Ancient wonders, mega cities and dramatic landscapes.
China is a vast country with thousands of years of history, huge modern cities and striking scenery. It suits curious travellers who enjoy history, food and efficient trains. It is known for the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, giant pandas and karst landscapes around Guilin. Apps and internet rules differ from elsewhere, so prepare before you go.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Mutianyu is a restored section of the Great Wall in wooded hills. Cable cars and a toboggan help reach it.
The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for Ming and Qing emperors. It is now the Palace Museum.
Thousands of life-size clay warriors guard the tomb of the first Qin emperor. Pits show soldiers, horses and chariots.
The Li River winds between karst peaks from Guilin to Yangshuo. Cruises and bamboo rafts are popular.
The Bund is a waterfront of colonial-era buildings facing the Pudong skyline. It is best at night.
This centre breeds and cares for giant pandas. Mornings are when pandas are most active.
Zhangjiajie has towering sandstone pillars in Wulingyuan. Glass walkways and lifts add thrills.
West Lake is a scenic lake with causeways, pagodas and gardens. Tea plantations are nearby.
The Potala was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. It rises over Lhasa at high altitude.
The Temple of Heaven is an imperial altar complex in a large park. Locals exercise there in the morning.
Huangshan, the Yellow Mountain, is known for granite peaks, pines and seas of cloud. Cable cars reach the top.
Jiuzhaigou has turquoise lakes, waterfalls and forests. Visitor numbers are capped.
Suzhou's gardens are refined landscapes of rock, water and pavilions. The Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest.
Pingyao is a walled Ming and Qing town with old banks and courtyards. It is well preserved.
Lijiang is an old Naxi town of canals and wooden houses. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rises nearby.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Imperial capital and Great Wall.
history, culture · Open the city guideTerracotta Army and city walls.
history · Open the city guideModern skyline.
cities, food · Open the city guidePandas and spicy food.
food, wildlife · Open the city guideWest Lake.
nature · Open the city guideKarst scenery.
nature · Open the city guideCantonese food.
food · Open the city guideTech city near Hong Kong.
cities · Open the city guidePillar mountains and glass bridges.
nature · Guide comingOld town and snow mountain.
culture, mountains · Guide comingImperial heritage.
Beijing, Great Wall, Pingyao
Water towns and gardens.
Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou
Ancient capitals and pandas.
Xi'an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie
Karst landscapes and Cantonese culture.
Guilin, Yangshuo, Guangzhou
Mountains and minority cultures.
Lijiang, Lhasa, Jiuzhaigou
Karst scenery and Cantonese culture.
Guilin, Yangshuo, Guangzhou
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: April to May and September to October. Mild weather and clear skies in most regions.
The north is very cold in winter and hot in summer, the south is humid and rainy in summer, and Tibet is best from May to October.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
33°F daily high, 23°F average, 0.1 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution) due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, exit bans and risk of detention; street crime is low.
A huge high-speed rail network and domestic flights make travel fast.
Trains, food and mid-range hotels are good value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check current visa and entry rules on the visa page of the Chinese Embassy in the UK (gb.china-embassy.gov.cn) or the embassy in your country, and your own government's travel advice, before you book, as rules change. |
| Plugs | Type A, C, I; 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Tipping is not expected. |
| Payments | Mobile payments dominate; set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card, and carry some cash. |
| Emergency | 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire, 122 traffic police |
| Etiquette | Many foreign apps and sites are blocked, so plan connectivity. Avoid political discussions in public. |
| What to wear | Dress modestly in temples. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | High-speed trains link most big cities, and domestic flights cover long distances. Metros are excellent; set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival. |
| Main airports | PEK, PKX, PVG, CAN, CTU, XIY |
| Ride apps | DiDi |
Chinese civilisation developed along the Yellow River, with the first unified empire under the Qin in 221 BC. A long series of dynasties, including the Han, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing, shaped its culture. The Qing dynasty fell in 1912 and the People's Republic was founded in 1949 after civil war. Economic reforms from 1978 made China one of the world's largest economies.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.