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China
Places to see in China, from Beijing to Xi’an, and the best time to go: Apr–May.
Places to see in China
BeijingThe Great Wall and Forbidden City
Xi’anThe Terracotta ArmyPhoto: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
GuilinKarst river sceneryPhoto: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
ShanghaiThe Bund skylinePhoto: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
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Best time to go to China
Generally April to May. Weather varies by region, so check the area you’re going to.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Nearby countries to explore
Questions & tips about China
What surprised you most about China?
China is vast: it spans five geographical time zones yet runs on a single clock, Beijing time, so sunrise in the far west can come very late. Many travellers also notice how much of daily life, from paying to ordering food, happens through a phone. What would you add?
Best time of year to go to China?
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are mild across most of the country; summers are hot and humid in the east and south, and winters are bitterly cold in the north. Avoid travelling around Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week, when hundreds of millions are on the move. What would you add?
One place in China you’d never skip?
The Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Xi’an’s Terracotta Army are the classics, while the karst landscapes around Guilin and Yangshuo show a quieter side. Which place would you send a friend to first?
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Your travel photos of China, on the map
ZikZak turns your travel photos into a map of every trip – free, in your browser. Drop in photos from China and they land on your atlas with the date and place already read from the file. Add China to Someday, plan it with a friend, and see photos other travellers chose to share.