We had the most incredible 3 weeks in China! From exploring ancient temples, seeing the Great Wall of China and indulging in the delicious cuisine. It’s safe to say we’ve got you covered with our 3 week China itinerary.
Starting in the modern city of Shanghai, we traveled west around the country ending in the countryside of Yangshuo before we left mainland China and headed to Hong Kong.
Honestly, China is so underrated, it’s full of so much beauty and the cities are on another level. It took us years before finally getting to go and we appreciated it so much more!
We’re already planning our second trip back, especially as we now have a 2 year visa (more info on that later).
Our 3 week China itinerary is full of beautifully diverse places to visit in China and it’s packed with incredible things to do. We walked along the Great Wall of China, admired the Terracotta Warriors and took a boat trip down the beautiful Li River.
We’re so excited to share our 3 week China route, so get ready for an in-depth travel guide!
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Quick Tips for 3 Weeks in China
- Currency – Chinese Yuan CN¥ (compare your own currency here)
- Language – Mandarin & Cantonese
- Cuisine – Chinese (Sichuan, Shandong, Cantonese, Huaiyang, and Northeastern)
- Apps – Trip.com, Alipay, WeChat, Didi App (like Uber) & Baidu Maps or Amaps
- Power Voltage – Plugs A & C (220 V)
- Need Travel Insurance? Use Safetywing if you’re on a backpacker trip!
- Accommodation – Use Trip.com or Booking.com!
If it’s your first time visiting China, check out our things to know before visiting China travel guide, filled with the most important tips for your 3 week China itinerary!
Sim Card in China
eSim – The easiest way to get a sim card in China is to use a virtual one! E-sims are great in China and we recommend Airalo! Most eSims have a VPN so you’ll be able to access social media whenever you’d like. However, the VPN won’t work on wifi. Nomad’s E-sim didn’t work very well for our trip.
Physical Sim Card – Although eSims are good, they won’t give you a Chinese phone number. We managed okay without one during our trip, but it depends on your activities! You can find sim cards at the airport or convenience stores around various cities in China.
VPN in China
You may already know that China’s Great Firewall blocks websites and apps like Google, Instagram and Facebook. You can only access these apps on a VPN (or eSim with VPN). We did a lot of research and used Let’s VPN (non-premium version) for our 3 weeks in China. It was very affordable and did the job!
Visa Requirements for China
As we’re British, we used our UK passports to apply for a visa in China and it cost us a whopping £130 with a trip to the London Chinese Visa Application Centre (it was worth it though). Visit your local government website for the correct information on applying for a visa to China.
If you’re not from the UK, you might be lucky as there are 38 countries that give Visa-Free entry to China for 30 days! Perfect for this 3 week China route. These are mostly countries in Europe such as France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and more, plus Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea.
3 Week China Itinerary: Best Places To Visit
Now we’ll jump into our China travel route. You can choose to do this itinerary clockwise if you’re starting your journey from Hong Kong! We chose to start in Shanghai as it offered the best flights from the UK, but Shanghai is the perfect starting point for this 3 week China itinerary clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Day 1 – 5 | Shanghai
Shanghai is the perfect city to start your 3 weeks in China. We absolutely loved it! From the impressive skyline to the beautiful Old Shanghai area. We didn’t run out of things to do, so we’ll show you how to spend your first 4-5 days in China.
We’ve written a dedicated travel guide for our 4 Day Shanghai Itinerary if you want to learn more!
How to get to Shanghai
Shanghai has two amazing international airports (Pudong and Hongqiao) with connections all around the world. We arrived in to Pudong from London and then caught a metro into the city centre, but there is also the Maglev as a unique option!
You can also catch trains into Shanghai, but as it’s the start of your China journey, you will probably be arriving by flight!
Things to do in Shanghai
There are endless things to do in Shanghai, including a couple of days trips. We used one of our days to visit Disneyland Shanghai which was incredible, but don’t worry, the rest of this China itinerary is based around culture and food.
Peoples Park
As it’s also close to East Nanjing Road, make sure to visit Peoples Park before you leave Shanghai. If you’re there on a Sunday you’ll see the interesting Bridal Market where dating profiles for eligible family members are displayed with the hope of finding a match.
Yu Garden & The Old City
One of our favourite places to visit in Shanghai is the beautiful Old City (We bought our tickets on Trip in advance). Explore a lovely Chinese garden and wander through the many alleys of street food. The buildings are bright red and incredibly beautiful. You have to visit in the day and night!
Former French Concession
Wander through Shanghai’s trendy area! Grab a matcha, artisanal coffee or a boujee snack and see the French-style buildings.
The Bund
Take a visit to Shanghai’s impressive skyline. A must-visit on your 3 week China itinerary! From here you can also take sunset ferry trips on the Huangpu River. Book your sunset cruise tickets on Trip in advance!
East Nanjing Road
This is Shanghai’s main shopping area filled with Chinese flagship stores and lots of major shops. It’s a fun pedestrianised street to walk as it eventually leads to the Bund!
Shanghai’s Temples
There are many beautiful temples during your 3 week China route and Shanghai is a great way to start! We recommend visiting Jade Buddha, Jing’an or Longshua while you’re in Shanghai.
Where to stay in Shanghai
Dayin International Youth Hostel – This was the first accommodation we stayed in during our 3 weeks in China. The location was perfect and they had great amenities. The rooms are mostly dorms but you can also find private rooms – Find it on Trip.com here!
WOW HOTELS – If you’d rather have private rooms in a hotel, we recommend this beautifully decorated hotel near People’s Square – Find it on Trip.com here!
Places to eat in Shanghai
All of our food recommendations are vegan-friendly as we are vegan! If you don’t have a specific diet preference, you’ll be able to find many options in Shanghai, including street food! Here’s our veggie recommendations:
- Huì Yuán SùShí Fāng (Lotus Vegan) 慧缘素食坊 – the best place for Chinese vegetarian and vegan food in Shanghai.
- Songyuelou 春风松月楼 – amazing dumplings and veggie food in the heart of the Old City.
- GōngDé Lín (Godly) – we grabbed veggie bao for breakfast every day here.
Day 5 – 10 | Beijing
After soaking up Beijing’s futuristic city, head over to the capital of China, Beijing. If we had to choose one destination to visit on our first trip to China, it would have to be Beijing. However, we may be biased as it’s the gateway to the Great Wall of China (and the place where we became engaged)!
Beijing has a deep history and the most incredible temples. Spend your days exploring the hutongs and seeing the main highlights of China! We recommend giving at least 4 days to Beijing on your 3 week China route.
How to get from Shanghai to Beijing
We highly recommend travelling by HSR (bullet train) from Shanghai to Beijing. The journey takes around 4.5 hours and there are multiple train stations to book from. We caught the train from Shanghaihongqiao to Beijingnan (south) on day 5 of our China route.
You can also fly, but the flights are usually more expensive than the trains, plus it’s way more fun to travel by speed train in China.
You can book your trains on Trip or use Railway 12306!
Things to do in Beijing
Similar to Shanghai, the list of things to do in Beijing is unlimited! Here’s an overview of some of the main things to do during your 3 week China itinerary in Beijing. You’ll need to dedicate a whole day to visit the Great Wall of China and it’s so worth it.
Beijing Bell and Drum Towers
Bejing’s Bell and Drum Towers were built in 1272 to announce the time of day with the city. They’re right next to each other, close to Houhai Lake, and are beautiful! We saw locals playing a game in the square between the two buildings.
The Forbidden City
A must-do activity in Beijing is to visit the beautifully historical Forbidden City. You’ll need to book your tickets at least 1 week in advance on their website.
The Forbidden City was once an imperial palace and is now an open-air museum! It’s in the heart of the city surrounded by a wall and you can’t miss it! Book your tickets here.
Tiananmen Square
Visit the largest square in the world with a total holding of over 1 million people (crazy)! You’ll need to get your free tickets a few days in advance in order to visit.
Join the Tiananmen Square Reservation WeChat Mini Program (微信小程序). You will need your WeChat verified by someone who already has WeChat downloaded.
Jingshan Park
When leaving from the north exit of the Forbidden City, head straight to Jingshan Park to see an impressive view of the ancient city from above. It was pretty misty for sunset on our visit. There’s a very small fee to enter.
Great Wall of China
No 3 week China itinerary is complete without a visit to the iconic Great Wall of China. It was one of our favourite places to visit during our whole trip and it is so worth it.
You can visit different sections of the wall such as Mutianyu, Badaling, Jinshanling, Jiankou and Huanghuacheng.
We used public transport to get to Mutianyu, but you can book transport on GetYourGuide here. There’s a lot of information to cover here, so please check out our Beijing itinerary for more details!
Temple Of Heaven Complex
Spend a morning at the Temple of Heaven exploring the beautiful temples, parks and walkways. The complex was also used by emperors back in the day. Book your tickets in advance to skip the queues on Trip!
Summer Palace
Another beautiful place to dedicate half a day to is the Summer Palace in Beijing (built-in 1750). See the impressive Kunming Lake from ground level or up high from the temple. This spot is definitely worth adding to your 3 week China itinerary for a wholesome walk.
Also, check out Beijing’s many street markets filled with food! You can also take a caligraphy class to learn how to write Chinese characters!
Where to stay in Beijing
Beijing Xinqiao Hotel – Close to Tiananmen Square, this place is budget-friendly and a great place to stay in Beijing – Find it on Trip.com here!
Livefortuna Hotel – If you’re visiting Beijing in the summer months, a rooftop pool will be appreciated. This hotel is close to Jianguomen Metro and has great amenities! – Find it on Trip.com here!
Places to eat in Beijing
Here are our vegetarian and vegan recommendations for food in Beijing.
- Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant – veggie bao’s for breakfast! they also have a restaurant in Shanghai.
- Suhu Tiger – an all-vegan Chinese fusion buffet! we also found take-away donuts here!
- Wu Tai Yun – get your vegan hot pot in Beijing here!
🎥 Get inspired to spend 3 weeks China with popular movies and documentaries. Here are a few you can watch: Red Cliff, Mulan, Last Train Home, The Last Emperor and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Day 10 – 14 | Xi’an
The next destination to visit on your 3 weeks in China is the lovely city of Xi’an. Home to the Terracotta Warriors and the most impressive city wall we’ve ever seen. We recommend spending 3 days here but you can get by with 2 at a push.
Xi’an really surprised us and it truly does feel different from Shanghai and Beijing which are large cities! The market scene here is strong with an immense amount of street food. One of our favourite activities was renting a bicycle and circling the top of the city wall – how cool is that?! We don’t regret adding Xi’an to our China itinerary at all and we recommend the city to anyone!
Check out our 3 Day Xi’An itinerary for our in-depth guide on how to spend your time in Xi’an.
How to get from Beijing to Xi’an
The best way to get from Beijing to Xi’an is by speed train! The HSR journey takes around 4 hours depending on the type of train and drops you off in the north of the city. From there you can catch a metro into the city centre to your accommodation.
As the train only takes 4 hours you’ll only use half a day of travelling on your China travel route. So day 10 will be spent resting before a busy few days in Xi’an!
You can book your trains on Trip or use Railway 12306!
Things to do in Xi’an
As we’ve just mentioned, there are many ways to spend your time in Xi’an! Here are our favourite things to do.
Terracotta Warriors
One of the main reasons travellers from all over the world visit China is to see the impressive ancient Terracotta Warriors. It’s a half-day trip from Xi’an City and you can catch a taxi (Didi) or public transport there. We recommend booking your Terracotta Warriors tickets on Trip.
The various halls to explore with these ancient statues are impressive and the digging work continues to this day!
Bell Tower & Drum Tower
Similar to the ones in Beijing, these towers were used to tell the time back in the day and they are over 600 years old! The Bell Tower sits in the heart of the traffic in the city centre and is very photogenic! The Drum Tower is also impressive and they’re quite close together.
➤ You can buy a combined ticket for the Drum & Bell Tower if you want to visit the interior of both!
Cycle the top of the City Wall
This was one of our favourite things to do in Xi’an and we highly recommend it to anyone! The City Wall is absolutely huge and even on a bike it can take a couple of hours to loop (with stops). Visit and climb up any of the gates around the city and rent a bike on top, it’s so worth it!
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Take a short walk around the free garden surrounding the Small Wild Goose Pagoda (built in the early 8th century). It’s a beautiful way to mix up your itinerary and it’s especially interesting if you’re also visiting the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. You can even ring a bell!
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
The ancient Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built during the Tang Dynasty and is five stories tall (64 metres)! The views from the top of the pagoda are beautiful and the park is lovely too!
Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter
Take a stroll around the Muslim Quarter and you’ll come across the old Great Mosque of Xi’an and the bustling Huimin Street. This is the main street for shopping and street food! We visited in the morning and night and it almost felt like the shops gave off the same energy (it’s always busy)!
Datang Everbright City
A very popular thing to do in Xi’an at night is to visit Datang Everbright City! A large street filled with live music and cultural Chinese performances. It’s pretty chaotic and definitely loved by Chinese tourists. You can find a bit of everything here! It’s close to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and there’s a paid light performance nearby.
Where to stay in Xi’an
Tiny Spot Hostel – We stayed here during our 3 week China itinerary as it was very affordable with a great location – Find it on Trip.com here!
City Convenient Hotel – If you’re after private rooms, this hotel is perfect with a morning buffet breakfast – Find it on Trip.com here!
Places to eat in Xi’an
There are still a few great vegan-friendly options in Xi’an but if you don’t have a diet preference, you’ll be able to find lots of street food and restaurants inside the city walls. Here are our vegan recommendations:
- Shangzhai Leizhali Noodle Restaurant – amazing biang biang noodles in Xi’an with vegan options (check Happy Cow)
- Shangdao – great veggie food near a temple with tasty dumplings!
- Daxingshan Temple Restaurant – our favourite Chinese veggie place in Xi’An!
Day 14 – 17 | Chengdu
Chengdu is well known for being the panda destination of China, but there’s so much more to this fun city! We’re so glad we added Chengdu to our 3 week China itinerary and we’ll show you why.
It’s the capital of the Sichuan Province, home to hot pots, spicy food, trendy markets and a huge amount of teahouses. In fact, Chengdu has the most teahouses in China and you’ll see them everywhere!
We didn’t end up visiting the panda sanctuaries (zoos) but the whole city is panda-themed, so we didn’t miss out too much. We recommend spending 2-3 days in Chengdu! Here’s our 3 Day Chengdu Itinerary to plan your trip!
How to get from Xi’an to Chengdu
The train from Xi’an to Chengdu takes around 3 hours and there are morning trains which means you can arrive in Chengdu city by lunchtime! We checked into our accommodation and grabbed a bowl of Sichuan noodles on day 14 and still had a full 2 days to explore Chengdu.
There are three stations in Chengdu in the East, North and South. You can book your trains on Trip or use Railway 12306!
Things to do in Chengdu
From exploring the beautiful city centre to taking a day trip to Leshan, there are many ways to spend a few days in Chengdu. It’s also the perfect base to discover more of the Sichuan province! Here are our favourite things to do in Chengdu.
Daci Temple
A beautiful spot to try authentic tea is Daci Temple. Inside the lovely temple is a little outdoor teahouse. We tried the popular Jasmine Flower Tea and Green Tea (kind of pricey here though) and they also serve snacks! It’s in the middle of the high-end Taikoo Li which is another cool area to explore.
Chinese Opera
During our 3 weeks in China, we managed to see the Chinese Opera in Chengdu and it was an amazing experience! They served us free sunflower seeds and tea whilst we watched a mask-changing performance, a shadow puppet show and multiple tricks. We visited Shufengya Yun on Qin Tai Road.
Wu Hou Shrine
One of the most photogenic and interesting spots to visit in Chengdu is Wu Hou Shrine. Wander through the red walls with bamboo and learn about China’s history! You can find the Temple of Liu Bei & Temple of Zhuge Liang here as well as Liu Bei’s tomb.
Start your morning with a visit to Chengdu’s beautiful Wu Hou Shrine! This is a great place in China to learn about the Three Kingdoms era. You can buy tickets on Trip to skip the queues!
Jinli Road
You can’t miss Jinli Road as it’s right next to the Wu Hou Shrine. Another busy street filled with snacks, gifts and wonderful Chinese architecture.
The Leshan Giant Buddha
Chengdu is the gateway to seeing the Leshan Giant Buddha! We took a day trip to Leshan by train just to see the impressive 71-metre-high riverside carved Buddha. We felt like ants compared to the Buddha’s foot. Book your Leshan Budda Tickets on Trip in advance!
Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley
A very popular area in Chengdu is Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley filled with panda-themed merchandise, trendy cafes and lots of snacks! The street is also lined with beautifully old buildings and Chinese architecture.
Tianfu Square
Take a quick visit to Tianfu Square to find Chairman Mao’s Statue (the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party). The large square is surrounded by tall skyscrapers, museums and a theatre if you’re interested in visiting.
Where to stay in Chengdu
Desti Youth Park Hostel – We loved spending a few days here during our China itinerary. It’s the perfect location with dorms and private rooms – Find it on Trip.com here!
Howdy Smart Hotel – If you’re looking for affordable private rooms with balconies and breakfast, this is the place to be – Find it on Trip.com here!
Places to eat in Chengdu
The vegan scene in Chengdu is still pretty good even compared to China’s major cities. Here are our vegan-friendly recommendations:
- Su Shan Mian – the best authentic Sichuan noodles!
- Leshan Buddha (restaurant) – a great veggie buffet by the Leshan Buddha.
- One Leaf, One World – the most incredible vegan hot pot, anyone should try!
Day 17 – 19 | Guilin
Guilin is known for its incredible natural scenery in China and we completely agree! The region is beautiful and defining worth adding to your 3 week China route.
Although our time in Guilin was short, we enjoyed it so much! The city was much smaller than other Chinese cities on this itinerary and it was the gateway to the beautiful Yangshuo countryside. After exploring a day in the city, we jumped on a lovely cruise through the Li River.
So on our 3 week China itinerary, you can spend 2-5 days in Guilin or spend 2 nights in Guilin and 2 nights in Yangshuo. We chose to stay in both so we could fully explore the places without day trips.
How to get from Chengdu to Guilin
It’s easy to get from Chengdu to Guilin by HSR but the journey will take 5 hours, so a little longer than other travel days. Take this day to rest and get ready for your last few days of this China itinerary!
We arrived at Guilin West Railway Station which is north of the city centre. We called a Didi for this journey as there isn’t a metro system in Guilin and the buses are not regular! You can book your trains on Trip or use Railway 12306!
Things to do in Guilin
As we visited Yangshuo separately after visiting Guilin, we’ll focus on the things to do in Guilin city centre and any other day trips that aren’t in Yangshuo.
Xiaoyao Tower
We stumbled across Xiaoyao Tower when exploring Guilin and were blown away by the views of the karst hills. There’s a fair few steps to climb up but it’s worth it!
Elephant Trunk Hill
There’s a small fee to enter the park but you’ll be greeted with more amazing views of Guilin after a short hike. You’ll really notice that nature is changing as you head further south on your 3 week China trip. The hill was named Elephant Trunk Hill as it resembles an elephant with a trunk drinking from the Li River water.
Sun and Moon Pagodas
One of the highlights of Guilin is the Sun and Moon Pagodas in the middle of Shan Lake. They are beautiful and although built during the Tang Dynasty, they were reconstructed in the early 2000s.
You have to see these in the day and night to truly appreciate them!
Guilin Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street
Guilin isn’t all about nature and there’s still a small city centre to explore. Wonder through the pedestrianised Zhengyang Road and see the various market stalls, shops and cute stores in the area.
Longji Rice Terraces
The Longji Rice Terraces are north of Guilin so visiting these would require a day trip. It’s known as one of the most spectacular places in China with a beautiful backdrop and surrounding nature.
Sadly we never visited these rice terraces but we’ve seen some lovely paddies around the world and these must be worth a visit if you’ve never seen them before! Find more information here.
Take the Li River cruise to Yangshuo
One of the best activities we did during our 3 week China itinerary was taking a cruise on the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo. It was beautiful! We booked our boat journey with Trip for an affordable price and spent the morning cruising through the best views in China. Book your boat cruise in advance here!
Where to stay in Guilin
Magnolia Hotel – a great location on the east of the city centre, some rooms have beautiful views and the hotel is well decorated – Find it on Trip.com here!
Gangshe Rooftop View Hotel – stay with a bit of luxury and enjoy the views of Guilin – Find it on Trip.com here!
Places to eat in Guilin
- Nengren Temple Restaurant – an amazing veggie buffet with Guilin specialities!
- Tian Fu Lou – another tasty buffet in a lovely location!
Day 19 – 21 | Yangshuo
Yangshuo was one of the reasons we wanted to visit China in the first place so it had to be added to our 3 week China itinerary. It did not disappoint and the scenery is incredible! Spend 2 or 3 nights here exploring the quiet countryside roads, hiking, rock climbing and simply breathing the fresh country air!
Alongside the beautiful nature, Yangshuo also has a town centre with numerous restaurants, snacks, stores and affordable accommodations.
How to get from Guilin to Yangshuo
There are a few ways to get from Guilin to Yangshuo and our favourite one is by a Boat Cruise on the Li River. You can book these tickets on Trip or online. Alternatively, you can catch a 30-minute train (although the train station is really far away from Yangshuo centre) or a bus!
We recommend spending half a day on the boat cruise though to get the most out of the incredible nature!
Things to do in Yangshuo
There are quite a few things to do in Yangshuo but we encourage you to relax! We rented an e-scooter from our hostel and explored the quaint roads of Yangshuo. We found rice paddies, incredible views, old bridges and countryside walks.
Explore the Countryside
One of the best things to do in Yangshuo is to simply explore! Rent a friendly e-scooter from Climbers Inn and drive around the small roads. We made so many stops because everywhere is stunning!
Go Bamboo Rafting
A popular activity to do in the countryside is to take a bamboo rafting tour. We found these absolutely everywhere and they look really fun!
West Street
Spend your evenings wandering through West Street and all the alleyways surrounding it. Here you’ll find restaurants, street food and shops! There are also a few bars with music.
Jima Wharf
We stumbled across Jima Wharf when cruising around on our bike. The area is so scenic and it’s also a great place to do the bamboo rafting. We wandered around the fields and walked along the lake.
Moonhill
Moonhill is a hiking spot on this 3 week China itinerary, but if you don’t feel like a trek, you can head to Moonhill Viewpoint to see the unique rock formations from the ground.
TV Tower Hike
Another hiking spot is the TV Tower where you’ll have the best views of the countryside.
We opted for Yangshuo Park as it was only a 15-minute climb to the top compared to a 2-hour-plus hike. The views were amazing!
Where to stay in Yangshuo
Climbers Inn – We spent a couple of nights here during our 3 week China trip and it was lovely! Nice balconies and we rented a scooter from the owner – Find it on Booking.com here!
Yangshuo Antiya Hotel – For something a little more luxurious but still affordable, stay in the heart of nature and enjoy the views and swimming pool – Find it on Trip.com here!
Places to eat in Yangshuo
- Guilin Rice Noodles (ask for a vegan option)
- Namo Namo Ganga Impression – a lovely Indian restaurant with vegetarian options!
Day 22 – So we had to add an extra day to our 3 weeks in China dedicated to travelling out of the country. We went from Yangshuo back to Guilin and then took a speed train to Hong Kong.
So our last day (day 22) is only a travel day. If you can only spend 3 weeks in China, you can remove a day from somewhere else on this itinerary such as Xi’an.
Hong Kong is outside of mainland China and is classed as a ‘special administrative region (SAR) of China, so we haven’t included it in our 3 week China itinerary. But we’ve created a 3 day Hong Kong guide as we loved it!
3 Week China Itinerary Breakdown
Here’s how many nights we spent in each destination in China. If you prefer nature, you take a day from Xi’an and add it to Guilin or Yangshuo. Alternatively, you can take a day trip to the mountains from Xi’an! This 3 week China itinerary is perfect for any first-time traveller to China!
- 4 nights in Shanghai
- 4 nights in Beijing
- 4 nights in Xi’an
- 3 nights in Chengdu
- 2 nights in Guilin
- 2 nights in Yangshuo
Overview of 3 weeks in China
Overall we finished our 3 week China trip feeling so happy and wanting to come back. This itinerary is a perfect first-time visit where you can see how diverse the country is and the main highlights. We’ve covered a few areas down below that we would love to explore next time.
The only part we’d change about our China itinerary is adding more time! Which is how we feel about places we really love. Read our China Travel Guides to plan your bucket list trip!
Where to stay in China
Here are our recommendations on where to stay in each city in China. Hostels are really affordable if you’re happy with dorms, but some also have private rooms. Most accommodation is affordable depending on your budget.
China’s largest booking platform is Trip.com so you’ll find most of our links send you to Trip! It’s just like Booking.com or GetYourGuide and it’s all on one platform. We used Trip for everything in China.
- Shanghai – Dayin International Youth Hostel
- Beijing – Beijing Xinqiao Hotel
- Xi’an – Tiny Spot Hostel
- Chengdu – Desti Youth Park Hostel
- Guilin – Magnolia Hotel
- Yangshuo – Climbers Inn
How to get to China
China is a huge country and ultimately the best way to get to China is to fly! We recommend starting in Shanghai for this itinerary but you can also fly into Hong Kong (and do this itinerary backwards) or Beijing and then make the extra effort to visit Shanghai.
Some of the major cities even have more than one international airport. We noticed that Shanghai had more affordable flight routes than Beijing from London.
From each airport, you can order a Didi (taxi) on arrival or catch a metro into the city centre. China is very well connected.
How to get around China
We used the High-Speed Rail to get around the country of China. It’s a HUGE country. We can’t underestimate that! Flight tickets are more expensive than trains and can often take the same time when you factor in the extra time at an airport.
You’ll need to book your train tickets in advance, especially when travelling in peak season. You can book your trains on Trip or use Railway 12306!
When you’re trying to get around each city you’ll need to get a transport card on Ali Pay or WeChat. Set this up before you arrive in China and you’ll realise China has a very good public transport system. You can use the transport card on Ali Pay to pay for buses and metros! We also recommend Didi, a ridesharing taxi service similar to Uber.
Safety and Security in China
Overall China felt like a very safe country to us. We had no problems and never had to go out of our way to feel safe, which is such a relief when travelling.
There are security cameras everywhere! At first, it felt a little daunting but then we realised it increases safety by reducing crime.
Every metro station in China will require you to scan your bags and sometimes they will want to smell your drink to check if it’s safe. We’ve also been asked to take a sip of our drink. You’ll always have to scan your bags at train stations too.
You’ll need your passport to buy tickets at most attractions in China, so it’s best to always carry your passport around with you. Find a little sleeve or cover to keep it safe! Find more tips in our China travel tips guide.
We’ve experienced some pretty bad air pollution in Delhi, and it makes Beijing feel like heaven. China has done a good job at trying to stop air pollution in the major cities by using electric cars. Honestly, it feels so futuristic to walk around without the rumble of traffic.
Best time to visit China
As China is a huge country, there are different times to visit specific regions. We visited in October and thought that it was a good balance of weather although we did need a jacket in Beijing and Xi’an times.
But for this 3 week China itinerary, we recommend visiting in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to October). Anything outside of these months will be hot, rainy or cold. The south will always be warmer but Beijing can get snow in the winter!
When to avoid visiting China:
Due to holidays in China, there are times that we recommend avoiding. The country will be extremely busy! Trains and accommodation will be harder to book and you’ll feel like a sardine at most tourist destinations as most of the country gets time off.
Avoid visiting China the first week of October (Golden Week), the weeks around Chinese New Year and the week around Labor Day in May.
Mandarin Phrases to Know in China
It’s best to know a little Mandarin before visiting China but luckily it’s quite easy to get around in 2025 with translation apps and English signs! Here’s a few basics to start your China trip:
- Hello – Nihao (Nee haow)
- Thank you – Xiexie (Sshyeah-sshyeah)
- No – Bu (Boo)
- Yes – Shi de (Shee duh)
- Goodbye – Zaijian (Dzeye je ehn)
- Good Morning – Zaoshang hao (Dzow shung haow)
- Good Night – Wan’an (Wun-un)
- How are you? – Nihao ma (Nee haoww ma)
- Good – Hen hao (Hun haow)
- Not So Good – Bu tai hao (Boo tye haow)
There’s a few variations for these phrases such as formal and informal, but these will impress a few locals for now!
Our China Travel Tips guide is full of more ways to prepare for your 3 weeks in China. Check it out here!
Is China expensive?
China isn’t expensive but it’s also not the most affordable country to travel around. Food, local travel and some hostels are inexpensive but our budget took a bit when booking our bullet trains!
China is a huge country, so you can either travel to each destination by High-Speed Rail or flight. Trains are still more affordable than flying, but our train from Shanghai to Beijing wasn’t cheap!
We tracked all of our travel expenses for our China 3 week itinerary and would love to share our China budget in an in-depth guide!
More places to visit in China
These are all the pins we had saved on my map before planning our 3 week China trip. We didn’t get to visit these destinations on our trip, but hopefully, we come back in the future to discover more incredible places in China.
- Zhangjiajie National Park – Avatar land! you may have seen photos of Zhangjiajie online and it looks like a paradise. You can visit after Chengdu before making your way to Guilin, but you’ll need extra travel time or a flight.
- Jiuzhai Valley National Park – Close to Chengdu with incredible blue lakes that remind us of Canada.
- Chongqing – Take a trip to another fast-growing mega-city with an incredible mountain backdrop!
- Pingyao – a beautifully preserved ancient city between Beijing and Xi’an
- Dali – Explore the region to discover Lijang, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Qiaotou!
Other destinations on our list to visit: Datong, Nanning, Guiyang, Fanjing Mountain and Zhangye Danxia National Geopark!
Is China worth visiting?
YES! This trip felt quite personal for me (Amy). I’ve wondered about China ever since I watched a documentary as a child. It was a dream to visit China and see what the country is truly like.
Spending 3 weeks in China was so worth it and near the end of the trip, we wanted to spend longer. Don’t worry, 3 weeks is a good amount of time though, especially as there are a lot of cities on our 3 week China route.
So, overall, China is definitely worth visiting in 2025 and you’ll see us going back in the future!
That’s the end of our 3 Week China Itinerary! Have an incredible trip! Check out more of our China travel guides:
- Things to know before visiting China (for the first time)
- The Best Xi’an Itinerary: 3 Days in Xi’an
- 4 Day Beijing Itinerary
- The Best 3 Day Chengdu Itinerary
- 4 Day Shanghai Travel Guide
- 3 Day Hong Kong Itinerary (we visited here after our China trip)
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