There’s a holiday coming up and that means if we shuffle our annual leave days around correctly, we can carve out a decent long holiday for ourselves. So now that we don’t need to worry about Covid tests and travel restrictions, where are some cool travel destinations the whole family’ll enjoy?
Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, Henan Province
About two hours by train from Beijing, Zhengzhou makes for a fun short trip for the family. It’s a city of tasty foods, fun family attractions, day camping grounds filled with cherry blossoms, and a short drive (or even shorter train ride) to Kaifeng, the ancient capital of China, and a city known for an unparalleled street food dining culture.
Kaifeng Night Market
It’s one of the coolest sights I’ve ever witnessed. Street vendors set up their stalls in a matter of minutes, each hawking their own specialty. Visitors can sit down to dine on local specialties that can only be found at night markets in one of the many street side tables.
Xiamen and Gulangyu, Fujian Province
Gulangyu is a quirky island that doesn’t make the top of the list for many expat travelers. The small pedestrian-only island lies about 8-minutes by ferry from the city of Xiamen. This UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site is only about 2 kilometers in size but is home to small bed and breakfasts, quaint cafes, and one-of-a-kind restaurants.
Gulangyu Souvenir Notebooks
It’s as if all the F&B and hospitality businesses on the island made an unspoken pact – to give each visitor a small notebook as a welcome gift. Each cafe and restaurant on the island has its own stamp that any visitor (whether you dine there or not) can use to stamp their notebook to mark that they’ve visited that particular destination. This makes for a unique souvenir and fun scavenger hunt!
Chengdu and Jiuzaigou, Sichuan Province
When we say Sichuan we tend to think of spicy food and pandas. Of course, the giant panda sanctuary in Chengdu is a must-see. Although, to be fairly honest, it wasn’t as exciting as I had expected it to be. But, the most memorable part of my trip to Sichuan was the short trip to Jiuzaigou.
Inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. The tourism area is classified as AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration. A bus ride away from the city of Chengdu, Jiuzaigou is located by the Tibetan plateau and is home to some of the most beautiful waters in China with its many multi-level waterfalls, colorful lakes, and snow-capped peaks.
The Altitude
The elevation ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 meters (6,600 to 14,800 ft) at Jiuzaigou and for those who’ve never experienced it, it’s a unique experience. This was the first time I’ve seen portable oxygen tanks being sold at the entrances of parks.
Images: Mina Yan, Pexels, Linqing
