Free Travel Guide for China - Top Sights, Sustainability, History, Culture, and Food

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Mutianyu Great Wall, China. Photo by Robert Nyman on Unsplash

Everything You Need for a Trip to China

This guide was designed to share quality information from the best bloggers for China. There is enough information and resources in this post to cover just about everything that you would need to know when traveling here. If you find that something is missing, or that you need more information that is not covered here, please send us a message - or comment near the bottom of this article - and we will find the answer for you and provide it here in this article for other people as well.

Please feel free to share this guide with anyone you feel it will help! Enjoy your adventures!

In this Guide

1. Where to Stay in China

2. What to Do in China

   • Best things to see and do in China

   • Sustainable Travel in China

3. Cultural and Historical Places in China

4. What to Eat in China

   • Unique foods to try in China

   • Best restaurants in China

5. Easy Planning for China

   • Best Tour Packages in China

   • Best Day Experiences in China

6. Be your Own Guide in China

7. Additional Info for China

   • Healthcare & Hospitals in China

   • Visas, Working, and Retiring in China

   • Language & Learning in China

Explains deep-seated cultural attitudes, and guides you through the maze of unfamiliar social situations, giving you a richer and more meaningful experience in China through a better understanding of the local culture.

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Traditional Chinese pagoda. Photo by Ruiyang Zhang from Pexels

Where to stay in China

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Image by Kira Phạm from Pixabay

What to do in China

1. Best things to see and do in China

• The Ultimate China Bucket List: 50 Must-See Places To Visit In China

  Covers the best attractions to visit in China, such as Terracotta Warriors, The Pearl and Tiananmen Square. The blog includes best things to do, as well as some guides and tips, like how to get to the attraction, and how much it will cost.

• The Best of China

  Covers top attractions to visit in China, such as Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The blog also introduces best things to do around China, accommodation and foods, as well as money-saving tips.

• The Postcard: Beijing, Xi’an, Kunming and Lijiang

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong for First TImers: Itinerary, Helpful Tips, and Budget

• Nine things to do on a Hong Kong stopover

• King's Cuisine & Shopping in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

2. Sustainable Travel in China

• Top 7 Things To Do In China For Nature Lovers

  Discovers some of the best things to do in China that involve exploring nature, such as hike the Changbai Mountains, soak in Tengchong’s hot springs, and see the scenic view of Jiuzhaigou Valley.

• Most Scenic And Beautiful Places In China

  Introduces beautiful places to visit in China for passionate nature lovers, such as Zhangjiajie National Park, Huang Shan, and Stone Forest. The blog covers brief overview on these natural attractions, as well as introduces some activities that can be carried out in the spots, like rock climbing and camping.

• One Month on the World's Longest Train Ride for $1,000 - Trans-Siberian Railway - China, Mongolia, Russia

• 21 Questions about Travel on the Trans Mongolian Railway - Russia, Mongolia, China

Agricultural lands in rural China. Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Cultural & Historical Places in China

1. Historical Places in China

• Pingyao Ancient City Travel Guide

  Discovers the beauty and scenic views around the ancient city of Pingyao. The blog introduces top things to do and some best places to visit, such as the Pingyao City Tower and Mianshan, as well outlines the tips on how to get to Pingyao.

• 25 Famous Landmarks In China

  Introduces readers to 25 famous historical attractions in China, such as The Great Wall and the Forbidden City. The blog provides an overview on these monuments and landmarks, their amazing architectural structures, as well as briefly discuss their purposes in historical times.

• How to Get to Mutianyu Great Wall Without a Tour

2. Cultural Places in China

• 10 Tips For Your First Trip To China

  Covers some interesting cultures in China, such as the use of chopsticks, unique Mandarin and Cantonese languages, as well as outlines some tips on how to stay safe and healthy when visiting the country.

• Tips For Visiting Muslim Street In Xi’an China

  Introduces the Muslim Street market in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an. The blog covers its history, architecture style, as well as introduces local specialties such as roujiamo, dumplings and Biang Biang noodles.

Explains deep-seated cultural attitudes, and guides you through the maze of unfamiliar social situations, giving you a richer and more meaningful experience in China through a better understanding of the local culture.

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Sichuan Dish Image by Leacky Chen from Pixabay

What to Eat in China

1. Unique Foods in China

• What To Eat In China: Must Try Chinese Foods By Region

  Outlines delicious cuisines in China, such as Zhajiangmian, Tangbao, Disanxian and Hot Pot. The blog introduces overview on these famous dishes, as well as highlights where the dishes originate from.

• Top 10 Xinjiang Dishes

  Introduces 10 delicious cuisines in Xinjiang, such as Laghman, Nokot and Girde nan.

2. Best Restaurants in China

• The Top 5 Restaurants in China

  A guide to Asia’s finest restaurants is written by food experts who know and love the region.

A Simple Chinese Wok Cookbook for Stir-Fry, Dim Sum, and Other Restaurant Favorites. Helpful Step Photos Show You How Things Are Supposed to Look.

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Explore the world's great culinary traditions and landmarks - find a fabulous itinerary of foods, dishes, markets, and restaurants worth traveling far and wide to savor.

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Terracotta Warriors Image by karl-ferdinand from Pixabay

Easy Planning for China

1. Best Tour Packages in China

• Best of China

  Combine the hustle and bustle of China’s booming cities with the tranquility of rural life on this unforgettable adventure. Explore hidden corners of Beijing’s Forbidden City; trek atop the majestic Great Wall; and sample street food in Xi’an, home to the incredible terra-cotta army. Then venture into the countryside, enjoying a paddle on the scenic Li River and learning to cook up regional specialties in Yangshuo.

• Beijing to Hong Kong: Great Wall & Warriors

  Over two weeks in China, this tour takes you from Beijing to Hong Kong, revealing China’s contrasts between ancient and modern as you explore both cityscapes and countrysides.

• China: Cafés & Karst Mountains

  This 24-day tour of China includes monumental sights like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, an army of Terracotta Warriors,visits to a panda conservation centre, bamboo rafting, beaches, historic sites, tai chi, and lively nightlife.

The Temple of Heaven. Image by jplenio from Pixabay.

2. Best Day Experiences in China

Beijing & the Great Wall of China

• Forbidden City Private Tour with Skip-the-Line Access

• Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip with English-Speaking Driver

• Mutianyu Great Wall Private Tour

Shanghai Area

• Shanghai Local Food and Beer Tour

• Flexible Hangzhou Private Tour from Shanghai by Bullet Train

• Full-Day Private Guided Tour of Shanghai

Xi'an Area

• Xi'an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk

• Mini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar

Chengdu Area

• Private Half-Day Chengdu Panda Breeding Center Tour with Optional Volunteer

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

• 2 Full Days Private Tour to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Glass Bridge

• Full-Day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour: Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie

The Three Gorges - Image by 中 彭 from Pixabay

Be your own guide in China

These sites are essentially guide books. You can either just use the sites as your guide for your entire trip, if you have cellular data in every spot, or you can grab a physical guide book to carry with you.

1. Guide Book sites for China

• The China Guide

2. Physical Guide Books for China

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The Terracotta Army in the city of X’ian - Image by Christel SAGNIEZ from Pixabay

Additional information for China

1. Healthcare & Hospitals in China

• Health Insurance and the Healthcare System of China Explained

  A comprehensive guide to China's healthcare systems, the various options for hospitlization, including the legendary, spa-like maternity hospitals, costs, and more.

• China’s Best International Hospitals for Visitors

  A well-laid site that lists the top hospitals in China for expats and foreign visitors.

2. Visas, Working, and Retiring in China

• iVisa - Get a Visa to visit China

  The essential site to get all of your visa info and documents.

• A Better Life for Half the Price – 2nd Edition: How to thrive on less money in the cheapest places to live

  It doesn't always cost as much as you think to retire. In fact, you could effectively double the value of your savings simply by moving to a country where your costs are 50 percent lower than where you are now!

• Working in China - Work Visas, Permits and Residency Visas Explained

  A guide to working and living in China covering the types of visas needed, application processes, and other need-to-know facts and tips.

• How to Retire in China: Costs, Visas and More

  A guide to retiring in China, adapting to a foreign culture, documents and visas needed, costs, and more.

3. Language & Learning in China

• Google Translate - Chinese

  Quite simply the easiest and cheapest on-the-go translator you could ask for - as long as you download the language profile and have wifi or data to access it whereever you are!

Grab these Cards and Stick them in your Wallet!

Explains deep-seated cultural attitudes, and guides you through the maze of unfamiliar social situations, giving you a richer and more meaningful experience in China through a better understanding of the local culture.

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Sleeping Panda Bear. Image by Cimberley from Pixabay

Lake Luchan - Image by qi sun from Pixabay

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