When to go to China?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: April to May and September to October
At a glance
Why go to China?
China is not so much visited as travelled through, like turning the pages of a book too big for your hands. In a few hours by train you go from mist-drowned rice terraces to Shanghai skyscrapers piercing the clouds. Every province has its own tongue, its own rooftops, its own gods and its own noodles. You think you know one country and discover twenty.
Here the very old and the very new live side by side without fuss. One morning you walk on flagstones worn by two thousand years of pilgrims, and that evening you pay for your tea with a quick scan of a QR code on your phone. Temples still smoke with incense a stone's throw from maglev trains. This constant collision makes your head spin and gives the trip an electric charge.
And then there are the landscapes, the ones from painted scrolls you thought were imaginary. The karst peaks of Guilin floating above the Li River, the pandas chewing bamboo outside Chengdu, the Great Wall rippling along ridges as far as the eye can see. China asks a little of you, with the language and the distances, but it repays every effort a hundredfold.
Map of China: what is where?
The map shows the 6 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- Great Wall (Mutianyu)
- Beijing, Forbidden City
- Xi'an, Terracotta Army
- Shanghai, the Bund
- Guilin, Li River
- Chengdu, panda base
How much does a trip to China cost?
China remains affordable for Asia if you travel by train and eat local, with fast transport and charming accommodation pushing the bill up.
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €35-55/day | dorms, street food, night trains and metro |
| Comfort | €80-140/day | mid-range hotel, restaurants, high-speed trains in second class |
| Premium | €200+/day | boutique or luxury hotels, private guides, first class and domestic flights |
Mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) is king: link a foreign card before you leave and keep a little cash in yuan for small rural shops.
Is China safe?
China is a very safe country for travellers, with little street crime, including for women travelling alone. The real challenges are the language barrier, air pollution in some megacities and payment, which is almost entirely digital via WeChat Pay or Alipay, to be set up before or on arrival. Pack a first-aid kit, drink bottled water and keep a digital copy of your documents. No vaccinations are compulsory, but bring routine boosters up to date and consider hepatitis A for a long stay.
What to see and do in China
- the Great Wall
- the Forbidden City
- the Terracotta Army of Xi'an
- Shanghai
- the peaks of Zhangjiajie
The Great Wall (Mutianyu or Jinshanling section)
Forget Badaling and its tour coaches and head for Mutianyu or Jinshanling, two hours from Beijing. There the wall climbs and plunges along wooded ridges, with watchtowers where you can catch your breath. Set off early in the morning to have the stones almost to yourself. Wear good shoes, as the steps are high and uneven.
Beijing, the Forbidden City and the hutongs
The capital moves at two speeds: the imperial solemnity of the Forbidden City and the intimacy of the hutongs, grey lanes where life spills out onto the doorsteps. Book your Forbidden City tickets several days ahead, as the quotas go fast. Climb Jingshan Hill at sunset to take in the golden rooftops. In the evening, get lost by bike in the hutongs around the Drum Tower.
Xi'an and the Terracotta Army
An hour from Xi'an lie thousands of terracotta soldiers, each with a unique face, buried to guard an emperor for eternity. The vast Pit 1 leaves you speechless despite the crowds. In town, cycle around the city walls and dive into the Muslim Quarter, where skewers sizzle in the evening. Xi'an was the starting point of the Silk Road, and you can still sense it in its aromas.
Shanghai, the Bund and the concessions
Shanghai plays across two banks: the colonial façades of the Bund facing the forest of futuristic towers in Pudong. The contrast is striking at nightfall, when everything lights up. Stroll through the former French Concession, with its plane trees and cafés, then head up to the top of the Shanghai Tower. The city is the modern, cosmopolitan face of the country.
Guilin and the Li River
This is the landscape of banknotes and prints: karst sugarloaf peaks rising through the mist above a green river. Sail down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, then hire a bike in the rice fields around Yangshuo. The Longji rice terraces, further north, are also worth the detour depending on the season. Spring and autumn bring the most beautiful light.
Chengdu and the giant pandas
Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, means two pleasures: pandas and chilli. The research base north of the city lets you see the giant pandas active early in the morning, at bamboo breakfast time. In town, life slows down in the teahouses, people play mahjong and brave the fiery Sichuan hotpot. It is an ideal gateway to Tibet and the mountains of the west.
How many days, and which itinerary?
Allow at least two weeks to link Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and the south without rushing, three weeks to breathe.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable China guide (PDF)
The imperial classics (12 days)
Beijing and the Great Wall, then Xi'an and its Terracotta Army by night train or high-speed train, before finishing in Shanghai. The ideal route for a first visit, all by fast train.
Southern China and landscapes (15 days)
Shanghai for urban energy, then Guilin and Yangshuo for the karsts, and Chengdu for the pandas and Sichuan. A route more about nature and food, and less crowded.
Grand tour (21 days)
Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin and then Shanghai, making the most of the high-speed rail network. Enough to combine imperial monuments, mountains and megacities without rushing.
Getting there and getting around
The high-speed train (gaotie) is the backbone of the trip: punctual, clean and fast. Book through the Trip.com app or at the ticket counters, with your passport.
The metro in the big cities is efficient and cheap, with signs in English. Taxis and above all the DiDi app (the local equivalent of Uber) get you out of a jam anywhere.
For long-distance domestic flights (to the west or the far south), there are several reliable airlines and fair fares outside the holidays.
Install a VPN and offline translation apps before you leave: many Western services are blocked. WeChat and Alipay are essential for paying.
Where to stay in China?
Hostels and dorms: €8 to €18 a night, often well run in the tourist cities, with English-speaking staff.
Mid-range hotels and local chains (Hanting, JI, Atour): €30 to €60 for a double, clean and practical near the stations.
Charming and boutique hotels in the hutongs or old towns: €70 to €130 a night.
International luxury hotels in Shanghai or Beijing: from €150 to €250 and well beyond with a view of the Bund.
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in China?
In Beijing, Peking duck carved into thin slices and rolled in a pancake with spring onion and hoisin sauce.
In Chengdu, Sichuan hotpot (huoguo) with Sichuan pepper that numbs the tongue, and mapo tofu.
Shanghai's xiaolongbao, steamed dumplings full of broth that you sip delicately, and the hand-pulled noodles of the north-west.
Street food at the night markets: Xi'an skewers, jianbing (a savoury breakfast crêpe), steamed baozi and milk tea to go.
Entry requirements
Until 31 December 2026, UK, Canadian, Australian and most EU passports (not Czech or Lithuanian) enter visa-free for up to 30 days. US citizens need a visa, unless they qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Cities and regions to discover
City🇨🇳 Shanghai
Region🇨🇳 Yunnan
City🇨🇳 Guilin and Yangshuo
City🇨🇳 Beijing
City🇨🇳 Xi'an
Frequently asked questions about China
When is the best time to visit?
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) bring the best weather, mild and bright, across most of the country. Avoid Golden Week in early October and Chinese New Year, when the whole country travels at once.
What daily budget should I plan for?
Allow around €35 to €55 a day as a backpacker, €80 to €140 for comfort, and more with domestic flights and upmarket hotels. High-speed trains and entry to the major sites cost the most.
How do I get between cities?
The high-speed train links most of the major cities quickly and comfortably; book with your passport through an app such as Trip.com. For very long distances to the west, flying saves precious time.
How do the internet and payments work?
Many Western sites (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram) are blocked: install a VPN and offline maps before you arrive. To pay, set up WeChat Pay or Alipay with a foreign card, as cash has become rare.
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