Hello everyone, I am Jeremy, from the United States, and I have been working in China for 8 years. I have visited many places in China and can be considered a China expert now. I am here to answer your questions. If you can spare a few minutes, please read through my guide carefully. It will definitely help you avoid detours on your trip to China and make your journey colorful and rich! 

China is a vast country with numerous scenic spots and beautiful natural scenery. It is a country with deep cultural heritage and diverse humanistic landscapes.

1.      Which city should we arrive at first when traveling to China?

China ranks third in the world in terms of area. It has many beautiful and developed cities, all of which are equipped with airports. Choosing the right arrival city is the first step to travel to China. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing are all international metropolises and have the most international flights. When booking tickets, you can set these cities as arrival cities and screen and book tickets that suit you.

2.      China's tourist visa policy In 2024

China implemented a 24-hour, 72-hour, or 144-hour transit visa-free policy for citizens of multiple countries. The implementation of these policies aims to promote personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, attract more foreign tourists to visit China, and also provide more convenience for foreigners in China. If your plan to travel to China exceeds 6 days, please apply for a Chinese tourist visa through normal channels and procedures. 

There are too many fun places in China to list them all at once. Your choice of Beijing, Xi'an, Mogao Grottoes, and the Silk Road in China is very worthwhile and one of the most popular travel routes for most visitors to China. Now, let me answer your question in detail.

3.      My impressions of these Chinese tourist destinations:

Beijing: Beijing, the capital of China, is an ancient capital with a history of over 3,000 years. It has had different names in different dynasties, with about 20 other nicknames. Beijing has a profound cultural heritage and is a city that combines classical and modern elements. It gathers Chinese culture from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, leaving many famous historic sites and humanistic landscapes. There is a Chinese saying: "If you don't climb the Great Wall, you are not a hero." Remember to visit Badaling Great Wall, the most outstanding representative of the Chinese Great Wall and the longest man-made structure in the world.

Recommended attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City·Palace Museum, Beijing hutongs, Badaling Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Olympic Park, Bird's Nest Water Cube, etc.

Xi'an: Xi'an, formerly known as Chang'an, means long-term peace. Xi'an has a long history, being the capital of 13 dynasties and having a civilization history of over 7,000 years. It is one of the four great ancient capitals of the world, alongside Athens, Rome, and Cairo, and is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation. Xi'an is the starting point of the Silk Road. Today, the walls of Xi'an and the walls of the Tang Dynasty palaces still hint at Xi'an's glorious past.

Recommended attractions: Terracotta Warriors Museum, Shaanxi History Museum, Huaqing Palace, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Mount Hua, etc.

Gansu: Gansu is the golden section of the Silk Road and is like a magnificent treasure embedded in the central part of China. The famous Hexi Corridor is located in Gansu, also known as the Gansu Corridor. People often say: "If you don't go to the northwest of China, you don't know how vast the world is; if you don't go to the Hexi Corridor, you don't know the diversity of China." Recommended attractions: Dunhuang·Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Spring, Jiayuguan City Wall, Zhangye·Colorful Danxia, Big Buddha Temple, Tianshi Mountain Grottoes, Tianshui Maiji Mountain.

Recommended cities: Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Zhangye, Wuwei, Lanzhou, Tianshui, Gannan Tibetan Area.

4.      About saving money when traveling to China:

If you want to save money when traveling, it is best to find local travel companies or local guides, which can truly save you money. For example, if you inquire about prices from American local travel companies, the prices they give you are much higher than those of Chinese local travel companies. Sometimes, the price is even 50% higher. The reference travel routes they offer are not very special, and the departure dates are fixed. You have to travel at the time they specify, and sometimes your vacation time may not allow it. Once you learn to bargain in China, you will also know that no matter where you sign up for a group, the final destination is to hand over to a Chinese local travel company for arrangement. Therefore, if you want to save money, you should avoid middlemen and find a Chinese local company directly. This is more straightforward, and one-on-one communication is much more convenient. The route design is more flexible.

5.      How to choose a local travel service agency in China:

I am based in Beijing and Xi'an, and I have been to Gansu many times. Sometimes I travel by myself, and sometimes I accompany friends or clients to travel and vacation. At the same time, I have met some excellent local reception service travel companies and tour guides. Finding the right person and an excellent travel service company and tour guide can save you money, be super worry-free, and experience more travel fun. Through the introduction of my Chinese colleagues, I met Gavin, a senior Chinese travel planner who has his own travel company and studied in the United States before. Gavin is enthusiastic, professional, and every time I go out to play, I have a great time, thanks to his high-quality service. If you find it troublesome to look up information and inquire about prices, you can directly contact Gavin for one-on-one consultation, which will be very convenient.

6.      Recommended travel routes for Beijing, Xi'an, and Mogao Grottoes:

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

Day 2: Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City & Hutong(old alleyways)

Day 3: Temple of Heaven & Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4: Summer Palace & Xi’an(High-speed rail) & Grand Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City

Day 5: Terracotta Warriors & Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Day 6: Xi’an City Wall & High-Speed Train to Tianshui

Day 7: Maijishan Grottoes & Transfer to Lanzhou

Day 8: Lanzhou – Zhongshan Bridge & Gansu Provincial Museum

Day 9: Tianti Mountain Grottoes & Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple

Day 10: Zhangye Danxia Landform & Jiayuguan Pass

Day 11: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang – Echoing Sand Mountains & Crescent Moon Lake

Day 12: Mogao Caves & Western Thousand Buddha Caves

Day 13: Departure or Continue Your Journey

7.      Wonderful moments of traveling in China:

Beijing is a charming city with both classical charm and modern flair. Narrow alleys, old teahouses, trendy bar streets, and bustling commercial districts blend seamlessly, creating a profound cultural heritage and authentic lifestyle in Beijing.

"Not reaching the Great Wall is not being a hero!" Badaling Great Wall is the essence of the Great Wall and is uniquely representative among the Ming Dynasty Great Walls in China.

Most first-time visitors to Beijing will make the Forbidden City a must-visit destination. The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is the symbol and representation of ancient China. When you stand within the grand and orderly walls and courtyards, you can truly feel its former glory. The long history has left a large number of precious buildings and countless cultural relics, which have become the main attractions of playing in the Forbidden City today.

Beijing has absorbed the essence of Manchu and Han dietary cultures. Royal and street flavors coexist here. In addition to various traditional Beijing snacks, there are also unique Beijing official dishes, Islamic cuisine, and private dishes.

Xi'an is the city with the most dynasties established and the greatest influence in Chinese history. It is praised as "a golden city of a thousand miles and a land of abundance" in Records of the Grand Historian. Most of the attractions in Xi'an are historical relics. The city wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell (Drum) Tower inside the city cannot be missed.

Riding a bike or strolling on the city wall of Xi'an, which has a history of over 600 years, allows you to overlook the ancient capital of 13 dynasties.

The Shaanxi History Museum is known as the "Treasure House of China" and the "Glorious Hall of Chinese Civilization," condensing the essence of Chinese history.

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the Cishou Temple and is also known as the "Cishou Temple Pagoda." It was built by Master Xuanzang to preserve the scriptures and Buddha statues he brought back from India via the Silk Road

Terracotta Warriors are a concentrated embodiment of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese nation, representing the superb craftsmanship and craftsmanship spirit of the master craftsmen. They also represent the tiniest details of the grand civilization of that era.

The thousand-year-old Mogao Grottoes, the dream of Dunhuang, the key point of the ancient Silk Road, feel the thickness and changes of history and culture in the exquisite murals and grottoes.

The first time I saw the desert was very shocking. Climbing up the Crescent Sand Mountain, you can overlook the Crescent Spring, and you can also enjoy the sunset of the desert on the top of the mountain, feeling the desolation and vastness of the northwest desert.

Mogao Grottoes is a famous cultural and artistic treasure house in China. With its unique historical, cultural and artistic value, it has been listed as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. The murals are vivid and colorful.

I am very grateful to Gvain for providing high-quality services every time, which has provided great help for our travel and ensured that our trip is very smooth. There are many interesting places in China, so I will not list them one by one. Everyone can leave a message to discuss together.

China is a country with a long history, rich culture, and vast territory. Each city has its unique charm and characteristics. I visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan in China. As the capital of China, Beijing is rich in historical sites and cultural attractions such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, which can make people deeply feel the profound historical heritage of China. Shanghai is an international metropolis and one of the economic centers of China. It has prosperous commercial districts and skyscrapers, and its level of development surpasses many countries. At the same time, I also fell in love with Sichuan Province in China. Its natural beauty, rich historical and cultural heritage, unique ethnic customs, and delicious Sichuan cuisine left a deep impression on me. The scenery of Jiuzhaigou is really beautiful, and the giant pandas are very cute.

I am deeply impressed by China as a country, and I highly appreciate its natural scenery, cultural history, cuisine, modern technology, and service quality.

 1.I am amazed by the development of modern technology in China and the quality of life: Many foreign tourists originally had some negative impressions of China, such as inconvenient mobile payments, overly crowded cities, poor sanitation and service at tourist attractions, etc. However, during our actual travel experience, we found that China's mobile internet services are extremely convenient, and the developed public transportation provides great convenience for travel.

 2.I am very impressed by China's food culture: From Beijing Roast Duck to local snacks, Chinese cuisine has left a deep impression on foreign tourists. Some foreign bloggers even specialize in tasting Chinese food challenges in China, gaining a large number of fans and likes.

 3.I have high praise for the safety of China: The safe environment in China allows women to go out alone without worry, and traveling abroad is not a concern about someone stealing your belongings.

 4.The beautiful natural landscapes and modern cityscapes, as well as the profound Chinese culture, have left a lasting impression on us. At the same time, I would like to thank Gavin for the warm service they provided us.