City Travel Recommendations#
Popular Cities A-Z#
Beijing#
- Attractions: Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
- Experiences: Hutong tour, Peking Opera, Peking Duck
- Accommodation: Wangfujing, Qianmen, Sanlitun
- Food: Peking Duck, Zhajiangmian, Douzhi, Lu Zhu
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Tiananmen Square-Palace Museum-Jingshan Park; Day 2: Temple of Heaven-Summer Palace-Great Wall
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Tiananmen Square-Palace Museum-Jingshan Park; Day 2: Temple of Heaven-Summer Palace; Day 3: Great Wall-Ming Tombs
Shanghai#
- Attractions: The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yu Garden, Tianzifang, Disneyland
- Experiences: Huangpu River cruise, Shikumen, Haipai culture
- Accommodation: The Bund, Nanjing Road, Lujiazui
- Food: Xiaolongbao, Shengjian, Benbang Cuisine, Hairy Crab
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: The Bund-Nanjing Road-Yu Garden; Day 2: Tianzifang-Xintiandi-Oriental Pearl Tower
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: The Bund-Nanjing Road-Yu Garden; Day 2: Tianzifang-Xintiandi; Day 3: Disneyland
Guangzhou#
- Attractions: Canton Tower, Pearl River, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, Baiyun Mountain
- Experiences: Dim Sum, Cantonese Opera, Pearl River night cruise
- Accommodation: Tianhe, Yuexiu, Liwan
- Food: Cantonese Cuisine, Dim Sum, Cantonese-style Dim Sum, White Cut Chicken
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Shamian Island-Pearl River; Day 2: Canton Tower-Baiyun Mountain-Shangxiajiu
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Shamian Island; Day 2: Canton Tower-Baiyun Mountain; Day 3: Pearl River night cruise-Shangxiajiu
Chengdu#
- Attractions: Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Giant Panda Base, Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng
- Experiences: Sichuan Opera face-changing, tea houses, hot pot
- Accommodation: Chunxi Road, Kuanzhai Alley, Tianfu Square
- Food: Sichuan Cuisine, Hot Pot, Chuanchuan, Dandan Noodles
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Kuanzhai Alley-Jinli-Giant Panda Base; Day 2: Dujiangyan-Mount Qingcheng
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Kuanzhai Alley-Jinli; Day 2: Giant Panda Base-Dujiangyan; Day 3: Mount Qingcheng-Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Hangzhou#
- Attractions: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda, Songcheng, Thousand Island Lake
- Experiences: West Lake cruise, tea plantation, silk culture
- Accommodation: West Lake, Hefang Street, Wulin Square
- Food: Hangbang Cuisine, Longjing Shrimp, West Lake Fish in Sweet Sour Sauce, Beggar’s Chicken
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: West Lake-Lingyin Temple-Leifeng Pagoda; Day 2: Songcheng-Hefang Street
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: West Lake-Lingyin Temple; Day 2: Leifeng Pagoda-Songcheng; Day 3: Thousand Island Lake
Xi’an#
- Attractions: Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Muslim Street, Huaqing Pool
- Experiences: City wall cycling, Tang Paradise, Shadow Puppet Show
- Accommodation: Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xiaozhai
- Food: Mutton Steamed Bread, Rougamo, Liangpi, Saozimian
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Terracotta Warriors-Huaqing Pool; Day 2: Big Wild Goose Pagoda-City Wall-Muslim Street
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Terracotta Warriors-Huaqing Pool; Day 2: Big Wild Goose Pagoda-City Wall; Day 3: Muslim Street-Bell Tower-Forest of Steles
Guilin#
- Attractions: Li River, Yangshuo, Longsheng Rice Terraces, Elephant Trunk Hill, Silver Cave
- Experiences: Li River bamboo raft, Impression Sanjie Liu, cycling
- Accommodation: Yangshuo, Guilin city center
- Food: Guilin Rice Noodles, Beer Fish, Luosifen, Ginkgo Duck Soup
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Li River-Yangshuo; Day 2: Silver Cave-Yulong River
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Li River-Yangshuo; Day 2: Silver Cave-Yulong River; Day 3: Longsheng Rice Terraces
Lijiang#
- Attractions: Lijiang Ancient City, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shuhe Ancient Town
- Experiences: Ancient city stroll, snow mountain cable car, Naxi culture
- Accommodation: Ancient city, Shuhe
- Food: Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles, Steam Pot Chicken, Cured Ribs, Jidou Liangfen
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Lijiang Ancient City-Mufu; Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Lijiang Ancient City-Mufu; Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; Day 3: Lugu Lake
Travel Recommendations#
Choose by Duration#
- 2-Day Tour: Choose 1-2 main attractions for in-depth experience
- 3-Day Tour: Can arrange more attractions with moderate pace
- 5-Day Tour: Can arrange multiple cities or in-depth visit to one region
- 7-Day Tour: Suitable for cross-province travel, experience different regional cultures
Choose by Interest#
- History and Culture: Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang, Kaifeng
- Natural Scenery: Guilin, Jiuzhaigou, Zhangjiajie, Huangshan
- Modern Cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong
- Ethnic Culture: Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Lhasa
Useful Links#
- Ctrip - Hotel and attraction ticket booking
- Mafengwo - Travel guides and travelogues
- Dianping - Restaurant and attraction reviews
- 12306 - High-speed rail ticket booking
- Amap - Route planning
Budget Reference#
Budget (200-400 yuan/day)#
- Accommodation: Budget hotels or hostels
- Dining: Local snacks and fast food
- Transportation: Mainly public transportation
Mid-Range (400-800 yuan/day)#
- Accommodation: 3-star hotels
- Dining: Local specialty restaurants
- Transportation: Some taxis and chartered cars
Luxury (800+ yuan/day)#
- Accommodation: 5-star hotels
- Dining: High-end restaurants
- Transportation: Private car service
Practical Tips and Emergency Handbook#
Transportation#
High-Speed Rail#
- China’s high-speed rail network is well-developed, covering major cities
- Recommended to book tickets in advance, available through 12306 official website or APP
- High-speed rail stations are usually some distance from city centers, allow sufficient time
- Recommended to arrive 30 minutes early for security check and waiting
Flights#
- Major cities have international airports (Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Baoan, etc.)
- Dense domestic route network covering the whole country
- Recommended to book in advance, pay attention to airline promotions
- Useful Links:
Long-Distance Bus#
- Frequent long-distance bus services with affordable prices
- Recommended to check schedules and times in advance
- Keep personal belongings safe
Urban Transportation#
- Subway systems are well-developed in first and second-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc.)
- Recommended to purchase transit cards (Yikatong, Yangchengtong, etc.) for convenience
- Extensive bus network coverage with affordable fares (usually 1-3 yuan)
- Taxis and ride-hailing services are convenient, recommended to use official platforms
Self-Driving#
- Well-developed highway network with good road conditions
- Requires valid Chinese driver’s license or international driver’s license
- Pay attention to traffic rules and speed limit signs
Accommodation#
Homestays#
- Experience local culture and lifestyle
- Relatively affordable, suitable for backpackers
- Recommended to check host reviews and location in advance
Budget Hotels#
- Chain brands with uniform standards
- Moderate prices with complete facilities
- Usually good locations with convenient transportation
Luxury Hotels#
- International brands with quality service
- Luxurious facilities and superior locations
- Suitable for business trips and leisure vacations
Unique Experiences#
- Special accommodations like quadrangle courtyards, tulou, stilt houses
- Scenic rooms with mountain, sea, or lake views
- Themed hotels like hot spring hotels, ski hotels
Dining#
Local Snacks#
- Each region has unique local snacks
- Recommended to try local specialties, but pay attention to hygiene
- Affordable prices with authentic flavors
Popular Restaurants#
- Hot restaurants on social media
- May require queuing, recommended to make reservations in advance
- Suitable for photos and sharing
Food Safety#
- Choose reputable restaurants
- Pay attention to ingredient freshness
- Avoid raw and cold foods, pay attention to drinking water safety
Allergy Safety#
- Understand common allergens (peanuts, seafood, etc.)
- Clearly inform restaurants about allergies when ordering
- Carry necessary anti-allergy medications
Payment Methods and Mobile Network#
Payment Methods#
- Mobile Payment: WeChat Pay and Alipay are widely used
- WeChat Pay - Official payment platform
- Alipay - Official payment platform
- Recommended to bind bank cards for convenient payment
- Bank Cards: UnionPay cards are usable in most places
- Recommended to carry UnionPay cards, supports card payments and ATM withdrawals
- Cash: Still usable in small amounts, but mobile payment is more convenient
- Recommended to prepare some cash as backup
Mobile Network#
- WiFi: Free WiFi available in many public places (airports, hotels, malls)
- Some require phone number verification, recommended to prepare in advance
- Mobile Data: Recommended to purchase local SIM cards or activate international roaming
- Major operators: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom
- Available at airports or service centers
- Recommended Apps:
- Map Navigation: Amap, Baidu Maps
- Translation: Youdao Translator, Google Translate, Baidu Translate
- Payment: WeChat, Alipay
- Transportation: 12306, Didi Chuxing, Amap Taxi
- Travel: Ctrip, Mafengwo, Dianping
Health and Medical / Insurance Recommendations#
Health and Medical#
- Understand local medical resources and contact information
- Carry common medications and first aid supplies
- Pay attention to personal hygiene and food safety
Insurance Recommendations#
- Recommended to purchase travel insurance
- Understand insurance coverage and claims process
- Keep medical receipts and insurance documents
Language Communication and Common Phrases#
Language Communication#
- Mandarin is the official language, but there are dialect differences in different regions
- English services are usually available in tourist areas, but may be limited in non-tourist areas
- Recommended to download translation apps and carry a phrasebook
- Recommended Apps:
- Youdao Translator - Supports voice translation and photo translation
- Google Translate - Multi-language support, offline available
- Baidu Translate - Comprehensive Chinese-English translation
- Tencent Translator - Real-time voice translation
Common Phrases#
- Hello: Hello / 你好
- Thank you: Thank you / 谢谢
- Sorry: Sorry / 对不起
- Excuse me: Excuse me / 请问
- How much: How much / 多少钱
- Where: Where / 在哪里
Environmental Protection and Local Cultural Etiquette#
Environmental Protection#
- Reduce use of disposable plastic products
- Sort and dispose of garbage properly
- Protect natural environment, don’t litter
Local Cultural Etiquette#
- Respect local culture and customs
- Learn basic social etiquette
- Pay attention to behavior norms in public places
- Respect religious beliefs and ethnic customs
Emergency Phone Numbers#
- Police: 110
- Medical Emergency: 120
- Fire: 119
- Traffic Accident: 122
Consular Protection#
- Know your country’s embassy/consulate contact information in China
- Contact embassy/consulate promptly in emergencies
- Keep copies of passport and important documents