China Family Tours

Traveling is the perfect way to open up a child's world to possibility and wonder. Enjoy road trips to China's best family-friendly attractions with none of the hassle of searching for transportation to and from your country by booking our China Family Tours. Our China Family Tours involves top destinations in China within Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou and more. All our tours are designed for families who want to make sure everyone-kids and parents alike-enjoy their visit to China, the tours will not only deliver a seamless mix of culture and nature that kids won't realize they are learning something the whole time when tour China, but also creative activities that bring out the kid in everyone. Admission, city transport, hotels and meals are included that make your journey in an easy and worry-free way. Following are top selling China Family Tours recommended by 98% of our clients. Free-risk Cancellation & Great Reviews! More China Tour Packages.

Top Selling China Family Tours

10 Day Imperial and Scenic China Family Tour (Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing & Wuxi)

10 Days Imperial and Scenic China Family Tour is a great choice to spend time with your family and explore all the sights of Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing & Wuxi. Accompanied by your friendly guide, learn about local culture with in-depth tours and activities; Encounter rich historical landmarks with expert guides; Enjoy activities and tours that are perfect for the whole family; Visit locations designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.

Best of China Family Tour: 8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Tour Package

8-Day Best China Family Tour is specially designed for families. Go with a visit to Beijing Xian and Shanghai insider to explore the most famous sites Forbidden City   to learn about local culture and history, take a trip to great wall for hiking, spend the fun biking time along the ancient city wall in Xian, see Shanghai's old and new buildings   and unveil its stories, have fun in Shanghai Disneyland, and relax in a rowing boat in a water town. Best family tour starts from Beijing to Xian and ends at Shanghai includes   accommodation in a hotel as well as domestic flights, an expert guide, meals, transport and more.

6 Days Harbin & China Snow Town Winter Tour for Family Fun

Take the private 6-day Harbin & China Snow Town tour for your family to enjoy an unforgettable experience in winter! Explore the highlights of Harbin city, visit Tiger Park, Sun Island Scenic Are and the Ice and Snow World of Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, and head to the fairytale Snow Town for fun snow activities. If you are thinking of Harbin tour, it is worth having this tour package from Harbin to China Snow Town with your knowledgeable guide.

Most Asked Questions about planning a family holiday with kids
1. What are the best China family packages offered by Shanghai Private Tour?
Shanghai Private Tour is local China tour company, offer luxury China tours, Budget China tours, China Adventure tours as well as China Family tours. Below listed are some of the best China family tours offer by us, for more China family holiday packages, feel free to contact us, all our China tours are customizable.
1. Best of China Family Tour: 8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Tour Package
2. 6 Days Harbin & China Snow Town Winter Tour for Family Fun
3. 10 Days Imperial and Scenic China Family Tour
4. 7 Days Shanghai Xian Beijing Golden Triangle Tour by Bullet Train

2. What is the ideal duration for families to visit China?
China has abundant culture differences, and is a great destination for family vacation. If you and your family are the first time to travel China, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Guilin are recommended, normally it takes around 3 days in Beijing, 2 days in Xian, 2-3 days in Shanghai and 3 days in Guilin. If you and your family are not the first time travelers, then you can visit Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, Huangshan, yunnan, harbin and more for a leisurely family vacation, normally it takes 2 days in Hangzhou, 1 day in Suzhou, 2 days in Chengdu, 2 days in Huangshan, 5 days in Yunnan and 6 days in Harbin. The duration of the China tour can be customized to fits your needs, and you can choose the destinations as your familt interested. All our family tours will ensure you and your children have great oppotunities to explore Chinese profound history & culture, take in interesting activities and admire breathtaking view of China. 

3. What are the top kid-friendly attractions in China?
Chinese culture places a high value on children to learn, and consequently there are many outdoor and indoor options for family vacations. Each city in China has plenty to offer in terms of kid-friendly attractions as each city has it own culture, tradition and custom. Shanghai Private Tour is local China tour company, offers a myriad of options for kids to enjoy no matter you visit in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an or other part of China. For example:
1). Beijing: Understanding Chinese Culture Starts With Calligraphy in Beijing Hutong.
Beijing is a city should be in your list. In ancient China, Chinese calligraphy is one of the Four Arts of the Chinese Scholars. Calligraphy was the means by which scholars could mark their thoughts and teachings for immortality, and as such, represent some of the more precious treasures that can be found from ancient China. In ancient China, Chinese calligraphy is one of the Four Arts of the Chinese Scholars. Calligraphy was the means by which scholars could mark their thoughts and teachings for immortality, and as such, represent some of the more precious treasures that can be found from ancient China. If you want your family learn Madarin and Chinese characters, you can join in the calligraphy class in Beijing Hutong to learn how to write Chinese characters with a professional calligraphy teacher.
2). Shanghai: Search for Childishness in Shanghai Natural Wild Insect Kingdom. 
The Wild Insect Kingdom is a popular tourist attraction for the young and young-at-heart. visitors can get the most comprehensive knowledge of those wonderful creatures. How they made their first appearance on earth, how they evolved, how many insects they are, and some interesting tips of insects. It is a great place for kids, they can have so much fun learning about those lovely insects and get more interested about the nature.
3). Guilin: Soak in mountain scenery along the Li River Cruise.
Guilin is not exactly bustling city with child-friendly activities, it's all about the scenery here. However, it's truly an ideal destination for you and your family stay away from the busy city life and get lose to the nature. Because everyone knows that the natural world is a giant, open-ended learning laboratory for children.
4). Xian: Searching for fun-Make your own Terracotta Warriors to get a better understanding of Chinese history. 
As one of four antient capitals in ancient China, Xian is definitely the best place for you and your family to learn the profound Chinese history, and Terracotta Warriors is the must for visitors. Children may get bored at visiting museums and have a glimpse of the museum can't really let children understand the complicatied Chinese history and culture. Combine the visit to museum with hand making their own terracotta warriors, it will not only arouse you and your family's curiosity about Chinese history, but also help children to easy understand its background.
For more Kid-friendly attractions of China, please feel free to contact us.

4. Which are the best sightseeing attractions in Shanghai that families can visit?
Travelers always consider Beijing as the first destination for their China trip as visitors can enjoy a blend of ancient traditions and magnificent great wall. Different from Beijing,Shanghai is a metropolis that has almost no history, however, it is the top city in China for family holidays.  When your take up a Shanghai family package, the delight manifolds, you'll find out that Shanghai houses a host of tourist attractions, which entertains and delights adults and kids of all ages.
Top 1 thing to do: Having fun at Shanghai Disneyland Park. There are so many new adventures and experiences at the Disneyland Resort, it is perfect to take one one day magical trip with your family.
Top 2 thing to do: Admire the stunnin view of the night of Shanghai by going through The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is 646m long. The sightseeing tunnel is divided into 3 parts: "Time tunnel area", "Magma jet area" and "Shuttle area" with the lighting and sound of the scene, which can make you and your kids have a real shock of Shanghai. You'll go through the Huangpu River from downtown Shanghai to Pudong new area by going through the Bund Sightseeing Tunel, which is an underwater tunner fitted with spectacular audio-visual effects for entertaining adults and children.
Top 3 thing to do: Reach the top of Shanghai. Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) is a super tall skyscraper in Pudong New Area., and has become the the 3rd tallest building in the world. Reach the top of the Shanghai World Financial Center, you and your family will not only enjoy the 'LED lighting works of art" that offer your family a chance to experience the new fantasy world the first time, but also overlook the whole Shanghai city. This skyscraper also holds various exhibitions and events taking the beautifuk Huangpu River as the background, which will give you a completely different audio-visual experience and unprecedented physical and mental shock. Moreover, when you walking along the 55-meter long sightseeing corridor, it makes you and your family feel like strolling in the sky, and give you a feeling touching blue sky and white clouds at your fingertips.

5. What is the best time to visit China for family holiday?
China is a such big country with diverse climate, there are roughly four seasons. But China is a perfect destination for families that can be visited all year round. Some areas are better visited at certain times of the year.
Summer(Jun.-Aug.): Mountainous regions were perfect at this time of year for famly holidays, but most of Eastern China was extremely hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms. If backpacking China in the summertime, pack light clothes that dry fast. Stay hydrated because you and your family will be sweating a lot if your family are spending time outdoors.
Spring(Mar.-May.) & Autumn(Sept.-Nov.): Spring and autumn are the best time to travel around China for families, solo travelers and couples. Most cities like Beijing, Xian, Shanghai,etc will be at comfortable temperatures, and mountainous regions will be slightly chilly but not too cold. In autumn, certain parts of the country will look gorgeous as the leaves change colour. If your family are able to, you should take your family visit China in autumn.
Winter(Dec.-Feb.): Winter in China varies vastly in the northern and southern parts of the country. Hong Kong and other southern cities will be quite comfortable, but Beijing, Harbin and other northern cities sees sub-zero temperatures and the occasional snowfall. Mountainous regions will be snow-covered which may make travel difficult but it will be extramely beautiful. Moreover, air pollution is at it's worst in the wintertime, so if your family have sensitive lungs consider avoiding China at this time of year.

6. Is it easy to find safety food and water for kids?
Yes, there are plenty of choices. Parentes will be a little worried about what kids can eat during their family tours in China unless you're in very rural parts of the country.  Starbucks, Subway, KFC, McDonalds and even tons of fresh juice and smoothie chains are everywhere. Chinese-style noodles (plain and in soup), rice and stir-fried vegetables are common should you need to alter an order at a restaurant for your kids. 

If you are doing the latter and don't speak Madarin Chinese, you can ask your guide help you during the tour, and also ask your concierge at your hotel to write down preferences in Chinese. It is also wise to have your concierge write down in Chinese what your child's food allergies are, if applicable. Please note, peanut oil is commonly used in Chinsese dishes. As for water, the tap water throughout China is not drinkable. You need to carry bottled water for your family and children.

Useful Tips When Traveling to China with Kids
Traveling with kids is a big chanllenge. Here we tick off some uselful travel tips for how to travel with your kids to China. Be sure to use some of our travel tips from below to make your trip with kids easier and more fun for everyone.

1. Pick a destination which is kid-friendly
If you have older kids, you can probably make most destinations work, and they also will probably want to have more of a say in what you do when you are on vacation. If you travel with kids, this trip is for your kids too, and if there are things they're interested in, you should make an exra effort to include them in your plans. Your children might not want to do a whole bunch of research about your destination, but if you give them some choices of places to see, they will often be happy to pick. If you are traveling with young kids, you will want to pick a destination where it will be easy to get around and there are attractions your kids will enjoy, such as parks and children's museums.

2. Take it Slow and Leave Plenty of Time
Planning for extra timefor kids is exactly the opposite of what I do when adults are traveling alone. Sometimes, the worst tantrums and behavior occur when kids are tired, and you and your kids can't really enjoy the attractions if the tour itinerary is rush. It's better plan a leisurely itinerary, and give enough time for kids to do sightseeing.

3. Find family friendly accommodation
If you are someone who is happy to turn up and then find accommodation, you can still do this. However, with young kids you will probably want to book ahead for at least the first night. Booking accommodation for a family can cause headaches as there can be lots of extra charges. Ensure you work out exactly what is included and what isn't and whether you have to pay extra money for your kids. Sometimes as much as half the room cost per child can be added to the per night cost on arrival. To make your family trip in China easy, we can help you book accommodations that suits to your needs. Feel free to contact us.

4. Pre-Book everything you can before you visit China
Of course, you have your flights booked for your trip, but your pre-booking shouldn't end there. You might be used to showing up at a destination, getting a feel for the town, and picking a place to stay. This doesn't work with kids. When you arrive in a new place, you'll want to go straight to your lodging, drop off bags, and give kids a chance to rest if necessary. This is especially true if it's been a long journey to get to your destination. 

You should know where you're staying before you arrive. If you want a bit of flexibility in location, book the first night or 2 ahead of time, and decide where to stay for the rest of the trip once you're settled. Pre-booking doesn't end with flights and lodging, either. Anything you can book ahead of time is 1 less thing you have to worry about while trying to keep your whole family fed, amused, and happy on your Chinatrip.

5. Always have snacks available for your kids
Hangry kids can take a fun family trip to miserable in a matter of minutes. You never know when the time between meals will get extended. It could be a delayed flight, unexpected traffic getting to your hotel or a tour that takes a bit longer than you thought it would. 

The food at your destination may be quite different than what your kids usually eat. They may happily order lunch and then eat 2 bites of it because it wasn't what they were expecting. An hour or two later on your afternoon attraction visit, you'll have a hungry kid to deal with. It doesn't hurt to have snacks for you and other adults traveling with you as well. Adults can get just as hangry as kids can.

6. Travel With Basic Medicines
One of the easiest ways to ruin a day of travel or possibly an entire trip is to have a sick family member. It can be even worse if the whole family gets sick. Whether your child has an upset stomach from the bumpy bus ride to your destination, or you find a new kind of tree pollen you’re allergic to, you want to be prepared to make the sick family member feel better as quickly as possible. It's always a good idea to take a few over-the-counter medications your family might need while traveling. Please note, before your trip, check regulations for your destination and confirm you're allowed to enter China your medications without filling out additional paperwork or getting special permission.

7. Bring a Baby Car Seat
At home, you'd never think of taking your young child out for a drive without a car seat. When you travel, the rules don't change. It's no safer for your child to ride in a car without a car seat when you're away from home than it is when you're at home. If you plan to rent or hire a car at China and don't know that you can get a car seat there, take a car seat with you.  Most China car rental companied and China travel agency have baby car seats available with your rental, but you should confirm before your trip that there will be a baby car seat available for your use. But sometimes, a travel baby car seat isn't always the one you have in your car on a daily basis. 

8. Schedule Downtime
The amount of downtime you need will vary significantly depending on the age of your kids. Infants and young toddlers probably need daily naps. Older kids may be able to power through a long day, but likely won't be ablt to do that for several days in row. If your days are packed with activities when you go on vacation, even the adults could probably use a siesta by the second or third day. Scheduling downtime every day of your trip helps keep your family refreshed and ready to explore, and it keeps everyonehappier throughout the trip. If your kids get tired and cranky, and nobody will be having a good time. Downtime doesn't have to be a nap, it doesn't even have to be back at your hotel, your family's downtime could be:
1). A few minutes of seating on the chairs at a park
2). A slow stroll along the river that runs through the city
3). Anything that lets your family relax and reset
As you travel with your kids, you will quickly get an idea of what they need for downtime each day. Our advice is to make sure they get it.

Top Activities in China for Children and Family group
If above China Family Tours are not on your list, you can customize your family tour based on your interests. Following activities are some top activities in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou & Suzhou. These activities are optional, you can choose some to enrich your China tour for your family.

Popular Shanghai Activities for Children and Family 
Shanghai is a city with rich material and spiritual culture. In addition to many famous scenic spots, there are some small but meaningful activities and attractions. You may still be looking for some special activities, maybe to surprise your children, maybe to satisfy your curiosity. In many respects, Shanghai is very family friendly. There’s virtually no violent crime anywhere in the city; Women travel freely day and night and children play independently in parks and back alleys. Chinese culture places a high value on children to learn, and consequently there are many outdoor and indoor options for family outings. Follow our steps, we will lead you into different Shanghai.

Searching for Childishness in Shanghai Natural Wild Insect Kingdom
The Wild Insect Kingdom is a popular tourist attraction for the young and young-at-heart. Located near the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. It is a short walk from the Lujiazui metro station (Metro line #2). First build in 1868 by a French Prist called P. Heude, called “Musee Heude”. It enjoyed a great reputation as The British Museum in Asia at that age. There are parts of the museum, which are Prologue hall, Life of Insect hall, Worldwide Insects hall, Human and Insects Hall, Insects Culture hall, Insects Theater and Interactive Hall.

Enter the Life of Insect hall, visitors can get the most comprehensive knowledge of those wonderful creatures. How they made their first appearance on earth, how they evolved, how many insects they are, and some interesting tips of insects. Some might not like insect that much, a few might might have some kind insect phobia but for me, all living creatures are worth knowing.

It is a great place for kids, they can have so much fun learning about those lovely insects and get more interested about the nature. The museum isn’t very big, mostly cuz what they try to show is small. If you're still worried about where to take your kids for China family holiday, why don't come here.

Chinese Folk Art Culture Experience with Shanghai Style Paper Cutting Class
Shanghai, famous for its modern metropolis, also has traditional handicraft culture, such as Shanghai style paper-cut culture. Shanghai style paper cutting was emerged in 19th century. In a hundred years of historical evolution, the Shanghai paper-cut gradually formed a unique "Shanghai" style, so it has a certain position in the traditional Chinese paper-cut art. In 2005, Shanghai style paper cutting was approved by Shanghai municipal Party committee as the Shanghai traditional protection techniques.

Paper cutting art and craft ideas are a good choice when it comes to getting kids involved in extra-curricular activities. A paper cut out art can help your child explore his creative side while developing his motor skills.

If you are interested in Chinese paper-cutting or want to take your children and family to learn more about traditional Chinese folk art, don’t hesitate to attend our paper-cutting class, learn the traditional Chinese folk art of Paper Cutting! Where we’ll teach you all of the methods and tricks used by professional paper cutters!

Travel in the Time: The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel & Boat Cruise on the Huangpu River
Shanghai's night view is never tired of seeing, no matter which angle you from. As the soul of Shanghai, Huangpu River and Bund are always people's first choice. It has witnessed the history, development and opportunities of Shanghai. Whether it's the story of Shanghai or the European style buildings on both sides of the Bund. There's always one thing that will intoxicate you. If you haven't had time to enjoy the night view of Shanghai, it's better to follow our steps and choose a suitable night to follow our guide and take the Bund Sightseeing cable car and night boat to experience the journey through time.

The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is an underwater tunnel fitted with spectacular audio-visual effects for entertaining adults and children who go across the Huang Pu River from downtown Shanghai to Pudong. The total length of the tunnel is 646 meters. The sightseeing tunnel is divided into 3 parts: "Time tunnel area", "Magma jet area" and "Shuttle area" with the lighting and sound of the scene, which can make you and your kids have a real shock.

Afterwards, enjoy Boat Cruise on Huangpu River: The 'mother river' of Shanghai, the Huangpu River is the symbol and embodiment of Shanghai, just like the Thames of London, the Seine of Paris and the Danube of Budapest. This river is synonymous with the History of Shanghai, being inextricably intertwined with the social and economic life of the city and having nurtured its prosperity and witnessed its honors and disgraces. The Huangpu River is a must for travelers to Shanghai. The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two parts–east and west.

Sailing down the river, along the way you can enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides including such sights as the Yangpu Bridge, the Nanpu Bridge, and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. In addition, the varied western architecture on the west bank of the Huangpu River and the towering modern buildings on the east bank present a spectacular contrast, increasing the beauty and magnificence of the river.

Popular Xian Activities for Children and Family
Xi'an is the most selected city on the China city tour list just after Beijing. Enjoy an immersive Chinese cultural experience on Xian tour including the visit to the highlights of Xian with Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter and much more. There are also a lots of interesting activites to do in Xian for families. Combine creative activities with must-see sites to enrich your Xian tour, you'll have a deep understanding of the history and culture of ancient China.

Further from Xi'an Traditional Culture-Qinqiang Opera Show
Qinqiang Opera is a local Chinese opera that mainly thrives in north China's Shaanxi Province,it boasts the most ancient, affluent, and largest musical system of all Chinese operas. The opera first originated from local folk songs and dance forms in the Yellow River Valley of Shaanxi and Gansu province- the birthplaces of Chinese culture. This type of singing originated in the fields and countryside surrounding Xi'an when locals who used to shout to one another across the fields gradually developed a system of song to enable them to communicate! 

If you want to spend the last night in Xian to see the real thing with your family, feel the most primitive flavor, there are often performances on at the Chang'an Grand Theatre in Xi'an. Locals also practice their singing in the parks and down by the river! The old city walls are another popular stage for wanna be stars!

Searching for fun-Make your own Terracotta Warriors to get a better understanding of Chinese history
Known as "the Eight Wonders of the world", it’s a clay army of more than 8,000 life-size terra cotta figures of soldiers and horses discovered in 1974 in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China after they were buried underground for more than 2200 years. Reproducing the mega imperial guard troops of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210BC), the first emperor of the first unified dynasty of Imperial China.

After visiting the museum, if you want to surprise your children or family, you can take it to the Qin Terracotta Figures Factory, here you can see the man made worriors with different types. You can buy some remembrance when you leave (Non mandatory shopping). The most important things is that you can make it by yourself, know traditional techniques used 2,000 years ago and try your hand at molding, carving, and painting. Have a nice interaction with the family and listen to their stories for a real life experience.

Beijing Activities for Children and Family
Beijing is a city that should be in your list. It is a very attractive and vibrant city. Beijing is the best city to visit for travelers who want to enjoy a blend of ancient traditions and modern-day marvels, especially with family as Beijing is rich in Chinese history and festures a blended mix of Asian cultures. There are a variety of activities to do in Beijing to entertain and delight adults and kids of all ages.

Cross century transportation experience-Beijing rickshaw in Hutong
Hutong refers to lanes and alleys between the Siheyuan (courtyard with buildings on four sides) residences in Beijing, spreading over every corner of the old city. The dotted hutongs are unique scenery in Beijing profoundly related to the Siheyuan, which, together outlining the casual and charming life of the common people in the old city. The hutongs of various sizes in Beijing reached as many as 7000-odd in number, each featuring an anecdote or story.

In addition to the famous scenic spots such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, there is another thing that must be experienced in Beijing: The rickshaw in the Hutong of Beijing. The rickshaw, which existed in ancient China, has been preserved to now, carrying countless histories and stories. Take your child or family and choice a suitable time to go to Beijing's Hutong. Take a Rickshaw to get through the zigzag and narrow alleys or hutongs. Two people share one rickshaw. you will have a detailed explanation of the old courtyard ( Siheyuan ) - its history, its layout, its Fengshui, and its traditional Chinese culture involved.

Understanding Chinese Culture Starts With Calligraphy in Beijing Hutong
There are over 106,230 character in China since 2004 base on Yitizi Dictionary calculation. 12th grade students in China knows about 6,000 characters. We use simplified Chinese characters since 1952. The earliest confirmed evidence of the Chinese script yet discovered is the body of inscriptions on oracle bones from the late Shang dynasty (1200–1050 BC). The art of writing Chinese characters is called Chinese calligraphy. It is usually done with ink brushes. In ancient China, Chinese calligraphy is one of the Four Arts of the Chinese Scholars. Calligraphy was the means by which scholars could mark their thoughts and teachings for immortality, and as such, represent some of the more precious treasures that can be found from ancient China.

Nowadays, Chinese is becoming more and more international. It is the most direct way to understand Chinese culture to know how to write Chinese characters. If you want your family learn Madarin and Chinese characters, you can join in the calligraphy class in Beijing Hutong to learn how to write Chinese characters with a professional calligraphy teacher.

Chengdu Activities for Children and Family
Choosing the best activities to di in Chengdu was no easy task. Noted as 'The Home of Panda', Chengdu is indeed a city with rich culture and vibrant street life. It has impressive attractions, exciting activities, and plenty of things for all the family. Following are popular activities that the locals do, help you have an unforgettable tour in Chengdu.

The Most Relaxed place for kids and family-Chengdu People's Park
Chengdu - known as one of the slowe pace of life cities in China. Leisure and entertainment are the words that best reflect the lifestyle of the local people in this city. And people's park must be one of the most representative places of entertainment.

Strolling in the park, you will see local people drinking tea, playing mahjong or cards, dancing, singing, and playing music. There is even an interesting matchmaking area where people advertise their sons' and daughters' profiles to attract partners. Relaxing with a cup of green tea and playing mahjong is one of the most popular pastimes in Chengdu. With an estimated 10,000 teahouses, there is a teahouse on just about every corner. Some of the common characteristics of tea culture in Chengdu include bamboo chairs, small wooden tables, jasmine tea, and gaiwan tea, which is served in a covered bowl.