China Travel Stories

Jan 2, 2024 • 11 min read

From cutting through the countryside to connecting cities, these 24 railway journeys offer entirely new perspectives on a destination.

Mar 28, 2023 • 3 min read

Here’s all you need to know about getting a traveler visa to visit China now that “zero COVID” has come and gone.

Oct 10, 2022 • 6 min read

In a country with a food scene as diverse as mainland Europe, where to even start? Here are a few of the must-try foods and drinks in China.

Oct 29, 2021 • 11 min read

China is a giant and complex patchwork of cultures, languages and cuisines. As you might expect, there's a lot to see and do - here are the top experiences.

Oct 28, 2021 • 9 min read

These are our top picks for the best national parks in China, from the epic scenery of Sichuan’s Jiuzhaigou to the ethereal peaks of Zhangjiajie in Hunan.

Oct 27, 2021 • 7 min read

Despite its vast size, traveling around China is convenient and efficient, thanks to its high-speed rail network and abundance of airports and local buses.

Oct 27, 2021 • 5 min read

Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan, Silver Beach and other beaches are places for multi-generational family fun. Read more about the best beaches in China.

Oct 24, 2021 • 4 min read

Sleek, state-of-the art bullet trains ferry passengers across China, providing a highlight reel of the nation's best sights along the way – soaring Himalayan…

Oct 22, 2021 • 6 min read

Immortalized in brushstrokes for millennia, China’s misty landscapes offer some of the best trekking in the world. Here's our pick of the top routes.

Apr 14, 2021 • 4 min read

If you’re just beginning to plan your trip and don’t know where to start, here are our tips on figuring out when you should go to China.

Sep 30, 2020 • 6 min read

Companies committed to the conservation of wildlife are utilizing AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a growing number of sustainable programs…

Sep 24, 2020 • 5 min read

The Amazon, Nile, and Yangzi are three of the world's longest rivers – and each provide amazing opportunities for river cruise adventures.

Sep 18, 2020 • 5 min read

Call it the Instagram effect: some sites are more impressive in person than they seem to be in pics, and others fail to live up to their billing.

Dec 19, 2019 • 5 min read

The famed International Ice and Snow Festival is reason enough to visit Harbin, but here are 9 facts to further pique your interest in the Chinese city.

Dec 19, 2019 • 1 min read

Each January and February, the city of Harbin is lit up like a child’s snow-dome and intricate ice sculptures hold firm in an ethereal winter wonderland.

Jul 7, 2019 • 8 min read

Our Trailblazers series sees Lonely Planet's guidebook writers reflect on past adventures, reminisce a little, and compare their experiences past and…

Jun 24, 2019 • 5 min read

Panda lovers – rejoice! Fans of the world's most adorable vulnerable bear species have a few new reasons to celebrate the animal; about 27,134 km² worth…

May 13, 2019 • 6 min read

In a hidden corner of southwest China, a mountainous province remains secreted away from the travel trail. Little-known Guizhou is sandwiched in between…

Mar 22, 2019 • 8 min read

The Silk Road is well-known as being one of the world’s earliest trade routes, allowing the exchange of goods between China and Europe, via Central Asia…

Feb 20, 2019 • 6 min read

Impervious to the day-in, day-out waft of incense, a thick flow of sharply suited city workers, selfie-stick-wielding shoppers and giddy bar-hoppers pass…

Feb 13, 2019 • 6 min read

The water towns of eastern China near Shanghai are renowned for their pretty whitewashed houses, arched stone bridges and bustling canal-side streets…

Jan 28, 2019 • 4 min read

The biggest city in northeast China was once – briefly – the capital of the Qing dynasty, before the all-conquering Manchu moved to Beijing in 1644…