Before You Go
- Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
- Check whether a tourist visa is required.
- Keep digital copies of important documents.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance.
Beijing
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
Mandarin
Apr–May and Sep–Oct
CST (UTC+8)
Welcome to China, a country where five thousand years of history meet some of the most dazzling modern skylines on Earth. The Great Wall winds across mountains and plains for thousands of miles, a monumental testament to ancient engineering and ambition. Beijing's Forbidden City reveals the grandeur of imperial dynasties, while Shanghai's futuristic skyline embodies China's rapid modern transformation. The karst landscapes of Guilin and Yangshuo rise dramatically from the Li River, among the most photographed scenery in Asia. Xi'an's Terracotta Army offers an awe-inspiring glimpse into the tomb of China's first emperor. From the Himalayan reaches of Tibet to the subtropical rice terraces of Yunnan, China's landscapes are staggeringly diverse. Ancient temples, bustling night markets, and high-speed trains connect a nation both deeply traditional and boldly modern. China invites travelers to explore a civilization of remarkable depth, scale, and beauty.
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Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.
Discover some of China's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.
Peking Duck is a signature China specialty known for its distinctive local ingredients, seasoning and traditional preparation.
This popular China dish brings together familiar regional flavors and is commonly enjoyed in homes, markets or local restaurants.
A well-loved part of China cuisine, Mapo Tofu reflects the country's culinary traditions and locally available ingredients.
Hot Pot is a comforting regional favorite, prepared in styles that may vary between families, cities and different parts of China.
Visitors often seek out Jiaozi for an authentic taste of China's everyday cooking and food culture.
This traditional favorite highlights the bold, savory or gently spiced flavors associated with cooking in China.
Kung Pao Chicken is widely recognized in China and is often served at casual meals, celebrations or community gatherings.
A memorable choice for travelers, Dan Dan Noodles offers a flavorful introduction to the ingredients and techniques used across China.
This classic food is an important part of China's culinary identity and is best sampled freshly prepared.
China is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations and has contributed inventions that transformed global history, including paper, printing, gunpowder, and the magnetic compass. Its immense landscape includes deserts, tropical forests, high plateaus, fertile river valleys, and some of the planet’s tallest mountains. The Grand Canal, begun in ancient times and expanded by successive dynasties, remains the world’s longest human-made waterway, linking northern and southern China across more than 1,000 miles.
The Great Wall is not a single uninterrupted wall but a vast network of fortifications built, rebuilt, and connected over many centuries. Contrary to popular legend, it is generally not visible from the Moon with the unaided eye. China is also home to the giant panda, whose specialized diet consists almost entirely of bamboo despite belonging to the order of carnivores. In Sichuan, panda mothers often give birth to twins but may raise only one cub without human assistance.
China’s written language uses thousands of characters, allowing people who speak very different Chinese languages or dialects to share a common writing system. The country also developed intricate traditions of tea cultivation, silk production, porcelain, calligraphy, landscape painting, and medicine. In the Zhangye region, mineral layers have created brilliantly striped mountains, while the stone forests of Yunnan resemble immense landscapes of jagged limestone towers.
Another little-known fact is that Albanians have a unique cultural tradition called "Besa," meaning "to keep one's promise." This centuries-old code of honor became internationally recognized during World War II when Albania was one of the few European countries where the Jewish population actually increased because local families risked their lives to shelter refugees. Albania also boasts the stunning Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), a natural spring with crystal-clear turquoise water whose exact depth remains unknown despite multiple explorations.
Finally, Albania enjoys more than 300 sunny days each year, rivaling many Mediterranean destinations. The country is also famous for its "sworn virgins"—a centuries-old tradition in remote mountain villages where women could legally assume male social roles by taking a lifelong vow of celibacy, preserving family inheritance and leadership in the absence of male heirs.
