Since 2024, China has further expanded the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry, providing incoming tourists with more convenient payment, language, and travel services. This has led to a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors to China, making “China Travel” increasingly popular on overseas social media platforms.
Whether it’s the majestic Great Wall, the adorable giant pandas, or the mouthwatering Sichuan cuisine, these Chinese elements enjoy a prestigious reputation internationally and have become dream travel destinations for many tourists. With so many fascinating places in China, how do you plan a trip here? Before coming to China, you should determine the following.
Choose Where to Go
China offers a wide variety of tourism resources. In Tibet’s sapphire lakes, you can enjoy magnificent natural scenery. If you’re looking to savor diverse Chinese delicacies, we recommend visiting Chengdu and Shunde in Guangdong. For those wanting to experience classical Western-style architecture, Shanghai and Harbin are excellent choices. However, when it comes to traveling in China, the first city that every foreign tourist is likely to visit is Beijing. As the capital of China, Beijing is a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. A Beijing tour allows you to appreciate a wealth of ancient artistic treasures and learn about China’s rich cultural heritage.
Decide How Many Days to Stay
Planning a trip, the first thing to determine is the duration of the trip. Depending on different attractions and personal needs, the length of the trip varies.
Short trips (3-5 days) is suitable for traveling cities that are relatively close, while medium-length trips (5-8 days) is perfect for linking multiple cities. If time permits, long trips (more than 8 days) will be ideal. You can choose the classic “National Highway 318” self-driving China tours, starting from Shanghai, passing through the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and finally arriving in Lhasa, enjoying the natural scenery and cultural characteristics along the way.
Given the rich travel resources in China, we recommend at least five days for your China tour.
Visa and Passport Requirements
Visa Waiver for China Travel: Citizens from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Poland,
and more can enjoy a 30-day visa-free stay in China. For the complete list of visa-free countries, please refer to the official information.
For those whose nationalities are not mentioned in the visa-free list, a tourist visa (L visa) is required to enter China. It is advisable to start the visa application process one to two months prior to your planned trip.
Estimating Travel Expenses
For travelers who have never set foot on this land, the cost of China tour can be confusing. The expenses for traveling in China mainly include accommodation (starting from US$30 per night for genral hotels to over US$60 per night for luxury hotels) and food costs (US$5-20 per meal per person), as well as transportation expenses.
The admission tickets for attractions are generally not expensive, but amusement parks’ may be a little higher at about US$50. If you are planning for a Beijing tour, it’s highly recommend to go to the Universal Beijing Resort.
It is very important to plan and research activities and costs in advance so that you can set an appropriate budget and save money while traveling in China.
Enjoy Your China Tour
Overall, by carefully considering these factors, you can ensure a memorable and enriching journey through the diverse landscapes and cultural treasures that China has to offer.