A traveler visiting Zhengzhou (郑州, Zhèngzhōu) is secretly planning a birthday celebration for someone in their group. They were considering a boat trip followed by dinner or cocktails with a view, while also looking for ideas to make the most of their spare time...

A traveler planning a visit to Leshan (乐山, Lèshān) with elderly family members asked a very practical question: Should I skip Oriental Buddha Capital (东方佛都) in Leshan if traveling with elderly people? I read that visiting inside is moderately challenging, with steep stairs....

A traveler planning to spend the entire month of November in China asked whether this ambitious 31-day itinerary was actually doable. The proposed journey runs through Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi’an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Wangxian Valley, Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hong Kong and Macao. On paper, a...

A traveler asked: Help needed. I will be in Shanghai and want to leave on September 14 to go to Fenghuang, then Zhangjiajie. However, on that date it’s either a train for 7+ hours or a plane to Zhangjiajie. If we...

Planning a two-week honeymoon in China sounds wonderful — but how many destinations can you realistically include before the honeymoon starts feeling like a transport marathon? One couple planning a November trip wanted beautiful experiences, minimal wasted travel time and a relaxed honeymoon pace,...

Can you visit the Great Wall of China (长城, Chángchéng) from Beijing (北京, Běijīng) without joining a tour? A traveler planning a February visit asked exactly that — and whether traveling independently to Mutianyu (慕田峪, Mùtiányù) is practical for a first-time visitor. The Traveler’s Question “Any advice...

A solo traveler returning from Thailand to the US has just 4–5 days to experience China and is considering Chongqing (重庆, Chóngqìng), Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān), Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) and Furong Ancient Town (芙蓉镇, Fúróng Zhèn). They love nature, hiking, food, culture, cultural shows and street food — and...

If you’re traveling to Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān) with children or older family members, you may notice that the Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) offers free or discounted admission for certain age groups. But do those discounts also apply to foreign passport holders? A traveler planning a China...

If you’re planning a family trip to Beijing (北京, Běijīng) and want to include a theme-park day, one question quickly comes up: where should you buy Universal Studios Beijing tickets? And is Monday actually quieter? First, an important clarification for anyone searching for “Disney Beijing”: there...

China can be surprisingly affordable once your flights and hotels are paid for—but how much should a family actually budget for eating and getting around each day? A traveler planning 14 days in China with two adults and two children, split evenly between Shanghai...