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China, sorted. In your language.

Where to go, what to set up before you fly, and how to pay, book and get around once you land.

Where in China? Every tile is a province. Tap one to see its cities and the sights worth the trip.

40 cities in 31 provinces and regionsIn our guidesComing soon

First trip

The Great Wall winding over autumn hills4–5 daysBeijing北京Forbidden City, the Great Wall and hutong life in China's capital.best Apr–May, Sep–Oct
The Lujiazui skyline reflected in the Huangpu River at dusk3–4 daysShanghai上海The Bund skyline, old lanes and easy day trips to canal towns.best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Xi'an Bell Tower lit up at night2–3 daysXi'an西安The Terracotta Army, a city wall you can cycle and the Muslim Quarter food street.best Mar–May, Sep–Oct
A giant panda resting in a tree3–4 daysChengdu成都Giant pandas, Sichuan hot pot and slow afternoons in teahouses.best Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
A cormorant fisherman on a bamboo raft among karst peaks3–4 daysGuilin桂林Karst peaks along the Li River and cycling around Yangshuo.best Apr–Oct
Sunset over West Lake with Leifeng Pagoda on the hill, Hangzhou2 daysHangzhou杭州West Lake, Longjing tea villages and a quick train from Shanghai.best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Canal, stone bridge and whitewashed houses in old Suzhou1–2 daysSuzhou苏州Classical gardens and canals, about 25 minutes from Shanghai by train.best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Sandstone pillars rising above a misty valley2–3 daysZhangjiajie张家界The sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan, the landscape that inspired Avatar.best Apr–Oct

Classic routes

Day-by-day China itineraries from 6 to 12 days, with train times and what to book before you go.

See all routes
The Great Wall winding over autumn hillsGood first tripBeijing → Xi'an → ShanghaiFirst trip classic: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai in 10 daysThe Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army and the Bund, linked by fast trains. The route most first-timers should start with.10 days · best Apr–May, Sep–OctA cormorant fisherman on a bamboo raft among karst peaksGood first tripBeijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → ShanghaiChina highlights in 12 days: palaces, pandas and karst peaksThe classic five: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai. Busy but doable with trains and two short flights.12 days · best Apr–May, Sep–OctThe Lujiazui skyline reflected in the Huangpu River at duskGood first tripShanghai → Suzhou → HangzhouShanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou in 7 daysA relaxed week in the Yangtze delta: a megacity, classical gardens, a water town and West Lake, all under an hour apart by train.7 days · best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Before you fly

Four things that decide whether your first day in China is easy.

Visa-free check30-day and 240-hour rules for your passport and entry port.Apps you needAlipay, WeChat, Didi, Amap and 12306, and what to set up at home.Pay like a localLink your Visa or Mastercard, and know when cash still helps.Get onlineeSIMs that keep your usual apps working after you land.

Apps you need

Paying, taxis, maps and trains in China all run through these apps. Set them up at home.

AlipayWeChatDiDiAmapRailway 12306Trip.comTenPayGoMeituanDianpingRedNote

Which apps do I need for China?

Pan-fried buns sizzling in a street kitchen
Eat without ChineseSearch in your language. We search in Chinese.Find dumplings, hot pot or a pharmacy nearby, with reviews from other foreign visitors.
The red door of a Beijing hutong courtyard
Show this to a localEvery address, ready for your driver.Full-screen Chinese with audio. Try it on any city page.

Stories from China

Emperors, legends and old travelers, and the places they left behind. Read the story, then go and see it.

All stories
HistoryThe well that found an armyIn 1974 farmers digging a well near Xi’an hit pieces of clay. They had found the First Emperor’s army, and the tomb it guards is still sealed.LegendsThe White Snake and Leifeng PagodaA snake spirit in love, a monk who stood in her way, and a real pagoda on West Lake that fell in 1924 and rose again.Travelers of the pastMarco Polo’s City of HeavenIn the 13th century a Venetian called Hangzhou the finest city in the world. What did he really see, and what is still there at West Lake?

China travel guides

Practical answers for travelling in China: visas, paying, internet, trains, tickets, food and more. Checked against official sources.

All guides
China visa-free countries: who gets 30 days without a visa (2026)78 passports can enter China without a visa: 50 for 30 days until set end dates, 28 under permanent agreements. Who qualifies and what to carry.How to use Alipay in China as a foreigner (2026)Link a Visa or Mastercard, verify your passport and pay by QR code. Limits, fees, mini-programs and fixes for common Alipay problems.Using Google and WhatsApp in China: what works in 2026Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked in mainland China. How roaming and travel eSIMs keep them working, the facts on VPNs, and apps that work.How to book train tickets in China as a foreigner (2026)Register on 12306 with your passport, book up to 15 days ahead, board with your passport. Seat classes, Trip.com, refunds and changes.How many days in China? What fits in 7, 10 and 14 daysTen days is the sweet spot for a first trip. What you can realistically see in one week, ten days or two weeks, and how visa rules cap your stay.How to book Forbidden City tickets as a foreigner (2026)Tickets open 7 days ahead at 20:00 China time and sell out fast. How to book with a passport, no Chinese phone number needed.