The short version
Plan a China trip in this order:
- Choose your dates, avoiding Chinese New Year, 1–5 May and 1–7 October.
- Check your entry route: visa-free for 30 days, 240-hour transit or a tourist visa.
- Choose a route: about one city per two to three days.
- Book flights, ideally into one city and out of another.
- Set up payments: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your card.
- Sort mobile data: a travel eSIM that keeps your home apps working.
- Book hotels that accept foreign guests, near a metro line.
- Book trains when they open, 15 days ahead.
- Book timed tickets for big sights as soon as their windows open.
- Buy travel insurance and complete your arrival card.
Most of this is like planning any trip. The China-specific parts are steps 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, and they are where most first-time travelers get stuck.
Step 1: choose your dates
The best months for most of China are April to May and September to October. Summer is hot and rainy in most regions, and winter is cold in the north but quiet and cheap.
Avoid the national holidays if you can. Trains, hotels and sights are packed, and prices rise:
- Chinese New Year: in 2027 it falls on Saturday 6 February. The weeks around it are the busiest travel period of the year.
- May Day holiday: 1 to 5 May.
- National Day “Golden Week”: 1 to 7 October.
See the best time to visit China for month-by-month weather by region.
Step 2: check your entry route
There are three main ways in, depending on your passport and route:
| Route | Who | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day visa-free entry | Citizens of 50 countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU | Up to 30 days |
| 240-hour visa-free transit | Citizens of 57 countries, including the US, traveling on to a third country | Up to 10 days, within set areas |
| Tourist (L) visa | Everyone else, or longer or different trips | As issued |
Details change often, so check before you book flights:
- Which countries can visit China visa-free?
- 240-hour visa-free transit rules
- How to get a China tourist visa
Your passport should be valid for at least six months, with blank pages. If you need a visa, apply one to two months before you fly.
Step 3: choose a route
Rule of thumb: allow two to three days per city, plus travel days. Trying to see five cities in a week means spending most of it on trains.
| Trip length | Suggested route | Our itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | Beijing, or Beijing and one nearby city | 5-day China itinerary |
| 7 days | Beijing and Shanghai, or Beijing and Xi’an | 7-day China itinerary |
| 10 days | Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai | Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai |
| 14 days | The classic three, plus Chengdu, Guilin or Zhangjiajie | 14-day China itinerary |
Link cities by high-speed train where the trip is under about five to six hours. Beijing to Shanghai and Beijing to Xi’an both work well by train. Fly for longer distances, such as Xi’an to Guilin or Shanghai to Chengdu. See domestic flights in China.
Traveling with children? See China with kids. Not sure what to include? Our first-time China itinerary is a good starting point.
Step 4: book international flights
- Book “open-jaw”: fly into one city and out of another, for example into Beijing and out of Shanghai. You avoid backtracking and save a day.
- Check which airport. Beijing has two, Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX), and Shanghai has Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA). See Beijing airport to city center and Shanghai airport to city center.
- Using 240-hour transit? Your onward flight must go to a third country or region, not back where you came from. Book the whole route before you fly.
Step 5: set up payments
Most daily payments in China are made with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Both can link international Visa, Mastercard and other cards.
- Install Alipay at home, sign up with your home phone number and link your card.
- Verify your passport in the app if asked.
- Test a small payment in your first hours, and keep some RMB cash as a backup.
See Alipay for foreigners, WeChat Pay for foreigners and cash and ATMs in China.
Step 6: sort out mobile data and apps
Your phone is your wallet, map, ticket and translator in China.
- Mobile data: a travel eSIM is easiest. Many route data outside mainland China, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram keep working. See China eSIM vs SIM card and WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT in China.
- Apps to install before you fly: Alipay, a map app (Amap or Apple Maps), DiDi, a train app, and a translator with offline Chinese. See best apps for China travel.
Step 7: book hotels
- Check the hotel accepts foreign guests. Most international chains and many local hotels do, but some smaller hotels are not set up to register foreigners. Booking platforms usually say so.
- Stay near a metro station. It saves time and taxi fares every day.
- Bring your passport to check in. The hotel registers your stay with the police for you.
See can foreigners stay in any hotel in China? and Airbnb in China. Need help? Our hotel booking service can help you find hotels that accept international guests.
Step 8: book trains and domestic flights
- Train tickets open 15 days ahead, counting the travel day. On busy routes and dates, book the moment they open.
- Book with your passport on the official 12306 English website or app, or on Trip.com. Your passport is your ticket at the gate.
- Domestic flights can be booked months ahead. Check the power bank rules before you pack.
See how to book China train tickets and China domestic flights.
Step 9: book timed tickets for big sights
Many major sights in China use real-name, timed tickets booked online with your passport. Some sell out, and some cannot be bought on the day at all.
| Sight | When booking opens | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Forbidden City | 7 days ahead, at 20:00 Beijing time | Forbidden City tickets |
| Mutianyu Great Wall | Up to 30 days ahead | Great Wall tickets |
| Terracotta Warriors | Online only, timed slots | Terracotta Warriors tickets |
| Chengdu Panda Base | Up to 14 days ahead | Chengdu Panda Base |
Set reminders for these dates, especially the Forbidden City, which is the one most often sold out.
Step 10: insurance and arrival
- Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment in China. See travel insurance for China.
- Complete your arrival card online before you fly. See China arrival card.
- Know what happens at the border. See arriving in China and China customs rules.
Your booking timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2–3 months before | Choose dates and route; check entry rules; apply for a visa if needed; book flights |
| 1–2 months before | Book hotels; plan day trips; book a guide or driver for peak dates |
| 3–4 weeks before | Install and set up Alipay; buy a travel eSIM; buy insurance |
| 15 days before | Book train tickets as each date opens |
| 7 days before | Book Forbidden City tickets at 20:00 Beijing time; book other timed sights |
| 1–3 days before | Complete the arrival card; install the eSIM; save hotel addresses in Chinese; get some RMB |
What will it cost?
Excluding international flights, a mid-range trip costs roughly RMB 900 to 1,500 per person per day, and a typical 14-day first trip about RMB 13,000 to 16,000 per person, sharing a room. Budget and luxury ranges are in how much a trip to China costs.
Plan it yourself, or get help
Many travelers plan independently and add a guide or driver for the two or three hardest days. See do you need a tour guide in China?
If you would rather have a route checked or built for you, our customized trip planning service builds a day-by-day plan around your dates, interests and budget. Start with a free trip plan.
- National Immigration Administration (official English site): entry policies for foreign visitors
- China Railway 12306 (official): train ticket booking
Editorial update: . Check the linked source for current provider terms or official rules.