Many Chinese seek family-friendly travel

SHANGHAI-For this year's Children's Day on June 1, Deng Mo and his wife drove their son to the city of Suzhou, about 100 kilometers from Shanghai, where the family lives.

Many parents similarly spent the weekend with their children, according to major online travel agency Ctrip.

The platform says bookings for family-friendly hotels increased nearly 60 percent year-on-year that weekend. Sanya, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou were among the top destinations.

Over 70 percent of parents traveling with children chose short-distance tours, and more than 80 percent took high-speed railways or drove.

Family-friendly tours account for up to 60 percent of domestic and overseas travel, a China Tourism Academy survey says.

More than 80 percent of respondents believe traveling with children can bring joy to the whole family, and 96 percent express interest in such tours.

Deng has previously taken his son to Japan and Thailand.

"It wasn't easy to travel with a 3-year-old," Deng says.

"He had a lot of luggage-more than we did."

During their vacation in Japan, for example, his son fell sick, and the parents had to stay in the hotel for a whole day.

Still, Deng hopes such tours will broaden his boy's horizon.

Many parents regard such trips as educational.