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China is the most overwhelming country most people will ever visit — and in the best possible way. The scale of everything is simply beyond comprehension until you're standing in it.
China has been building its tourism infrastructure rapidly, and despite the bureaucratic reputation, it is increasingly straightforward to visit. The high-speed rail network is among the best in the world — Beijing to Shanghai in 4.5 hours, Beijing to Xi'an in 3.5 hours — and makes covering large distances simple and affordable. The learning curve is steeper than Southeast Asia: the language barrier is real, the Great Firewall blocks Google and WhatsApp (download a VPN before you go), and payment is predominantly through WeChat Pay or Alipay. But the rewards — the Great Wall at sunrise, the Li River karsts at dawn, the dumplings at a Xi'an street stall — are unlike anything else on earth.
Full destination guides for Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Guilin are being written now. In the meantime, the backpacker guide below covers the full route with daily budgets, hostel picks and transport advice.
High-speed trains, cheap hostels and street food keep China very affordable.
Mutianyu or Jinshanling — less crowded sections with a guide who knows the history.
The karst mountains reflected in the river — one of the most photographed landscapes in Asia.
Xiaolongbao, scallion pancakes and the Bund at night — Shanghai's food scene is extraordinary.
8,000 life-size soldiers — the scale is impossible until you're standing in front of them.
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Spring (April–May) and Autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit — mild temperatures, clear skies and manageable crowds. Summer (June–August) is hot, humid and peak domestic tourism season — the Great Wall and major sights are extremely crowded. Winter (November–March) is cold in the north (Beijing, Xi'an) but perfectly pleasant in the south (Guilin, Yunnan). The Golden Week holidays (first week of October and first week of May) see hundreds of millions of Chinese travellers on the move — avoid major sights during these periods.
Download a VPN before entering China — Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western apps are blocked by the Great Firewall. ExpressVPN and NordVPN both work reliably.
WeChat Pay and Alipay are the dominant payment methods — cash is increasingly difficult to use. Link a foreign card to WeChat before arrival.
A Chinese visa is required for most nationalities — apply at least 4 weeks before departure. The process is straightforward but takes time.
Download offline maps (Maps.me or MAPS.ME) as Google Maps is blocked and Baidu Maps is in Chinese only.
The high-speed rail network is exceptional and far preferable to flying between cities. Book tickets on Trip.com or through your hostel.
Learn to use translation apps with camera mode — menus are rarely in English outside major tourist areas.
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