Cities guides
Choose the right cities, routes, and seasons for a first trip.
16 guides available
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First China City Route
Choose cities by trip length, friction, and transfer load so the route works on the ground, not just on a map.
Featured city guides
A practical city-selection guide for first-time visitors to China, with clear recommendations on where to start and what to save for later.
How Much Time Do You Need in China?A practical guide to how trip length changes what you can realistically do in China.
How Many Cities Should You Visit in China?A practical guide to choosing the right number of cities in China without overpacking your first trip.
Suggested Routes: 7 Days in ChinaPractical 7-day China routes for first-time visitors who want a trip that stays manageable.
Suggested Routes: 14 Days in ChinaPractical 14-day China routes for first-time visitors who want enough depth without losing control of the trip.
Beijing for First-Time VisitorsA practical first-timer guide to Beijing, focusing on reservations, security checks, long distances, and how to plan the city without burning time.
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All city guides
- Beijing for First-Time Visitors
A practical first-timer guide to Beijing, focusing on reservations, security checks, long distances, and how to plan the city without burning time.
- Best Cities for First-Time Visitors to China
A practical city-selection guide for first-time visitors to China, with clear recommendations on where to start and what to save for later.
- Chengdu for First-Time Visitors
A practical guide to Chengdu for first-time visitors, explaining when the city works well and when it feels too slow.
- Guangzhou & Shenzhen for First-Time Visitors
A practical guide to choosing between Guangzhou and Shenzhen on a first trip to China.
- Guilin Overview: Scenic, Slower, and Weather-Dependent
A practical guide to Guilin for first-time visitors, including why it works better than some scenic regions and what it still demands from the trip.
- How Many Cities Should You Visit in China?
A practical guide to choosing the right number of cities in China without overpacking your first trip.
- How Much Time Do You Need in China?
A practical guide to how trip length changes what you can realistically do in China.
- China’s Natural Landscapes: What First-Time Visitors Should Know
A practical overview of how China’s scenic regions fit into a first trip, and when they make the trip better versus harder.
- Shanghai for First-Time Visitors
A practical first-timer guide to Shanghai, covering where to stay, how to move around, and why it is often the easiest city to start with.
- Suggested Routes: 14 Days in China
Practical 14-day China routes for first-time visitors who want enough depth without losing control of the trip.
- Suggested Routes: 7 Days in China
Practical 7-day China routes for first-time visitors who want a trip that stays manageable.
- Traveling in China During Summer
A practical guide to planning a China trip in summer, including heat, rain, crowds, and how to keep the trip usable.
- Traveling in China During Winter
A practical guide to winter travel in China, including what gets easier, what gets harder, and how to plan around the season.
- Xi’an for First-Time Visitors
A practical guide to Xi’an for first-time visitors, including where to stay, how to pace the city, and how to think about the Terracotta Warriors.
- Yunnan Overview: Beautiful, Diverse, and Easy to Overplan
A practical guide to Yunnan for first-time visitors, including why the province is so rewarding and why it is so easy to overbuild.
- Zhangjiajie Overview: What First-Time Visitors Often Get Wrong
A practical guide to Zhangjiajie for first-time visitors, including why the scenery is famous and why the logistics are heavier than they look.