Travel Guide China
China is an international star: the Middle Kingdom has never carried its name as well as in recent years, as it has become omnipresent.... Its economic rise, and the fantasy of a "Chinese peril" have a lot to do with it. However, China is not only limited to the ultramodern megacities of the coast (Beijing, Shanghai or the Canton), which are fuelling rapid growth and attracting more tourists every year; it is also, and above all, a developing country that harbours many historical and cultural treasures. So, yes, China is a world apart with its Great Wall, its army of terracotta soldiers from Emperor Qin to Xi'an, its sacred mountains with their temples cut in the mist at the top of sharp ridges, its villages nestled between terraced rice fields in the south of the country... These are all sites that seem to have come straight out of the old stories and plunge the visitor back several centuries, even several millennia. But China's face is changing in giant steps, shaped day by day by the country's openness, its breathtaking economic growth, its overwhelming desire to achieve a modernity often modelled on the Western model. So, to enjoy all the facets of the country, from the most modern to the most traditional, don't wait any longer and don't forget your guide on China!
What to visit China?
Suggested addresses China
When to go to China?
The Chinese tourist high season covers the periods from March to October and the low season from November to February. Based on the lunar calendar, special events are held to celebrate the Chinese New Year (January to February), the Lantern Festival (15 days after the Chinese New Year) and October1 (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China). A word of advice, avoid traveling to China during these periods. Prices are doubled or tripled and transportation is crowded.
Spring and fall are generally the best seasons to travel in China. From north to south, the weather is open and warm, although there is a chance of showers. Winter may be inadvisable, except for a trip mainly focused on the coastal provinces of southern China. Also, beware of the heat in summer, from north to south, which can make it difficult to travel.
Despite its temperatures well below zero, winter can be a good season to discover Beijing under a blue sky if you are not too afraid of the cold.
Weather at the moment
Because of its vastness, China offers a wide variety of climates, which can be roughly classified into two categories: continental climate in the north (cold and dry in winter, hot and relatively humid in summer, temperatures easily go down to -20°C in the extreme north of the country, but they can be close to +40°C in summer in Beijing!) and more and more humid and tropical climate when you get closer to the southern border of the country (monsoons in the extreme south).
Pekin
Shanghai
Île De Hong-Kong
Macao
The currency is the yuan or renminbi (RMB). With the exception of the flight ticket (between €600 and €1,200 per round trip), the stay in China should not be very expensive for you. For a Western traveller, the cost of living is indeed very affordable in China. However, there are significant differences between large cities and more remote areas.
To travel to China, you need a passport (valid for more than 6 months after the planned departure from the country) and a visa. The tourist visa (L visa) is valid for a maximum of 1 month. It costs 126 € and is available in 5 working days. To obtain the latter, you must present: a return flight ticket, a letter of invitation and/or proof of accommodation or a copy of hotel reservations for the entire duration of the stay, as well as a bank statement (to prove that you can cover your expenses once on site) or a certificate from your employer and a proof from your insurance company proving that you are covered in case of medical repatriation.
No vaccinations are required at this time when leaving Europe, but the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended, as well as typhoid and tetanus. For the Xishuangbanna region and the island of Hainan, it may be useful to plan an anti-malaria treatment. In Inner Mongolia and the Northwest, it is recommended to be vaccinated against cholera (there was an epidemic in 1996) and diphtheria.
A new virus, nCoV coronavirus, has been identified by Chinese authorities. Appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan in Hubei province, it is transmitted from human to human by air and causes diseases ranging from a cold to more severe pathologies. Symptoms are similar to those of the flu (fever, cough and shortness of breath). In early February 2020, there were 500 deaths and 25,000 people infected. If you are planning to travel to China, you are strongly advised to consult theWHO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to China? Our advice & tips
China is so big that the tour packages are numerous and varied. The choice is yours. You can opt for a "classic" tour which, in a dozen days, will take you to the essentials: Beijing, Shanghai, the Great Wall, Xi'an. But you can also choose a tour focused on a region (Yunnan for example), a "family" stay, or a cruise on the Yangtze River (the Blue River).
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationTo go to China, the plane is obviously THE means of transportation. Many flights per week connect France to the main Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong). Visiting China on your own is quite possible, even for a single woman. You have to be careful with pickpockets in the tourist areas, but no more than in Paris or Brussels! If the Chinese generally love children and babies, traveling with them is not necessarily very practical.
Except for driving (unless you have a Chinese driver's license), all means of transportation are possible in China. For long distances, you can choose to travel by plane (domestic airlines and modern airports), train (classic and fast trains), bus (surprisingly more expensive than train), or boat. In the city, buses, subways (for the main cities) and cabs are available. Please note: hitchhiking is forbidden in China.
