Destination guide

China trip planner

Great Wall sunrises, warp-speed megacities, and 5,000 years of history.

China rewards a focused itinerary. Beijing for the Wall and Forbidden City, Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, Shanghai for the skyline, and one nature stop — Zhangjiajie, Guilin, or Chengdu's pandas. High-speed rail links it all.

Plan my China trip See Pro

Canonical: https://haienaplan.com/destinations/china

Best time to visit

Apr–May & Sep–Oct

Currency

Chinese Yuan (¥ / CNY)

Language

Mandarin

Top experiences in China

Great Wall at Mutianyu

Restored, less-crowded section with cable car and toboggan.

Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven

Imperial Beijing at its most iconic.

Xi'an Terracotta Army

Thousands of clay warriors guarding an emperor's tomb.

Shanghai Bund

Colonial waterfront facing the futuristic Pudong skyline.

Sample itinerary

Days 1–3: Beijing — Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, and hutong food tour.
Days 4–5: High-speed train to Xi'an — Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter.
Days 6–7: Fly to Chengdu — pandas at Bifengxia and hotpot dinners.
Days 8–10: Fly to Shanghai — Bund, Yu Garden, and a Suzhou or Hangzhou day trip.

Foods to try

Peking duckXiaolongbaoHotpotKung pao chickenJianbingDim sumHand-pulled noodles

Travel tips

Install a VPN before arrival — Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram are blocked.
WeChat and Alipay run daily life — set them up with a foreign card in advance.
Book high-speed train seats early on Trip.com; passport required to board.
Most travelers need a tourist visa arranged before the flight.

Ready to plan your China adventure?

Build your itinerary, budget, and packing list in one place — free for your first trip.

Start planning free