National Day Parenting Guide: 6 Hidden Gems You Won't Want to Leave
🎉Countdown to the National Day holiday! Are parents still struggling with where to take the kids? Say no to crowded places and meaningless check-ins. We've compiled 6 personally tested fun family destinations featuring nature play, cultural exploration, and intangible heritage experiences. Kids will be happy and learn something too—just copy this list👇
🌵Zhongwei, Ningxia|Desert Starry Sky Family Camp (A kid’s dreamland)
- Why recommend: Around 20°C in Zhongwei during National Day, comfortable without sunburn or heat! The Desert Star Hotel has its own "star observation deck," where you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye at night—kids will be amazed.
- Family activities (super detailed):
✨Day 1: Check into Desert Star Hotel, room balcony faces the desert. After unpacking, play with the "sandboard" (free rental at the hotel), sliding down dunes with kids laughing nonstop;
✨Day 2: Join the "Stargazing Class" (included in the family camp). An astronomy teacher points out the Big Dipper with a telescope and helps kids make star charts. In the afternoon, visit Helan Mountain rock paintings to see 3,000-year-old animal carvings. The teacher tells "ancient hunter stories," which fascinate the kids;
✨Day 3: Must visit a Hui family! Learn to make "Youxiang" (oil incense) with grandma—kneading dough and frying, kids get hands-on and can wear Hui traditional clothes for photos. In the evening, ride camels (kids under 1.2m can ride with parents), slowly walking in the desert watching the sunset turn dunes golden.
- Budget reference: 5 days 4 nights family camp (including accommodation, meals, activities) about 3000 RMB/person, discounts for groups of three; if going alone, Desert Star Hotel costs about 1200 RMB/night during National Day, camel ride 80 RMB/person, Helan Mountain rock painting ticket 70 RMB/adult (free under 1.2m).
- Tips: Bring high-top shoes to prevent sand in shoes; hotel provides free children's sand digging tools, no need to bring your own.
🏯Luoyang, Henan|Thirteen Dynasties Ancient Capital Cultural Tour (Learn while playing)
- Why recommend: Historical sites are very kid-friendly! Most are free or half-price, affordable prices, a bowl of beef soup costs 10 RMB and fills you up, no stress bringing kids.
- Family activities (pitfall avoidance):
✨Day 1: Morning rush to "Luoyang Museum" (book 3 days in advance via WeChat), rent a "children’s audio guide" (20 RMB/device) featuring "dinosaur fossil area" and "Tang Sancai dolls," kids can touch replica artifacts; afternoon visit "Longmen Grottoes," take the "West Mountain Grotto" route, focus on the "Vairocana Buddha," tell kids "this is the incarnation of Empress Wu Zetian," which sparks their curiosity;
✨Day 2: Morning visit "Luoyi Ancient City" (free, less crowded before 9 am), dress kids in Hanfu (rental 50 RMB/set including hairstyle), take family photos under "Wenfeng Tower"; lunch at Shizi Street eating "Bufan Soup" (15 RMB/bowl) with vermicelli and meatballs, kids love it; afternoon visit "Sui-Tang Grand Canal Museum," ride a mini cargo boat (10 RMB/person) to experience "ancient grain transport" fun.
- Budget reference: Family of three, 2 days 1 night, stay in old town family guesthouse (200 RMB/night with kids’ bed), meals 150 RMB/day, tickets only Longmen Grottoes 180 RMB (two adults one child), total about 780 RMB (excluding major transport).
- Tips: Longmen Grottoes have many steps, kids should wear sneakers; museum closed on Mondays, don’t go then.
🌊Weihai, Shandong|Seaside Tide Pool Fun Tour (Low cost, high joy)
- Why recommend: 90% of attractions are free! Long coastline to play freely, tide pooling can find little crabs and clams, kids get a big sense of achievement.
- Family activities (tide pooling guide):
✨Must-have for tide pooling: Check "Weihai tide table" in advance (search "tide forecast" on WeChat), go to "Seaside Park" one hour before low tide, bring small shovel and bucket (10 RMB/set at roadside shops). Teach kids to gently catch little crabs in rock crevices—super fun;
✨Daytime activities: Morning at "Yuehai Park," red lighthouse and white swings perfect for photos, free children’s playground by the sea; afternoon rent "family bike" (30 RMB/hour), ride along coastal road to "Maotoushan," stop to watch waves hit rocks, kids can collect colorful shells;
✨Evening must-go: "Weihai International Seawater Bathing Beach," soft sand that doesn’t hurt feet, build sandcastles with kids, take backlit silhouette photos at sunset to wow your social media.
- Budget reference: Family of three, 2 days 1 night, stay near the beach guesthouse (300 RMB/night, 5-minute walk to sea), meals 150 RMB/day (recommend seafood dumplings, 30 RMB/serving), transport 60 RMB/day, total about 1020 RMB.
- Tips: Don’t wear sandals tide pooling, rocks are slippery; seaside is windy, bring a light jacket for kids.
🌸Xiamen, Fujian|Artistic Family Leisure Tour (Relaxed pace)
- Why recommend: Slow pace, full facilities, every attraction has children’s rest areas, no stress eating and strolling with kids, plus great artistic family photo ops.
- Family activities (avoid crowds):
✨Day 1: Skip crowded Gulangyu main street, take boat to "Neicuo’ao Pier" (35 RMB/person, free under 1.2m), find "stamp shops" (buy stamp book 10 RMB), collect special stamps at "Zhang Sanfeng Milk Tea Shop" and "Su Xiaotang"; afternoon visit "Shapowei," art west district has "mini train" (20 RMB/ride), kids can ride three times without getting bored;
✨Day 2: Morning visit "Xiamen Botanical Garden" (30 RMB/person, free under 1.4m), focus on "succulent plant area," giant cacti taller than people are impressive, take "little people kingdom" photos with kids; afternoon go to "Huangcuo Beach" (free), half as crowded as Baicheng Beach, rest under trees and eat "shacha noodles" (25 RMB/bowl), kids love the soup.
- Budget reference: Family of three, 3 days 2 nights, stay in Zengcuoan guesthouse (250 RMB/night with family rooms), meals 150 RMB/day, tickets + boat about 130 RMB, total about 1030 RMB.
- Tips: Buy Gulangyu boat tickets 3 days in advance, Neicuo’ao Pier is less crowded; Botanical Garden has many mosquitoes, spray kids with repellent.
🏞️Chongzuo, Guangxi|Mountain and Water Fairy Tale Adventure (Close to nature)
- Why recommend: Karst landscape looks like an animation scene! Detian Waterfall is Asia’s largest transnational waterfall, kids can see the "white ribbon hanging between mountains" up close.
- Family activities (fun version):
✨Day 1: Ride "Mingshi Tianyuan bamboo raft" (80 RMB/person, half price under 1.2m), raft guide points out "Camel Mountain" and "Fairy Peak," teaches kids Zhuang ethnic mountain songs;
✨Day 2: Visit "Detian Transnational Waterfall" (80 RMB/person, free under 1.2m), walk the "waterside plank road," water splashes on your face for a cool feeling, tell kids "Vietnam is right across," they’ll lean on the railing watching for a long time; afternoon stay at "Zaiye Suji" (high-end guesthouse about 800 RMB/night, also has 300 RMB/night ordinary guesthouses), guesthouse has "tortoise interaction area," kids can feed tortoises leaves, very gentle.
- Budget reference: Family of three, 2 days 1 night, ordinary guesthouse 300 RMB/night, meals 120 RMB/day, tickets + bamboo raft about 280 RMB, total about 920 RMB.
- Tips: Chongzuo attractions are spread out, recommend chartering a car (200 RMB/day), cheaper than taxis; remember to put life jackets on kids for bamboo raft rides.
🎨Weishan Ancient Town, Yunnan|Intangible Heritage Handicraft Experience Tour (Off the beaten path, uncrowded)
- Why recommend: Ten times quieter than Dali! No commercial shops, full of local life atmosphere. Intangible heritage crafts let kids use hands and brains.
- Family activities (immersive):
✨Day 1: Morning visit "Weishan Intangible Heritage Museum" (free), learn wood carving "Jia Ma" from inheritors (15 RMB/person), kids carve "little tiger" and "Fu character" with small knives, finished pieces can be taken home as bookmarks; afternoon learn tie-dyeing small scarves (30 RMB/person), from tying to dyeing all done by themselves, dried scarves can be used as drool cloths;
✨Day 2: Morning visit ancient town "Nanzhao Ancient Street," eat "Weishan braised pork rice noodles" (10 RMB/bowl), add a marinated egg for kids; noon learn "Wamao ceramics" (25 RMB/person), make a mini Wamao cat, fired pieces can be used as ornaments; evening stroll on ancient city wall, watch locals dance in the square, kids can follow the moves.
- Budget reference: Family of three, 2 days 1 night, ancient town guesthouse 100 RMB/night (owner makes breakfast), craft experiences about 80 RMB, meals 80 RMB/day, total about 440 RMB.
- Tips: Ancient town has many stone slabs, kids should wear non-slip shoes; book craft experiences one day in advance, inheritors prepare children’s tools.
💡National Day Parenting Tips:
1. Book hotels 7 days in advance! Popular destinations have tight availability during National Day, choose "free cancellation" to avoid itinerary changes;
2. Don’t rush with kids! Visit attractions after 9 am so kids get enough sleep and avoid morning rush hour;
3. Carry an "emergency kit": band-aids, probiotics, snacks to handle unexpected situations.
Every place holds the key to kids’ happiness. Follow this guide and you won’t go wrong! Wishing all parents a joyful National Day with kids and full of wonderful memories~🎉