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Quick Comparison:
🏛️ More Chinese: Beijing feels authentically Chinese
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly: Beijing has better experiences for kids
💰 Budget: Beijing flights often cheaper from Europe
🌟 Our Pick: Beijing - the clear winner for families
If you are planning your first trip to China with kids, you might be wondering which of the most popular Chinese cities is best for traveling with kids: Beijing or Shanghai.
For us, Beijing was always the obvious choice - partly because flights from Switzerland are usually much cheaper, but mostly because it felt more authentically Chinese.
We finally made it to Shanghai on our latest trip, and it confirmed what we suspected: Beijing is simply a better destination for families and anyone wanting to experience "real" China.
Interestingly, based on the number of foreigners we saw in Shanghai (comparable to Hong Kong), many travelers seem to disagree. Shanghai appears to be treated as the gateway to China, or perhaps the only Chinese city worth visiting. But here's why we think that's a mistake.
The reason I'm writing this isn't because we didn't enjoy Shanghai - there was plenty of good food and fun activities. But Shanghai felt like yet another big international city, while Beijing (and many other Chinese cities we'd barely heard of) completely blew us away.
Shanghai vs Beijing: The Biggest Differences
Beijing Feels Much More Chinese
Beijing is China's capital with incredible cultural heritage, and it shows everywhere you look. While Shanghai has its own interesting history, its long colonial past and strong Western influences make it feel similar to London or Paris rather than distinctly Chinese.
Being a financial capital with high salaries and plenty job opportunities has for a long time attracted expats to settle there which consolidated its position as the most international city in China.
In Beijing, you'll find:
- Old people gathering in parks to dance, practice tai chi, or play card games
- Hutong neighborhoods where you can still glimpse old Beijing life
- Even modern areas that feel uniquely Chinese rather than internationally generic
- Fewer English speakers, which pushes you to experience authentic China
In Shanghai:
- International food options widely available, less cheap local cuisine
- More people speak English (which sounds convenient but limits cultural immersion)
- Western influences are so strong that the Chinese character feels diluted
- Tourists don‘t attract any attention in most places — only by the street vendors selling souvenirs
Beijing is Less Touristy (In the Right Way)
Yes, Beijing has tourists - lots of them. But the vast majority are Chinese tourists, which creates a completely different atmosphere. Being a proper 外国人(foreigner) you will still witness how Chinese people spend their time and want to be entertained why traveling — which is interesting on its own.
Shanghai is so busy with tourists, that we almost feel happy that we were greeted by heavy rain on The Bund and Yu Garden — otherwise you can barely move around, epsecially in the evening.
Beijing's tourist experience:
- Popular attractions like Temple of Heaven still feel authentic with locals going about daily life
- Walking Qianmen Pedestrian Street can be a leisurely family stroll, with hidden alley ways and gentrified hutongs around the corner
- Tourist sites feel less commercialized and more culturally significant
Shanghai's tourist reality:
- Every main attraction is extremely crowded and commercialized to the maximum
- Walking Nanjing Road or around Yu Garden is overwhelming - noise, crowds, and constant selling
- Tourist traps everywhere with few genuinely memorable experiences
- Popular restaurants are busy and often require making reservation ahead of time
Discovering Beijing vs. Trying to Enjoy Shanghai
Beijing surprises you constantly. We tried to do our research for Shanghai and asked Chinese friends for tips before visiting, but many place swe visited felt overhyped and underwhelming, and some were simply too far to realisticly visit in a day.
In Beijing (and every other Chinese city we've visited), we stumbled into interesting experiences and genuine cultural moments daily.
The highlight of our Shanghai stay? The parks — Zhonshan Park was one of our favourite spots in Shanghai.
But unfortunately there were no random cool discoveries, no "wow" moments that made us fall in love with the city. Not to say that they don‘t exist, they are just harder to find, which means you have to look for them, which makes them less random 😉
Shanghai is Living in the Past
Here's what travelers need to understand: Shanghai might have been China's most impressive city 10-15 years ago, but China has moved on.
Many visitors still think Shanghai represents the best China has to offer, but that's simply not true anymore. While still interesting, there are many other places that you should put on the list!
Modern China reality:
- Cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou are clearly living in the future
- Many Chinese cities now offer the same (or higher) standards of accommodations and attractions as Shanghai
- Other cities maintain their unique characteristics while delivering modern experiences
Visiting Shanghai won't teach you much about modern China. While you might not want to skip it entirely, definitely prioritize other cities to discover the country China is rapidly becoming — visiting nearby cities like Nanjing or Suzhou will give you a good feel for that differences.
Practical Considerations for Families
Getting Around with Kids
The reason why I strongly advocate China as a great destination for familes is the ease of navigating cities — even the biggest ones like Chongqing. While certainly true in Beijing, Shanghai is definitely a more crowded, especially at rush hours, but even in the day time when tourists flood all the city attractions.
Beijing:
- Feels more manageable despite its size
- Many neighborhoods, especially around hutongs, are walkable
- Less overwhelming navigation - easier for families with children
- Subway system is comprehensive but not overly complicated
Shanghai:
- World-class attractions are often 2+ hours from city center by metro
- Amazing places like the new Planetarium or Haichang Ocean Park require staying in nearby hotels to visit
- More spread out, requiring more planning and longer travel times with kids
Family-Friendly Activities
Beijing advantages:
- Hutong tours that kids find fascinating
- Temple of Heaven where kids can watch locals practicing tai chi
- More parks where families can interact with local children
- Cultural sites that tell stories kids can understand
Shanghai limitations:
- Most "kid-friendly" attractions are commercial and expensive
- Fewer opportunities for authentic cultural interactions
- More overwhelming for young children due to crowds and commercialization
Budget Considerations
Beijing typically costs less for:
- International flights (especially from Europe)
- Accommodation in central areas
- Food (more local options, fewer tourist traps)
- Activities (many cultural sites have reasonable entrance fees)
Shanghai tends to be more expensive:
- Higher accommodation costs in central areas
- More tourist restaurants = higher food costs
- Tourist attractions often overpriced
- Transportation to reach good family activities
Language and Cultural Immersion
Beijing offers better cultural learning:
- More opportunities to use basic Chinese with locals
- Children see authentic Chinese daily life
- Cultural experiences feel genuine rather than performed for tourists
Shanghai is easier but less rewarding:
- More English speakers make navigation easier
- But this limits the authentic Chinese experience families often seek
- Cultural experiences feel more commercialized
When to Choose Shanghai Instead
Shanghai isn't wrong for everyone. Choose Shanghai if you:
- Want a gentler introduction to China with more Western amenities
- You want to enjoy typical kids attractions like Disneyland or Legoland
- Are primarily interested in modern architecture and skyline views
- Prefer having English-speaking options readily available
- Are planning a very short China trip and want "easy" sightseeing
- Are combining China with other international destinations and want a cosmopolitan feel
But remember: If Shanghai is your only Chinese city, you're not really experiencing China - you're experiencing an international city that happens to be in China.
Our Final Verdict
For families visiting China, Beijing wins overwhelmingly. It offers:
✅ Authentic Chinese experiences your kids will remember forever
✅ Better value for money across accommodation, food, and activities
✅ More manageable size for families with children
✅ Cultural learning opportunities that feel genuine
✅ Stories and history that capture children's imagination
Our recommendation: If you can only visit one Chinese city, choose Beijing. If you have time for both, spend 4-5 days in Beijing and 2-3 days in Shanghai maximum.
Shanghai has its place in a China itinerary, but it shouldn't be your first priority - especially when traveling with kids who will benefit so much more from Beijing's authentic cultural experiences.
Planning your China trip?
✈️ Book your flights
🏨 Book your hotels
🚂 Book train tickets
🎟️ Book activities
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Magda Sawyer
Magda Sawyer
Have you visited both Beijing and Shanghai? Which did your family prefer? Share your experiences in the comments below!
