China Travel Golden Route
You must see it at least once in life!

I'm your virtual China travel guide.

Want to see the best of China? Come with me!

If you are visiting China for the first time, these are the places you must go:
• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Xian
• Guilin
• Hong Kong

My name is Anna, a native Chinese. I'm going to walk you through the golden route of China and share with you my travel experiences and stories. I have tailored a few easy-to-learn Mandarin phrases for travel purposes. You can surprise the merchants while shopping in China.

I have also included some need-to-know information when visiting China. I would also suggest things to do, to see and to buy. I hope I could help make your visit to China as fascinating as possible.

China is an extremely fascinating country and is rich in culture and history. Everywhere you see are historical wonders surrounded by beautiful landscape.

A few highlights include the magical Forbidden City and the inspiring Great Wall of China at Beijing.

You can marvel at the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses in Xian, explore the beautiful landscape in Guilin with the high flyers in Hong Kong.

Things you see on the golden route are crown jewels of China sightseeing.

Are you interested in any of these?
The golden route has it all:
• China culture
• China civilization
• China history
• Picturesque landscape
• Chinese artifacts
• Delicious Chinese food
• Shopping
• Entertainment

Vacation Rental Deals

China travel tip : The Golden Route

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR). Though it is part of China, it has its own infrastructure, currency and visa requirement. Therefore when I write China, I generally refer to Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Guilin. Hong Kong is treated as a separate entity.

Shanghai : China in the recent 100 years - Check out my Shanghai hotels list, as well as my China hotel page. Also browse some quick info on the Shanghai Maglev - the fastest train in the world, as well as my tips for a Shanghai day trip. Shanghai as part of the golden route has attracted many celebrities’ visits such as Bill Clinton in 1998 and Barack Obama in 2009.

China : Food Lovers' Paradise

If you are a food lover, China is your paradise – Peking Duck from Beijing, fresh seafood and dim sum from Hong Kong, dumplings from Xian…and a lot many. I’ll show you what and where to eat.

China Visa
You need a visa to visit China, unless you are a ordinary passport holder of Japan, Singapore and Brunei and visit China for tourist purpose. Visit my visa page for details. If you do not have a visa and need chinese translation services then that is not a problem because dealing with a top quality translation company will make sure that a local Chinese citizen will do the work.

Important China Travel Advice – Travel Insurance
Hospitalization in China is expensive. You must pay first and claim for reimbursement after returning to your home country. You are advised to travel to China with both health insurance and medical evacuation insurance. This is especially important if your medical insurance does not valid overseas. For example, US medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.

TRAVEL IDEAS AND RESOURCES

Getting on a China package tour is the most hassle-free option.

If you have two weeks time, this 13-day tour is highly recommended. It walks you through the golden route of China - ideal for first time China visitors - exploring Beijing, Guilin, Xian and Hong Kong — the four "must-go" cities. Click here to view itineraries. Free brochures available.

Click here to view The Long-Term Traveler's Guide if you want to go longer and cheaper.

Book a Flight to Travel China

TripAdvisor offers a wide range of flight choices.

Book a Hotel Room in China

Read unbiased reviews and find the best deals about hotels in Beijing; Hong Kong; Shanghai; Xi'an; Guilin

China Map Guide
A site that offers China province map, China city map, China attraction map, China travel map