China holidays 2024 & 2025

In China, you can stay in boutique hotels, historic mansions, simple guesthouses, or international chain hotels. The choice of places to stay in China’s cities is generally varied and includes luxurious urban retreats as well as sleek, modern hotels, while in more rural areas hotels generally have more local character.

For example, you could stay in a beautifully restored Tang Dynasty house in Hangzhou, a private villa in a lush garden in Lijiang, a small boutique hotel in Xiamen, or a simple courtyard house in Dali. Wherever you decide to go, your specialist will help you find the right place for each night’s stay, but for some ideas you can browse our collection of places to stay in China.

To see China’s cultural and scenic highlights including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Army, you should go to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. Imperial treasures, historic city streets, and the expansive Olympic Park await in Beijing. Xian is home to a legion of life-size warriors carved to protect an emperor in the afterlife, and Shanghai’s juxtaposition of ancient and modern sees tradition and excess run side by side.

China is a vast country and you may also want to see pandas in Chengdu or the towering karst pinnacles and traditional villages around Guilin, take a hike along the Tiger Leaping Gorge, or follow ancient traders along the Silk Route. Your specialist will help you narrow down the options and plan a trip that covers all your interests.

Imperial cities, sacred mountains, temples, shrine, and markets — China offers a bounty of places to discover and things to do. Its finely tuned balance between age-old tradition and pioneering innovation combined with its rich customs and heritage make it a fascinating country to explore.

You can walk China’s Great Wall or marvel at the impassive Terracotta Warriors, visit incense-filled temples, or wander buzzing markets. You could discover the roots of China’s culinary prowess on a Shanghai food tour, walk the Dragon’s Backbone to the see the Longji rice terraces, or discover local life on a guided countryside bike ride.

Maybe you’d like to explore Beijing’s hutongs (backstreets), watch the sun set over Shanghai from a rooftop bar, or visit Ming-dynasty walled towns, or the historic markets of Hong Kong. China encompasses it all, and so much more.

It takes between ten and 12 and a half hours to fly from the UK to Shanghai in China.

The time zone in China is UTC+8 hours across the whole country. Daylight Savings Time isn’t observed.

The best way to get around in China is by rail or air. High-speed trains link all the main cities and are fast, efficient, and comfortable. For longer journeys, we can book internal flights, while for more local travel, a private driver-guide gives you the freedom to enjoy the sights and stay informed as you travel.

Improved infrastructure and increased political freedoms mean it’s also possible to combine a visit to China with overland travel into northern Vietnam. Speak to your specialist for more information.

A visa is required by all visitors to China. UK citizens must apply for their visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (CVASC) in Edinburgh, Manchester, or London. You’ll need to book an appointment at a CVASC at least one month before departure but no more than three months before.

At the appointment, all applicants (excluding people under the age of 14 and over the age of 70 years old) will also be asked to submit fingerprints. For full details on requirements, check the official Visa for China website.

Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for China, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from the date you arrive in China and have at least two blank pages for your visa.