China Travel Forum

[Alice]

China would be an interesting and important place for us to visit as a family. Any suggestions for a family hoping to see parts of China and inspire an interest in it? I'm not a big fan of package tours, and we can be more generous with time than with money. I know it's a huge country and no one can see it all in one trip, but where and how would your start?

[Arnold]

I went to Peking and Shanghai in a guided group with my family - my daugther (19 ) and my son (17.
It was a marveless trip - but you need to be guided otherwise you are totally lost, as the culture is completely different to Europ / Us menthality and nearly nobody except some higher educated people understand English.

BUT: You will see things that you've never seen before, and it will give you deep impression
Beijing and Shanghai are 2 good cities to start with. The subway system is easy to understand, even if you know no Chinese at all. Both cities are relatively safe, even late at night. Food should not be a problem as there are plenty of resaturants everywhere. Be cautious of purchasing water from street vendors as they may be fakes. Water from grocery is okay. If you have to purchase water from the streets, buy Coke or something similar that is difficult to fake.i would propose to have a guided tour which is safer and more comfortable. The guides have their handies with them - and it takes only a few moments until people attacking or bothering tourists are picked up by police.
Be sure, that you are safe on a guided tour and that you will see everything you like.