Vast and diverse, one of Earth’s oldest and largest civilizations, China is a country that attracts superlatives. Things to do in China span the gamut from Xian’s ancient Terracotta Warriors to Shanghai’s futuristic skyline via spectacular landscapes like Zhangjiajie and the Three Gorges. Many travelers, however, focus on just a handful of cities: Beijing for the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace; Shanghai for canal towns, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and the Bund; and Hong Kong, perhaps the easiest place for travelers to start a lifelong love affair with China.
China’s a big country, and when to visit depends on where you’re going. But generally, winter is cold, summer is hot, and spring and fall are much more temperate. Chinese New Year takes place in January or February each year, which is an extremely busy time to travel to China. The first weeks of May and October are also national holidays, so prepare for large crowds of Chinese travelers at those times.
China's large size plays a big role in planning your tour. Flying is an efficient way to get from city to city, but it's expensive. If you have the time, hop on a train. You'll get to watch the landscape change as you travel, and experience the country like many Chinese travelers do. Or, try a bullet train between Beijing and Shanghai to get where you’re going in record time.
Eating street food in the middle of the night is one of China's joys. Clubs and karaoke bars stay open late, and so do the stalls feeding people after a night of partying. In many places across the country, late-night food has its own special identity. The menu items vary by region, but the nighttime post-party foodie atmosphere stays the same across much of China.
