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Travel advice for China
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to China
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Aimee White
updated 23.03.2021
Thanks to China’s sheer enormity, travelling through the country is as much a tastebud odyssey as it is a history lesson. And eating your way around the street food markets allows you to get a true taste of the diverse culinary scene here.
The sun sets and the makeshift stalls rise, becoming a hearth that local communities swell around, eager to devour the cheap, fresh snacks on offer. From jiǎozi to jianbing, here are seven ridiculously delicious street food snacks you have to try.
8 days / from2208 USD
Sichuan Specialities: Chengdu, Temples and Pandas
Discover the Buddhist history and the natural wonders of Sichuan. From bustling Chengdu and its giant pandas, to the national parks and lake districts of Sichuan Province, to the giant Buddha statue at Leshan, this trip is perfect for those who want to discover this culturally rich part of China.
view tour ⤍5 days / from838 USD
Family Time in Guilin and Yangshuo
This 5-day family trip is a magnificent opportunity to experience the beautiful outdoor settings of Guilin and Yangshuo. Walk, cycle and raft through awe-inspiring scenery, including dramatic limestone karst mountains, and learn about the everyday lives of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups.
view tour ⤍8 days / from1962 USD
Sichuan Family Adventure
Sichuan is home to a rich and vibrant culture, stunning scenery and wildlife, and delicious cuisine. Spend time with Chengdu's giant pandas, trek around Mount Qingcheng, stand in awe of the world’s largest Buddha at Leshan, and much more, all with this exciting trip, which is perfect for families!
view tour ⤍8 days / from2479 USD
Tantalising Tibet
Tibet, known as the Rooftop of the World, is one of the most spiritual and atmospheric places on earth: ancient monasteries are carved into the mountain and festooned with colourful prayer flags. Discover the secrets of this uniquely spiritual land with this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
view tour ⤍5 days / from3300 USD
Hong Kong Deluxe
Hong Kong makes a memorable introduction to the Chinese world. Glamorous, hectic, exciting and spectacular, with fabulous food, nightlife and shopping, this is a place like no other. Explore the city at your own pace, enjoying life’s little luxuries at every turn.
view tour ⤍4 days / from1040 USD
Hong Kong in a Nutshell
A teeming, exotic and alluring metropolis, Hong Kong is uniquely rich in both cultural diversity and contrasts. In fact, there is so much packed into Hong Kong, it can be hard to know where to start, which is where this unique trip comes in.
view tour ⤍9 days / from2137 USD
The People and Cultures of Guizhou
Discover the fascinating people and cultures of Guizhou, one of China's most diverse regions. Learn about the everyday lives of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups, whilst you enjoy their colourful customs and traditions, and pass through awe-inspiring scenery such as otherworldly rice terraces.
view tour ⤍14 days / from3346 USD
The Mystical Worlds of Shangri-La & Tibet
A perfect introduction to the mystical worlds of Shangri-La and Tibet. From the breathtaking plateaus and valleys, to the historical Buddhist monasteries and villages, this trip provides a unique insight into the culture and traditions of the Tibetan people.
view tour ⤍16 days / from5521 USD
Along the Silk Road
Travel along the Silk Road, and discover the best of China with this fascinating in-depth trip. Starting in Beijing, experience the Forbidden City, the Yellow River, the Great Wall of China, Heavenly Lake, the Terracotta Army of Warriors and much more, all with this unique, detailed trip.
view tour ⤍11 days / from3462 USD
The Best of China
From well-preserved tombs to The Great Wall, this tour of China packs in all the essentials. From the bright city lights of Beijing and Shanghai to breathtaking rolling landscapes, meandering rivers and ancient treasures, there’s much to delight all visitors to China.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1465 USD
China's Old Water Towns
The area around Shanghai is home to some of China's best-kept travel secrets. Ancient water towns – picturesque towns constructed on a network of canals, featuring classical weeping gardens and romantic arched bridges – grace the area. Explore China's old water towns on this unique trip.
view tour ⤍12 days / from2436 USD
Cultural China and Majestic Yangtze River Cruise
China is a vast and varied land, seemingly full to the brim of mega cities, dramatic limestone mountains and endless countryside. This trip takes in the best the country has to offer, visiting the historic cities of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, before cruising down the Yangtze River.
view tour ⤍11 days / from2841 USD
Incredible Yunnan
Culturally rich and ethnically diverse, Yunnan is one of China’s most fascinating regions. Explore this scenic southwestern province, great to travel to year round, from the capital Kunming to the well-preserved ancient city of Jianshui, famous for its old walls.
view tour ⤍5 days / from2300 USD
Hong Kong Highlights
Hong Kong is a vibrant and appealing city, with its waterside location and towering skyscrapers, it offers the visitor modernity and tradition, the exotic and efficient. Perfect for a family break, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained from Central to the New Territories and beyond.
view tour ⤍9 days / from2560 USD
Beijing and The Great Wall of China
Following a short stay in Beijing, with its awe-inspiring Forbidden City, you will venture through the majestic Great Wall lands of Changping and Simatai, and marvel in the vibrancy of the water town of Gubei, a magnificent collage of Great Wall, mountains, lakes and ancient villages.
view tour ⤍13 days / from4686 USD
Complete China: Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai
Following a stay in resplendent Beijing, visit the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, Great Wall, and the Terracotta Army of Xi’an. Travel into the Himalayas, before hiking to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Continue to Chengdu, home of the giant panda, before entering the mythical valley of Shangri-La.
view tour ⤍5 days / from2850 USD
Hong Kong Island Insights
The bustling and dynamic city of Hong Kong is brimming with opportunities to explore its colonial past and rich Chinese heritage and culture. The perfect destination for the intrepid explorer, this unique trip won’t leave you disappointed.
view tour ⤍11 days / from3360 USD
China and Tibet – An Unforgettable Adventure
From tombs and monasteries to world-famous squares and walls, this trip takes in both China and Tibet for an unforgettable journey. Explore Beijing and all its spectacular attractions and take in the stunning natural surroundings around Chengdu and on into Tibet.
view tour ⤍You’ll find these bite-size, crescent-shaped parcels sold everywhere across the country, from tiny hole-in-the-walls at train stations to street stalls at lively public squares. Pinch your chopsticks over each piece and dip into a soy or chilli sauce, before sinking your teeth into the thin dough and soft meat and vegetable mix (usually pork and cabbage).
Plenty of hotels and tour groups organize dumpling-making classes for travellers, but you’ll be able to experience the real deal at a homestay. Traditionally, families would serve jiǎozi to celebrate their recoveries from winter illnesses. To this day, creating jiǎozi makes for major family-bonding time, particularly in the run-up to big festivals such as Spring Festival.
Sometimes dry, but always delicious, this Chinese-Islamic snack originates from the eponymous city in central China. Flaked meat is loaded in between two thin discs of dough, accompanied with a handful of cabbage and flecks of fresh ginger, diced onions and a splash of Shaoxing rice wine and chilli oil.
One of the best places to grab a xian bing is from one of the (many) small stalls in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an, the hub of the Muslim community, just west of the Bell Tower.
This 2000-year-old snack is so popular in the capital that, for those on the go, it’s the one thing that’s worth the wait. First the batter is thinly spread out onto a hotplate, then various toppings, sauces and spices are generously sprinkled and dolloped on as the batter crunches and curves skywards.
Next, a smaller, golden sheet of crispy batter (bao cui) is placed inside, which crackles as the jianbing is folded up like a parcel and served.
If you spot both locals and travellers swarming around puffs of billowing steam in the morning, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled across a baozi stall – make sure you get in line.
A popular breakfast choice, baozi are served on bamboo steamer baskets, but you’ll only need one or two to keep you going. Made using thick dough, it has a fluffy yet heavier consistency than jiǎozi, and feels as if you’re biting into a warm roll. It’s the fillings, from red beans to seaweed to minced beef, that liven up this otherwise plain bun: as soon as your teeth reach the centre, the flavour bursts and ripples across your tongue.
If you’re in need of something sweet after a big dinner, the go-to Chinese treat is tánghúlu. Skewered fruits (grapes, hawthorns, strawberries) are doused in sweet syrup that crystallises and hardens. This candied treat was first created over 800 years ago but it’s still believed to help with digestion problems.
You’ll need to crunch through the hard coating of sugar first to get to the sweet burst of fruits inside. It also has a distinctive, lingering smell, so it’s best to try one first at Wangfujing Market, Beijing, before deciding whether you can handle the annual Tánghúlu Fair in Qingdao, east China…
Usually served with soy milk, cífàntuán is another popular breakfast snack that’s enjoyed across Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Piping hot clumps of steamed rice are wrapped in a crispy sheet of thin dough (you tiao), resembling something similar to a sushi roll.
Cífàntuán can be either sweet or savoury – for a sweet one, try a sugar and sesame seed filling, and for savoury opt for flaked pork, mushrooms and pickled veg. The stalls behind Plaza 66 in Shanghai are a good place to start, but get exploring to find your own favourite.
From east to west, chǎo fàn is one of China’s most well-known dishes. An egg is cracked into the wok first, followed by rice, spring onions and then small pieces of beef (niúròu), chicken (jī) or pork (zhūròu). The spoon clangs against the well-oiled wok as it’s all continuously tossed and turned on a high heat.
The final result is then poured out into a bowl and served, steaming hot, right in front of you. As the rice is quite thick, it should be easier to grasp clumps of it with your chopsticks – but if you’re still a novice, using a spoon is fine, too.
Feeling inspired by the variety of Chinese food? Also read our guide to Taiwan street food: dishes you must try.
Discover more of China with The Rough Guide to China. Compare flights, find tours, book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to buy travel insurance. Header image: Rolf Svedjeholm/123rf
written by Aimee White
updated 23.03.2021
Aimee is an in-house Senior Travel Editor at Rough Guides and is the podcast host of The Rough Guide to Everywhere. She is also a freelance travel writer and has written for various online and print publications, including a guidebook to the Isle of Wight. Follow her on Twitter at @aimeefw.
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to China