Destinations
City guides with attractions, transport, costs and itineraries for the places foreign visitors actually travel to. Start with the major hubs, then branch out by region.
China's first-time itinerary is a triangle — Beijing's imperial sites, Xi'an's Terracotta Army, Shanghai's skyline — but the second trip is where the country opens up: Yunnan's mountains, Guilin's karst, Chengdu's pandas and teahouses.
Every city guide below carries the same structure: what to see, how many days it deserves, what it costs per day, and how it connects by high-speed rail. Start with the cities on your route or let the region guides choose for you.
All destinations
City guides with attractions, transport, costs and itineraries for the places foreign visitors actually travel to. Start with the major hubs, then branch out by region.
Beijing
Practical Beijing travel guide: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, with verified on-the-ground info.
Shanghai
Shanghai in numbers: a free 24-hour Bund, Yu Garden 40 CNY, the 118F deck at 180 CNY, metro 3-8 CNY — plus an hour-by-hour day plan, day trips from 25 min.
Chengdu
Chengdu in numbers: pandas from CNY 55 (gates open 07:30), alleys laid out in 1718, a 2,270-year-old weir — plus tickets, metro, budgets and a 3-day plan.
Xi'an
Practical Xi'an travel guide: top attractions, transport, accommodation, food, and verified on-the-ground info.
Guilin
How to plan Guilin: 3 days split between the city, the Li River cruise or raft to Yangshuo and the Longji terraces; piers, stations, budget, best months.
Zhangjiajie
Practical Zhangjiajie travel guide: top attractions, transport, accommodation, food, and verified on-the-ground info.