Shanghai to Taizhou 5 Days 4 Nights Family Road Trip Guide (A Must-Read for Traveling with Elders and Kids)

Last year, I went on a special forces-style trip with friends to Linhai and Tiantai Mountain's Guoqing Temple, and the experience was amazing!

This summer vacation, I purposely took the elders and kids in my family on a self-driving trip to revisit. If you also plan to travel with elders and children, this guide can be a good reference～

Our self-driving route: Shanghai - Wenling Shitang Town - Linhai - Tiantai Mountain - Shanghai

(Handle the farthest Wenling first; it's easier to drive long distances when you're energetic)

🏨 Accommodation Arrangements:

Wenling - Youyuan Homestay (high cost-performance, only 200 RMB per night during summer vacation, twin beds are two 1.5-meter large beds! The owner couple is super nice, and the rooms are clean and tidy. Located in Shitang Town, with KFC, Luckin Coffee, and Gu Ming nearby, very convenient for food)

Linhai - Chonghemen Qingju (under Atour, family room 540 RMB/night, buying breakfast vouchers at the seafood market is more cost-effective. Breakfast is rich, and laundry is available, perfect for family trips)

Tiantai Mountain - Lujing Tiantai Resort Hotel (Stayed last year and was very satisfied, chose it again with family this time. Summer group purchase is 999 RMB for two nights, great value! Includes travel photography, family rooms suitable for families with older kids, and Guoqing Temple guided tours)

📅 Itinerary:

D1: Depart at 7 AM, rest twice on the way, arrive at Wenling homestay at 2 PM. Rest a bit, then leave at 4:30 PM to Qilin Mountain to watch the sunset (remember to check my parking guide notes)

D2: Morning visit to the Couple Rings Viewing Platform + Coastal Greenway. After lunch, drive to Linhai, check in, then go to Renmin Road for seafood dinner, and night tour at Xingshan Gate

D3: Taizhou City Wall + Ziyang Street + East Lake. Recommend elders enter from Chenghuang Gate and exit at Chaotian Gate. Stroll Ziyang Street for snacks, visit Zhu Ziqing Memorial Hall. In the afternoon, tour East Lake, check out at 4 PM, then drive to Tiantai Mountain, dinner at Laotudao

D4: Morning participate in the hotel-organized Guoqing Temple exploration (2.5 hours, suitable for the whole family). Afternoon hotel travel photography, seafood dinner at Fengwei

D5: Sleep in naturally, have breakfast, pack up, and return to Shanghai

Helpful Tips: Play in the morning and travel in the afternoon to avoid fatigue. Qilin Mountain and Couple Rings Platform require some hiking, but our family elders aged 60+ and 70+ managed well. Wenling’s sea view depends a lot on the weather; it’s stunning on sunny days but less so on cloudy days!