Travelisto destinations
China holidays
The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Xi'an's terracotta army, the Yangtze gorges and Shanghai's skyline — China at its most accessible.
Overview
Welcome to China
China is the vast civilisation country that consistently exceeds expectations once travellers commit to it. The classic 10-14 day China trip is Beijing (3-4 nights, for the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the hutong alleys), Xi'an (2 nights, for the Terracotta Army), and Shanghai (3 nights, for the Bund, the French Concession, and the contemporary food scene). Add a Yangtze river cruise (3-4 nights, Chongqing to Yichang via the Three Gorges) for the classic 14-day trip.
For repeat travellers, China opens further. Guilin and Yangshuo for the karst-mountain river-cruise scenery (the inland version of Halong Bay). Yunnan (Lijiang, Shangri-La, Dali) for the ethnic-minority cultures and the Tibetan plateau access. Sichuan for the spicy food and the giant pandas. Tibet (requires a special permit) for Lhasa, the Potala Palace, and the Himalayan plateau. The Silk Road (Xinjiang — Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuang) for the desert-and-camel adventure.
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The seasonal sweet spots are April-June and September-October — comfortable temperatures, clearer skies (relative to summer pollution), manageable crowds. July-August is hot, humid, and the peak domestic tourism season. November-March is cold in the north (Beijing well below zero) but the Forbidden City covered in snow is a sight in itself.
China travels best with a local guide and pre-arranged drivers — language, infrastructure, and the pace make self-guided China genuinely difficult outside Beijing/Shanghai. Visa is required (in advance via the Chinese embassy in London) — we provide invitation letters. Western apps (Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram) are blocked; install a VPN before arrival, or use WeChat (the universal local app).
Chinese food rewards travellers willing to leave the international hotel chains. Sichuanese (numbing-hot mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork), Cantonese (dim sum, char siu, congee), Beijing (Peking duck, jianbing), Shanghai (xiao long bao soup dumplings), and the Xinjiang-Uyghur (lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles) are each distinctively different.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct (avoid winter)
Flight from UK
~10h direct Beijing / Shanghai
Currency
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Language
Mandarin
From the team
Why we love China
China is the trip I send people on who want a once-in-life cultural depth — Beijing + Xi'an + Shanghai in 12 days is the right first-time route. Travel luxury (Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula); the price-per-night relative to Europe still surprises travellers.
Rossella Rossella, Luxury & Destination Specialist Meet our Travel DesignersMain areas
Where to go in China
5 distinct regions — they pair beautifully two or three at a time.
Beijing & the North
Beijing
Great Wall (Mutianyu)
Tianjin
Chengde
Xi'an & the Centre
Xi'an (Terracotta Army)
Pingyao
Datong
Shanghai & the East
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Suzhou
Nanjing
Guilin & Yangshuo
Guilin
Yangshuo
Longji Rice Terraces
Yunnan & the Southwest
Lijiang
Shangri-La
Dali
Kunming
Find your trip
Holiday types in China
Pick a holiday style — or combine two. Each section links straight to the next step.
Beach holidays
Beach destinations grouped by resort area — pick the cluster that matches your pace.
City breaks
China's cities reward 2-4 nights each — pair two for a tailor-made multi-centre trip.
Shanghai
Cruises
Shanghai and Hong Kong are China's main international cruise ports. Yangtze river cruises (Chongqing to Yichang via the Three Gorges) are the headline Chinese cruise experience — a 3-4 night journey through one of the world's most dramatic landscapes.
Escorted tours
35 escorted tours through China — guided, customisable, fully ATOL-protected.
Every Travelisto tour runs with a small group (max 16), an English-speaking local leader, and is fully ATOL-protected. Most tours are also bookable as private departures — same itinerary, your party only, your dates.
Tailor-made
Everything you see above is a starting point — we'll shape any of these around how you actually want to travel.
Bespoke China itinerary
Pick your headlines and we design the route, brief private guides, and book the hotels and transfers.
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Multi-generational China
A pace and accommodation style that suits three generations.
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China + cruise
Pair the headlines of China with a cruise — booked end-to-end with us.
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Honeymoon or special celebration
A milestone trip with the romantic flourishes quietly arranged.
EnquirePractical info
Knowing before you go
When to go
Jan
24°
Feb
27°
Mar
32°
Apr
36°
May
39°
Jun
36°
Jul
32°
Aug
31°
Sep
32°
Oct
32°
Nov
29°
Dec
25°
April-June and September-October are best — comfortable temperatures, clearer skies. July-August hot, humid and busy. November-March cold in the north.
Flights & how to get there
Flights from major UK airports to China — typically ~10h to Beijing or Shanghai (direct). Internal flights and trains link the main destinations.
Visa & passport
UK passport holders need a tourist visa in advance via the Chinese embassy. We provide an invitation letter for visa applications. For up-to-date entry requirements and safety advice, check the UK FCDO travel advice for China.
Currency & money
The Chinese Yuan / Renminbi (CNY). Card payments common in cities; carry cash for markets, taxis and rural areas. Tipping: 10% on a sit-down restaurant meal in tourist-facing places.
Language & tipping
Mandarin (national, with regional dialects). English widely spoken at hotels and tour operators in major tourist areas.
Health & safety
Consult your GP 6 weeks before travel. Routine UK vaccinations recommended; hepatitis A advised for most. Drink bottled or filtered water only. Install a VPN before arrival (Western apps are blocked). Buy comprehensive travel insurance before you travel.
FAQs
China — your questions
When is the best time to visit China?
April–June and September–October are best — comfortable temperatures, clearer skies (relative to summer pollution). July–August is hot and humid in major cities. November–March is cold in the north.
Do I need a visa for China?
Yes — UK passport holders need a tourist visa, applied for in advance via the Chinese embassy in London. We provide an invitation letter for visa applications.
Is the Yangtze cruise worth it?
Yes — 3 or 4 nights from Chongqing through the Three Gorges to Yichang. Good way to break up a 14-day China itinerary.
Can I use Western apps in China?
No — Google, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked. We recommend installing a VPN before arrival and using offline maps. WeChat is the universal local app.
Make this trip yours
Plan your China holiday with a Travel Designer
Pick from any of the options on this page or tell us what you have in mind — we'll build it around how you actually like to travel. ATOL protected, flights included, real humans available 9am–7pm.
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