https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/datong/best-family-friendly-attractions/10071446304503
Family-Friendly Attractions
Top 50 Family-Friendly Attractions near Datong [2025]
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Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
4.5
/5
2097 reviews
8.1
From £4.15
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609312123999
Address: 甘肃省兰州市永登县树屏镇杏花村
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Saved by 204 users1812 positive reviews
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The Ink and Wash Danxia was one of the surprises of this self-driving tour from Lanzhou to Dunhuang. Because I didn't want to join the crowds at Zhangye's Colorful Danxia, and also wanted to save time for the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon in Zhangye, I chose to go to the Ink and Wash Danxia. The scenic area is well designed, the route is clear, and the scenery is really beautiful; the layers of minerals of different colors are indeed more layered and diverse than the beauty of a simple Danxia landform.
For those who have visited both Ink and Wash Danxia, let me share my thoughts. Ink and Wash Danxia was a pleasant surprise, with fewer crowds and a better experience. It's even more interesting than the Seven-Color Danxia. You can drive your own electric cart, and there's a Danxia trail to hike, not just the viewing platform. It's a better value, and you don't have to take an in-depth tour to get the same great experience. We took the scenic area's bus from the visitor center to the Ancient Silk Road, then transferred to a sightseeing bus directly to Danding Lansheng. After checking in, we returned the same way we came. We rented an electric cart and drove to the hot air balloon platform, then rafted to the Nine-Color Danxia. The rafting was incredibly exciting and fun, and the ride was long, winding from top to bottom. The trail leading up from the end of the rafting route is the highlight of the entire Ink and Wash Danxia area—a must-do. From the Nine-Color Danxia, we took a sightseeing bus back to the hot air balloon platform, rented an electric cart again, and returned to the Ancient Silk Road before taking the bus back to the visitor center. 20 yuan included all round-trip transportation, which was a real steal, considering I've been on rides that cost 5 or 10 yuan per trip. Some say renting an electric car for 28 yuan for just a 1-kilometer trip isn't worth it, but that's the joy of the Ink Wash Danxia. It depends on your perspective. You're not allowed to walk on the roads at Zhangye's Colorful Danxia; buses take you directly to the viewing platform. Compared to the in-depth tour of Colorful Danxia I bought, I think the Ink Wash Danxia tour is more cost-effective and offers a better experience.
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Xining Wildlife Park
4.5
/5
2924 reviews
7.7
From £3.11
Based on 8 reviews
33.6 km from downtown
Phone +8609718149850
Address: No. 9 Xingzhi Road, Chengxi District, Xining City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Snow leopards & herbivores coexist
Snow leopard habitat with simulated alpine rock environment
1931 positive reviews10K views in last month
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Ling Xiaozhe is located at the second stop on the sightseeing bus, at the Snow Leopard Pavilion, about 30 meters down from the Beast Hall. Xiaozhe, Xiaomang, and Aoxue rotate between opening hours and are more active in the mornings. Before you go, it's best to find out which one will be open that day.
When I went, Aoxue was open, and Xiaozhe was scheduled to open the next day.
We saw caracals, snow leopards, desert cats, and many other plateau animals we had never seen before. It was great! But eating was a bit difficult. There was only a Dicos near the panda house, and the only other snacks were sausage stalls.
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Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon
4.7
/5
2662 reviews
7.5
Based on 28 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609368830066
Address: Pingshanhu Township Government, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 hours
Saved by 197 users2059 positive reviews
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The scenic area is incredibly well designed. First, you'll admire the Yadan landforms from the observation deck, then take an off-road truck down into the valley. Then, you'll take a shuttle bus or drive your own desert buggy, then ride a camel or a camel-drawn cart. The entire trip up to this point was truly seamless. Then, there's the approximately one-hour hike, where you'll step into the Yadan landforms and experience the wonders of nature. It's truly breathtaking, truly beautiful, truly hot, and truly tiring. Haha, there's no turning back; you have to walk the entire way, just like life, haha.
By the way, each person is given a supply pack on the off-road truck ride, which contains sugar, bread, and water. At that moment, I knew the hike ahead would be no easy task, haha. The final stage of the hike involves climbing to the summit. Why? Because only at the summit is there a bus that takes you back to the scenic area exit. There are two options: take the Sky Ladder (a staircase boasting an 86-degree vertical drop of over 60 meters) or walk up the winding staircase. Since children must be over 12 to climb the Sky Ladder (presumably to understand the instructions), we opted for the long, winding route up the mountain. At the summit, we enjoyed an iced apricot drink at the cold drink station. It was incredibly refreshing, haha. Overall, it was a great experience.
It was a truly wonderful experience, both unique and captivating. While the in-depth tour was expensive, the experience was well worth it. The itinerary was coherent and engaging, with staff explaining each point. Before the tour, the staff even gave each visitor a "energy pack" containing water, bread, sugar, and a small towel. The staff were incredibly thoughtful and demonstrated a high level of operational management. My only suggestion for improvement was the truck used for the first leg of the trip. It would have been much better if the vehicle had been upgraded to be safer and more comfortable, or at least the suspension system could have been improved.
No.
4
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Gansu Provincial Museum
4.6
/5
3774 reviews
7.5
Based on 133 reviews
Gansu Provincial Museum/Lanzhou Center | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8609312339131
Address: No. 3 Xijin East Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou City
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Exhibition of the Galloping Horse Treading on a Swallow
Immersive exhibit hall experience
Saved by 110 users2420 positive reviews
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This was my first time at the Provincial Museum. I'd been looking forward to it for a long time, but I was a little disappointed. The building is quite historic, and there was a long line at the entrance early in the morning. However, admission was quite fast. Compared to the flow of people, the exhibition hall itself was quite crowded and chaotic.
Today's lecture was given by Professor Xiaoli, who was very patient and provided comprehensive information. After the lecture, he provided a lot of detailed information, which was very nice.
A reminder: arrive early for your scheduled time. Otherwise, the lecturer will have to contact latecomers while he's explaining, which is a real downgrade.
The museum is rich in artifacts and packed with people. I'd deduct a point for the environment, but for a provincial museum like this, the air conditioning is subpar, making the experience in the northwest feel like the heat and humidity of the south. The curatorial flow and cooling system need further planning. A quick tour takes 1-2 hours, but a more in-depth guided tour would take you a full day or even two.
No.
5
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Yellow River Building
4.6
/5
495 reviews
7.2
From £3.11
Olympic Sports Center/Lanzhou Old Street | >100 km from downtown
Phone +8609312115666
Address: 甘肃省兰州市七里河区南滨河中路1501号
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
455 positive reviews10K views in last month
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I didn't get much service. The view of the Yellow River and Lanzhou city from the 16th floor was nice. The Yellow River rocks on the 13th floor were also quite interesting. There is no escalator from the ground floor to the customer service center on the third floor, so you have to walk up stairs, which is not very user-friendly.
Climb up and take in the views of the Yellow River. The building is over a dozen stories high and has an elevator, making it very accessible to both the elderly and children. You typically take the elevator to the top and then slowly walk down, enjoying the view of the Yellow River. Then, you'll find a section on the history of the river, ancient animal fossils, a few photo ops, a jade exhibition, cultural and creative products, and a cafe. It's all here.
No.
6
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Lanzhou Yellow River Cruise
4.2
/5
400 reviews
6.7
From £9.85
Zhongshan Bridge/Xiguan | >100 km from downtown
Address: No. 532 Nanbinhe East Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
300 positive reviews10K views in last month
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The night cruise on the Yellow River was fantastic! The Zhongshan Bridge was beautifully lit, and the evening breeze was soothing. The 40-minute cruise was just right, and I recommend choosing the second deck for the fantastic views.
Booking tickets on Ctrip was convenient, and the pier was easy to find. The boat crossing Zhongshan Bridge was incredibly photogenic, and the night view of Baita Mountain was magnificent. It's definitely worth the trip!
The Yellow River at night takes on a whole new charm, with the lights on both sides ablaze. Enjoying the scenery while feeling the river breeze was a great value. I'll definitely come again.
Sitting on the first floor wasn't cold, and the night view was very pleasant. I was able to capture photos of both Zhongshan Bridge and the Yellow River Mother Statue. I was very satisfied!
The night cruise exceeded my expectations! The bridge and mountains were beautifully illuminated by the lights. There were also guides on board, and photos were free. If you'd like, take them for 30 yuan each.
It felt average. It happened to be cloudy on the day I went there, so it was a bit cold to take the boat. The boat departure time was also quite random, and I waited for quite a long time. On the way back, it stopped on the Yellow River for a long time, and no one said anything about the situation. There was no explanation or explanation throughout the whole process. I just took a round trip and had a general look.
No.
7
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Qinghai Lake Holy Spring Bay (Cliff)
4.6
/5
216 reviews
6.4
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609705937788
Address: 青海省海北藏族自治州刚察县315国道
195 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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At first, I felt that the battery car ticket was not worth it when I saw it was 40 yuan, but after walking around, I found that the scenic area was quite large and the scenery was beautiful. It has its own merits like the Dongger Viewing Platform, and it is still worth a visit.
This is probably the closest scenic spot to Qinghai Lake besides Erlangjian. The scenic spot is free of charge, but because it is far to get in, you need a battery car, which costs 40 yuan per person, but it is really worth it. You can play directly by the Qinghai Lake, there are a lot of Huangyu fish, and there is also a large stone tablet of Qinghai Lake, which is suitable for checking in and taking photos.
No.
8
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Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Nature Museum
4.2
/5
536 reviews
6.4
From £5.60
Biological Park Area | 27.2 km from downtown
Phone +8609715226789
Address: No. 21 Jinger Road, Chengbei District, Xining City
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Beetle model building event
24 halls & 8,000 exhibits
342 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
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The museum has quite a large collection, with more animal specimens than the Natural Resources Museum. The display of water samples collected from all over the country is quite impressive. If you want a free visit, make a reservation at the Natural Resources Museum. If you want to visit the Natural History Museum after visiting the Tibetan Culture Museum, this is the right place, just across the street. You can explore the entire museum in one to two hours.
The exhibits here are quite interesting and suitable for children. They can learn about the animals and plants of the plateau, as well as the terrain characteristics. They also introduce the situation of Sanjiangyuan. The children's science popularization is very good.
No.
9
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Lanzhou Wildlife Park
4.0
/5
432 reviews
6.2
From £15.55
>100 km from downtown
Phone +86093196200
Address: 兰州市安宁区忠和镇崖川村
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Train ride fun for kids
Feed alpacas & deer up-close
325 positive reviews10K views in last month
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- Rich variety of animals: currently exhibiting more than 210 rare animals around the world, more than 3,000, covering representative animals on all continents, as well as four giant pandas "Hongyan", "Manlan", "home treasure" and "full" from the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center. - The park plan is reasonable: it covers an area of 5,358 mu, consisting of the entrance area, walking tour area, car tour area and logistics service area. The ecological sightseeing belt divides the entire park into two circular tour routes, pedestrian and car dealerships, and also sets up 5 functional partitions. -Excellent ecological environment: pay attention to the creation of animal living environments, simulate different ecological environments, and make animal living spaces closer to nature, such as African tribal areas and American rainforest areas. - Strong science education function: actively carry out science education activities, with science popularization hall, giant panda hall science popularization display facilities, etc., through "science popularization into campus", weekend parent-child activities, multi-themed research courses and other forms to teach tourists zoology, ecology and other knowledge. - Complete supporting facilities: there is a fairy tale castle playground area, more than ten parent-child amusement equipment, as well as restaurants, shops and other commercial facilities, the dining area provides a variety of cuisines, which can meet the diversified needs of tourists.
There are not many tourists during non-holiday visits. The free train runs every half an hour, and you can first go around the car tour route. If you drive by yourself, you can buy tickets to experience it. You can interact with cute animals such as sheep and deer halfway. After the car tour, continue to visit the walking area. If you have enough strength, it is recommended not to take the 30-yuan sightseeing bus. It is more fun to walk slowly along the way. There are sea lion performances in the two reptile halls, four times a day. The staff in the park are not very enthusiastic, the dining place smells bad, and the food is not well prepared, which is a bit regrettable. In addition, the park is a little far from the city, and the transportation is inconvenient, so it is better to drive by yourself.
No.
10
Shandan Army Horse Breeding Farm
4.3
/5
231 reviews
6.1
From £6.71
>100 km from downtown
Phone +8609362881818
Address: Shandan County, Zhangye City
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
109 positive reviews10K views in last month
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The environment here is really good. It is more vast and comfortable than the Qilian Mountain Prairie.
Driving in is the Qilian Mountain National Park. I got up the next day and had breakfast and went horseback riding. It was a satisfying trip.
The hotel owner was very nice. He upgraded our room. We stayed on the second floor. We hadn't arranged for customers on the second floor yet. Our family stayed very quietly.
When we left, we were given a bottle of honey🍯, which made us very happy.
It was very comfortable to stay here.
Maybe it's because I love history very much. When I traveled to Gansu, I specifically searched for Shandan Military Horse Farm.
When you know that Shandan Military Horse Farm is one of the largest and oldest military horse bases in the world, it was once the royal horse farm established by Huo Qubing in the Western Han Dynasty to fight against the Xiongnu. It has continued the horse-raising tradition of more than 2,000 years. Today, it still retains the magnificent grassland scenery and unique military horse culture. When you yearn for it in your heart, it is not only out of love for natural beauty, but more of a historical sentiment.
In 121 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Huo Qubing to the west to fight against the Xiongnu. He established an official horse farm here to breed war horses, laying the foundation for an important source of ancient Chinese military horses. It was a royal horse farm in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At its peak, the number of horses in stock exceeded 100,000. Now it is a state-owned ranch with both animal husbandry and tourism functions, and is known as the "Emerald of the Silk Road".
Shandan Military Horse Farm is a perfect fusion of history and nature. Whether it is to pursue the relics of the Silk Road or yearn for the freedom of the grassland, it can make people linger here.
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