Beijing · 4–5 days suggested
Beijing北京
The Great Wall, palace courtyards and hutong neighbourhoods: a natural first chapter for a China trip.
© Nicolas M. Perrault / Velatrix · CC0 1.0 · Display crop
Your next chapter starts here
China.
Closer than you think.
Beyond the postcards. Into the neighbourhoods,
the landscapes, and the little things that make a trip.
Find your kind of ChinaCities, landscapes and places to linger
Feel ready before you goEntry, payments, trains and everyday life
Ask the communityMake room for a little local context
A place for every pace
Where will you begin?
Shanghai · 3–4 days suggested
Shanghai上海
A skyline worth staying up for, leafy streets worth slowing down in, and easy connections for the next chapter.
© Stefan Fussan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Display crop
Sichuan · 3–4 days suggested
Chengdu成都
A city for unhurried afternoons, Sichuan flavours and a thoughtful introduction to giant panda conservation.
© chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display crop
Zhejiang · 2–3 days suggested
Hangzhou杭州
West Lake's causeways, garden views and surrounding tea country invite a slower kind of city break.
© Daniel Vorndran / DXR · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Display crop
Take the scenic route
Some places change
your sense of scale.
Step into Zhangjiajie’s forest of sandstone peaks. Stay for the quiet valley walks, the changing mist, and a view you’ll still be thinking about on the way home.
Discover Zhangjiajie© chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display crop
A little preparation goes a long way
The first-time essentials.
01
Visa & entry
Start here before booking flights. Your passport and route determine which rules apply.
Read the guide 02Payments & money
Set up a practical payment plan, with a backup that works when your phone doesn't.
Read the guide 03Trains & getting around
Names, stations and transfer buffers matter more than squeezing in another stop.
Read the guide 04Phones, maps & apps
Prepare the basics while you still have a familiar connection.
Read the guideGood trips start with good questions
You don’t have to figure
it all out alone.
Ask a specific question, share something you learned,
or explore an editorial route in our city guides.