The vast and beautiful lands of China make a great place to visit or even start life over as an expat. Whether you’re all in for making it your new home or just want to see the sights, this China Travel Guide for Beginners will help you make the most of your time on the mainland, whether it’s a brief sojourn or something long-term.
Planning your first visit to China? You’ll find the best times to visit, as far as the weather is concerned is in spring and autumn. The weather during these times tends to be better for exploring China’s most revered landmarks.
As China is quite large and spans different terrains, the weather can be quite different from one location to the next. This is a rough guide of the average weather you can expect in each season:
Festivals are also a good reason to visit any time of year. Although the crowds can be intense, the holidays are a wonderful way to explore Chinese culture. Chinese New Year is the biggest one. It goes by the lunar calendar so it could be in late January or February. Most things close for the holiday so coming during this time is best if you have Chinese friends who will invite you along. Keep reading to explore more about the festivals of China to decide when to come!
If you imagine China as a place of remote villages, you’re not entirely wrong, but you’re not entirely right either. China’s major cities are a force to be reckoned with, and they keep getting more and more exciting. If you want to live and work in China or just stick to an easier itinerary, you can’t go wrong with the major cities of China.
Here are the 4 biggest cities in China:
Just because a city is big doesn’t mean it’s the best to visit. If you’d like to explore China’s best sights and most famous offerings, you’ll want to see more than the major cities. This next list will give you an idea of what places must go on your itinerary.
Some of them are familiar from above, but others are a bit off the beaten path and worthy of exploring to get the full experience of China’s rich tapestry of history and culture.
If all this reading is making you hungry, then get ready to feast your eyes on the best foods of China. Each region has its own specialty, making for many great flavors to explore. It’s important to note that Chinese food isn’t like it is in the West but don’t let that hold you back. The authentic flavors are truly amazing!
Here’s what to eat:
Whatever city you’re in, there will come a time when you’ve seen all the landmarks. Then what? The best thing to do is to try out some of the things that will put you closer to Chinese culture.
China has many fascinating festivals throughout the year. While they are amazing to be a part of, you should know that travel and seeing sights will be more crowded and difficult to navigate. If you’d prefer less crowds, schedule your visits around these holidays. If not, come and celebrate!
For more advanced China travel guides, check out Loney Planet and Travel China Guide.
