Great place to take the kids during summer vacation, personally tested and found to be not crowded and fun.

Where to take the kids this summer? These 8️⃣ places will have them screaming with joy✨ 1️⃣ Wuxi, Jiangsu Don't rush to Lingshan Grand Buddha in the morning. First, take the kids to the Sutra Copying Pavilion in Nianhuawan for a cool and peaceful break. Kids can try their hand at making fan rubbings, while adults enjoy a cold-brew tea, all while looking out at the blooming lotus pond. ⏰ Head to Lingshan Grand Buddha after 3:00 PM. The Nine Dragons Bathing Buddha show starts on the hour. Standing in the front row means getting sprayed with mist, which kids actually find super exciting. ⚠️ Remember to pack an extra quick-dry outfit for the kids. Getting soaked near the plaza fountains and lotus pond is standard. On the second day, visit the CCTV Wuxi Film Base (Three Kingdoms and Water Margin City). Don't try to see it all; take the sightseeing bus directly to the "Wu Palace" and work your way back. Kids can watch the horse battle performance and rent traditional costumes for photos. In the evening, stop by Huishan Ancient Town. The ancestral halls are free to enter. Take a stroll along the river and pick up a Huishan clay figurine as a souvenir. 🍜 For lunch, grab a bowl of dried shrimp wontons in the ancient town. If it gets too hot, duck into the Clay Figurine Museum to browse in the air conditioning. 2️⃣ Taizhou, Zhejiang The Ruyi Bridge at Shenxianju makes many kids' legs shake, but they'll be begging to walk it again once they're down. The cable car saves energy, but lines are long in summer, so I recommend arriving right when it opens—getting there before 8:30 AM usually means no crowds. ⏰ In the afternoon, head to Tiantai Mountain. The Shiliang Waterfall trail is lush and shaded with cool stream water—kids will love splashing around so much they won't want to leave. Pack a pair of clogs; they're much more practical than sneakers. The Taizhou Prefecture City Cultural Tourism Area is best visited in the evening. It's breezy on the city wall, perfect for waiting for the sunset, and you can try the "egg white sheep tail" (a local snack) on Ziyang Street. ⚠️ Some snack stalls close after 5:30 PM, so buy your seaweed cakes before 4:00 PM. If your kids are younger, the cliff elevator at Shenxianju is much more stroller-friendly than hiking. 3️⃣ Wenshan, Yunnan If we're talking about the ultimate summer family trip, Puzhehei is a must. Take the kids on a willow-leaf boat for a water fight. Remember to change into swimwear and bring a waterproof phone pouch. Buy water guns at the village entrance—they're half the price of those in the scenic area. The whole trip takes two hours. The boatman won't rush you, and the kids will be cheering and screaming the whole way, while adults can fully immerse themselves in the water fun. After getting ashore, climb Qinglong Mountain for a bird's-eye view of the landscape. The steps aren't too steep; kids around six years old can make it to the top on their own. 🍜 For lunch, have lotus leaf chicken in Xianrendong Village. The owner often gives a free bowl of ice jelly to help cool you down. ⚠️ The sun is strongest between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, so don't plan outdoor activities. Head back to your inn for a nap or visit the filming location of "Eternal Love," which has plenty of shade. July is peak lotus season. Get to the lake at 6:30 AM for soft light and fewer crowds—perfect for photos. 4️⃣ Haikou, Hainan Don't rush straight to the beach when you arrive in Haikou! First, take the kids to the Wugong Temple. It's not a large park, but the towering ancient trees provide shade, and there's a small pond for feeding fish. Kids might not be interested in history, but they'll love counting the steps of the "First Building in Hainan," and it's a great spot for adults to take a leisurely, cool stroll. Save the Qilou Old Street for the evening. Wander through the Nanyang-style arcade buildings and grab some Qingbuliang (a refreshing dessert) and fried shrimp cakes. ⚠️ Don't touch the coconut carvings on the old street; they're mostly fragile and can easily lead to misunderstandings. The Volcano Park is worth a visit, but there are many steps, so you might want to bring a hiking stick for the kids. ⏰ Arrive when it opens at 8:00 AM and head down before 10:00 AM to avoid the scorching sun. If it rains, don't panic—take a taxi to the Mission Hills Centreville indoor playground, which is enough to keep the kids entertained all afternoon. 🍜 For lunch, choose a small street-side shop near the volcano. The Wenchang chicken is affordable and authentic, offering better value than the restaurants in the scenic area. 5️⃣ Qingdao, Shandong For Mount Lao, prioritize the Yangkou route to avoid the high-intensity hiking of the Jufeng route—it's much easier for kids. Yangkou has a cable car, and after getting off, a short hike offers ocean views. There's also a beach at the foot of the mountain for digging in the sand and catching crabs. ⏰ Leave at 7:00 AM and head down before noon. In the afternoon, head to Zhanqiao Pier; you can hunt for small crabs on the beach at low tide. I recommend visiting the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center after 4:00 PM. Take a 30-minute sailboat trip out to sea—the breeze is lovely, but remember to bring a sun-protective jacket for the kids. ⚠️ The sightseeing train at the Olympic Sailing Center isn't great value; walking along the coastal boardwalk is a better experience. For dinner, check out Taidong Pedestrian Street. With grilled squid and fresh draft beer, both adults and kids will find something they love. If it's muggy, head to the Underwater World. The underwater tunnel is cool and soothing, and kids can stare at the fish for ages. 6️⃣ Suizhou, Hubei Dahong Mountain is an underrated summer getaway for families. It's at a high altitude, so you might even need a light blanket at night. Take the kids for a stroll along the Liangwangzhai trail; the whole path is shaded by trees, and you can hear the babbling stream while kids collect leaves of all shapes and sizes. 🍜 For lunch, try a bowl of kudzu starch cold noodles at the entrance of the scenic area—it's tangy, appetizing, and kid-friendly. In the afternoon, head to Bailong Pool. The shallow water is great for splashing around, but remember: no wild swimming, safety first. ⏰ By 6:00 PM, the tourists have gradually left, leaving only the sounds of birds and wind in the valley. If you're lucky, you might even spot fireflies. ⚠️ Convenience stores on the mountain are scarce, so be sure to bring your own drinking water and snacks, and remember to take your trash with you when you leave. If you plan to stay overnight, the resort hotel in the scenic area has family rooms. They fill up fast in the summer, so I recommend booking two weeks in advance. 7️⃣ Haidong, Qinghai Spend the morning at the Huzhu Tu Nationality Hometown Park. Kids can watch intangible cultural heritage performances of Tu embroidery and try on traditional ethnic costumes for photos. In the small courtyards, they can experience grinding highland barley—many kids say this is more fun than a playground. ⏰ For lunch, try the local specialties in the park, like "Yangyu Jinjin" (potato dish) and "Goujiaoniao" (dog-pissing) pancakes—the names are funny, but the taste is amazing. In the afternoon, head to Youning Temple. It's located on a hillside with few steps, but the altitude is high, so slow down and take it easy. ⚠️ Photography is prohibited inside the halls. Pay attention to the signs at the entrance and keep an eye on the kids. If you notice any signs of mild altitude sickness in your child, don't push it—return to Xining immediately, and the discomfort will ease as the altitude drops. 🚄 It only takes half an hour to get from Xining to Haidong by high-speed train, making a day trip easy. 8️⃣ Shanghai Disney is the main event, but don't expect to do everything in one day. The Early Entry Pass is worth getting; head straight for Soaring Over the Horizon when you enter to save a lot of waiting time. ⏰ When the midday heat hits, duck into an indoor restaurant in Tomorrowland to eat, cool off, and recharge. In the afternoon, wait for the parade. Standing at the exit of Tomorrowland offers a great view with fewer crowds. ⚠️ The fireworks show starts at 9:00 PM. Stake out a spot an hour early, or you'll just be looking at the back of people's heads. Once you're tired of Disney, visit the Guangfulin Cultural Relics on the second day. The underwater museum is cool and great for photos, and kids will be curious about the ancient pottery. Schedule Yuyuan Garden for the evening. Walk across the Nine-Turn Bridge and eat the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant while they're hot. Don't miss the quieter Expo Park. The dynamic version of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" at the China Art Museum easily captures kids' attention. When traveling with kids in the summer, don't pack your itinerary too full. Leave two hours each day for downtime or a nap so the kids don't get fussy and the adults don't get exhausted. My personal recommendations are Puzhehei and Mount Lao—one for splashing in the water, the other for seeing the sea and playing in the waves. Both are trips that kids will remember for a long time. Where have you taken your kids? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments to help other parents avoid pitfalls~