Traveling with Kids to Liancheng Guanzhai Mountain｜Easy and Fun, the Top Choice for Family Weekends!

Hey everyone! Liancheng Guanzhai (zhài) Mountain is truly a treasure trove for family trips! Whether you’re with kids or elders, everyone can have a great time here~ The hike isn’t difficult, the scenery is beautiful, and you can finish the trip in half a day without getting exhausted~ (Route A is easy and walkable, Route B includes Zhu’an Village and a cable car, which takes more time and energy. If you’re with kids, Route A is definitely the way to go!)

⚠️ How to choose transportation?
High-speed train 🚄: Guanzhai Mountain Station is the best choice! It’s super close to the scenic area and very convenient to get off there~ If you arrive at Guanzhai Mountain South Station, just take a taxi or bus to the bus station, very hassle-free~
Self-driving 🚗: Just navigate to Shimen Lake, right next to the ticket office at the south entrance of the scenic area. Parking is very cheap, about 1 yuan/hour. Driving with kids is super convenient!

⚠️ How to choose accommodation?
We stayed in a family room at Baixiang Hotel next to the scenic area, and the kids really loved it! It includes breakfast, afternoon tea, and even a tie-dye experience. The kids had a blast playing at the hotel, and after visiting the scenic area, they could keep having fun~
Guanzhai Mountain is very close to the county center, with plenty of accommodation options. If you’re driving, you can stay anywhere in the county without worries~

⚠️ How to buy tickets?
In the off-season, just buy tickets directly at the attraction! We originally wanted to take Route B, but the ticket seller saw we had three kids and kindly recommended Route A. They really understand the challenges of traveling with kids!

⛰️ Hiking routes perfect for kids
1️⃣ Route B: Guanzhai Mountain + Shimen Lake tickets + Zhu’an Village + Cable Car (includes boat ticket and shuttle bus) 🎫150 yuan/person
⏰ Duration: 5-7 hours
First take a boat ride, then hike, then take the cable car to another mountain, and finally walk down. This route requires an early start in the morning; it’s easy to miss the cable car in the afternoon. It can be a bit tiring with kids~

2️⃣ Route A: Guanzhai Mountain + Shimen Lake tickets (includes boat ticket and shuttle bus) 🎫115 yuan/person
⏰ Duration: 3-4 hours
This is the must-choose route with kids! First take the free scenic shuttle bus to Shimen Lake for a boat ride, then hike with almost no steep paths. The whole route is easy, suitable for elders and children, definitely a “relaxed route”~

⚠️ Liancheng food is super delicious
Liancheng’s local snacks are amazing! Dengzhan cake, Boji board, beef soup, soft rice noodles… I’ve tried them all, and each one is super tasty! Just go into busy shops along the way, you basically can’t go wrong~
For dinner, we ate at Xie Bin Small Stir-fry near Sijiaojing. The Jiumentou, Zhuba Pin, creek fish tofu, and Liancheng white duck were all delicious! My kid drank two bowls of white duck soup, loved it so much~ (Jiumentou is a bit chewy, so make sure kids chew well~)

💡 Must-know tips for traveling with kids
1️⃣ Bring mosquito repellent or insect repellent spray when hiking! There are many mosquitoes in the mountains, don’t let the kids get bitten~
2️⃣ There are few restaurants in the scenic area, prepare snacks and dry food in advance so kids can eat when hungry~
3️⃣ Don’t forget sunscreen! Although it’s a natural oxygen bar, many places are exposed to the sun. Sunscreen and hats are a must~
4️⃣ Bring some fish food, steamed buns, or biscuits for the kids! After the Shimen Lake boat ride, they can feed the fish and ducks, which keeps them entertained for a long time. Half the snacks got eaten just like that~
5️⃣ Buy tickets in advance during peak season/holidays. On regular weekends, you can buy tickets directly at the scenic area. The price is the same online or offline~
6️⃣ Changshou Pavilion has aerial stunt performances! See photo 7 for the performance schedule, don’t miss it~