China moves on a scale that defies easy description. It holds the world's most visited ancient monuments, some of its fastest-growing cities, and landscapes that range from the karst mountains of Guilin to the high-altitude steppes of Inner Mongolia. A week barely scratches the surface — but even a short visit to Beijing and Shanghai reveals a civilisation that has been refining itself for five thousand years while simultaneously building the future at breakneck speed.
- Suggested duration: 14–21 days
- Best time to visit: April–May and September–October offer mild weather across most of the country. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year (January/February) when domestic travel peaks.
China moves on a scale that defies easy description. It holds the world's most visited ancient monuments, some of its fastest-growing cities, and landscapes that range from the karst mountains of Guilin to the high-altitude steppes of Inner Mongolia. A week barely scratches the surface — but even a short visit to Beijing and Shanghai reveals a civilisation that has been refining itself for five thousand years while simultaneously building the future at breakneck speed.
Why Visit China
China suits the traveller who wants contrast — ancient and ultramodern, vast and intimate, familiar and profoundly foreign. History lovers find the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army among the most extraordinary surviving monuments on earth. Food enthusiasts discover a culinary tradition of staggering regional diversity. City lovers find in Shanghai and Beijing two of the world's most dynamic urban experiences. And those who venture beyond the headline cities find landscapes, cultures, and cuisines that few Western visitors ever encounter.
Top Attractions and Experiences
China's headline experiences are genuinely world-class. The Great Wall of China snakes across the mountains north of Beijing — the restored Mutianyu section offers the most dramatic scenery with fewer crowds than Badaling. The Forbidden City in Beijing is the largest palace complex on earth: 980 buildings arranged across 72 hectares, the seat of 24 emperors across six centuries. In Xi'an, the Terracotta Army — thousands of life-size warriors buried with China's first emperor — is one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries ever made. Shanghai's The Bund waterfront, lined with art deco mansions facing Pudong's futuristic skyline across the Huangpu River, distils the city's East-meets-West identity into a single, unforgettable view. For landscape, the karst mountains of Guilin and Yangshuo — pointed limestone peaks rising from mirror-flat rivers, immortalised on the 20-yuan note — are among the most beautiful natural scenes in Asia. The Li River cruise between Guilin and Yangshuo is one of China's great journeys.
Getting There and Around
China's three main international gateways are Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN). Hong Kong (HKG) offers an additional entry point with simpler visa arrangements for some nationalities. Within the country, China's high-speed rail network is one of the world's finest — trains connect Beijing and Shanghai in four and a half hours at speeds up to 350 km/h, and the network extends to Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, and beyond. Domestic flights are affordable and frequent. In cities, metro systems are efficient, clean, and well-signed in English; ride-hailing via DiDi (China's equivalent of Uber) is essential for point-to-point journeys. Most visitors require a visa in advance — apply at least four weeks before departure.
Best Time to Visit
April to May and September to October offer the most pleasant weather across most of China — mild temperatures, manageable humidity, and clear skies ideal for sightseeing. Spring brings cherry blossoms to parks in Beijing and Shanghai; autumn turns the leaves gold at the Great Wall and in mountain regions. Avoid the Golden Week national holidays (1–7 October and late January/February for Chinese New Year) when domestic tourist traffic overwhelms popular sites. Summer (June–August) is hot and humid, particularly in southern and central China, and brings heavy rainfall to the southeast. Northern China winters are bitterly cold but offer the surreal experience of the Great Wall under snow with virtually no other visitors.
Local Culture and Food
Chinese cuisine is not one cuisine but dozens — each province has its own distinct traditions, ingredients, and techniques. In Beijing, the signature dish is Peking duck (Beijing kaoya), served at century-old restaurants like Quanjude or Da Dong: mahogany-lacquered skin wrapped in thin pancakes with spring onion and hoisin sauce. In Shanghai, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) — paper-thin dough encasing a ball of pork and hot broth — are a religion. Xi'an's Muslim Quarter produces extraordinary biangbiang noodles (wide hand-pulled noodles with chilli oil and vinegar) and lamb skewers grilled over charcoal. Etiquette notes: tipping is not customary and can cause confusion; it is polite to try everything offered, including dishes that may challenge Western palates; and photographing temples, monks, and local people should always be done with a smile and tacit permission. The WeChat app is essential for everything from payments to navigation — set it up before you go.