📋 Trip Planning

First time in China and not sure where to start? Start here.

Best Seasons to Visit

Spring (Mar-May) ★★★★★

Best travel season. Mild temperatures (10-25°C), flowers in bloom. Recommended: Hangzhou West Lake, Guilin's Li River, Yunnan's Dali. Avoid the Labor Day Golden Week (May 1-5).

Summer (Jun-Aug) ★★★☆☆

Hot and rainy, but the best season for Tibet, Yunnan, and Inner Mongolia grasslands. Zhangjiajie and Guilin are rainy but misty and evocative. Summer holidays mean larger crowds and higher prices.

Autumn (Sep-Nov) ★★★★★

Crisp, clear skies — tied with spring as the best season. Beijing's Fragrant Hills red leaves, Jiuzhaigou's colorful forests, Xi'an's ancient city walls in autumn light are stunning. Avoid National Day Golden Week (Oct 1-7).

Winter (Dec-Feb) ★★★☆☆

Cold in the north but great for snow scenery — Harbin's Ice and Snow World is spectacular. The south stays warm, and Sanya in Hainan is a perfect winter escape. Spring Festival (late Jan-Feb) means shops close but festive atmosphere is unique. Avoid Chunyun travel rush.

Golden Week Warning: Labor Day (May 1-5) and National Day (Oct 1-7) are national holidays. All tourist sites, stations, airports are packed. Hotel prices double. Strongly avoid these dates.

Recommended Itineraries

All routes fit within the 240-hour (10-day) transit visa-free window or the 30-day visa-free period.

Classic First-Timer: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai

10-14 days / 天

First trip to China — see history and modernity collide

→ Day 1-4 Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutongs
→ Day 5-7 Xi'an (bullet train ~5.5h): Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Muslim Quarter
→ Day 8-10+ Shanghai (bullet train ~6h): The Bund, French Concession, Disney

Nature & Landscapes: Guilin → Zhangjiajie → Chengdu

12-16 days / 天

For outdoor enthusiasts who don't need big cities

→ Day 1-3 Guilin & Yangshuo: Li River cruise, Longji Rice Terraces
→ Day 4-7 Zhangjiajie (bullet train to Changsha ~3h, then connection): National Park, Tianmen Mountain
→ Day 8-10+ Chengdu (flight ~1.5h): Panda Base, Dujiangyan, hot pot

Southwest Culture Deep-Dive: Chengdu → Lijiang → Dunhuang

14-18 days / 天

For those interested in minority cultures and the Silk Road

→ Day 1-4 Chengdu: pandas, hot pot, Kuanzhai Alley
→ Day 5-9 Lijiang (flight ~1.5h): Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge
→ Day 10-12+ Dunhuang (flight Lijiang→Lanzhou→Dunhuang requires transfer): Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain

Budget Reference (per person per day)

💰 Budget

🏨 ¥150-300/night (hostels, budget hotels)
🍜 ¥50-100/day (street food, fast food)
🚇 Metro + occasional taxi

💼 Mid-Range

🏨 ¥300-800/night (3-4 star)
🍜 ¥100-300/day (proper restaurants)
🚇 Bullet train + metro + DiDi

🥂 Luxury

🏨 ¥800-2000+/night (5-star or boutique)
🍜 ¥300-800/day (fine dining)
🚇 DiDi Premier or private driver

Note: attraction tickets (most sites ¥50-200) and intercity transport (bullet train ~¥0.5/km) are extra. Budget ~¥300-500/day total; mid-range ~¥600-1,200/day.

7 Essential Tips for First-Timers

1

Don't try to see everything

China is vast. The high-speed rail distance between two cities can exceed cross-border European travel. First trip: focus on 2-3 cities.
2

Book hotels and train tickets in advance

China train tickets go on sale 15 days ahead via 12306 or Trip.com. Popular dates (holidays, summer) sell out fast. Hotels fill up in peak season too.
3

Have a cash + mobile payment backup plan

While mobile payments dominate, some small stalls only take cash. Carry ¥500-1,000 in cash for emergencies.
4

Bullet trains between cities, metro + DiDi within cities

Bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient intercity option. Metro networks within major cities are excellent — use DiDi for last-mile or when you're tired.
5

Confirm your hotel accepts foreigners (涉外)

Not all hotels can host foreign guests. When booking on Trip.com, if the system lets you book, it's generally foreigner-friendly. Hotels will scan your passport and register with the police — this is standard procedure.
6

Learn 4 phrases, let the app do the rest

'Nǐ hǎo' (hello), 'Xièxie' (thanks), 'Duōshao qián?' (how much?), 'Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr?' (where's the bathroom?) — these four will get you far. Save your destination address as a Chinese screenshot to show drivers.
7

Buy travel insurance

China's healthcare system is unfamiliar to most foreigners. Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. International SOS and AXA both offer China-specific plans.

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