A Guide To The Best Cities And Regions To Visit In China

Essential Family Hubs

Many families begin their first trip to China by visiting the classic trio: Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. These cities feature top attractions like imperial palaces, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, modern cityscapes, and scenic walks by the water. Getting around is simple, with no need for tricky flights or long detours. Each city has its own way of welcoming kids. Beijing has parks and hutongs, Xi’an offers city walls and lively markets, and Shanghai has riverfront walks and museums that are great for children.

This main travel route is easy for parents, even if you’re tired from the flight. Fast trains, easy airport connections, and hotels with family rooms, connecting rooms, and indoor pools are available in each city. High-speed trains make travel between cities quick, often just a few hours. Sightseeing is organized but not rushed, and evenings offer comforts like room-service pasta, bathtubs with a view, and helpful staff ready to assist with any last-minute requests.

Beijing

Beijing combines the history of imperial China with the energy of a modern city, and it’s easier to explore with kids than you might expect. Begin your day at the Great Wall, then spend afternoons in courtyards and parks, and enjoy evenings in either fancy restaurants or simple noodle shops. Summers are hot, and winters are cold, so spring (April to May) and autumn (September to early November) are the best times to visit, with mild weather and clear skies for long walks.

If you want to mix history with comfort, stay near the Forbidden City and Wangfujing or in the embassy areas of Chaoyang and Sanlitun. Well-known luxury hotels like The Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, and Bvlgari Hotel Beijing offer large rooms, helpful staff, and great service close to the main sights. Aman Summer Palace is ideal if you want to be right next to the palace grounds. For a more relaxed, family-focused stay, try the Kerry Hotel in the CBD, which has a kids’ club, family suites, and pools. Larger international hotels in Chaoyang are also good for families, as they are used to helping with strollers, jet lag, and late-night room service.

Plan a morning visit to the Great Wall at Mutianyu or Jinshanling, then spend the afternoon at the Forbidden City and nearby Beihai or Jingshan Park, where kids can enjoy playgrounds and wide-open views. On slower days, you can visit pandas at Beijing Zoo, try pedal boats on the lakes, or join a hutong food walk that keeps older kids interested with snacks. In the evenings, try Peking duck, stroll through the lit-up hutong alleys, or relax by the pool, knowing there’s more to explore the next day.

Aman Summer Palace, 1 Gongmenqian Street, Summer Palace, Haidian, Beijing, China, +86 10 5987 9999, amansummerpalace@aman.com, https://www.aman.com/resorts/aman-summer-palace

Shanghai

Shanghai appeals to families with efficient public transit, five-star hotels, and a fascinating blend of historic lanes and futuristic skyscrapers. Begin mornings on the Bund or in the Old Town to experience the city’s past. Afternoons in Pudong, cruising the Huangpu or visiting Shanghai Disneyland, reveal Shanghai’s modern side. Spring and autumn throughout March to May and September to November deliver the most comfortable weather, making outdoor days, whether in parks or along Nanjing Road, particularly enjoyable.

Choosing the right base shapes the whole stay, especially with kids. For a classic first look at the city, stay near the Bund or People’s Square, where grande dames and contemporary luxury hotels like The Peninsula Shanghai, Waldorf Astoria on the Bund, W Shanghai – The Bund, and The Upper House deliver spacious rooms, serious service, and easy access to ferries, museum,s and metro lines. Families who want a more resort‑like feel can look to Pudong, where larger full‑service properties cluster near the towers and river, or out towards Disneyland for themed hotels that turn park days into relaxed, low‑transfer overnights.

Once you are settled, Shanghai is about mixing headline attractions with low‑pressure wandering. Do the hits such as Shanghai Disneyland, Yu Garden, the river cruise, the aquarium, or science museum, then thread in time for playgrounds, park picnics, and café stops in areas like Xintiandi or the French Concession, so younger travelers are not sprinting from sight to sight. Evenings are when the city really works for adults and children with skyline light shows from the Bund, dumpling runs down side streets, and an easy ride back to a room.

The Upper House, No. 366 Shi Men Yi Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China, +86 21 3216 8199, guestexperience_sh@upperhouse.com, https://www.upperhouse.com/en/shanghai/

Xi’an

The city of Xi’an is pretty easy for families to navigate. Terracotta Warriors, the hulking city walls, and the lantern‑lit Muslim Quarter give you some extraordinary experiences in just a few days, with enough parks and open spaces to break up the history lessons. As with Beijing and Shanghai, the sweet spot is spring and autumn, March to May and late September to early November, when days are mild, skies are clearer, and long hours outside do not feel like a slog.

When you stay in Xi’an, consider proximity to the old city and key monuments. Inside or just by the historic walls, grand dame options such as Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel, Sofitel Xi’an on Renmin Square, and other top‑tier five‑stars put you within easy reach of the Bell and Drum Towers, Muslim Quarter, and museums, with leafy gardens or pools to retreat to afterwards. In the newer Qujiang district near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Tang‑themed attractions, contemporary luxury hotels and family‑friendly high‑end properties offer larger rooms, spa facilities, and quick access to evening fountain shows and pedestrian streets. If you prefer boutique options, Younch Hotel is one of Little Steps’ favorites.

Think about one big wow outing and a city‑based experience. Pair the Terracotta Army with a hands‑on clay warrior workshop, or follow a morning cycling the city wall with an afternoon grazing through street food in the Muslim Quarter, so kids can trade dates and dynasties for skewers and fresh bread! On a slower day, climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, wander through Tang Paradise or Xingqinggong Park, and let the city’s role as Silk Road crossroads encompass mosques, markets, and plenty of spices.

Younch Hotel, 123 Shang Ai Road, Xin Cheng District, Xi’an, China, +86 29 8116 5888, contact@slh.com, https://slh.com/hotels/younch-hotel-xian

Chengdu

Chengdu thrives on family gatherings over noodles and tea. See giant pandas in stroller-friendly enclosures, lively parks, and take day trips to Leshan’s Giant Buddha, tea fields, and Sichuan opera. Visit in spring and autumn, March to June, and September–November, when the heat eases and days are mild for long outings at the panda base or People’s Park.

Where you stay shapes your Chengdu experience. Design-minded Upper House Chengdu, riverside Shangri-La, and Ritz-Carlton offer large rooms, pools, and prime access to history, Tianfu Square, Kuanzhai Alleys, teahouses, and hotpot. For retreat vibes, Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain is about an hour outside, with villas, fresh air, and direct hiking, making it ideal for decompressing before or after a busy trip.

Once checked in, spend a morning at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, timing your visit for feeding hours when the animals are at their most active, then swap to tea and people‑watching in People’s Park, where children can run between playgrounds and lakes while adults get a taste of quintessential local life. On other days, pair a food‑focused wander through Wide and Narrow Alleys with a family‑friendly Sichuan opera performance or a side trip to Leshan, keeping the pace unhurried.

Upper House Chengdu, No. 81 Bitieshi Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, China, +86 28 6636 9999, guestexperience_cd@upperhouse.com, https://www.upperhouse.com/en/chengdu/

Hangzhou

Hangzhou is where willow‑lined paths, low‑rise temples, and a wide, calm lake that feel a world away from the country’s big‑city energy. For families, the appeal is straightforward with West Lake’s boat rides and easy walking circuits, pockets of dense greenery at places like the botanical gardens and Xixi Wetland, and a pace that suits grandparents and younger children as much as teens. The best times to visit are spring, from March to May, and autumn, September–November, when temperatures are comfortable, blossoms or foliage frame the water, and you can be outside for most of the day without wrestling with summer humidity.

To really feel the city, stay by West Lake or in the surrounding hills and temple districts. Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake, Amanfayun, and Relais & Châteaux Seven Villas sit in landscaped gardens near the water and Lingyin Temple, offering villa‑style layouts, indoor pools, and courtyards that work well for multi‑generational groups. More conventionally urban options like Grand Hyatt Hangzhou, Shangri‑La Hangzhou, and Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake also front the lake, combining larger family rooms and club lounges with quick access to promenades, shopping streets, and evening strolls.

Days in Hangzhou are best kept simple. Start with a loop around West Lake on foot, by bike, or by boat, linking playground stops, small pagodas, and causeways so younger travelers have frequent breaks, then trade the water for tea fields at Meijiawu, where kids can watch or join basic tea‑picking and rolling. On another day, include Lingyin Temple, the botanical gardens, or Song Dynasty Town, and finish on pedestrian Hefang Street or at an artisan market, where you can linger over craft stalls while the kids excitedly hunt for snacks and small souvenirs.

Amanfayun, 22 Fayun Lane, West Lake Street, West Lake Scenic Area, Hangzhou, China, +86 571 8732 9999, amanfayun.res@aman.com, https://www.aman.com/resorts/amanfayun

Suzhou

Suzhou is low‑rise, laced with canals and classical gardens that invite endless wandering. For families, it works as an easy two‑ or three‑night stay, allowing enough time to explore compact gardens like the Humble Administrator’s and Lion Grove, drift along narrow waterways, and linger in the pedestrian backstreets without anyone feeling over‑scheduled. The best windows are spring and autumn, broadly March–May and late September–November, when temperatures are mild, and the gardens are either in fresh bloom or framed by clear air and softer light.

Choosing a base in Suzhou is about deciding whether you want water views, old‑town atmosphere, or a resort‑style hideaway. On Jinji Lake, Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou gives you an island setting with open lawns, an indoor pool, and villa options that work well for multi‑generational groups, while nearby high‑end properties in the Industrial Park mix big‑window lake views with easy access to malls, parks, and that giant Ferris wheel kids tend to remember. Closer to the historic center, a cluster of upscale hotels and smaller luxury‑boutique addresses puts you within easy reach of the main gardens, Suzhou Museum, and Pingjiang Road’s canalside lanes, so you can walk or hop in a short taxi rather than commute across town.

Start with a headline garden in the morning before crowds build, then move to a boat ride along the canals or a rickshaw trip through the older quarters so younger travelers can simply watch city life go past. Balance that heritage with time around Jinji Lake, with playgrounds, bike paths, the Ferris wheel, and evening water shows, or with a stop at the Suzhou Science and Cultural Centre or the zoo, giving kids a clear play window.

Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou, 88 Four Seasons Boulevard, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, +86 512 6281 8888, res.suzhou@fourseasons.com, https://www.fourseasons.com/suzhou/

Hong Kong

Hong Kong does big‑city energy in a way that works unusually well for families with its compact, walkable districts, efficient transport, and a constant mix of skyline, sea, and green hills. Days tend to flip between wow moments, the Peak tram, Star Ferry crossings, light shows over Victoria Harbour, and quieter neighborhood time in parks, temples, and cafés where everyone can reset. For comfort and clear views, the sweet spots are October to early December and March to early May, when humidity drops, skies are brighter, and you can be outside for long stretches without hiding in air‑conditioning.

In Central and Admiralty, hotels like Island Shangri‑La, Conrad, and The St. Regis Hong Kong offer easy MTR access, serious harbor or hill views, and clubs and pools, making them strong choices for older kids and teens who will appreciate quick hops to SoHo, the Mid‑Levels escalator, and The Peak. Over the water in Tsim Sha Tsui, harborfront grande dames such as Regent Hong Kong and other top‑tier Kowloon properties deliver those classic postcard skyline views, generous rooms and simple access to the promenade, museums and Star Ferry; out on Lantau, Hong Kong Disneyland’s own hotels, especially Disney Explorers Lodge, are ideal if you want to structure the stay around park time.

Spend one day around Lantau and enjoy the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Big Buddha, Tai O fishing village, or a full Disney day, another around the harbour with Star Ferry rides, the Peak tram and a Symphony of Lights viewing, and a third on Kowloon markets, museum stops and time in Hong Kong Park or the zoological and botanical gardens so younger kids have space to roam. Make sure to include dim sum tastings, egg waffles, temple visits, and a wander through older streets in Sheung Wan or Wan Chai.

St Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China, +852 2138 6888, srhk.reservations@stregis.com, https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hkgxr-the-st-regis-hong-kong/overview/

Macau

Macau is a small, easy add‑on to Hong Kong, and for families it feels like two trips in one with a walkable old town of pastel‑washed churches and tiled squares layered over a high‑gloss Cotai Strip of shows, pools, and indoor play zones. You can climb up to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, wander Senado Square, detour to Coloane village, and then pivot to cable cars, fountains, and themed attractions without long and exhausting transfers. The most comfortable months to visit are roughly October to February, when temperatures are cooler, humidity drops, and you can explore on foot without battling summer heat or typhoon‑season downpours.

On Cotai, well-known properties such as The Ritz‑Carlton, Macau, Wynn Palace, Morpheus, Conrad Macao, and the wider Galaxy complex deliver big‑room configurations, elaborate pool decks, kids’ clubs or mega‑play zones like Super Fun Zone, and direct access to dining, shopping, and evening entertainment under one roof. Families who prefer something slightly calmer can look to Coloane and the older peninsula, where hotels near Hac Sa or Cheoc Van beaches and more traditional city properties put you closer to local neighbourhoods, the panda pavilion, and the quieter waterfront promenades.

Start with history and explore A‑Ma Temple, Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, and the Maritime Museum before shifting to hands‑on stops like the Macao Science Center or the Giant Panda Pavilion. Save Cotai’s big‑ticket distractions for late afternoon and evening with teamLab SuperNature, indoor playgrounds, water parks, and fountain shows, followed by an easy dinner inside your hotel complex.

Wynn Palace, Rua Cidade de Sintra, Nape, Macau, China, +853 2888 9966, inquiries@wynnpalace.com, https://www.wynnresortsmacau.com/en/wynn-palace

Slow Travel Regions

Scenic bases like Guilin and Yangshuo, Zhangjiajie, Huangshan with Hongcun and Xidi, Yunnan’s Lijiang–Dali–Shangri‑La loop, the Longji rice terraces and Sanya on Hainan Island offer karst peaks, terraced hillsides, cliff‑edge walks, tea fields and warm‑water bays. Together, they form a soft‑adventure China itinerary, where the days are outdoors‑first and the pace shifts from museum‑hopping to bike rides, cable cars, short hikes, and long, unhurried dinners.

Riverfront lodges in Yangshuo, on‑mountain hotels in Huangshan, courtyard‑style properties in Yunnan, and full‑scale resorts in Sanya all bring the comforts of home and landscapes that feel distinctly, and sometimes dramatically, Chinese. The logistics are often simpler than they look on the map, too, with high‑speed rail and short domestic hops linking these hubs to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

Guilin & Yangshuo

Guilin and Yangshuo are where China finally slows down, with beautiful, soft hills, village lanes, and rivers that give everyone a break from the cities. Enjoy Li River cruises, countryside bike rides, and bamboo rafting on the Yulong, where younger kids tend to cope well when most of the sightseeing involves being active and outdoors. The region can be visited year‑round, but spring and autumn (roughly April–May and September–October) are ideal, with warm, not sweltering, days, greener fields, and a lower risk of heavy summer downpours.

In Guilin, bigger hotels such as Shangri‑La Hotel Guilin and resort‑style options like Club Med Guilin offer pools, kids’ facilities, and familiar service, which helps take the edge off long travel days. Downriver in Yangshuo, smaller‑scale but polished stays like Banyan Tree Yangshuo, Yangshuo Mountain Retreat and other well‑run family lodges sit along the river or in the surrounding countryside, delivering that wake up to karst peaks moment!

The area is very straightforward to navigate, even for people of different ages and energy levels. A typical pattern is a Li River cruise into Yangshuo, a day or two of cycling quiet backroads, another spent between gentle hikes, viewpoints, and cafes, and, if time allows, a side trip to the Longji rice terraces for a different take on rural China. Evenings are low‑key: simple dinners in town, a stroll past the river or through the night market, maybe a show or just an early night back at the pool, with the kind of manageable, outdoors‑first days that make the kids happy.

Banyan Tree Yangshuo, No. 168 Zhendong Street, Fuli Town, Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi, China, +86 773 322 8888, reservations-yangshuo@banyantree.com, https://www.banyantree.com/china/yangshuo

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie boasts sheer sandstone pillars rising out of the mist and glass walkways that put you eye‑level with the clouds. The main draws for families are the cable cars, the Bailong glass elevator, and gentler sections such as Golden Whip Stream, where flat riverside paths and wildlife spotting keep younger kids engaged without too many steps. The area is at its most comfortable in spring and autumn, in roughly April and May, and September and October, when temperatures are milder, and visibility is often better.

Many first‑timers opt for hotels in Wulingyuan, close to the main park entrance, to cut down on daily transfers, with a mix of international‑style properties and local four‑ and five‑star hotels offering family rooms, pools, and easy access to restaurants. In Zhangjiajie city proper, larger full‑service hotels near the Tianmen Mountain cable car station work well if you are pairing the national park with glass‑bridge and Tianmen excursions, trading step‑outside views of the pillars for smoother logistics and more urban comforts at the beginning or end of the stay.

A typical day is an early start for the Bailong Elevator and the Avatar peaks of Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain on one day, followed by the Golden Whip Stream or Ten‑Mile Gallery the next, using park buses and cable cars to cut down on climbs. You can then fold in a half‑day at the famous Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon, or a Tianmen Mountain cable‑car ride and cliff‑edge skywalks for older children who enjoy heights, leaving time in the evenings for simple dinners and, if everyone still has energy, one of the outdoor ethnic dance or light shows that allows you to enjoy the Hunan culture.

Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan, 108 Bao Feng Road, Zhangjiajie, China, +86 400 820 8888, DYGGI_GM@hilton.com, https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dyggigi-hilton-garden-inn-zhangjiajie-wulingyuan/

Huangshan, Hongcun & Xidi

Huangshan offers beautiful ridgelines, twisted pines, and stone steps that seem to climb straight into the clouds. Explore cable cars to the high viewpoints, a manageable loop on top, and the satisfaction of watching older kids take on a real hike! The best windows for travel are spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to October, when temperatures are cooler, skies are often clearer, and sunrise or sunset on the peaks is otherworldly.

Down below, Hongcun and Xidi give the area a very different texture with white‑walled, black‑tiled villages reflected in ponds, with lanes just wide enough for pedestrians and the occasional electric cart. They are easy to explore with children, short walking distances, plenty of small bridges and alleys to duck into, and clear focal points like Hongcun’s Moon Pond or South Lake where you can simply sit and watch daily life play out. Many families choose to spend at least one night in or near these villages or in nearby Huizhou‑style guesthouses, trading big‑hotel amenities for creaky staircases, inner courtyards, and a stronger sense of being inside the landscape.

Consider one or two nights on the mountain to catch a sunrise or sunset, followed by a village day of wandering and simple meals. On the mountain, use cable cars to save younger legs, stick to safer, well‑marked circuits, and build in time for hot drinks at the hotels between viewpoints. In the villages, you can enjoy low‑key activities like calligraphy, handicraft workshops, or a short Xin’an River boat trip if you want a different angle on Huizhou’s countryside.

Xihai Hotel, West Sea Scenic Spot, under Danxia peak, Huangshan, China, +86 559 259 0999, xihaihotel@263.net, http://www.xihaihotelhuangshan.com/

Yunnan, Lijiang, Dali & Shangri La

Yunnan is where China stretches out into highland skies and slower days, and where the three bases Lijiang, Dali, and Shangri‑La give families a gentle introduction into altitude without losing creature comforts. Think stone‑paved old towns and lakeside bike paths by day, and heated floors, hotpots, and fireplaces once the temperature drops at night. The best windows are generally spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), when mountain weather is more predictable, and you can spend long hours outside without juggling heavy rain or winter chill.

For families who like a walkable base with strong hotel options, Lijiang is the easiest first stop. Around the Old Town and Shuhe, you will find polished properties such as the InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort and other high‑end boutiques like Amandayan that mix Naxi‑style courtyards with international‑standard rooms, good heating, and English‑speaking staff. Dali, by contrast, works best as a lake‑and‑countryside base, with design‑driven guesthouses and small resorts strung around Erhai’s shoreline, giving you space for bikes, lakeside walks, and slower mornings while still keeping a short transfer into the walled old town.

Shangri‑La is your higher‑altitude adventure based around a compact old town, Tibetan monasteries, and big‑sky day trips balanced by log‑and‑stone lodges and smarter hotels that understand altitude and families. Once you have your bases set, enjoy cycling or horse‑riding in Dali, yak meadows and monastery visits near Shangri‑La, village walks and easy hikes around Lijiang, with plenty of café and courtyard time built in. Evenings are for hotpot, barbecue, and early nights under thick duvets, the kind of simple routine that makes this corner of Yunnan a natural, slower‑paced counterpoint to Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai.

Amandayan, 29 Shishan Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang, Yunnan,China, +86 888 533 9999, amandayan.res@aman.com, https://www.aman.com/resorts/amandayan. Banyan Tree Ringha, Hong Po Village, Jian Tang Town, Shangri-la City, Yunnan, China, +86 887 828 8822, ringha@banyantree.com, https://www.banyantree.com/china/ringha. Dali Old Courtyard Boutique Inn, Xinming Street 12, Renming Road, Dali, China, +86 153 6899 9935, https://www.guestreservations.com/dali-old-courtyard-boutique-inn/booking

Longji, Longsheng

Longji in Longsheng is wonderfully manageable for families, with days filled with rice terraces, tiny villages, and simple hikes broken up by farmhouses, viewpoints, and time to play outside. The landscape features sweeping, contoured paddies and traditional Zhuang and Yao wooden homes, offering plenty of wow moments during your short stay without long museum days or urban hassles! As with much of rural Guangxi, the most comfortable times are spring and autumn, roughly March to May and late September to early November, when temperatures are milder, humidity is lower, and walking the stone pathways between villages feels energizing.

When you stay around Longji and Longsheng, think in terms of which rice terrace area you want to wake up to. Around Ping’an village, boutique guesthouses and terrace‑view inns like Baike Hotel line the slopes, with balconies that look straight out over the classic postcard curves; staying here means easy access to viewpoints and a buzzy but still small‑village feel. Up around Dazhai and Tiantou, the atmosphere is quieter and a touch more rustic, with characterful timber lodges and small design‑forward boutiques offering slightly more dramatic hiking routes and sunrise/sunset vantage points, but requiring steeper walks with younger kids. Down in Longsheng town itself, simpler hotels and hot‑spring‑area stays give you easier car access and less stair‑climbing, but you sacrifice that step‑out‑into‑the‑terraces magic.

Pair a big-terrace hike with something hands-on and village-based. One day, ride the cable car or tackle a moderate walk to one of the famous viewpoints above the paddies, stopping for snacks and photos so kids can see the fields from different angles and watch farmers at work. Another day, keep things gentler: wander between nearby villages, visit a local house, try simple farm‑to‑table lunches, and let children help with easy seasonal tasks like pounding rice, picking vegetables, or trying on traditional costumes. In the evenings, slow down completely: watch the terraces shift color with the light, soak in hot springs if you are staying near Longsheng’s baths, and let the quiet, lantern‑lit lanes and simple mountain air be part of the experience.

Baike Hotel, Ping’an Village, Longji Rice Terraces, Longsheng, China, +86 189 3482 2260, baikehotel@hotmail.com, https://www.baikehotel.com/

Sanya, Hainan

Sanya is China’s easy‑win beach break with beautiful palm‑lined bays, warm water, and resort complexes. The city is technically tropical year‑round, but the sweet spot is from about October through April, when temperatures sit in the low‑ to mid‑20s, humidity is gentler, and rain is lighter than in the summer monsoon months. During this window, days are reliably beach‑friendly without the searing heat and typhoon risk that can make May to September feel hard work!

Yalong Bay is the classic resort strip, with big‑name five‑stars lining a long, soft‑sand curve; this is where you go for familiar service, kids’ clubs, multiple pools, and the option to eat in‑house for days if you want to keep things simple. Haitang Bay has a newer, more spread‑out feel, with ultra‑large integrated resorts and a strong spa scene, better suited to families who are happy to stay mostly on‑property. Little Steps loves the Rosewood Sanya, which boasts stunning views across the South China Sea. Dadonghai and Sanya Bay, closer to the city, offer a more local atmosphere and easier access to restaurants, markets, and short outings if you prefer to break up pool time with small urban forays rather than commit to full‑scale excursions.

Mornings tend to be about the water with plenty of beach time, stand‑up paddleboarding, beginner diving, or boat trips, before retreating to the shade and the pool as the midday sun intensifies. Afternoons are for a wander along the waterfront promenades, a quick taxi into town for seafood and markets, or a half‑day at places like Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone or the rainforest parks, if you want to remind everyone they are still in China. Evenings usually come back to the resort: sunset on the beach, an early dinner, and perhaps a drink or two watching the lights over the bay while the kids disappear back to the kids’ club or bed.

Rosewood Sanya, No. 6 Haitang North Road, Sanya, Hainan, China, +86 898 8802 5818, sanya@rosewoodhotels.com, https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/sanya

Culture, Food, And Second Cities

Nanjing, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chongqing and Harbin each offer lakeside mausoleums and Republican‑era villas in Nanjing, riverside boulevards and old‑concession streets in Tianjin, design‑driven malls and bayside parks in Shenzhen, island promenades and seafront temples in Xiamen, stacked railways and hotpot houses in Chongqing, and, in Harbin, onion‑domed churches and winter ice palaces that feel a world away from the south.

In these cities, you are as likely to spend an hour in a park watching kite flyers, ballroom dancers, or kids on scooters as you are ticking off museums, and where regional dishes such as duck blood vermicelli in Nanjing, goubuli baozi in Tianjin, seafood in Xiamen, incendiary hotpot in Chongqing, and hearty Dongbei fare in Harbin are very memorable. For longer China itineraries, they slot in neatly as two or three-night stays are easy to reach by high‑speed rail or short flights.

Nanjing

Nanjing is one of those cities that quietly gets a lot done! It’s the former capital, Yangtze River port, leafy university town, and living memorial to some of modern China’s hardest history. For families, it works best as a two‑ or three‑night stop between Shanghai and interior provinces, with the Purple Mountain parks, lakes, and broad boulevards to balance the more intense moments at sites like the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. The most comfortable times to visit are spring and autumn, roughly March to May and late September to early November, when temperatures are mild to warm.

For first‑timers, basing near Xinjiekou or around the Confucius Temple–Qinhuai River area keeps you close to restaurants, shopping streets, and the historic riverfront, with a spread of international‑standard hotels that understand family needs, from interconnecting rooms to predictable breakfast buffets. Farther out, properties around Xuanwu Lake and Purple Mountain give you easier access to parks and trails and a softer, more residential feel, which can work well if you see Nanjing as a decompression point in a longer itinerary.

The city is easy to break into digestible days. You might focus on history with adventures around the city walls, the Presidential Palace, and the Memorial Hall, balanced with time on or around Xuanwu Lake, where kids can run, bike, or take a boat. Another can be built around Purple Mountain and the Sun Yat‑sen Mausoleum, cable cars or short hikes, and a late‑afternoon wander along the Qinhuai River for snacks and night‑market lights before retreating to the pool or an early night.

Ming Hotel Nanjing Mgallery Collection, No 100 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, China, +86 25 8336 8888, HC1H8-RE@accor.com, https://all.accor.com/hotel/C1H8/index.en.shtml

Tianjin

Tianjin is an easy win from Beijing! A super-fast train ride drops you into a riverfront city that feels calmer, more European in pockets, and walkable enough to manage with kids or grandparents in tow. The appeal lies in its colonial‑era streets in the Five Great Avenues, the kitsch‑but‑fun Porcelain House, food streets, and the skyline highlighting the Tianjin Eye on the Hai River. The weather is similar to Beijing’s, so the most comfortable windows are spring and autumn, roughly mid‑April to May and mid‑September to October, when days are mild, air is clearer, and you can spend long stretches outdoors without the furnace heat of July–August or the deep winter chill.

It makes sense to base yourself in the central Heping district or along the Hai River so most of your sightseeing is doable on foot. Riverside high‑rises and international hotels like the Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin cluster near Italian‑style Street and the main bridges, giving you quick access to evening river walks and cruises, while addresses around the Five Great Avenues put you among tree‑lined streets, cafés, and early‑20th‑century villas. Both areas work well for families: you get big‑city comforts with indoor pools, predictable breakfasts, and interconnecting rooms.

One day might start with a stroll through the Five Great Avenues and on to the Porcelain House, then drift down to the river for a late‑afternoon cruise and a spin on the Tianjin Eye for city‑wide views. Another can focus on Old Town with Ancient Culture Street, temples, and snack runs, leaving time for parks or a return to the riverfront after dark, when the bridges and facades light up, and the city feels more like a relaxed European port than a northern industrial hub.

Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin, 138 Chifeng Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China, +86 22 2716 6688, https://www.fourseasons.com/tianjin/

Shenzhen

Shenzhen is China’s future‑facing city, safe, clean, efficient, and packed with parks, museums, and kid‑centric attractions. The city’s appeal lies in the contrast between a stunning skyline of glass and LEDs, tech malls and observation decks on one side; and bayside promenades, big green spaces and theme parks like Window of the World, Happy Valley and Splendid China Folk Village on the other. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, especially March to April and October to November, when temperatures hover in the low‑ to high‑20s and humidity is far more manageable.

Futian is the most convenient hub for first‑timers: it’s central, well‑served by metro, close to parks like Lianhuashan, shopping in Huaqiangbei and Coco Park, and offers easy connections to Nanshan and the Bay. Here, five-star hotels such as The Langham, Shenzhen, Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen, The Ritz‑Carlton, Shenzhen, and Futian Shangri‑La deliver large rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, kids’ amenities, and club lounges, making it straightforward to dip in and out of the city. Nanshan, around OCT Harbour, Sea World, and the theme parks, is a strong alternative if you want seaside promenades, design‑led dining, and attractions in the OCT cluster rather than city‑center malls.

Your days might orbit around OCT and the Splendid China Folk Village, Window of the World, and the lakeside boardwalk, or around Shenzhen Bay Park, Sea World, and the design‑forward Sea World Culture and Arts Center for waterside cafés and galleries. You can also swap skyscrapers for science and play and visit the Red Cube complex with its Science and Technology Museum, or one of the huge indoor playgrounds locals swear by, with evenings free for dim sum, hotpot, or a simple stroll under the neon before heading back to the pool.

The Langham, Shenzhen, 7888 Shennan Boulevard, Futian District, Shenzhen, China, +86 755 8828 9888, tlszx.info@langhamhotels.com, https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/shenzhen/

Xiamen

Xiamen is one of China’s easiest coastal cities to like; it’s compact, green in parts, and framed by water, with enough history and café culture to keep adults interested and enough beaches, parks, and boats to keep kids on board. Most first‑timers split their time between the mainland waterfront, like the Island Ring Road, Bailuzhou Park, and the Zhongshan Road area, and Gulangyu (Kulangsu), the low‑rise island of villas and gardens just offshore. The most comfortable months are spring and autumn, especially March to May and October to November, when temperatures are in the high teens to mid‑20s and typhoon risk is lower.

Where you stay depends on how strongly you want the island experience. On the mainland, harborside hotels around Lujiang Avenue and the harborfront, such as Swiss Grand Xiamen or Hotel Indigo Xiamen Harbour, offer direct views of Gulangyu, fast access to the ferry, and an easy walk to Zhongshan Road for evening food runs. Further out, newer luxury hotels like Conrad Xiamen, W Xiamen, Waldorf Astoria Xiamen, and Fairmont Xiamen offer larger rooms, comprehensive facilities, and sleek design in lifestyle districts. On Gulangyu itself, restored mansions such as Miryam Boutique Hotel and Linshifu Mansion Hotel offer a slower pace on the island.

Maybe start with a Gulangyu day with a trip to Sunlight Rock for views, the piano museum and villa‑lined lanes, plus plenty of snack stops, then swap to a mainland day around Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen University, the coastal boardwalk and perhaps a late‑afternoon bike ride along the Island Ring Road. On another day, consider Xiamen Botanical Garden, Wuyuan Bay, or Jimei School Village, and leave evenings free for seafood, Taiwan Snack Street, or a simple harborfront stroll, with the boat lights and skyline as a reminder that this is still very much contemporary China.

Fairmont Xiamen, No. 325 Donghuang Road, Huli District, Xiamen, China, +86 059 2301 6666, HB953@fairmont.com, https://www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/xiamen/fairmont-xiamen.html

Chongqing

Chongqing is known as China’s vertical city with its stacked bridges, light‑rail lines running through apartment blocks, and neon‑lit river gorges where the Yangtze and Jialing meet. It feels like a sci‑fi set, which is exactly why it works so well as a short stay, especially for families with school‑age kids and teens. The climate is humid and famously hot in summer, so the most comfortable times to visit are spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to October, when temperatures are warm but manageable.

If it’s your first time in Chongqing, the Yuzhong District is the obvious base. It’s close to Jiefangbei, Hongya Cave, the Yangtze River Cableway, and the ferry piers, so you can string together plenty of sights on foot or via short metro hops. InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City sits inside the Raffles complex at Chaotianmen, with sky‑bridge views over both rivers and direct access to malls and the observation deck, while The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square and Niccolo Chongqing deliver gorgeous rooms, pools, and skyline views within easy walking distance of Jiefangbei. Families who want a slightly calmer base can look to high‑rise luxury hotels in Jiangbei, near the Grand Theatre, where you still get big views with a bit more breathing space and good metro connections back into the center.

Start your adventures with the Raffles observation deck or a Yangtze River Cableway ride, break for simple bowls of local noodles, and end with the Hongya Cave lights viewed from across the river rather than in the melee. On other days, focus on Ciqikou Ancient Town for lanterns, snacks, and a taste of Sichuan opera, followed by a panda fix at Chongqing Zoo or an indoor play session if the weather turns sticky. Evenings lend themselves to hotpots and short river walks or night cruises, the city’s layered bridges and towers reminding you why this stop feels so different from anywhere else on the classic China circuit.

Niccolo Chongqing, Tower 1, Chongqing IFS, No.1 Qingyun Road, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, China, +86 23 6508 8888, resv.ncq@niccolohotels.com, https://www.niccolohotels.com/en/niccolo-chongqing

Harbin

Harbin is a place of minus‑20 mornings, ice castles, and streets that feel closer to Russia than to Shanghai! Winter is the headline act thanks to the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which typically runs from late December into February, turning the city into a full‑scale frozen theme park of illuminated ice palaces and giant snow sculptures, especially dazzling at night. For most travellers, and particularly families, the sweet spot is deep winter if you want the festival, or July to September if you are chasing cool summer air and long, jacket‑weather evenings.

Where you stay in Harbin is mostly about balancing a riverfront atmosphere with easy access to festivals. Along Central Street and the Songhua River in Daoli District, Habsburg Hotel and The Ritz‑Carlton, Harbin sit near the heart of the action, with European‑style facades, big‑window river views, and straightforward access to Zhaolin Park, Central Street, and the shuttle routes out to Sun Island and Ice & Snow World. Slightly farther out, high‑end options like Shangri‑La Harbin, Wanda Vista Harbin and Sofitel Harbin offer full‑service five‑star comfort with pools, big breakfasts, strong heating, while still keeping transfers to the festival zones manageable.

Focus your days around Central Street, the Russian‑influenced St. Sophia Church, and Zhaolin Park’s ice lanterns, easing everyone into the cold before tackling the bigger venues. Another is the full festival loop with daytime snow sculptures on Sun Island, a warm‑up back at the hotel, then a late‑afternoon to early‑evening session at Ice & Snow World so you see the carvings in daylight and again lit up after dark. Add a visit to the Siberian Tiger Park or Polarland, or hotpot or hearty Dongbei food in the evenings.

Ritz‑Carlton, Harbin, Tower 1, No 660 West Youyi Road, Daoli District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, +86 451-84028888, https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/hrbrz-the-ritz-carlton-harbin/overview/

Silk Road And Wild Card Regions

If you’ve already done China’s big‑name cities and soft‑adventure destinations, consider the old Silk Road and wilder, more characterful regions. This is where trips morph into rust‑red ridges at Zhangye Danxia in Gansu, desert dunes and Buddhist caves around Dunhuang, mirror‑still horizons at Qinghai Lake, grape‑covered oases and story‑laden bazaars in Xinjiang, and Fujian’s tulou, those round, earthen Hakka fortresses on misty hillsides.

Private guides will help you discover cave art and mosque courtyards, desert or grassland camps upgraded into glamping, boutique lodges, or high‑end homestays where you eat local cuisine with your hosts. These are trips where you might spend a morning walking Danxia ridges or riding camels at the edge of the dunes and an evening in a courtyard strung with grapevines or lanterns.

Zhangye

Zhangye’s Danxia landforms are where the Silk Road goes full technicolor with rust, ochre, and terracotta ridges stacked into what look like painted waves, especially at sunrise and sunset. This is an easy win, with short shuttle rides between viewing platforms and a clear wow factor that requires little explanation beyond “this is what millions of years of geology look like.” The best time to visit is summer into early autumn, roughly June to September, when temperatures are comfortable in the cool, high‑desert air and early‑morning or late‑day visits to the park do not feel too cold.

The Ganzhou District in Zhangye city offers a wide range of mid‑range and better business‑style hotels, with names like Huachen International Hotel and Zhangye Hotel frequently appearing in family and small‑group itineraries, offering good access to the Dafo (Giant Buddha) Temple, night markets, and restaurants. Closer to the park, a cluster of small hotels and inns near the north and west gates, including Danxia Photography International Hotel and other Danxia‑themed properties, trade lavish lobbies for walking distance to the entrances and faster turnarounds for sunrise and sunset sessions.

Zhangye‑Danxia is best as a two- to three-day module within a longer Silk Road route. One afternoon and evening can be devoted entirely to the main Zhangye Danxia Geopark, ideally catching the Rainbow Mountains viewpoints in late light, especially if you stay at KaoShan Tent. The second day could include Binggou Danxia’s more sculptural formations and a cultural stop, such as the Matisi Grottoes or the Giant Buddha Temple, to add historical interest to the trip.

Huachen International Hotel, 25 Pinghai Road, near Yan'an Road Commercial Street, Ganzhou, Zhangye, China, +86 571 8765 2222, http://www.huacheninternationalhotel.com/

Dunhuang

Dunhuang is where Buddhist cave art meets desert dunes and a mirage‑like crescent lake on the Silk Road. For families, it is an easy sell with endless stories of caravans and monks, a real‑life oasis with ample smatterings of history. The classic combination is a day at the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO‑listed complex of grottoes lined with murals and sculptures dating back 1,000 years, followed by time on the sand at the Mingsha (Echoing Sand) Dunes and Crescent Lake, where camels, dune buggies, and sandboarding sit alongside simple walks and views.

A half‑day is usually devoted to Mogao, with timed entries at the digital exhibition center, then shuttle buses that run you out to the cliffs, where a guide leads small groups through a curated set of caves. An afternoon and evening can be spent at the dunes, ideally arriving late in the day to climb, ride, and photograph before the sun drops and the sand cools; for many families, that single sunset, with the lake below and the Gobi stretching out around it, is the moment that cements the magic of a Gansu adventure.

Dunhuang works best as a two- to three‑night stay in a broader Silk Road route, paired with stops like Zhangye or Jiayuguan. The town is small and easy to navigate with mid‑ to upper‑mid‑range hotels, night markets, and simple restaurants, and most cave, desert, and geopark excursions run on a well‑oiled shuttle system. It is still very much an adventurous choice with longer flights, more dust, fewer familiar chains, but the pay‑off in stories, images, and a very different feeling of China is hard to match elsewhere on a family itinerary.

Jangala Dunhuang, an SLH Hotel, 12999 Jingguan Avenue Qili Town, Dunhuang, China, +86 937 881 1118, guest.feedback@slh.com, https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dnhjdlx-jangala-dunhuang/

Qinghai Lake Region

Qinghai Lake is where China starts to feel more Tibetan with big skies, high‑altitude grasslands, and a vast, pale‑blue lake ringed by fluttering prayer flags, grazing yaks, and fields of rapeseed in season. Families tend to use it as a two- to three‑day breather in a longer Silk Road or western China loop, swapping city skylines for lakeside walks, easy bike rides, and simple picnics on the shore. The best time to come is from May to October, when days are cool and dry, or in July and August, the peak for golden rapeseed flowers and some of China’s most photogenic cycling scenery.

Most travellers base in Xining and treat Qinghai Lake as a long day trip or an overnight stay, since Xining has better flight and train links, plus a solid spread of international‑standard hotels. For a city‑side luxury base, Sofitel Xining is the standout choice, with large, well‑heated rooms, a serious breakfast, a pool and spa, and a location that works well for private day tours out to the lake and on to Ta’er (Kumbum) Monastery or Chaka Salt Lake. If you want to wake up with the water in view, local boutique hotels and Tibetan‑style guesthouses near Erlangjian Scenic Area, particularly Jiulong Hotel and Gesang Meiduo Hotel, put you within about 600 meters of the lakeshore boardwalks, trading big‑brand polish for balconies, central courtyards, and sunrise‑over‑the‑lake mornings.

Qinghai Lake days are about doing a little as possible, other than a drive from Xining over Riyue Mountain, with stops at Daotang River and viewpoints before a few unhurried hours at Erlangjian to enjoy boat trips, boardwalk strolls, watching birds if you are there between May and July, and a simple lakeside lunch. With an extra night, you can swing further around the shore for quieter stretches of the ring road, short hikes on the grasslands, or tack on Chaka Salt Lake, where the hyper‑reflective water is almost like a natural mirror. For adventurous families, the appeal is the contrast: warm hotel pools and diffused‑oxygen rooms in Xining, followed by wide‑open days above 3,000 metres that feel a long way from China as we know it.

Sofitel Xining, 63 Wu Si Xi Road, Chengxi District, 810008Xining, China, +86 971 766 6666, h9567-gr@sofitelxining.com, https://all.accor.com/hotel/9567/index.en.shtml

Xinjiang, Turpan, and Kanas

Turpan and Kanas sit at opposite ends of Xinjiang. One is a hot, below‑sea‑level oasis of vines and adobe villages, the other an alpine lake wrapped in dark forest and storybook log cabins. Together, they make a powerful wild card pairing for families who want China to look and feel completely different from the eastern seaboard. The broad window for Xinjiang is May to October, with Turpan at its most appealing (and fruity) from late May through September, and Kanas at its most spectacular between June and early October, especially in the golden weeks of mid‑ to late‑September.

Turpan works best with warmer weather. Spend a couple of days in the Flaming Mountains, Jiaohe or Gaochang ruins, grape‑covered valleys, and the Karez irrigation system, with evenings in courtyards and simple restaurants. Families can base in town at mid‑ to upper‑mid‑range hotels and rely on private guiding or day tours to string the sights together, keeping transfers short and the pace manageable. Kanas is the opposite element, cool, pine‑scented, and still. Consider a three-day schedule where you overnight near Jiadengyu, shuttle through the taiga forest to the lake, and divide your time between bays like Moon Bay and Fairy Bay, taking in short hikes, boat rides, and visits to nearby Tuwa villages.

It’s best to treat them as focused segments within a wider Xinjiang route rather than quick side trips. In Turpan, that might mean a comfortable Urumqi‑plus‑Turpan base with a private driver and flexible daily plans that balance ruins and canyons with shaded grape alleys and melon stops. Around Kanas, it means accepting simpler lodge-style accommodations in exchange for front-row access to some of China’s most striking lake-and-forest scenery, and building in slow mornings, layering clothing, and early nights so altitude and temperature swings do not become the story.

Mercure Turpan Downtown, No 1980 Donghuan Road, Gaochang District, Turpan, China, +86 995 866 6999, lijingjing048@huazhu.com, https://all.accor.com/hotel/B5W4/index.en.shtml

Fujian Tulou Region

The Fujian tulou region is where round and square earthen fortresses rise out of tea fields and rice terraces, still lived‑in and very much part of everyday Hakka life. For families, ponder short village walks, easy lookouts over clusters like Tianluokeng’s famous four dishes and one soup, and plenty of chances to step inside courtyards. Thanks to a mild, subtropical climate, you can visit year‑round, but spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to December offer the most comfortable mix of temperatures, clearer skies, and softer light on the hills.

Most travellers treat the tulou as a one- to two‑night add‑on from Xiamen, using a private car and driver to cover the main clusters in Nanjing and Yongding. A classic loop takes in Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, Yuchang Lou, and Taxia Village in Nanjing, then onto Hongkeng and Gaobei or Chuxi in Yongding for Chengqi and Zhencheng. With kids, explore one or two clusters before lunch, then take a village walk and snack stops in the afternoon, and return early to your guesthouse or hotel, with the bulk of the effort spent on photo stops and short uphill walks to viewing platforms.

For a genuinely boutique, design‑driven option, Tulou Boutique Hotel in Taxia Village, part of a curated collection and set among UNESCO‑listed tulou, rebuilds traditional earth structures into spacious, high‑comfort rooms with big tubs, living areas, and tea spaces, effectively delivering a luxury stay within a living tulou landscape. For something more rustic‑chic, choose guesthouses such as Yuqinglou inside Chuxi Tulou Cluster, or characterful inns in Taxia and Tianluokeng, which put you directly in the courtyards and alleys.

Tulou Boutique Hotel, Yaodong Building, Daba, Taxia Village, Shuyang Town, Nanjing County, Fujian, China, +86 186 1178 1630, https://www.scottdunn.com/sg/china/hotels/tsingpu-tulou-retreat