China with kids, a practical family guide
Free trains for under 6s, free pandas under 1.3 m, the best family route, pace, food and strollers. What you need to visit China with kids.
Children's tickets
China costs less with kids than you might think. Many sights are reduced or free for children, but you nearly always have to book their place with their passport.
- Train. Under 6 with no seat, free, one per adult
- Train. Ages 6 to 13 pay a child fare. From 14, full fare
- Chengdu pandas. Free up to age 6 or under 1.3 m
- Tianmen and the Zhangjiajie glass bridge. Free for under 14s
Passports and arrival
Every child needs their own passport, babies too, and enters on the same terms as adults. At the border, fingerprints are only taken from ages 14 to 70, so young kids go through fast. Bring their passports to every sight, because tickets carry their names.
The family route, with pandas
Twelve days with only three journeys. Four in Beijing, two in Xi'an, three in Chengdu and three in Shanghai. The first two legs are by bullet train, where kids can get up and move around, and the last one is a flight.
- Beijing. The Great Wall at Mutianyu and its toboggan
- Xi'an. The city wall by bike, flat and with tandems
- Chengdu. The pandas at opening time and Sichuan face changing
- Shanghai. The Maglev, a night cruise and Disneyland by metro
Pace and daily rhythm
One big sight a day is enough. Start early, when there are fewer people and less heat, and keep midday for a rest at the hotel. Plan 2 to 4 days per city and no more than five cities in two weeks. Days with no plan are part of the trip too.
Hotels with family rooms
Good sleep is half of a family trip. These hotels from the guide have family rooms and a metro nearby. Prices are from, per night and room, checked on Trip.com for a night in November 2026.
- Beijing. Manxin Wangfujing, from €73
- Xi'an. Atour Bell Tower, inside the city wall, from €44
- Chengdu. Manxin Chunxi Road, with family suites, from €51
- Shanghai. Atour Great World, metro at the door, from €75
Food and strollers
Order the kids' food "bù là", not spicy. Dumplings, noodles and fried rice usually go down well. Drink only bottled water. A light folding stroller works in Beijing and Shanghai, but the Great Wall, Zhangjiajie and Chongqing have lots of steps. There, a baby carrier is better.
Frequently asked questions
Do children pay on the bullet train?
Children under 6 with no seat travel free, one per adult. If you have two under 6, the second pays a child fare, as does any child who needs a seat. Ages 6 to 13 pay a child fare. From 14, full fare.
What time should we see the pandas?
At opening time. Entry starts at 7.30 from March to October and at 8 from November to February. The pandas eat and move in the morning and sleep at midday. Adult tickets cost 55 yuan and you book online up to 14 days ahead.
When is the best time to go with kids?
Spring or autumn. Summer works too, but it is hot, so start early and rest at midday. Avoid Golden Week from 1 to 7 October and Chinese New Year, when everything is packed.
Does my baby need a passport?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own passport, babies included. You use it to register their train trips and book their tickets, even when they go free.
Guides to plan your trip
What people ask us most, explained calmly.
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Trip budgetChina trip cost, hotels, trains and entry tickets
Winter travelChina in winter, which cities work and which do not
Arrival dayFirst day in China, from the airport to your hotelFlightsHow to fly to China