China Holidays
With over 55 million visitors a year, China is an incredibly popular tourist destination, ranking third in the world for the number of visitors. Tourists to the country find that there's a wide range of available attractions to enjoy, from natural wonders to cultural heritage sites located throughout the country.
Two of the most-visited sites are the Great Wall of China, which is a series of ancient fortifications that run in from east to west along the country's old northern border, and the historic Forbidden City, which used to be the Chinese imperial palace for nearly 500 years. Taking a trip to China is easier now than ever, thanks to a government policy that welcomes visitors warmly. You can even make flight and hotel reservations online using ebookers.
Hotels
China Hotels
The Bund Riverside Hotel Shanghai
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Grand Skylight Garden Hotel, Shenzhen
Jade Garden Hotel Beijing
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Landmark International Hotel Guangzhou
The Seagull on the Bund
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Flights
Flights to China
| Departure | Arrival | Travel dates | Round-trip fares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Beijing | Sun, 10 Mar - Fri, 15 Mar | £187 |
| Hong Kong | Shanghai | Tue, 9 Apr - Tue, 16 Apr | £170 |
| Bangkok | Guangzhou | Sun, 24 Feb - Thu, 28 Feb | £167 |
| Singapore | Chengdu | Wed, 16 Oct - Sat, 26 Oct | £156 |
| Chengdu | Kunming | Sat, 27 Apr - Wed, 1 May | £171 |
| Guangzhou | Xiamen | Sat, 2 Mar - Sat, 9 Mar | £167 |
| Hong Kong | Xi An | Mon, 25 Mar - Sat, 30 Mar | £157 |
| Shenzhen | Guilin | Thu, 28 Mar - Tue, 2 Apr | £167 |
| Taipei | Shenzhen | Wed, 20 Feb - Mon, 25 Feb | £171 |
| Hong Kong | Hangzhou | Sun, 7 Apr - Wed, 10 Apr | £169 |
| Seoul | Qingdao | Tue, 19 Mar - Sat, 23 Mar | £133 |
| Hong Kong | Nanjing | Sat, 15 Jun - Sat, 22 Jun | £172 |
Best time to take a holiday to China
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China is a large country with several regional climates to consider when planning the best time to make your visit. Generally, the fall season has the best weather for visiting. Between September and early October, the weather is cold and the rainfall is sparse. The temperature tends to range between 10 and 22°C on average. This is also the time of year when the Beijing Palace Museum displays the ancient paintings it has in its collection. Winters can be harsh due to cold weather, but it's also the period during which the Harbin Winter Lantern Festival takes place in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The festival features incredible ice artwork and brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors to China each year.
Top China attractions
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Jinli Street Market, Chengdu
Explore this local shopping area to find a variety of small shops from food stalls to folk art stores.
Tibet Museum, Lhasa
The museum has a wide collection of handcrafts and artefacts that give you a look at the history and culture of the Tibetan people.
Silk Market, Beijing
You'll find a large selection of silk products made with quality Chinese silk and available for a low price at this market. The prices are negotiable, so come prepared to haggle.
Pearl Market, Beijing
The Pearl Market is another great location to spend your money at during your visit. Like the silk market, you can find plenty of great deals, but you'll also have to haggle with the seller to get the best price.
Peak Tower, Hong Kong
Take a day to enjoy the many attractions in this tower, from Madam Tussauds on the fourth level to the viewing terrace on level five where you can rent binoculars to look out over the city.
Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong
There are four sub-areas in this park to enjoy, from Main Street USA to Fantasyland. You can find the usual Disney characters as well as fun rides and souvenirs.
China Cycle Tours, Shanghai
Take a tour of Shanghai and Suzhou with a group of fellow cyclists for a look at both of the cities as well as the surrounding area.
Donghuamen Night Market, Beijing
A trip to this market is an amazing experience that should be tried at least once. Delightful foods are on every table with a few surprises that may make you rethink just what you consider edible.
Tiananmen Square, Beijing
This is the world's largest public square right in the centre of Beijing. While you're there, enjoy talking with other visitors to the city or bring a kite along to enjoy the wide-open space.
Guangzhou City Museum, Guangzhou
The museum features a large collection of artefacts from the local area extending back to the Neolithic era.
Insider tips for China travel
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Jingshan Park, Beijing
Located behind the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park provides a beautiful view of the palace complex. There is a small fee for entry.
Lao She Teahouse, Beijing
Enjoy a bit of Beijing Opera at this teahouse located on Qianmen West Street near Tiananmen Square. The evening shows include shadow puppets and kung fu.
Liang Pi, Xian
These cold street noodles are a tasty treat that can be bought from the city's street vendors for only about four to six yuan per serving.
City Wall Park, Xian
The City Wall Park is a great location to go to meet the locals. You may be able to catch a performance of Chinese Opera while you're there.
Old Beijing Noodle Restaurant, Beijing
Chinese noodles are a delicious way to get a taste for the cuisine, and one of the best places to try them out is at the Old Beijing Noodle Restaurant. There are a few sites throughout the city, but try the historic one near the Temple Heaven, as it's hardly changed in the past 100 years.
