This page provides the information about an independent China trip for China Travel Tips. Along with the new freedom of individual travel comes the problem of deciding where to go, how long to stay there, what to see, and how to budget your money so that you can accomplish all that you want. For this reason, prior research and planning for your China trip becomes essential. First, think about the kinds of things you want to see: beautiful landscapes or gardens, historical relics, contemporary city life, life in the countryside, or pursuits of special interests. Of course you can see mixtures of these things or just pick a few places and see whatever there is to see without any specific goals in mind.

China is a very large country with great variations in living patterns, customs, and architecture, even among localities that may be only 50miles apart. Thus, China’s surprising parochialism allows you to see a variety of things within a relatively small radius, thus cutting down enormously on travel time and expense. Interesting groupings of cities would include the Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou area; the Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde area; or the Luoyang, Xi’an, Kaifeng area. Each area has a unique scope and special appeal while still being varied enough to satisfy almost any general interest in China. For example, those whose interest is ancient history might want to visit the last group of cities along with Beijing. Fujian is one of China’s most interesting provinces in terms of architecture and cities that still retain the aura of “old China.” Beijing has virtually everything, so any amount of time spent there is bound to be rewarding. If your interest is beautiful landscapes and gardens, there is Hangzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Guilin, and the Taishan and Huangshan mountain areas. Huangshan is recommended only for the more adventurous, although it is easily one of the most beautiful places on earth. Kunming to the southwest, the Emei mountains, and the gorges of the Yangtse River are also recommended. lf you seek a feel for old-world, untouched China, then smaller, less traveled cities are recommended. But be forewarned: these are also the difficult places to travel to and in, especially for those who do not speak Chinese. Wherever you choose to go, you can always make on-the spot changes in your itinerary by acquiring visa extensions or travel passes or, if the city is on the “open” list, by merely purchasing a ticket. However, it’s always best in China to plan ahead.

In general, the number of days spent in each city depends on how hard you want to push yourself, how much you want to see, and, of course, what means of transportation is used (arranging to take long-distance intercity trains :by night can save hotel expenses and more time in the cities themselves). As a general guide, one a minimum of three days to Beijing, three days to Shanghai, Xi’an, and two days to most other cities.