China Travel Insights

China Travel Insights

China Travel Insights

The information and insights shared by our experts to you

Our China travel insights are for anyone with wanderlust and ready for a return to travel. Carrying the desire for an international jaunt? We get it! If you’re like us here at ChinaTours.com, despite lockdowns and border closures (or maybe because of them!), we’re more enthusiastic than ever about the prospect of guiding our customers to discover new places.

On board? We’re thrilled!

Before you explore, take a trip through our China travel insights. For travel in China, including luxury adventures, find everything you need to plan, organize – and finally savor that once-in-a lifetime travel experience.

Not ready to hit the road, but want to keep your travel flame burning? Check out the China culture page. Fancy yourself as an armchair globetrotter? Discover the very best of things to do in China by city, with the details on every highlight provided by our wonderful guides on the ground.

And if you have any questions, simply get in touch . We are here for you.


China Travel Insights

Whether your question relates to the best time to visit China, the best places to visit, or you simply want to dive deep into Chinese culture, start your adventure here with us. As a travel agency with a deep understanding of what western travelers want, we love bringing the travel dreams of our customers to life by creating beautiful travel memories. Start your journey with us right here.

Mastering the Move: Using Alipay for public transport in China
Mastering the Move: Using Alipay for public transport in China
By 2026, the reliance on mobile wallets like Alipay has moved from being a convenience to a total necessity for daily life, especially when it comes to...
How to Pay in China 2026: A Practical Guide for the International Visitors
How to Pay in China 2026: A Practical Guide for the International Visitors
China is one of the most cash‑light societies in the world, and for many visitors the biggest culture shock is not the language, but how people pay. In mos...
A Traveler’s Ultimate Guide to Accessing the Internet in China (2026 Edition)
A Traveler’s Ultimate Guide to Accessing the Internet in China (2026 Edition)
If you’re planning a journey to China in 2026—whether for business, culture, food, or a long-awaited adventure—there’s one thing you need to prepare fo...
Navigating China: Using WeChat Pay for public transport in China
Navigating China: Using WeChat Pay for public transport in China
In 2026, traveling through China has reached a level of digital integration where a single app—WeChat (known locally as Weixin) – functions as yo...
Is China safe to visit for westerners? How to ensure it’s safe to travel to China
Is China safe to visit for westerners? How to ensure it’s safe to travel to China
Is China a safe place to visit? (Tips for Westerners to know it is safe to travel to China)Is China a safe place to visit?We’ve been asked this qu...
Entering & Leaving China via Shanghai Airports: A Personal Guide
Entering & Leaving China via Shanghai Airports: A Personal Guide
By Alana – ChinaTours.comIntroductionLet me start with a confession: I love Shanghai. But navigating its two massive airports, Pudong (PVG) and H...
Looking for China tours from USA? Insider tips for scoring the best value (and loving your vacation)
Looking for China tours from USA? Insider tips for scoring the best value (and loving your vacation)
Contemplating your options around China tours from USA?  There has never been a better time to be researching, planning and taking China tours from the...
Best time to visit China
Best time to visit China
When is the best time of year to visit China? As an experienced China travel agency, it’s a question we’re asked a lot, particularly by western travel...
Is it time you visited China? China culture tour
Is it time you visited China? China culture tour
With 56 plus ethnic groups (including the main Han group) and a landmass spanning 9,600,000 square kilometers, a China culture tour is not for the fain...
China Tours for Seniors
China Tours for Seniors
China tours for seniors does not mean coaches crammed full of people who are herded from one tourist destination to the next.On the contrary, as a gro...
Best cities to visit in China: The ultimate China tour guide’s list
Best cities to visit in China: The ultimate China tour guide’s list
Best cities to visit in China?Whoa! That’s a tough question to answer.Even for people like us who travel the length and breadth of this vast, diverse...
China tours for singles and solo travelers: Discover the best tours for a solo traveler
China tours for singles and solo travelers: Discover the best tours for a solo traveler
Searching for the best China tours for solo travelers? Are you a single traveler looking for China tour options? Or are you an experienced solo traveler wh...
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How much does a trip to China cost: Knowing the best value when you see it
How much does a trip to China cost: Knowing the best value when you see it
How much does it cost to travel to China? is a bit like asking ‘How long is our favorite noodle?’. While it’s not impossible to answer this question, ...
How to use WeChat and WeChat Pay: Everything western travelers need to know on a China tour
How to use WeChat and WeChat Pay: Everything western travelers need to know on a China tour
WeChat and WeChat Pay are part of everyday life in China.For those who may not be aware, WeChat is a social media giant in China. With a billion users...
 Alipay step-by-step guide: How to travel and shop like a local in China 
 Alipay step-by-step guide: How to travel and shop like a local in China 
Alipay is widely recognised as one of the most important payment platforms for locals in China, with more than a whopping 80 percent of transactions an...
Flying to Beijing? Discover 7 surprising facts you should know before touching down at Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport
Flying to Beijing? Discover 7 surprising facts you should know before touching down at Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport
Flying into Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport, you could be forgiven for wondering how everyone managed with the original international airpor...
Beijing to Shanghai: make the most of travel between China’s great cities
Beijing to Shanghai: make the most of travel between China’s great cities
First time to China and want to travel from Beijing to Shanghai? Not sure how about the best ways to travel?China is such a diverse, exciting and fasc...
10 Things You Need to Know About Air Travel in China
10 Things You Need to Know About Air Travel in China
Air travel in China is one of many ways to get around, and a great choice if you want to see a lot of the country within a time limit. Experience amazi...
A Traveler’s Guide to Finding and Choosing Good Hotels in China
A Traveler’s Guide to Finding and Choosing Good Hotels in China
Hotels in China range from basic hostels to luxurious five-star hotels. There are literally thousands of them scattered all throughout China.For first...
How to plan a trip to China: Get past the overwhelm (and get excited)
How to plan a trip to China: Get past the overwhelm (and get excited)
The specifics of how to plan a trip to China can stump even the most experienced of international travelers. Amidst the challenges posed by the many Ch...
Need a China itinerary? 2 weeks of wonder on the road
Need a China itinerary? 2 weeks of wonder on the road
Are you searching “China itinerary 2 weeks” because you’re looking to book your next travel adventure?If that’s the case then chances are, you’ll want...
China in Your Pocket: a Practical Guide to Using Chinese Money
China in Your Pocket: a Practical Guide to Using Chinese Money
When paying with Chinese money, have you ever noticed that the banknotes show pictures of some of the most beautiful highlights from all over China? Ch...
North Korea Travel Guidelines: How to Travel Effortlessly Inside the Democratic People’s Republic
North Korea Travel Guidelines: How to Travel Effortlessly Inside the Democratic People’s Republic
There is no place on earth like the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) and these North Korea travel guidelines will help you have a has...
North Korean Visa Requirements: the Ins and Outs of Getting In and Out
North Korean Visa Requirements: the Ins and Outs of Getting In and Out
A North Korean visa is surprisingly simple to obtain. However, there are a few things you should know before entering the mysterious DPRK.Did you know...
The Best Multi-day China Tour Checklist: 7 Things to Tick Off Before Booking Your First Trip to China
The Best Multi-day China Tour Checklist: 7 Things to Tick Off Before Booking Your First Trip to China
Many first time travelers to China want to know how to make the most of their multi-day China tour. It’s an important consideration. A China tour is no...
How to Pack for China – The Ultimate China Packing Essentials Checklist: Important Things to Pack When Travelling to China.
How to Pack for China – The Ultimate China Packing Essentials Checklist: Important Things to Pack When Travelling to China.
How to pack for China – we believe this is the ultimate China packing essentials checklist. It’s a big call, isn’t it? But we think we’ve got this one ...
What to Pack: a Thorough China Packing List by Season and Region
What to Pack: a Thorough China Packing List by Season and Region
This China packing list by season and region is a must-read for those traveling to different parts of this incredibly diverse country. With over 20,000...
A Guide to Getting Around in Hangzhou Like a Local
A Guide to Getting Around in Hangzhou Like a Local
Getting around in Hangzhou is as easygoing as the city itself. That’s quite a big call, considering how big and bustling every China destination seems ...
How to Plan a Trip to Yunnan and Create a Beautiful Travel Memory
How to Plan a Trip to Yunnan and Create a Beautiful Travel Memory
A trip to Yunnan isn’t necessarily the first place you’d include in a China tour itinerary. However, with a deeper understanding of this beautiful Chin...
Best time to visit Beijing
Best time to visit Beijing
Whether you’re dreaming of wandering through ancient hutongs in perfect spring weather or watching autumn leaves cascade around the Great Wall, t...
Is Beijing worth visiting?
Is Beijing worth visiting?
Picture stepping into a city where 3,000 years of history unfolds beneath your feet while cutting edge innovation is found virtually in every corner. B...
How many days in Beijing? How to plan the perfect Beijing tour
How many days in Beijing? How to plan the perfect Beijing tour
Beijing, the vibrant capital of China, stands as the nation’s political and cultural epicenter – and the primary gateway for millions of internationa...
Best places to visit in China
Best places to visit in China
The ultimate bucket list of best places to visit in China would be as unwieldy as a Chinese New Year dragon if it wasn’t for the input and help from ou...
China tours from Australia?
China tours from Australia?
Booking China tours from Australia is now easy, affordable, and fun with travel restrictions well and truly a thing of the past. After all that dreamin...

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Travel Memories

Read what people say about travelling with ChinaTours.com


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Testimonials


Emily Rose
Emily Rose
Reviewed on August 26, 2026
Tripadvisor score Our tour guide Ken made the trip so special!

Aug 2026 • Couples

Ken was an AMAZING guide!! One of my favorite tour guides ever. He was so professional and knowledgeable and kind. He really looked after us and made sure everything was handled perfectly. Huge thanks to Ken!!
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J S
J S
Reviewed on August 16, 2026
Tripadvisor score Wonderful Experience in Xi’an with Eric and China Tours

July 2026

China Tours is a great tour company and you can relax in China as they pick you up from the airport, lead you to the your hotel, and arrange your tours with an experienced guide and driver. If you visit Xi-an and get tour guide, Eric, you got lucky! Eric is extremely smart, diligent, and prepared as a tour guide. He speaks English well and also has a great sense of humor. Your whole family will enjoy his company. We had a great time seeing the Terracotta Warriors, attending the live show, riding bikes on the City Wall as well as visiting the Muslim District. I have to say Xi'an is very hot and humid in July but Eric has a positive attitude and works with you to make the trip pleasurable. He also has a magic Mary Poppins-type backpack where he is able to pull out things you need i.e. umbrella, tissues, his 1st grade homework, etc. I would say he was one of the best tour guides we have had!
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noname_blank
noname_blank
Reviewed on August 15, 2026
Tripadvisor score Excellent Personal Tours of the Beijing and Xi’an regions

August 2026

We had two different guide/driver teams during our trip to China, one in Beijing from August 3–6 and another in Xi’an from August 6–8, and both were excellent.

In Beijing, our guide was Cynthia 常. She picked us up at the airport and was always on time, as was our driver. The driver had a newer Chinese electric sedan, which was very comfortable, and he was friendly and drove very well.

Cynthia was very helpful throughout the three days. She took us to all the main places we wanted to see, but she was also very flexible when we decided to change things around at the last minute. We never felt like we were being rushed through a fixed itinerary. She was also happy to help when we wanted to find local food rather than just eat at the usual tourist restaurants.

Cynthia and the driver also took us to the train station when we left Beijing, and when we arrived in Xi’an, Eric and our new driver were already there waiting for us. They were just as punctual and professional.

Eric had prepared some small trinkets for us to receive at some of the historical sites around Xi’an and Lintong. It was a small thing, but it was a nice and thoughtful touch.

We were particularly interested in trying local food, and both teams were very helpful with this. We had some great meals because of their recommendations. The river trout near the Great Wall was a particular favorite in Beijing, and of course the biang-biang noodles in Xi’an were a must.

We really appreciated having guides who were willing to listen to what we actually wanted to do instead of simply following a standard schedule. Both Cynthia and Eric were friendly, helpful and easy to travel with, and both drivers made us feel comfortable getting around.

I would definitely recommend Cynthia and Eric to other visitors, and I hope we get the chance to use them again if we return to China.
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Ernesto C
Ernesto C
Reviewed on August 15, 2026
Tripadvisor score Great experience.

August 2026

Very fast response of Lora, excellent service. Everything perfect the drivers, guides, cars, etc. Highly recomended. I used to travel a lot to China for bussiness but it is the first time I used an agent for a family holliday and it was great.
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Fraser D
Fraser D
Reviewed on July 28, 2026
Tripadvisor score China tour

July 2026 • Couples

Amazing experience we would highly recommend china tours, from booking to returning home the professionalism produce with everyone connected to china tours over a curved our expectations. Well done for a top job especially thanks to Lira at booking Cythia in Beijing Mark in Xian Robert in Chengdu Top team
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Barbara S
Barbara S
Reviewed on July 10, 2026
Tripadvisor score Our first time to China

July 2026

We have had a phenomenal trip with China Tours. We flew into Shanghai and we were met by Lucy at Customs. Three nights gave us plenty of time to see the sites in Shanghai, Suzhou and Tongli, the museum, a few gardens, park, French section, the Bund and the old section. The Hotel was gorgeous! Next we flew to Xi’an where we were met by Eric and our driver. Both Eric and Lucy are fluent in English. Both are incredible knowledgeable about their perspective cities. With Eric we visited the Terracotta Soldiers, and Goose Pagoda. I left my phone in the restroom of the Pagoda. I realized my phone was missing about 30 minutes and 35 miles later. Eric went the extra mile, my phone was found intact and after a special detour it was returned to me. If coming to Xi’an I recommend Eric as your guide. There is so much to see and do here! A natural hot springs, mountain trails, museums, the City wall!
I am very impresssed with how smooth our trip has been and how personalized it is. From the accommodations, the drivers, guides, tours, in country flights I am incredibly pleased with Chinatours and I recommend them highly.
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Cruiser63567
Cruiser63567
Reviewed on July 07, 2026
Tripadvisor score China 8 day tour

June 2026 • Solo

So impressed with China Tours. Communication from the main contact (Dora) was clear and timely. I had three guides on the trip (Lee, Summer and John), all of them were perfect with good communications and a friendly / knowledgeable delivery of their local knowledge. I highly recommend China Tours to anyone who wants to see some of the amazing sights China has to offer
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Ben H
Ben H
Reviewed on July 06, 2026
Tripadvisor score Amazing tour guides and tour.

May 2026

We had a wonderful trip with China Tours - the tour was everything we could have wanted - wonderful tour guides, a small group, good hotels in central locations! No forced shopping stopovers like a lot of the competition. Would absolutely use and recommend China Tours
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