China's Top 10 Experiences for Senior Travelers

A tour experience combining leisure, culture and nature may cater to expectations of most senior travelers. China embodies both natural and cultural abundance. You could trace the far-reaching history at the Great Wall and Terracotta Army, obtain an in-depth cultural cultivation through tea and Tai Chi, experience Chinese seniors' life in local parks, and discover more pop wonders of the mighty Yangtze and the adorable giant pandas.

The golden triangle formed by Beijing, Xian and Shanghai is an everlasting classical tour route with combination of two ancient capitals and a modern metropolis, especially for first time travelers. Top three UNESCO World Heritage Sites could be explored to discover the historic highlights of China, including the majestic Great Wall, imperial Forbidden City and awe-inspiring Terracotta Army.

Throw in Shanghai to take a paced stroll at the Bund, which presents you a new look into the booming China by capturing the surreal skyline out of the towering skyscrapers. By the way, the golden triangle is perfect for sightseeing all year round with unabated charm.

Yangtze River Cruise is an ideal option for senior travelers if one look forward to a leisurely and scenic tour without too much walking. The cruise between Chongqing and Yichang not only offers fascinating scenery of the gorges along Yangtze that could be looked out from your private balcony, but also provides rich culture lectures and activities on board. Optional onshore excursions are available for you to trek a bit to get up-close touch of historic towns and villages of Yangtze. Included facilities like clinic and SPA center are at your disposal.

Guilin is a beautiful city with wonderful natural sights, and it is a perfect destination for seniors to explore in an easy and comfortable way. The most popular way to discover the karst landscape is to take a relaxing Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo to immerse yourself in the fresh air, rolling hills and tranquil hamlets, which is just like navigating into a breathtaking oil painting. Besides cycling around in Yangshuo, you could also take a battery car or your private vehicle to venture to the peaceful and idyllic countryside for rural views. Bamboo rafting at Yulong River may sound a bit adventurous, but it is indeed a safe experience to return to the nature.

Chengdu is one of the most leisurely cities to walk about and an earthly paradise to live out one's life in retirement in China. Firstly, as home to giant pandas loved by both young and old across the globe, Chengdu Panda Base offers visitors a chance to see the cuddly animals in person, with easy transport access to the natural panda bases and reserves.

Secondly, people of Chengdu are masters to know how to enjoy their life and leisure. You will find both modern and traditional teahouses scattered at every corner of Chengdu, which are most popular places for local seniors to while away their retiring time. You could gain an authentic Chengdu lifestyle like a local by trying the spicy hot pot, watching the face-changing performance of the local opera and learn to play Mahjong.

Tai Chi is more of an exercise for seniors in China that has been practiced for hundreds of years. This ancient martial art is the most popular way for Chinese people to keep healthy and fit. It is a gentle exercise combines low impact movements and mind meditation to relieve stress and build the balance as one gradually ages. It is common to see a group of senior residents moving slowly and gracefully at outdoor parks or squares. With our senior travel packages, you will probably be able to learn Tai Chi from masters on the Yangtze cruise ships or at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Hangzhou, known as the Heaven on Earth, is the most relaxing city in China owing to its favorable climate and livable ambience. A top thing to do in Hangzhou is to ride a boat at the stunning West Lake to embrace the inspiring oasis, walk out on causeways to discover the paced life of local people who may idly roam along the embankment with friends, or take carefree naps at benches of pavilions. Another don't-miss experience is to enjoy a cup of the most authentic Longjing green tea (aka Dragon Well Tea) and learn tea culture through hands-on activities, such as tea picking, weathering, rolling, etc. in Meijiawu Tea Plantation.

A visit to a Chinese local family is the best way to get interactions with friendly locals and learn about modern Chinese people's life. The cave dwelling (Yaodong in Chinese) is a traditional residence in Shaanxi, which could date back to thousands of years ago. You could get an experienced insider tour guide to have a family visit to appreciate the cave dwelling, and enjoy a memorable cooking class by learning to make dumplings, the most popular food in northern China. Dumplings are the best food choice for you to take a dip of the homemade cuisine of Xian, and you could enjoy the finished ones on your own with gratification.

Hutong is the best place for visitors to catch the heartbeat of old Beijing. A rickshaw ride is a must-do to experience this unique vintage taxi popular in the past and get a quick glance of the well-preserved courtyard residence along the crisscrossing lanes. Furthermore, for an in-depth exploration of the old Beijing, senior visitors could indulge in authentic intangible cultural heritages by diving into some off-the-beaten-track hutongs that can only be checked out with an insider guide. A variety of activities are on offer for your culture and folk-art nourishment, such as learning Chinese calligraphy, trying the traditional paper cutting, creating a Peking opera mask or making a kite at quaint courtyards.

If you are a nature lover and would like a bit of adventure and off-the-beaten track tour, you shall venture into Yunnan and Guizhou where inhabit aborigines from over 20 minority groups. Many are still living their life in a traditional way by wearing colorful folk costumes, speaking their own languages and celebrating unique festivals.

You could experience the diverse culture of these ethnic groups by navigating to Lijiang, Dali, Lugu Lake, Zhaoxing and Kaili. You would be fully dazzled by Hani people's splendid Yuanyang Rice Terrace, incredible walking-marriage custom of Mosuo, spectacular stilted wooden houses of Miao, and the carnival-like Water-Splashing Festival of Dai people as well as the exquisite handicrafts of Naxi, Yi, Yao and Dong minorities.

Suzhou and Hangzhou are regarded as the backyard of Shanghai, which boast a cluster of tranquil ancient water towns for leisure hunters. Most of the towns share a history of hundreds of years, with well-preserved houses lined on water channels, arched stone bridges, and flatly paved walkways suitable for a delightful stroll. Having a dreamy boat excursion to tour the waterways will inspire you on the reason why many Shanghai seniors flock to water towns to spend their retirement. Among the unparalleled collection of classic water towns, Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Luzhi and Nanxun water towns enjoy high popularity, which could be easily accessed from Shanghai for a side trip.

What's more, for adventurous seniors who are fascinated with Tibetan Buddhism and the ancient Silk Road culture, destinations like Lhasa, Dunhuang and Kashgar are worthy of exploration, too. You could always customize your own adventures with suggestions from our expert travel consultants.