01
START HERE
Planning a first trip
Choose a sensible length, connect regions without rushing and understand what shapes the cost of a private journey.- When to go
- How many days
- Route, stays & budget
TRAVEL RESOURCES
Know what matters.
Leave room to wonder.
China is easier to enjoy when the practical pieces are already in place. Start with the guide that matches the question in front of you—each topic now has room to breathe.
Start the pre-trip checklist
EXPLORE BY NEED
One useful answer
at a time.
Entry rules and digital tools change; food, culture and comfort deserve more than a checklist. These focused guides separate the urgent from the interesting.
02
BEFORE DEPARTURE
Before you go
Work through entry, insurance, health, connectivity, packing and the small setup jobs that are easier at home.- Interactive checklist
- Apps & internet
- Entry, health & packing
03
DAY TO DAY
On the ground
Keep practical answers for payments, trains, taxis, hotels, your first day, useful Mandarin and urgent help close.- Payments
- Transport & hotels
- Phrases & emergency help
04
EAT & EXPLORE
Food, culture & shopping
Navigate shared meals, dietary needs, local etiquette, thoughtful shopping, guides, drivers and tipping with context.- Dining & allergies
- Everyday etiquette
- Local makers & responsible travel
05
BUILT AROUND YOU
Travel your way
Practical planning notes for families, solo travellers, mobility needs, LGBTQ+ guests and faith or dietary requirements.- Families & solo travel
- Accessibility
- Identity, faith & pace
06
TWELVE MONTHS
China, month by month
Compare weather, places, relative demand and value across every month—including the holiday weeks worth avoiding.- Where to go
- Crowd levels
- Typical price pressure
CHECK AGAIN BEFORE YOU FLY
The details that move.
Use these guides to prepare, then verify the dated official source linked inside any section about entry, transport or health.
MAINLAND CHINA · REVIEWED 11 SEPTEMBER 202601
Entry depends on your passport and exact route.
02Visa-free and transit arrangements are not interchangeable.
Public holidays change the experience quickly.
03Lunar New Year, early May and early October can tighten transport and room supply.
Set up your digital basics at home.
Install, sign in and test payments, maps and translation before departure.
START WITH A JOURNEY
Browse routes by destination.
BeijingImperial history, hutongs and the Great WallXi’anEarly empires, city walls and local foodShanghaiArchitecture, design and contemporary ChinaHangzhouLakeside paths, tea country and Jiangnan lifeHong KongHarbour views, neighbourhood food and designGuilinKarst country, river life and family pacing