July-August Family Travel Guide | 4 Treasure Cities Recommended for Kids

🌞 Summer Family Travel Guide: 4 Cities for Fun Adventures with Kids

1. Zhuhai · Ocean Fairy Tale Kingdom | A Magical Journey Dancing with Ocean Spirits

🌴 Climate Advantage: Average summer temperature is 28°C, with gentle sea breezes. It’s recommended to travel early morning or evening to avoid the strong sun, and prepare sun-protective clothing and children’s sunglasses.
🚄 Transportation Guide:

- From Changsha, take the high-speed train to Guangzhou South Station (about 2 hours), then transfer to the city rail to Zhuhai Chimelong Station (1 hour), making the whole trip convenient and efficient.
- Within the city, taxis or car rentals are recommended. Free shuttle buses are available inside the Zhuhai Chimelong Resort.

🌟 Must-See Highlights:

1. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
- Immersive Experience: Watch giant whale sharks swim through an 8.3-meter-high glass wall in the whale shark pavilion, and get up close with starfish and sea urchins in the touch pool.
- Exciting Shows: Water ballet at the beluga theater, tribal adventure stories at the dolphin theater, and the summer-exclusive Mammoth Summer Parade where kids can ride a giant mammoth elephant and interact.
- Nighttime Festivities: The Ocean Night Glow Parade with glowing floats and a colorful fireworks show create a dreamy summer night memory.
2. Hengqin Starry Camp Town
- Features camper vans, cute pet feeding, and a non-powered playground, perfect for the whole family to enjoy outdoor fun.

🍜 Food Recommendations:

- Hengqin oyster meat porridge, Portuguese egg tarts (crispy crust with smooth filling), island coconut chicken (sweet broth suitable for kids).
- Recommended restaurant: “Ocean Restaurant” inside Chimelong Park where you can dine while watching fish swim by.

🏨 Accommodation Suggestions:

- Chimelong Penguin Hotel: Walking distance to the park, rooms equipped with children’s tents and toiletries, daily parent-child activity classes provided.
- Hengqin Bay Hotel: Features a dolphin pool and water park where kids can observe dolphins up close.

⚠️ Warm Tips:

- Stroller rental service is available in the park; it’s recommended to bring your own water bottle (there are plenty of drinking water points).
- For the nighttime fireworks show, secure a spot 30 minutes early and bring a folding stool for kids to watch comfortably.

2. Shanghai · Magical Fairy Tale World | Disney’s Dreamy Childhood Theater

🌞 Climate Advantage: Average summer temperature is 30°C. It’s recommended to choose cloudy days for travel. The park has many mist cooling stations.
🚄 Transportation Guide:

- From Changsha South Station, take the G1428 high-speed train for about 5 hours and 49 minutes directly to Shanghai Hongqiao Station. After exiting, transfer to Metro Line 11 to reach Disney.
- Within the city, metro or taxis are recommended. Free shuttle buses are available around Disney.

🌟 Must-See Highlights:

1. Shanghai Disneyland
- Kid-Friendly Zones: Fantasyland’s Winnie the Pooh Adventure, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Tomorrowland’s Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters are gentle and fun for young children.
- Interactive Experiences: Take photos with Marvel heroes at the Marvel Headquarters, meet Disney characters on Mickey Avenue, and kids can high-five mascots during the parade.
- Nighttime Surprises: The “Ignite the Dream” light and fireworks show transforms the castle into a fairy tale stage. It’s recommended to download the official app in advance to check showtimes.
2. Shanghai Natural History Museum
- Realistic dinosaur models and interactive ecological exhibits let kids become “little archaeologists” digging for fossils.

🍜 Food Recommendations:

- “Barbossa’s BBQ” inside Disneyland offers kids’ meal boxes, while the City God Temple area has soup-filled soup dumplings and juicy meat mooncakes.
- Try the “Mickey Head Ice Cream” in the park, cute in shape and creamy in texture.

🏨 Accommodation Suggestions:

- Disneyland Hotel: Rooms decorated with classic Disney characters, offering bedtime stories and children’s bathrobes.
- Nearby guesthouses: Such as the “Toy Story-themed guesthouse,” a 10-minute walk to the park, including breakfast and shuttle service.

⚠️ Warm Tips:

- Selfie sticks and glass containers are prohibited inside the park. Unopened snacks and water can be brought in.
- Popular rides like “Soaring Over the Horizon” have long queues; it’s recommended to use the “Disney Premier Access” or visit during off-peak hours.

3. Qingdao · Seaside Joy Festival | A Double Feast of Beach and Beer Festival

🌊 Climate Advantage: Average summer temperature is 25°C, with cool sea breezes. Prepare light jackets and beach toys.
🚄 Transportation Guide:

- Direct flight from Changsha to Qingdao takes about 2 hours, or take a high-speed train to Jinan then transfer (total about 8 hours). Early flights are recommended to avoid travel fatigue.
- Within the city, car rentals or buses are recommended. Coastal bus routes offer scenic seaside views.

🌟 Must-See Highlights:

1. Qingdao Polar Ocean Park
- Immersive Venues: The upgraded Deep Sea Fantasy—Jellyfish Secret Realm resembles an underwater palace. The Horizon Theater’s “Sea Spirit Tribe Carnival Night” combines acrobatics and water ballet.
- Nighttime Festivities: The Whale Call Music Festival features celebrity guests, and kids can dance along by the glowing stage.
2. Shilaoren Beach
- Fine sand perfect for building sandcastles and catching small crabs. Evening activities include sea biking and beach camping.
3. Qingdao International Beer Festival (Laoshan Venue)
- Family Zone: VR interactive technology, national jump rope challenge, and kids can run fun market stalls to showcase handmade crafts.
- Night Highlights: Night light shows and traditional shadow puppet performances offer a blend of tradition and modern charm.

🍜 Food Recommendations:

- Flounder dumplings (fresh and juicy), seafood steam pot (original flavor), Qingdao old yogurt (better with honey).
- The beer festival offers non-alcoholic fruit-flavored beer, so parents can safely let kids try it.

🏨 Accommodation Suggestions:

- Hilton Golden Beach Hotel: Beachfront with children’s pool and sandcastle building tool rentals.
- Badaguan Guesthouse: A century-old villa converted into a family inn, walking distance to the beach, rooms equipped with child safety rails.

⚠️ Warm Tips:

- The beer festival is crowded; it’s recommended to travel during off-peak times. Children should wear anti-lost wristbands.
- Pay attention to tide times at the beach to avoid going too far offshore. Prepare children’s sunscreen (SPF50+).

4. Chengdu · Panda and Ancient Town Summer Romance | Cute Meets Culture

🌿 Climate Advantage: Average summer temperature is 26°C. Bring breathable clothing and mosquito repellent. The temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so bring a light jacket.
🚄 Transportation Guide:

- Direct flight from Changsha to Chengdu takes about 2 hours, or take a high-speed train about 7 hours to Chengdu East Station. Early flights are recommended to start a full day of activities.
- Within the city, metro or taxis are recommended. Shuttle buses are available around the panda base.

🌟 Must-See Highlights:

1. Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
- Best Viewing Time: 7:30-9:30 AM when pandas are active. Watch cubs nursing in the Moon Nursery. “Huahua” in the Sun Nursery is a popular star.
- Educational Experience: The Panda Science Exploration Hall uses interactive devices to learn about panda habits, perfect for parent-child learning.
2. Chengdu Happy Valley
- Kids’ Zone: Bubble Planet on Happy Adventure Island and non-powered facilities on Dream Adventure Island are safe and creative.
- Water Fun: Caribbean Water World’s huge water fortress and children’s splash pool are open until 9:30 PM in summer for cool nighttime fun.
3. Huanglongxi Ancient Town
- Streams run through the streets; kids can join summer “water battles” with water guns. Bamboo raft drifting is available at the old dock.

🍜 Food Recommendations:

- Egg cake (with creamy meat floss filling), Grandma Ye’s spicy chicken pot (mildly numbing and fragrant), sugar-coated fried dough balls (crispy outside, chewy inside).
- Recommended restaurant: “Taolin Restaurant” offers kids’ meals with cartoon-shaped rice and cooling white fungus soup.

🏨 Accommodation Suggestions:

- Century City InterContinental Hotel: Indoor and outdoor pools, children’s playground with craft classes, only 15 minutes by car to Happy Valley.
- Kuan Zhai Alley Guesthouse: Renovated blue-tile courtyard house, walking distance to People’s Park, rooms equipped with children’s tents and picture books.

⚠️ Warm Tips:

- Panda base requires booking one day in advance on the official platform. It’s recommended to take the park shuttle bus to reduce walking.
- Prepare change of clothes for water play in the ancient town. The stream water is clear but slippery, so caution is needed.

🎒 Family Travel Tips

- Packing List: Lightweight stroller (rentable in Zhuhai and Shanghai parks), sun hat, portable mini fan, children’s water bottle.
- Time Management: Schedule physically demanding activities (like theme parks) in the morning, indoor venues (like museums) in the afternoon, and outdoor leisure (like beaches and ancient towns) in the evening.
- Safety Tips: Download the “Child Missing Emergency Alert” app, have children wear wristbands with parent contact info, and wear non-slip shoes in some Qingdao and Chengdu attractions.

Take this guide along and let your children harvest laughter and growth under the summer sun, creating exclusive family memories! 🌈