Backpacking in China with a toddler? Is that even possible?

We asked travel coach Doris who did just that with her little boy Paco when he was 18 months old:

“When planning our China trip with our toddler we had the classic option of ‘doing’ the China highlights which meant zigzagging around this huge country on a number of internal flights to tick off ‘must do’ sights. However, on this occasion we preferred focusing on one region to explore at a deeper level and leave the Great Wall and the soldiers for another trip. Shanghai and the five provinces around it felt like a great place to explore.

On our first days upon arrival in Shanghai we chose to stay for a few days at the historic Astor House Hotel which became the first building in China to be lit by electricity in 1882 and became the first building in Shanghai to install running water. A great intro into overwhelming Shanghai by exploring the central neighbourhoods on foot and buggy while adjusting to the time difference, the heat and the different sounds and smells.

Once adjusted we left the big city behind and visited some of the finest Chinese Gardens in Suzhou, the ‘Venice of the East’ where Paco was most impressed by the vast amount of gold fish and butterflies.

We then explored the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou which Marco Polo described in the 13th century as a city ‘greater than any in the world’ by cycling around the lake with Paco in the back seat and watching the amazing water shows on the lake at night.

Then it was hiking amidst endless rice fields and tea farms which culminated in an unforgettable hike up a million steps in the Huangshan mountains with Paco in a sling to take in the most impressive views from up there.

After that we wanted to get a glimpse of life by the sea and explored the stunning island of Mount Putuo. The island – a train and overnight-ferry ride away from Shanghai – is one of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism and has been a pilgrimage site for over 1,000 years and hence covered with temples and monasteries while also boasting some sandy beaches to allow for some recharging and play time in the sand for our boy.

And then the Grand Finale in cosmopolitan Shanghai with its impressive Modern Arts scene and modern skyline. To round up this most diverse trip with some luxury, we stayed on our last few days in one of the tallest buildings with awesome views over Pudong and the Huangpu River.

All in all an unforgettable trip with a steep learning curve on how to travel with kids. This China trip with our toddler was our first intercontinental backpacking trip as new parents and we felt overwhelmed to start with. We had travelled the world pre-kids and were conscious this was going to be different, possibly more difficult and complicated. We were worried about what food to get for him, worried if we had brought all the needed
drugs along, worried about safety everywhere and worried we may have overdone it. However, only a few days into the trip we started relaxing and enjoying ourselves, and most importantly, we started going with the flow turning this trip into one of the best travel experiences.

7 things we learned on this trip:
– to be more patient and overall more flexible with plans in order to adjust to the kid’s routine
– to appreciate the world through the kids’ eyes. By slowing down we connected more with people around us and started paying more attention to the small things on the way (beyond the millions of insects that we meticulously analysed and followed).
– not to over pack. Most things can be bought locally (even at a cheaper price) so why carry things round & ‘just in case’?
– to make good use of the & ‘point it’ booklet as very few people speak English in China
– not to change accommodation every day but to stay at one same place for at least two nights for some routine
– not to over-worry about food for your little one. Plain rice or plain noodles can go a long way and can be tried out with all sorts of different sauces from mum’s or dad’s dish
– not to try and see it all but to take out time to just be and enjoy the moments, watching elderly couples dancing in the park, following a butterfly into the bamboo woods, writing your name in massive letters in the sand and listening to the thunder storm in the mountains.”

Are you thinking about taking your kids travelling? Don’t know where and how to start? Could you do it with some help from the expert? Get inspiration by following Doris on IG @cadario_travel (she just returned from an epic backpacking trip through Mexico with her three kids) or check out her website to book a 60 min online travel coaching session  www.cadariotravel.com

Credit photos Doris Dario

About the author

I am Doris, a travel coach and mum of three, originally from South Tyrol in Northern Italy.
As a digital nomad I have travelled to close to 80 countries in the past 25 years both for leisure and on business as a translator, project manager and then global talent director, first solo, then with my Spanish partner and now with our children. This passion for DIY travelling also sees us moving countries every few years to slow-travel at a deeper level, currently we are exploring the beautiful Swiss canton of Ticino.
As a multilingual travel coach it is my mission to inspire and guide others to find their own authentic way of travelling. To help them overcome their fears and limiting beliefs to discover beauty in nature, in people and in all the wonderful places on this globe by mindfully exploring the unknown through all senses.