Travel Stories

China

- national parks
- activities
The ultimate guide to things to do in China
11 min read • Oct 29, 2021
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.
- national parks
- activities
The definitive guide to China’s national parks
9 min read • Oct 28, 2021
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.
- destination practicalities
- accessible travel
How to get around China: Here's how to navigate the Middle Kingdom with no problems
7 min read • Oct 27, 2021
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.
- beaches
- activities
China’s best beaches: Sun, fun and facekinis
5 min read • Oct 27, 2021
Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan, Silver Beach and other beaches are places for multi-generational family fun. Read more about the best beaches in China.
- train travel
- destination practicalities
5 epic train journeys to take in China
4 min read • Oct 24, 2021
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…
- hiking
- activities
These top hikes in China are sure to take your breath away
7 min read • Oct 22, 2021
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.
- tips and advice
- destination practicalities
How do I get a visa for China?
6 min read • Oct 14, 2021
Stretching from Central Asia to the jungles of Vietnam, China is a land of endless travel opportunities. Here's what you need to know about getting a visa.
- festivals and events
- art and culture
The best time of year to visit China
4 min read • Apr 14, 2021
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.
- sustainable travel
- connections
How artificial intelligence is helping these companies protect the world's wildlife
6 min read • Sep 30, 2020
Companies committed to the conservation of wildlife are utilizing AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a growing number of sustainable programs…
- cruise
- activities
Journeys down the world's longest rivers
5 min read • Sep 24, 2020
The Amazon, Nile, and Yangzi are three of the world's longest rivers – and each provide amazing opportunities for river cruise adventures.
- history
- art and culture
7 attractions you should skip (and where to head instead)
6 min read • Sep 18, 2020
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.
- history
- art and culture
Great Wall: get to know China's most iconic structure
5 min read • Sep 2, 2020
Cloaked in legend and mystique, the Great Wall of China is often misunderstood. Here's everything you need to know about this remarkable structure.
- festivals and events
- art and culture
9 fascinating facts about Harbin, China's ice festival city
5 min read • Dec 19, 2019
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.
- festivals and events
- art and culture
Chill out at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China
1 min read • Dec 19, 2019
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.
Trailblazers: crossing into China as a Lonely Planet writer in the 1980s
8 min read • Jul 7, 2019
Our Trailblazers series sees Lonely Planet's guidebook writers reflect on past adventures, reminisce a little, and compare their experiences past and…
- wildlife and nature
- activities
Where to see pandas in China as it plans for a Giant Panda National Park
5 min read • Jun 24, 2019
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…
- food
- food and drink
Highlights of Guizhou, China’s secret southwest province
6 min read • May 13, 2019
In a hidden corner of southwest China, a mountainous province remains secreted away from the travel trail. Little-known Guizhou is sandwiched in between…
- art
- art and culture
China’s Buddhist caves: the enduring art of the Silk Road
8 min read • Mar 22, 2019
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…
- food
- food and drink
Below the skyscrapers: finding old Hong Kong on the streets of Central
7 min read • Feb 20, 2019
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…
- art
- art and culture
Canal life: a guide to China's most picturesque water towns
6 min read • Feb 13, 2019
The water towns of eastern China near Shanghai are renowned for their pretty whitewashed houses, arched stone bridges and bustling canal-side streets…
- food
- food and drink
48 hours in Shenyang
4 min read • Jan 28, 2019
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…
- food
- food and drink
From the dragon's well: tasting longjing tea in Hangzhou, China
7 min read • Dec 10, 2018
One of China’s most important tourist cities, Hangzhou, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, is renowned for its natural beauty and classical Chinese…