Senior Travel in China

When choosing a destination in China, senior traveler should consider three major factors: accommodation, transportation and altitude of a destination.

A good sleep will make you have enough energy for the next day and comfortable bed is very important for those who have sore bones. Clean and a well accommodated hotel will definitely improve the travel experience. Except for the very remote places, most of destinations have starred hotels around them. Convenient transportation is very important in travel. For senior travelers, places where are reachable by flights and bullet trains are recommended. Flight and bullet train are more fast and comfortable than other transportation means. Some remote place in western China can be only reached by coach, and travelers often spend more than five hours on the road. High altitude places like Mount Everest are not suitable for senior people, and senior people are easy to have altitude sickness in these places.

From the above, when senior travelers choose destination in China, places with comfortable accommodation and convenient transportation are better choices. Destinations with severe environment and high altitude are suggested to be ruled out of the itinerary. Most cities in China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guilin, and Hangzhou, etc. are all good destinations to experience Chinese culture and natural scenery. While high altitude destinations like Mount Everest, Mount Kailash, Namtso Lake, etc. are not recommended for senior travelers.

For senior travelers, taking a cruise is also a good choice. The most popular cruise travel among senior travelers is Yangtze River Cruise, which has a slower travel pace and can save energy for the travelers. On the cruise ship, travelers don’t need to carry heavy luggage to find accommodation, and they can just enjoy the stunning scenery along Yangtze River and have a leisure time on the ship.

See more about Yangtze River Cruise

In China, you can see senior people play Tai Chi in almost every public park and square. Based on the Yin-Yang theory and Five Elements in traditional Chinese philosophy, combining the Meridian Science in traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art which is practiced for defense training and health benefits. Not like other Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi is slow and easy to learn, so it’s very popular among senior people. Senior can learn Tai Chi in the Tai Chi gymnasiums or just follow the moves of the Tai Chi players in the public parks and squares.

Besides learning Tai Chi, learn to write Chinese calligraphy with writing brush can be a joy to senior travelers. Chinese calligraphy is a visual art based on Chinese culture and Chinese character. Chinese calligraphy is considered as one of the symbols of China, and many foreign travelers put learning Chinese calligraphy on their must-do list when they visit China.

For those who love Chinese food, taste the delicious Chinese cuisines is not enough, learn some basic Chinese cooking techniques so that they can cook Chinese cuisine back home is more appealing for those foodies. Travelers can take cooking class in Xian and Guilin, where they can learn how to make Chinese dumplings and some featured dishes.

Learn more about Cooking Class in China.

China shows different faces in each season, and every season has its own beauty. However, for senior travelers, it’s better to avoid the following time: winter (refer to the winter of Northern China) and Golden Week holidays.

In winter, temperature of the Northern China is quite low, normally below zero. Most northern cities, like Beijing and Harbin will meet heavy snow fall during this period. There is no doubt that snow scenery is very beautiful, especially the snow scenes of most Beijing attractions, like Forbidden City and Great Wall. However, the cold weather is not good for senior people’s health.

Golden Week in China refer to the first weeks of the Chinese lunar New Year (Spring Festival), May (Labor’s Day holiday) and October (National Day holiday). China will encounter its tourism peak during these times, and many attractions will be crowded by domestic tourists. Thus, it’s suggested to avoid these times and choose non-holiday time to visit China to avoid the crowds.

If you book a China tour package with us, you’ll enjoy a private tour, which means private guide and driver will work for you, and using private car service will make your trip more comfortable, flexible and enjoyable. Senior travelers are more suggested to choose private tour than group tour. Though group tour is more economical than private tour, however, travelers will share guide with other tourists, and long-distance bus is often used to transfer the group tour travelers. While private tour travelers can be well taken care of and their demands will be fully heard and satisfied by the private guide. Senior travelers are recommended with private tour to have a better travel experience and more comfortable and enjoyable tour.

Senior people have more sensitive tummies and many of them are restricted from sweet, spicy and greasy food. To maintain a good health condition, senior travelers are suggested to have light food in the travel. Chinese food is delicious and varied in flavors; however, some of the cuisines are not suitable for senior people, like spicy Sichuan Cuisine and Hunan Cuisine. Cold food, like ice cream and ice-cold soda are also not recommended for senior people for they may cause diarrhea. Fresh vegetables and fruit should be more consumed to avoid constipation.

A pair of comfortable shoes is essential in the travel, especially when you need to walk a lot. The best choice is athlete shoes, and flats are also helpful the senior people stay steady. Shoes with heels, even small ones, can make senior people easier to fall or sprain an ankle.