A country of regions, not one destination
China is roughly the size of a continent. A first trip usually works best as one region plus one or two connected cities, not a race from Beijing to Shanghai to Guilin to Xi’an in ten days. The east coast is dense, fast and easy to navigate; the interior is slower, cheaper and more varied; the south is subtropical; the north is dry and cold in winter.
How long do you actually need?
- 5–7 days: one city (Beijing or Shanghai) plus one nearby day trip.
- 10–14 days: two regions, for example Beijing + Xi’an, or Shanghai + Hangzhou + Suzhou.
- 3–4 weeks: a comfortable mix of history, food, nature and a business stop.
- Business trips: build in one buffer day for jet lag, payments and a local SIM.
What it costs
Budget travellers can manage on roughly US$50–80 a day in smaller cities and hostels; mid-range travellers should budget US$100–200 a day in Beijing or Shanghai; comfort hotels, private guides and high-speed rail in first class push it to US$250+. International flights, visas and insurance are extra.
The first-time mistakes
- Booking too many cities and underestimating station-to-hotel time.
- Travelling during Spring Festival or the October Golden Week without booking transport early.
- Assuming every hotel accepts foreign guests, or that every card works.
- Arriving with no cash, no Chinese payment app and no offline map.
Reality check
Most first trips fail on distance, not on sights. A two-hour high-speed train can still mean a 45-minute metro ride at each end.
Local tip: Pick one region, book the first and last nights, and leave the middle flexible.
Step by step
- Pick one region and two or three bases, not a long list of cities.
- Check your visa or visa-free eligibility on the official portal before booking flights.
- Book the first two nights and your long-distance transport; leave the rest flexible.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and a data plan before departure.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese characters and download offline maps.
- Keep one buffer day at the start and one at the end.
Typical costs
| Item | Cost / note |
|---|---|
| Budget daily spend | US$50–80 |
| Mid-range daily spend | US$100–200 |
| Comfort daily spend | US$250+ |
| High-speed rail, 4–6 hours | US$40–100 (second class) |
Prices are indicative and change. Confirm with the official provider before paying.
Documents to prepare
- Passport valid for at least six months
- Visa or visa-free eligibility confirmation
- Travel insurance policy
- First hotel booking and return/onward ticket
- Address of your first stay in Chinese
Common mistakes
- Treating China like a small country and planning five cities in seven days.
- Ignoring domestic travel time: stations and airports are large.
- Travelling in the first week of October without reservations.
- Relying only on a foreign credit card.
If things go wrong
- If you are exhausted, cut a city rather than a night of sleep.
- If a ticket is sold out, try the next station or a flight before buying a dodgy resale.
FAQ
Is English widely spoken?
In major hotels, airports and international businesses, often yes. In local restaurants, taxis and smaller cities, assume you will need a translation app and Chinese addresses.
How many cities should I visit in two weeks?
Two regions and three or four bases is usually enough. More cities means more time in stations and less time actually seeing anything.
Is China expensive?
It can be cheap or expensive. Local food and metro travel are affordable; international hotels, private guides and first-class rail are not.
First 72 hours: the field guide
The first three days are mostly logistics: documents, a working phone, a bed and a registered address. Get those right and the rest of the trip becomes much easier.
Before you land
Keep one offline folder with your passport photo page, visa, insurance, first hotel address in Chinese and onward ticket. Put the hotel address on your lock screen or a paper card. If you take prescription medicine, keep it in hand luggage with the prescription; checked bags get delayed.
At the airport
Complete the arrival card before the queue. Use the foreign-passport lane unless a staff member directs you elsewhere. After baggage, choose the red customs channel if you have anything to declare: food, plants, large cash, restricted medicine or commercial samples. The green channel is only for nothing-to-declare.
The first evening
Buy or activate a data plan, test a small mobile payment, and confirm that the hotel has registered your passport. If you are staying privately, ask the host about police-station registration before you unpack. Save the local emergency numbers and your embassy contact.
Quick checks
- Passport, visa and hotel address offline
- Working data plan and one payment app
- Registration confirmed at hotel or police station
- Cash backup and a second card
- Embassy and 120/110 numbers saved
Printable checklist
Print this page or save it as a PDF. Tick each item before you go.
- Passport valid for at least six months
- Visa or visa-free eligibility confirmation
- Travel insurance policy
- First hotel booking and return/onward ticket
- Address of your first stay in Chinese
- Pick one region and two or three bases, not a long list of cities.
- Check your visa or visa-free eligibility on the official portal before booking flights.
- Book the first two nights and your long-distance transport; leave the rest flexible.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and a data plan before departure.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese characters and download offline maps.
- Keep one buffer day at the start and one at the end.
This guide is a practical summary, not an official or legal document. Rules and prices change. Use the official links below, and confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified professional.
Last verified 2026-10-29. China Handbook is independent and not affiliated with any government. Information is provided for general guidance only.