The Top 5 Destinations for Your First Trip to China | Useful Travel Tips

For tourists who want to travel to China for the first time, the best destinations are Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong. They can not only enjoy picturesque landscapes, but also understand the brilliant history and rapid development of China. Below are some cities you can't miss on your first trip to China.

1. Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China and a central city in the country, as well as being an international metropolis. It is the political, cultural and technological center of China. As one of the first cities to be designated as National Historical and Cultural Cities, Beijing has a rich cultural heritage. With more than 3,000 years of history, the city is home to numerous picturesque places of great historical value. For example, the Forbidden City is the largest completely preserved wooden construction; the Temple of Heaven is an important place of worship; the Summer Palace is one of the most famous imperial gardens; and the Great Wall is one of the seven wonders of the world.

Beijing

2. Xi'an

In ancient times, Xi'an was known as Chang'an. It is the capital of 13 dynasties and one of the ten oldest cities in the world. At the same time, Xi'an is one of the important cradles of the Chinese nation and civilization, as well as the eastern starting point of the Silk Road. The most famous sites include the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda and the Banpo Museum.

Terracotta Warriors

3. Shanghai

Being the urban center and superlative metropolis, Shanghai is the epicenter of economy, transportation, science and technology, industry, finance, commerce, exhibitions and navigation. The Yangtze River Delta urban cluster, consisting of Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, is one of the world's six urban clusters. Iconic buildings can show the charm of Shanghai: Xujiahui Cathedral, Sun Yatsen Residence, Waibaidu Bridge, Oriental Pearl Tower, Disney Park and Jin Mao Tower. Additionally, Shanghai enjoys the reputation of being a showcase of world architecture due to the diversity of architectural styles on the Bund. Most importantly, Shanghai is a foodie's paradise, where you can find a variety of exquisite dishes, both Western and traditional.

Shanghai

4. Guilin

As the place of wisdom of ten thousand years, Guilin is the world's tourism research center. In addition, it is one of the representatives of karst landscapes inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. Guilin is world-renowned for its magnificent mountains, crystal-clear rivers and mysterious caves. At the same time, it has a very long history. For more than a thousand years, Guilin has been the political, economic and cultural center of Guangxi. Places worth visiting include Yangshuo, the Li River, Longji Rice Terraces in Longsheng and Elephant Trunk Hill.

Li River in Guilin

5. Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special administrative region and international metropolis, consisting of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. It is the third largest financial center in the world and one of the most competitive cities, recognized as one of the highest level by GaWC. It is famous as the Pearl of the East, the Gastronomic Paradise and the Shopping Paradise. Places not to be missed include Repulse Bay, Lan Kwai Fong, Victoria Harbor and Causeway Bay, Etc.

Hong Kong

How to get to China

China's splendid history and profound culture attract many visitors from all over the world every year. With the development of tourism, there are now many direct flights arriving to large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. You may check out the flight schedule of the airline you prefer to see if there are flights available

We remind you that before traveling to China, passengers must apply for a visa to enter the country and must prepare certain documents, such as a valid passport with a valid visa, entry application form, flight tickets, etc.

144-hour visa-free transit in China

The 144-hour visa free policy is part of the visa free program and came into effect from January 30, 2016. It allows citizens from 53 countries and regions to stay in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xiamen, Wuhan, Chengdu, Kunming, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, Shandong and Hebei for a maximum of 144 hours (6 days) without previously apply for a Chinese visa, before continuing travel to a third country or region.

Which countries and regions can enjoy 144-hour visa waiver access in China?

Continent	Amount	Countries or Regions
Europe	24 countries in the Schengen area	Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
Europe	15 other European countries	Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus and Monaco
America	6	USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
Ocean	2	Australia, New Zealand
Asia	6	South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates and Qatar

How to apply for a 144-hour visa waiver in China?

If you are applying for a 144-hour transit visa waiver, you can carry out security checks at the designated port of entry. However, all of the following requirements must be met and the necessary documents must be provided.

Requirements:

Applicants must be citizens of the 53 countries and regions mentioned.
Applicants must have a valid international travel document proving their national identity.
Applicants must have a plane ticket to a third country, with the seat and date specified, as well as a valid visa to enter a third country or region (if necessary). This implies that they may not return to the same country they came from.

The Best Time to Travel to China

China is a large country, ideal to visit throughout the year. Each station has suitable tourist places. For example, in spring the best places to visit are Xi'an, Huangshan, Guilin, Hangzhou and Suzhou; In summer, suitable places are Qinghai, Chongqing, Hunan (Zhangjiajie), Shangri-la, Lijiang, Dali and Guilin; In autumn it is advisable to visit Xinjiang (Kanas Lake), Beijing, Jiuzhaigou, Hangzhou and Guilin; and in winter the most suitable places are Beijing, Harbin, Huangshan, Yunnan (Kunming), Hainan and Hong Kong. Passengers can choose interesting places to visit depending on the time of year.

We remind you that it is best to avoid traveling to China during the following golden periods, such as the Chinese Spring Festival (late January or early February), the first week of May and the first week of October.

Food You should Try in Your First Trip to China

China is a gastronomic nation, where visitors can savor delicious and unique dishes in each city, as each place has its own culinary specialty, reflecting diverse ethnic customs and cultures. In Beijing, you can't miss the Peking roast duck and soy sauce noodles; in Xi'an, it is recommended to try Roujiamo, Biangbiang noodles and Liangpi noodles; In Shanghai, you can enjoy steamed or grilled baozi, as well as various snacks typical of each city. To taste these dishes, you can visit famous food streets such as Fuzi Temple in Nanjing, Pozi Street in Changsha, Chenghuangmiao Temple in Shanghai, and Bayihaochi Street in Chongqing.

Top Activities in China

If you don't know what cultural activities you should know about in China, we recommend that you travel with us, Travel to China. We offer flexibility and optional features for our customers. You can see Chinese kung fu or traditional Peking opera shows in Beijing, the Tang Dynasty show in Xi'an, the Liusanjie Impression show in Yangshuo, or take a cruise on the four lakes in Guilin and see the acrobatics show. You can also take a night cruise on the Huangpu River in Shanghai, see Sichuan opera in Chengdu, etc. You just have to inform our tourist advisor so that he can organize interesting activities in your itinerary.

Shopping in China

Each city in China has its own local specialties that can be taken as souvenirs, for example:

Beijing: Cloisonné, freshwater pearls
Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Replicas, Tang Dynasty Tricolor Pottery, Classical Furniture
Shanghai: Silk tapestries, qipao
Hangzhou: Longjing tea, silk
Suzhou: Silk
Guilin: Freshwater Pearls of the South Sea
Yunnan: Mounted Butterflies, Pu'er Tea, Hand-Dyed Silk
Xinjiang: Carpets, jade jewelry
Tibet: Thangka (sheepskin tapestries)

How many days should you stay in China?

Generally, to get to know China, it takes at least a week, including visiting important tourist sites such as Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Warriors. Terracotta. For a deeper understanding of China, it is recommended to consider the following classic routes.