Yangshuo is paradise. You feel like you are walking through an ancient Asian painting. The sweeping rivers, drastic mountains, and short people in straw hats are all beautifully set against a backdrop of vivacious green rice fields. It’s not a place to be missed.

We rented a couple of pedal bikes and cruised around the countryside. They offer motorbikes, but our legs were craving some activity after the long train ride. We hitched rides on bamboo rafts and watched the fisherman tend their cormorant birds with rings around their necks. We filled up on tangy pomello fruits and waved to workers in the fields. It’s like a living postcard.

Tip: You have to get into the countryside. Find some sort of transportation and go. It really doesn’t matter where–every direction is stunningly beautiful.

Tip: Pass on the big river performance. It was pretty cool, but not worth the time and money.

Visiting Yangshuo, China with Kids

If your kids like to ride bikes, this place is a dream. As you get out on country roads, there is virtually no traffic–unless you count carts being pulled by watercows.

Tip: West Street (Xi Jie) in Yangshuo is fun but touristy. It’s alluring to shop for all the cheap trinkets, but really don’t spend much time there.

Tip: Xi Jie is also extremely crowded. I only had one other person to keep track of at the time and we managed to get separated. Keep close track of the kiddos.

We hopped on a train and made the trek down to this beautiful city down in the southern area of the country. You know, somehow I thought all those roofs that curled up was just an exaggerated stereotype for Asian cultures. Nope! Almost every building actually looked like that! Scaffolding is made with bamboo and each eave is decorated with elaborately carved little statues standing guard. It really brings out the charm of the place. Guilin is a beautiful city with impressive waterways winding around the drastic mountains jutting out of the rice fields.

Tip: The train is a great way to travel in China if you don’t mind the long ride. Pay the few extra dollars for a sleeper car.

Tip: If you choose to visit Guilin, spend less time there and budget more time in the smaller town of Yangshuo. It’s more rural and boasts more dramatic scenery.

Visiting Guilin with Kids

Tip: Flights in China are super cheap. If you want to avoid the long train ride, just catch a flight down there.

Tip: Elephant Rock has some awesome little trails that aren’t very hard, but you feel super accomplished at the top. It’s a great spot to explore and let the kids loose a bit.

I went to Beijing with a friend when I was single, but was still able to gather some ideas on how to best travel here with a family. Here’s a taste of my experience:

Passing through the entrance gate is to the Forbidden like stepping back into an ancient time. While the Chinese were constructing elaborate cities with sophisticated architecture, natives in America were finally figuring out how to put seeds in the ground. Incredibly advanced. We found secret spots around every corner. There must have been thousands of visitors on the day we came but we often found ourselves quietly alone in an ancient time. This is a good one to visit with family since it’s right in the heart of Beijing and there’s plenty of space for kids to run around.

Tips: Don’t try to see the entire Forbidden City in one day. It’s too big and your time would be better spent wandering at your leisure, just soaking in the feeling of the place.

Visiting Beijing with Children

Beijing would be an AWESOME place to travel with children. There’s a lot to do in one city and very inexpensive. Here’s some ideas I came up with for traveling to Beijing with Children:

Tip: The hike to the Great Wall is quite steep and would be challenging for kids. (It was challenging for me!) . It’s definitely doable, just give yourself plenty of time for breaks.

Tip: There are a LOT of people in Beijing! Find a way to keep track of the kids in big crowds. Holding hands isn’t always the most reliable method.

Tip: Visit the night markets and try the weird foods! Challenge the kids to try something new–seahorse, scorpion, cat. They’ll love it if you let them pick one out for you to try.

Tip: The summer palace is an excellent option for kids. There’s plenty of shade, cheap popsicles and it’s not as crowded as the Forbidden City.

If you’re looking for an excellent way to visit China on a budget for your family, Beijing is a great option.