10 Easy Steps to Plan Your China Tour 2025/2026

Are you planning a trip to China? China is a travel destination worth visiting with a rich history, culture, and breathtaking scenery. China has a vast territory which makes a great difference in geographical environment, natural scenery, and culture in different regions. It is a difficult thing to have a deep understanding of China in a short time. There are many things that need to be considered when you plan a China tour because of the very different cultural backgrounds.

Here, we have compiled 10 easy steps to help you find what you need to know and prepare in advance before you travel to China. So read on and begin your tours to China 2025!

1. Choose Where to Visit in China

Firstly, choose a suitable travel destination according to your interests and preferences of you, your family, or friends. China offers a wide range of travel options and diverse cultures. Whether you like natural landscapes, history, and culture, or enjoy tasting delicious food and adventuring in the open air, a trip to China can satisfy you. Still don’t know where to visit in China for the first time? Here are 5 top tourist attractions in China that we recommend you consider.

① The Great Wall:

The Great Wall of China is more than 6,000 kilometers long with nearly four million bricks. And it is one of the greatest defensive projects in the world. You can stand on the Great Wall, overlook the rolling mountains, feel massive history, and marvel at this UNESCO wonder of the world.

② The Forbidden City:

The Forbidden City in Beijing City is the best-preserved ancient royal building group with a long history from the Ming and Qing dynasties. If you want to explore China’s history and architectural heritage, do not miss it.

③ Giant Pandas:

Chengdu is the home of giant pandas. It nurtures and protects many cute pandas. Every year, many tourists travel to Chengdu Panda Base to see giant pandas.

④ Li River:

The Li River connects downtown Guilin with Yangshuo. You can take a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. When the cruise is sailing on the Li River, you can see the karst mountain landscape on both sides of the river reflected in the water. Besides, you can float on a bamboo raft and feel the beauty of nature.

⑤ The Terracotta Army:

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses is located in Xi’an, which is part of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. It is a true portrayal of the Qin Dynasty's praetorian guard. These terracotta figurines are not only artworks but also cultural relics with significant historical and cultural value.

You can do some research about your travel destinations before you start your China tour. You can learn more about the local climate, culture, customs, and safety matters by reading relevant books or searching online. These will help you adapt to new environments better and avoid unnecessary confusion and trouble.

2. When to Travel to China

China is relatively large with completely different weather from city to city. But you can always find a suitable travel destination each month. If you travel to big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, or other cities famous for their cultural and historical attractions, you will be less affected by the weather. If you travel to China for natural sights, then you need to choose the right season. We suggest checking the local weather when planning your China tour.

Generally, Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) are the best times to visit China. Because the temperature during these seasons is in a comfortable range with beautiful scenery. If you enjoy snowy scenery, visiting China in winter would be the best choice. Winter is the low season, which also means less crowds and lower prices. China also has some cities and attractions where you can escape the heat such as Yunnan and Tibet. You can find a professional China travel agency like Hi Five Trip to help you avoid the hot weather.

We suggest you avoid Chinese holidays because there will be a lot of people traveling in China at this time. It is hard to book hotels, flights, and trains. And the price would also be much more expensive than usual.

You can find more detailed information on the Best Time to Visit China.

3. How Many Days Are Needed to Visit China

Actually, it all depends.

Your trip length depends on where you want to travel. You can take a short trip to China for a business trip or take advantage of visa-free transit. Or, embark on an odyssey tour of China for several months to delve deeper into the country and experience more famous attractions. Why not maximize your long-distance international trip? We suggest you stay 7 to 14 days to visit the main attractions in China.

Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an are the most popular destinations for first-time visitors to China. You can spend 3 to 4 days travelling to Beijing to walk on the majestic Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and Tiananmen Square, and taste crispy Peking roast duck. Then head to Xi’an for at least 2 days and discover the famed Terracotta Army, the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and a Chinese dumpling-making experience with a local family. Finally, travel to Shanghai for 2 to 3 days. Stroll along the Bund, and ascend the Shanghai Tower to feel the bustling atmosphere of Shanghai.

4. Check out China Visa Policies and Prepare Your Travel Document

Before you begin your China tour, you should prepare your valid passport and Chinese visa in advance. We suggest you apply for your passport 3 months ahead. If you already have a passport and a Chinese visa, make sure they are valid for the duration of your trip.

To make it easy for foreign tourists to travel to China, China offers multiple visa-free policies for many countries, including France, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, etc. You can consult your travel specialist for detailed information. Except for visa-free policies, many cities in China also implement visa-free transit policies.

If you want to travel to Tibet, you need to prepare a Tibet Entry Permit (Tibet Travel Permit). If you plan to travel to remote areas in Tibet, you will need extra permits. Please feel free to consult us to help you with your Tibet permits.

5. Design a China Tour Itinerary

Additionally, you should design a rough China tour itinerary, including the top attractions you want to visit, transportation you need (such as flight, high-speed rail, and private car), and local cuisine you want to taste. It will help you arrange your time reasonably and help improve your travel experience.

6. Travel Alone or Book a China Tour Package

It is safe to travel in China. If you travel to developed cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, of course, you can do it by yourself. Speaking only English is basically manageable while visiting international cities, like Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. However, in other cities, basic Mandarin is necessary. If you travel to a remote destination, such as Tibet, Xinjiang or other cities you don’t know very well, you’d better find a professional travel agency.

There are so many things you need to consider for a China tour, such as language difficulty, cultural differences, reservations, and transportation. Traveling with Hi Five Trip, we can arrange all the finer details, so you can sit back and enjoy the journey.

If you want a hassle-free trip, we suggest you travel with a reliable travel agent. A good travel agent can help you save time, energy, and money. We specialize in tailor-made China tour packages and travel services. If you travel with us, our professional travel experts can help you design your itineraries based on your interests. You can focus on enjoying the scenery and experiencing the fun activities and leave the rest of your chores to us.

Are you ready to plan your trip to China? Start designing your own China tour with a 1-on-1 travel expert right now!

7. Book Your Flights, Hotels and Trains in Advance

After confirming your itinerary, you can book your hotels and flights in advance according to your travel plan. You may get better prices and seating options if you book your flights in advance. And return tickets should also be booked in advance so that you can return on time. If you want to book flights and hotels by yourself, we advise you to research cities with international flights. You have to know whether you can book a direct flight or if you need to transfer.

According to your personal preference and budget, you can book suitable hotels at the travel destination and near attractions. You can book hotels in advance to make sure you can stay. In major tourist cities in China, there are many hotels and hostels for you to choose.

When you transfer to the next city, flights and high-speed trains will be the best ways. We suggest you travel with a professional travel agent because they know what kind of mode of transportation is most suitable, and can book flights and hotels at a favorable price, and arrange private cars for you.

Most of the tickets for scenic spots can be booked online or you can find a travel agency to book the tickets for you.

8. How Much Money Is Needed to Visit China

It is not very expensive to travel to China. International flights and hotel costs may be the biggest cost during your trip. The price of your flights to China can be different depending on your place of departure. Because of the different consumption levels in different cities, hotel prices vary from city to city.

The prices may go up when the holidays and peak tourist season come. At these times, the price of flights and hotels can increase by half or double.

If you book our private China tour packages, we can offer you a better price, which includes flights and high-speed trains in China, a private car, meals mentioned in the itinerary, four-star or five-star hotels, tickets for scenic spots, driver and tour guide services. You can invite your family and friends to get a better price.

Mobile payment, such as Alipay and WeChat Pay is convenient and common in China. You can download one of these mobile payment apps and link a credit card to them for your payment. Or you can bring some cash, but the usage of cash is declining. In addition, China only accepts cash payments in RMB.

We suggest you experience mobile payments, and prepare 300-500 RMB in cash. And it is useful to carry your bank cards with you just in case. You can withdraw money at the ATM, or exchange foreign currency cash for RMB cash at self-service exchange machines.

9. Check on Your Health and Buy Travel Insurance

Your health is important to us. Before visiting China, make sure you are in good health, especially the elderly and children. We suggest you make an appointment with your doctor for a full checkup and ask your doctor if you are fit to travel internationally. If necessary, you’d better receive vaccinations.

Before you start your China tour, we strongly suggest you buy international travel insurance in advance to enhance your risk-resisting ability. Your international travel insurance should cover medical insurance, personal accident insurance and insurance for flight delay or cancellation, etc. A travel insurance provides essential safety and medical care for you, your family, or friends during your trip to China.

10. Consider What to Pack

Before you travel to China, prepare and check the following items:

Suitable travelling bags and suitcases: You should know that there are some luggage allowances when you take a plane. Learn about the luggage restrictions when you choose an airline. We suggest you mark and lock your suitcase to avoid luggage loss and confusion.

Travel documents: Make sure you bring your valid passport, China visa, identity card and other important document. If you plan to travel to Tibet, don’t forget your Tibet Travel Permit. We suggest you make several copies of your travel documents just in case.

Clothes: Prepare clothes according to the weather of your travel destination in China. You can check local weather online or ask your travel consultant for help. Even though it is hot in your travel destination, we suggest you prepare a light jacket to avoid getting cold, because the air conditioning in some places and vehicles is particularly sufficient.

We suggest you pack light and bring necessities because you can buy everything else when you get to China.

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