Old capitals, regional food and landscapes at continental scale.
China
Routes, destination pages, practical guides, hotel ideas and travel stories for planning China with a clearer sense of place.
Map
Choose a province or city.
Routes.
Compare route ideas.
Classic China
Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and a Jiangnan add-on.
Food, highlands and old towns
Chengdu, Guizhou villages, Dali and Lijiang.
Mountains and rivers
Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo and Yunnan.
Silk Road China
Xi’an, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang.
South China
Guangzhou, Guilin, Yangshuo and Fujian or Hainan.
North China history
Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi’an.
Before you go.
China visa-free policy 2026
Check 30-day visa-free entry, transit rules, regional programs and mistakes that cause denied boarding.
Hong Kong entry and China crossings
Visa-free Hong Kong stays, landing slips, West Kowloon rail and how Hong Kong connects to mainland entry rules.
Macao entry and China crossings
Visa-free Macao stays, passport validity, funds rules and practical crossings into Zhuhai and Hong Kong.
Alipay for China travelers
Set up payments, passport verification, card fees and backup options before landing.
WeChat for China travelers
Register WeChat, set up WeChat Pay, enable mini-programs and avoid common setup blocks.
Beijing and the Great Wall
How to use Beijing as a calm first base before rail travel.
Shanghai and Jiangnan
Use Shanghai for arrival, soft city days and water-town side trips.
Chengdu and Sichuan
Teahouses, pandas, spicy food and mountain routes.
Guilin and Yangshuo
Karst rivers, cycling, village stays and slower photography days.
Gansu and the Silk Road
Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang for big landscape changes.
Hotel picks.
Arrival city hotels
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu areas that make first nights easier.
Atmospheric bases
Lijiang, Dali, Pingyao and Jiangnan towns where location matters more than star rating.
Mountain and park stays
Jiuzhaigou, Zhangjiajie and Huangshan need practical hotel geography.
River and village stays
Yangshuo, Longji and countryside stays for softer days between cities.
Destinations.
Beijing
Best for first-time history, hutongs, museums and Great Wall day trips.
Shanghai
Gateway city with art deco streets, river views and Jiangnan side trips.
Sichuan
Chengdu, teahouses, pandas, spicy food and mountain scenery.
Yunnan
Dali, Lijiang, highlands, rice terraces and slower southwest travel.
Guangxi
Karst rivers, rice terraces, villages and countryside photography.
Gansu
Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and the most visual Silk Road route.
Hunan
Zhangjiajie, old towns, spicy food and dramatic forest scenery.
Guangdong
Cantonese food, Pearl River cities, markets and south China gateways.
Travel stories.
First China trip: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai
A classic route for history, city contrast and easy rail connections.
Southwest China: food, old towns and highlands
Chengdu, Guizhou, Dali and Lijiang for a slower second-trip feeling.
Silk Road China: Xi’an to Dunhuang
Desert light, Buddhist caves and historic corridor towns across the northwest.
Continue exploring
Choose the right region of China
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Before you move
Practical setup for China
The small systems that make the next transfer work: payment, transport, maps, luggage and live conditions.PaymentSet up payment before arrival
Link an international card to Alipay or Weixin Pay, then keep a bank card or RMB cash as a backup.
Open official serviceIntercity railPrepare China rail travel
Keep every passenger name identical to the passport, confirm the correct station and watch the live ticket sales window.
Open official serviceMaps & networkPrepare the phone, data and addresses
Save hotel and station addresses in Chinese, install a data option and test the map workflow before the first transfer.
Open official serviceWeather & alertsCheck the national forecast
Recheck heat, rain, snow and mountain conditions before every long transfer.
Open official service