Beijing
ChinaForbidden City, Great Wall base.
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China
Great Wall to Shanghai skyline — a continent in one country
China rewards travellers who commit to a two-week trip: the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, futuristic Shanghai, terracotta warriors in Xi'an, and Li River karsts in Guilin. High-speed rail makes the classic loop fast; pre-book skip-the-line tickets on Klook and pack an eSIM that works around the Great Firewall.
Popular destinations in China
Shanghai
ChinaBund skyline, French Concession.
Find stays on Booking.comXi'an
ChinaTerracotta warriors, ancient walls.
Find stays on Booking.comChengdu
ChinaPandas, Sichuan hotpot, Tibet gateway.
Find stays on Booking.comGuilin
ChinaKarst mountains, Li River cruises.
Find stays on Booking.comGuangzhou
ChinaCantonese food capital.
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ChinaTech hub, HK border, gadgets.
Find stays on Booking.comHangzhou
ChinaWest Lake, tea hills, canals.
Find stays on Booking.comSuzhou
ChinaClassical gardens, water towns.
Find stays on Booking.comZhangjiajie
ChinaAvatar mountains, glass bridge.
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Everything else for your China trip
Flights, cars and travel insurance — the essentials, all in one place.
Best time to visit China
April–May and September–October give you clear skies and comfortable temperatures nationwide.
Sweet spot
April – May, September – October
Heads up
Golden Week (Oct 1–7) and Chinese New Year — 400M+ people travel domestically.
Peak season
Jul – Aug
Summer holidays, hot and humid in south; Tibet & Yunnan at their best.
Shoulder season
Apr – Jun & Sep – Oct
Best all-round window for Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and the Great Wall.
Off season
Nov – Mar
Cold in the north, mild in the south. Harbin Ice Festival in January.
Frequently asked
When is Chinese New Year and should I avoid it?+
Late Jan or early/mid Feb. Avoid domestic flights and trains — but big cities empty out and can feel eerily calm.
Travel essentials for China
Hand-picked partners we'd actually use ourselves — grouped by what you'll need first.
Install a VPN BEFORE you fly to China
Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and most Western sites are blocked by the Great Firewall. nordvpn.com is also blocked inside China, so download the app and activate your subscription while you're still at home.
Get NordVPN before you goTours & experiences
Compare Klook, KKday and WeGoTrip — different operators, different exclusives.
Tours & activities on Klook
Skip-the-line tickets, day trips, theme parks and food tours — Klook's Asia-Pacific inventory is unmatched.
Browse KlookMore experiences on KKday
KKday often lists local Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong tours that Klook doesn't — worth comparing side by side.
Browse KKdayAudio walking tours on WeGoTrip
Self-guided city walks with audio narration on your phone — great for Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond.
Browse WeGoTripAirport transfers
Budget vs. premium vs. concierge — pick what matches the trip.
Kiwitaxi
Fixed-price airport pickup in 100+ countries — budget-friendly, driver waiting when you land.
Book KiwitaxiGetTransfer
Private premium transfers, long-distance rides and chauffeur options — pick your car class before you fly.
Book GetTransferWelcome Pickups
Meet-and-greet English-speaking drivers in major cities — extra hand-holding for first-time visitors.
Book Welcome PickupsStay connected — compare eSIM
Three providers, side by side. Yesim usually wins on price; Airalo has the widest network; Saily is the cleanest app.
Airalo
The best-known eSIM marketplace — reliable coverage in 200+ countries, regional Asia/EU packs.
Get Airalo eSIMYesim
Often cheapest for Asia and Europe with unlimited daily plans — worth comparing before you buy.
Get Yesim eSIMSaily
From the makers of NordVPN — clean app, transparent pricing, strong for shorter trips.
Get Saily eSIMEverything else
Bag storage between check-out and flight, and a VPN for public Wi-Fi (or the Great Firewall).
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Not sure where to start in China?
Describe your trip in plain language — dates, group, budget — and the AI concierge builds you a day-by-day plan with real stays.