Plan Your Travel To China
China Travel Essentials
Ideal Duration: 7-10 days for exploring Beijing, Shanghai, and the Great Wall; 2-3 weeks for a broader exploration
Currency: Renminbi Yuan (CNY)
Best Time: March - April (Spring), September - October (Autumn) Read More
Accommodation Cost (per night in USD):
Dorm bed: $5-20
Budget: $20-50
Mid-range: $80-150
Luxury: $200 and above
Budget for Food & Drinks (per day in USD):
Budget: $5-15
Mid-range: $20-40
Visa Policy for Indians:
Visa required
Visa Policy for Nationals: Visa required for many countries
Getting In China:
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
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Getting Around China:
High-speed trains, metro (in major cities), buses, taxis
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"China: A Land of Mysteries and Beyond "
China Tourism
China or officially known as the People’s Republic of China is a country nestled in Eastern Asia housing world’s largest and about one-fifth of the population. The country is one of the world’s four great ancient civilisations dazzling world with its deep-rooted culture, classic cuisine, kung fu, fine silk, pagodas, paintings, porcelains, Ming vases and tea. China never failed to amuse the people around the world with their key attractions including the Great Wall of China, Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City. The land of philosopher Confucius, Mao Zedung and pandas, China is a place buzzing with astounding energy that adds to its charm.
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Tourist Places to Visit In China
Best time to visit China
The best time to visit China is during Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to October). China is a vast country with a diverse climate. The Spring and Fall seasons offer incred (Read More)ibly mild weather conditions in most parts of the country. South China experiences humid summers, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius in some regions. The south-east coast of the country faces typhoon season in July and September. Central China has long, humid summers and short, chilly winters. Historical and cultural destinations like Shanghai, Beijing and Xi’an are not affected much by changes in the weather. They are suitable destinations to visit at any time of the year. Overall, spring and fall are the best time to visit as these months also constitute the offseason for domestic tourism.
Holidify's opinion on Travel to China
What's Great?
Ancient history. Robust culture and heritage. Panoramic landscape. Traditional food. Astounding Architecture.
What's Not So Great?
Overcrowded cities. Pollution, especially in Beijing. Foreigners are overcharged for almost everything. Poor internet access: no access to Google.
For Whom?
Culture and heritage lovers. Those who enjoy architecture. Shopping buffs. People crazy for food.
Top Stories about China Tourism
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Exchanging Money in China
Chinese Yuan can be exchanged outside China, although chiefly in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. For currency exchange within the country, it can be dome at the airport or at the branches of The Bank of China, where one can also get their foreign banknotes, and traveller's cheques exchanged. Tourists can, however, buy imported luxury items such as alcohol with western currency as well. Northern Irish and Scottish currency cannot be exchanged in the country. One can locate ATMs at airports, hotels, banks, shopping centres in any other major town and city.
Nightlife in China
China offers excellent nightlife when it comes to the major cities Beijing and Shanghai with live music, pulsating beats, laid-back cafes, a variety of international restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cocktail lounges packed until the wee hours. To get the authentic taste of Chinese culture, travellers can try Chinese opera, circus, ballet and theatre in the big cities. However, beyond the cosmopolitan cities, the nightlife changes drastically offering karaoke parlours, gaming halls, and restaurants where crowd comes together to enjoy snooker, mah-jong and play cards. With increasing number of bars at international hotels, it comes up with yet another option but usually, it tends to be quite expensive. Areas with strong ethnic minority groups such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Sichuan offer traditional local music and dancing for visitors. If travelling to countryside, expect your nightlife restricted to routine card playing, drinking, celebrating special occasions or traditional dances.
Shopping in China
Shopping in China is an amazing experience especially if you are visiting the major cities including Beijing and Shanghai. Tourists will find huge stores that house everything fancy from trendy fashion to high-tech electronics. Usually, there will be an English-speaking assistant to assist you in the stores. Try out Nanjing Road in Shanghai or Beijing's Wangfujing for best buy. Taikang Lu in Shanghai and Nanluoguxiang in Beijing offer local designer boutiques well worth a visit. The panjiayuan market of Beijing is 7-days open and is a fascinating place, to begin with. China is known for its antiques and retro curios. One should visit Dongtai Lu in Shanghai, which houses a famous street market. For handicrafts and art, one can go shopping direct from shops at local factories. Except for the bid stores, no matter where you are shopping, haggling is a must. Make sure to be polite while bargaining and remember to smile and be respectful. Lookout for products including jade, antique ceramics, local handicrafts, silk garments, jewellery, embroidery, calligraphy, paintings and carvings in wood, stone and bamboo. In the caseÊof 100 years old antiques, authorities mark them with red wax seal and require an export customs certificate. Be careful to keep all the receipt as a visitor might be asked to procure while at customs before departure.
Festivals of China
The festivals in China are family affair illuminating light upon their culture. The Chinese New year, also referred to as the Spring Festival is one of the most celebrated events of the year. This festival begins with religious ceremonies, sacrifices and rituals with the purpose of uniting the living members with dead ancestors, founding fathers of the family and venerable elders. Festival of Lanterns is last part of this festival, which sees the colourful street procession. The grand parade is joined by men, women and children each one carrying beautiful lanterns following an enormous dragon. The celebration carries on with illustrious crackers and fireworks.
Hygiene in China
Hygiene standards in China vary from region to region and place to place. Medical services are offered through private clinics and local hospitals however once again rules may vary. Tourists are advised to have travel insurance that covers the medical cost. It is also recommended for travellers to get a vaccination for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Rabies, Typhoid fever and Japanese B encephalitis. There are reports of occasional outburst of dengue fever. Use bottled water for drinking; tap water is not fit for the use. Be careful while consuming street food.
Customs of China
Chinese are very curious people and if you find yourself being followed by few, do not be offended as visitors are rare especially in the remote area. While referring to the country formally, use the complete name of the county as the Peoples Republic of China. Try not to make any scene or heated arguments in public as it is frowned upon. ÊIn China, the family name is mentionedÊbefore the name. Also, locals take punctuality very seriously. ÊIf you are using chopsticks, do not place them upright in your bowl as it signifies death. Dress conservatively while visiting outside the main cities. However, the big cities accept casual wear. Avoid expressing any political or eve religious opinions. Photography in public areas or historical places is allowed but ask for permission before photographing military based areas, government building or other such sensitive subjects. Tipping is not necessary, but it's nice to tip around CYN 5 - 30 at restaurants and hotels, CNY 10 - 70 to tour guides and drivers. Taxi drivers do not expect any tips.
Tips for visiting China
Beware of teahouse scam, especially in Beijing and Shanghai, which is a major safety concern for foreigners. In this case, a local approaches traveller on the pretext of showing around, take them to a teahouse,Êand tend to overcharge for each cup of tea, each biscuit or slice of fruit cake. Make sure not to pay and dial 110, if you have a slightÊsuspicion of foul play. ÊTraffic in China is nerve wrecking, so be careful while crossing roads or driving a vehicle.Pollution in the big cities of China such as Beijing is a serious problem. Carry masks to be on safer side. ÊAs a foreigner, you tend to be overcharged for most of the things, so make sure to bargain before buying. Price may cut down more than 50 per cent. Carry a first aid kit and general medicines along with personal sanitation. ÊIf you are a vegetarian, you might face difficulty in finding food for yourself. ÊFew Buddhist restaurants serve complete vegetarian food but are present in few cities only. Lastly, brush up your basic Chinese to overcome the language barrier, it will make your trip more enjoyable.
Food of China
Rice, either in the form of grains or noodles forms the staple diet of China. Wheat is also often used as noodles or bread. With poverty widespread across the nation, meat, especially in rural areas, is not affordable; therefore, plenty of vegetables, bean curd and the like are used to fill out dishes. Milk and dairy products are tagged as childrens food and seldom used by adults. Another important feature of Chinese cuisine is its unique flavours owed to the extreme use of famous five-spice powder wine, soybean and black bean sauce. Chinese food differs from region to region with northern dishes usually based on wheat; coastal China includes the rice-vegetable-and-seafood diets whereas the spicy and the chilly-hot cuisine is of Szechwan. If you are high on trying some bizarre food, then the place has bears paws, sharks fin, thousand year eggs and birds nest.
Photos of China
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FAQs on China
How to reach China from India?
China is home to many airlines including Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Southern, Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern that connects it to almost all the major cities around the globe. To travel China from India, one can board many flights including Air India, Jet Airways, and China Eastern, China Southern, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airlines, and Emirates Airlines etc. One can board direct flight from Delhi and Mumbai.
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