China is one of the world’s most underrated travel destinations – that is my conclusion after traveling in the country for 3 weeks in September 2024. I’m not sure if it’s whether I had a different experience to everyone I knew who travelled there some years before or if massive improvements to infrastructure and hygiene have been made over the years, but my experience was overwhelmingly positive.
China is now one of my favourite destinations yet, if not the favourite. A mixture of modern and ancient, man-made and natural wonders, and some fantastic, varied cuisine to boot (although do be warned that it is heavy on the oil and sugar), I was in my element here.
This is not to say that traveling through China is without its complexities and frustrations, but simply that these are worth overcoming. It was definitely the most complex trip yet for me in terms of planning and obtaining all the information I needed. Luckily for you, your trip there can be made far simpler than it was for me, thanks to the fact that I have compiled weeks of research and my personal experiences into this guidebook for you.
If you like what you see in this blog post below and decide to travel to China independently, the 50-plus-page (don’t worry, half of it are photos) document I linked sets out my sample itinerary, my travel diary setting out everything I did in detail (including favourite eateries) as well as all my tips and contacts, and a number of pages with important notes on all the things you need to know before exploring China (letting you know how to get from place to place, how to get past the Great Firewall to stay connected, what apps you should download before your trip and so on). If you like what you see, you will just need to make your bookings and enjoy!
With a country of China’s scale, it goes without saying that 3 weeks will just give you a small taste of what it has to offer, but this is a good amount of time to see some of the main highlights. Scroll on for a glimpse at what we managed to pack into our stay. I can’t wait to return one day and explore more of this captivating country.
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Beijing
A visit to China has to (in my view) include its capital. Beijing is one of the oldest cities in the world, embracing modernity while preserving its 3000+ year history. This is China’s cultural centre, the location of some of the country’s most impressive historical sites. It has been a 6-time capital of China throughout its history, and has now been the capital since 1949. Once known as a badly polluted and dirty city, great improvements have been made over the past years; we found central Beijing to be clean and pleasant.
The most popular of its landmarks is undoubtedly the Forbidden City – and with good reason. The world’s largest still-preserved imperial palace is an impressive structure. The palace was the residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors, and the center of power in China for half a millennium. Today, it is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the world, so much so that obtaining a ticket can be difficult (not to worry, I tell you how I went about it in my ‘guidebook’ (linked above)). Don’t miss out an aerial view over the Forbidden City from the nearby Jinshan Park. The palace is just adjacent to another landmark – Tiananmen Square – the world’s largest public square.
Another highly-visited attraction is the Summer Palace – a vast ensemble of gardens, lakes and palaces which served as imperial garden during the Qing dynasty. This is the largest preserved imperial garden in the world.
A visit to Beijing should include a stroll through some of its many hutongs or alleyways. From ones which have embraced modern shops to those still preserving their ancient routes, take some time to get lost in these old alleys and explore some of Beijing’s roads away from the main tourist sites.
Outside of the city, the Great Wall of China is waiting to be accessed via a day trip from Beijing. Need I say much about this World Wonder? This impressive fortification (now partly destroyed but with parts being restored) was built over some two millennia across northern China and southern Mongolia, and is a staggering 21,000km+ in original length. If my calculations are correct, that means that if you had to walk a marathon every single day along the Great Wall, it would take you almost 17 months to walk its entire length (and trust me when I say that even hiking a few kilometres on those shocking inclines takes serious effort). The key is to visit a less-visited section of the wall where you can enjoy the beauty without throngs of tourists like some popular sections close to Beijing get – I personally hit gold with my choice (read more about that in my ‘guidebook’ (linked above)).
Let’s not forget Beijing’s cuisine. From the city’s popular peking duck (so good I had to have it twice in a few days) to staples such as Zha Jiang Main (fried sauce noodles), you’ll definitely have some great meals in the city.
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Xi’An
Xi’An is another must-visit city in China. This was the capital of 13 dynasties, as well as the starting point of the Silk Road stretching all the way to the Mediterranean. It is, therefore, rich in historical relics, apart from being a vibrant modern city.
Xi’An is home to one of the most famous archeological sites in the world – the Terracotta Army. I had been dreaming of visiting this site since I was a child, and it did not disappoint. This elaborate mausoleum, created to accompany the first Emperor of China to the afterlife, lied undiscovered for about 2,200 years until some farmers digging a well discovered a life-size clay solider head. Over 2,000 of the clay figures have been excavated, while many still lie buried, as the slow excavation process continues. The detail and difference in posture, clothing and facial features of these statues is astonishing to see, as is the immense present work that goes into reconstructing the broken figures. It is highly encouraged that you visit with a guide for a complete experience (check out my suggestion in my ‘guidebook’ (linked above)).
Xi’An city itself also boasts a number of attractions. From the imposing Xi’An City Wall (the oldest, largest and best preserved city wall in China) to the picturesque temple complex of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to the unique sight that is the Datang Everbright City, the city has plenty to discover.
Xi’An is also foodie hotspot, with its Saanxhi cuisine combining ingredients and techniques from both north and south China. The street food scene is particularly great here, with its Muslim Quarter boasting one of the coolest street food roads I’ve seen.
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Chengdu
Chengdu is another popular stop on a China-highlights itinerary. While Chengdu is a large, bustling city, its inhabitants are known to prioritize leisure and comfort. Food and tea culture is huge here. It has a very old history (fun fact: paper money was invented here over 1,000 years ago!) but is today a modern city.
Most tourists, us included, visit Chengdu for one main reason – pandas. The Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu is the biggest research facility of its kind in the world, dedicated to preserving this much beloved, endangered animal. Thousands of visitors flock here every day to get a glimpse at these creatures.
While the city is nowadays mostly modern, it has still retained some spots from its more traditional past, such as the Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley scenic area and some lovingly restored tea houses. Sichuan Opera, a popular local form of entertainment, is also a nod towards the past.
Without a doubt, a great Chengdu draw is the cuisine – Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province, known world-wide for its delicious, spicy food. I had some of the tastiest food of my China trip here, including one fun and delicious street food tour (see my guidebook (linked above)).
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Leshan
Leshan is a popular and easy half-day trip from Chengdu, to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world’s largest stone buddha, carved into the mountain-side at 71m high. The park in which it is located also affords some lovely, serene walks.
While in Leshan, you might want to track down some sweet-skinned duck – this was so delicious.
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Zhangjiajie
Getting to Zhangjiajie involves some pretty lengthy traveling, and is in fact often skipped in a highlights tour, but getting there is well worth it for the natural and man-made wonders you will see in the area. We had a fantastic 2-day private tour here, which made our discovering this area seamless (see my ‘guidebook’ (linked above)).
The most popular draw is Yuanjiajie area of the Zhangjiajie National Park with its phenomenal sandstone pillars, the famous inspiration behind the Hallelujah Mountains on the planet Pandora in James Cameron’s 2009 Avatar. To climb up to sandstone pillar viewing-height, you can ride the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outside sightseeing elevator at 326 meters. Hiking along the serene Golden Whip Stream is also a lovely way to while away a few hours in the park.
The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, one of the world’s longest glass bridges, is an impressive structure – if you’re the super adventurous type, you can even take the world’s highest bungee jump off this. The canyon below is the perfect spot for a hike.
Tianmen Mountain is another must-visit in the area, accessed via the world’s longest cable car. On the mountain, you can walk over the glass Skywalks and Cliff-Hanging Walkway, take the open chairlift, look through the Heaven’s Door opening in the mountain, and marvel at the 99 Bends road, amongst others.
You won’t be eating the best food of your trip in this region. Still, food in China was good wherever we went, and it’s great to try the different specialties of each region, such as the preserved meat of Zhangjiajie … and anyway, there are always the staples of Chinese cuisine wherever you go.
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Longsheng
Another beautiful nature destination in China is Longsheng, home to the lovely Longji rice terraces, called so (Longji means Dragon’s Backbone) since these terraced fields resemble a dragon’s scales. You can spend a relaxing day or two hiking in the area and trying some bamboo sticky rice (rice cooked in bamboo tubes).
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Yangshuo
Yangshuo is a county of China and also the name of a resort town in southern China’s region of Guangxi region, which is known for its dramatic karst mountain landscape and outdoor activities. This is the same region in which Longsheng is found, but as you near Yangshuo you start to see the stunning karst peaks.
Yangshuo town is a convenient base to explore some of the surrounding countryside. Apart from a variety of hiking and biking routes in the area, you can partake in activities such as a bamboo raft ride on the Yulong river and visiting a tea plantation and/or tea school, and make sure not to miss out on an aerial view over the impressive landscape from Xianggong Mountain. Perhaps you’ll even try some of the region’s freshwater seafood dishes.
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Shanghai
Shanghai, on China’s central coast, is the country’s largest city and a global financial hub. It is one of the world’s largest seaports and a major industrial and commercial centre of China. I finished my trip in China with a few relaxing days in this vibrant city.
The heart of the city is The Bund, the famous waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings, right across the Huangpu River from Pudong district’s futuristic skyline, which includes the 632m Shanghai Tower (one of the world’s tallest buildings, which has the world’s highest observation deck – I tell you how to secure tickets to visit in my ‘guidebook’ (linked above)) and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower with its distinctive pink spheres.
You can definitely while away many hours strolling around the different areas of Shanghai – from its Old Town to the pretty French Concession – or doing a spot of shopping at Nanjinglu street. Outside of the city centre, you can visit Shanghai Disneyland or take a trip to a water town such as Zhujiajiao Water Town.
Food options in the city are endless – from traditional, cheap spots to upscale eateries with Western influence, you are guaranteed to find something which appeals to you. We enjoyed both Chinese delicacies at local institutions and refined French (with a local touch) fare at some Michelin-starred spots.
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