Four months across China, dated and verified
Published May 2026Revised August 2026
Travel guide
China
Four months across China — dated and verified. The cities we'd go back to, the routes we'd repeat, and the ones we'd skip.
The guide
01 / 07 · From the guide
Best places to visit in China
Six places we would absolutely go back to. Skip the rest until you have time.
02 / 07
Itineraries
Our actual routes — not the polished ones that fit a guidebook page.
- South China classicsShanghai → Hangzhou → Yangshuo → Hong Kong
- Length
- 2 weeks
- Getting around
- Trains
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Character
- Photo-heavy
- Tibetan plateau loopChengdu → Litang → Daocheng → Yading
- Length
- 10 days
- Getting around
- Driver + 4WD
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Character
- Acclimatise
- North meets southBeijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Yangshuo → Shanghai
- Length
- 3 weeks
- Getting around
- HSR
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Character
- Crowd-aware
03 / 07
Unique experiences
The handful of things you should not skip — and a few you can.
04 / 07
Best time to visit China
Continental north, subtropical south. April–May and September–October are the sweet spots almost everywhere.
- Mar – MayBest Apr – MaySpringthe sweet spot. Mild temperatures across almost the whole country, blossoms in the northern parks, and green rice terraces in the south. April and May are our favourite months here.
- Jun – AugSummerhot and wet in the south and east, with heavy afternoon rain. This is the season for the high plateau instead — Litang and Yading are at their most beautiful, and the altitude keeps the heat off.
- Sep – OctBest Sep – OctAutumnthe second sweet spot. Clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and the plateau turns gold. Just avoid Golden Week (October 1–7), when the entire country travels at once.
- Dec – FebWintercold and dry in the north, mild in the far south. Beijing under snow is genuinely beautiful and blissfully empty — but avoid the Chinese New Year window (late January / February), when transport sells out weeks ahead.
05 / 07
A few words that help
- Hello你好Nǐ hǎo
- Thank you谢谢Xièxie
- Excuse me不好意思Bù hǎoyìsi
06 / 07
FAQ
7 questions, answered from the guide.
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities do, but China has rolled out increasingly generous transit-visa-free policies in 2024–25 (up to 240 hours for 54 countries). Check the latest at the official China visa portal before booking.
In the guideIs it safe?
Yes — exceptionally so in our experience. Petty theft is rare in major cities and women travelling solo report feeling comfortable in most places. The bigger friction is language, not safety.
In the guideCan I drink the tap water?
No. Use the boiled hot-water dispensers in every train station, hotel and most restaurants. Locals do not drink the tap.
In the guideWill my apps work?
WhatsApp, Google, Instagram, Facebook are blocked. Pre-install a reputable VPN before you arrive. WeChat works for almost everything else and is essentially required.
In the guideDo I need cash?
Less than you think. WeChat Pay and Alipay are dominant; both now accept foreign cards. Carry a small reserve in cash for older taxi drivers and rural areas.
In the guideHow much does a trip cost?
Mid-range is roughly $80–120/day per person including a 3-star hotel, two meals, and one major activity. High-speed rail adds ~$50 between major cities.
In the guideBest time to visit?
April–May and September–October are the sweet spots: mild temperatures everywhere except the far north or Tibet. Avoid the Chinese New Year week (late Jan / Feb) and Golden Week (Oct 1–7) unless you enjoy crowds.
In the guide07 / 07
Also in the guide
How to plan your trip
China runs on two apps (WeChat and Alipay), one rail network, and a great firewall — plan for all three before you land.
Elsewhere in Asia
10 more countries visited
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam