Three Perfect Cities for a Relaxing May Day Holiday with Kids

As a travel blogger with a 4-year-old "money-gobbling beast", I visited 10 cities before May Day this year and finally selected these three treasure troves where "kids can burn off energy and moms can relax"—Chengdu, Qingdao, and Guangzhou. Here's a super detailed guide for traveling with kids, follow it and you won't be disappointed! 🌿 First Stop: Chengdu - Bringing the Zoo to the City ✔️ Must-visit attractions: 1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Arrive before 7:30 am! Take the scenic sightseeing bus directly to the Moon Delivery Room to watch the cubs drink milk. Bring a stroller! The park is so big that kids can easily walk 20,000 steps). 2. East Suburb Memory · Fanxing Parent-child Tribe (An indoor paradise for kids! Three floors of immersive interactive games. When they're tired, there's a cafe next door where moms can finally enjoy a hot coffee). 3. Huanhuaxi Park (Free! Feed fish, watch birds, play in the sand. The highlight is the close-up view of the red walls of Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, perfect for taking photos in Hanfu). 4. Nerbao Family Center (Global Center Branch) (A kid's paradise! Role-playing, science labs, simulated cities. The adult relaxation area has massage chairs. It's recommended to bring non-slip socks). 5. Luxelakes · A4 Art Museum (Don't worry about taking your kids to exhibitions! There are parent-child art workshops every month. You can feed swans by the lake in the park, and take the sightseeing bus back to the parking lot when you're tired). 🍜 Foodie Mom Must-tries: ▪️ Breakfast: Gan Ji Feichang Fen (Kids can have plain rice noodles in white broth, served with broken Juntun Guokui). ▪️ Lunch: Tao Lin Restaurant (Non-spicy Kung Pao Chicken and shredded chicken cold noodles, kids can easily devour half a bowl). ▪️ Dinner: Ye Popo Bobo Chicken (Get the rattan pepper flavored skewers, served with ice jelly to cut through the richness. Remember to bring your own kids' cutlery). 🚗 Travel Tips: Parking is difficult in the city center, so the subway is recommended (Line 3 goes directly to the Panda Base). Bring a portable fan (Chengdu can be a bit muggy in April). 🌊 Second Stop: Qingdao - Soak Up the Summer by the Sea ✔️ Must-visit attractions: 1. Qingdao Underwater World (Less crowded than the Polar Ocean World! There's a mermaid show in the underwater tunnel at 11 am. Buy a combined ticket that includes the Jellyfish Palace. Kids can stare at the color-changing jellyfish for half an hour). 2. Wheat Island Park (The loop trail is stroller-friendly. You can set up a tent on the lawn. Remember to dress your kids in blue and white for some amazing Japanese-style photos). 3. Shilaoren Beach (Fine sand! Bring sand toys. It's not cold to swim after 4 pm. There are shower areas nearby for changing clothes). 4. Qingdao Forest Wildlife World (Take the sightseeing bus directly to the top of the mountain and walk down to save energy. The highlight is the giant panda "Oreo". There's a parent-child restaurant in the park where you can heat up baby food). 5. Badaguan Scenic Area (Ride a tandem bike along the plane tree-lined avenue, visit the Butterfly House to watch old movies, and relax with a latte at Yibei Canghai, facing the sea). 🍤 Seafood and Kids Guide: ▪️ Morning: Tuandao Farmers Market (Buy freshly steamed seafood. Ask the vendor to pick smaller shrimps and crabs for kids, which are safer to eat. Serve with corn tortillas). ▪️ Recommended: Shuangheyuan Dumplings (Must-try the mackerel dumplings! The kids' menu has cartoon-shaped steamed buns and comes with a small toy). ▪️ Avoid! Don't buy "Qingdao Old Yogurt" in the scenic area. Buy "New Hope Qin Brand" bottled yogurt from the supermarket, it's cheaper and tastes better. 👗 Packing List: Kids' sun protection clothing (strong UV rays at the beach), portable changing mat (public restrooms are hard to find), waterproof phone pouch (essential when kids are playing with water). 🌺 Third Stop: Guangzhou - Let Your Kids Live in a Fairy Tale ✔️ Must-visit attractions: 1. Chimelong Safari Park, Guangzhou (Stay at the Chimelong Hotel! Have breakfast at the White Tiger Restaurant while watching tigers. It's recommended to rent a stroller in the park (100 yuan/day). Enter through the South Gate and take the mini train first. Watch the 4D movie in the afternoon). 2. Guangdong Provincial Museum (The Natural History Museum on the 3rd floor has dinosaur fossils. The Children's Museum on the B1 floor has role-playing activities. There are parent-child craft classes every Saturday. Book in advance on their official WeChat account). 3. Yongqing Fang (Ride a tandem bike through the Xiguan arcades, buy ginger milk flavored ice cream from Enning Ice Cream Shop. Kids will be thrilled to watch the martial arts performance in front of Bruce Lee's ancestral home). 4. Grandview Mall (Indoor rainforest ecological botanical garden + aquarium, a one-stop shop for kids! "Hi Department Store" on the 4th floor has a children's picture book area where moms can browse the cultural and creative shops). 5. Ersha Island Art Park (Free! Fly kites and ride bikes on the large lawn. Take photos at Wenlifang, which looks like the Roman Colosseum. When you're tired, go to Tao Tao Ju for morning tea). 🍽️ Morning Tea with Kids Guide: ▪️ Must-try: Shrimp dumplings (choose the mini size for kids), steamed rice noodle rolls (crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, be careful it's hot), Liwan boat congee (boneless, served with broken youtiao). ▪️ Recommended: Dian Dou De (Morning tea is served all day, they have high chairs, and the waiters will offer baby cutlery). ▪️ Don't try beef tripe or honeycomb tripe, kids probably won't like them. Order custard buns or salted egg yolk buns for dessert instead. ✈️ Travel Reminders: Guangzhou is rainy in April, so bring a folding umbrella and kids' rain boots. Wear breathable sneakers (you'll be doing a lot of walking at Chimelong). The APM subway line has cute driverless trains that will make kids scream with excitement! 💡 General Tips for Traveling with Kids: 1. Packing List: Portable potty (a lifesaver in traffic jams or long lines), individually packaged wet wipes (at least 3 packs per day), kids' masks (essential in crowded places). 2. Time Management: Leave at 9 am, return to the hotel for a nap after lunch (kids won't make a fuss if they're not sleepy), and visit scenic spots after 5 pm (avoid the scorching sun and crowds). 3. Mood Management: Bring snacks and picture books, which are great for keeping kids entertained in lines. Don't force kids to visit every attraction. Having fun is the most important thing! These three cities are tried and tested. Kids will fall asleep as soon as they get home, and moms can take beautiful photos to share on social media. Don't hesitate, choose one and set off for the May Day holiday! Remember to save this guide, follow it and you won't be disappointed. Let me know which attraction your kids loved the most when you get back! 😉