Great Wall of China
Mutianyu section of the Great Wall
Forbidden City
Temple of Heaven
Forbidden City
Beijing
Beijing is a sprawling metropolis and , because of this , can seem daunting and not child-friendly . However , the great thing about Beijing is that it is modern ; all kinds of hotels are plentiful , transportation is efficient , you can always find a burger or pizza for the fussy eater and you can appreciate the most-admired monuments of the Chinese people .
The Forbidden City is a good place to start your sightseeing . If your kids are young , do not plan for more than two hours here , especially if the weather is hot . I strongly recommend hiring a guide . There are many English-speaking guides at the ticket booth outside and you can hire their services . Ask them to gear the information and the visits to the different buildings to the kids .
The Great Wall is another place kids will love , if you do the research yourself beforehand . Prep them with stories of great battles , soldiers and labourers . Help them seek out the watch towers and indulge in pretend play . If you don ’ t do this , it will be just a giant wall for them and the novelty will wear off quickly .
Another thing I ’ d recommend is to head to a less-touristy part of the wall . Badaling 八达岭 ( bā dá lǐng ) and Mutianyu
慕田峪 ( mù tián yù ) are touristy and overcrowded . Try one of the lesser frequented places such as Huanghuacheng 黄花城 ( huáng huā chéng ) or Simatai 司马台 ( sī mǎ tái ). They are further from the city centre so consider taking a picnic .
Cultural tips
The number-one gripe for Western parents travelling with little children in China , especially blonde children , is that the locals want to touch and take photos of your kids . Here are a few tips for dealing with unwanted attention . But remember : you are guests in another country , so be careful not to offend the locals .
60 www . playtimes . com . hk