A mother plays with kids at the beach in the seaside city of Qingdao in Shandong province. [Photo by Wang Haibin/China Daily]

Nian Dai didn't want to travel during the Dragon Boat Festival from June 9 to 11. But a small person gave him a big reason－h(huán)is 9-year-old son.

"I knew it'd be very crowded everywhere during the holiday," Nian says.

"But my son would complain if I didn't take him somewhere. He has been busy with tests and homework and expects to go out."

So the father brought the boy to the Beijing Badaling Wildlife Park－and－to the family's surprise－they had a wonderful time. They saw lions and tigers and bears from cars and they hand fed herbivores.

His son asked many questions. They chatted the most they had since the previous time he'd taken the boy out.

Nian's family is representative of a trend: an increasing number of trips is made for Chinese children's sake, says Li Mengran, publicity manager of major outbound-travel operator Beijing Utour International Travel Service Co.

"Parents are busy at work and only have time for their children during holidays," Li says.

"Many feel they should spend more time with their kids and take them to see the world as much as possible."

Bookings are set to surge as schools start summer vacation.