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Introducing China

When is the best time to visit?
September and October are the best months to visit China, when the weather is predictably sunny and mild. One exception is the first week of October, when the National Day holiday closes businesses and brings domestic tourists out in droves to popular vacation spots. Spring (April-June) also brings pleasant weather to most of the country, but keep in mind that this is the rainy season for southern China. Winter travel can also be lovely—in January and February, travelers will enjoy ice & snow sculptures in Harbin and many celebrations of the Lunar New Year all over the country. Learn more

Where should you go?
For first-timers, a comprehensive tour of China's top sites is recommended—this might include Beijing, Xian, Guilin, and Shanghai. With extra time (see below), you can observe giant pandas and try traditional Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu. The southwestern Yunnan Province is another gem, where you can discover ancient towns hidden in the region's remote corners.

Travelers wanting a deeper dive will have no shortage of options for getting off the beaten path. Consider a cultural excursion to visit the minority community of Guizhou or take a historical journey into Pingyao and the Shanxi Province of northern China. Other places of interest include Shangdong Province, where you can visit Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, and the many heritage sites of Henan Province. For instagram-worthy pictures, beeline to Yellow Mountain and Zhangjiajie, two of China's most photogenic spots.

How many days do you need?
Five days is enough for a whirlwind of China's urban highlights. You can pay quick visits to Beijing and Shanghai, China's political capital and commercial center respectively. If you're more interested in history, combine Beijing with cultural treasure trove Xian instead. A 10-day tour offers a more reasonable pace and many more options—you can easily cover Beijing, Xian, Guilin, and Shanghai (or swap Guilin for Chengdu). Even more ideal is spending 2 weeks or more, allowing for deeper dives into areas of interest and extra time for hidden gems. Add a trip to Suzhou, take a Yangtze River cruise—options are endless, and trips can be tailored to your interests.

Getting Around China
Flying is the quickest way around the country. China’s massive airports⁠ offer dozens of daily nonstop flights to cities all over the mainland and Hong Kong. That said, by the time you factor in security screening and travel time to and from each airport—the airports in both cities are outside the city center—it's often easier and more reliable to take the train. Learn more

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days

China Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Great Wall of China under a hazy sunset
Map of China's Highlights - 10 Days
China's Highlights - 10 Days

This packed itinerary covers many of China's highlights, starting in Beijing with a tour of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall. Then take a bullet train to Xi'an to see the famous Terracotta Army before heading to Guilin for river excursions in a paradise setting. End your trip in metropolitan Shanghai and explore its Bund waterfront, peaceful Yu Garden, and bohemian Tianzifang neighborhood.

China
Map of Explore the Yunnan Province - 7 Days
Explore the Yunnan Province - 7 Days

You'll pack an incredible week with the highlights of China's Yunnan province. After arriving in the city of Kunming, you'll transfer to Dali and visit the Stone Forest, a natural marvel of towering limestone rocks. Then you'll tour other historic towns and cities that were once fixtures on the ancient tea trading routes while also visiting incredible natural wonders like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Black Dragon Pool.

china
Map of Best of Beijing - 5 Days
Best of Beijing - 5 Days

Spend a quick five days touring the most historic sights of China's capital, like the Forbidden City and Summer Palace. You'll arrive in Beijing and visit Tiananmen Square before heading off for a hike on the Great Wall. Then you'll tour one of the nation's holiest sites, the Temple of Heaven, and cap the trip with a boat ride on the lake at the imperial Summer Palace.

Hong Kong Skyline at Night
Hong Kong and Macau Family Trip - 5 Days

Discover the best of Hong Kong on this family trip, starting with a  bus tour of the city, a ride up the gondola to Victoria Peak, and an evening at Stanely Market. Spend two days riding roller coasters, playing games, and learning about marine life at Hong Kong's Disneyland and Ocean Park. End your trip with a day in Macau, complete with a ferry ride and a visit to the Venetian Resort.

Yuyuan Garden (Garden of Happiness) in the center of Shanghai
Map of Highlights from Shanghai to Beijing - 12 Days
Highlights from Shanghai to Beijing - 12 Days

This exciting 12-day itinerary includes some of China's best cultural and natural wonders. Kick off the trip in cosmopolitan Shanghai where you'll explore its modern waterfront, peaceful gardens, and artsy neighborhoods. Next is Zhangjiajie for a dose of dramatic mountain vistas before you continue to Xi'an to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Finish with a bullet train to Beijing to experience the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and—on your last full day—the Great Wall of China.

China
Map of Discover China: Yunnan & Western Sichuan - 14 Days
Discover China: Yunnan & Western Sichuan - 14 Days

This two-week tour focuses mainly on western China and covers some of the most off-the-beaten-path locales in Sichuan province and the Tibetan Plateau. It's an itinerary packed with outdoor adventure as you'll visit high-altitude villages, ancient Buddhist temples, and unspoiled national parks. Excursions to the mountain paradise of Shangri-La, the biological reserve of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the peaks of Mount Siguniang are just a few of the many highlights of this unforgettable trip.

China Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Our Latest China Content

Women of the  Miao ethnic minority tribe wear intricate silver headpieces for important occasions and ceremonies
Map of Culture & Trekking Trip to the Ethnic Minority Villages of Southwest China - 11 Days
Culture & Trekking Trip to the Ethnic Minority Villages of Southwest China - 11 Days

Dive deep into China on an 11-day discovery tour that will take you from Hong Kong's modern streets to rural villages home to ethnic tribespeople. Marvel at the panoramic views from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong before catching a train to the verdant countryside, where you'll hike along terraced rice paddies and explore ancient caves. Spend the remainder of the trip engaging in immersive cultural exchange as you hop between the traditional villages of China's ethnic minority communities.

Visit a village in Longji to meet the Yao people and learn about their customs
Map of Chinese Culture & Minority Villages Tour - 13 Days
Chinese Culture & Minority Villages Tour - 13 Days

Spend almost two weeks traversing China on a journey from major cities to small tribal villages. Get to know the distinct spirit of Hong Kong before heading to the Guilin countryside and its green rice paddies and tranquil rivers. Learn about the customs of the ethnic minority Yao, Dong, and Biasha people, then, travel to the ancient city of Xi'an (home to the legendary Terracotta Army), where you'll practice your calligraphy skills before capping the trip with sightseeing in Beijing and a stroll on the Great Wall.

Walk among the perfectly manicured Longji Rice Terraces and visit a local village home
Map of Authentic China: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo & Shanghai - 11 Days
Authentic China: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo & Shanghai - 11 Days

See some of China's most important cultural sites on this immersive 11-day tour. Start in the imperial capitals of Beijing and Xi'an, discovering the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Terracotta Warriors. Step off the beaten path to cruise the Li River and visit the local market in Yangshuo, then end in the gleaming metropolis of Shanghai. Highlights along the way include learning to cook bamboo rice in an Indigenous village and crafting your own traditional fan under the tutelage of a local artisan.

China Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Map 14 Days in China - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
14 Days in China - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article
Map 10 Days in China - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
10 Days in China - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article
Map China's Highlights - 10 Days
China's Highlights - 10 Days
View article

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for China
Travel specialist Heidi Jiang
active 1 hour ago

Heidi Jiang

For the past fifteen years I have accompanied many private groups to most places of China and also some other southeast Asian countries which makes me understand the first information traveler...

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Travel specialist Lisa Sun
active 3 hours ago

Lisa Sun

As a China English-speaking tour guide with 20 years of experience in the tourism industry, I have a deep passion for the travel profession and am dedicated to introducing China's rich culture and...

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Travel specialist Winnie Wu
active 13 mins ago

Winnie Wu

I am Winnie, with over 10 years of experience in the travel industry, I specialize in crafting personalized journeys across East Asia, especially to Japan, Korea, and China. Each of these countries...

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Travel specialist Carol Wang
active 7 days ago

Carol Wang

My name is Carol Wang, a travel advisor from China Highlights Travel. I have worked as a travel advisor for 15 years and helped 3200+ people plan their dream vacations, whether it's a romantic...

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Travelers who visit China also visit these destinations

Trip Reviews for China

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

China - What an absolutely amazing trip ! The whole t...
China | Sep 21 - Oct 1, 2026

Jane
Jane F.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Oct 08, 2026
What an absolutely amazing trip ! The whole thing was pulled together within two weeks of departure date by Heidi who was phenomenal. We mapped out to Heidi what we were looking to achieve for our first trip to China and she absolutely nailed the brief perfectly. Each of our four guides are absolutely worthy of mention, Li, Coco, Ellen and Vivian, - thank you so much for your attention to detail and being the perfect hosts in each of the cities that we visited and going beyond. You really did... Read more

What an absolutely amazing trip ! The whole thing was pulled together within two weeks of departure date by Heidi who was phenomenal. We mapped out to Heidi what we were looking to achieve for our first trip to China and she absolutely nailed the brief perfectly. Each of our four guides are absolutely worthy of mention, Li, Coco, Ellen and Vivian, - thank you so much for your attention to detail and being the perfect hosts in each of the cities that we visited and going beyond. You really did make the trip so memorable for us all and so totally seamless. We wouldn’t have found time to do half the things that we achieved if it wasn’t for your local knowledge and familiarity with the landscapes, etc.
I have absolutely no hesitation or reservation in recommending Kimkim to anyone who is thinking of using them as a travel organiser and we will absolutely be using them again in the future for any further travel plans.

Local specialist: Heidi Jiang

Hong Kong to Beijing was awesome 😳
China | Aug 27 - Sep 17, 2026

Robert  Bob
Robert Bob S.
St Paul, MN, USA | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2026
Hong Kong to Beijing was awesome as we saw so many magnificent natural sights, so many historical and religious sites, and encountered so many wonderful Chinese . They were helpful and patient, as often a language barrier . The bullet trains were a joy to ride, fast and smooth and on time . I am a Zumba guy , so was grateful for many dance experiences. Some dancing was in shows where dancers invited audience ( like dancing with magnificent Yao ladies) , and many were dancing in town... Read more

Hong Kong to Beijing was awesome as we saw so many magnificent natural sights, so many historical and religious sites, and encountered so many wonderful Chinese . They were helpful and patient, as often a language barrier .

The bullet trains were a joy to ride, fast and smooth and on time .

I am a Zumba guy , so was grateful for many dance experiences. Some dancing was in shows where dancers invited audience ( like dancing with magnificent Yao ladies) , and many were dancing in town squares with locals….like Chinese Zumba lol.

Terracotta Warriors are beyond belief in person 😳

Grand Canyon, glass bridge, zip line: what a rush for the senses.

Rice terraces had a unique peaceful vibe in a country of 1 billion plus . Very unique art hotel with a million dollar view. Above the clouds…

Downside was twofold :
1. China visa process for US is beyond horrible.
I spent over 20 hours and pricey as required to hand deliver docs to Chicago embassy OR pay somebody $$ to hand deliver and hand pick up.

2. China really runs via phone . My AliPay , WeChat pay, and almost all communication from home did not work . Crippling problem.
eSIM, physical sim, not working .

Hotels and transportation were thoughtfully set up

Overall a magnificent 3 1/2 week journey.

Hotel Review
Longji One Art Hotel

Wonderful experience to stay there. Unique art style with million dollar view. And a cool cat that may play with you if you are cool enough…

Authenticity & Character
About as much character as you will ever find.
Location
Overlooking amazing rice terraces.
Staff
Very helpful staff including amazing tiny lady porter who carries heavy bags…..
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Hong Kong Island Half-Day Classic Tour by Public Transportation
Hong Kong Island Half-Day Classic Tour by Public Transportation
Hong Kong

Great overall tour of mega city, banks, Buddha, etc

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lisa Sun
Lisa
Lisa Sun
Local specialist in China | Replied on Oct 08, 2026
Hi Bob,
You are both such kind and thoughtful people, and I truly feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to help arrange this trip for you.
I will make sure to share your suggestions and feedback with the relevant team. I sincerely hope your experience and suggestions can help us improve our services and make traveling in China easier and more enjoyable for many more travelers in the future. It has been a real pleasure assisting you, and I am truly grateful for your kindness,... Read more

Hi Bob,
You are both such kind and thoughtful people, and I truly feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to help arrange this trip for you.

I will make sure to share your suggestions and feedback with the relevant team. I sincerely hope your experience and suggestions can help us improve our services and make traveling in China easier and more enjoyable for many more travelers in the future.

It has been a real pleasure assisting you, and I am truly grateful for your kindness, understanding, and support throughout the journey.

I sincerely hope that our paths will cross again on your next trip. It would be a great pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you once again.

Warmest regards,
Lisa

16 Days in China
China | Sep 8 - Sep 23, 2026

Mitchell
Mitchell O.
Sioux Falls, SD, USA | Reviewed on Sep 24, 2026
Heidi did a great job organizing our trip and planning everything out for a stress free trip. All the guides were friendly and flexible to work with what we wanted to do. We will definitely be using Kimkim in the future! Read more

Heidi did a great job organizing our trip and planning everything out for a stress free trip. All the guides were friendly and flexible to work with what we wanted to do. We will definitely be using Kimkim in the future!

Hotel Review
Howard Johnson Neodalle Resort Zhangjiajie

The AC did not work very well and the room was frequently a bit warm and slightly muggy. My wife also commented a couple of times on the cleanliness of the room in certain areas.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Heidi Jiang
Heidi
Heidi Jiang
Local specialist in China | Replied on Sep 28, 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a stress-free trip and enjoyed working with Heidi and all of our guides. We truly appreciate your trust in KimKim, and it means a lot to hear that you would consider traveling with us again in the future. We’re also sorry to hear about the issues you experienced at the Howard Johnson Neodalle Resort Zhangjiajie. We understand how uncomfortable it can be when the room is too warm or humid, and we’re also concerned to... Read more

Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a stress-free trip and enjoyed working with Heidi and all of our guides. We truly appreciate your trust in KimKim, and it means a lot to hear that you would consider traveling with us again in the future.

We’re also sorry to hear about the issues you experienced at the Howard Johnson Neodalle Resort Zhangjiajie. We understand how uncomfortable it can be when the room is too warm or humid, and we’re also concerned to hear about the cleanliness issues your wife noticed. We will share your feedback with our local team and the hotel so that these points can be followed up on and improved.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to have the opportunity to help you plan another wonderful trip in the future!

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
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Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

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Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

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You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.