Things to do in China
The Great Wall is not just a link with the fabled emperors of the China's past, it is also a physical expression of our sense of the nation as separate from the rest of the world.![]()
Walk in the footsteps of greatness
Besides its undeniable standing as an incredible triumph of engineering, to actually consider the enormity and significance of China’s Great Wall – a series of fortifications constructed from brick, stone, wood and packed earth that snakes its way across 8,850km of northern China’s mountainside – is to contemplate over 2,000 years of cultural isolation and political endurance.
You can visit for a day – there are cable cars and a toboggan run for those traveling with kids or who fancy more of an amble than a hike. Or indulge in a lengthy itinerary that combines nights in village homestays and guesthouses with daily hikes of up to seven hours. Either way, to witness firsthand this stunning feat of human achievement against a lush landscape of chestnut trees and blooms is to fulfill the trip of a lifetime.
You can visit for a day – there are cable cars and a toboggan run for those traveling with kids or who fancy more of an amble than a hike. Or indulge in a lengthy itinerary that combines nights in village homestays and guesthouses with daily hikes of up to seven hours. Either way, to witness firsthand this stunning feat of human achievement against a lush landscape of chestnut trees and blooms is to fulfill the trip of a lifetime.
Our China Vacations
China culture & hiking vacation
A wonderful experience of real China
From
US $2830 to US $3600
14 days
ex flights
China highlights tour, tailor made
Walk along the Great Wall and relax in the stunning LiRiver
From
US $2319 to US $2719
11 days
ex flights
China vacation and Yangtze river cruise
A comprehensive China itinerary covering its length and breadth
From
US $4479 to US $4799
19 days
ex flights
China on a shoestring small group vacation
Experience the real China.
From
US $3350 to US $3380
22 days
ex flights
Silk Road vacations, Central Asia
Journey along the Old Silk Road
From
£4295 to £4425
22 days
ex flights
China tailor made vacation
Explore the Terracotta Warriors, Forbidden City and the Great Wall
From
US $3550
15 days
ex flights
Great Wall of China walking vacation
Trek along various contrasting sections of the wall
From
US $2079
9 days
ex flights
Small group tour of Yunnan, China
China's most diverse & fascinating region - Yunnan Province
From
US $2250
12 days
ex flights
China 8 day tour
Discover the Great Wall, Terracotta Army and Shanghai.
From
£1315
8 days
ex flights
Yunnan trekking vacation in China, tailor made
Off the beaten track trip
From
US $1997 to US $2585
10 days
ex flights
China Silk Road tour
Cities and beautiful landscapes of China’s western expanse
From
US $3576 to US $3866
15 days
ex flights
China tailor made tour
A combination of metropolis and ancient gardens
From
US $1099 to US $3349
8 days
ex flights
The Essence of China vacation
Explore cultural & religious heritage
From
US $3655 to US $3950
19 days
ex flights
12 day Great Wall of China hiking tour
Experience the best parts of the eastern Wall
From
US $2373 to US $2468
12 days
ex flights
Badain Jaran Desert trekking tour, China
Trek in Inner Mongolia desert and the China Silk Road
From
US $5683 to US $5735
18 days
ex flights
Xian to Istanbul overland tour
Experience the Silk Road and the beautiful Caucasus
From
£9515
42 days
ex flights
Christmas on the Trans Mongolian express
Christmas in Siberian Russia & celebrate New Year in Moscow
From
£7350
24 days
ex flights
London to Vietnam by rail vacation
Unique flight-free adventure from UK to Vietnam
From
£5555
26 days
ex flights
China 9 day tour
Visit China’s Golden Triangle, Beijing, Xian and Shanghai
From
US $3080
8 days
ex flights
Sichuan to Tibet overland tour
Travel the G318 Highway from Chengdu to Lhasa
From
US $1606 to US $3619
12 days
ex flights
China tailor made vacation, from Beijing to Shanghai
Highlights of China private tour from Beijing
From
US $789 to US $1929
8 days
ex flights
Small group tour in China
The Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Terracotta Warriors
From
US $1290 to US $1320
10 days
ex flights
Beijing to St Petersburg overland tour
Exciting overland journey by rail between Beijing, Moscow and St. Petersburg.
From
£4585
27 days
ex flights
China family vacation in Sichuan
Chengdu, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mt. Emei, Anren Ancient Town
From
US $1152 to US $1371
6 days
ex flights
Hiking vacation in China, history and culture
Explore the historical, cultural and UNESCO sites of China
From
US $2867
13 days
ex flights
Uzbekistan small group vacation
10 days exploring the Silk Road Treasures of Uzbekistan
From
£1445 to £1845
9 days
ex flights
Family vacations in China
China cultural tour for all the family
From
US $2490 to US $2570
16 days
ex flights
Photography vacation in Tibet & Yunnan, China
Extraordinary photograph vacation in Tibet and Yunnan
From
US $3065 to US $5131
14 days
ex flights
Tibet vacation by train from China
Experience the world’s highest scenic train to Tibet
From
US $1350
10 days
ex flights
See the sights
Try not to overload your itinerary; approached wisely, China is as uplifting as it is intriguing. There is something for everyone in China.
If crumbling dynasties are your thing, start with the historic buildings of Beijing, a city with over 3,000 years of history and a cityscape that changes every day. The Forbidden City is China’s whopping great palace complex and the country’s largest collection of ancient buildings; you’ll need a full day to explore it. More landscape, less history? Why not cruise the Yangtze River past the Three Gorges, the world’s largest dam and, incidentally, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station too. It's an awful lot prettier than that sounds. If you want to channel your Zen while drinking chai, head out to China’s ancient villages where picture-perfect pastoral scenes, feng shui, and tradition abound.
If crumbling dynasties are your thing, start with the historic buildings of Beijing, a city with over 3,000 years of history and a cityscape that changes every day. The Forbidden City is China’s whopping great palace complex and the country’s largest collection of ancient buildings; you’ll need a full day to explore it. More landscape, less history? Why not cruise the Yangtze River past the Three Gorges, the world’s largest dam and, incidentally, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station too. It's an awful lot prettier than that sounds. If you want to channel your Zen while drinking chai, head out to China’s ancient villages where picture-perfect pastoral scenes, feng shui, and tradition abound.
From soaring skyscrapers, to farmers working their mountain fields, or the simple beauty of rice terraces by night, there is little more fascinating than Chinese life through a lens.![]()
Snap real Chinese life through a lens
Whether you’re a keen professional photographer or a budding amateur, anyone with an interest in snapping people and culture should take their camera to China. Discovering the country through pictures is an unforgettable way to learn more about its natural wonders, as well as the ethnic minorities that live among them.
Our top China Vacation
China highlights tour, tailor made
Walk along the Great Wall and relax in the stunning LiRiver
From
US $2319 to US $2719
11 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about China or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Eating & drinking
Chinese street food is a hallmark of the country’s culture. Snack stalls and night markets grace every city.
From the weird – donkey meat sandwich, anyone? To the wonderful – biting into a yu ci, a crispy ball of salt and savoury rice, is like sinking your teeth into a pillow of pure joy. Street food is an essential part of anyone’s China experience. Beijing’s Donghuamen Night Market, though not what we would term authentic, is a bustling taste explosion of everything from chicken hearts and grasshoppers to snakeskin on a stick.
From the weird – donkey meat sandwich, anyone? To the wonderful – biting into a yu ci, a crispy ball of salt and savoury rice, is like sinking your teeth into a pillow of pure joy. Street food is an essential part of anyone’s China experience. Beijing’s Donghuamen Night Market, though not what we would term authentic, is a bustling taste explosion of everything from chicken hearts and grasshoppers to snakeskin on a stick.
More about China
Our tips on the best time to visit China, month by month, with our cultural pick from the Chinese calendar.
Our China travel guide features everything from advice on food and shopping to a brief history of China.
Our China highlights include an interactive map, as well as a list of classic itineraries and travel times.
From Beijing to Chengdu, Shanghai to Xi'an, its cities offer insights into China's past, present and future.
A brief history of China's terracotta army, and the best way to visit the terracotta warriors from Xi'an.
Read our guide to learn how to visit the Great Wall of China, and why the quieter bits speak loudest.
It's in scenes of local life that you’ll get a true picture of what it’s really like to live in Beijing.
Discover the joys of walking in China, including where go on a China hiking vacation.
Cycling is an important part of Chinese culture so it makes perfect sense to explore on two wheels.
Train travel in China is not only an easy option, but also a fantastic way to get to know the country.
The best way to get the most from the Forbidden City is a tour with a knowledgeable local guide.
Tours to rural China let you stay in local communities, to see a side of China that most visitors don’t.
Chinese food is hard to define, because the country is so vast - every region has its own distinct cuisine.
From pandas to kung-fu masters, mud baths and waterfalls, introducing the best family activities in China.
These China travel tips from our expert partners will help you get around easily and safely in China.
China has got tourism problems; we've got the low down on what you can do to travel better in China.
From cycling to walking, exploring Yunnan or the Great Wall, our China travel guides are an indispensable resource.
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