After spending two unforgettable weeks exploring China — from its buzzing cities to its peaceful countryside — I wanted to share a genuine, down-to-earth take on what traveling here is really like. Beyond the picture-perfect Instagram posts lie both breathtaking moments and a few challenges that can catch travellers off guard. So, if you’re starting your China travel planning, especially as a first-time visitor, this guide is here to help you prepare for the real experience — the good, the surprising, and everything in between.
In this post you’ll find all there is to know about a thorough China travel planning: how much money you need, language barriers, where to book your visits, as well as some unexpected things.
Two-week China itinerary
Highlights of China travel
Must know China travel planning before the trip
Must know while in China
Two-week China itinerary
It wasn’t easy to draft an itinerary and won’t hide the fact that it all started from the plane ticket (and layovers). If you believe this journey could also be your first travel to China, feel free to borrow the itinerary. You’ll thank me later.
We divided our two weeks as follows:
- Landed in Beijing at 4 a.m. (spent almost 4 days in Beijing; out of which half a day at the Great Wall, Mutianyu Section);
- Took the night train from Beijing to Shanghai not to lose half a day, and in the morning, we woke up in Shanghai.
- Shanghai (3 and a half days; out of which a full day in Suzhou, about 1.30 h train ride)
- Domestic flight Shanghai to Guilin to explore more authentic China and scenic beauty
- Guilin (2 and a half days; one day booked a private trip to Longji Rice terraces, the other day was reserved for a journey that included Ruyi Peak and bamboo rafting on Yulong river scenic area).
- Explored Guilin; high-speed train Guilin to Shenzhen.
- Visited Hong Kong in one day (high-speed train only takes 15 minutes!)
- Last day in Shenzhen, flight back home from Shenzhen.
It was quite an achievement I may say! It brought us many satisfactions, lots of splendid memories, but it was also logistically complex and challenging!
Highlights of China travel
China is technologically advanced. Digital infrastructure is efficient; Chinese mobile apps (AliPay, Didi, WeChat) and all internet work flawlessly if you’ve set yourself up with a local SIM and a VPN. We settled for Nomads sim and Astrill VPN. Both worked flawlessly.
China is truly affordable (especially if you plan with purpose and on your own). You’ll find more detailed info on it later.
High-speed trains are a great opportunity to travel fast. They are punctual and clean.
The subway network in the cities is also great. The waiting time for metros is insignificant.
China is a safe country. Even if you plan to travel solo as a female.
You can shop in China for unique products, some unavailable in your country. Great quality products are not cheap.
Must know China travel planning before the trip
These are some aspects to consider while you are planning your trip to China.
Learn everything you need to know about real China here: Not What You Expect: My lived experiences as a tourist in China.
How Much Money Do You Really Need?
Preparation is the secret sauce to a smooth China adventure!
Our DIY trip ended up being much cheaper than any agency package — and we didn’t skip a single must-see. Here’s what we spent per person:
- Flights: €790
- Hotels: €207
- Guided tours: €195
- Food: €109
- Extras: €84
- Insurance + e-SIM: €32
Grand total: €1417 per person — shockingly affordable for a two-week trip across China.
Of course, if you prefer plush hotels and extra amenities, the cost rises accordingly. Comfort has its price… and sometimes its heated toilet seat.
Visa Rules Made Easy
If you’re from an EU country (like me), good news: you can visit China visa-free until the end of 2026 for up to 30 days.
Upon arrival, you’ll fill out a form with your travel details — hotels, dates, etc. But trust me, it’s easy. The whole process feels like filling out a school form you forgot to hand in… only faster.
Booking Hotels in China (Read this before you Click!)
In China, you must book your accommodation before arrival.
We used trip.com (great prices + widely accepted), along with Booking and Agoda.
Airbnb, sadly, is not available in China.
Now for the surprise no one warned us about:
Our group of 5 tried to book two rooms — one for two adults and a 17-year-old teen.
Even though we correctly entered her age, every site insisted on giving us a twin or queen bed… with zero space for the third human.
No couch. No rollout bed. No nothing.
The moment we changed her age to “adult,” suddenly everything worked like magic.
Moral of the story: if traveling with a teen, try listing everyone as adults.
Also, budget rooms in China sometimes come with a… plot twist: no windows.
Read the descriptions carefully unless you want a vampire-style sleep experience.
Domestic Flight Drama (A Cautionary Tale)
We wanted to see as much of China as possible, so we booked a domestic flight from Shanghai to Guilin through Booking.com platform.
The airline? Juneyao Airlines.
Well… when we arrived at the airport, we discovered they cancelled our flight.
Completely.
With zero notification from either the airline or the booking platform.
After asking a few locals, the message was clear: avoid Juneyao Airlines!
Booking Tourist Attractions (And a Funny Great Wall Story)
Most big attractions sell out quickly, so booking from home is the way to go.
We used Viator, GetYourGuide, Tripadvisor and the fantastic free walking tours from GuruWalk
But here’s the unforgettable part:
After our Great Wall tour, the guide approached me, whispering that her boss would “kill her” if she didn’t get a 5-star review.
When I hesitated, she tried bribing me with a fridge magnet.
Yes, really!
Turns out this pressure for perfect reviews is pretty common — especially among female guides. Cultural insight: unlocked.
Must-Have App #1: Alipay
China travel planning says “download all the Chinese apps!” but honestly, we only relied on two:
Alipay and Didi.
Alipay is the real MVP.
It works everywhere — we found maybe 3 places the entire trip that didn’t accept it.
Connect your card (our Revolut worked perfectly), scan a QR code, and poof — your payment is made in the blink of an eye.
It also includes: a translation tool, Didi, eSims and currency converter.
Basically, it’s like having a digital Swiss Army knife in your pocket.
Didi and WeChat
Download Didi as a standalone app.
The huge benefit? It shows your exact pickup spot on a map — a lifesaver in cities where one boulevard can have four lanes heading the same direction.
WeChat is like China’s version of WhatsApp… but with superpowers.
You can pay with it, but we stuck to AliPay because it’s simpler and fully in English.
Navigating Maps in China
Google Maps acted like it had performance anxiety: glitchy, slow, confused.
Maps.me was a bit better, and Apple Maps worked surprisingly well.
For metro travel, Amap is great — but always keep an offline metro map with both English and Chinese station names.
Trust me, this will save you when your data decides to take a nap 🙂
The Language Barrier (Yep, It’s Real)
English is spoken… very occasionally.
Hotel receptions? Sometimes.
Ticket counters? Rarely.
Security staff? Absolutely not.
People rely heavily on translation apps — and so will you.
Even then, conversations can take a while and sometimes still end with both sides smiling awkwardly, hoping for the best. Make sure you have one or two downloaded translation apps. They are lifesavers.
The Great Power Bank Confiscation
A power bank in China is essential — your phone battery will burn out faster than your legs on the Great Wall.
But here’s the catch:
Power banks must stay in your carry-on luggage.
And only those with the 3C certification are allowed on domestic flights.
One of ours got confiscated at security because it didn’t have the tiny 3C logo.
No negotiation. No mercy.
Goodbye, poor little power bank!
Must know while in China
Keep Your Passport Glued to You
In China, your passport is your golden ticket to everything — trains, tourist attractions, SIM cards, hotel check-ins… you name it. Think of it as step one in your China travel planning: keep it on you always. Don’t leave it in the hotel, don’t shove it deep in your backpack.
In China, your passport basically becomes your entire identity.
Security Checks… Everywhere
One thing you quickly learn during China travel planning is that security is no joke here. Expect bag scans, passport checks, water checks (yes, they scan your water sometimes), and enough cameras to film a full-blown documentary about your trip.
On the bright side? China feels incredibly safe.
Just be prepared for more passport control and face recognition than you’ve ever experienced — especially when entering China or coming back from Hong Kong.
Convenience Stores: Same Name, Different Universe
Chinese convenience stores are not your typical “grab a sandwich and go” kind of place. Instead of pastries and wraps, you’ll find beef jerky, instant noodles, funky drinks, and surprisingly delicious juices.
For fresh fruit, hit the markets — China does fruit really well. (Relax, I won’t mention durian… this time.)
Curious about Chinese food? Read the post on Authentic Chinese food.
Toilets: Prepare Emotionally
Sure, public toilets are free and everywhere.
The catch? Many are squat toilets, and cleanliness can vary wildly. Toilet paper lives at the entrance, not in the stall, so grab it like it’s your last chance on earth.
The biggest shock for us? Beijing hutong toilets with no doors and no sinks. The good news: this was an exception. Most places are much more civilized.
Trains: Fast, Clean… and Doorless
China’s trains are famously fast, spotless, and punctual. What no one includes in China travel planning guides is that sleeper cabins with six beds usually have no doors. Just open compartments, snoring neighbours, and late-night phone videos blasting at full volume.
Train stations are giant, airport-like spaces with endless waiting halls and strict security. Arrive early — but know you can only board a few minutes before departure.
Inside the trains? Expect noise. China loves loud enthusiasm.
For more info on trains and transportation, check out the post Getting around China.
Train Stations: Follow the “Foreigners” Signs
Even if you’ve paid for your train tickets online, foreigners often need to pick them up at separate counters. Sometimes security checks also have separate queues for non-locals.
Keep your eyes open and your patience high — the process can be long, confusing, and mildly exhausting. But hey, it’s all part of the story you’ll laugh about later.
Littering: Few Bins, Many Cleaners
Garbage bins are surprisingly rare in big cities. We spent a lot of time walking around with empty bottles, hoping a bin would magically appear.
Yet somehow, the streets stay incredibly clean thanks to a small army of dedicated street sweepers working nonstop.
Noise: China Doesn’t Do Quiet
On the metro, people might sit silently… but step outside and it’s a full symphony of scooters, honking cars, megaphones, and phone videos without headphones.
Earplugs? Highly recommended.
Pollution: Not the Picture You Expect
Forget the old documentaries — modern China is full of electric cars, and most vehicles look brand new. Air quality varies by region, but overall, it’s far better than many expect.
Even with all its quirks, China left us absolutely amazed. We crossed paths with incredibly kind people, explored places that felt both ancient and futuristic, and constantly found ourselves caught between moments of serenity and delightful chaos. China travel planning definitely requires patience, and once you’re on the ground, things can still feel noisy, bureaucratic, or downright confusing. But every challenge comes with a story — and every story becomes part of the magic that makes China unforgettable.
Have you been to China? Did you notice any other fact that might be useful or interesting? I’d be more than happy to hear about it!
