On Day 1, I stayed home and hung out with good friends—my two little ones had a blast playing together.
On Day 2, we went boating and rode scooters at Niantan Park.
On Day 3, we wandered through the old hutongs near Qianmen to soak in the National Day atmosphere.
On Day 4, we went to Nanhaizi Park to play soccer, ride bikes, and see the elk...
In these three years since birth, U?? has been to quite a few places: Hebei, Shandong, Tianjin, Qingdao, as well as various spots across Beijing—Haidian, Chaoyang, Shijingshan, Fengtai, Shunyi, Changping, Mentougou, Daxing, Tongzhou, Fangshan, and more. From science museums to aquariums, amusement parks to farms, zoos to parks, snow worlds to dinosaur exhibits, the list goes on.
Honestly, I really envy my friends who can just pack up the family and go on a spontaneous trip. Seeing them traveling all over the world, I’ve also felt the itch to give U?? a chance to experience the “glamour and thrill” of faraway places.
But as the mom of a super active, wildly imaginative little boy, I’m also very aware that long-distance travel often turns what should be joyful outings into nothing but trouble—
1. Kids Can’t Stay Quiet for Long
For longer trips, I usually drive. For example, our twice-yearly trips to Nandaihe require a minimum of four hours and up to nine hours by car. U?? can sit quietly in the car seat for about an hour or two, but after that, if he’s expected to stay still for another two hours, it becomes a real challenge. So we have to stop frequently to let him stretch his legs.
If we take a high-speed train or plane, and he can’t sit still—running around, jumping, crying, and screaming uncontrollably—it makes us look like the parents of a “bratty kid.” But not causing trouble for others or disturbing those around us is the most basic courtesy we should teach our children.
2. They Don’t Want to Walk
Starting from around age two, many kids refuse to sit in strollers, and U?? is no exception. He doesn’t want to sit still, gets fussy in crowded environments, and constantly demands to be carried by mommy or daddy. For me, this kind of travel isn’t a relaxing or enjoyable experience.
3. Lack of Time Flexibility
With the fast pace of work nowadays, not every company allows casual time off. For parents working in private companies, taking a full week off is difficult, and coordinating leave for both parents during the same period is even harder. But to truly let a child experience the local culture and lifestyle of a place, you need at least three to five days.
During long holidays like May Day or National Day, popular domestic destinations are packed with tourists. To ensure a pleasant parent-child travel experience, the only option is often to travel abroad. But international independent travel puts a big test on parents’ foreign language skills and ability to adapt.
Traveling is such a hassle—why not just skip bringing the kids altogether?
Of course not. The benefits of travel for children are obvious—
People may not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel. These indescribable feelings weave through a person’s entire life. If, from childhood, you don’t confine your child to their usual surroundings, but instead expose them to a bigger world and more people, they’ll develop a more objective and comprehensive understanding of this diverse world.
So, for children under four, especially those with poor self-control, if you do plan a long trip:
First, evaluate your child’s potential “disruptiveness” in advance—for example, can they follow adult instructions? Will they cry or throw tantrums when tired, affecting others around them?
Second, choose destinations that focus on natural scenery—like the seaside, water towns, or wildlife parks. When the sea, beaches, and animals from picture books appear right before their eyes, reality and imagination blend seamlessly.
Cultural landmarks with heavy historical or traditional significance aren’t ideal for very young children. For instance, a mom recently asked me if she should take her two-and-a-half-year-old to the Forbidden City during the National Day holiday. I frankly suggested taking the child to row a boat in the Summer Palace instead—such a young child won’t grasp concepts like emperors, palaces, or concubines, and won’t be the least bit interested in the furniture inside the halls.
After age four, a child’s self-control improves significantly (though the timing can vary), and with enough time available, you can plan more long-distance trips. It’s even better if you can tie the trip to their favorite picture books or cartoons—this helps connect imagination with reality and boosts their enthusiasm for travel. “Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.” It broadens their horizons, deepens their observations and reflections on life, and expands the width and breadth of their life experiences.
There are a thousand reasons to take your child on a trip; there are also a thousand reasons not to.
So far, the most touching travel slogan I’ve come across is from the Japan Tourism Agency: love & together.
The meaning of travel is preparing busily with your loved ones for the trip ahead, knowing exactly what essentials to pack.
The meaning of travel is taking the high-speed rail, train, or plane together as a family for the first time.
The meaning of travel is going to places you’ve never been, experiencing a whole new way of life—together with your loved ones.
Bring your children and the people you love, listen to dialects you've never heard before, and try street snacks you've never tasted—this is what travel is all about.
Bring your children and the people you love, not to show off, but to go somewhere for the feelings and richness within—this is what travel is all about...