Why visit China
China is a continent in one country. Beijing for imperial history, Shanghai for the skyline, Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, Chengdu for pandas, Guilin & Zhangjiajie for landscapes that look painted.
Travel is easier than people expect — high-speed rail covers the country, hotels are cheap-to-mid-range, and apps like Alipay handle payments. The catch is the Great Firewall (no Google, no WhatsApp without VPN).
Costs are mid-range: £55–130 a day comfortable; £35 backpacker.
Best months are April–May and September–October. Avoid Golden Week (1st week Oct) when the whole country travels.
Best places to visit in China
From the headline cities to the spots most travellers miss, here are the destinations worth building a China trip around — what each is like, how long to stay and who they suit.
North · Capital
Beijing
Forbidden City, Great Wall day trips and the country's best Peking duck.
East · City
Shanghai
The Bund skyline, French Concession and Asia's best modern dining.
Centre · History
Xi'an
Terracotta Army and an intact city wall to cycle at dusk.
Southwest · Food
Chengdu
Pandas, hot pot and Sichuan's slowest big city.
South · Karst
Guilin & Yangshuo
Limestone hills, Li River cruises and rural cycling.
Centre · Nature
Zhangjiajie
The Avatar mountains — surreal sandstone pillars in mist.
Best China itineraries
How long do you really need? Here are tried-and-tested route lengths, from a quick first taste to a slow, complete loop.
Best time to visit China
China is vast — climate varies wildly. Generally <strong>April–May</strong> and <strong>September–October</strong> are ideal countrywide. Avoid <strong>Golden Week</strong> (1–7 Oct) when 1.4bn people travel and Chinese New Year when everything shifts.
North (Beijing, Xi'an)
Cold winters, hot dusty summers; best Apr–May & Sep–Oct.
South (Guilin, Hong Kong)
Subtropical; best Oct–Dec.
Southwest (Chengdu, Yunnan)
Mild but cloudy; best Mar–May & Sep–Nov.
West (Tibet, Xinjiang)
Best May–Sep.
China budget guide
Honest, realistic budgets — what each travel style actually costs, by the day, week and 2 weeks.
Backpacker
£30 – £55 / day
£210 – £385 / week · £420 – £770 / 2 weeks
- Stay: Hostels · £10–20
- Food: Street food & noodles · £3–6
- Transport: Metro + high-speed rail 2nd
- Activities: Free temples, parks
Mid-Range
£75 – £140 / day
£525 – £980 / week · £1,050 – £1,960 / 2 weeks
- Stay: 4★ hotels · £60–100
- Food: Hot pot, dim sum, mid-range
- Transport: High-speed rail business
- Activities: Great Wall private guide
Luxury
£250 – £600+ / day
£1,750 – £4,200 / week · £3,500 – £8,400 / 2 weeks
- Stay: Aman, Peninsula, Four Seasons
- Food: Fine dining, Michelin stars
- Transport: Private cars, business class
- Activities: Private guides everywhere
Sample mid-range day
Coffee £4 · metro day £3 · Forbidden City £10 · noodles lunch £4 · evening hot pot £18 · 4★ hotel £80 = £119
China transport guide
How to get around — the realistic options, what they cost and when to pick each.
World's biggest network — Beijing ↔ Shanghai in 4.5 hrs
£30 – £100
Massive, cheap, English signage in big cities
£0.30 – £1
For Zhangjiajie, Lijiang, Xinjiang
£40 – £150
Rideshare app — needs Alipay/WeChat setup
£2 – £10
Cheap and atmospheric — book on Trip.com
£20 – £60
Long-distance for remote regions
£5 – £25
City bikes everywhere — unlock with Alipay
£0.20 / hour
Best food to try in China
Order beyond the obvious — these are the dishes locals queue for and travellers remember years later.
Peking Duck
Crispy duck with pancakes — best at Quanjude or Da Dong.
Xiaolongbao
Shanghai soup dumplings — Din Tai Fung the safe bet.
Sichuan Hot Pot
Bubbling chilli broth — Chengdu's signature.
Dim Sum
Cantonese small plates — best in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Hand-pulled noodles
Lanzhou beef noodle soup is the classic.
Mapo Tofu
Numbing spicy tofu — Sichuan staple.
Jianbing
Chinese breakfast crêpe with egg, scallions, crispy chips.
Roujiamo
China's 'hamburger' — pulled pork in a flatbread, Xi'an's snack.
Baozi
Steamed buns with pork or veg — breakfast classic.
Bubble Tea
Originated nearby (Taiwan) but ubiquitous across China.
Top experiences in China
The experiences travellers consistently call out as highlights.
China for different travel styles
First-timers
Stick to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai — easy and varied.
Foodies
Regional cuisines could fill a lifetime.
Adventure
Great Wall hikes, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Zhangjiajie.
History buffs
Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Pingyao.
Luxury
World-class hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.
Family
Easy with kids — pandas, walls, dumpling classes.
China safety guide
Common-sense safety information from real travellers — what to actually watch out for.
General safety
Extremely safe for tourists. Petty theft is the main concern.
Internet
Get a VPN before you fly — Google, WhatsApp, Instagram all blocked.
Payments
Cash and most foreign cards rarely work — set up Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Air quality
Beijing, Xi'an winters can be heavy — pack a mask.
Politics
Avoid public political discussion.
Health
Excellent in tier-1 cities; reliance on bottled water.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110 · Ambulance: 120 · Fire: 119
Practical information
Visa
Most nationalities need a visa; 144-hour transit visa-free for many flying through.
Money & ATMs
Cash and foreign cards rarely accepted — Alipay/WeChat Pay essential.
Cards
Visa & Mastercard accepted at hotels, malls and chain restaurants. Carry cash for street vendors.
SIM cards & eSIMs
Foreign SIMs work with passport; eSIM via Airalo simplest.
Internet & WiFi
Strong WiFi at hotels and cafés; 4G/5G in cities and most popular areas.
Plugs & power
Types A, C and I sockets · 220V / 50Hz.
Tipping
Not expected; small tips fine in international hotels.
Healthcare
Tier-1 city private hospitals (e.g. United Family) are excellent.
Essential apps for China
The apps actually worth downloading before you fly.
Google Maps
Reliable navigation across Asia
Google Translate
Camera mode reads local menus
Airalo
eSIMs in under a minute
Wise
Cheap currency transfers & card
Agoda
Best hotel rates across Asia
Booking.com
Free cancellation flexibility
Klook
Tours, transfers & tickets
12Go
Trains, buses & ferries across SEA
GetYourGuide
Experiences & day tours
Alipay / WeChat Pay
Required for payments
Trip.com
Trains, flights, hotels
DiDi
China's Uber
Pleco
Best Chinese dictionary
China FAQs
The questions travellers ask most often, answered honestly.
Is China safe?
Extremely safe for tourists — among the safest in Asia for street crime.
Do I need a visa for China?
Most nationalities yes. 144-hour transit visa-free is available in many cities.
When is the best time to visit China?
April–May and September–October. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 Oct) and Chinese New Year.
How many days do I need?
Minimum 10 for Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai; ideal 14–21 for a wider trip.
Do I need a VPN in China?
Yes — Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and many others are blocked. Set it up before flying.
Can I use my credit card in China?
Rarely. You need Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card.
Is China expensive?
No — mid-range and rail are affordable. Backpackers £30–55/day; mid-range £75–140.
Can I drink tap water?
No — use bottled or filtered water.
Do people speak English?
Some in tourist areas and big hotels. Outside that, translation apps are essential.
What's the best China itinerary?
Beijing (4) → Xi'an (2) → Shanghai (3) for first trips. Add Chengdu and Guilin for two weeks.
Is tipping expected in China?
No — never. Tipping is not part of Chinese culture.
What plug type does China use?
Types A, C and I · 220V — universal adapter recommended.