Where to stay
Compare areas before choosing a hotel.
Build your own China trip with a free planner for first-time independent visitors. Describe your days, cities and interests for a flexible route with space for travel. Compare three ready-made itineraries below, and check official sources before booking; use the current provider details for your dates.
Start with the decision you need to make.
Compare areas before choosing a hotel.
Plan rail journeys, arrivals and transfers.
Check your device and compare eSIM options.
Prepare Alipay, WeChat Pay and a backup.
Start with official booking and compare alternatives.
Use neighbourhood walks as a starting point.
Compare policy wording against your own trip.
Find the official rules for your own journey.
Preparation checklists from our city collection.
Compare areas before choosing a hotel.
Plan rail journeys, arrivals and transfers.
Check your device and compare eSIM options.
Three ways to see China. Pick the pace that feels like you.
Two cities, fewer moves. Imperial Beijing and riverfront Shanghai, with room to wander.
Take a lookFollow the history thread through Beijing and Xi’an, then slow down in Shanghai.
Take a lookAdd Chengdu’s pandas and teahouse rhythm to a generous four-city first trip.
Take a lookWe link to official sources for current booking details. These routes are editorial suggestions, not personal trip reports. No invented prices, no hidden booking requirement.
Updated · Author: PandaWander Editorial Team
Meet our method ↗| What to know | Source & verification |
|---|---|
| The NIA lists the United States among eligible nationalities. Onward travel to a third country or region and the permitted ports and areas are conditions of this transit policy. | 240-hour transit · 2026-10-25 |
| The government’s payment guide describes mobile payments, bank cards and cash, including international card linking in Alipay and WeChat Pay. Check current app terms and issuer support. | Payment preparation · 2026-10-25 |
Entry rules may change. Check the official NIA guidance before travel; this site does not decide eligibility.
Describe your trip in one message, then ask for changes. Cloudflare Workers AI arranges suggestions from our city collection. If it is unavailable, the basic planner uses local rules. Results are planning drafts, not reservations.
Yes. No account is needed. Your messages are sent to Cloudflare Workers AI when available; chat history stays in page memory and the server does not store the text. Reloading clears the conversation.
Prices, train durations and opening hours are left to current official sources rather than estimated. Check official booking details and leave extra room when arranging a connection.
No. Route planning and entry eligibility are separate questions. Check the NIA publication for the conditions that apply to your nationality and journey. Check your own circumstances against current official rules before booking.
No. Activities and hotel comparisons are optional. Start with the official booking channel. Partner links may earn a commission, and links with no configured affiliate ID go to the provider’s official website.
Some booking links may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. How partner links work.