wall hiking/camping and also the in-depth Forbidden City tour! Thank you Ivy and China Highlights. more May 2023, Serhat Altay

Amazing First Time to Beijing with China Highlights Tom, my private tour guide was there when I landed and accompanied me all the way through to sending me off at the airport after check-in at the end of my trip. Zhao the driver, who also did all the driving during my trip, was calm, confident and knowledgeable in taking us around. Both Tom and Zhao were punctual too. The Great Wall of China Hike I wanted to do started in a very remote, unrestored part of the wall. This would not had been possible without Tom problem solving many issues we had on the way up and I could not have done this on my own a a foreigner. It was well worth the effort and probably the highlight of my trip.The remainder of the tour around Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Kingdom and The Temple of Heaven was paired with a detailed commentary by Tom of which I learnt a lot. more May 2023, Munsie

Beijing - city of surprises A fantastic guide was waiting for us - Jack, who told all the stories with passion and commitment. He also fulfilled those wishes that were not in the plan. I highly recommend visiting Beijing with this guide. more May 2023, Joanna i Piotr Kuzebscy

Liu Yuan was a superb guide and a lot… Liu Yuan was a superb guide and a lot of fun to spend time with during my first visit to Beijing. It was a wonderful intensive three days. more May 2023, Pam S.

Great weather and a good trip out with Lily! Many thanks to my guide Lily for customising the trip to make it as efficient and enjoyable as possible. She arranged to start an hour earlier to beat the crowd and I got to enjoy the Great Wall before the crowd streamed in and while the weather was cool. I requested to switch the next attraction to visit from Temple of Heaven to Ming Tomb and she not only accommodated the prompt request, but made all the necessary arrangements even before the trip coordinator managed to reply! Kudos! Our driver was jovial and friendly, always on top of traffic conditions and took detours to beat slow moving traffic. Hassle free day and I wouldn’t have been able to cover the two attractions so easily and comfortably without them! more May 2023, Meibao

This was our first time traveling to Beijing This was our first time traveling to China, so we really wanted to experience some of the major historical sights of Beijing together with a tour guide. Our itinerary was very carefully planned out according to our interests and tailored to our needs. First, we went camping on the Great Wall and hiked from Jiankou to Mutianyu, and the next day we got an in-depth tour of the Forbidden City as well as a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a taiji experience in the gardens. Our tour guide, Ivy, was truly wonderful in preparing and organizing our personalized itinerary. She is very friendly and knowledgeable, and she was always able and willing to answer all of our questions. Ivy provided us with a truly amazing first visit to China and I would warmly recommend China Highlights for everyone who wishes to travel to China and I would especially recommend Ivy as a tour guide for your trips! more May 2023, Annalina Wheeler

Tom is the BEST tour guide EVER! Just had the most AMAZING tour with Tom. He was beyond knowledgeable, so generous with his time and made me feel so at ease which was super important as I am travelling by myself. Thank you Tom for the best day-you have totally made my China trip a fabulous experience, one I will never forget! more May 2023, SHARRYN HINCHLIFFFE

Superb service and wonderful time in Beijing Superb service from Jack who were with us for 4 wonderful days in Beijing. Jack was clearly knowledgeable about the history and able to deliver insight information to us about places. He was also kind and accommodating to my mother who has bad knees. Both China Highlights and Jack were flexible about the itinerary to ensure that we enjoy the best of Beijing. We'll definitely use China Highlights' services again for our next trip to China. more May 2023, Chani

Amazing Trip First time booking a trip with China Highlights and was fortunate to have Sunny as my private tour guide. We went to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, then arrived and walked around Gubei Water Town, and then visited the Simatai portion of the Great Wall at night. Was a very enjoyable trip as we were able to see a night time drone show in the sky, ride a private boat through the canals of the Gubei Water Town, and eat a delicious lunch at a local restaurant along the way. Sunny is super knowledgeable when it comes to the history of the Great Wall and took the time to explain various interesting facts and stories which made the trip very meaningful. The driver we had was also a very nice man who was always on time and eager to help. Was an unforgettable experience and would highly recommend Sunny and China Highlights :) more May 2023, Allen C

Tour to the great wall from the airport My guide Tom was ver kind and knowlegable, he explained everything to me about the great wall and even went out of his way to help me the next day at Bejings downtown! amazing service!!! thank you so much Tom! more May 2023, Fer Villasefior

Great tour, fantastic guide! This tour was fantastic! I loved hearing about the history of the Forbidden City and admiring the views at the Great Wall. William was a fantastic tour guide. We were a group of families with several young children, and he was very accommodating and flexible with timing and arrangements. I totally recommend this tour and William as a guide! more May 2023, Ryan Corless

Four excellent sightseeing days in Beijing We had wonderful four days in Beijing. The entire trip was tailored exactly to our wishes. From experiencing local food, to exploring the major sites of the city up to hiking the great wall of China. Additionally, we had two amazing guides Ina and Fan taking care of all the tickets and coordination required. Also, they could not only tell us everything about the sights we visited and give us an insight to local customs and traditions, but they did so in perfect German. The chauffeur service from Mr Chang was also excellent, getting us from A to B without any hazzle. The past couple of days were one of the most carefree trips we have had so far. more May 2023, Katha

Great tour from William Great tour organized by China highlights, our tour guide was William - his knowledge was impressive, his English was great and he was always on time. We did the four day tour including the wall and forbidden city - would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an English tour guide. more Apr 2023, Lawrence

Beijing 2 day private tour The tour itself was great, private driver to and from, my guide Ivy was great English speaking guide. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about her country. Was a great time exploring the Great Wall of china and then my second day did a city tour (forbidden city, hutong tour, summer palace). Felt extremely safe, and was confident having an English guide. Thank you china highlights. (Provide them what you want and they’ll make it happen). Prices are reasonable as I looked at a few places but for private tour, my own schedule, and confidence of getting around safely you can’t go wrong. more Apr 2023, Mark

Very enjoyable Everything was to the vest standard, the history all very well explained by the Tour Guide in Beijing, Ivy. Really enjoyed it, and appreciated the time. more Apr 2023, Jonathan

Amazing Beijing Experience I had an amazing time in Beijing and glad Tom was my tour guide. He went above and beyond and I’m truly grateful. Tom did all that he could to ensure my stay in Beijing for two days was pleasant and thanks to him, I say that it was. The driver was also nice and courteous, I called him Jon. The company is blessed to have a good tour guide like Tom on their team so if you are planning to come down to Beijing, make sure you ask for Tom. Thank you Christy and Kimmy for replying all my emails with questions that I had. more Apr 2023, Pedro V

Great experience We had a great experience with China Highlights and Roger was highly efficient and helpful planning our itinerary exactly how we needed. more Apr 2023, Brenda Sarmanho

Excellent service and tour guide!! Excellent service and communication from the travel agent Roger Li and amazing tour and experience of Great Wall of China from our tour guide Amber. Highly recommended! more Apr 2023, Evangelos Athanasopoulos

Maggie was such a tremendous help for… Maggie was such a tremendous help for our recent Beijing trip. Very prompt and helpful in helping us plan and adjust/amend to our requests. more Apr 2023, Hi

HK-Beijing-Wuhan-Guilin-HK We travelled first to Beijing for a few days before moving on to Wuhan for the wedding and then for a few days in Guilin along with my son and daughter in law. It was a great trip and all went smothly with the help of the guides we had along the way. William in Beijing and Jenny in Guilin were excellent. Chas in HK was also very helpful in getting us to the right place and the right time to fly home. more Apr 2023, Alan Harris

Inquire