How to Plan Your First Trip to China 2026: Everything to Know
With its timeless ancient architectures, iconic landscapes, proud millennial Traditions, and authentic, mouth-watering food, China is one of the world’s most alluring destinations. The historic cities perfectly suits culture buffs - from the Great Wall to the Terracotta Army - with a wealth of heritage at every turn. Its diverse landscape promise sheer natural beauty, various outdoor adventures, and epic river cruises.
In fact, China is teeming with possibilities for every traveler whether you are a family looking for Idyllic countryside as your children’s playground, or a couple planning your honeymoon. Today, let’s dive into China travel tips on how to plan your first trip to China, with our specific answers to when and where to go, how to get there and around, and what to eat.
Choose Where to Go: Best Places to Visit for First-times
The most popular tourist destinations of China offers something unique and exciting for all. Here the places we list are for you to experience China’s diversity and suit different types of travelers. Let’s find out what will interest you most during your first China trip.Beijing - The Capital Where History Meets Modernity
If you are visiting China for the first time, start your China tour from Beijing. Embrace history: The Great Wall is one of the Seven Wonders of the World; the Forbidden City is the largest and most intact royal palace complex in existence; Tiananmen Square features numerous iconic buildings; the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace are UNESCO-protected royal sacrificial sites and royal gardens.
For a in-depth Beijing tour: take a walk (or ride on a rickshaw) through the hutongs, discover authentic Beijing cuisine, such as Beijing Roast Duck and fried sauce noodle. Beijing is also a great place for children to learn and play - hiking and camping on the Great Wall, discovering treasures in the Palace Museum, and learning calligraphy in the hutongs.
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Shanghai - The International Metropolis Known as the Magic City
As one of China's gateway cities, Shanghai is also an ideal starting point for your China tour. Top things to do in Shanghai? Stroll along Nanjing Road and the Bund, taking in the night views along both banks of the Huangpu River—a fascinating contrast between modern skyscrapers and colonial architecture. Admire classic Chinese garden artistry at the Yu Garden. Ascend the Oriental Pearl Tower or Shanghai Tower for panoramic views of the city. Explore history and savor local cuisine in the former French Concession and Tianzifang. For families with kids, Shanghai Disneyland is a must-visit.
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Xi'an - The World-renowned Ancient Capital and the Starting Point of the Silk Road
Whether you are fond of history or cuisine, include Xi'an in your first trip to China. You will be amazed by the mightiness of the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, which has a history of over 2,000 years, and the grand scale of the best-preserved city wall in Xi'an. At the Great Wild Goose Pagoda and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which are the emblematic sites of Xi'an's Buddhist culture, you can witness the glory of the ancient Silk Road. Take a night tour of Xian Muslim Quarter and taste the famous Xi'an delicacies, such as mutton soup with noodles, meat sandwiches, and cold noodles.Guilin & Yangshuo - The Most Beautiful Scenery in the World
If you have about 10 days, it is recommended that you also tour Guilin apart from Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Known as the most beautiful place in China, Guilin and Yangshuo are famous worldwide for their unique karst landforms. The Li River cruise is the best way to enjoy the karst limestone peaks, allowing you to feel as if you are in a Chinese landscape painting. The Yulong River bamboo rafting trip enables you to experience the rural scenery of Yangshuo.
>> Recommended: 11 Days Beijing Xian Guilin Shanghai Tour
Chengdu - Panda and Food Paradise
The giant panda is a must-see during your first trip to China. At the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base, you can get up close and personal with the adorable pandas. Chengdu is also one of the most famous cities of gastronomy in China - in Jinli Ancient Street and Kuandu Lane - taste Sichuan hot pot, dan dan noodles, and more. Experience the local laid-back lifestyle in Chengdu, playing mahjong at People's Park, and watching the Sichuan Opera face-changing special effects in a teahouse.
>> Recommended: 20 days China Odyssey TourZhangjiajie - An Adventure Land of Unique Peaks and Scenic Beauty
For active travelers and nature lovers, Zhangjiajie is the best natural destination in China. The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a World Natural Heritage Site, is home to the Avatar peaks. Tianmen Mountain boasts the world's longest cable car and the world-renowned Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Door). On your Zhangjiaji tour, enjoy breathing fresh air, hiking deep into the jungle, and challenging the Sky Walks at the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and the Tianmen Mountain Glass Walkway.
>>Recommended: 16 Days Scenic China Tour Package with Zhangjiajie
Beyond the Classic Destinations
If you have two to three weeks for your first China tour, you may also consider traveling to Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La), Tibet, Chongqing, and the Silk Road. Our travel consultant at Easy Tour China are glad to tailor make your holiday to wherever you wish to go.
Check If You Need to Apply China Visa
Good news! China currently offers a 30-day visa-free policy to citizens of over 40 countries. If you are a citizen of an exempt nation (such as Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany, or Italy), you can travel to China without a visa. Additionally, if you hold a ticket to a third country, you may enjoy up to 240 hours of visa-free transit in select Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, etc.
>> Related reading: How to Plan a China Trip from Singapore | How to Plan a China Tour from Malaysia
If you need to apply for a tourist visa, what should you do? Simply apply it at Chinese Embassy or Visa Application Center in your country with the required documents, including your valid passport, visa application form, recent photos, and travel itinerary. And if you book China travel service with Easy Tour China, we can provide you with an itinerary and invitation letter to assist with your visa application.
>> Check out our China Visa Free Tours
Decide When to Go: Best Time to Visit China
One of the things to know before traveling to China is that when to go. Despite the uniform China time, the country is vast and spans five time zones from east to west. Different seasons present completely different landscapes and weather. Overall, the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November, the "golden season" for tourism in China) with pleasant weather and beautiful scenery, are the best time of the year for your first visit to China.
Summer (June - August) brings heavy rainfall to southern China but is an excellent time to explore Tibet and northern regions. However, summer coincides with China's summer vacation, making it peak season for domestic family travel. In winter (December - February), if you don't mind the cold, you can experience the Harbin Ice Festival and traditional Chinese festivals.
One of the top travel advice for first-time visitors to China: Avoid visiting during the May Day holiday, the China National Day Golden Week, and the Chinese New Year holiday. The reason is simple: there are too many people, and there is a shortage of flights and train tickets, as well as high hotel prices. Therefore, naturally, your travel experience won't be good.
Is Safe to Travel to China? Safety Tips
Many first-time visitors to China often ask: Is China safe? Yes, China ranks among the world's safest countries in terms of public security. Generally speaking, you needn't worry about violent crime, let alone terrorist attacks. In major cities like Shanghai and Beijing, it is even safe for a woman walking alone late at night.
Nevertheless, remain vigilant against pickpockets, traffic safety, and food safety. At train stations, airports, subways, and crowded tourist spots, keep a close eye on your belongings as pickpockets may be present. Traffic in China is heavy, so exercise extreme caution when crossing the street. Most importantly, tap water is not safe to drink; you should purchase bottled water or boil it before consumption. For travelers with sensitive stomachs, avoid street food and raw or cold dishes.
How to Get to China and Travel around
Getting to China
By air: There are direct flights to China via major global routes. You can choose cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Hong Kong as your entry cities. If there are no direct flights from your country to China, you can choose to transit through a key international hub.By overland: China shares borders with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Mongolia and Russia. You can enter China through border crossings in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.
By sea: Some international cruise lines call at coastal Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Xiamen, Tianjin and Dalian.
Getting around
By air: Domestic flights connect cities across China. For instance, you can fly from Beijing to Lhasa or Urumqi directly.
By high-speed rail: Thanks to the world's largest high-speed rail network, it is convenient to travel between relatively close cities with HSR. For instance, the distance from Beijing to Shanghai or Beijing is approximately 1,200 kilometers. Traveling by high-speed rail takes only about 5 hours. China tours by high-speed train is money-saving, fast, punctual, and comfortable.
City Transportation: In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi'an, subways offer fast and convenient travel. While buses are inexpensive, they are slow. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also excellent options for reaching city attractions, airports, and train stations at reasonable prices.How Many Days to Stay in China: Itinerary Ideas
For your first-time trip to China, 7 to 10 days is enough for a classic China tour focusing on Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai, including 1 day in Suzhou classic garden or ancient water town. With 11 to 14 days, you can have Chengdu, Guilin,
Zhangjiajie (for 2 to 3 days) on your itinerary to balance culture and nature discovery. If you planning a 3-week China holiday, also make time for Yangtze River Cruise (4-5 days), Tibet (4 - 5 days), Yunnan (3 - 6 days), or the Silk Road (6 - 7 days), with a perfect combination of history, nature, and ethnic cultures. Suppose you have approximately 1 month, you can have an in-depth exploration the diverse landscape and culture of China.
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Where to Stay in China: Accommodation
You can find a wide range of accommodations in China, from luxury hotels to budget youth hostels, including international chains (such as Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental, and Hyatt), domestic star-rated hotels, boutique hotels, and homestays. Choose based on your needs and preferences.
Beyond the type, consider the hotel's location to decide where to stay. A hotel near a subway station makes your travel more convenient, while proximity to commercial districts allows easy access to restaurants and entertainment venues. If it will be China family tours, there are family-friendly hotels or those offering family rooms.
At Easy Tour China, we investigate at each city/town/village, and hand-pick hotel for our clients. If you prefer to book accommodations independently, use Booking.com, Airbnb, Agoda, Expedia, and Trip.com.
What to Eat: Western Food or Local Cuisine
The answer is simple, enjoy the diverse flavors of Chinese cuisine. Taste imperial dishes like Beijing Duck in Beijing, various noodles and Benbang cuisine dishes in Shanghai, dim sum and stew dishes in Guanghou, cold noodle and Roujiaba in Xian, and spicy Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu and Chongqing. From time to time you may miss the Western Food, no worries. There are very good Western Restaurants in major Chines cities.
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Money and Currency in China
Whether you want to buy a small souvenir or to tip your tour guide, it is wise you have some basic knowledge about China money and how to pay in China. The official currency of China is the Renminbi, and the standard currency symbol is ¥. The currency code is CNY, and the basic unit is "yuan". 1 yuan Renminbi ≈ 0.14 US dollars.
You may have heard, today, China has almost entered a cashless society, and mobile payment is the most mainstream method. Alipay and WeChat Pay are the most common mobile payment platforms. Why not download and register an Alipay/WeChat account, link your bank card, and enjoy hassle-free payments across China?While cash is less common in cities, it remains accepted.
In remote areas, owners of local small shops—especially the elderly—often prefer cash payments.International credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted at upscale hotels, large shopping malls, and airports. However, small shops and eateries typically do not accept international cards.
Should I Choose A Guided China Tour
Given the language barriers, cultural differences, and China’s vast territory, you are suggested to take a guided tour for your first China trip to help with the itinerary planning, logistics, and understanding the country. Compared with a group tour that fixed departures and itinerary, a customized, private China tour is an even better option (especially for families, seniors and couples) with ultimate flexibility, private guides & drivers.Research More about China
Apart from our China travel guide for beginners, you are also encouraged to learn more about the country before you go. For examples:
Purchase a Chinese SIM card and VPN to use the internet, google, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube in China.
Learn some useful Chinese phrases for saying hello, goodbye, thank you, ordering food, and ask for help.
Figure tour what to pack for China trip in different seasons (or even different months), and based on your doctor’s advice.
Understand most Chinese people are warm and very friendly, and always willing to give a hand if you need. Building more connections with the locals and real China experiences are better ways to understand this country.
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