r/chinatravel

I revisitChina every few years, but I currently do not have a good way/app to find places to travel to that arent overhyped or basic/tourist traps... What is everyone else's experience is the best way to find more unique experiences in China, ones that locals would actually go to?

Im not sure what to search for on XHU to get the results I want!

Edit: to be more specific, I'm revisitng Beijing, Shenzhen, Xinjiang and maybe Tibet.

I grew up here, so I’m probably biased. but after years of watching everyone flock to Guilin, Zhangjiajie, and Xi’an, I honestly think my hometown deserves way more love. if you want countryside that looks like a painting, ancient villages that feel stuck in time, and mountains that hit different, come to Shangrao.

Food

heads up: we’re all about spice out here. most dishes will put hair on your chest if you’re not used to it.

the whole city runs on rice noodles. breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack, no matter the time, people are slurping noodles. pork liver noodles, pork chop noodles, lamb noodles, intestine noodles, each with its own broth. Shangrao noodles are thicker and chewier than Guilin’s, topped with fresh stir-fried bits and a spoon of lard mixed in. try it once and you’ll get why locals eat this every damn day.

then there’s all the guǒ (粿) stuff. rice-based snacks that feel like their own little world. yanshan dengzhan guǒ is the big one: rice flour skin stuffed with shrimp, squid, pork belly, mushrooms, and bean sprouts, steamed until soft and stretchy. fanfu guǒ is a must in early summer, looks like tangyuan but comes in bone broth with mushrooms and sprouts. maci guǒ is pounded sticky rice wrapped around a fried dough stick, the ultimate breakfast combo. qingming guǒ is mugwort skin filled with smoked pork and bamboo shoots, smells like heaven.

don’t skip the taro braised with beef either. it’s on every local menu and pairs perfectly with rice.

prices here are crazy low. most meals cost under 20 RMB. you’ll eat like a king without breaking the bank.

Sights

sanqingshan is the main show. it’s a unesco site and honestly gives huangshan a run for its money. granite peaks sticking out of the clouds, especially wild in the afternoon mist. i used to stay at the hilton at the base of the mountain, though i haven’t been back in years so there might be better options now.

wangxian valley is the new kid on the block and not many travelers know about it yet. waterfalls, glass walkways, bamboo forests, it’s like walking into a movie set. a quick half-day hike that feels unreal.

wuyuan is called china’s prettiest village, and yeah, it lives up to the hype. white walls, grey roofs, mountains in the background. from march to early april, the whole valley turns bright yellow with rapeseed flowers. one of those views that actually makes your jaw drop.

jingdezhen is a separate city but easy to add to the trip. it’s been china’s ceramic capital for over a thousand years. you can watch potters throw and glaze pots in the old kiln district, take a workshop, and buy stuff straight from artists for way cheaper than tourist traps.

Getting there

shangrao’s high-speed rail station is super convenient. direct trains from shanghai (~2 hrs), hangzhou (~1.5 hrs), and nanjing (~2.5 hrs). perfect for a weekend escape from the yangtze delta.

Hello, I’m traveling to China for the first time and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything I’ve heard.

First, I’d really appreciate advice on practical things like payments and apps. I’ve heard that WeChat and Alipay are essential, should I set those up in advance? I mainly use WhatsApp and Instagram, so I’m wondering if I’ll need a VPN to access them, or if using an eSIM like Airalo would be enough. Also, is it easy for foreigners to set up WeChat? Do people still use cash, or is everything fully digital now? Any tips on transportation would also be very helpful.

Second, regarding my trip, I’ll be in Canton from the 15th to the 20th for the fair, and then in Beijing from the 20th to the 23rd. I’d love to visit the Great Wall of China while I’m in Beijing. Do you have any recommendations on the best sections to visit or other must-see things to do in the city?

I was looking to install an eSIM for my trip to China in October, but I realized that T-Mobile has locked my device and can only be unlocked if I pay off the phone. Not really looking to do that at this time.

I understand T-Mobile provides international roaming plans that include China. Thought I’ve heard having a Chinese phone number through eSIM may make things easier and apps like AMap grant more user access. If I just go with T-Mobiles international roaming and install a VPN, should that be good enough to get around in China? Would there be any complications that could arise with not having a Chinese number?

Hi all,

I’m planning a trip to go to China for the first time. And I’m extremely overwhelmed. The reason why is because as how it looks there’s soooooooo much to do and see, plus the distances are huge.

We were thinking on cutting one day from Zhangijajie, and before going to Beijing to spend one day in Xian.

What’s your opinion?

This is our plan so far.

We will be in China for 14 full days.

3 full days Shanghai

Day 4 early flight to Zhangijajie

Day 4 till day 6 stay in Zhangijajie

Day 6 early train to Furong and stay there the night

Day 7 early train to Chongqing

Day 8 and day 9 Chongqing

Day 10 early flight to Beijing

Day 10 till day 14 Beijing.

Any opinion, tip, comment will be appreciated.

Hello, I'm planning a trip to China from late December to early January and I'd appreciate some help from those of you who have already visited.

I know it will be cold, but these are the days I have and honestly, I prefer traveling in the cold than in the heat. My itinerary is below.

12/20 ~ 12/25 - Beijing (4 full days)

12/25 ~ 12/28 - Xi'an (2 full days)

12/28 ~ 01/02 - Shanghai (4 full days)

My flight would arrive in Beijing and I would return from Shanghai. My travel style is more relaxed; I prefer to spend more days in cities and enjoy them at a more leisurely pace.

Maybe I'll take some day trips near Beijing and Shanghai; the itinerary is still in its early stages.

Hey I’m doing some research out of curiosity about unusual travel experiences in China for international visitors no sales pitch just trying to understand what people actually think

Here’s what I’m looking into

TCM wellness retreats multi day traditional Chinese medicine programs

Intangible cultural heritage workshops learning crafts directly from local artisans

Gobi Desert expeditions guided multi day treks

Cave dwelling stays authentic experiences in rural yaodong caves

A few questions

Which of these if any would genuinely interest you

What would make you book it or skip it

What kind of budget feels right for a 5–7 day niche experience like this

Any concerns language safety logistics anything else

Really appreciate any honest thoughts positive or skeptical just curious to hear what feels real to you

Best phone plane for 7 day visit?

What phone plan is best for travel to China?🇨🇳 I need a plan with data enough for TikTok

Please give your recommendations thanks

Been scouring online for an answer for this but can’t seem to find anything about being able to apply for a China travel permit from the US, wanted to check here if anyone might know anything about this? Or will I have to apply for a standard tourist visa if applying from the US?

Planning to go to China for 5 days in the first week of June, will be in HK for 3 days before, so won’t have enough time to apply for it while I’m there.

Any insights would be helpful! Thank you!

Hi

I will be travelling to China next week for work. Obviously, I will have some time to travel too.

I will be visitng Beijing, Tianjin and Hangzhou for work. Friday, the last working day of the week, I will be in Hangzhou.

My question is should I visit Shanghai cutting short my trip of Hangzhou(go to Shanghai on Saturday) or cut of Shanghai from my travel?

P.S : if I don't visit Shanghai at all, I will have 2 days (give or take half day) to travel Hangzhou.

My flight back is on the Sunday.

Hi i am traveling from India to china to Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai in 2 days. I want help on what are the unique and best electronics, clothes, accessories, souvenirs items etc to buy in these cities.

Suggest streets, stores, malls to shop from in these cities and what mode of payment is accepted easily. will need to carry CNY currency accordingly.

also which are the unique and best cafes and malls to visit.

Hi

I need help in regarding the applications that need to be installed on our phones to make payments, navigate in China.

Alipay is already setup in my phone

help me setup wechat and other apps necessary by giving steps. I have Indian phone number.

also I have international roaming on my airtel connection. Should i buy esim or local china sim to access websites and applications?