China with Kids: 10 Days of Walls, Warriors and Pandas
A family-paced first trip: the Great Wall with a toboggan, the Terracotta Army, Chengdu’s pandas and a calm finish in Shanghai.
Photo: George Lu · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Route
- Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Shanghai
- Best for
- Families with children aged roughly 6–15
- Pace
- Relaxed — one big sight a day
About this route
Children love China’s big set pieces — the Great Wall, the clay army, the pandas — but long sightseeing days wear them out. This route keeps mornings for the big sights and leaves afternoons free for parks, pools and food.
Travel days are short: one train of about 4.5–6 hours and two flights or trains of 2–3 hours.
The itinerary
- Days 1–2
Beijing: palace and parks
Arrive and rest. Next morning the Forbidden City, then Jingshan Park and a pedal boat on Beihai Lake. Acrobatics show in the evening.
- Day 3
Great Wall at Mutianyu
Cable car up and the toboggan down — the highlight for most children. Afternoon free at the hotel.
Field note: Children need their own passport for every ticket booking.
- Day 4
Hutongs by rickshaw or bike, then Temple of Heaven
A slow morning in the hutongs and an afternoon in the Temple of Heaven park, where children can join in the shuttlecock kicking.
- Day 5
Train to Xi’an
Afternoon train; evening in the Muslim Quarter for street food.
- Day 6
Terracotta Army and the city wall
Terracotta Army in the morning with a guide who tells it as a story. Afternoon bike ride on the city wall.
- Day 7
To Chengdu
Morning at leisure, afternoon train to Chengdu. Evening Sichuan opera with face-changing.
- Day 8
Pandas
At the panda base for opening time. Afternoon at the Chengdu Natural History Museum or a hotel pool.
- Day 9
Fly to Shanghai
Afternoon ferry across the Huangpu and the Bund at night.
- Day 10
Shanghai and departure
Shanghai Natural History Museum or the Science and Technology Museum, then the Maglev to Pudong.
Before you book
- Mild versions of most dishes are easy to order — ask for “bu la” (not spicy).
- Pack a foldable stroller for younger children; stations have lifts but sights have stairs.
- Carry a copy of birth certificates if parents and children have different surnames.
Regions on this route: Golden Triangle, Sichuan & Chongqing, Yangtze Delta. See also how to book trains and the visa checker.
Cities on this route
Beijing
Six UNESCO World Heritage sites, the best-preserved imperial architecture in China and the most accessible sections of the Great Wall.
Xi’an
Capital of 13 dynasties and the eastern end of the Silk Road: the Terracotta Army, a complete Ming city wall and the Muslim Quarter’s night food.
Chengdu
Pandas, teahouses and some of the best food in China, in a city famous for taking life slowly.
Shanghai
China’s most international city: the Bund, art deco neighbourhoods, world-class museums and an hour by train to classical Suzhou and Hangzhou.
FAQ
Is China safe for families?
Yes. Cities are generally very safe, public transport is clean and children are warmly welcomed. The main challenges are heat in summer, crowds on holidays and long walking days.
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