Who knows! Taking your kids to these places during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays is more effective than tutoring classes.
During the eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, don't let your kids only remember crowds, hotels, and cartoons. Choose places where they can run, see, and ask "why" questions—it'll be more effective than tutoring. Below are eight places I've personally planned and tested, listed in order from east to west and south to north. You can choose the ones that are convenient for you.
01 Yancheng | Jiangsu
First stop: Dafeng China Milu Deer Park.
⏰ Enter the park before 9 am. The deer are still grazing in the shallow water, close to the boardwalk, so your child can clearly see their large antlers. At midday, the deer hide in the woods, and you'll only see the grass.
📍 The park is large. Take the sightseeing bus to the innermost free-range area first, then walk back. Don't start walking immediately upon entering; your child will definitely complain of being tired halfway through.
⚠️ Don't bring your own carrots. Buy the park's designated feed at the entrance; it's 10 yuan for a small basket. Keep your hand flat when feeding them, otherwise your fingers will get hurt.
This place is suitable for children over five years old. Younger children won't understand the "wetland restoration" explanation, but they can watch the deer fight for half an hour. On the way back, stop by Tiaozini to see the tides. Remember to check the high tide time for the day. ⏰ Arrive two hours before high tide for the most birds. During the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, it's cool in Yancheng in the mornings and evenings, so bring a light jacket for your child.
02 Shenzhen|Guangdong
I hesitated about this stop in Shenzhen. I wondered if the miniature landscapes at Window of the World really counted as "worldly experience." Then I realized that for inland children, seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramids in one day is a significant spatial experience.
📍 But my suggestion is: Go to Dameisha Beach Park in the morning to play in the sand and water, and leave around noon. In the afternoon, head to OCT (Overseas Chinese Town). The creative park has bookstores and exhibitions converted from old factories, which are more interesting to explore than the artificial landscapes at Window of the World.
🚄 Dameisha requires reservations during holidays. Secure your spot in advance via their official WeChat account, otherwise you'll have wasted your trip. Window of the World tickets are expensive; if your child is under six, skip it and head to the Mission Hills Ecological Sports Park instead.
🍜 Don't eat inside the scenic area. Take a taxi to Shekou Old Street and enjoy a bowl of rice noodle rolls for five yuan with an iced lemon tea. Kids will love it more than at a buffet. Shenzhen Metro is convenient, but the Dameisha section is notoriously congested during holidays; take the metro if possible.
03 Haikou|Hainan
Haikou has a slower pace than Sanya, making it more comfortable with kids.
⏰ Start your day at Qilou Old Street. Enjoy a bowl of Hainan noodles under the Nanyang-style colonnades. The broth is slightly sweet, which kids will appreciate.
📍 Wugong Temple is more suitable for older children. It tells the story of exiled officials in ancient times, with engaging narratives, but don't expect kids to remember the names. Treat it as a garden visit. In the afternoon, we went to the Crater Park. Climbing the steps took about 40 minutes; children over four years old can walk it on their own.
⚠️ The stalls selling volcanic stone bracelets in the Crater Park are overpriced; just look. What's truly worth buying is the dried volcanic lychees sold by villagers at the foot of the mountain; they'll be fresh for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays.
🍜 For dinner, we went to the Banqiao Road Seafood Market. After choosing our seafood, we found a nearby processing shop. Remember to ask about the processing fee before ordering. Haikou's buses are slow; with children, I recommend taking a taxi. The starting fare is around 10 yuan, which is much less hassle than waiting for a bus. For accommodation, choose a place near Guomao; it's convenient for dining, and it's only a 10-minute drive to the Qilou (arcade buildings).
04 Quanzhou|Fujian
Quanzhou is the stop I most want to recommend.
⏰ At 6:30 am, we went to Kaiyuan Temple. There was almost no one under the East and West Pagodas; the pigeons were just waking up, and the children were chasing after them. Looking up at the dougong (bracket sets), the tranquility is something money can't buy.
📍 Lao Jun Rock on Qingyuan Mountain: Go after 4 PM, the light shining on the stone statue makes its outline particularly clear. Don't read all the cliff carvings; just talk about "First Mountain" and "Amitabha Rock," otherwise the kids will get distracted.
⚠️ The seaside in Chongwu Ancient Town is windy; bring a hat with a drawstring, or it will blow away instantly. Among the fish roll vendors in the ancient town, try just one; they all taste pretty much the same.
🚄 Quanzhou's old town is best explored on foot; eat your way from West Street to Zhongshan Road.
🍜 Rice noodle soup with fried dough sticks is a local way of eating, often with vinegar-braised pork and large intestines. Kids might not like the large intestines, so ask before ordering. Quanzhou can get hot during Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day; bring a sweat towel and water bottle for your kids, as there's not much shade inside Kaiyuan Temple.
05 Changde | Hunan
Taohuayuan Tourist Area – the name sounds like something out of a textbook, but once inside, children will have a vivid image of the idyllic paradise described in the phrase "Shangri-La."
⏰ It's recommended to arrive around 8 AM to take a boat into Qinxi. The morning mist hasn't dissipated yet, and while the peach blossoms on the banks are artificial, the water is genuinely clear.
📍 After disembarking, walk along Qin Valley. The path is flat, and strollers can walk easily. There's an agricultural experience area inside. During the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, it's harvest time, so kids can go into the fields and try out a sickle – much better than playing in the mud in a shopping mall.
⚠️ The Lei Cha (擂茶) shops inside the scenic area are twice as expensive as outside. For authentic Lei Cha, go to Changde River Street after leaving the scenic area; it's only 10 yuan a bowl, and you can even watch the chef grind it fresh.
🍜 Changde rice noodles are a must-try. The round noodles are chewier than the flat ones. Choose beef or braised pork as toppings. If you're with kids, order only mildly spicy; don't push yourself too hard. A taxi ride from Changde Station to Taohuayuan takes about 40 minutes. Buses are available, but infrequent, so plan your time accordingly.
06 Daxinganling | Heilongjiang
This stop is for older children.
⏰ It's already cold in Beiji Village during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, with temperatures around zero degrees Celsius in the mornings and evenings. Bring a down jacket. But it's precisely this cold that makes the phrase "China's northernmost point" tangible.
📍 Send a postcard from the northernmost post office, take a photo outside the northernmost outpost, and enjoy a hot pot stew at the northernmost family's doorstep. Don't think it's cliché; kids love this kind of ritual.
For the forest section, it's recommended to take the scenic area's sightseeing bus; walking is too far.
⚠️ Signal is weak in the forest, so download an offline map beforehand and don't let children out of sight. Squirrels and chipmunks aren't afraid of people, but don't feed them bread; it's bad for them.
🚄 There are buses from Mohe to Beiji Village, but they are infrequent; hiring a car is more flexible. Staying in Beiji Village is expensive, while staying in Mohe city is half the price. Just leave early the next day. The first snow might fall during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays; seeing it is a real treat.
07 Xilin Gol | Inner Mongolia
I've taken my kids to the Ulagai Grassland twice.
⏰ July and August are the most beautiful months, but going during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays is also worthwhile. The grass turns yellow, the sky is bluer, and there are fewer people, allowing you to run around freely.
📍 Bulin Spring and Wolf Valley can be visited together. The wolves in Wolf Valley are kept in enclosures, and children can watch through glass, so it's safe. The water in Bulin Spring is drinkable; bring an empty bottle to collect it.
⚠️ There's no shade on the grassland, so sunscreen and hats are essential. If you're going horseback riding, find a reputable horse farm; don't trust those soliciting customers on the roadside—the price difference can be double, and safety isn't guaranteed.
🍜 Hand-pulled mutton and milk tea are standard fare, but kids might find the gamey taste too strong, so ask for a small sample before ordering. Staying in a yurt for one night is sufficient, as showering is inconvenient. The second night, return to Xilinhot city. It gets cold on the grasslands at night during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays; an electric blanket is more effective than air conditioning.
08 Laibin | Guangxi
The last stop: Panwangjie in Dayao Mountain and Lianhua Mountain in Jinxiu.
⏰ Go to Panwangjie in the morning; the mist hasn't cleared yet, and the boardwalk winds through the clouds—children will say, "It feels like being on an airplane."
📍 Climb Lianhua Mountain in the afternoon. There are many steps; it's recommended that children under six take the cable car. The rhododendrons on the mountain are not in bloom during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, but the air is incredibly sweet—take a few deep breaths to cleanse your lungs.
⚠️ There's a winding mountain road from Jinxiu County to the scenic area; children prone to motion sickness should take medication beforehand. There are two Yao ethnic performances a day in Panwangjie; watch the afternoon performance for fewer people.
🍜 Jinxiu's Yao-style oil tea is bittersweet; children might frown at first bite, but it'll be more palatable with puffed rice. Staying in Jinxiu county town, you can find clean accommodations for around 100 yuan. Guangxi is still hot during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays; short sleeves and a light jacket are sufficient.
Of these eight places, Yancheng and Quanzhou are best for first-time family trips with kids, while the Greater Khingan Mountains and Xilin Gol League are for older children. Pick two or three to visit together; don't try to do too many. Tell me in the comments which places you most want to go, and I'll help you check the route.
During the eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, don't let your children only remember crowds, hotels, and cartoons. Choose a few places they can explore, see, and ask "why" about; this is more effective than tutoring. The following eight locations are ones I've planned and tried, arranged from east to west and south to north. You can choose the ones that are convenient for you.
01 Yancheng | Jiangsu
First stop: Dafeng China Milu Deer Park.
⏰ Enter the park before 9 AM. The deer will still be grazing in the shallow water, close to the boardwalk, so children can clearly see their large antlers. Around midday, the deer will retreat into the woods, and you'll only be able to see the grass.
📍 The park is large. Upon entering, take the sightseeing bus to the innermost free-range area, then walk back. Don't start walking immediately upon entering; children will likely complain of getting tired halfway through.
⚠️ Don't bring your own carrots. Buy designated park feed at the entrance; a small basket costs ten yuan. When feeding, keep your hand flat to avoid scratching your fingers.
This park is suitable for children over five years old. Younger children won't understand the "wetland restoration" explanation, but watching the deer fight can keep you entertained for half an hour. On the way back, stop by Tiaozini to watch the tides. Remember to check the tide times for the day. ⏰ Arrive two hours before high tide for the most birds. During the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, it can be cool in the mornings and evenings in Yancheng, so bring a light jacket for your child.
02 Shenzhen|Guangdong
I hesitated about the Shenzhen stop. Was the miniature landscape at Window of the World really a sign of being well-traveled? Then I realized that for inland children, seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Pyramids in one day is a significant spatial experience.
📍 But my suggestion is: go to Dameisha Beach Park in the morning to play in the sand and water, and leave around noon. In the afternoon, head to OCT (Overseas Chinese Town). The creative park has bookstores and exhibitions converted from old factories, which are more engaging than the artificial landscapes at Window of the World.
🚄 Dameisha requires reservations during holidays. Book in advance on their official WeChat account, otherwise you'll have wasted your trip. Window of the World tickets are expensive. If your child is under six, skip it and go to the Mission Hills Ecological Sports Park instead.
🍜 Don't eat inside the scenic area. Take a taxi to Shekou Old Street and have a bowl of rice noodle rolls for five yuan with an iced lemon tea. Kids will enjoy it more than at a buffet. Shenzhen's subway is convenient, but the traffic jams in the Dameisha section during holidays are unbearable. If you can take the subway, don't drive.
03 Haikou | Hainan
Haikou has a slower pace of life than Sanya, making it more comfortable with kids.
⏰ In the morning, head to the Qilou Old Street and enjoy a bowl of Hainan noodles under the Nanyang-style colonnades. The broth is slightly sweet, which kids can accept.
📍 Wugong Temple is more suitable for older children. It tells the story of ancient officials exiled to high positions, with a strong narrative, but don't expect kids to remember the names. Just treat it as a garden visit. In the afternoon, go to the Crater Park. Climbing the steps takes about 40 minutes; children over four years old can walk the whole way on their own.
⚠️ The stalls selling volcanic stone bracelets in the Crater Park are overpriced; just look. The real bargain is the dried volcanic lychees sold by villagers at the foot of the mountain, which are fresh stock for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays.
🍜 For dinner, go to the Banqiao Road Seafood Market. After selecting your seafood, find a nearby processing shop. Remember to ask about the processing fee before ordering. Haikou's buses are slow, so I recommend taking a taxi with kids. The starting fare is around 10 yuan, which is much less hassle than waiting for a bus. For accommodation, choose a place near the International Trade Center; it's convenient for dining, and it's only a 10-minute drive to the Qilou (arcade buildings).
04 Quanzhou | Fujian
Quanzhou is my personal favorite stop.
⏰ Go to Kaiyuan Temple at 6:30 am. There's almost no one under the East and West Pagodas. The pigeons are just waking up, and the kids are chasing each other. Looking up at the bracket sets, you experience a tranquility that money can't buy.
📍 Lao Jun Rock on Qingyuan Mountain: Go after 4 pm. The light shines on the stone statues, making their outlines particularly clear. Don't read all the cliff carvings; just talk about "First Mountain" and "Amitabha Rock." Too much talking will distract the kids.
⚠️ The seaside at Chongwu Ancient City is windy; bring a drawstring for your hat, or it will blow away instantly. Among the fish roll vendors in the ancient city, just try one; they all taste pretty much the same.
🚄 Quanzhou's old town is best explored on foot; eat your way from West Street to Zhongshan Road.
🍜 Locally, rice noodle soup with fried dough sticks is a common dish, often served with vinegar-braised pork and pork intestines. Children might not like the intestines, so ask before ordering. It can be hot in Quanzhou during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, so bring a towel and water bottle for your child, as there's not much shade inside Kaiyuan Temple.
05 Changde | Hunan
Taohuayuan Tourist Area – the name sounds like something out of a textbook, but once inside, children will have a vivid image of "Shangri-La."
⏰ It's recommended to arrive around 8 am to take a boat into Qinxi. The morning mist hasn't dissipated yet, and while the peach blossoms on the banks are artificial, the water is genuinely clear.
📍 After disembarking, walk through Qin Valley. The path is flat, and you can even walk with a stroller. There's an agricultural experience area inside. During the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, it's harvest time, so kids can try their hand at using a sickle in the fields – much better than playing in the mud in a shopping mall.
⚠️ The price of Lei Cha (擂茶, a type of tea) in the scenic area is twice as high as outside. For authentic Lei Cha, go to Changde River Street after leaving the scenic area; it's only 10 yuan a bowl, and you can even watch the chef grind it fresh.
🍜 Changde rice noodles are a must-try. Round noodles are chewier than flat noodles. Choose beef or braised pork as toppings. If you're bringing kids, make sure it's mildly spicy; don't push yourself too hard. It takes about 40 minutes by taxi from Changde Station to Taohuayuan. There are buses, but they are infrequent, so plan your time accordingly.
06 Daxinganling | Heilongjiang
This stop is for older children.
⏰ It's already cold in Beiji Village during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, around zero degrees Celsius in the mornings and evenings. Bring a down jacket. But it's precisely this cold that makes the phrase "China's northernmost point" tangible.
📍 Send a postcard from the northernmost post office, take a photo outside the northernmost outpost, and eat a hot pot stew at the northernmost family's doorstep. Don't think it's cliché; kids love this kind of ritual.
For the forest section, it's recommended to take the scenic area's sightseeing bus in, as walking is too far.
⚠️ Signal is weak in the forest, so download an offline map beforehand and don't let children out of sight. Squirrels and chipmunks aren't afraid of people, but don't feed them bread; it's bad for them.
🚄 There are buses from Mohe to Beiji Village, but the frequency is low, so hiring a car is more flexible. Staying inside Beiji Village is expensive, while staying in Mohe city is half the price; just leave early the next day. The first snow might fall during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays; seeing it is a real treat.
07 Xilin Gol | Inner Mongolia
I've taken my kids to the Ulagai Grassland twice.
⏰ July and August are the most beautiful, but going during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays is also nice; the grass turns yellow, the sky is bluer, and there are fewer people, so you can run around freely.
📍 Bulin Spring and Wolf Valley can be visited together. The wolves in Wolf Valley are kept in captivity, and children can watch through glass, so it's safe. The water from Bulin Spring is drinkable; bring an empty bottle to collect it.
⚠️ There's no shade on the grassland, so sunscreen and a hat are essential. For horseback riding, find a reputable horse farm; don't trust roadside touts—the price difference can be double, and safety isn't guaranteed.
🍜 Hand-pulled mutton and milk tea are standard fare, but children might find the smell too strong, so ask for a small sample before ordering. Staying in a yurt for one night is sufficient; showering is inconvenient. Return to Xilinhot city for the second night. It gets cold on the grassland at night during Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day; an electric blanket is more effective than air conditioning.
08 Laibin|Guangxi
The last stop: Panwangjie in Dayao Mountain and Lianhua Mountain in Jinxiu.
⏰ Go to Panwangjie in the morning; the clouds haven't cleared yet, and the boardwalk winds through the clouds—children will say, "It feels like being on an airplane."
📍 Climb Lianhua Mountain in the afternoon; there are many steps, so it's recommended that children under six take the cable car up and down. The azaleas on the mountain won't bloom during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, but the air is incredibly sweet—take a few deep breaths to cleanse your lungs.
⚠️ There's a winding mountain road from Jinxiu County to the scenic area; children prone to motion sickness should take medication beforehand. The Yao ethnic minority performances in Panwangjie are held twice a day; watch the afternoon show for fewer people.
🍜 Jinxiu's Yao-style oil tea is bitter yet fragrant; children might frown at the first bite, but it'll be easier to eat with puffed rice. Staying in Jinxiu County, you can find clean accommodations for around 100 RMB. It's still hot in Guangxi during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays; short sleeves and a light jacket are sufficient.
Of these eight places, Yancheng and Quanzhou are best for first-time family trips with children. Leave the Greater Khingan Mountains and Xilin Gol League for older children. Pick two or three to visit together; don't try to go too far. Tell me in the comments which places you'd most like to visit, and I'll help you check the route.