Limited Vacation V.S Dream Travel Ideas: A British Family in Beijing & Zhangjiajie

March sunshine felt warm with the fresh energy of a spring about to bloom. It was a perfect match for the family I was on the phone with—Kate, Alistair, and their daughter, Lily. Yes, spring seemed to be leaping right out of their eyes.

Kate and Alistair, with their 7-year-old Lily, were planning a trip to China for April. But their limited preparation time was completely at odds with their endless ideas. I was so excited to hear this lovely family's story. It felt a little warmer on this early spring day.

The Perfect Age for Dress-Up

Lily, at seven, was a real chatterbox. "I really, really like what Mulan looks like," she chirped. "And...see, this is my red Hanfu my mom just bought for me." I couldn't help but laugh as I asked where in China she wanted to wear it. After all, travel is all about choosing special places. She had one unwavering wish: to wear Hanfu for her entire trip and climb the Great Wall. It was the sweetest request, and I quickly jotted "Hanfu" on my checklist.

Then, what about this lovely girl's parents?

Limited Vacation Against Countless Travel Ideas

The challenge hit me in their next few words. They had just 10 days of vacation but a wish list that practically stretched across China: the Great Wall in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, the classical gardens in Suzhou, and the mystical peaks of Zhangjiajie.

The reality, however, was much less carefree than their words suggested. Ten days for all of that would be stretched as tight as a bowstring. I knew that if I couldn't simplify the route, their journey would turn into a rushed and exhausting marathon, where their bodies might arrive, but their souls would be stuck at the last stop.

I went over the itinerary again and again. A high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an would take five hours, and a flight from Xi'an to Zhangjiajie another three. Ten days simply wasn't enough. On top of that, their budget would be stretched by nearly 20% with an extra city. As the spring rain began to fall outside my office window, my heart felt like a wound-up spring.

I couldn't let them rush through their trip. I had to design a better, more comfortable pace for them!

During our first phone call, I sent them a detailed breakdown of their wish list. Over the phone, I described the highlights of each location, helping them confirm their priorities.

Three days later, they wrote back with a drawing from their daughter: a Hanfu with "Forbidden City and Zhangjiajie clouds" written beside it. At that moment, I started recalculating. Beijing and Zhangjiajie were far apart, but they had direct flights. I could pair China's ancient imperial culture with the raw beauty of nature—it was a perfect combination!

Before finalizing the plan, I sent them one more email to confirm. "I've reserved Hanfu rentals at the Forbidden City," I wrote, "and a professional photographer will match Lily's pace—no rushing, just capturing the light in her eyes." Lily's dad replied, "That's amazing! She was drawing more Hanfu designs just last night." I also added some details for the Zhangjiajie part of their trip: a Hanfu experience area in an old village near the Tianmen Mountain cable car, where our guide, William, would share mountain stories in a local dialect.

With every conversation, I felt like I was weaving a resilient net—one that would catch all their dreams without being so tight that it would break. In the end, the itinerary was finalized: four days in Beijing, three in Zhangjiajie, and two for travel. The timing was perfect, and the budget was perfectly in check.

On the day they left, I saw the photos they posted on WhatsApp. Lily was wearing her red Hanfu, with plum blossoms embroidered on the skirt. Her little hand was holding her mom's tight. In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, the flowing Hanfu was a beautiful contrast to the hall's weighty history. Lily's mom also wore a Qing Dynasty court dress, standing in front of a turret with the red walls, her eyes as clear as a mountain stream.

Unexpected surprises came up in Zhangjiajie. On the Yuanjiajie walkway, Lily's Hanfu surprisingly matched the color of the anti-slip shoe covers the park provided. This made other tourists kindly offer up the best photo spots. Our guide, William, captured a shot with his camera of this little British girl in the mist, her skirt lifting as she took a small run. The Hanfu billowed in the wind, with the misty green peaks in the distance.

As a consultant, my job is to build a bridge to their dreams. As the Hanfu's hem brushed the stones of the Forbidden City and the scenery around Avatar Mountain, all those days and nights of planning finally turned into magic. I was so happy to help them discover a new world in those ten days.