Practical City Guides for China
Every Chinese city works a little differently. These practical guides answer city-specific questions such as how to get from the airport, how to use the metro and which area to stay in, so you arrive knowing exactly what to do. For what to see, visit our destination guides.
- Airport to city center
- Metro and local transport
- Where to stay
- Getting around each city
BeijingGreat Wall Tickets: Which Section to Visit and How to Book
Choose the right Great Wall section, book tickets with your passport, pick a cable car or toboggan and get there from Beijing.
ChengduChengdu Panda Base: Tickets, Best Time to Go and How to Get There
How to book Chengdu Panda Base tickets with a passport, when to arrive to see pandas awake, how to get there by metro and what to see inside.
ChongqingChongqing Travel Guide: Is It Worth Visiting and How Many Days?
Why Chongqing is worth it, what to see in two or three days, how to get around a city built on mountains, what to eat and when to go.
BeijingWhere to Stay in Beijing: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors
Beijing’s main areas compared for first-time visitors, with metro lines, hutong stays, rough prices and the mistakes to avoid when booking.
ShanghaiWhere to Stay in Shanghai: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors
Shanghai’s main areas compared for first-time visitors, with metro lines, what each is like, rough prices and how to choose a hotel.
YunnanYunnan Travel Guide: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La Route, Days and Altitude
Who Yunnan suits, the classic four-stop route, how many days to allow, train times, altitude, seasons and the visa rule that catches transit travelers.
BeijingForbidden City Tickets: How to Book as a Foreigner
No tickets are sold at the gate. Book on the official site seven days ahead at 20:00 with your passport, and avoid Mondays.
Xi’anTerracotta Warriors: Tickets and How to Get There from Xi’an
Book a timed ticket with your passport, get from Xi’an to Lintong, choose a guide and see the three pits in the right order.
BeijingBeijing Airport to City Center: Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX)
Airport express trains, buses, taxis and DiDi from Capital and Daxing airports, with prices, journey times and where to find them.
ShanghaiShanghai Airport to City Center: Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA)
Maglev, metro, the airport link train, taxis and DiDi from Pudong and Hongqiao, with prices, journey times and how to transfer between the airports.
Chengdu · ChongqingChengdu vs Chongqing: Which One Should You Visit?
How Chengdu and Chongqing differ in sights, food, pace and difficulty, who each suits, and how to combine them.
ZhangjiajieIs Zhangjiajie Worth It? Who Should Go and Who Should Skip It
Who should include Zhangjiajie and who should skip it, with the days, costs, weather risk and transport you need to decide.
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