As summer vacation draws to a close, many parents are sharing their family travel expenses online, sparking widespread discussion about whether to seek "poetry and distant places" or cherish everyday moments at home. A recent post from one parent about their summer holiday arrangements has gone viral, with netizens flooding the comments section to reveal their own vacation budgets.
A survey conducted by reporters found that the vast majority of families still chose to travel with their children this summer, though spending varied dramatically based on individual circumstances. The bills ranged from as little as 2,000 yuan to as much as 40,000 yuan, with each family adopting its own approach to holiday planning. Some parents admitted to simply taking their children to free mountain streams in nearby areas, balancing work and family time at home, emphasizing that "keeping the beauty of daily life is just as fulfilling as chasing distant horizons."
The expense reports shared online painted a vivid picture of diverse travel styles: a family of three spent over 40,000 yuan on a 10-day Xinjiang adventure covering deserts, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and the Gobi Desert; a family of four drove an electric car to Qingdao and Rizhao for a casual three-day beach trip costing just over 2,000 yuan; another family of three spent 10,000 yuan on a nine-day Beijing tour; while a frugal family of four managed a 10-day Qinghai-Gansu loop with train sleeper berths and car rental, keeping their budget under 10,000 yuan.
Budget-Savvy Family: Ten Days, Nine Nights for 15,000 Yuan
One mother surnamed Liu traveled solo with her two children on a northeastern China adventure this year. Her carefully planned route took them from Nanjing to Shenyang by plane, then by train through Jinzhou, Changchun, Changbaishan, Yanbian, and Hunchun, before flying back to Nanjing from Changchun. By joining forces with three other families for a self-guided tour and doing thorough advance research, she kept the total cost to just over 15,000 yuan—a remarkable value-for-money journey.
Her detailed expense breakdown included: 7,382 yuan for major transportation (including 4,562 yuan for flights plus train and chartered car costs), 1,009 yuan for attraction tickets, 1,860.5 yuan for educational and entertainment activities, 1,547 yuan for meals, and 3,154 yuan for accommodation. Liu noted that the children enjoyed digging for ginseng, riding off-road vehicles, and river rafting in Changbaishan, feasting on king crab in Hunchun, and having professional photos taken in Yanbian. Her money-saving tips: transportation and hotels are the biggest expenses, so grab discounted airfares early and choose reliable chain hotels priced between 300-400 yuan per night.
Another mother surnamed Zhang from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, took her family of four on a ten-day, nine-night tour of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, spending 22,000 yuan in total. Their itinerary covered Taiyuan, Datong, Hohhot, and Ulanqab, including visits to the Hukou Waterfall, grasslands, volcanic clusters, the Qiao Family Compound, and the Yungang Grottoes. Her strategy was clever: instead of flying to Hailar which was expensive, she found special fares to Taiyuan for just over 300 yuan, and the high-speed rail from Datong to Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia took only about 20 minutes at a cost of a few dozen yuan.
Comfort-First Travel: Cruises and Resort Getaways
Many families with elderly members and young children opted for relaxed and comfortable cruise ship or resort vacations. Parent Li and her family of four chose a five-day, four-night cruise at approximately 2,000 yuan per person, totaling around 10,000 yuan. "With a young child and grandparents who can't handle too much exertion, the cruise provided meals and accommodation, requiring no itinerary planning or constant moving around. We disembarked in Jeju Island midway and took the kids to the Hello Kitty Museum," she said, laughing that with buffet meals available all day, the family's favorite part was "eating from morning to night."
Another parent surnamed Jin traveled alone with her elderly mother and two children to a beach resort, spending about 30,000 yuan for seven days and six nights. "Round-trip flights cost less than 3,000 yuan per person, totaling under 12,000 yuan for four people. The hotel was 1,400 yuan per day, which included meals and dozens of activities like sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and rock climbing. We had a wonderful time," she shared.
Netizens Debate: The Experience Is Priceless, But Spend Within Your Means
The comment section was filled with diverse perspectives. "Life is about experiences—what a waste not to see the world!" one user exclaimed. Another added, "Money can always be earned, but children grow up in the blink of an eye. Cherish the time spent together."
User "Hongguoguo Lüpaopao" said: "We take our kids out every winter and summer break and on every holiday. Watching the history and geography from textbooks become the road beneath our feet feels magical—it's like re-raising my younger self." Another user "Mianchao Dahai" shared: "Every year we take our children to two cities to see the world beyond textbooks—the grapes in Turpan are genuinely tooth-achingly sweet, Sanya's scenery is picturesque, and in Xinjiang it doesn't get dark until 10 PM... Even though earning money isn't easy, I'll always find a way to broaden their horizons."
Parent Liu reflected: "Our family isn't well-off, but we still want to show our children the beauty of our country and experience different cultures. Body and soul, one must always be on the journey. I believe these experiences will be reflected in their character. And of course, it's also for ourselves—returning from vacation, we come back fully refreshed."
Some netizens offered more measured advice: "Arrange trips based on your child's interests and family circumstances—there's no right or wrong. Traveling brings joy, but staying close to home can be just as enjoyable."