As a child I used to spend hours looking at maps, fantasizing about far away countries. Ever since I have been planning to visit China. I promised myself that I would go and for long.
As you know, traveling for a week is not the same as traveling for a couple of months. Especially when visiting vast territories. Who knows when will you go back? Additionally, time is needed to experience a culture. Just moving around the planet’s biggest countries takes time!
Few years ago, we organized a four-month trip to China, Japan, and South Korea, which included a short stopover in Belgium and the Netherlands. While it is pretty easy to travel around Korea and Japan, China is something else. Compared to its eastern neighbors, the country is huge, and is quite diverse.
In 2026, we returned for a month and visited many places we couldn’t see on our first trip. China has changed tremendously over the past nine years, and we’re here to share what it’s like to visit this gorgeous country today.
Obtaining a Chinese Tourist Visa
A Chinese visa is a mandatory step in planning a trip to China. Except if you are a citizen of these privileged countries (like us). As a general rule, you should obtain your Chinese visa in your country of residence, although it is also possible to apply abroad.
The most common place to do that is Hong Kong. The whole process is pretty straightforward and the waiting time reasonable. Don’t forget that pencils are not accepted: fill the application form with ink (a pen).
Bear in mind that tourist visas allow you to stay in China for a maximum of 30 days and that Macau and Hong Kong have their own visa policies. Ask for a multiple entry visa if you want to spend more time in China.
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and where are you going in China. Hence, be sure to check with your local embassy or consulate, they will be more than happy to assist you.
Buying a Plane Ticket to China
We mentioned several search engines and a good webpage for low-cost carriers in our text about finding the cheapest plane ticket. This time I wanted to get an even better deal. Several websites search for outrageously cheap plane tickets. Thus, all you have to do is follow them on social media and you might get lucky and get a great bargain.
I follow two websites on a regular basis: Fly4free and Happy Low Cost. The former offers great deals from all over Europe to any destination worldwide, while the latter does the same thing but mostly for flights originating in Spain.
One day, Fly4free offered flights from several European destinations to China and Japan at an unbelievable price. My lucky day had arrived and I managed to get tickets from Amsterdam to Xi’an (China) and from Tokyo to Amsterdam for 240 eur return. Not only was the price fantastic, but the schedule meant we didn’t have to go back to China from Japan to take our flight back to Europe.
Additionally, we got to stop in Belgium and the Netherlands on our way. Flights from Barcelona to Belgium/Netherlands start at 15 eur, so you can imagine how happy we were. My endless hours online had paid off: can’t beat 240 eur return to the Far East!
Internet in China
China is one of those countries that block many internet sites. In fact, Chinese authorities block Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and all of Google websites (Gmail, Google Maps and Translator). We were wondering if we would be able to publish our texts. There are alternatives to Google, but what about our own websites?
Luckily we solved the issue using a reliable VPN network. After thorough online research we concluded that ExpressVPN provides reliable and relatively fast service. Take note that the Chinese government is after VPN networks too. However, several operate currently.
On the other hand, there are a couple of very useful Chinese sites too. Baidu Maps has the most up to date maps of China, but it’s entirely in Chinese, while while AMap has decent English maps on their mobile app.
Waygo is the app to use for quick translations of basic stuff. It uses a scanner to recognize Chinese and translate it into English. Didi is the best app for ordering transport across China. Make sure to install Alipay before your trip. It will make payments much easier.
Another great app is WeChat. You can use it to communicate with locals (most don’t use WhatsApp or Instagram), order a taxi, or make purchases online.
Accommodation in China
China has a plethora of accommodation options and at all prices ranges. In the past, some hotels accepted only Chinese guests, but that is no longer the case, so you can now choose from a vast selection of places to stay.
Hotels in China have improved considerably over the past decade. Today, you can find stylish mid-range hotels for as little as €25 per night, and top-class hotels for around €50 per night in the low season. Of course, prices are a bit higher in places like Beijing and Shanghai.
Our preferred way of searching for a place to stay is through Tripadvisor which compares different websites such as Booking, Hotels, and Agoda. Foreign hotel booking pages worked fine.
However, in China we also used the local platform Trip. It offers hotels, train tickets, and flights at very competitive prices. Make sure to download their app. Hotel locations on major international booking platforms can be inaccurate in China, while Trip’s app has a map that is 100% accurate.
Traveling around China
Trains, buses, and planes connect Chinese cities. Though the number of fast trains keeps increasing, some regular (old) trains still operate. These are terribly slow, overcrowded and noisy. On the other hand, the fast ones are comfortable, clean, silent and incredibly fast.
Compared to the old ones, new fast trains are not that cheap, though still much cheaper than in Europe. In fact, fast trains are sometimes slightly cheaper than flights.
Since recently, the China Railway website is available in English, but it doesn’t function properly most of the time, so we recommend buying tickets through intermediaries like Trip.
You need to bring your passport to enter the train station and board the trains. A lot of other useful information about trains in China can be found here: Seat 61 China.
Buses are not as fancy as trains and you can’t buy tickets online. Nevertheless, in some cases taking a bus is the only option. We took several and were blown away by the scenery. Additionally, a couple of times we were the only foreigners on board. That was special!
There are numerous airline companies. Since China is one of the largest countries in the world, distances are enormous. Hence, flying is the best option to get to faraway places!
Getting around Chinese Cities
Over the last decade, China’s infrastructure has improved considerably. Most large cities have a subway system, with new stations opening every other month. Fortunately, most metro systems have signs in English and Chinese making them relatively easy to use.
Likewise, some cities have trams too, also with signs in English. On the contrary, local buses only have signs in Chinese, so it’s not that easy to take them. The good thing is all public transport is reliable and incredibly cheap: a ride can cost you as little as 30 cents.
Getting a taxi on the street is pure art. It seemed to us that many Chinese are not comfortable with their level of English (which in any case is much better than our Chinese). Consequently, some taxis don’t stop to pick up foreigners.
If you do manage to stop one, show your driver your destination in Chinese and you’ll be there in no time. The tricky part is finding an address in China since there are no reliable maps. A good idea is to have your hotel reception write the address in Chinese and show the paper to your driver.
If you have the Didi app installed, booking a ride should be fairly easy. Moreover, fares on Didi are usually lower than those of conventional taxis. However, we had some payment issues with the app, so Didi often didn’t work for us.
Food in China
The first time we visited China, we didn’t love the food (except in the big cities). This time, however, we’re happy to report that cafés, restaurants, and bars have improved tremendously. It’s now easy to find a nice place serving delicious food.
The vast majority of tourists in China are Chinese themselves, so most restaurants cater to local tastes. Don’t be surprised if you order chicken and get plenty of cartilage, bones, and tendons. Apparently, that’s considered the most flavorful part of the meat.
Besides Chinese cuisine, there are plenty of other options. In big cities, you can find almost anything. In smaller towns, there are usually a few international chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, or KFC.
Most restaurants don’t offer western cutlery, so learning how to use chopsticks beforehand is a great idea. I tried so many times and failed. So embarrassing!
When to Visit China
With over 1.4 billion people, China is the world’s second most populated country. As the economy grows, so does the number of people able to travel. So be prepared: the number of tourists can be overwhelming!
This is especially true during national holidays and all throughout summer. On our first trip, we were there in April and May which was a great decision. The weather was splendid and tourist numbers relatively modest. Apparently, September and October are great months too.
The second time we went in December and January. Since we don’t really like the cold, we traveled exclusively in southern China. The weather was generally mild, except for a couple of chilly days in Suzhou and Nanjing.
We were also able to book train tickets just a few hours before departure. That’s something you can’t rely on during high or shoulder seasons.
Bear in mind that due to its size China has different climates. For instance, in subtropical China summers are long, humid, and unbearable. Therefore, avoid traveling south of Shanghai during the summer (June to August) when possible.
The weather in central China, including Shanghai, is similar to that in most of Europe. However, the north, including Beijing, is terribly cold in winter (Tibet too). As a simple rule, if you are planning a trip to China in summer visit the northern part. If you are visiting in winter go to the south.
LGBT +
While homosexuality is legal in China, the country doesn’t support sexual diversity. Likewise, there are no national laws explicitly banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since China doesn’t allow public gatherings there are no pride parades. Nevertheless, Shanghai has been successfully organizing its Gay Pride since 2009.
Social attitudes are not negative though. Most of the older generation sees it more as a taboo. On the other hand, the younger generation is much more open publicly and loudly opposing discrimination against gay individuals.
That said, there are large LGBT communities in most important cities and Beijing and Shanghai have a thriving club scene. In Beijing, we went to the lavish Destination Club, a three-story mega-disco.
In Shanghai, there is even a sort of a gay neighborhood near the Jiaotong University Metro Station. We went to HUNT Bar and had a great time! In other cities, gay clubs keep changing locations or are still somewhat hidden.
For the most updated list of LGBT places in China check out this website.
Chinese Hospitality
We found the Chinese to be extremely honest, polite, helpful and most importantly, fun. Not even once were we cheated or taken advantage off. Everywhere we went, people were smiling and happy to welcome us into their world.
As mentioned above, most Chinese don’t speak English, so some people will try to avoid contact with foreigners. Nevertheless, the vast majority will be more than happy to say hello or take a picture with you. We are two open-minded travelers, so we were approached quite often.
The other thing that impressed us was the number of Chinese with decent English who stopped to offer help. They gave us tips, helped us buy metro tickets, and even guided us through the city.
China is a very safe country to travel around. Its roads and trains pose no risk, they are efficient and drivers careful. Everywhere we went we took the camera, without any fear. All urban and rural environments we visited felt safe.
Back to Basics
To be honest, when I started planning our first trip, I was a bit worried. It’s not that I am addicted to the Internet, but I do like to find hotel and flight bargains or to check which restaurant is top rated. And I have to admit that I am completely addicted to Google Maps. Being an architect and an urban planner I connect to cities through maps.
That said, I traveled when there was almost no Internet and it was so exciting! Eitan traveled when there was no internet and all he had were his books about China. He is not that old, it’s the Internet that’s young! To him, traveling has to be an adventure. Fortunately for us, China brought us back in time. We disconnected from tiny boring screens and had a blast!
The second time we went, I couldn’t get a SIM card (be prepared for that), as my phone apparently wasn’t compatible. As a result, organizing everything was stressful at times.
If this happens to you, my advice is to prepare several screenshots on your phone, including sentences in Chinese such as ‘Can you please share your internet?’ or ‘Can you please use an online translator?’.
Since we didn’t have internet, we had to pay in cash. Finding an ATM that accepts foreign cards can be an issue, so check major banks such as ICBC, China Construction Bank, or Bank of China. Make sure to carry small bills and change for taxis and local shops.
And don’t forget to relax and enjoy; there is so much more to life than your phone. Take this as an opportunity to connect with locals, even if it’s just through a smile or by taking photos together. Remember: a nice smile goes a long way.
How to Choose an Itinerary for Your Trip
China is a massive and diverse country, so visiting a region or two was not an option. Thus, we decided to spend two full months there. I can’t say it was enough to really get to know China. However, we were able to get a glimpse of the world’s most populated country.
Since we were allowed for a 30-day stay at once, we had to fly to Hong Kong for a couple of days and then continue our Chinese route. It was the perfect excuse to go back to Hong Kong after just one year!
The first thing I did was type ‘Best places to visit in China’ in Google. I got back several places with photos included. After that, I checked several websites, including one of my favorites Touropia. I also checked the list of Unesco’s World Heritage Sites in China.
Of course, I couldn’t plan my route without Lonely Planet. For destinations inside a specific region, I checked TripAdvisor’s Top Places to visit.
Top Places to Visit
As you know, our travels focus on architecture and nature. Luckily for us, China has loads of both. The country has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, and Shanghai), and two Special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau).
Therefore, the time you have determines your itinerary. Since we had two months, we chose China’s most beautiful megacities and provinces we thought interesting. These included Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shanxi, Hunan and Anhui.
Autonomous regions are similar to provinces but have more legislative rights. These are regions that home minority ethnic groups. Guangxi in the south and Tibet in the west are two fantastic choices. Take note that you can’t visit Tibet freely so you have to go to an agency.
