planning
All travel guides tagged with "planning".
57 articles — page 6 of 10
All destinationsplanning
China: Group Tour vs Independent Travel 2026 — Which Is Right for You?
Honest comparison of guided group tours vs independent travel in China — group tours make sense for Tibet (permit requirements mean an agency anyway), some Xinjiang areas, and first-time visitors who find apps intimidating. Independent is better for flexibility, food exploration, and genuine cultural interactions. The middle option: private guide for specific sites only.
Updated May 2026
Read →transport
China High-Speed Train Complete Booking Guide 2026: 12306, Trip.com & Best Seats
The definitive guide to booking China's high-speed trains as a foreigner — the 12306 app vs Trip.com vs Ctrip, when to book (popular routes sell out 30 days ahead), second class vs business class, how to collect tickets at the station, the real-name ID system and passport registration, and changing or refunding tickets.
Updated May 2026
Read →China Honeymoon Guide 2026: Romantic Destinations, Luxury Stays & Couple Experiences
China for honeymooners and couples — the most romantic settings (Lijiang old town at twilight, the Dali Erhai lakeside at sunset, the West Lake in Hangzhou, the Guilin karst at dawn from a hot air balloon), luxury hotel recommendations with genuine romance, and the practical question of whether China is actually a romantic honeymoon destination.
Updated May 2026
Read →4 Weeks in China Itinerary 2026: The Grand Tour from Beijing to Yunnan
A 4-week China itinerary covering the country's highlights — Week 1 in Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall, Xi'an), Week 2 in Sichuan (Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Leshan), Week 3 in Yunnan (Lijiang, Dali, Xishuangbanna), Week 4 in Shanghai and Suzhou. Train connections, what to cut if time is short, and the logical flow that avoids backtracking.
Updated May 2026
Read →luxury
Luxury Travel in China 2026: Private Transfers, Premium Hotels & Exclusive Experiences
High-end China travel — the private train carriages that can be booked for the Shanghai-Beijing route, the best China luxury hotel brands (Aman Resorts has properties in Beijing and Lijiang, the Capella has extraordinary properties), private guide + driver packages, skip-the-line solutions for Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors, and the money-can't-buy experiences in China.
Updated May 2026
Read →toolkit
China in May 2026: Best Destinations, Weather & Avoiding the Labour Day Holiday Crowds
China in May — the full picture of what to expect across different regions, the May 1st Labour Day Golden Week (how to avoid or embrace the crowds), which destinations are at their peak in May (Luoyang peony season ends, Yunnan is stunning, Beijing is perfect), and specific destination recommendations for a May trip.
Updated May 2026
Read →