China Holidays

A cable car brings you up to Mutianyu, where the Great Wall suddenly stops feeling distant and starts feeling walkable. The restored sections here are quieter than others near Beijing, with watchtowers sitting along ridgelines that fade into forest. 

Zhangjiajie takes a moment to make sense of, with quartzite pillars rising from dense forest and walkways running through different levels of the park, later linked to the landscapes seen in Avatar.

In Huangshan, the climb begins in the dark because no one wants to miss the first light. Granite peaks emerge above moving clouds, and the old stone paths feel longer than they look on maps. 

The Longji Rice Terraces stretch across the mountains in over 700 layers of rice paddies curve around the mountainsides, shifting in colour depending on water and season. The walk between minority villages is the highlight, especially at sunrise when the water-filled terraces reflect the clouds and surrounding peaks. 

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of China’s most famous routes, hidden among the mountains of Yunnan. The high trail here usually takes around two days of steady walking, keeping the roaring Jinsha River audible way down in the canyon throughout the roughly 25-kilometre trek. The demanding 28 bends climb eventually rewards you with the massive, snow-covered walls of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. 

The cable car from the city centre climbs so gradually that the landscape falls away beneath you. At the summit, glass walkways are fixed along the cliff edge, offering uninterrupted views straight down the mountainside. From there, the route continues towards Heaven’s Gate, a vast natural arch carved into the rock face, rising around 113 metres. 

On the Yulong River, bamboo rafts move slowly past Yangshuo’s karst hills, farmland, and small villages in the wider Li River region. The water is shallow and quiet, with local boatmen steering traditional rafts using long poles through calm stretches. 

Xi’an’s role as the starting point of the Silk Road is not confined to museums and history books. Spend time in the Muslim Quarter and you will see how centuries of cultural exchange still shape the city, from its food traditions to the presence of the historic Great Mosque. 

Dali’s old town is easy to explore on foot, with traditional Bai houses, stone streets, and mountain views in almost every direction. Although much of the settlement dates to the Ming dynasty, it still feels less like a monument and more like a living town.

Unlike some of Yunnan’s busier heritage destinations, Shaxi remains remarkably relaxed. Traders once passed through here on the Tea Horse Road linking Yunnan with Tibet and Myanmar, and the old market square still sits at the heart of the town.

A cruise from Yangzhou to Suzhou along the Grand Canal reveals a side of China that many international visitors overlook. Originally expanded during the Sui dynasty to transport grain, the waterway helped create the wealth that shaped many of the canal towns seen today.

Walk inside this imperial palace complex and its grandeur hits you immediately. Priceless jewellery, centuries-old art, and architecture so intricate that it’s hard to believe that human hands built it. No wonder UNESCO recognised it as a World Heritage Site back in 1987.

In 1974, farmers digging a well near Xian accidentally uncovered one of history’s greatest secrets. Some 8,000 life-size clay warriors were buried to guard China’s first emperor through eternity. Each face is unique, and the site is still being excavated today. 

Built as a personal retreat for Empress Dowager Cixi, the Summer Palace in Beijing is where imperial grandeur meets open water and quiet hills. Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill set a scene that feels less like a monument and more like a place someone actually loved. 

It is hard to walk far through Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter without being drawn towards the scent of cumin lamb skewers sizzling over charcoal. Between the food stalls and busy lanes, you will reach the Great Mosque, one of the city’s most remarkable Silk Road-era landmarks.

Dim Sum in Hong Kong is rarely a quiet affair. At traditional venues such as Lin Heung Lau, locals gather around shared tables while servers push steaming trolleys through the dining room, offering everything from har grow to pork buns.

Many travellers arrive in Yunnan for the scenery but leave remembering its cultural diversity. In Bai communities around Dali and Xizhou, traditional courtyards remain part of daily life, while Lijiang’s old town preserves centuries of local heritage. 

A village in Guizhou feels worlds away from China’s major cities. During celebrations such as the Miao Lusheng Harvest Festival and Sisters’ Meal Festival, visitors can experience traditional music, embroidered costumes and customs that continue to thrive today.

The Longjing Tea Ceremony in Hangzhou is closely tied to West Lake’s tea hills, where locals still repeat the saying “Dragon Well tea, Tiger Spring water.” The brew is prized for its light taste and the leaves slowly rise in hot water.

Late January to February is the most intense travel moment in China. Entire cities empty as millions head home, trains sell out, and families spend days cooking, visiting relatives, and setting off fireworks that echo through residential streets.

Two weeks after Chinese New Year, the mood shifts again. Lanterns fill parks, streets glow softly at night, and families eat tangyuan while wandering slowly through celebrations that feel like the final exhale of the holiday season.

In deep winter (January-February), Harbin becomes almost unrecognisable. Massive ice structures rise across the city, glowing in neon blues and reds after sunset. Walking through it feels less like sightseeing and more like stepping into a frozen city built for imagination. 

Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) is a time when families visit ancestral graves, clean them carefully, and leave offerings. It falls in early April, when fresh air and blossoms lead many to combine remembrance with countryside walks or short spring breaks. 

1st May brings one of the busiest domestic travel peaks of the year. Tourist attractions overflow, trains are packed, and cities feel heavier than usual as people use the short break for quick getaways or shopping-focused trips.

In June, rivers become the centre of attraction. Long boats cut through water in rhythm with drumbeats, while families gather to eat zongzi wrapped in bamboo leaves. It is a tradition that feels energetic, physical, and deeply communal. 

Usually in September or early October, the focus shifts to the sky. Families sit together under the brightest full moon of the year, sharing mooncakes and quiet conversation. Streets are calmer, with lanterns adding soft light rather than spectacle. 

From 1st October, China enters a nationwide movement of travel. Highways, airports, and trains are overwhelmed as millions move across the country. It is less about tradition and more about scale, and the country remains in motion at full speed. 

Late October or November brings a quieter tradition. People climb hills or mountains to enjoy crisp autumn air, sometimes drinking chrysanthemum wine. It is a reflective day tied to health, longevity, and seasonal change. 

In April, Xishuangbanna transforms into a festival of water and celebration in Yunnan. Streets become playful battlegrounds where people splash water for blessings, mixed with dancing, music, and ritual moments tied to the Dai New Year.

July or August evenings in Yunnan are marked by towering flames. Villages gather around giant torches, with wrestling, dancing, and music continuing late into the night. It remains a more communal gathering than a structured festival.

Changsha is often called China’s entertainment capital, thanks in part to the influential Hunan Broadcasting system. After dark, the city comes alive with busy night markets, food stalls and the bars and clubs of Jiefang West Road.

You can watch Sichuan Opera across Chengdu, often in traditional teahouses. While the performances include comedy, music, and acrobatics, most people come to see Bian Lian, the famous face-changing art that remains one of China’s great stage mysteries.

The ERA Show is among Shanghai’s most popular evening attractions. Combining traditional Chinese acrobatics with modern staging and multimedia effects, it showcases skills that have been refined over generations.

At Soncheng Romance Parks, visitors wander through streets designed to resemble ancient China before settling in for the main performance. These large-scale productions bring regional legends and historical stories to life through music, dance, and special effects.

Staged in Beijing, The Legend of Kung Fu follows a young boy’s journey to becoming a Shaolin master. The production blends martial arts with storytelling, offering insight into the discipline and philosophy behind kung fu traditions.

The Bund feels most alive after sunset, when the old waterfront buildings light up along the Huangpu River. From Waibaidu Bridge, the glow of the riverfront meets the distant Lujiazui skyline, creating a simple but striking contrast that defines Shanghai at night.