City Travel Recommendations
January 1, 2025
City Travel Recommendations#
Popular Cities A-Z#
Beijing#
- Attractions: Palace Museum, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
- Experiences: Hutong tour, Peking Opera, Peking Duck
- Accommodation: Wangfujing, Qianmen, Sanlitun
- Food: Peking Duck, Zhajiangmian, Douzhi, Lu Zhu
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Tiananmen Square-Palace Museum-Jingshan Park; Day 2: Temple of Heaven-Summer Palace-Great Wall
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Tiananmen Square-Palace Museum-Jingshan Park; Day 2: Temple of Heaven-Summer Palace; Day 3: Great Wall-Ming Tombs
Shanghai#
- Attractions: The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yu Garden, Tianzifang, Disneyland
- Experiences: Huangpu River cruise, Shikumen, Haipai culture
- Accommodation: The Bund, Nanjing Road, Lujiazui
- Food: Xiaolongbao, Shengjian, Benbang Cuisine, Hairy Crab
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: The Bund-Nanjing Road-Yu Garden; Day 2: Tianzifang-Xintiandi-Oriental Pearl Tower
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: The Bund-Nanjing Road-Yu Garden; Day 2: Tianzifang-Xintiandi; Day 3: Disneyland
Guangzhou#
- Attractions: Canton Tower, Pearl River, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, Baiyun Mountain
- Experiences: Dim Sum, Cantonese Opera, Pearl River night cruise
- Accommodation: Tianhe, Yuexiu, Liwan
- Food: Cantonese Cuisine, Dim Sum, Cantonese-style Dim Sum, White Cut Chicken
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Shamian Island-Pearl River; Day 2: Canton Tower-Baiyun Mountain-Shangxiajiu
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Shamian Island; Day 2: Canton Tower-Baiyun Mountain; Day 3: Pearl River night cruise-Shangxiajiu
Chengdu#
- Attractions: Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Giant Panda Base, Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng
- Experiences: Sichuan Opera face-changing, tea houses, hot pot
- Accommodation: Chunxi Road, Kuanzhai Alley, Tianfu Square
- Food: Sichuan Cuisine, Hot Pot, Chuanchuan, Dandan Noodles
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Kuanzhai Alley-Jinli-Giant Panda Base; Day 2: Dujiangyan-Mount Qingcheng
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Kuanzhai Alley-Jinli; Day 2: Giant Panda Base-Dujiangyan; Day 3: Mount Qingcheng-Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Hangzhou#
- Attractions: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda, Songcheng, Thousand Island Lake
- Experiences: West Lake cruise, tea plantation, silk culture
- Accommodation: West Lake, Hefang Street, Wulin Square
- Food: Hangbang Cuisine, Longjing Shrimp, West Lake Fish in Sweet Sour Sauce, Beggar’s Chicken
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: West Lake-Lingyin Temple-Leifeng Pagoda; Day 2: Songcheng-Hefang Street
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: West Lake-Lingyin Temple; Day 2: Leifeng Pagoda-Songcheng; Day 3: Thousand Island Lake
Xi’an#
- Attractions: Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Muslim Street, Huaqing Pool
- Experiences: City wall cycling, Tang Paradise, Shadow Puppet Show
- Accommodation: Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xiaozhai
- Food: Mutton Steamed Bread, Rougamo, Liangpi, Saozimian
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Terracotta Warriors-Huaqing Pool; Day 2: Big Wild Goose Pagoda-City Wall-Muslim Street
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Terracotta Warriors-Huaqing Pool; Day 2: Big Wild Goose Pagoda-City Wall; Day 3: Muslim Street-Bell Tower-Forest of Steles
Guilin#
- Attractions: Li River, Yangshuo, Longsheng Rice Terraces, Elephant Trunk Hill, Silver Cave
- Experiences: Li River bamboo raft, Impression Sanjie Liu, cycling
- Accommodation: Yangshuo, Guilin city center
- Food: Guilin Rice Noodles, Beer Fish, Luosifen, Ginkgo Duck Soup
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Li River-Yangshuo; Day 2: Silver Cave-Yulong River
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Li River-Yangshuo; Day 2: Silver Cave-Yulong River; Day 3: Longsheng Rice Terraces
Lijiang#
- Attractions: Lijiang Ancient City, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shuhe Ancient Town
- Experiences: Ancient city stroll, snow mountain cable car, Naxi culture
- Accommodation: Ancient city, Shuhe
- Food: Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles, Steam Pot Chicken, Cured Ribs, Jidou Liangfen
- 2-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Lijiang Ancient City-Mufu; Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- 3-Day Itinerary: Day 1: Lijiang Ancient City-Mufu; Day 2: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; Day 3: Lugu Lake
Travel Recommendations#
Choose by Duration#
- 2-Day Tour: Choose 1-2 main attractions for in-depth experience
- 3-Day Tour: Can arrange more attractions with moderate pace
- 5-Day Tour: Can arrange multiple cities or in-depth visit to one region
- 7-Day Tour: Suitable for cross-province travel, experience different regional cultures
Choose by Interest#
- History and Culture: Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang, Kaifeng
- Natural Scenery: Guilin, Jiuzhaigou, Zhangjiajie, Huangshan
- Modern Cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong
- Ethnic Culture: Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna, Lhasa
Useful Links#
- Ctrip - Hotel and attraction ticket booking
- Mafengwo - Travel guides and travelogues
- Dianping - Restaurant and attraction reviews
- 12306 - High-speed rail ticket booking
- Amap - Route planning
Budget Reference#
Budget (200-400 yuan/day)#
- Accommodation: Budget hotels or hostels
- Dining: Local snacks and fast food
- Transportation: Mainly public transportation
Mid-Range (400-800 yuan/day)#
- Accommodation: 3-star hotels
- Dining: Local specialty restaurants
- Transportation: Some taxis and chartered cars
Luxury (800+ yuan/day)#
- Accommodation: 5-star hotels
- Dining: High-end restaurants
- Transportation: Private car service