China is one of the most searched countries on Google. It is very important to get the right travel information before heading to China, whether you are traveling for business or go on a personal holiday. China is not a land of palm trees, hammocks on the beach, and parties until the late hours on the coast.
Yet China is becoming increasingly popular among backpackers and travelers. And rightly so! It may not have the tropical beaches of Malaysia or the peace you will find in Nepal, it has beautiful cultural sights and beautiful nature in the interior regions. China even has 45 sights or nature reserves that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List! It is a country that is literally unmissable.
China’s magnificent culture came about 2,000 years ago during the well-known Han Dynasty. The centuries-old buildings in the country still stand with the Great Wall as the best-known highlight. Yet this age-old culture is overtaken by modern skyscrapers and a 24/7 economy with the speed of light. The combination of old and new makes China such an endlessly fascinating destination.
The first thing you notice when you travel in China is the amount of people. Outside the cities in the middle and east of the country are villages that seem to last endlessly, connected to highways. People live here in peace drinking tea, eating with chopsticks, praying in smoky temples and living in crowds of people.
Before looking at all the different highlights of China we will give you some general travel information about China. Everything from visa requirements & the best time to visit to the delicious Chinese food you will find there. Take a look below!
China is one of the most searched countries on Google. It is very important to get the right travel information before heading to China, whether you are traveling for business or go on a personal holiday. Above all, you will have to prepare for your trip well. China is not a land of palm trees,
China is not the first country you think of when you want to go on holiday to Asia. Yet it is one of the most versatile and beautiful countries in Asia. But what exactly does traveling in China cost? One thing is certain; your budget for China will be somewhat higher than for other countries
China will not be at the top of many people’s ‘places to backpack’ list. Yet it is a great country for backpacking! The distances are large but the transportation options are endless! In addition, the country has an incredible amount to offer with spectacular nature, booming cities, and lots of cultural highlights. The big advantage
If you are traveling to China, you also have to spend the night there. Especially with a backpacking trip, it is important to rest well. In terms of overnight stays in China, you have many options. Whether you are looking for a budget hostel in Lijiang or a super-luxury hotel in Beijing, everything is available
Because China is a large country, Chinese food is also very varied. This is partly due to the fact that China has many climatic areas, which means that different types of food are available. In addition, the country has many inhabitants and many cultures, each with their own kitchens. You cannot really speak of one
When you travel to China, good preparation is important. That is always the case when you travel, but a trip through China is a bit different; the culture, people, nature, religion, everything about China is (very) different than we are used to. Proper preparation for your holiday in China is important to prevent unpleasant surprises.
Whether you are walking on the Great Wall, on your way to the Terracotta Army, Lushan National Park or visiting the interior regions of China, it’s nice to have good weather. Due to the size of the country, the best time to visit China can sometimes differ. Good weather can give your trip that little
A lot can be said about transport in China. Not because there are many means of transport, but because the country is many times larger than other countries in South East Asia. What is the best way to travel in this immense country? There is a big difference in China between transport in the cities
Arranging a visa for China is a “wonderful” job. It is a nice introduction to the bureaucracy of the country. It is all quite time-consuming and quite a lot of work to apply for a China visa. And you have to do it well because without a visa you will definitely not be able to
There is so much to see! We all know the Great Wall, Beijing or Shanghai, but travel west or north and you will come to a completely different world. You leave the cities behind and the masses of people become thinner and thinner.
You will not find the “Chinese” here; ethnic minorities live here, ranging from animistic hill tribes to urban Muslims. The magical landscape here is dominated by green rice fields, foggy hills, remains of the ancient Silk Road, and the majestic mountains of Tibet.
Be surprised by a country with two faces. The chaos of the big cities and the culture and nature in the interior regions. China is a country that you cannot ignore, literally! Here are some of the best highlights to visit in China:
Hong Kong always feels a bit like coming home. Even though none of us was born there and never lived there, it is a city we’ve spent a lot of time in, trying to find the best restaurants that Hong Kong has to offer. When we walk through the streets of Mong Kok it feels
Every city has some great experiences that don’t come with a price tag, but it can be tricky to find these free attractions. Hong Kong is no exception. While most of your money will be spent on accommodation, food, and drinks, with a bit of research you can still save quite a bit of money
China is not known to most people because of its beautiful nature. The best-known highlights are the temples in Beijing, the Great Wall, and the Terracotta Army. Yet China has a beautiful landscape that many people, unfortunately, forget during their trip through China. The Karst Mountains are such an area. Before you continue reading, we
In Shangri-La, you will feel like you’re in Tibet rather than in China. The city is also called Zhongdian and is located high in the mountains between Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet. Shangri-La is situated in a beautiful area surrounded by a few beautiful Tibetan monasteries. Shangri-La, or Zhongdian, was an unknown city until logging
Wuzhizhou Island is also called the “Maldives of China”. It is one of the best places in China for diving. Wuzhizhou is a small island with a holiday village just off the coast of Hainan. The crystal clear sea, beautiful beaches, rare wildlife, and coral reefs are the main attractions here. Wuzhizhou Island is
Beihai has been named as one of the five most beautiful holiday destinations in China. And rightly so because with its vast sea, long sandy beaches, islands, lakes and forested mountains, Beihai is a unique place in China. Silver Beach is what people mean, one of the best and most beautiful beaches in China.
Anyone who is a fan of Avatar, and especially the flying mountains of Pandora, should not miss the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The park is located in the northwest of Hunan and consists of a mystical landscape of sand and limestone rocks that provide a breathtaking and spectacular view. With more than 3,000 rocks that
Hong Kong may not be the first place that comes to mind when you go on a vacation to Asia. Yet it is a place where a lot of travelers come, if only because it is a popular gateway to the rest of Asia, and it has quite a lot to offer! It is a
The beautiful Jiuzhaigou is located in the Minshan Mountains in Nanping County, northern Sichuan, 440 km north of Chengdu and near the Gansu border. This area consists of three valleys that form an inverted letter Y, pointing north, over a distance of 40 kilometers. The Shuzheng Valley forms the straight of the Y, while the
Huangshan is also called the Yellow Mountains. It is located in the east of China and is one of the largest sights in the country. It is said that once you have seen the peaks of Huangshan you will never want to climb another mountain again. Although that may be a bit exaggerated, the view
The Venice of China, that’s how Suzhou is often described. Whoever comes here immediately understands why; the canals, boats and even gondolas are reminiscent of the world-famous city in Italy. Even Marco Polo once called the city one of the most beautiful cities in China! Suzhou is an old, charming trading town bordering the sea
Yunnan, a world of difference from other areas in China; it’s a paradise where you will find the most magical landscape! From impressive rice fields and snow-capped mountain tops in the north to remote mountain villages and small temples that rarely attract tourists. Yunnan is a beautiful region where nature will enchant you! The
Lijiang is a maze of streets, rickety old wooden buildings, bridges, and flowing canals. It makes it one of the most visited cities in the north of Yunnan. Lijiang is similar to Suzhou because of the many canals. Both cities are also called the Venice of Asia. Since 1997, this beautiful village has been on
Traveling to a country like China is on the bucket list of many people. You will find several large cities in China that are worth visiting, where nature is also breathtaking. One of the most famous cities in China is Xi’an. The reason for this is that Xi’an is the place to visit the Terracotta
The Terracotta Army is one of the most important sights in China. It is not only the main attraction of Xi’an; it is one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world. This underground life-sized army of thousands of soldiers has been watching over the soul of China’s first emperor for more than two
For the active traveler who enjoys an adventure, a visit to Mount Hua (Hua Shan) is a great option. This is a mountain in China, near the city of Xi’an where you can also find the Terracotta army. Although it is certainly not the highest mountain (the top is 2,155 meters, about 7000 feet), it
Yangshuo is not a traditional Chinese mountain village, for that you will have to go more into the countryside. Yangshuo is, however, an internationally known backpacker’s village with an unprecedented cozy atmosphere. It is the perfect base for a stay in this beautiful region. For many people, this region is a highlight of their
The Li River National Park is one of the highlights on the to-do list of many travelers. This park, located near Guilin, has a beautiful landscape, one of the most beautiful landscapes in China. The highlight in the park is the 83 km (51.5 miles) long Li River that flows from Guilin to Yangshuo. A
Hainan is the best-known island in China with the most beautiful beaches. It is also the largest tropical island. Where you don’t immediately think of tropical islands in China, Hainan has all the characteristics with its wonderful climate, coconut palm trees, golden sandy beaches, and clear blue water. It is not a typical get-away-from-it-all island,
If there’s any attraction in China that appeals to the imagination, it is the Great Wall of China. Everyone has heard of the 21,196 kilometer-long wall that the Chinese built to keep out all kinds of wild tribes. Also, almost everyone has seen a picture of this defensive wall, built in a typical Chinese style,
Shanghai is the largest city in China, but it is not the capital. That honor goes to Beijing. There are more than 23 million people living in Shanghai (2013), making it one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population! Shanghai “only” has an area of 6,340 km² (2448 square miles). You
Beijing has been the capital of China since the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, making it one of the oldest cities in China. The city has almost 20 million inhabitants and is, therefore, in terms of inhabitants, only behind Shanghai as China’s largest city. The city of Beijing is one of contrasts; modern shopping centers alternate with
The Temple of Heaven is seen as one of the most beautiful temples in China. It is also one of the largest. Together with the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Moon and the Temple of the Earth, it is part of the four most important temples of Beijing. However, of the four,
Tiananmen Square is named after the Tiananmen (The Gate of Heavenly Peace). It is located in Beijing and, together with the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, and the Temple of Heaven, is one of the best-known attractions in or around Beijing. The Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao’s Mausoleum, the Monument to the People’s
The Forbidden City is one of the most famous highlights of Beijing. The Forbidden City was built between 1406 and 1420 followed by the Temple of Heaven. In China, the Forbidden City is also referred to as Gugong (Imperial Palace) or Zijin Cheng, formerly known as Zi Jin Cheng. It is the best-preserved building
The Summer Palace is one of the most impressive palaces in all of China. Located on Longevity Hill near an artificially created lake, it consists of many palaces, temples, pavilions, bridges, pagodas, and literally hundreds of walking paths in extensive gardens. For centuries it was used as an outdoor palace by the Chinese emperor and
Traveling through China is very different from traveling in Southeast Asia. The country is much larger, so you have to plan your trips better. But the people and their habits are also very different. It takes some getting used to when you hear Chinese chatter or spit beside you. That makes traveling challenging (in our opinion). We have a number of tips for you.