Planning a first China trip can quickly become overwhelming. Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shanghai, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Guangzhou and Shenzhen can all look tempting — but traveling with young children changes the equation. With a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old, the best itinerary isn’t necessarily the one that includes the most famous places. It is the one that gives the family enough variety without turning half the vacation into packing, stations, airports and hotel check-ins. Here is...
Setting up WeChat before a first trip to China can occasionally produce an unexpected hurdle: WeChat asks you to have another user help verify your account. That can be confusing if you don’t already know someone who uses WeChat — and it often leads travelers to ask strangers online for help. Here is what one traveler asked. The Traveler’s Question Hi please would someone be able to verify my WeChat? AI Travel Planner...
Sixteen nights gives you much more than enough time for Shanghai itself. Rather than buying a conventional package that fills more than two weeks with Shanghai sightseeing, this is an opportunity to use Shanghai as the starting point for a more varied journey through eastern China. Here is what one traveler asked. The Traveler’s Question Hello Looking for tour package going to Shanghai Date Dec 15 to 31, for 4 pax Kindly drop...
China’s internet restrictions are one of the biggest concerns for first-time international travelers. But many travelers now see China eSIMs advertised as providing access to Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and other services that are normally restricted in mainland China. So has something changed? Here is what one traveler asked. The Traveler’s Question eSIM I see that the China eSIMs for sale on the popular website show that we are able to access...
For a first trip to China, 11–12 nights is enough time to experience Beijing and Shanghai properly — and potentially add one more city without turning the trip into a race. The bigger question isn’t whether you can fit another destination in. It’s whether adding it will make the overall journey better. Here is what one first-time traveler asked. The Traveler’s Question Hi everyone! I will be going to China for the first time mid...
When booking a hotel in mainland China, international travelers sometimes worry that they need to provide the name and passport details of every person staying in the room at the time the reservation is made. But there is an important distinction between making the hotel reservation and registering the guests who actually stay at the hotel. Here is what one traveler asked. The Traveler’s Question Does anyone know whether you have to supply everyone’s name at...
Shanghai is surrounded by some of eastern China’s most rewarding destinations, including Suzhou (苏州, Sūzhōu), Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) and Nanjing (南京, Nánjīng). But if you have five free days, should you keep your Shanghai hotel and explore independently by high-speed rail, or book a private car and turn those days into a 5-day/4-night road trip? That was the dilemma facing one traveler planning several side trips from Shanghai between December 26 and 30. The Traveler’s Question...
Planning Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) with a 4-year-old child, parents and grandparents calls for a very different itinerary from an adults-only trip. The good news is that Hangzhou is particularly well suited to slow, multigenerational family travel. There are lakes, gardens, boat rides, tea villages, historic neighborhoods and plenty of places where you can simply slow down rather than spend every day racing between attractions. The Traveler’s Question Hi everyone! Asking on behalf of my sister...
Planning a first family trip to China in December can create an interesting dilemma. You may want cooler weather—but not the freezing temperatures, snow and heavy winter clothing associated with northern China. You may also want good food, sightseeing, shopping and somewhere relatively easy to navigate with children. So where should you go if you only have 7–8 days? The Traveler’s Question Hi everyone! 😊 We’re planning our first family trip to China in mid-December...
Planning a 16-day family trip to China in December and wondering whether Chongqing (重庆, Chóngqìng), Zhangjiajie (张家界, Zhāngjiājiè) and Chengdu (成都, Chéngdū) make sense together? For a family trying to keep costs reasonable, this is actually a very workable combination. The three destinations offer dramatically different experiences without requiring you to race across half of China. The Traveler’s Question Family of 4 planning for 16 days to Chong Qing – Zhang Jia Jie – chengdu. We...
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