Planning a winter trip to Harbin (哈尔滨, Hā’ěrbīn) but already visited Beijing and Shanghai? That opens up an interesting possibility: instead of flying across China to another famous city, you can use Harbin as the starting point for exploring more of Northeast China (东北,...

Wuzhen (乌镇, Wūzhèn) and Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) are two popular additions to a Shanghai trip, but first-time visitors often wonder whether traveling independently is realistic — especially with children. Do you need a private driver? Is a guide worthwhile? And if you visit Wuzhen,...

Planning Nanjing (南京, Nánjīng) with children can be surprisingly tricky. The city combines mountains, enormous historical sites, museums, a zoo and some wonderful evening experiences — but trying to fit too much into each day can quickly exhaust a family. This traveler has...

Planning a quick trip from Shanghai (上海, Shànghǎi) to Zhangjiajie (张家界, Zhāngjiājiè) can look intimidating at first. Between the famous “Avatar mountains,” Tianmen Mountain (天门山, Tiānmén Shān) and the different accommodation areas, it is easy to assume that you need an organized tour. But do you? The...

With its limestone peaks, rivers, rice fields and quiet countryside, Yangshuo (阳朔, Yángshuò) is one of the easiest places in China to make a trip feel romantic without needing an elaborate itinerary. The Traveler’s Question Travelling to Yangshuo in October. Looking for extra...

For a family visiting Guangzhou (广州, Guǎngzhōu), choosing the right neighborhood can make a surprisingly big difference — especially if you want bright lights, shopping, cafés, evening activities and convenient transport rather than a quiet business district. So is Beijing Road (北京路, Běijīng...

Avoiding Golden Week (黄金周, Huángjīn Zhōu) can make an enormous difference to a first visit to Beijing (北京, Běijīng). But if you postpone until later in autumn, should you choose late October or November? And with only six or seven days in China, is there...