Yulong River, Guilin, China

Family Holiday to China

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

12 Days

Prices Start from

£3,335pp (ex. flights)

This family holiday includes many of the classic highlights of China with plenty of exciting things to both educate, excite and entertain the children.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Rear view of local Chinese people doing Tai Chi in the park. 1

Tai Chi in Beijing

Join the locals for Tai Chi, dance and calligraphy at the Temple of Heaven.

Traditional Chinese kite with Beijing opera face, Chinese rooftop in background. 2

Great Wall Kite Flying

Make a traditional Chinese kite and fly it from the ramparts of the Great Wall.

Giant Panda, Chengdu, China 3

Giant Panda

See the endangered and iconic giant panda.

Black and white image of traditional fishermen silhouetted in a light show. 4

Yangshuo Light Show

See the spectacular light show in Yangshuo, created by choreographer of the Beijing Olympic ceremony.

Why we like it

China’s fascinating history cannot fail to capture the imagination of both adults and children. One of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, where old and new live side by side, this holiday includes iconic sites that the whole family will know but with the chance to see them from a different perspective. A treasure hunt around the Forbidden City, cycling and rafting along the Li River, tobogganing down from the Great Wall, dumpling and noodle making and cultural shows from Kung Fu to the magical art of Sichuan Opera. A fun and educational family adventure.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Day 1

    Beijing

  • Day 2 - 4

    Beijing

  • Day 5

    Beijing - Guilin

  • Day 6

    Guilin

  • Day 7

    Guilin - Yangshuo

  • Day 8

    Yangshuo

  • Day 9

    Yangshuo - Guilin - Chengdu

  • Day 10 - 11

    Chengdu

  • Day 12

    Chengdu

Day 1

Beijing

Rear view of local Chinese people doing Tai Chi in the park.

Join the locals for Tai Chi, dance and calligraphy at the Temple of Heaven.

Day 2 - 4

Beijing

Traditional Chinese kite with Beijing opera face, Chinese rooftop in background.

Make a traditional Chinese kite and fly it from the ramparts of the Great Wall.

Day 5

Beijing - Guilin

Day 6

Guilin

Day 7

Guilin - Yangshuo

Day 8

Yangshuo

Black and white image of traditional fishermen silhouetted in a light show.

See the spectacular light show in Yangshuo, created by choreographer of the Beijing Olympic ceremony.

Day 9

Yangshuo - Guilin - Chengdu

Day 10 - 11

Chengdu

Giant Panda, Chengdu, China

See the endangered and iconic giant panda.

Day 12

Chengdu

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Sichuan Opera, China
Sichuan Opera, China

Family Fun in Beijing

Explore some of the Forbidden City’s 980 buildings with the kids, seeking out symbols hidden throughout. Take a traditional lunch in the hutongs – the small lanes and courtyard houses of old Beijing. Learn to make dumplings, a daily staple for local families. Also, visit the workshop of a local kite-maker and make a traditional Chinese kite to fly from the Great Wall later in your stay. After the sun has set dine out on Peking duck, take in a fantastic performance of Kung Fu, the traditional martial art of China and visit the night food market where various weird and wonderful snacks can be seen.

Cormorant fisherman at sunrise, Li River, China
Cormorant fisherman at sunrise, Yangshuo, China

Bamboo Rafting and Cycling

Guilin is a scenically spectacular part of China revered by poets and artists. Spend three days exploring the beautiful Li River scenery and karst topography. Pack a picnic and hire a bike for the day to explore some of the nearby villages. Cycling along the peaceful roads past local farmland with limestone peaks rising up all around and hawks circling in the skies overhead offers a real chance to escape the crowds and explore some of rural China at a leisurely pace. Take to the water by traditional bamboo raft to drift along a scenic stretch of the Yu Long River.

Close up of black and white young panda bear.
Panda

The Giant Panda

Chengdu and the surrounding area is the best place in the world to see China’s most famous resident and WWF icon, the giant panda. There is a choice of panda reserves in the area, all of which are set over many acres and are doing their bit to save this endangered animal. Spend a day at any of these centres with time to view and photograph the pandas and even volunteering for the day, helping with feeding, planting bamboo trees and learning more about the panda bear.

August and September are particularly good months to visit as females tend to give birth during these months and the newborn and young pandas are incredibly cute, playful and fun to watch. Notoriously lazy creatures they spend most of their days sleeping or eating and can consume up to 12 kilograms of bamboo in a day. They tend to be more active during the morning and at feeding time.

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Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain £££££

  • China

Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain Resort has been designed to blend regional architecture and landscaping, resulting in a hotel with a strong sense of place yet with a contemporary attitude. The spacious suites and villas are extremely comfortable with a modern twist on a traditional Chinese style. Each has a private balcony or courtyard and lovely views of the surrounding scenery.

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A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From £3,335 Per person

When to travel

China in January

Around Beijing and the mountainous areas such as Tibet, winter can get very cold, with some snow. However, there are also many crisp days with clear skies across the country.

China in February

Chinese New Year takes place in late January or Early February, and is the biggest event in the calendar. Fireworks and lanterns light up the night sky, but be aware that public transport and accommodation may be hard to come by.

China in March

The start of spring see temperatures rise across the country and fruit trees start to blossom. Although not as widespread as Japan, the blossoms in rural China can still be stunning.

China in April

The spring blossoms are in full swing, and the countryside is lush. The north and mountainous areas may still be chilly, but generally, spring is a good time to visit most places.

China in May

A very good time to visit many places in China. Southern regions are getting very warm, but there is an increased chance of rain. The northern and mountainous regions are pleasantly warm but lack the humidity of the summer.

China in June

A very good time to visit many places in China. Southern regions are getting very warm, but there is an increased chance of rain. The northern and mountainous regions are pleasantly warm but lack the humidity of the summer.

China in July

The ideal time to get out into the mountains of Tibet and Yunnan province. The alpine landscape is verdant and enjoys long hours of sunshine. Temperatures can be sweltering, especially in the south.

China in August

The hot weather prevails throughout the country as it is the peak of summer. Many places, especially in the south are unpleasantly hot and humid to travel. The mountains are the perfect place to escape the heat.

China in September

Temperatures decline gradually, but it is less humid and wet than summer in many regions. The mountains are still a good place to hike in, especially as snow has receded as far as possible. This makes it an excellent time for journeying along the Silk Road.

China in October

The majority of October is perfect for travelling, with widespread mild temperatures and little rain. However, it is worth avoiding the first week of October, as it is a national holiday.

China in November

This is the time to take in the beautiful autumn colours, especially in the northern and central regions. Snow may begin to fall in the north, but the tourist hotspots are much less busy as locals don’t tend to travel at this time.

China in December

It is cold in most of China at this time, but it is a great time to visit Beijing and surrounding areas. There are many cold and crisp days, and the tourist hotspots will be much quieter. Western China is bitterly cold though and Southern China is milder but damp.

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