r/goChinaTrip

Hi everyone!

I’m a Chinese university student, and some of my friends are studying tourism and international communication. We love traveling and learning about different cultures.

Recently, we noticed that many foreigners are interested in visiting China, but planning a trip can be confusing:

Which cities should you visit?

How should you plan your route?

How do you use transportation in China?

What places are actually worth visiting?

How can you experience the local side of China instead of only tourist attractions?

So we want to help!

If you are planning to visit China (or just interested in China travel), feel free to comment:

Where are you from?

When are you planning to visit China?

What kind of experience do you like? (food, history, nature, culture, photography, nightlife, etc.)

We can share some local suggestions and help you create a better itinerary.

No advertising, just hoping to help more people understand the real China and have a better travel experience. 😊

Hello everyone, I need your advice on my upcoming trip to China in late October. I'm arriving and departing from Shanghai. It's a 17-day trip (15 nights). There are so many cool places and I honestly can't decide where to go. I've already visited Beijing, Changsha, and Fujian, but this time I'm going solo. I love nature, urban cities, history, and food.

Here's my rough plan so far. I want to stay in Shanghai for a few days and do a day trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou. Then I want to head to Chengdu and Chongqing and take my time exploring these cities. There are so many cool day trips from there, like Wulong Karst, Leshan Giant Buddha, Project 816, and Mount Emei. These three cities would take me around ten or eleven nights, but this is flexible.

The thing is, I can't decide what to do with the remaining days because everything sounds so interesting. I'm considering Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, Zhangjiajie for the Avatar mountains and hiking, Guilin and Yangshuo for the Li River and karst peaks, or even flying to Seoul since I've never been to Korea. I'm already taking a long flight from home to East Asia, it feels like a good opportunity to visit another country while I'm in the region.

What are your thoughts? Should I add one of these places, go to Seoul, or just spend more time in Chengdu and Chongqing with more day trips?

About me: I walk a lot and use the day to its maximum. I'm fast-paced but still like to pause and enjoy the scenery. I also love street food and local restaurants, and I don't mind taking domestic flights or high-speed trains.

Thanks in advance for your help 🙏🏼

Good day everyone! I’m m27 will be visiting Shanghai for a week and would like to know recommendations for attractions, shopping, and things to do in Shanghai when I’m visiting.
Primarily focused on good night life , restaurants/cafes and shopping

I am sure that this same type of post gets made multiple times a day, but I am hoping that some of you will give me some good recommendations of places to go and see in China on my upcoming trip.

I will be traveling in February. I will fly into Beijing and I will fly out of Hong Kong. The only confirmed stop along the way is Ruijun (where my wife was born) but everything else is totally up in the air.

My wife and I love interesting food, old cities and good places to walk around. We don’t really like theme parks and crowded tourist attractions.

We will be in China for roughly 13 days, and I’d love to hear about places that others have been to that would be worth a stop for a day or twos

Hey guys. I live in Chongqing and see a lot of tourists getting confused by the internet hype. I want to share my real opinions so you do not waste your time or money.

Hongyadong

Please do not go during the day. It is just a regular building then. The lights only turn on from 8 PM to 11 PM. Also ignore anyone offering a fast track pass because they are scammers. Just walk down the Daijia Alley cliffside path right next to it. It is free and has great photo angles. You also avoid the crazy elevator lines.

Jiefangbei Monument

It is right in the city center but honestly it is just a monument surrounded by luxury malls. Take a quick photo and move on. Also please do not buy those bright pink or green candied fruits sold here. They are artificially dyed and taste terrible.

Chongqing Zoo

If you want to see pandas then this is a must. It has one of the largest panda populations in the world.

Mountain City Walkway

This is where you feel the real history of Chongqing. Walking along the cliffside stairs by the river and drinking traditional tea is incredibly relaxing. I give this place an 8.5 out of 10.

The Great Hall of the People

It is a stunning traditional building but there is no need to go inside. Just admire it from the square outside.

Baixiangju Residence

This building went viral online but the locals living there are exhausted. They have put up no photography signs everywhere. If you go then please be quiet and respect their privacy. The architecture is cool but the vibe has been ruined by overcrowding.

Longmenhao Old Street

Such a beautiful spot. The sunlight on the bluestone paths and the stilt houses against the river view make for amazing photos. It is also full of hidden gem cafes and the night lights are gorgeous.

Testbed 2 (Eling Er Chang)

A trendy arts district in an old factory. The rooftop offers a stunning panoramic view of the city. However it has become quite commercialized and crowded lately.

Yangtze River Cable Car

It is basically an aerial bus across the river. Just do a one way trip. The round trip views are identical and you will have to queue all over again for the return. Grab a window seat for the best view.

Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street

This is where the locals actually hang out. It is a massive shopping and food hub. There is a famous neon screen here. It is packed so expect to wait in line for photos but the cyberpunk vibe is totally worth it.

Shiba Ti (Eighteen Steps)

Historically significant but now it is heavily commercialized. It is basically just a long staircase lined with souvenir shops.

Sanxia Museum

Located right across from the Great Hall. The Three Gorges exhibit is excellent. The AC is great inside so if you are tired from walking then head to the second floor terrace for a perfect view of the Great Hall.

Ciqikou Ancient Town

A thousand year old town with beautiful traditional architecture. Definitely check out Baolun Temple. Do not forget to try the famous Chen Mahua twisted dough twists.

Huguang Guild Hall

A massive complex with striking bright yellow walls that are perfect for vintage photos. Note that it requires an entry ticket. You can also listen to traditional opera inside but that costs extra.

Huangge Ancient Trail

Want the real mountain city experience? Hike this. Start from the Shangxinjie roundabout. The path is shaded by centuries old banyan trees. If you make it to Laojun Cave you get a breathtaking view of the South Bank district.

Liziba Light Rail Station

The famous train passing through a building. Honestly the viewing platform is always packed with people. You will probably find that photos taken by others online are clearer than what you can get there. You can check this off your list in about five minutes.

Raffles City

The exterior has an amazing cyberpunk aesthetic. The best free photo spot is on the street right outside Metro Exit four at Chaotianmen. Unless you are shopping there is no need to go inside because it is just like any other massive mall.

Hope this helps you guys plan a better trip. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions about arriving here.

People always debate whether Tokyo, Dubai, or Singapore is the most futuristic city on Earth, but after walking through Shanghai, I think we're missing the real answer.

Walking here messes with your sense of time. You start at the Bund waterfront, staring at a skyline that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. But turn a corner, and you're squeezing through the artistic alleyways of Tianzifang or smelling incense at the City God Temple. It's wild. You have the world's largest Starbucks Roastery sitting near historic French Concession streets, and ancient classical gardens like Yuyuan surviving right next to the chaotic Nanjing Road shopping street.

Then there's the architecture. You eventually hit the 1000 Trees building, and it honestly looks like a massive cyberpunk mountain dropped into the middle of the city. And just when you think Shanghai is all neon and glass, you take a metro ride to Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town with canals and stone bridges—the "Venice of Shanghai"—feeling centuries away from the downtown skyscrapers.

I filmed the whole walk in 4K just capturing the ambient sounds of the city—no talking, no music. It’s just the raw noise of Shanghai, from the crazy pedestrian streets to the quiet M50 art district.

Honestly, does Shanghai take the crown for the most futuristic city, or is it just the best at hiding its ancient past in plain sight? Would love to hear what you guys think.

I want to travel to China in the last two weeks of December until January. I want to visit Peking, Chongquing, Shanghai, Shenzen and some natural parks along the way (e.g. Avatar mountains). I read that Peking will be quite cold. Does anyone have experience for the places and can tell me if this trip will be worth it at this time of year of if I should reschedule for another season? Thank you!

I’m planning to visit Kunming next month and would like to know what there is to do and eat there, as well as which attractions are must-sees. Please give me some recommendations.

it's really easy to book tickets and hotels on line ,however restaurant navigation could be a little bit challenging. so what do you guys usually use to find restaurants when you visit china ?

Hi guys, im travelling to Pekin for 4 days, Chengdu for 3 days and Chongqing for 2 days soon. Im looking for recommendations of things to do, get to see the Musts but also try and loose the tourist traps and get to see authentic places. Any recommendation is wellcome!!!

Hi everyone!

I am going for a month in China in a few weeks.

I am a French food, YouTuber, and I would love to have some ideas from you guys

I’m looking for the best spot to show in my videos.
Like unusual food spot or even weird food.

But not only, I also want to show some classic Chinese food.

Beijing Shanghai, anywhere in the country your addresses are welcome!

Thanks a lot ❤️

I visited Chengdu and Shenzhen in 2025, and honestly, both cities completely surprised me after dark. Chengdu had that relaxed vibe with spicy Sichuan food, busy little streets, bars, live music, and people hanging out late into the night. It felt lively without being too overwhelming.

Shenzhen was the complete opposite. The futuristic skyline, neon lights, rooftop bars, and nonstop energy made it feel like I was in a completely different world. The city seems to have a much faster and more modern nightlife scene.

What I loved most was how different they felt. Chengdu was all about food, people, and a relaxed atmosphere, while Shenzhen felt futuristic and high energy. Which Chinese city has the best nightlife in your opinion?

Xi’an has way too much to fit into two days.

If you only had 48 hours, what would you prioritize — and what would you skip?
Famous sights, food, nightlife, history, local experiences… anything goes.

Curious how you’d spend those 48 hours.

Hi I’m in Beijing right now with my family and we were meant to go to Mutianyu Great Wall today but the entire great wall is closed due to rain indefinitely. Tomorrow is our last chance to see it and we have a train to Xi’an tomorrow evening as well. Has anyone had similar issues? What’s our best chance of seeing it tomorrow? Is Badaling more likely to be open tomorrow?

Hi guys, im travelling to Pekin for 4 days, Chengdu for 3 days and Chongqing for 2 days soon. Im looking for recommendations of things to do, get to see the Musts but also try and loose the tourist traps and get to see authentic places. Any recommendation is wellcome!!!

My partner and I have recently booked flights to Beijing for April 18 2027. We are planning to travel China for 3 weeks. We have become aware that the Labour Day public holiday is an extremely busy time in China. We want to try and avoid these big crowds as much as possible while still making the most of our time. Our ideal route would be Beijing > Xi’an > Chengdu > Chongqing > Zhangjiaje > Shanghai however we want to make sure we are in a quiet base for the May Day period. Would you have any recommendations about our route or where to go for the Labour Day public holiday period?

Any tips, recommendations or anything else about a 3 week trip to China for first timers would be so appreciated 🙃