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Traveling to China with kids



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 6th, 2005, 04:09 PM
Dennis McCrohan
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Default Traveling to China with kids

Hi-

I'm looking for some net.wisdom on traveling to China with my wife and
two kids (8 and 11). My wife has been looking at some of the
package-tours that you can buy here in the States. From the description
of these, it looks like you would spend most of your time in 5-star
Western hotels (Hyatt, et al), eating western meals, riding around in
tour busses with a bunch of other Americans (and I'm guessing that most
of them would be, ahh, "mature"), and basically running from one
tourist-trap to the next. And that after the first day or so my kids
would be bored and tired of it. And we mostly eat Cambodian, Thai, and
Viet food, not hamburgers, so McDonanld's is not considered a treat in
my family.

My wife is ethnic Chinese, speaks some Mandarian (in addition to her
parent's dialect), and our kids have been taking Mandarian classes for
several years. So I'm thinking that we would be better off with a tour
designed with children in mind (nothing like having other kids to talk
to/play with during long bus/plane rides) or just putting a package
together ourselves and hiring a private guide. I'd still like to stay in
higher class hotels (yes, I know about the Chinese attitude about
bathrooms) but other than that I'd rather eat in local restaraunts
(assuming food safety isn't an issue) and do things that would be of
more interest to the kids (say visiting an amusement park, or a school)
rather than trouping thru the 17th Imperial bedroom of the day.

Anyway, I'd be interested in feedback on all this, particularly from
folks who have taken their own school-age children to China.

Thanks,

-dm


  #2  
Old January 6th, 2005, 05:07 PM
Bob Myers
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Default


"Dennis McCrohan" wrote in message
...
Hi-

I'm looking for some net.wisdom on traveling to China with my wife and
two kids (8 and 11).


Are you thinking more specifically than just "China"? Asking
about "traveling to China" is, of course, somewhat like asking
about "traveling to North America" - the question covers too
much territory to be really addressed well in short order. Some
parts of China, and especially Shanghai and Hong Kong, I could
definitely see as a family destination. (I haven't personally been to
Beijing yet, so I can't say much about that.) Other parts, though,
I can't imagine that the kids would find interesting. Also, are
you planning on any other stops in the region before or after
China?

My wife has been looking at some of the
package-tours that you can buy here in the States. From the description
of these, it looks like you would spend most of your time in 5-star
Western hotels (Hyatt, et al), eating western meals, riding around in
tour busses with a bunch of other Americans (and I'm guessing that most
of them would be, ahh, "mature"), and basically running from one
tourist-trap to the next.


And THOSE do sound like you're looking at places like
Shanghai or Hong Kong. Both cities have everything you
mentioned, from the Western hotels and restaurants to the
well-established tourist traps. However, both cities also have
far more to offer the visitor who is willing to ditch the package
tour, or at least to go out on their own in addition to such a
tour. Of the two, just for a place to start, I would have to say
that Hong Kong would probably be of more interest to the
kids than Shanghai, unless the kids are unusually (for their
ages) interested in seeing places or items of cultural or historical
interest.

I should also note that I'm not saying any of this from the perspective
of someone who has actually taken kids to any Asian destination;
my experiences in the Far East are from numerous business trips
there. But I can at least think about these things with regard to
how I think my own daughter (now 13) might look at them.

Bob M.


  #3  
Old January 6th, 2005, 06:14 PM
Dennis McCrohan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bob Myers wrote:

"Dennis McCrohan" wrote in message
...
Hi-

I'm looking for some net.wisdom on traveling to China with my wife and
two kids (8 and 11).


Are you thinking more specifically than just "China"? Asking
about "traveling to China" is, of course, somewhat like asking
about "traveling to North America" - the question covers too
much territory to be really addressed well in short order. Some
parts of China, and especially Shanghai and Hong Kong, I could
definitely see as a family destination. (I haven't personally been to
Beijing yet, so I can't say much about that.) Other parts, though,
I can't imagine that the kids would find interesting. Also, are
you planning on any other stops in the region before or after
China?


We would be just going to China. The "usual" destinations of most of the
pre-packaged tours are Bejing, Xian, Shanghai.

But I think we are still pretty open at this time. As I hinted, I'm less
concerned about seeing particular sites than an overall experience that would
be good for our kids.

-dm


  #4  
Old January 6th, 2005, 06:37 PM
Spehro Pefhany
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Posts: n/a
Default

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 09:14:40 -0800, the renowned Dennis McCrohan
wrote:

We would be just going to China. The "usual" destinations of most of the
pre-packaged tours are Bejing, Xian, Shanghai.

But I think we are still pretty open at this time. As I hinted, I'm less
concerned about seeing particular sites than an overall experience that would
be good for our kids.

-dm


I suggest an overnight train trip or two, preferably both in hard
sleeper and soft sleeper class. And some tours aimed at the locals
(for example, in Guilin).


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
  #5  
Old January 6th, 2005, 08:16 PM
PeterL
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Dennis McCrohan" wrote in message
...
Bob Myers wrote:

"Dennis McCrohan" wrote in message
...
Hi-

I'm looking for some net.wisdom on traveling to China with my wife and
two kids (8 and 11).


Are you thinking more specifically than just "China"? Asking
about "traveling to China" is, of course, somewhat like asking
about "traveling to North America" - the question covers too
much territory to be really addressed well in short order. Some
parts of China, and especially Shanghai and Hong Kong, I could
definitely see as a family destination. (I haven't personally been to
Beijing yet, so I can't say much about that.) Other parts, though,
I can't imagine that the kids would find interesting. Also, are
you planning on any other stops in the region before or after
China?


We would be just going to China. The "usual" destinations of most of the
pre-packaged tours are Bejing, Xian, Shanghai.

But I think we are still pretty open at this time. As I hinted, I'm less
concerned about seeing particular sites than an overall experience that

would
be good for our kids.


Yes you do want to plan your trip around specific sites. Imagine going to
China and not seeing the Great Wall or the Forbidden City or Xian. It's
like going to NYC and not visiting the Lady. Your kids will go back to
school and when asked what did you see in China, give a blank look. "Well,
we didn't see anything in particular. We just had a good overall
experience."


-dm




  #6  
Old January 7th, 2005, 09:46 PM
Amoeba
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

If you visit Beijing, it's a "must" to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden
City.

I never been to Beijing or Shanghai. In my impression, they are places for
sightseeings because they have so many impressive historical buildings.
They are also modern and busy cities. Maybe there are much more than I can
imagine because I am not familiar with these cities. If i have a chance,
I'd love to visit them.

For cities in Guangdong (e.g. HK, Macau, Zhuhai, etc.), it's more like a
city for having various fun. Macau and HK have some historical buildings
reflecting the past time of being colonies but it's not as big and
impressive as those buildings in Beijing and Shanghai.

Other places in China has great nature.


"PeterL" ¦b¶l¥ó ¤¤
¼¶¼g...

Yes you do want to plan your trip around specific sites. Imagine going to
China and not seeing the Great Wall or the Forbidden City or Xian. It's
like going to NYC and not visiting the Lady. Your kids will go back to
school and when asked what did you see in China, give a blank look.

"Well,
we didn't see anything in particular. We just had a good overall
experience."


-dm






  #7  
Old January 6th, 2005, 06:37 PM
Spehro Pefhany
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 09:14:40 -0800, the renowned Dennis McCrohan
wrote:

We would be just going to China. The "usual" destinations of most of the
pre-packaged tours are Bejing, Xian, Shanghai.

But I think we are still pretty open at this time. As I hinted, I'm less
concerned about seeing particular sites than an overall experience that would
be good for our kids.

-dm


I suggest an overnight train trip or two, preferably both in hard
sleeper and soft sleeper class. And some tours aimed at the locals
(for example, in Guilin).


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
  #8  
Old January 6th, 2005, 08:14 PM
PeterL
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Bob Myers" wrote in message
...

"Dennis McCrohan" wrote in message
...
Hi-

I'm looking for some net.wisdom on traveling to China with my wife and
two kids (8 and 11).


Are you thinking more specifically than just "China"? Asking
about "traveling to China" is, of course, somewhat like asking
about "traveling to North America" - the question covers too
much territory to be really addressed well in short order. Some
parts of China, and especially Shanghai and Hong Kong, I could
definitely see as a family destination. (I haven't personally been to
Beijing yet, so I can't say much about that.) Other parts, though,
I can't imagine that the kids would find interesting.


Are you kidding me? First of all Hong Kong is not China. And both cities
are, IMO, pretty much just big cities. Kids of this age would find lots of
other locations much more interesting. Beijing is much better as a tour
site than either HK or Shanghai. Then there is Xian, and the Three Gorges
(less so now with the dam), Nanjing, and the southwestern part of China.


Also, are
you planning on any other stops in the region before or after
China?

My wife has been looking at some of the
package-tours that you can buy here in the States. From the description
of these, it looks like you would spend most of your time in 5-star
Western hotels (Hyatt, et al), eating western meals, riding around in
tour busses with a bunch of other Americans (and I'm guessing that most
of them would be, ahh, "mature"), and basically running from one
tourist-trap to the next.


And THOSE do sound like you're looking at places like
Shanghai or Hong Kong. Both cities have everything you
mentioned, from the Western hotels and restaurants to the
well-established tourist traps. However, both cities also have
far more to offer the visitor who is willing to ditch the package
tour, or at least to go out on their own in addition to such a
tour. Of the two, just for a place to start, I would have to say
that Hong Kong would probably be of more interest to the
kids than Shanghai, unless the kids are unusually (for their
ages) interested in seeing places or items of cultural or historical
interest.

I should also note that I'm not saying any of this from the perspective
of someone who has actually taken kids to any Asian destination;
my experiences in the Far East are from numerous business trips
there. But I can at least think about these things with regard to
how I think my own daughter (now 13) might look at them.

Bob M.




  #9  
Old January 7th, 2005, 06:19 PM
Alfred Molon
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article , Bob Myers says...

tour. Of the two, just for a place to start, I would have to say
that Hong Kong would probably be of more interest to the
kids than Shanghai, unless the kids are unusually (for their
ages) interested in seeing places or items of cultural or historical
interest.


I would avoid Hong Kong, because it's basically a very crowded place
full of skyscrapers with a very high population density (people, people
everywhere. Not a place where to relax with kids. It's a very urban
area, with not so many attractions for children.
--

Alfred Molon

http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei,
Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Germany, Austria,
Prague, Budapest and Portugal
  #10  
Old January 7th, 2005, 06:52 PM
PeterL
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
In article , Bob Myers says...

tour. Of the two, just for a place to start, I would have to say
that Hong Kong would probably be of more interest to the
kids than Shanghai, unless the kids are unusually (for their
ages) interested in seeing places or items of cultural or historical
interest.


I would avoid Hong Kong, because it's basically a very crowded place
full of skyscrapers with a very high population density (people, people
everywhere. Not a place where to relax with kids. It's a very urban
area, with not so many attractions for children.


While I would agree with the first part of your reply, I'd have to disagree
that HK has not many attractions for children. There are plenty of
shopping, electronics, and sight seeing for children.

--

Alfred Molon

http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei,
Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Germany, Austria,
Prague, Budapest and Portugal



 




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