China
China rewards the curious traveller like few places on earth. It is a country of superlatives — the world's most populous nation, a civilisation stretching back more than three thousand years, and a landscape that runs from the deserts of the northwest to the rice terraces of the south and the neon canyons of Shanghai. For decades it felt forbiddingly complex to visit independently. That has changed.
We have visited China several times - a long tour and shorter trips across the border from Hong Kong. Over a short period it has changed dramatically. The ancient structures and traditional ways of life that have drawn visitors for many years are still there, alongside a very modern China, an industrial and technological power house. Be realistic about what you can see and experience. It's a huge country. We've spent many days there but barely touched the surface.
China Today
Modern China is a study in contrasts: ancient temples beside gleaming skyscrapers, traditional tea houses beside cashless convenience. It is overwhelmingly a cashless society, and daily life runs through smartphones. For the visitor this once posed real friction, but the major payment apps now accept foreign cards, and translation apps bridge most of the language gap. A little preparation goes a long way.
A wave of visa-free access, a world-class high-speed rail network and near-universal mobile payment have made China dramatically easier to explore than it was even a few years ago — provided you arrive prepared. This guide brings together the practical groundwork and the highlights to help you plan a first trip with confidence.
Understanding the Geography
China is enormous — the third-largest country on earth — and trying to "see China" in one trip is a common mistake. Most first visits focus on a single region or a classic city circuit. Understanding how the country fits together makes it far easier to plan a realistic route.
Plan your journey
The four decisions that shape a China trip — each with a guide behind it.
When to go
China is really several climates at once. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots almost everywhere — mild, clearer skies, and the country at its best. Summer is hot, humid and busy; winter is bitter in the north and mild in the south.
The best time to visit China →
BudgetWhat it costs
Better value than its neighbours. High-speed trains, metros and street food are cheap and superb; international flights and international-standard city hotels are where the money goes. A comfortable mid-range day is very affordable by Western standards.
The cost of visiting China →
A bed for the nightWhere to stay
From international chains to design hostels and courtyard hotels. One quirk to know: not every property is licensed to take foreign guests, so book places that are — and carry your passport, which you will need to check in and to register your stay.
Accommodation in China →
Rail & paymentsGetting around
The high-speed rail network is the best in the world and shrinks the country; every big city has a clean, cheap metro, and DiDi handles taxis. The real preparation isn't the trains — it's sorting mobile payment and a VPN before you fly.
The China Travel Survival Guide →
Build your itinerary
Most first trips run Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai — the classic triangle of the capital, the Terracotta Army and the modern powerhouse — often with Guilin, Yangshuo or Chengdu added for landscape or pandas. It works because the high-speed rail makes light of the distances.
Three steps to build yours:
- Start with the routes. Our China itineraries guide lays out one, two and three-week versions, ready to borrow.
- Pick what you want to see. Our city guides to Beijing and Shanghai (with Xi'an, Chengdu and Guilin to follow) cover the sights worth your time and how to reach them.
- Decide how to travel it. China is very doable independently, but a tour removes the friction of language and logistics — our tour or independent travel? guide helps you choose.
Then go further.
Give the Great Wall a proper half-day at a quieter section rather than a rushed morning at the busiest one.
Add Chengdu for the giant pandas and Sichuan food, or Guilin and Yangshuo for the karst-peak scenery of the Li River.
And wherever you go, ride the high-speed rail at least once — the Survival Guide covers booking, payments and the apps.
Experience China
Walk the Great Wall
Beyond the crowded showpiece sections, the wall runs wild along the ridgelines — the single unmissable set-piece of a China trip.
Stand in the Forbidden City
Five centuries of emperors ruled from Beijing's colossal palace complex — the ceremonial heart of imperial China.
Meet the Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers, each face different, stand guard over a First Emperor's tomb near Xi'an.
Cruise the Li River
The dreamlike karst peaks between Guilin and Yangshuo are the landscape of a thousand scroll paintings — and the ¥20 note.
See the giant pandas
Chengdu's breeding base is the place to watch giant pandas up close — best early, at feeding time, before the heat.
The Bund by night
Colonial-era facades on one bank, a futuristic skyline on the other — Shanghai's riverfront is the country's modern face after dark.
Know before you go
Getting there
China's main international gateways are Beijing (Capital PEK and Daxing PKX), Shanghai (Pudong PVG and Hongqiao SHA) and Guangzhou (CAN), with Hong Kong a common back door to the south. Once you land, internal travel is easiest by the fast, punctual high-speed rail and the excellent city metros.
| Departure City | Typical Direct Flight Time |
|---|---|
| London | 10–12 hrs |
| Sydney | 11–12 hrs |
| Auckland | 12–13 hrs |
| San Francisco | 12–13 hrs |
Typical direct flight times to Beijing or Shanghai. Many routes connect via a hub, which adds time. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Return economy fares vary widely by season and route — verify current prices before booking.
Weather
China is huge, so “the weather” depends where you are — but the seasonal shape holds across most of the classic route.
| Season | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar–May | One of the two best windows. Mild and increasingly clear; blossom in the centre and south. |
| Summer | Jun–Aug | Hot and humid, with a rainy season and the year's heaviest domestic crowds. |
| Autumn | Sep–Oct | Superb. Crisp, clear and comfortable — the pick for most first trips. |
| Winter | Nov–Feb | Cold and dry in the north (Beijing, Xi'an), mild in the south; quiet, but book around the Spring Festival. |
Aim for spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) for the best balance of weather and crowds.
Major festivals
- Spring Festival / Chinese New Year (late January or February — 17 February in 2026)
- Qingming, the tomb-sweeping day (early April)
- Labour Day holiday (1 May)
- Dragon Boat Festival (June)
- Mid-Autumn Festival (September or October)
The two week-long “Golden Weeks” — Spring Festival and National Day (from 1 October) — see hundreds of millions of people travel at once. The atmosphere is extraordinary, but transport and sights are jammed and prices spike; plan around them if you can.
Before you land
The four things worth sorting before you go.
Etiquette
Nobody expects you to get everything right, but a few habits smooth the way and are noticed.
- Tipping isn't customary — don't feel you must
- Offer and receive business cards, and pour tea, with both hands
- At a meal, wait to be seated and let the host order and toast first
- Never stand chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice
- “Face” matters — avoid causing public embarrassment or open confrontation
- Carry your passport; you'll need it for hotels, some sights and to buy rail tickets
Entry requirements
Good news for most of our readers: passport holders from the UK, Ireland, the EU, Australia, New Zealand and Canada can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, under a scheme running to 31 December 2026.
US citizens are the main exception — they still need a visa, though a separate transit-visa-free scheme allows short stays when passing through. Rules change and are extended in steps, so confirm your own nationality before booking.
Money & cards
China runs on mobile payment. Alipay and WeChat Pay now let foreign visitors link a Visa or Mastercard directly — set both up before you fly, as verification can take a day or two.
Foreign cards are accepted at big hotels and some shops, but far from everywhere. Since February 2026 businesses must accept cash, so carry around ¥1,000 as a fallback for the odd stall or temple.
Staying connected
The “Great Firewall” blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X and more. Your usual apps won't work unless you prepare.
Install a VPN before you arrive (they're hard to download once you're there), or use an international eSIM or roaming, which routes through your home network and slips past the firewall.
Food: what to expect and what to try
“Chinese food” barely means anything inside China — the country holds eight great regional cuisines and countless local ones. Expect the numbing chilli of Sichuan, the delicacy of Cantonese dim sum, the wheat noodles and dumplings of the north, and street food everywhere. Meals are shared, ordered for the table, and the menu is often the biggest barrier — a translation app and a willingness to point go a long way. Our food guide, What to eat in China, is coming to help you navigate it.
A final word
China rewards the traveller who prepares. Sort the visa position, the payment apps and a VPN before you fly, and the rest — the trains, the food, the sheer scale of the sights — becomes remarkably easy for so vast a country. Build the classic triangle, add one region that pulls you (pandas, karst peaks, or a wilder stretch of wall), come in spring or autumn, and China tends to overturn whatever you expected of it.
External Links
The National Immigration Administration for the current visa and visa-free rules.
The China Meteorological Administration for weather and warnings.
The FCDO China travel advice for UK-specific entry and safety guidance.
Visiting China: FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit China?
Most of our readers do not, for now. UK, Irish, EU, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, under a scheme currently running to 31 December 2026. US citizens are the main exception and still need a visa, though a transit-visa-free option exists. Rules change, so verify your nationality with the National Immigration Administration before booking.
Is China expensive to visit?
It is good value, and generally cheaper than Japan or South Korea. International flights and international-standard city hotels are the main costs; high-speed trains, metros and food are inexpensive, and street food lets you eat superbly for very little.
How many days do you need in China?
Ten to fourteen days suits a first trip, comfortably covering Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai with one more region such as Chengdu or Guilin. The country is vast, but the high-speed rail makes the classic route easy, and it rewards more time.
When is the best time to visit China?
Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the most comfortable and the clearest, and the best for most first trips. Summer is hot, humid and crowded; winter is cold in the north but quiet. Avoid the two week-long Golden Weeks if you can.
How do I pay and get online in China?
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay and link a foreign Visa or Mastercard before you fly, and carry some cash as a backup. For the internet, install a VPN before you arrive or use an international eSIM or roaming, since Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps are blocked inside China.