OFAQ WORLD covers 9 Chinese cities, from Beijing and Shanghai to the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie and the karst peaks of Guilin. Every place in our guides carries its name in Chinese characters, so you can show it to a taxi driver, and each guide lists hotels with their Chinese addresses.
Beijing is the classic start: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Xi'an adds the Terracotta Army and its Muslim Quarter, Chengdu the giant pandas, and Chongqing a mountain city of stilt houses and river views. Shanghai pairs the Bund with Pudong's skyline.
For business travel, Guangzhou hosts the Canton Fair and Shenzhen has the Huaqiangbei electronics market. For nature, Zhangjiajie's forest of sandstone pillars and Tianmen Mountain, and the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo, with bamboo rafts on the Yulong River, the Longji rice terraces and limestone hills all around.
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9 city guides in China
BeijingThe Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu and hutong lanes11 places
ChengduGiant pandas, teahouses and Sichuan food8 places
ChongqingA mountain city on two rivers, hotpot and neon nights8 placesGuangzhouDim sum, the Canton Fair and the Pearl River9 places
GuilinKarst peaks, the Li River cruise and Yangshuo9 places
ShanghaiThe Bund, Pudong's skyline and the old French Concession11 places
ShenzhenElectronics markets, theme parks and the bay next to Hong Kong9 places
Xi'anThe Terracotta Army, the city wall and the Muslim Quarter8 placesZhangjiajieSandstone pillars, glass walkways and Tianmen Mountain8 places
Questions travellers ask
- Do I need a visa for China?
- It depends on your passport. Hungarian and many other ordinary passports can currently visit visa-free for up to a month, under a scheme with a fixed end date. Israeli passports need a visa. Citizens of many countries can use visa-free transit of up to ten days with an onward ticket to a third country. Check the official Chinese sources before you book.
- How do I pay in China?
- Most shops, taxis and restaurants use Alipay or WeChat Pay. Both apps let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard. Carry some cash as a backup.
- Will Google and WhatsApp work?
- Google, WhatsApp and many other foreign apps are blocked on Chinese networks. Check with your mobile provider before you go, and download offline maps and a translation app at home.
- How do I take a taxi without speaking Chinese?
- Every place in our China guides has its Chinese name; tap 'Show driver' to display it in large characters, with a spoken request. DiDi works inside Alipay.