Golden Week is coming up, and it’s the perfect opportunity to get out of Beijing and into the mountains (or deserts!) Escape crowds, closed restaurants, and the sadness of slow or no waimai by finding your peace in nature. Here are some family-friendly adventures to help you see parts of China you’ve never imagined and avoid the big shutdown during the October festivities.
Subashi Ancient Ruins
First up! Journey to the West, along the Silk Road: Korla to Kashgar. This seven-day adventure brought to you by Beijing Hikers will cover more than one thousand kilometers and take you to west China by jeep through the vast empty areas of Xinjiang Province. This trip goes through some of the most remote parts of the ancient Silk Road, so you can imagine what it was like for travelers going by camel or on foot. Visit the Baicheng Landforms, the ancient city of Subashi, and the Daksiliya Grand Canyon, and see a part of China unlike any other. During this trip, you will stay in local hotels at night.
Baicheng landforms
Second option is another seven day Silk Road trip. Journey From the West, Urumqi to Jiayuguan. This trip explores the northern part of the Silk Road, a more well-traveled portion than the Korla to Kashgar trip. Enjoy hikes and walks as the scenery changes from grassland to desert. Visit the beautiful and stark Nanshan Grasslands, and the ruins of Jiaohe, an ancient city sacked by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. In Dunhuang, see the Magao Grottoes and Crescent Lake. Visit the fortress at Jianyuguan, which marked the western end of the Ming Dynasty’s Great Wall. This trip will give you a taste of the rich Muslim culture alive in western China.
Crescent Lake, Dunhuang
The details for the Silk Road trips: Suitable for children 6+. October 1-7. RMB 19,150 (members get a discount), RMB 15,220 for ages 6-11, RMB 15,670 for ages 12-17. This is an all-inclusive trip; the fee includes plane tickets, guides, hotel stays, food, and drinks. Click here for more information on Korla to Kashgar, for more information on Urumqi to Jiayuguan click here. There is a lot of driving on these two Silk Road trips, broken up by hikes and sightseeing. If you don’t like long drives, you may want to consider another option.
Chongqing at night
If you’re looking for a more urban experience, you can join Cultural Exchange Trips (CET) for their Chongqing, Chengdu, Xian – 3 Most-Go Cities Tour, and spend seven days exploring these three famous Chinese cities. You’ll visit Chongqing, the largest inland municipality in China; see Chengdu where the biggest panda research center in the world can be found; and last visit Xian, the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties. This tour will include pandas, the Leshan Giant Buddha, Mahjong, Sichuan hotpot, and the Terracotta Warriors.
Pandas at the Breeding Center in Chengdu
The details: October 1 – 7. RMB 4,585 with discounts available for groups, fee includes round-trip transportation by high-speed train, hotel, meals, and an English-speaking guide. Fee does not include entrance fees to all places. Meet at Beijing West railway station. Click here for more information.
Tengger Desert dunes in Inner Mongolia
If you have less time during Golden Week, but still want to get away for a few days, consider a 4-day trip to Tengger Desert Lakes in Inner Mongolia instead. This trip from Beijing Hikers travels through the desert by foot, jeep, and camel. Spend one night camping in the desert, and visit an oasis. This trip is relatively easy with climbs up sand dunes and some short desert hiking, it is recommended for ages 7+. Tengger Desert is very special, with a long history and a lot of cultural diversity. It is located in the northernmost part of Inner Mongolia.
Riding Camels through the Tengger Desert
The Details: October 2 – 5. RMB 8,800 (members get a discount), Kids ages 7-11 RMB 6,850, kids ages 12-17 RMB 7,090. The price includes flights, transportation, hotel stays, food, drinks, and a guide. Click here to learn more.
Longji Rice Terraces
Or you can visit one of the most beautiful places in China with CET, on their four day Guilin: Li River, Yangshou, Longji Highlight Tour. This area is known for its mountains, rice terraces, and the Li River which snakes its way like a ribbon through some of the greenest scenery on the planet. Highlights include staying in the Mahai Village in the Longji Rice Terraces, going bamboo rafting along the Li River, and a hike through karst formations in the ten-mile gallery.
The details: All ages are welcome to come on this trip, but check with the organizer to see if it is right for your family. October 2 – 5. This trip arrives and leaves from Guilin train station or airport, you are responsible for getting to and from Guilin. The trip fee includes bus, accommodation, meals, ticket fees, guides, and insurance. RMB 1,845 for adults. Children under 1.2m are RMB 895, children under 3 are free. Click here for more information.
The Silver Pagodas stand on the site of a Tang Dynasty temple
Only have one day to spend sightseeing in nature? We have you covered. Kids Club: The Silver Pagodas will take an easy walk through the countryside for a picnic by the 600-year-old Silver Pagodas. After seeing the Pagodas, spend the afternoon relaxing in the sun with an optional climb up to Silver Mountain. Join Beijing Hikers for this fun and relaxing day exploring China’s beautiful countryside.
View from Silver Mountain
The details: This trip is recommended for ages 5–12. RMB 360 for adults, RMB 180 for kids 6–12 and RMB 150 for ages 3–5. The hike is 2–3 hours over 4–6km. The trip leaves on October 6. Pick up areas are Liangmaqiao subway area at 8am and Lido Metropark Hotel Starbucks at 8.30am. Click here to learn more.
If none of these trips spark your interest visit Beijinghikers.com or CET’s WeChat: CultureExchangeTrip for many more options to get outdoors, learn something, and have fun!
Photos: Beijinghikers.com, CETtrips Beijing
