Arrive China
The bookings that matter aren't the ones you can do any time — they're the ones that sell out or turn you away. Sort hotels, big museums and train tickets first; the rest can stay loose.
1. Hotels that accept foreign guests
Not every hotel in China can legally host foreign nationals — smaller and budget places often lack the license. Booking one that can't is the most common first-night problem.
- On Trip.com, filter for "foreign guests" / "接受外宾".
- Book your first two nights before you fly; extend once you're on the ground.
- Save each hotel's name and address in Chinese characters — show it to a taxi driver and you're done.
2. Museums & sites to reserve
Big attractions now use timed reservations, and the famous ones sell out days ahead. You can't just walk up to the Forbidden City.
- Reserve the Forbidden City, National Museum and similar marquee sites in advance.
- Tickets often release about a week ahead — set a reminder.
- Book with your passport; entry is tied to your ID.
3. Trains & getting around
High-speed rail is the best way to travel between cities — often faster door-to-door than flying once you factor in airports.
- Book through 12306 (or Trip.com) with your passport.
- Reserve popular legs like Beijing–Shanghai well ahead.
- Within cities, the metro plus DiDi covers almost everything.
4. Avoid the holiday rush
When the whole country travels at once, prices, crowds and sold-out trains spike together. The big three to avoid:
- National Day ("Golden Week") — the first week of October (Oct 1–7).
- Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) — late January / February, dates move each year.
- Labor Day — early May (May 1, usually a 5-day break).
Smaller spikes land on other public holidays too — Qingming (early April), Dragon Boat (June) and Mid-Autumn (September/October).
If your dates are flexible, shift around them. If not, book everything as early as you can and expect crowds.
5. A loose route beats a tight one
You don't need a minute-by-minute plan. Pick your cities, give each two to three days minimum, and leave gaps — the best days in China come from wandering, not from a packed schedule.
- One must-see per day, plus two optional things nearby.
- Don't chain cities back-to-back with no buffer.
- Keep the day you arrive and the day you leave light.
Before you fly
- Book your first two nights in a foreign-guest hotel.
- Reserve the marquee museums you'd be sad to miss.
- Book the long high-speed legs between cities.
- Save every hotel's Chinese name and address offline.
The bottom line
Lock in the hotels, museums and trains that can run out, steer clear of Golden Week if your dates bend, and leave the rest of your itinerary loose. You'll save money, skip the queues, and keep room for the unplanned bits that make the trip.