Text and photos: Jiji
01
During short holidays, the photo exhibitions on social media start up again. A quick scroll shows blue skies, white clouds, sandy beaches, ocean waves, Disneyland, zoos—you name it. Cute kids being playful, parents smiling happily. Other people’s family trips look amazing.
My husband and I decided on the spur of the moment to take our kid to Zhuhai, and we also posted some photos on social media:
Checked into a five-star hotel
Super luxury buffet, with shrimp, crab, and sushi
The Lover's Road, under the setting sun
The three of us, having a romantic bike ride
Had a hearty, delicious hot pot meal
Our daughter actually sat nicely without making a fuss
Chimelong Marine World
The dolphins were so adorable, the show was really spectacular
The whale shark exhibit, an incredibly gorgeous underwater world
What a wonderful experience!
02
But you don’t know the story behind the photos:
1) About the buffet:
The buffet that got full marks and costs hundreds per person? We ended up turning it into fast food. Bringing a kid to a buffet means you won’t get your money’s worth and definitely won’t have time to enjoy the ambiance:
“You better eat fast, your kid won’t sit still for long.”
“This crab is delicious, but it’s too much trouble to crack open, and we don’t have time to eat more.”
“I really want some Häagen-Dazs, but no, if my daughter sees it she’ll try to grab it.”
2) About the bike ride:
On the Lover's Road, all the bikes with child seat belts were already rented out. Our daughter refused to leave another bike, so we waited nearly half an hour until one became available—and then—after just 15 minutes of riding—“I want to get off!” she started yelling, and we had no choice but to reluctantly return the bikes.
3) About the delicious hot pot:
A 2-year-old sitting still and calmly watching mom eat for half an hour?
The truth is, she was playing around...
Taking turns scooping congee between two bowls, spilling a bit every time, over and over again. Sorry, waiter, about your chairs...
4) About the dolphin show:
The performance was amazing, the dolphins were so cute. Too bad my kid thought it was too noisy—she started complaining and wanted to leave after not even five minutes. She was more interested in climbing the theater stairs. My husband kindly accompanied her while climbing, letting me watch the show for a bit. But it didn’t last—suddenly, the stage set and sound effects changed with a loud thunderclap, and my kid burst into tears... Time to leave.
5) About the whale shark exhibit:
Squeezing through the crowds, we moved forward to see the fish, the jellyfish, but really—mostly to see other people!
The so-called "sea of people" is exactly like this...
03
But that’s not even the full truth about holiday family trips. We also faced all kinds of challenges from the kids: the "tantrums" from heavy traffic, the "crying" from seasickness, the "annoyance" of endless queues, and the "demands" for everything they saw...
My husband played the role of the "doting dad": Crying? Soothe them. A request? Fulfill it!
Ah, ice cream, little cakes, new toys—there was no way to guard against it all!
The biggest regret? Underestimating the crowds at the holiday attraction. We didn’t even have time to line up for the penguin exhibit—the one I’d been most looking forward to. I nearly blew up at my husband: “We only booked a one-day ticket to Chimelong, what were you thinking?”
You see, crowded attractions and fast food everywhere can easily undermine the parenting rules we work so hard to maintain, and it puts even more strain on the relationship. In just that short trip, I saw multiple couples turn on each other because of the kids—big issues like scheduling, small things like misplacing an item in the backpack—all could be the spark that set off a fight. It felt like war could break out any second.
04
Many people end up deeply disappointed after a family trip: too exhausting!
That disappointment actually comes from a gap between expectation and reality.
When we head out, we imagine a peaceful, heartwarming travel movie unfolding smoothly.
But no matter how well we plan, we often forget that the main characters in a family trip are the kids—who never follow the script. Add in a bunch of extra “supporting actors” during holidays, and various conflict scenes keep playing out. Tell me, doesn’t that make the director (aka the parents) exhausted?
Taking a trip during the long holiday isn’t impossible, but it’s better suited for a “luxury-style” getaway: you need both money and time.
Ideally, go somewhere less crowded—like abroad. If you’re visiting a popular domestic spot, stay at a nice hotel nearby for three or four days. No need to rush around to every attraction. It saves some sanity: Too hot? The kid is tired? The food isn’t great? Too crowded? Head back to the hotel. Sleep until the sun sets if you want. Who cares? Why push yourselves so hard?
Unfortunately, for most people, that’s just a dream.
That’s why we end up needing so-called “travel guides,” even though we dream of spontaneous trips, only to be left with a mess.
05
With only limited time off during the long holiday and a tight budget, is a family trip still worth it?
Absolutely!
But we have to accept one thing: it will definitely be an “imperfect” trip.
There won’t be a flawless plan or a step-by-step itinerary that goes exactly as scheduled. You have to happily embrace everything—good, bad, expected, or unexpected. The only constant is change.
The trip isn’t about the adults being the center of attention anymore. Whether the child is happy becomes the only true measure of a successful trip. For them, the stimulation of outside sights fades quickly. It doesn’t really matter if you visit every attraction. What makes a family trip happiest is simply having mom and dad by your side, giving you their full attention.
In the last half hour at Chimelong, after giving up on the penguin exhibit, my child spotted a bubble gun and absolutely loved it. I pulled myself together, stopped insisting on squeezing into every exhibit, and let the crowds rush by us. The three of us just stayed there, blowing bubbles.
At that moment, time stood still. I heard the clearest, most joyful laugh my child had during the whole trip.
I think that was a “perfect” trip.
What are your reflections after a short holiday?