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

China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.

13 days in China We booked a 13 day’s tour of China with China Highlights. Our travel advisor, Ms Leah Zhou organised an itinerary that suited what we wanted. She was really helpful and patient will all our needs. Leah helped us organised our 30th Wedding Anniversary Dinner and my 60th Birthday celebration?? in Beijing. For this to be possible, she had to liaise with our guide in Beijing. The flowers and cake were a real surprise. My husband and I, were really touched at the good service provided by China Highlights and Ms Leah Zhou. Thank you China Highlights and Ms Leah Zhou for your constant care of your customers. I will certainly recommend China Highlights to my friends. more Nov 2023, Eda Adams

Do Beijing like a local They organised my trip very quickly and efficiently. On the day, Anna was very friendly to me, my mum and my baby. Very accommodating to our needs. The car was immaculately clean and very comfortable. We visited everything we initially wanted and more. Also, Anna took us to the best meal we had in China. It makes a difference to have a local choosing the dishes! more Nov 2023, Natali A

Beijing 2 day tour Spent 2 days in Beijing with Ethan as my guide and had a fantastic experience. Ethan is very knowledgeable, easy company and takes excellent photographs. The organisation was excellent as well including the driver for the tour as well the airport pick up. more Nov 2023, Tam

Excellent Two Weeks Across China We used Asia Highlights (China Highlights in China) to help plan two weeks across China: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, a Yangtze cruise and Shanghai. Albee helped put it all together and was a huge help. She was very responsive and all the guides in each city were excellent! The hotels were perfect. We would definitely use the company once again for other trips to Asia. more Oct 2023, Charles

Great Experience with China Highlights Over at Beijing, Angela met us at the train station and ensured we were well settled in our hotel. We spent 2 days with her as our Guide. Angela is well informed and also adapted the itinerary to cover areas we wanted to take advantage off, e.g. apple picking at the orchard! The driver we had on both legs were good and friendly. more Oct 2023, Edwin

China Round Trip in October 2023 Family FT & G Braun from Germany Here in Beijing we got Jack as a tour guide who is very knowledgeable and supportive as well as flexible when there is a change in the program needed. Communication with him is easy as he is fluent in English. It is difficult to say which attraction is the greatest as all are outstanding being it the Forbidden City, the Great Wall or the Summer Palace as well as the Temple of Heaven. The driver, Mr. Hu needs also to be mentioned very positively as he politely took special care of us and his driving style was safe and patient with all the heavy traffic situations. more Oct 2023, Franz-Theo Braun

Beijing Experience I engaged Roger Li at China Highlights to arrange a One Day Beijing Tour for my clients from Brazil and the UK after our business meetings last week. Not only did the clients have a fantastic time visiting Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Palace and the Great Wall all in one day; but they came back with rave reviews on how well the day was organised and commented on the expertise of the tour guide too. I had 4 very happy clients then meet me in Shanghai for part 2 of meetings - thanks to Roger and Felix! Many thanks again. more Oct 2023, Bobby Tsang

Jinshanling amazing hiking trip We took the hiking trip Jinshanling package, we like it because the view was amazing, not much crowd and our tour guide arrange everything perfectly. We like it.However please be aware that this hiking trip will involve challenging stairs step and inclination, but still suitable for someone that exercise regularly. more Oct 2023, Frans A

Awesome experience! Awesome experience touring Beijing with China Highlights. My tour guide, Jennifer, was knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and very accommodating. It was like taking a tour with a friend. My favorite part of the tour was walking the Great Wall of China. Jennifer made sure to take me to a remote area, not just the crowded tourist area near Beijing, so I could get a more authentic experience. more Oct 2023, Consumer

Awesome personalized tour. Well worth the money. Lily Liu was our guide. I highly recommend using her. She helped us check out several local places that we absolutely loved and was great at answering all our questions and helping us experience Peking duck, Hawthorne and other things we were curious about. more Oct 2023, Jessica P

Two great weeks! We had Olivia as our tour guide in Beijing and Mervyn in Xi'an. They were both fantastic at their job and made us feel so welcome and added to the great experience we were already having. So grateful to their professionalism and wide knowledge as well as their friendliness. We're glad that China Highlights took us to the Mutianyu Wall instead of the crowded Badaling Wall. Less crowded and great views all around! more Oct 2023, Road36501241284

Beijing 4 day trip Silvia arranged my itinerary which included buying the high speed train ticket from Shanghai to Beijing and airport transfers. I did not have to think about anything. She added places to the itinerary which I would not have known to visit . more Oct 2023, Wing Yee Cheung

Amazing 2 weeks because of China Highlights We had Olivia as our tour guide in Beijing and Mervyn in Xi'an. They were both fantastic at their job and made us feel so welcome and added to the great experience we were already having. So grateful to their professionalism and wide knowledge as well as their friendliness.All in all, we are so glad for China Highlights. Affordable and really value-for-money kinda tour. more Oct 2023, Elisabeth Zackrina

One Day Beijing Trip (Great Wall, Summer Palace) With Jennifer My tour guide Jennifer made this quick one day trip to Beijing great! The day started out a bit overcast and rainy when I landed, but Jennifer’s positive attitude and kind communication (along with her being able to keep up/put up with my jokes) made it fine.Despite this, Jennifer and our driver Chen were able to swing an extra photo shoot stop at the Olympic Stadium. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back to visit again, and when I do - I will use China Highlights and this great fantastic team. more Sep 2023, Alan Landau

Best Great Wall experience Used China Highlights for a private all-day tour of Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall. One of the best days of my life! Tour guide Alan and a driver met me at my hotel and the ride was very comfortable. Alan was extremely knowledgable and friendly, I really enjoyed talking with him. The scenery was astoundingly beautiful; this is a less touristy portion of the Wall. The hiking was fun, Alan brought plenty of water, and showed me things I would not have noticed by myself. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch that Alan had arranged - delicious! Once in a lifetime experience. more Sep 2023, LZviajera

Non-standard private China tour I booked a 4 weeks private China tour with ChinaHighlights covering landscapes and cultural sites between Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Hangzhou and Shanghai. The entire tour was set up accurately, very fast and in the light of all relevant personal preferences by Mrs. Carol Wang, an expert in organizing hand made voyages in China. Due to her knowledge and immediate responses the tour was scheduled comfortably and straightforward, including all transfers and authentic hotel bookings. I highly recommend ChinaHighlights and in particular Carol Wang for organizing any extraordinary, non-mainstream travel to China. more Sep 2023, Dr. Manfred Leubner

Alisa Liu Alisa was very helpful tailoring a trip to China for my wife and I.Alisa was able to put together a great itinerary at a reasonable cost.Alisa is very conscientious and pays attention to detail.Example - We had a midnight flight into Shanghai on one segment of the tour. Alisa followed the flight until an earlier flight became available. Alisa changed the flight, guide and driver. Alisa has great attention to detail. Thank you Alisa. Al and Debbie more Sep 2023, AI Cluett

Best way to see Beijing Our guide Lily Liu was lovely - super patient, warm, knowledgeable about Chinese history, and great English skills. Would definitely recommend this service! more Sep 2023, Stephanie N

Amazing tour! Our guide, Linda, was by far the best person to have for our tours of The Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and Mutianyu Great Wall. She was an encyclopedia with great knowledge of Chinese History and was able to explain every detail of what we were seeing. She picked us up with a very nice car and driver from our hotel both days, at the time most convenient to us, and dropped us back off wherever we wanted at the end of our tours. Both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are marvels of human and Chinese achievements and are a must to see in Beijing. Visiting them both with a tour guide that feels more like a friend was certainly helping enjoying it even more. more Sep 2023, Robin Z

Beijing is AMAZING Linda Wang our amazing tour guide helped us to have an unforgettable trip to all the best of Beijing. From organizing the driver (also excellent) to drop us/pick us up exactly when we were leaving busy tourist sites, excellent food recommendations, fascinating knowledge relevant to us and our children (13yo and 11yo) making The Forbidden City, Tiannamen Square, Great Wall, Beijing Zoo and The Hutongs thoroughly enjoyable. Handling all the entrance/exit passport and ticket requirements, interpreting, answering any questions we had about local culture, we were so comfortable and happy, never rushed, everything you could want and more. more Sep 2023, Michelle A

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