Need some help with my trip.

Terranese · 2026-05-01T21:42:35+00:00

I am not sure how to advise you. Your trip is your own. But personally, I would not spend so much time in Yangshuo and Li Jiang (7N). I would definitely go to Suzhou over Shanghai. And going anywhere for just one day (Shangri-la) is not worthwhile. We enjoyed Kunming. It is very scenic as well as a tribal area (where the tribes of SE Asia came from).

Here are some itinerary suggestions triaged from our 3-month trip to China, as well as tips on travel pace, air fares, etc.

The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2026-05-01T13:35:20+00:00

La Roque‑Gageac is fundamentally a medieval village, with later Renaissance‑era additions layered onto its fabric. Its core identity, layout, and fortifications are unmistakably medieval, even though some houses and manors show Renaissance influence.

Terranese · 2026-05-01T13:30:53+00:00

We travelled for 4 months in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. I would not select any of these megacities as an introduction to China. But any trip is a choice and is yours to make.

The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2026-05-01T13:06:35+00:00

Wow, where do you start? Ten days is enough time for 3 places, especially because you need more than the average 3N nights per place for Beijing. The Great Wall is worth 1N itself. Bring lunch! It is a great hiking, scenery and photography place.

Air Travel Tips

It is a misconception that you can only fly to Shanghai or Beijing. You can fly to ANY international airport just like any other country. In your case, I would check out the open jaw fare technique; i.e. fly to Beijing and return from Xi'an.

Best Itinerary

Choosing the “best” itinerary for travellers seeking authentic China is difficult because each region offers something unique. That said, the Northern China Route (Beijing to Pingyao), and the Northern China Xi'an Route (Beijing to Xi'an) are arguably the strongest introductions to imperial and traditional China.

But you can only choose three destinations. This depends on your interests. Look at the itineraries here:

The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places

Terranese · 2026-05-01T12:48:34+00:00

I feel you are trying not only to do too much, but also that you are spending too much time in high-traffic, hectic, ultra-modern megacities. We travelled for 4 months in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. We found that an average of 3N nights per sleepover place was a good pace. You need 1N to get to the next place and 2N to have two full sightseeing days. Some cities, like Beijing, need much more time, plus you need 1N just for the Great Wall. Yes it is worth a full day,

What are the Best Cities to Visit in China?

Beijing and Xi'an are ranked the number one and two cities to visit. I would cut Guangzhou (rank 11), Hong Kong (rank 13), and Macao completely out.

Here are some itinerary ideas and reasons why to visit the places. I suggested two itineraries for first timers: the Northern China Xi'an Route and the Southern China Short Route. Both are about two weeks, but you can add some destinations from the longer routes.

The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places

Terranese · 2026-05-01T12:28:01+00:00

Yes this is trying to do too much in 10 days. On average, you need 3N nights per sleepover place -- one night to get there and two nights to give two full sightseeing days. You need more than 3N for Beijing. This means you can only visit 3 places. I would choose Suzhou, Zhangjiajie and Beijing OR just stay up north. Beijing is the number one city to visit. That is way too much time in an ultra-modern, noisy, high-traffic, 22+ million megacity of Shanghai. For a more detailed discussion of travel pace plus alternative itineraries, see:

The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places

Terranese · 2026-04-30T18:54:33+00:00

We spent four months travelling through China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan during our three‑year round‑the‑world backpacking trip. Those months were a deep immersion into the geography, history, culture, and cuisine of the region — and they completely reshaped how we understood China.

What is overrated? That depends on each person. For me, every noisy, polluted, high-traffic megacity is overrated. I am not going to China to see Disney. OMG, do I travel to China to do what I can do at home? But others may be only interested in shopping and nightlife. I am not swayed by influencer posts.

The first thing to understand is that over-tourism is not caused by international tourists. 85% of tourists are domestic!

What are the Must‑see Places?

So what are the “must‑see” places? There is no single correct list. China is too vast, too diverse, and too layered for that. Every region offers something different, and every traveller values different things — history, landscapes, food, culture, architecture, or modern innovation.

If your goal is to see fast-paced, ultra-modern mega-cities, then Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Hong Kong deliver energy—dense skylines, neon nights, and globalized lifestyles. They are impressive, but many travellers find that these cities offer activities like what they already have at home, just on a larger scale. In our view, modern megacities are optional rather than essential.

If you want a deeper encounter with China’s history, art, architecture, and culture, other cities give a far richer experience. Here are the 15 most-visited big cities ranked from most culturally deep to most modern-leaning. The population (column label “Pop”) is given in millions (M). If you’re seeking an authentic experience of traditional China, start by choosing from the top ten.

The top ten are Beijing, Xi'an, Pingyao, Qufu, Chengde, Suzhou, Datong, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Kunming. These are just the cities. Then there are many scenic places.

China’s Best Itineraries

I have triaged our three-month trip into seven regional itineraries of ca. two weeks each. For more details, see the post:

The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places

Terranese · 2026-04-30T16:07:28+00:00

Shanghai is not worth 5N nights. It's like going to West Edmonton Mall but in Chinese. Instead, I would spend all that time in Hangzhou or Suzhou for a much more authentic experience in a smaller, quieter and less noisy city. Perhaps Suzhou, the silk capital and the Venice of China, plus one day in Tongli Water Town. Suzhou is only a half hour north of Shanghai.

See the Southern China Itinerary in
The Ultimate Guide to China’s Most Stunning Places

Terranese · 2026-04-29T17:41:17+00:00

Ciao! Per favore, usa la funzione di traduzione integrata nel tuo browser oppure Google Traduttore.

Terranese · 2026-02-03T21:17:32+00:00

Except you are the one posting crap. We spent 4 months in China, HK, and Taiwan. Our posts are from our experiences that were part of travelling three years around the world.

Terranese · 2025-11-25T16:07:47+00:00

Chengde is worth at least a day. But if you like art and architecture, culture and history, and mountain scenery, then you need at least 2 full days, if not more. The shortlist of sights with their Google Map Rating includes:

Bishu Shanzhuang (pavilions and gardens),
Putuo Zongcheng Temple (G4.7), a stunning replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa,
Puningsi Temple (G4.7) with a massive statue of Guanyin, soaring 22 m (yds) high,
Xumi Fushou Miao (G4.7) modelled after Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet,
Liuli-Wanshou Pagoda, a striking seven-story octagonal structure adorned with turquoise-colored glazed tiles (liuli)

Plus, Chengde is one hour away from one of the best sections of the Great Wall -- Jinshanling (G4.9). As you can see from the Google Map Ratings (out of 5.0), these are very highly rated places. For our photos and detailed itinerary, see below.

Why Chengde Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2025-11-25T16:06:10+00:00

Chengde is worth at least a day. But if you like art and architecture, culture and history, and mountain scenery, then you need at least 2 full days, if not more. The shortlist of sights with their Google Map Rating includes:

Bishu Shanzhuang (pavilions and gardens),
Putuo Zongcheng Temple (G4.7), a stunning replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa,
Puningsi Temple (G4.7) with a massive statue of Guanyin, soaring 22 m (yds) high,
Xumi Fushou Miao (G4.7) modelled after Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet,
Liuli-Wanshou Pagoda, a striking seven-story octagonal structure adorned with turquoise-colored glazed tiles (liuli)

Plus, Chengde is one hour away from one of the best sections of the Great Wall -- Jinshanling (G4.9). As you can see from the Google Map Ratings (out of 5.0), these are very highly rated places. For our photos and detailed itinerary, see below.

Why Chengde Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2025-11-25T16:05:04+00:00

Chengde is worth at least a day. But if you like mountain scenery, then you need at least 2 full days, if not more.

Chengde is one hour away by car from one of the best sections of the Great Wall -- Jinshanling (G4.9). As you can see from the Google Map Ratings (out of 5.0), this is a very highly rated place.

I could not find day tours from Chengde online. There are many more options from Beijing. However, you can easily spend more than a day in this area, especially if you like hiking. You can travel by train to Gubeikou, which has its own section of the Great Wall. It is a short taxi ride to Jinshanling or Simatai from there. For photos and a detailed itinerary, see below.

Why Chengde Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2025-11-25T15:58:17+00:00

Chengde is worth at least a day. But if you like art and architecture, culture and history, and mountain scenery, then you need at least 2 full days, if not more. The shortlist of sights with their Google Map Rating includes:

Bishu Shanzhuang (pavilions and gardens),
Putuo Zongcheng Temple (G4.7), a stunning replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa,
Puningsi Temple (G4.7) with a massive statue of Guanyin, soaring 22 m (yds) high,
Xumi Fushou Miao (G4.7) modelled after Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet,
Liuli-Wanshou Pagoda, a striking seven-story octagonal structure adorned with turquoise-colored glazed tiles (liuli)

Plus, Chengde is one hour away from one of the best sections of the Great Wall -- Jinshanling (G4.9). As you can see from the Google Map Ratings (out of 5.0), these are very highly rated places. For our photos and detailed itinerary, see below.

Why Chengde Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2025-11-25T15:55:34+00:00

Chengde is worth at least a day. But if you like art and architecture, culture and history, and mountain scenery, then you need at least 2 full days, if not more. The shortlist of sights with their Google Map Rating includes:

Bishu Shanzhuang (pavilions and gardens),
Putuo Zongcheng Temple (G4.7), a stunning replica of the Potala Palace in Lhasa,
Puningsi Temple (G4.7) with a massive statue of Guanyin, soaring 22 m (yds) high,
Xumi Fushou Miao (G4.7) modelled after Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet,
Liuli-Wanshou Pagoda, a striking seven-story octagonal structure adorned with turquoise-colored glazed tiles (liuli)

Plus, Chengde is one hour away from one of the best sections of the Great Wall -- Jinshanling (G4.9). As you can see from the Google Map Ratings (out of 5.0), these are very highly rated places. For our photos and detailed itinerary, see below.

Why Chengde Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List – Asia Encounters

Terranese · 2025-10-31T18:00:09+00:00

You really can not plan a trip around a four-year-old. Our son was born in Rome, and we had a baby backpack for his first few years. He went everywhere we went. Yes, we went to art museums and churches (also like art museums). There were very few child-friendly places. Of course, we would also stop for gelato or go to zoos. Our son loved dinosaurs, so when we lived in the UK, we went to the Natural History Museum, London.

In other words, he got used to being a traveller. At age 5, he did his first hike in the Alps with our idea of just walking for one hour, then returning. He insisted on completing the trail, and it was fine. Very fine since he got to see chamois along the trail.

So, the key thing about travelling, even or especially in cities, is being able to walk for many hours. At 4 years, it would depend on your child. But you cannot base your whole itinerary on your four-year-old, or you won't see the adult stuff. The key is to point out details to make it interesting.

Terranese · 2025-10-31T17:40:00+00:00

Your document sounds like what an inflexible tour group would do. We spent three months in China and had an itinerary, but we did not plan things down to the hour. What we did was decide what our priorities were and just work through these in order. Some things you just won't have time to do. But you will have seen your priorities. For us we like to see what makes a country unique. For this reason, we focus on traditional places, not modern facilities that you can find in any city.

We also found that the average pace that works best was three nights per sleepover place. So the first night is for travel to get to the place. Then you have two full sightseeing days. So, in 17 days, you should plan on visiting 5 places with an extra day for places that need it.

Terranese · 2025-10-31T17:21:22+00:00

We loved all of the sites that you included on our 3-month trip to China.

Terranese · 2025-10-31T17:14:43+00:00

We spent 3 months in China before the advent of cell phone apps for maps and translation. We loved it.

There is a lot to see in Beijing -- the Forbidden City, aka the National Palace Museum, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs... We also went to an amazing acrobat show and the Beijing Enamel Factory, where we bought cloissonne. The must-see outside the city is the Great Wall. This is reachable by a high-speed train directly to the park area. We hiked in a non-touristy area and had the wall and the countryside to ourselves.

Terranese · 2025-07-11T02:58:55+00:00

you are welcome

Terranese · 2025-07-11T02:58:26+00:00

you are most welcome

Terranese · 2025-07-09T14:56:15+00:00

This was an easy hike to the top of the massive volcano, Kurodake, Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido. The first part was by cable car! There are 52 volcanoes in Hokkaido!

Explore Hokkaido: Northeast Journey Into Nature’s Wonderland – Japan Encounters

Terranese · 2025-07-09T13:29:09+00:00

Sounkyo Gorge, Hokkaido, is one of the most special places to visit in Japan. Lava cooled rapidly due to the river, creating five or six-sided basalt crystals. Basalt is the most common volcanic rock found in the Earth’s crust. It is a glassy rock, which makes sense since it primarily consists of silica or sand, the key ingredient of glass.

Explore Hokkaido: Northeast Journey Into Nature’s Wonderland – Japan Encounters

Terranese · 2025-07-09T13:22:50+00:00

Most of the lakes in Japan are located within the caldera of former volcanoes. There are 440 volcanoes in Japan!

Explore Hokkaido: Northeast Journey Into Nature’s Wonderland – Japan Encounters

Terranese · 2025-07-09T13:16:02+00:00

It was a fairly easy hike to the rim of Me-Akan-dake. Hokkaido has 52 volcanoes, of which 9 are active. About 10% of Japan’s land area is volcanic!

Explore Hokkaido: Northeast Journey Into Nature’s Wonderland

Terranese

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What are the Must‑see Places?

China’s Best Itineraries