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A corner tower of the Forbidden City reflected in the moat on a clear day

Hosted China

Guides to four great cities, and a local host to plan your trip.

Tell us your dates. A host replies within 24 hours.

Beijing · Shanghai · Xi'an · ChengduPlan your trip

Small things first

Most first trips to China go wrong on small things: a payment app that won't link, a train from the wrong station, palace tickets gone a week early. These guides deal with them before anything else.

A narrow Beijing hutong with a scooter rider and a man playing the cello outside his door

Every guide shows the date it was last checked against official sources. Entry rules, payment and ticketing in China change often, so we check them again each season.

High-speed railway lines running through the outskirts of Shanghai, seen from the air

Four cities

Start with one, or link them by high-speed train.

The roofs of the Forbidden City seen from Jingshan hill at sunrise, under a pink and blue sky

Beijing

China's capital: imperial palaces, temple parks and old lanes a subway ride apart, with the Great Wall as a day trip.

The Lujiazui towers and the Oriental Pearl Tower across the Huangpu River, seen from the Bund

Shanghai

A river city of old stone banks, Ming-era gardens and tree-lined lanes, with an easy metro and Suzhou and Hangzhou close by.

The Bell Tower lit up at dusk in the middle of a traffic circle, with light trails from cars around it

Xi'an

A walled former capital with flat, easy streets, the Terracotta Army an hour away, and some of China's best noodles.

Anshun Bridge lit up at night over the Jin River in Chengdu, with tower blocks behind

Chengdu

A flat, green, unhurried city where mornings go to the pandas and afternoons go to tea, with some of China's best food.

The classics

Northwest corner tower of the Forbidden City reflected in the moat under a dark evening skyThe Great Wall at Mutianyu running along a green, wooded ridge under a blue sky with white cloudsThe round, triple-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests on its marble terrace, with visitors in the courtyardThe lit stone buildings of the Bund reflected in the Huangpu River at nightA two-storey pavilion with upturned eaves beside a pond and willow in Yu GardenRows of terracotta soldiers in the long trenches of Pit 1 under the arched roof of the exhibition hallTwo wooden gate towers on the Xi'an City Wall above green trees, with tall city buildings behindA giant panda walking past bamboo stems in an enclosure at the Chengdu Panda BasePeople sitting in bamboo chairs drinking tea and chatting under trees in People's Park
  1. Forbidden CityBeijing · 3–4 hours

    The former imperial palace, now the Palace Museum. Tickets are online only, tied to your passport, and released seven days ahead.

  2. Great Wall at MutianyuBeijing · Full day, with 3–4 hours at the wall

    A restored, forested stretch of the Great Wall about 70 km from central Beijing, with a cable car, a chairlift and a toboggan ride down.

  3. Temple of HeavenBeijing · 2–3 hours

    A large park in south Beijing where emperors prayed for good harvests. Come early for the locals' morning exercise, then see the three main altars.

  4. The BundShanghai · 2–3 hours

    A mile of early 20th-century banks along the Huangpu River, facing the towers of Lujiazui. Free, open-air, and best from late afternoon into dusk.

  5. Yu GardenShanghai · 2–3 hours

    A walled Ming-dynasty garden of ponds, rockeries and halls in Shanghai's old city, wrapped in a busy bazaar. Closed Mondays; go at opening time.

  6. Terracotta ArmyXi'an · About 4 hours on site, plus 1–1.5 hours each way

    Thousands of life-size clay soldiers in three excavated pits, an hour east of Xi'an. Book online with your passport and give it half a day.

  7. Xi'an City WallXi'an · About 2–3 hours by bike, 3–4 hours on foot

    A 13.7 km Ming-dynasty wall around the old city, wide enough to cycle on. Rent a bike at the South Gate and ride the full loop.

  8. Chengdu Panda BaseChengdu · 3–4 hours

    The giant panda breeding center north of downtown. Book ahead with your passport and arrive at opening, when the pandas are awake and eating.

  9. People's Park and its teahouseChengdu · 2–3 hours

    A free central park where Chengdu comes to drink tea, play cards and talk. Order one cup, take a bamboo chair and stay the afternoon.

What to eat

Four food guides
A chef in gloves carving a glossy roast Peking duck at the table
A bowl of zhajiangmian noodles topped with dark bean sauce, cucumber, radish and bean sproutsWinter crowds walking down a narrow snack street with red lanterns and old-style shop signs
A split hotpot with red chili broth on one side and clear broth on the other, with noodles and side dishes
Dried red Sichuan peppercorn husks scattered on a white surfaceMapo tofu in red chili sauce with minced meat and spring onion, served in a black stone bowl
A bamboo steamer of pleated xiaolongbao soup dumplings seen from above
A bowl of pan-fried shengjian buns topped with sesame and scallion, with a teapot beside it
A sunny hutong lane lined with grey brick houses, potted plants and parked scooters

Ask

Tell us your cities, dates and budget in the Plan your trip form. It takes about three minutes.

Passengers on a platform at Shanghai Hongqiao station beside a Fuxing high-speed train

Plan

A host who lives there replies within 24 hours with a day-by-day plan, the bookings it needs and a price.

Walkers climbing a watchtower on the Great Wall as it runs over green hills

Go

You arrive with the payment apps set up and the tickets booked, and your host is a message away.

Before you go

China visa-free entry in 2026: 30-day and 240-hour rules: Citizens of 50 countries, including the UK, Canada and Australia, can stay 30 days visa-free until December 31, 2026. Americans need a visa or the 240-hour transit rule.

Paying in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards and cash: Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with your own Visa or Mastercard before you fly, carry some cash as backup, and expect a 3% fee on QR payments over ¥200.

Apps and internet in China: data, eSIMs and local apps: Sort out data before you fly, expect Google, WhatsApp and Instagram not to load on Chinese networks, and install Alipay, WeChat, a local map app and 12306 at home.

Can US citizens visit China without a visa?

Not for a regular trip. The United States is not on the 30-day visa-free list. Americans can use the 240-hour visa-free transit rule if they fly on to a third country or region, or apply for a visa. Read the guide

How are the 30 days counted?

From 00:00 on the day after you enter, for 30 calendar days. Arriving on May 1 means your last permitted day is May 31. Read the guide

Do I need a Chinese bank account to use Alipay or WeChat Pay?

No. Both apps let visitors register with a foreign phone number and link a Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club or Discover card. Some card issuers block the first charge, so call your bank if the link fails. Read the guide

What does it cost to pay with a foreign card through the apps?

Under the published rules, payments of ¥200 or less carry no service fee and payments above ¥200 carry a 3% fee on the whole amount. Your own bank may add its foreign transaction fee on top. Read the guide

Will my phone work in China?

Almost certainly, if it is unlocked or your carrier offers roaming in China. Check with your carrier for China roaming rates, or buy a travel eSIM that lists China coverage before you go. Read the guide

Does Google Maps work in China?

Not on Chinese mobile networks or Wi-Fi. Use Amap (Gaode), which has an English interface, or Apple Maps on an iPhone. Read the guide

Plan your tripAll guides
The towers of Lujiazui in Shanghai lit up at night across the Huangpu River
Three porcelain gaiwan tea cups and a clay teapot on a wooden tea tray
Watchtowers of the Great Wall along a ridge, with steps leading up from the foreground

Tell us your dates

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Plan your trip

Plan your trip

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