🇨🇳 Independent Travel in China: Tips from Personal Experience
🇨🇳 Independent Travel in China: Tips from Personal Experience
We traveled around China independently and visited several very different cities: Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, and Beijing.
The itinerary was packed, so good preparation was key.
🧭 Itinerary and Tickets
With so many cities, it's important to save time.
It's best to book international flights 5-6 weeks in advance, and domestic flights 2-3 weeks in advance.
We flew frequently within the country, and traveled between Zhangjiajie and Chongqing by high-speed train—it's best to book tickets in advance, especially if you want first class.
📱 Communications and Internet
Internet is essential in China: navigation, taxis, money transfers, and payments—all via your phone.
We used an eSIM card, purchased in advance. The internet was stable and worked immediately upon arrival, without having to search for mobile phone stores at the airport.
💳 Payment and Money
In every city—from megacities like Shanghai and Beijing to touristy Zhangjiajie—we paid through Alipay.
Cash was almost never used. You can pay for cafes, shops, taxis, and deliveries through the app.
🏨 Hotels, tickets, excursions
For a trip to several cities, Trip.com was a great help.
We used it to book hotels, buy eSIMs, and buy tickets to attractions in advance—this saved time and helped us avoid lines. The prices were often better than on other platforms.
❌ When to avoid going
If this is your first trip to China, it's best to avoid:
— Chinese New Year
— National holidays (May and October)
— July and August
During these times, popular destinations like Beijing and Zhangjiajie are especially crowded, prices are high, and the summer is extremely hot.
✨ Conclusion
China is perfect for independent travel, even on a complex itinerary, if you sort out internet, payment, and ticketing issues in advance. Then your trip will be comfortable and very fulfilling.
Save if you're planning on China ✈️