China travel, explained

Clear, accurate guides to the things that trip people up in China — written from the same knowledge base that powers the China TravelPal chat. Grouped by topic, starting with the essentials.

Essentials

Plan Your Trip

On the Ground

City Guides

The ornately painted and gilded paifang archway of Wangfujing Snack Street in Beijing, lit up in blue, green, gold and red against a deep dusk sky.

Beijing

Beijing Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Traditional black-timber-and-white lanes of Chengdu's Taikoo Li, beside the ancient Daci Temple, framing a modern glass skyscraper rising behind — the city's ancient-and-modern blend in a single view.

Chengdu

Chengdu Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

The Hongya Cave (Hongyadong) stilt-house complex in Chongqing lit gold at night, its tiered traditional rooftops stacked up the riverbank above the crowds on the waterfront below.

Chongqing

Chongqing Travel Guide: Essential Tips for First-Timers

The Hong Bridge, a golden-lit covered wind-and-rain bridge, spanning the Tuo River in Fenghuang Ancient Town at night, its arches and lights mirrored in the water.

Fenghuang

Fenghuang Ancient Town Travel Guide: China's Riverside Night Jewel

The Canton Tower's red-lit spire beside the illuminated, wave-shaped Guangzhou Opera House at night.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Karst peaks rising over bamboo groves, with traditional rafts moored on the Li River near Yangshuo, Guilin.

Guilin

Guilin Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

The towering white Nanshan Sea Guanyin statue in Sanya, Hainan, framed by stone pagodas and coconut palms against a bright blue tropical sky.

Hainan & Sanya

Hainan & Sanya Travel Guide: China's Tropical Beach Island

Spring blossom trees reflected in a canal at West Lake, Hangzhou, with a wooden bridge in the background.

Hangzhou

Hangzhou Travel Guide: First-Time Visitor Essentials

Colorful illuminated ice towers at Harbin Ice and Snow World at night, visitors silhouetted in the foreground.

Harbin

Harbin Travel Guide: First-Time Visitor Essentials

The Hong Kong Island skyline — the IFC tower and the Observation Wheel — seen across Victoria Harbour under a clear blue sky, with Victoria Peak rising behind and hills fading into the distance.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Travel Guide: Harbour, Peak & Dim Sum for First-Timers

Dense grey limestone karst pinnacles at the Stone Forest (Shilin) near Kunming, with a patch of green vegetation nestled among them.

Kunming

Kunming Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

The ornate stone facade of the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macau, seen from below against a clear blue sky, its carved columns and niche statues lit by late sun.

Macau

Macau Travel Guide: Ruins, Casinos & Egg Tarts for First-Timers

The tiered pagoda of Jiming Temple rising above its yellow halls in Nanjing on a hazy autumn day, with a modern glass skyscraper just visible behind — the old capital's ancient-and-modern blend.

Nanjing

Nanjing Travel Guide: First-Time Visitor Tips

Shanghai's skyline lit up at night, seen across the Huangpu River.

Shanghai

Shanghai Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

A classical Suzhou canal scene with traditional whitewashed houses.

Suzhou

First-Time Suzhou Travel Guide: Highlights & Tips

Rows of terracotta warriors in Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army excavation hall near Xi'an, beneath a vaulted skylight roof.

Xi'an

Xi'an Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

The ornate, tiered rooftop of Nanputuo Temple's Great Compassion Hall in Xiamen, framed by trees against a cloudy sky.

Xiamen

Xiamen Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

A towering quartz-sandstone pillar of Wulingyuan rising from the forest in Zhangjiajie — the "Avatar" mountains — with more columns behind it.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie Travel Guide: Heaven's Gate & the Avatar Mountains