With Baby in Tow: German Couple's Trip to China, After Three-Year Wait

In March, the Chengdu sun was shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto my desk. I got up to draw the curtains to prevent glare on my screen. As I was checking the details of the next itinerary, a message popped up on my computer: an email from Lena. The subject line was as simple as a daily greeting: "April 19th, we're off." It was sent at six in the morning. She had probably just put the baby to sleep. I opened the email, and my eyes lingered on the word "we."

Three years ago, they were wearing lightweight spring clothes, excitedly discussing the bluestone paths of Beijing's hutongs, the bricks of the Xi'an City Wall, and the lights of the Shanghai Bund over the phone. But three months later, Lena’s text message dropped like a feather: "We have a little surprise."

Good things take time, and this trip had to wait for this special life moment.

Staying in Touch for Three Years

From then on, I became their "travel wish vault."

During her pregnancy, I sent her a real-time video of Beijing's hutongs, pointing out the smooth paths that were suitable for a stroller. I also attached a hand-drawn map, marking a quiet courtyard near the east gate of the Forbidden City. After the baby was born, Lena sent me the first photo of him breastfeeding. I immediately replied with an email that included the menu of a parent-child restaurant on the Shanghai Bund, specifically circling the "soft food recommendations" and "nut-free" options.

When the baby started to walk, Mark awkwardly mimicked his steps in a video call. I quietly made a note of the "baby-friendly hours" at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, avoiding the midday crowds so the little one could peacefully watch the pandas chew bamboo.

For three years, I never mentioned "re-planning." I simply adjusted the itinerary with each update, adding "the baby's walking speed" into the plan: lengthening the Forbidden City tour from two to three hours and scheduling the Xi'an show for the evening, when the soft light and quiet atmosphere wouldn't startle the baby.

Crafting Baby-Friendly Itinerary

They were set to leave in April, the perfect season for travel in China. I completely revised their route: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Hong Kong—12 days, no rushing, no squeezing.

For Beijing, I booked their Forbidden City visit for early morning. At 7 a.m., with few other tourists around, the driver pulled the car over, and they slowly pushed the stroller into the Forbidden City. The baby took a few steps on the bluestone ground of the thousand-year-old palace, and Lena knelt down, gently patting the dirt from his little shoes.

At the Summer Palace, I had already made arrangements. In a corner of the courtyard was a small grove of trees where the baby could sit on a picnic blanket and watch sparrows peck at the ground. Meanwhile, Mark used his phone to capture the light filtering through the leaves onto the baby's face. I had chosen that small grove after carefully studying the map, as it avoided the main paths and only had a small, narrow gravel road, allowing the baby to crawl freely.

Xi'an was just as comfortable. We booked early morning tickets for the Terracotta Warriors to avoid the crowds. The baby sat in the stroller, his little hands resting on the bar, his eyes shining like two small stars. We didn't let him walk for too long in the exhibit halls, just strolled slowly along the main path and paused at a rest area with small wooden chairs and warm honey water.

For their Shanghai trip, I chose a restaurant on the Bund where both the baby and parents would feel comfortable. The kids' area was right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view of the boats on the Huangpu River. The baby’s food was soft rice and steamed pumpkin, cut into small pieces and served in a bowl with rounded edges. Lena sat by the window, watching the baby clumsily scoop up his food with a small spoon. The lights of the Bund, reflected in the baby's clear eyes, were dazzling. The restaurant's lighting was soft to avoid glare, so the baby could eat and watch the cruise ships drift slowly by on the river.

At the Panda Breeding Base in Chengdu, the park was quiet at 9 a.m. The baby could sit in his stroller and watch the pandas slowly climb the bamboo forest. I had specifically chosen a viewing platform close to the entrance to avoid a long walk. It was the first time the baby had ever seen a panda chew bamboo, and he clapped his little hands on the stroller bar. Lena's camera never stopped clicking. The guide had prepared a small blanket and warm water at the viewing platform in case the baby needed a rest.

The final leg of the journey was in Hong Kong. I arranged for them to stay at a hotel on Victoria Harbour. Their room had a balcony facing the harbor, where the baby could sit on a small chair and watch the city lights shimmer on the water. I had confirmed the crib size and sterilization record with the hotel in advance, and they had sanitized toys ready. As Lena pushed the stroller along the sidewalk, the baby suddenly pointed at the distant Ferris wheel, his little finger held perfectly straight. Mark didn't say a word, just lightly patted Lena's shoulder. That evening, they sat on the balcony. The baby had fallen asleep in his stroller, his little face pressed against the window, the sea breeze carrying a hint of salt.

I had personally double-checked every detail of the trip. Their vehicles were business cars with child safety seats securely fastened in the back. For every hotel room, I sent an email in advance to confirm the size of the crib and its cleaning history. On the restaurant menus, I made sure to note "nut-free" and "soft food" options to ensure the baby's safety. I also deliberately built in extra time between flights, arranging a three-hour layover between Beijing and Xi'an to give the baby enough time to rest.

On their last day, Lena and Mark pushed the stroller toward the Hong Kong airport. The baby was sleeping in the stroller, his little face pressed against the window, reflecting the clouds outside. Lena didn't turn to look at me; she just gently pulled the baby's jacket up. I stood at the security gate, watching them slowly walk away, the wheels of the stroller making a soft sound on the floor.