China travel guide
China is a country of scale and contrast. In one journey you can walk the Great Wall near Beijing, stand before the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, drift past limestone peaks on the Li River at Guilin and watch pandas in Chengdu. The food alone, from Sichuan hotpot to Cantonese dim sum, is worth planning around. Choosing where to go is the main task. Beijing and Xi'an suit history, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou form a compact eastern circuit of skylines, lakes and gardens, Chengdu is the base for Sichuan, and Guilin and Yangshuo offer the classic river scenery of the south. High-speed trains link most of these cities, so a multi-stop route is easier than the map suggests, and each region feels like a different country. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for most of the country. China suits curious first-time visitors, history lovers and food-minded travellers. Zippy Trips can help you plan the itinerary city by city.
Capital: Beijing.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to China
- Currency
- CNY ¥
- Emergency number
- 110
- Plug type
- Type A, C, I
- Tap water
- Drink bottled water
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Bargaining
- Common
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- UnionPay, Visa (limited), Mastercard (limited), Amex (limited)
- ATM fees
- CNY 0-100 at the local end plus your home-bank foreign-withdrawal fee
Cities in China
- Beijing China's capital and 3,000-year-old political and cultural heart — home to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and…
- Shanghai China's dazzling financial capital where the colonial Bund faces the futuristic Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River, threaded with…
- Guangzhou The sprawling capital of Guangdong and cradle of Cantonese cuisine, blending 2,000 years of trade history at Shamian and Yuexiu with the…
- Xi'an The ancient capital of thirteen dynasties and eastern terminus of the Silk Road, ringed by an intact Ming city wall and guarded by the…
- Guilin Set among the surreal karst peaks of the Li River, Guilin and neighbouring Yangshuo offer China's most iconic river-and-mountain scenery,…
- Hangzhou A byword for Chinese beauty for a thousand years, Hangzhou wraps around the willow-fringed West Lake, tea terraces of Longjing and the…
- Chengdu Sichuan's laid-back capital famed for giant pandas, fiery hotpot, teahouse culture and easy access to Leshan's Grand Buddha and the…
- Suzhou The 'Venice of the East', a canal city of UNESCO-listed classical gardens, silk workshops and old-town water lanes an hour from Shanghai by…
Frequently asked questions about China
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for China?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in China?
- The currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (¥). ¥1 is about ₹14.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in China?
- Accepted card networks: UnionPay, Visa (limited), Mastercard (limited), Amex (limited). Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in China?
- Tipping in China: not expected. Not customary.
- Is tap water safe to drink in China?
- Drink bottled water. Not potable.
- What plug type does China use?
- China uses Type A, C, I plugs.
- What is the emergency number in China?
- Emergency: 110. Police: 110. Ambulance: 120.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in China?
- SIM and eSIM available in China.
- What is the capital of China?
- The capital of China is Beijing. Time there: IST + 2 h 30 min.