Travel advice for China
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to China
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written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 22.07.2021
From its source in the mountains of Qinghai province, the famed Yellow River flows for over 5,400km before emptying itself into the Yellow Sea. As one might expect from the sixth longest river in the world, it passes a number of jaw-dropping sights. Here are ten of my favourite spots along its meandering course.
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'd have to be pretty dedicated to head to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, which flow through remote territory in mountainous Qinghai Province, but it's worth the effort. By the time it passes through Lanzhou, a major city in Gansu province, the river has already assumed the yellow colour from which it takes its name - and this is before reaching the Loess Plateau, where it picks up most of its silt.
As the river enters tiny Ningxia Province, it skirts alongside the Tengger Desert. Firing past sand dunes, the mighty river is quite a sight to behold at this point, particularly at the miniature resort of Shapotou, where you'll be able to go sand-skiing, or fly over the river on a zip line.
Inner Mongolia is next on the river's lengthy course, and you'll be able to stroll its banks just south of Baotou, a scruffy city famed for its gigantic metal furnaces - and the resultant green (and sometimes purple) sunsets. It's also home to Wudangzhao, one of China's most important Lamaist monasteries.
After Boutou, the Yellow River banks sharply to the south, forming a border between the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. Just east of the curve is the city of Datong, which has two major draws on its periphery - the gravity-defying Hanging Temple, which clings precariously onto a cliff; and the UNESCO-listed Yungang Caves, which feature spectacular examples of Buddhist painting dating back as far as the mid-fifth century.
South of Datong, and 150km east of the river, lies Pingyao, a delightful place that's tiny as far as Chinese cities go. Its quiet, historic core is surrounded by an enchanting Ming-dynasty city wall, and filled with restaurants selling quirky local delicacies.
On the Shanxi-Shaanxi border, the 400m-wide Yellow River finds itself squeezed through a 20m-wide gap. The end result is the Hukou Waterfalls, a truly spectacular sight - and sound.
© HelloRF Zcool/Shutterstock
Okay, so this pick is 100km west of the river but it's nevertheless a must-see. Xi'an served as a capital city for no fewer than eleven dynasties between 1000 BC and 1000 AD so naturally the various historical sights in the area could take weeks. Do try and make time to drop by the world-famous Terracotta Army.
The river then banks sharply to the east, sliding into Henan Province as it does so. The first major city you'll encounter here is Luoyang, a typically huge Chinese city that serves as a jumping-off point for the Longmen Caves, a kilometre-long series of grottoes filled with elaborate Buddhist paintings, some of which date back to the late fifth century.
Shaolin's warrior monks have achieved worldwide renown and spawned countless awful movies. While the name may sound almost mythical, there is indeed a Shaolin temple, and it may well have been where kung fu was created. Some come for months to hone their martial fisticuffs, others for a few days to see the beauty of the surrounding Song Shan mountain range.
The Yellow River is over 3km wide in areas around the cities of Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, which both boast riverfront viewing areas. Kaifeng is the more pleasant of the two; a Song-dynasty capital between 960 and 1127, it retains a pleasantly dignified air, despite the fifty-odd floods that washed away all evidence of its dynastic heyday.
Discover the vibrant diversity of China with our guide to the best things to do in China.
Martin Zatko is the author of the Rough Guide Snapshot to The Yellow River, available on the Kindle, iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 22.07.2021
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to China