Things to do in China: best places to visit
China's classics: the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Bund and the Lujiazui skyline in Shanghai, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, West Lake in Hangzhou, the panda base and the Leshan Giant Buddha near Chengdu, and Hongyadong lit up at night in Chongqing. High-speed trains join them — Beijing to Shanghai takes about four and a half hours.
Sights in China
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Itineraries across China
City itineraries in China
China travel guide
Before you go: where to start, visa-free entry and paying, the internet, high-speed trains, weather by region and Hainan’s beaches.
China on your own: the essentials
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — 30 days visa-free or 240-hour transit for many
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Paying
- Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card
- Internet
- Google, WhatsApp, YouTube blocked — roaming eSIM
- First trip
- Beijing + Xi’an + Shanghai in 7–10 days
- Trains
- High-speed rail links almost every city
- When to go
- April–May and September–October
- Beaches
- Sanya on Hainan, November to April
- Holidays
- Early May and 1–7 October — everything is packed
- Passport
- Needed for trains, museums and hotels
- Time zone
- UTC+8 nationwide
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage ListSourcei
Wikipedia, “Time in China”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “High-speed rail in China”Sourcei
National Immigration Administration of ChinaBest places to visit in China
The best places to visit in China on a first trip are Beijing for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, Xi’an for the Terracotta Army and Shanghai for the Bund — the classic 7–10-day loop by high-speed train. Add Chengdu and Chongqing for pandas and spicy food, Hangzhou for West Lake and tea, and Sanya for the beach. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Beijing | Forbidden City, Great Wall | 4–5 days |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | The Bund, Pudong, water towns | 3–4 days |
| Xi’an | Terracotta Army, city wall | 2–3 days |
| Hangzhou | West Lake, Longjing tea | 2 days |
| Chengdu | Pandas, Leshan Buddha | 3–4 days |
| Chongqing | Hill city, hotpot | 3 days |
| Guangzhou | Cantonese food, Canton Fair | 2–3 days |
| Shenzhen | Skyline, Hong Kong next door | 2 days |
| Harbin | Ice festival, old streets | 2–3 days |
| Sanya | Hainan beaches, tropics | 7–10 days |
Ready trips across the country are above on this page.
China visa and how to pay
China visa rules depend on your passport: many nationalities now get 30 days visa-free, and others can use 240-hour transit with an onward ticket to a third country. Paying is almost always by QR code through Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept most foreign Visa and Mastercard cards after passport verification.
- Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card with your passport before you go.
- Contactless cards — accepted on many city metros and in big hotels.
- Cash — yuan must be accepted, but change can be short.
- Passport — needed for train tickets, museums and hotel check-in.
Getting around China by train
High-speed trains are the best way around China: Beijing–Shanghai ≈ 4.5 hours, Shanghai–Hangzhou ≈ 1 hour, Beijing–Xi’an ≈ 4.5–6 hours. Tickets are sold by passport on the 12306 app and at stations. In cities, use the metro and DiDi taxis.
- Trains — book a few days ahead, two weeks ahead for holidays.
- Flights — for long hops: Beijing–Sanya, Shanghai–Harbin.
- Metro — in every big city, paid by Alipay QR or card.
- DiDi — inside Alipay, with an English interface.
Internet in China: what works
China blocks Google with its maps and mail, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram and many Western services. They work over roaming or tourist eSIMs routed abroad. Set everything up before you travel — those sites are blocked inside China.
- Roaming eSIM — the easiest way to stay connected.
- Maps — Amap or Apple Maps instead of Google Maps.
- Translation — download an offline dictionary in advance.
China weather by month
The best time to visit China is April–May and September–October, when the north and centre are ≈ 20–27 °C. Summer is hot and rainy almost everywhere; winter is freezing in the north, mild in the south and beach season on Hainan. Below is Beijing.
BeijingiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 2° | 6° | 13° | 21° | 27° | 31° | 31° | 30° | 26° | 19° | 10° | 3° |
| Night | -8° | -5° | 1° | 8° | 14° | 19° | 22° | 21° | 16° | 8° | 0° | -6° |
| Rain | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–May and September–October
- day ≈ 2°
- night ≈ -8°
- rain 2 days
Freezing and dry; beach season on Hainan.
- day ≈ 6°
- night ≈ -5°
- rain 2 days
Spring Festival — everything is busy.
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 1°
- rain 3 days
About 13°, spring moves north.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 4 days
About 21° — a great time.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 6 days
About 27°; early-May holidays.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 9 days
Hot; rain in the south.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 13 days
Heat and downpours; southern typhoons.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 21°
- rain 11 days
Hot and rainy.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 6 days
About 26° — the best month.
- day ≈ 19°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 4 days
About 19°; 1–7 October holidays.
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 2 days
Cooling in the north.
- day ≈ 3°
- night ≈ -6°
- rain 1 days
Freezing north; Harbin’s ice.
Each city has its own weather: Harbin drops to –24° in winter, Sanya stays ≈ 26–32° all year.
China travel tips
China is safe and easy for visitors who prepare: set up payments and internet, carry your passport for every ticket and plan around national holidays. Little English is spoken outside hotels — a translation app helps.
- Holidays — Spring Festival, early May and 1–7 October bring peak prices and queues.
- Booking — the Forbidden City, big museums and the Wall sell out; book online days ahead.
- Water — don’t drink tap water; hotels and trains have boiling water.
- Safety — China is generally considered safe for tourists; check your government’s travel advice.
Tips
- Set up Alipay with a linked card and an eSIM at home — it is the key to a smooth trip.
- For Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai, take high-speed trains: faster than flying centre to centre.
- Avoid national holiday weeks, especially the first week of October.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for China?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities now get 30 days visa-free, and others can use 240-hour transit with an onward ticket to a third country. Check the official rules for your passport.
What are the best places to visit in China?
Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai for a first trip; Chengdu, Chongqing and Hangzhou next; Sanya for beaches.
How do I pay in China as a tourist?
With Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card; many metros also take contactless cards. Carry a little cash.
Does WhatsApp work in China?
No — WhatsApp, Google and many Western apps are blocked. A roaming eSIM set up before you go keeps them working.
When is the best time to visit China?
April–May and September–October, avoiding the early-May and early-October holidays.
Is China safe for tourists?
China is generally considered very safe for visitors, with low street crime. Check your government’s current travel advice.
How do I get around China?
By high-speed train between cities and by metro and DiDi within them; train tickets are booked with your passport.
Where are the beaches in China?
The main beach resort is Sanya on Hainan Island, best from November to April.
How many days do you need in China?
Ten days covers Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai; two weeks adds Chengdu or Hangzhou.
Do people speak English in China?
Little outside hotels and big attractions; a translation app and offline maps help a lot.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List — sites in China
- National Immigration Administration of China — visa-free and transit policies
- Wikipedia, “China”; “High-speed rail in China”; Beijing climate (1991–2020 normals)
- China Railway 12306 — official ticketing