Today is National Day, a time to celebrate with the nation. Where should parents take their children to celebrate? Many parents have likely already planned family trips in advance, hoping to use the opportunity to broaden their children's horizons. But parents, please be reminded—when planning your travel itinerary and choosing destinations, be cautious. Some attractions are simply not suitable for young children.
These attractions are not suitable for children
The primary goal of a family trip is to ensure the child has fun, but some places are just not kid-friendly.
Hyper-popular pedestrian streets
Famous pedestrian streets such as Beijing’s Wangfujing, Nanjing’s Hunan Road, Chengdu’s Chunxi Road, and Guangzhou’s Beijing Road are usually bustling with people—and during the National Day holiday, they’ll be absolutely packed.
These areas are full of shopping malls, perfect for moms to stroll and shop, but as family travel destinations, they’re not ideal. Your child will likely be bored, and safety is also a major concern.
Large amusement parks
If your child finds pedestrian streets dull, maybe an amusement park would be more fun. But parents with this idea should take note: not all amusement parks are suitable for children, especially large-scale ones.
These parks often feature large rides like pirate ships, roller coasters, and drop towers—thrilling even for adults, let alone kids. Even just walking around can be quite a challenge due to the vast size of the park. And if you’re keen on riding, you’ll have to make your child wait in long queues with you—it’s too much hassle for them.
Popular scenic spots
Long holidays are rare, and Golden Week draws huge crowds every year. Major attractions are always packed to capacity, such as the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, Huangshan, Huashan, and more. For children, visiting these overcrowded sites may mean they miss out on any real enjoyment and instead suffer both physically and mentally.
Hyper-popular attractions are also not suitable
During Golden Week, attractions are crowded everywhere. So which ones have the most visitors? Here’s a list for you:
West Lake in Hangzhou
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, West Lake is famed for its Ten Scenes and has attracted even more visitors since being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. During last year’s National Day holiday, it received an average of 541,000 visitors per day, totaling 3.789 million over the seven days.
Sanya, Hainan
Known as the “Oriental Hawaii,” Sanya offers not only fresh seafood and sunny beaches but also the refreshing beauty of blue seas and skies. During holidays, it’s always crowded, so if you plan to go, book your flights and hotels early.
The Forbidden City in Beijing
The Forbidden City is the foremost of the world’s five great palaces and was the imperial residence of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is divided into the Outer Court and Inner Court. During National Day, visitor numbers are high, and arriving late may mean you won’t even get to see the three main halls of the Outer Court.
Badaling Great Wall
Located in Yanqing District, Beijing, Badaling is a key and highly representative section of the Great Wall. It boasts well-preserved facilities, magnificent scenery, and deep historical significance, making it very popular. Last year during the National Day holiday, it hosted over 90,000 visitors in a single day.
Gulangyu Island
Located in Siming District, Xiamen, Gulangyu is known as a place of art and culture. The island’s piano museum, churches, and villas are unique. If you love art and culture, it’s definitely worth a visit. Last year’s National Day holiday saw 467,700 visitors there.
How to choose family travel destinations
So where should you take your kids during the National Day holiday? Here’s what mom (or dad) advises.
Is transportation convenient?
If the destination is remote and requires multiple transfers to reach, no matter how fun or beautiful it is, it’s not recommended to bring young children.
Additionally, if a high-speed rail trip takes under five hours, that could be a good option. Compared to flying, high-speed rail is not only more spacious for kids to move around but also helps avoid ear discomfort, and…<1.2 meters tall and you travel for free~
Tourism development level
When traveling with children, you need to consider how to handle various unexpected situations, such as the ease of hailing a taxi, whether strollers can be used at attractions, and whether there are hospitals nearby.
Suitability for children
The choice of attractions should be based on your baby’s age. For babies under one year old, tropical beaches are ideal, where they can play in the sand and water. For children aged one to three, cities with amusement facilities—such as Guangzhou or Shanghai—are great choices. For children over three, you can take them hiking and sightseeing to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of our country.
Availability of suitable hotels
Hotels vary greatly in terms of safety, service quality, and cleanliness depending on their star rating. If your budget is limited, it’s recommended to book well-reviewed accommodations.
tips
Recommended family-friendly tourist attractions
* Museums and exhibitions
The goal of taking children to museums and exhibitions isn’t to teach them to appreciate high art, but to help them intuitively recognize various objects and develop their cognitive abilities. If exhibits allow touching, be sure not to miss the opportunity.
* Flower and bird markets and pet shops
Children love playing with cute little animals. Consider taking them to flower and bird markets or pet shops during the holiday. Just remember to disinfect their hands with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes after contact with animals.
* Parks
Bring a camera to capture beautiful moments and enjoy them together with your child at home. Also, remind your child not to damage the beautiful environment while visiting the park.