Travel guide: China 🇨🇳

Good things to know

• The currency is Chinese Yuan (RMB)
• China has extended a unilateral visa-free policy to 43 countries. Please check the latest info before your trip.
• China has its own tech ecosystem:
  • Payment: AliPay is the easiest for foreigners to set up compared to WeChat Pay. The society is largely cashless, and you can pay through QR code everywhere. If you are going to rural areas where the signal may be unreliable, then do bring some spare change.
  • Taxi: Didi
  • Map: Amap (Gaode map)
  • Takaways: Meituan or Elema
• Tipping is not expected
• It is generally advised to avoid travel during the two national holidays due to the huge domestic crowds (1-7th May and 1-7th Oct)
• High-speed rail is very convenient, and the tickets are linked to your passport.

Beyond megacities: wildlife and nature travel in China

China is often celebrated for its buzzing megacities, and most people travel the Beijing - Xi'an - Chongqing - Shanghai route, with some adding in Guilin and Zhangjiajie. However, these destinations can be overrated. Beyond the urban skylines and popular eastern provinces lies a world of wilderness. From snow-capped mountains to tropical rainforests, from ancient towns to diverse ethnic cultures and customs, Western China is growing in popularity within the domestic travel market, yet it is relatively unknown to foreign tourists. And we would love to introduce you to these places outside the mega-city-focused route.

Why Go Beyond the Cities?

• Spot wildlife in their natural habitats, incl. many endangered and endemic species
• Experience ecosystems ranging from tropical rainforest to high-altitude plateau
• Discover landscapes that inspired Chinese art, poetry, and legend
• Learn about different ethnic communities along the way. China has 56 officially recognised ethnicities, each with its own unique culture, customs, and cuisine.

Qinghai

Nestled on the north-eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai is a land of snow-capped mountains, shimmering lakes, and rich cultural heritage. Here, nature exists in its purest form, and our Qinghai wildlife safari is designed to showcase both the diversity of plateau species and how they survive and thrive in some of the harshest habitats on Earth. On our safari, we will track the elusive snow leopards—the queen of the snow mountains, the totem of the plateau.

Qinghai also offers a vibrant mosaic of cultures. Tibetan, Hui (Muslim), Mongol, and Han communities each contribute their own traditions, festivals, and flavours, which you will experience as you journey across the region.

Yunnan

Tucked away in China’s far southwest, here the snow-capped Meili Mountain meet lush tropical rainforests, and ancient towns stand alongside vibrant ethnic cultures. Its year-round spring-like climate makes it an ideal destination to escape the summer heat and the biting winters.

Our Yunnan safari will take you trekking through its rainforests in search of the Skywalker hoolock gibbons, hornbills, and a wealth of other local flora and fauna.

With 26 ethnic groups, Yunnan is one of China’s most culturally rich regions. Each community has its own traditions, costumes, and cuisines, making every journey here an encounter with something new and unforgettable.

Sichuan

Whilst Chongqing is a popular destination, few journey beyond the cyberpunk-style city or the provincial capital, Chengdu. To the North, Jiuzhaigou is a hugely popular place known for its serene mountains and lakes. Driving west, as you approach the Tibetan Plateau, you'll see the landscape shift from grassland to alpine terrain. Sichuan's roads are winding and can be very slippery in winter. It is best to leave the driving to local guides if you are not used to mountain driving in a foreign country.

Check out Kodama Travel's China Tours for your next China trip.