Live Your Best Lives
Beyond material well-being, more and more parents are focusing on their children's spiritual development. A high-quality trip can enhance parent-child bonds, broaden horizons, boost personal confidence, and establish positive values and worldviews.
There are many places in China suitable for family travel, but the most recommended one must be Yunnan! A place you can visit more than five times.
From tropical jungles to sacred mountains on the plateau, from leisurely homes filled with romance to outdoor adventures in the rainforest, dozens of ethnic minorities and independent civilizations that are world heritage sites are all worth visiting again and again!
Northwest Yunnan-Life is worth it
Northwest Yunnan is one of my favorite destinations. It boasts Lijiang's charming nightlife, where you'll encounter unique souls. It also boasts the beautiful Lugu Lake, near the iconic "Dear Inn." It also boasts the mysterious Badong region, Mosuo culture, the Jinsha River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the Three Parallel Rivers.
Famous places such as Lijiang, Dali, Erhai Lake, Lugu Lake, Shangri-La, and the three snow-capped mountains are all covered. Internal and external transportation is very convenient, which is especially suitable for people who travel to Yunnan for the first time. It is not a problem to bring your family with you.
Dali's romantic scene
This is a must-visit stop. The lingering folk songs in the ancient city of Dali, the slow life of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, and the numerous homestays with different styles. If you have time, take a circle around Erhai Lake, take some popular photos, close your eyes and breathe the air blowing from Cangshan Mountain, the sudden rainstorm in the sky, and the Jesus light that breaks through the clouds and projects onto the lake, make you reluctant to leave.
The Xiaguan wind, the Shangguan flowers, the Cangshan snow, and the Erhai moon. Only by circling Erhai Lake can you feel the beauty of Dali.
You can rent a car and easily explore Erhai Lake in one day, or take a cruise to Nanshao Fengqing Island. Of course, the most recommended is to cycle around Erhai Lake. After all, looking at the scenery through the window does not really give you the feeling of being on the road!
Starting from Dali Ancient Town, it usually takes two days to circle Erhai Lake, which is 120km. You can stay in Shuanglang for one night and explore the area slowly, which is very pleasant.
If you just want to experience it moderately, you can consider taking part in some 4+2 one-day tours. What is 4+2?
It's like the four wheels of a car and the two wheels of a bicycle. You'll be accompanied by a tour guide throughout the entire journey, allowing you to easily experience the idyllic scenery of the 5.5km Cangshan Avenue and get close to Erhai Lake on the 8.8km Haidong... If you're a parent who loves outdoor sports and your children aren't too young, this is well worth a try!
Tie-dyeing is an ancient Chinese textile dyeing technique with a history of more than 2,000 years. People usually call it "embroidery without needles and thread". Here, the dyes used for tie-dyeing are all made from plants, mostly isatis root.
Under the guidance of the master craftsman, adults and children personally experienced how a piece of white cloth was stitched into a pattern, and then placed into a large dye vat filled with natural plant dyes from Cangshan Mountain. Unknowingly, the children also gained an understanding of this ancient craft.
In Dali, adults and children can also experience this equipment-challenging outdoor sport!
The outdoor rock wall is even more challenging. Learning a new skill and challenging yourself in this natural environment is a great experience! I'll tell you that many international kids who come to summer camp here will also have this training!
Tips:
Precautions
1. Sunscreen: Dali is located on a plateau with strong ultraviolet rays. Even adults cannot withstand the sun, and children should be more careful.
2. Well-matched clothes: Adults should of course bring some thick clothes. The temperature difference between morning and evening in Dali is large. Children's clothes should also be well-matched to make it easier for children to choose and save travel time.
3. Sunglasses are a must: Sunglasses can make you look cool, but in Dali where the sun is strong, blocking ultraviolet rays is its most important function.
4. Moisturizing cream/lip balm: Although Dali is located in the south, the air is dry, so it is necessary to bring moisturizing skin care products.
Lugu Lake, the pearl of the plateau, is a place that makes people want to visit again. It has become more well-known because of the TV series "Dear Inn". The Mosuo people living here still retain the tradition of a matriarchal society.
How to play?
The tour route is roughly: Daluoshui - Xiaoluoshui - Nice Village - Rig Village - Rig Peninsula.
1. Rowing a pig trough boat
Because there are so many islands and docks, there are many places to experience. The most beautiful scenery is still from Daluoshui, Sanjiacun Dock to Liwubi Island. You may even pick up wild duck eggs while paddling!
2. Overlooking Lugu Lake
Climb up to the best position to view the panoramic view of Lugu Lake, and admire the Lugu Lake under the Goddess Gelum Mountain. It is like an emerald lost in the mountains, calm and dazzling.
3. Stroll along the Marriage Bridge and admire the sea of grass
The Walking Marriage Bridge used to be a long wooden plank bridge that the Mosuo people had to cross to visit the bride's home in the middle of the night for their marriage. It was also known as the "No. 1 Magpie Bridge in the World."
4. Bonfire Party
You can go to Daluoshui to attend a bonfire party, visit local people's homes, and listen to legends about stroking ancestors.
5. Lugu Lake Starry Sky
Compared to Lugu Lake during the day, the night view of Lugu Lake is even more magnificent with its numerous stars. It is a rare experience to enjoy the starry sky of Lugu Lake on a good night.
Tickets
1. Lugu Lake Ticket: 100 yuan
2. Others: Boat trip to Liwubi Island 30 yuan, boat trip to Tusi Island 30 yuan, Yongning Zamei Temple 15 yuan, Gemu Mountain Cableway 92 yuan, Mosuo Soul Performance 98 yuan
Lugu Lake is beautiful in all seasons. March to May and September to November offer pleasant temperatures and little rain during spring and autumn. June to August is primarily rainy season, but the chances of seeing rainbows and the Tyndall effect are higher. Winter is a relatively colder time of year, but you'll be able to see the most beautiful starry sky and enjoy a very good value for money.
Transportation Recommendations
Getting to Lugu Lake isn't very convenient. Besides driving, most people opt for a 2-3 day excursion or a 6-7 day group tour of northwest Yunnan. But there's another way to experience it—an RV. Why choose an RV?
It's a lifestyle, a new way to travel. When traveling long distances with your family, the biggest worry is the hassle of moving luggage back and forth and rushing to get to your destination hotel. It's truly daunting, but an RV offers a significant solution.
The car is your home, the outside is the scenery, and you can eat, sleep, travel, and play in this little world that belongs to your family. Whether you are a romantic traveler or not, you should experience it once!
Southeastern Yunnan
Yuanyang-ancient agricultural civilization
In addition to the romantic scenery, birdsong and fragrance of flowers, there is another place that has one of the most beautiful scenery in Yunnan in winter, and that is Yuanyang.
Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the scale, accessibility, and viewing experience of the terraces, people selected the three largest terraces in China, including the Yuanyang Terraces, a world natural and cultural heritage.
The mountains here are high and the valleys are deep, with no flat plains. The Honghe Tengtiao River meanders down from west to east, forming a unique landform of "two mountains, two valleys, three slopes, one river, one river, and ten thousand fields."
Bada Rice Terraces Sunset
When you step foot on the 190,000 mu (approximately 16,000 mu) of Hani rice terraces, reflecting the blue sky, it's impossible not to marvel at the wonders of nature. The setting sun casts a unique charm on the "handicrafts" sculpted by the Hani people over a thousand years in the mountains. Time seems to stand still at this moment.
Duoyishu Rice Terraces sunrise
Pugao Old Village, with its rosy clouds, sea of clouds, terraced fields, villages, and morning mist, offers the most beautiful sunrise over the Yuanyang Rice Terraces. The terraces reflect the vibrant light, creating a scene from afar that resembles a shimmering mirror, a breathtaking display of poetry and grandeur. (Sunrise times vary depending on the season!)
Azheke Mushroom House
The Hani people have lived here for generations. They have simple customs, a unique lifestyle, ethnic costumes and characteristic architecture: mushroom houses.
The Hani mushroom houses, featured in the TV series "Ask the West," are pristine, untouched by commercialization. Their unique shapes blend harmoniously with the surrounding natural scenery. Find an Azheke native and hear their history and stories.
Terraced Rice Fields Hiking
Before you begin, visit the Terraced Fields Museum to learn about Hani farming and art, and learn about the wisdom and harmonious and equal ways of living that have been cultivated over thousands of years. Then, like a local, walk through the fields, ancient villages, and small paths, enjoying the scenery up close and personal.
When you come to Yuanyang, you can't miss out on the rich experience. This is definitely a favorite activity for children. After putting on the equipment, we can start fishing in the fields.
If you have time, you can also visit the homes of local people to learn more about their stories and learn a craft they are best at.
Summer in Puzhehei
Guess where the "lake filled with fish and shrimp" is? This is Puzhehei, the filming location for the first season of "Where Are We Going, Dad?" and the filming location for the TV series "Eternal Love."
Puzhehei Lake is a plateau freshwater lake with typical karst landforms (the Moon Cave, Torch Cave, Guanyin Cave and Fairy Cave are its biggest attractions). It is a huge wetland park with wild lotus ponds, mountains, large lakes and wetlands, and many wild birds.
The best time to visit is from June to August, when the vast lotus ponds are in full bloom. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy a boat trip amidst the blue skies and clear waters, basking in the sun, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, and feeling the leisurely feeling of being transported to a picturesque scene. It's a truly relaxing time! Enjoy a water fight and splashing fun. Here's a little tip: basins and buckets are the most practical for this kind of water fight!
Stay here for 2 nights, you don't need to do anything, just sit under the starry sky, listen to the frog sounds, and forget the pressure of work and study.
Of course, we won't be idle either. We will join the locals in bonfire parties, bamboo pole jumping and group dancing, or go to Xianren Cave Village to find delicious food and go shopping...
During the day, you can also take your children to look for the room where "Where Are We Going, Dad?" was filmed, and have a detailed explanation of Yi culture and village culture with Yi people, step into Yi houses, learn about the simple Yi ethnic culture, and learn about various ethnic festivals. If you come during the Torch Festival (around June of the lunar calendar) and the Hualian Festival (around February of the lunar calendar), it will definitely be worth the trip!
If you want to know where to get a bird's-eye view of Puzhehei, it must be Qinglong Mountain.
It is one of the peaks in the Puzhehei Scenic Area. There are several viewing platforms on the mountain, where you can enjoy the interconnected lakes, the clear lake water, the isolated peak sitting on the flat plain, the fertile fields between the isolated peaks, the houses between the isolated peaks, and the pure blue sky.
Climbing to the observation deck in the early morning, under a sky full of stars, and waiting for the sunrise over Puzhehei is an experience not to be missed! Sunset over Puzhehei can be seen from a hilltop near Xianrendong Village. The climb only takes a little over 20 minutes!
Tips:
transportation
There is a high-speed rail from Kunming to Puzhehei, the ticket price is 75 RMB; it takes about an hour to get there, which is very convenient.
In winter, the temperature difference between travel destinations varies widely, with travelers choosing between the northernmost reaches for snow or the southern regions for a mild winter. Many families, especially those with young children, prioritize tropical and warm destinations. Popular domestic destinations include Sanya and Xishuangbanna, as well as the relatively warmer Beihai and Kunming. Of these destinations, Banna is particularly recommended.
Located on the border of China, Xishuangbanna, known as the "Kingdom of Plants and Animals," is the world's only remaining oasis on the Tropic of Cancer and a well-preserved tropical forest area in my country. Beyond the authentic ethnic customs and lively Water Splashing Festival, you'll also find fresh and affordable tropical fruits, unique local cuisine, and the wonders of the rainforest. Escape the concrete and embark on a rainforest adventure, discovering knowledge and experiences beyond the classroom!
1. Tropical plants
The Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the largest botanical garden in China with the richest species collection and the most plant categories. It is a comprehensive botanical garden integrating tropical scientific research, species conservation and popular science education.
The botanical garden is divided into the West District and the East District. The West District is mainly composed of palm gardens, banyan gardens, exotic flowers and plants gardens, and famous tree gardens; the East District is mainly composed of two major attractions: the tropical rainforest and the green stone forest. It occupies most of the area of the botanical garden and requires a car to visit.
Tips:
Transportation: Take a bus to Menglun or Mengla at Jinghong Bus Station and get off at Menglun.
Tickets: 104 yuan, half-price for students and children; Tour bus: 50 yuan/person for the west area, 100 yuan/person for the entire park
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 08:00-20:00
2. Wild Elephant World
There are two species of elephants in the world, African elephants and Asian elephants, and Xishuangbanna is the only habitat of Asian elephants in China.
In the Wild Elephant Valley, you can watch a variety of elephant performances, taste special elephant meals, walk into the primeval forest with the baby elephants, clean the elephants' bodies, and tidy up their dormitories... This is an intimate interaction with the elephants up close and personal.
You can also visit the Elephant Museum to view elephant skeleton specimens and learn more about elephants, which will further enhance your understanding of them. The Wild Elephant Valley scenic area features a high-altitude elephant viewing plank road and an elevated corridor for visitors to observe wild elephants, and you may even encounter wild elephants.
Tips:
From November every year to around the Spring Festival of the following year is the best time to encounter wild elephants.
Transportation: There are shuttle buses to the bus station in Jinghong City, which run every half an hour and the ticket price is 15-20 yuan.
Ticket price: 60 yuan/person (full ticket for the cable car: 50 yuan/person for one-way trip, 70 yuan/person for round-trip trip)
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-18:00
3. Learn Dai culture
Mengjinglai is also known as the "No. 1 Village between China and Myanmar". It used to be the religious and cultural center on the China-Myanmar border. It has the largest pagoda forest in Xishuangbanna, tall bodhi trees and banyan trees. Many believers come here during special festivals.
This is also the filming location for the third season of "Where Are We Going, Dad?". In addition to checking in at the houses where the five children once lived and searching for the 229 boundary marker, you can also experience a variety of homestay activities: slow-wheel pottery making from the Neolithic Age, ancient palm leaf scriptures, papermaking, bamboo weaving, sugar pressing... Inheriting the traditional Dai craftsmanship and experiencing the wisdom of ancient craftsmen... If you have enough time, you can choose to stay here for a night.
Tips:
Ticket price: 70 yuan per person
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-18:00
4. Rainforest Adventure
The air of the pristine rainforest is filled with the fresh scent of earth, and home to countless rare plants and animals. In the rainforest, explore the reasons behind every natural phenomenon and learn how the natural ecosystem maintains its balance. The rainforest is like a treasure trove, waiting to be discovered by children of all ages!
In addition to mastering observational skills, we also needed to acquire certain survival skills. We built shelters in the wild, experienced thrilling rappelling, explored the primitive art of fire-making, cooked in the rainforest, fished in the stream, and cooked bamboo rice... We experienced harmony between humanity and nature, an experience unavailable elsewhere. However, it's best to travel with a large group; independent travel doesn't allow for so much.
Jinghong is the capital of Xishuangbanna, which is what we often call Xishuangbanna. The collection hotel is in the urban area of Jinghong, and the airport (Gasa Airport) is in the suburbs of Jinghong.
1. Direct flight to Banna
For tourists with limited time, direct flights are available.
2. Transfer in Kunming
There are relatively many flights to Kunming from various locations. There are over 20 flights daily between Kunming and Xishuangbanna, allowing you to combine them in any way you like, saving both time and money. Round-trip flights from Kunming are much cheaper than direct flights to Xishuangbanna, and you can also explore the city of Kunming in a day.
3. Transfer from plane to bus
Fly to Kunming Airport - Take the airport shuttle to Kunming Railway Station - Take a bus (Kunming Railway Station - Gaozhuang, Xishuangbanna) - Didi Express to the meeting hotel (15-20 RMB). (Bus fares range from 210-255 RMB and are quite time-consuming, taking approximately 8-9 hours. You can also take a night bus to sleep.) If you have time, you can visit Fuxian Lake, the "Back Garden of Kunming," and then take a bus all the way to Banna. Compared to flying directly, you'll also have the added bonus of visiting the lesser-known Pu'er region. The overall itinerary is flexible and perfect for families with children.
4. High-speed rail to bus. Take the high-speed rail to Kunming High-speed Railway Station - take the bus (Luoshiwan International Trade City - Xishuangbanna Gaozhuang) - Didi Express to the meeting hotel (15-20 yuan) (Bus fares range from 210-255 yuan, and the journey is time-consuming, about 8-9 hours. You can choose to sleep on the night bus)
Tips:
Notes:
1. Temperature and clothing
April to June and September are hot months, with temperatures ranging from 32-40°C (111-133°F), and can feel hot and humid. Dress coolly. All hotels and restaurants are air-conditioned, so be prepared to avoid the heat and mosquitoes.
From November to March, the average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, which is comfortable, like the spring and autumn temperatures in the north. Clothing: short sleeves + jacket (the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, which makes it easy to catch a cold)
From July to August, the average temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. There are showers almost every day during the summer, so you should feel comfortable. Clothing: quick-drying thin trousers + short sleeves + sun protection clothing (Dengue fever is at its peak, so mosquito repellent is recommended in the morning and evening)
2. Commonly used medicines
The main common medicines you need to carry are gastrointestinal medicine, fever and cold medicine, band-aids, wind oil and other common medicines.
Selected by China National Geographic as "the most beautiful place in Yunnan", to get from Dali to Tengchong, you must cross Gaoligong Mountain.
The term "Gaoligong Mountain" was first mentioned in the book "Manshu" by the renowned Tang Dynasty scholar Fan Chuo. Located on the China-Myanmar border, at the end of southwestern China, it is a key component of the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site.
It spans five latitudes and is the only area on Earth that has preserved a large area of transition from humid tropical forests to temperate forests. In a sense, it is also a forbidden area for humans.
Gaoligong Mountain, known as a global gene bank, a world natural museum, and a sanctuary for life, is a national nature reserve. Over 20 species of nationally protected animals live here, including the takin, slow loris, green peacock, white-browed gibbon, and Bengal tiger. The rare Rhododendron grandiflorum, the world's tallest, largest, and oldest tree with the largest flowers (the entire tree covers 500 square meters), is also home to the world's tallest, largest, and oldest-growing azalea tree. With 4,897 species of higher plants, 2,389 species of animals, and 85% forest coverage, it is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, providing an excellent ecological environment for its flora and fauna.
Gaoligong Mountain has long been a haven for biologists, zoologists, and botanists, with new species constantly being discovered in recent years. The reserve's management bureau has also established the first nature school in inland China, serving as a base for popular science education for students. Using modern technology, a science exhibition hall has been built, gradually unlocking the mysteries of nature.
The unique geographical advantages provide Gaoligong with an excellent environment for outdoor exploration.
Xu Xiake of the Ming Dynasty once climbed Mount Gaoligong, leaving behind a wealth of valuable records. This route also served as the famous Southern Silk Road (the Yongchang Road of the Shu-Shendu Road) in the fourth century BC and was a major battlefield during the Anti-Japanese War in western Yunnan. It began in Sichuan, passed through Kunming, crossed Mount Gaoligong, and reached Myanmar and India.
Gaoligong Mountain's first publicly accessible ridgeline, approximately 16 kilometers long, is a beginner's hiking trail. A must-do when visiting the area is to experience the magnificent and diverse landscapes of this natural rainforest. It's an unforgettable experience.
This is a rural public museum invested by the private sector. The entire village and the museum form a larger museum, because every household can demonstrate the papermaking process to visitors, and the museum condenses the spatial experience of the village.
The papermaking technology here is different from Dongba paper, which has a minority cultural background. It is a pure Han culture. The papermaking technology has an oral history of more than 700 years. The paper produced can be kept for hundreds of years without changing color.
Tips:
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays)
Cost: Free and open
Gaoligong Tented Camp
The camp has an average altitude of about 2,300 meters and is located in a small local village about 5 kilometers outside the southern boundary of the nature reserve (also a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve). It is a tent camp featuring outdoor, in-depth travel and light adventure.
The camp includes 15 nature-adventure-style guest rooms and 5 distinctive public spaces. It is located near the ancient Southern Silk Road nestled in the dense forest and took eight years to unveil.
Transportation
The nearest airport is Tengchong Airport. Baoshan Airport and Mangshi Airport are no more than 2.5 hours' drive from the camp. You can also drive to the camp by yourself (off-road level or above).
route segment | distance | time consuming |
Tengchong Airport-Gaoligong Tented Camp | 70km | 1 hour and 20 minutes |
Baoshan Airport-Tourist Reception Center-Gaoligong Tented Camp | 100km | 2 hours and 10 minutes |
Mangshi Airport-Gaoligong Tented Camp | 110km | 2 hours and 20 minutes |
Recommended tour routes
With 99 volcanoes, 88 hot springs, comfortable accommodation, no need to move frequently, and unique ecological resources, Tengchong can be said to be one of the top destinations for traveling with children!
D1 Go to Tengchong to gather
D2 Tengchong-Rehai-Geological Museum
D3 Tengchong-Heshun Ancient City
D4 Tengchong-Gaoligong Mountain Kangteng Tented Camp
D5 Gaoligong Mountain Kangteng Tented Camp-Tengchong
D6 return trip
The Lonely Dragon River-Late Civilization
After two years of closure, the Dulong River reopened to the public in October 2019, and road conditions have greatly improved. Along the way, you'll pass through primeval forests, hundreds of peaks, a thousand-acre bamboo forest, and the nationally protected Gongshan Taiwania bald cypress, with the Biluo Snow Mountain and Dangdanglika Mountain in the distance, before entering the Dulong River.
Nestled in the heart of the Hengduan Mountains and the Three Parallel Rivers, a World Heritage site, this region boasts the Nujiang Grand Canyon, one of China's most beautiful gorges, and the Dulong River, one of China's most beautiful rivers. As a "natural museum of wild plants," it offers breathtaking scenery in all four seasons. It is truly known as "Yunnan's last hidden gem."
Tattooed women, cattle slaughtered for offering sacrifices to the gods, zip lines, vine bridges... The Dulong River is a hidden gem. Here, lives an ancient, reclusive ethnic group: the Dulong people, with a total population of just 6,000.
In the past, they lacked a unified ethnic name. It was only after the founding of the People's Republic of China that Premier Zhou Enlai officially designated them the Dulong people. Dulong girls, at the age of twelve or thirteen, receive facial tattoos to symbolize their adulthood. The origins of facial tattooing are unknown, and the tradition is now lost. It is said that fewer than 30 women with facial tattoos remain.
How about a memorable hike to a place where humans and gods coexist, experiencing the mysterious local culture, and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the landscape? Immersing yourself in the lives of locals and sharing their joys with children is a truly unique experience for both adults and children alike!
Relax and unleash your inner self while traveling, broaden your horizons, and gain insights. Of course, there are many other places in Yunnan suitable for bringing children, such as Shangri-La, Tengchong, and traveling from Xishuangbanna to Laos. If you have any questions, please leave a message!
