What to do in China: temples, skyscrapers and grand landscapes within reach by train 🌏🇨🇳

China impresses with its enormity, ancient culture and dazzling modernity. Between Xi'an's ramparts, Pudong's towers and the twisted pines of the Yellow Mountains, each day can feel like a new country. If you're preparing a trip to China, this guide helps you chart a smart itinerary, not miss the essentials and travel connected with ease thanks to a single eSIM valid in more than 200 destinations.

Traveling in China today means embracing contrasts. Beijing embodies imperial history and political breath, Shanghai displays the futuristic lines of a metropolis that never sleeps, while Chengdu takes its time to the rhythm of tea and pandas. The country is vast, distances are significant, but the high-speed rail network has simplified everything. You now cross entire regions in a few hours, comfortably seated, a hot tea in hand and the landscape in cinemascope.

Season-wise, spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer pleasant temperatures and clear skies, perfect for a city/nature mix. Summer is hot and sometimes humid in the east and south, while winter reveals unexpected charms like the ice festival in Harbin, further north. Anticipate periods of high traffic, especially around Labour Day in early May and Golden Week in early October, when tourist sites and trains fill up quickly.

The language barrier exists, but it fades with a little preparation. Major cities display more and more English in transport, and an offline translation app will render countless services in neighbourhood restaurants or at a station counter.

Practical tip Download a translation app with offline Chinese keyboard and prepare some key phrases. To orient yourself, save addresses in Chinese and pinyin. A screenshot of your hotel's exact name in Chinese characters greatly facilitates taxis.

Start with Beijing to taste the historic heart. The Forbidden City unfolds courtyards and glazed roofs, the Temple of Heaven dazzles with the purity of its rotunda, and the hutongs immerse you in neighbourhood life, between dumpling shops and knitting on doorsteps. The Great Wall, two hours away, deserves a full day. Badaling is the most famous section, but Mutianyu and Jinshanling are often more pleasant, with fewer crowds and wilder panoramas.

Wall advice Leave early for the Great Wall, especially on weekends. Prefer Mutianyu if you're looking for a good balance between accessibility and reasonable crowds. On weekdays and outside holidays, Jinshanling offers breathtaking views and a more athletic walk.

In Shanghai, you taste the most cosmopolitan China. The Bund aligns its neoclassical facades facing Lujiazui's futuristic towers. Get lost in the former French concession among plane trees, and end the evening in a speakeasy hidden behind an anonymous door. Contemporary art museums, like the Power Station of Art, testify to a vibrant cultural scene. An escape to Suzhou or Hangzhou will complete the picture between refined gardens and still lake bordered by pagodas.

Head to Xi'an next, to greet the Terracotta Army, erected to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The old town surrounded by ramparts and the Muslim quarter tell the millennial mixing of the Silk Roads. Taste biangbiang noodles and cumin-scented lamb skewers for a hearty lunch.

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, focuses on the sweetness of life. You spend hours at a spicy hot pot table, visit a panda breeding centre, and get caught up in the atmosphere of tea houses. The region is a magnificent gateway to mountains and monasteries, with temples along valleys and, when weather permits, escapes to grandiose landscapes.

Further south, Guilin and Yangshuo deploy their sugar loaves along the Li River. Rent a bike, zip between rice paddies, climb a viewpoint at sunset, and let the morning mist reinvent the relief. To the west, Yunnan charms with its ancient towns like Lijiang and Dali, its colourful markets and minorities with shimmering costumes. The Yellow Mountains (Huangshan) condense the Chinese imagination: leaning pines, seas of clouds and golden granite.

In winter, Harbin transforms cold into ice fairy tale. Giant sculptures, translucent castles, electric blue light: it's another China, almost arctic, very photogenic. In Gansu, Dunhuang and its whistling dunes invite a desert break at the edge of the millennial Mogao caves; a fascinating contrast with eastern megacities.

China is a paradise for landscape lovers. In Zhangjiajie, sandstone pillars surge from an emerald forest, with lookouts that seem to float in the mist. If you love hiking, Tiger Leaping Gorge, between Lijiang and Shangri-La, unfolds a spectacular trail above the raging Yangtze. The Longji terraced rice fields, not far from Guilin, are adorned with golden reflections at sunset, and in spring with tender green shoots.

The Yellow Mountains offer a network of well-marked trails, refuges and perched hotels to sleep above a sea of clouds. The tea kettle often whistles at reception, enough to leave at dawn warm and return for a steaming noodle lunch.

In western Sichuan or Qinghai, the high plateaus open onto high-altitude grasslands, Tibetan monasteries, prayer flags and isolated villages that have retained a strong identity. Climate and altitude require a bit more preparation, but the experience is memorable.

Hiking advice Check trail conditions the day before, especially after heavy rains. Bring warm clothes even in summer at altitude, and keep a safety margin on walking times so as not to miss the last cable car or the last bus.

China is a permanent feast. In the morning, you grab steaming baozi and crispy jianbing, large pancakes filled with herbs, egg and sauce. At noon, the table can be Cantonese with delicate dim sum and clear soup, or Sichuanese with flavours of Sichuan pepper, garlic and chilli. In the evening, make way for Peking duck in Beijing, black vinegar noodles in Xi'an, hot pot in Chengdu, or seafood on the coast.

Regional cuisines are discovered throughout the journey. Hunan cuisine is spicy and rich in smoky aromas, Shanghai cuisine loves sweet-salty gently, Shandong celebrates fish and clear broths. Don't fear small canteens: often, they reserve the best surprises. And if the menu is in Chinese without images, show what you want via a photo or ask for a recommendation; you'll make discoveries.

Restaurant payment tip Many establishments display a QR code to order and pay. Increasingly, Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign cards: register your international card in one of these apps before leaving or upon arrival. However, keep some cash for small stands and rural areas.

The high-speed train is the best ally for crossing the country. Stations are modern, efficient, and checks are smooth provided you arrive early with your passport. Tickets are bought online on the official platform or via agencies, but on site, counters remain a reliable option. In big cities, metros are clean, frequent and increasingly bilingual. For short distances, taxis and ride-hailing are widely used; give the address in Chinese characters, the ride will be simpler.

Train reminder Arrive 45 to 60 minutes before departure to pass checks and find your boarding room. Keep your passport handy: it's often scanned at the platform entrance. And keep a photo of your train number, carriage and seat: it's the winning trio for boarding with peace of mind.

Traveling connected in China improves everything: translations, payments, metro maps, reservations, hiking routes, train schedules, restaurant recommendations. The simplest and most flexible solution remains an eSIM, installed in a few minutes and usable everywhere. With GoMoWorld, everything is designed to avoid last-minute hassles and shop queues.

Installation is 100% via the GoMoWorld app, without QR code. Even if you bought your plan on the website, you install and manage your eSIM directly in the app, logging in with the same email. One eSIM is enough for the whole world: you install it once and you buy/activate the data plans you need, destination after destination, without reinstalling anything. It's even more convenient if you're chaining multiple countries in Asia.

Plans don't start automatically upon arrival: you choose when to activate them, from the app. As long as a plan isn't activated, it doesn't expire: you can therefore buy it in advance and activate it at the right time. All plans allow connection sharing via hotspot, ideal for a laptop or to help a travel companion. And to navigate with peace of mind, the app integrates a practical VPN that secures the connection when you check your accounts, book a ticket or check an email.

Express instructions Download the GoMoWorld app before departure. Create your account or log in with the email used on the site, install the eSIM from the app (without QR code), then buy a plan for China. Upon arrival, manually activate your plan when you need it, and you're off. You can also share your connection with one gesture.

On site, the eSIM connects to local mobile networks among 2 to 3 partners on average per country, for stable coverage. And if you then travel to Japan, Thailand or Vietnam, you keep the same eSIM and only add the corresponding plans. No stress, no reinstallation.

Offers for China are simple and adapted to different travel profiles. For a long stay, the 30-day plan with 7GB is €19.99. If you use your smartphone mainly for maps, messaging and translation, a 30-day plan with 3GB at €10.99 may suffice. For a short getaway, a 7-day plan with 700MB is offered at €3.99. You can buy multiple plans to anticipate, they will remain available in your app as long as you haven't activated them.

These plans are prepaid, with no surprises. You control your consumption in the app, you activate when desired, and you can recharge with one click if your usage increases during the trip. Connection sharing is allowed on all plans.

Good reflex upon arrival Activate your plan calmly on hotel or airport Wi-Fi, then switch to mobile data to verify everything works (messaging, maps, browser). Keep the GoMoWorld app accessible on your home screen the first days: it's more convenient to track your data.

China is very focused on mobile payment. Alipay and WeChat Pay facilitate small purchases, taxis, restaurants. More and more tourists link their foreign card to these services to pay without cash, although keeping some cash remains useful in small towns or markets. Hygiene-wise, drink bottled or filtered water; avoid tap water. Masks can be comfortable in case of pollution peaks, especially in winter in some northern cities. Local transport, train and weather apps will help you adjust your program day by day.

For the web and your usual tools, think about service continuity. Some platforms may be limited: a VPN integrated into the GoMoWorld app helps you secure your connections. Also prepare your offline maps on a navigation app, and note addresses in Chinese characters to simplify taxi rides.

Bag essentials A plug adapter (type I or multi-port), tissues (public toilets don't always have them), a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and an external battery. For photography, an anti-glare filter helps a lot when visiting museums and palaces with old glazing.

A 10-day trip can combine urban essentials and a touch of nature. Start with three nights in Beijing for the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall. Continue with Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and ramparts, then head to Shanghai by high-speed train. On site, explore the Bund, climb to the top of Shanghai Tower, cross the river by ferry, and take a day for Hangzhou or Suzhou.

With two weeks, add Chengdu and its pandas, plus a hot pot that will awaken your taste buds. Treat yourself to an escape to Leshan for the Giant Buddha or towards Mount Emei if you like walks punctuated by temples. You can also insert Guilin/Yangshuo for karst landscapes and Longji rice terraces. Domestic air connections and high-speed trains facilitate these loops, even in high season, provided you book a bit in advance.

For three weeks and more wide open spaces, head to Yunnan: Dali and Lijiang seduce with their heritage and bohemian cafes, while Tiger Leaping Gorge offers sensational balcony trails. Depending on the season, extend to Zhangjiajie for its sandstone pillars and vertiginous walkways, or to Huangshan for sunrises above seas of clouds.

Regional combinations also open beautiful perspectives. After China, many head to Japan for a zen and urban contrast, to Thailand for a beach and street-food break, to Vietnam for bays, rice fields and cafes, or to Singapore for an ultramodern and green stopover. Convenient: with GoMoWorld, a single eSIM covers all these destinations; you just need to add the corresponding plans in the app, without reinstallation.

Logistics note Check passport and visa conditions a few weeks before departure: they evolve regularly. Book your high-speed train tickets early if you travel during Chinese holidays. And keep your destinations and hotels noted in Chinese and pinyin to streamline check-ins and rides.

What concretely changes on site is the fluidity. You scan a QR code at the restaurant, you translate a bus sign, you check a train schedule, you call a ride-hailing service, you share the connection to your computer to send a file, and you encrypt your sensitive exchanges thanks to the VPN integrated into the GoMoWorld app. Installation is done only via the app, without QR code to search for or scan. You buy your plans on the website or in the app; in all cases, you log into the app with the same email to find your purchases and install the eSIM in a few guided steps.

The single eSIM for more than 200 destinations saves you repeated manipulations during a long trip. Plans don't expire as long as you haven't activated them: you can therefore prepare your trip several weeks in advance, then start plans at the right time. And if you change your mind about your itinerary, nothing simpler than adding an additional plan with one click, directly from the app.

Data costs with GoMoWorld are clear, with no surprises. Depending on your pace, your maps and your social networks, you'll choose a light or more comfortable plan. Travelers who use a lot of navigation, short videos and photo backups often opt for 7GB over 30 days, while minimalists are content with 3GB. In reasoned roaming, 700MB may suffice for an urban weekend, especially if you take advantage of hotel Wi-Fi.

For security, activate the VPN of the GoMoWorld app when you handle sensitive operations (banking, plane tickets, reservations). You'll navigate with more peace of mind, whatever the local network used. And if you travel as a duo or family, don't forget connection sharing via hotspot: it's very practical for non-cellular devices, and all GoMoWorld offers allow it.

Compatibility reminder Check that your smartphone is eSIM compatible before departure. Installation is done from the GoMoWorld app and requires no QR code. If you bought on the website, log into the app with the same email: your eSIM and your plans await you there.

Keep flexibility in your itinerary: the weather, a neighbourhood crush, an encounter over tea can change everything. The rail network makes last-minute adjustments simpler than ever. For very dense days, plan tea or coffee breaks to catch your breath and observe local life. And for photos, morning cafes and museum entrances, remember to recharge your mobile payment card and carry a small external battery.

Finally, remember that China is savoured as much in grand monuments as in everyday details: a breakfast on a street stool, a chat with a fruit seller, a mah-jong game at the edge of a park, a bowl of noodles with the smell of vinegar and chilli that makes you squint your eyes. It's this addition of moments that will remain long after the return.

China is visited in layers, between imperial heritage and contemporary energy, stone forests and rail ribbons. With a bit of anticipation, a flexible itinerary and an eSIM that simplifies everything, you leave light and enjoy each stage better. GoMoWorld does the rest: installation via the app without QR code, single eSIM valid in more than 200 destinations, prepaid plans that don't expire as long as they're not activated, hotspot included and integrated VPN to travel connected and serene. From Beijing to Shanghai, from Xi'an to the Yellow Mountains, you have everything you need in your pocket to follow your curiosity and desires. Safe travels in China, and happy discoveries.