Ranked the largest country in the world by population and fourth-largest by size, it’s no understatement to say that China is an incredibly vast nation. With diversity in history, landscapes, and culture, there is so much to do and see in China.
China quick facts
- Population: 1.38 billion
- Language: Mandarin
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Capital city: Beijing
- Country size: 3.705 million square miles
- High season: April through October
Top 10 things to do in China
- Visit the famous Forbidden City in Beijing
- See the famous Terracotta Army in Xi’an
- Climb the Great Wall of China
- Take part in the Chinese New Year celebrations
- See giant pandas in Chengdu
- Visit the stunning Zhangjiajie National Park
- Be amazed by the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
- Stroll along the Bund promenade in Shanghai
- Take the “world’s most dangerous hike” in Huashan
- See the giant Buddha at Leshan
Getting around
China is a huge country, but getting around is fairly easy for tourists.
High speed trains (called G-class trains) connect popular routes like Beijing to Shanghai or Beijing to Xi’an in four and a half to six hours.
Domestic flights are also an option for reaching destinations that are on opposite sides of the country, and they are typically quite affordable.
The most budget-friendly option for getting around in China is taking the bus. If you don’t mind long journeys, you can save some money this way.
Hey there,
I’m planning a trip to Japan and I am wondering if you found the language barrier extremely difficult when you visited China?
At times, yes. For example, a cab driver took me and some friends to the complete wrong side of Beijing (despite having someone at our hotel write down the address we wanted to go to for the driver in Chinese), and we were unable to tell him or ask anyone nearby for directions. However, it all worked out in the end. And, if all else fails, just try to mime everything out!