How to plan the perfect China itinerary (when info is hard to find)

Planning our trip to China was so much fun because it was something completely new, a place neither of us had visited before. If you’re planning a trip to China and have absolutely no idea where to start, here are some tips to help get you started.

Planning your trip?
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Hotels, I use Agoda
Insurance: Cover-More
Rentals: Discover Cars
RVs: Motorhome Republic
Transfers: Welcome Pickups
Travel eSIM: Simify

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1. Visa stuff (don’t skip this)

When we were planning our trip, getting the visa sorted was a bit of a headache. Between the two of us, we figured it out, but it did take some effort. Now, I have to say—this was true at the time we travelled, so things might’ve changed since then. Always double-check the current requirements with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate before you book anything.

Good news for Aussies though—in 2025, Australians can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days! That means if you’re just going for a holiday, you might not need a visa at all. But again, don’t just take my word for it—check the latest info before you lock anything in.

Back when we needed a visa, we had to book every single thing—flights in and out, hotel stays, even train tickets—and have it all printed out to show a clear, day-by-day itinerary. That was a bit of a challenge for me because I normally leave hotels to the last minute. Lesson learned: if they want bookings, you give them bookings. I even showed up to the visa appointment the first time without the printouts—rookie error.

Once I had everything printed, in order, and all the dates lined up, it was smooth sailing. But honestly, if you’re travelling now and qualify for visa-free entry, you’ve just dodged a massive admin bullet.

2. Choosing the best places to visit in China

I did a lot of research on the best cities to visit in China (this site is a good one). The limiting factor for us was time and money, we have four weeks but we want to spend our time in each place without being too rushed and we don’t want to spend too much money on flights across the country. This meant we would be keeping our travel to the east side of China.

We really wanted to experience some diversity, from the busy cities to ancient history and mountains as well. This led us to come up with the following itinerary: Catch the train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, fly from Guangzhou to Beijing then fly from Beijing to Hangzhou, bus from Hangzhou to Huangshan and back again, then fly from Hangzhou back to Hong Kong.

The main cities we’re visiting are Guangzhou, Beijing, Hangzhou and Huangshan. These places will give us a really good mix of experiences, we’ll get to explore the big cities of Guangzhou and Beijing while still getting to see the rich history, culture and architecture too. Hangzhou and Huangshan will give us a chance to experience even more history and step back in time a little bit, while Huangshan’s Yellow Mountains are going to be incredible and a photographer’s dream.

3. When is the best time to visit China?

If you’re on a budget and looking to save money, the best time to visit is during the low season which runs from around November to early March. It’s colder, but you will save money and there will fewer tourists around to bother you.

If you want to visit the northern areas of China then the best time to plan your trip is during March as the weather is warmer and you won’t experience too much rainfall. There is a monsoon season which varies across the country due to the size of the thing! But, it’s safe to say a lot of rainfall happens around June, July and August, which are also the hottest months to visit. This site has some useful information on when to visit. 

The ideal time to visit is recommended as late spring, April to May, as the temperatures aren’t too hot or too cold and there aren’t too many tourists around either. Just be sure to avoid the Labour Day public holiday on 1 May, things get busy from 1 May through to 7 May and travel on public transport can be a nightmare.

4. Booking internal flights

We weren’t sure how to book internal flights at first, but after a bit of digging, I found that a lot of travellers and expats recommend using Trip.com (previously known as CTrip). It’s essentially a comparison site that pulls together all the domestic airlines, so you can see your options and prices in one place. I ended up booking all our internal flights through Trip.com—super easy to use, everything was in English, and we had our confirmations straight away with no dramas.

5. Booking accommodation

We kept things simple by using Agoda to book all of our China accommodation. We usually use Agoda when we’re travelling through Asia and the booking system was really easy as they keep some of your details on your record, meaning you don’t have to type out all your personal info time and time again. It also has a cool way of putting all your bookings together, creating an itinerary of sorts for you. I also like Agoda because you can book now and pay later, giving you a chance to change your mind and cancel the booking if you find somewhere better. If I didn’t use Agoda, I probably would’ve checked Airbnb.

It was pretty easy to find accommodation and I found it was cheap to stay in Beijing, Huangshan and Hangzhou, while Guangzhou was the most expensive city to find accommodation in. I’ll put together reviews of the places we stay, so hopefully, that helps you when it comes time to book your own accommodation.

6. Planning an itinerary, tips and tricks

When I plan a trip, I always start with a loose itinerary. It helps me stay focused and make the most of each day—otherwise, the lazy, wandering version of me takes over and I end up missing out. I plan our days around two things: fun and food. I research the best places to eat and the most interesting things to see and do, then group them by area so we’re not zigzagging across the city like lunatics.

China’s been one of the trickier trips to plan. There’s still not as much accessible, first-hand travel info online as you’ll find for other countries, especially in English. Internet restrictions play a part in that—you don’t get the same volume of local bloggers or up-to-date reviews. But honestly, that adds to the adventure. It forces you to be present, ask locals, and go with your gut. You’ll find hidden gems the internet hasn’t spoiled, and there’s something really refreshing about that. Just make sure you’ve got a VPN sorted before you land, and apps like Trip.com and a translated WeChat or Alipay account will make life on the ground way easier.

You might also like to read:

• Know before you go: Beijing
• How to visit the Great Wall
• 21 things to do (and avoid)

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