China
Everything you need to plan a great trip — from the Great Wall to a futuristic skyline — without the guesswork, especially on the visa rules.
China rewards 10-14 days minimum: Beijing (3-4 days, the Great Wall and Forbidden City), Xi'an (1-2 days, the Terracotta Army), and Shanghai (2-3 days, the Bund and French Concession), connected by excellent high-speed rail. Best months are April-May and September-mid-October. Visa rules vary more by nationality than almost anywhere else — many nationalities (most of the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, several Gulf states, Brazil) get 30 days visa-free through 2026, while others (the US, India) still need a visa arranged in advance. Budget from $45/day backpacking, $100-180/day mid-range.
China is not a country you "do" quickly, and it's also not the intimidating, impossible-to-navigate place a lot of outdated advice makes it sound like. It's an enormous, staggeringly varied country where a 2,000-year-old buried army, one of the most photographed skylines on Earth, and a genuinely different regional cuisine every few hundred miles are all part of the same trip — connected, these days, by some of the best high-speed trains in the world.
This guide covers everything: where to go, how many days, when to fly, what it actually costs in USD, and — because this genuinely matters more here than almost anywhere else — the visa rule for your specific passport, not a generic one-size-fits-all answer. Written to be genuinely useful, and updated through the season.
Destinations
All Destinations ←Beijing
3–4 days, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and 800 years of capital-city history.
Shanghai
2–3 days, a futuristic skyline, and the gentlest introduction to China.
Xi'an
1–2 days for one of the ancient world's genuine wonders, plus phenomenal street food.
Guilin & Yangshuo
2-3 days for the karst-peak scenery that looks fake in photos and isn't.
Chengdu
2-3 days for pandas, fiery hot pot, and China's most laid-back big city.
Zhangjiajie
2-3 days among the real-life floating mountains that inspired Avatar.
Attractions
All Attractions ←
China's Best Attractions
What's genuinely worth the trip — from the Great Wall to the Li River.
The Great Wall of China
Four sections, four very different experiences — here's the honest breakdown.
The Forbidden City
Tickets open exactly 7 days ahead — here's how to actually get in.
The Terracotta Army
Thousands of sculpted soldiers — here's which pit actually matters.
Li River Cruise
A stunning journey through China's picturesque landscapes.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Home to towering sandstone pillars and lush forests.
Food
All Food ←
Chinese Food: What to Eat and What It Costs
Regional cuisine, must-try dishes, real prices, and how to order without the language.
China's Street Food & Night Markets
The best cheap meal of the trip is standing at a stall, not a table.
Chinese Tea Culture: The Traveler's Guide
Green, oolong, pu-erh — what's different, and where to try it right.
Practical Info
All Practical Info ←
China Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
The real answer, broken down by passport — this one varies more than almost any other destination.
Money, Safety & Getting Online in China
Mobile payments, real safety risks, and the Great Firewall — the practical stuff that actually trips people up.
Articles & Comparisons
All Articles & Comparisons ←
Beijing or Shanghai: Which Chinese City Is Right for You?
An honest head-to-head — not just 'both are great.'
Best Time to Visit China
Spring and autumn win almost everywhere — but two holiday weeks are worth building around.
How Many Days Do You Need in China?
Real 7, 10, and 14-day plans, and what to cut if you're tight on time.
The Biggest Mistakes First-Time China Travelers Make
The VPN-and-payment slip alone derails more first trips than anything.