Holiday destination
China
China offers some of the world's great sights, from the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian and Shanghai's skyline. Guilin and Yangshuo bring dreamlike karst scenery, Chengdu its giant pandas, and Yunnan its old towns and mountains. Touring itineraries make it easy to see a lot.
Region: Far East
Trip types on sale: Tours, Cultural, Nature.
Places
Beijing
The Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.
View 7 holidays featuring BeijingShanghai
The Bund, the Yu Garden and a futuristic skyline.
View 7 holidays featuring ShanghaiXian
The Terracotta Warriors and the old city walls.
View 7 holidays featuring XianGuilin
Karst peaks along the Li River.
View 4 holidays featuring GuilinChengdu
Giant pandas and spicy Sichuan food.
View 3 holidays featuring ChengduZhangjiajie
Towering sandstone pillars in a forest park.
View 2 holidays featuring ZhangjiajieDali
An old town between Erhai Lake and the Cangshan mountains.
View 1 holiday featuring DaliHangzhou
The famous West Lake and tea plantations.
View 1 holiday featuring HangzhouKunming
The City of Eternal Spring and gateway to Yunnan.
View 1 holiday featuring KunmingLijiang
A UNESCO-listed old town of cobbled lanes and canals.
View 1 holiday featuring LijiangShangri La
A Tibetan-influenced town in the mountains of Yunnan.
View 1 holiday featuring Shangri LaSuzhou
Classical gardens and canals.
View 1 holiday featuring SuzhouTunxi
An old town and gateway to the Yellow Mountains (Huangshan).
View 1 holiday featuring TunxiZhujiajiao Water Town
An ancient canal town near Shanghai.
View 1 holiday featuring Zhujiajiao Water Town
Best time to go
Who it suits
Getting there
Practical
- Time: 8 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 7 hours ahead in summer.
- Currency: Chinese yuan (renminbi)
- Language: Mandarin Chinese.
Typical daytime highs
- Beijing and Xian, spring and autumn. Typical daytime highs around 19 to 27°C in Beijing and Xian in spring and autumn.
- Beijing and Xian, summer (June to August). Typical daytime highs around 30 to 32°C in Beijing and Xian in summer (June to August).
- Beijing and Xian, winter (December to February). Typical daytime highs around 1 to 6°C in Beijing and Xian in winter (December to February).
- Shanghai and Guilin, summer (June to August). Typical daytime highs around 31 to 33°C in Shanghai and Guilin in summer (June to August).
These are typical ranges, not a forecast.
Things to do
- Walk the Great Wall
- See the Terracotta Warriors in Xian
- Explore the Forbidden City
- Cruise the Li River from Guilin
- See giant pandas in Chengdu
- Walk along the Bund in Shanghai
Questions
How long is the flight to China?
About 11 to 13 hours non-stop from London to Beijing or Shanghai.
When is the best time to visit China?
Spring and autumn are most comfortable.
Can I see giant pandas?
Yes, at the research base in Chengdu.
UK passport holders should check the latest entry requirements on GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.