By Sam Braybon, Imperial Tours' Itinerary Consultant
Those looking for a family friendly vacation will be surprised to be introduced to China as a destination of choice. Many do not know how friendly the land of Confucius is to children, but those willing to venture here will find that the Middle Kingdom offers plenty to entertain and amaze kids and adults alike.
The panda bear has come to symbolize China and catching a glimpse of these magnificent creatures is a priority for many families. The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base just outside the city of Chengdu, housing more than 60 pandas of all ages, is the place for this. Much more than a zoo, the center includes an exhibition on efforts to protect this endangered species from extinction – more than one hundred panda cubs have been born here since 1987. For the ultimate souvenir, perfect for taking back to show classmates, kids can hold a baby panda and take photos with it. For those who would like to learn more, Imperial Tours can arrange for you and your family to spend some time with the panda keepers, preparing food, feeding the animals and maintaining their enclosures.
Performances are something that families can enjoy together. Imperial Tours can arrange a puppet show of ancient Chinese stories that will captivate kids – afterwards they'll be able to try the puppets, creating their own story. For something on a grander scale, what could be a better setting than the Great Wall of China for a stunning Kung Fu show performed by a troupe of Shaolin Warriors?
Traditional Chinese arts and crafts are often vivid and lots of fun -a great way to get kids acquainted with hundreds of years of culture and history in a truly interactive way. Those who don't mind getting their hands dirty will enjoy a ceramic making class in the workshop at Guilin's Hotel of Modern Art – one of the best facilities of its kind in Asia. Back In Beijing, kids can visit a master kite maker and learn from him before flying their creations in one of the city's beautiful parks or squares.
Since historic sites can seem uninteresting to children, Imperial Tours provides children with an activity book which brings these sites to life: the Shanghai Museum becomes the scene of a scavenger hunt amongst ancient jade carvings and Buddhist statues; the Terracotta Warriors provides a springboard for the creation of a time capsule. Puzzles and games with Chinese themes while away the time on plane and car journeys. A section introducing some basics of the Chinese language mean your children will be able to help out with that all important bargaining during trips to local bazaars.
China also offers plenty of activities for those with higher energy levels. Xi'an is one of the only cities in China which with a city wall that remains completely intact. This wall is wider than the Great Wall itself – kids will love riding bicycles along the top of this structure whilst the city flies by beneath them. Everyone knows that China can be incredibly crowded – but escaping the large cities gives kids the chance to experience a totally different side of the country. Destinations like Lijiang and Shangri-la in Yunnan province are blessed with striking mountainous landscapes, temperate climates and huge open spaces. This is the perfect environment for some horse and/or bicycle rides.
Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of exploring China is the chance for visitors to compare the lives of children in China to their own. One consequence of the one-child policy has been that parents putting pressure on kids to achieve good academic results. Families might be interested to visit Shanghai's Children's Palace where, outside school hours, kids participate in extra-curricular activities such as foreign languages and musical instrument classes.
For an altogether different experience, and an eye-opening look at the contrasts of 21 st century China, Imperial Tours can arrange for visits to schools that we have become involved with as part of our corporate social responsibility program in more rural areas such as Guilin or Lijiang. Whilst development has been rapid in the last twenty years, educational facilities in many parts of this diverse nation remain basic. Slogans, such as 'Girls and Boys Must Receive Equal Education', painted on village walls provide a fascinating window into an era of China's recent history that has largely been erased in more prosperous quarters.
This article has introduced some of the diverse and absorbing experiences that can be incorporated into a tour of China. On leaving their enjoyable vacation, families will have enjoyed the unimaginable diversity and cultural wealth of China. At the same time, they will have introduced their young ones to a country and culture that will play an increasingly prominent role in their children's future.
©August 2008, Imperial Tours
