Backpacking China Travel Guide

In this backpacking China travel guide, you will learn everything you need to know about traveling China on a budget. From the cost of accommodation to cuisine and culture, I’ll cover it all right here! China is one of my favorite countries I’ve ever visited. Known as the “Middle Kingdom”, China is a country of stark contrasts. From hiking and camping on the Great Wall to visiting designer stores and megamalls, China has a lot to offer.

Sometimes it might seem that the entire territory is made up of many totally independent countries. Hectic cities, notorious traffic and constant bustle share this land with quaint, rural and underdeveloped provinces filled with tiny villages, derelict hutongs, and old junks.

I spent over four months backpacking around China, and can’t wait to get back soon. While China is one of the oldest civilizations on the planet, it’s definitely not the easiest country to visit. I can definitely attest to this. As one of the most culturally rich countries in the world, the culture shock in China is common. This clash of new age and tradition creates a unique vibe and flavor as you walk the bustling streets of Beijing or Shanghai. With such a heavy contrast in values and ways of life, it breeds an interesting culture.

Culture shock and travel in China often go hand in hand. Even though there are ways to identify, adapt and overcome a culture shock, chances are you’ll be having a difficult time escaping from a culture shock in China. It takes getting used to, but trust me, it’s worth the effort.

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I’m here to help you prevent the culture shock, travel China like a pro and get the most out of your trip there. I’ve written this ultimate travel guide to China in hopes that it will also help you, my dear reader, find the best route to travel China, create China travel budget especially if you’re into backpacking China alone. Read this travel guide closely and sure to have an excellent time in China.

Entry Requirements for China

To visit mainland China you need a visa. Obtaining a Chinese visa can be a complicated process that involves many steps, so you’ll want to arrange your visa beforehand at the consulate or embassy. The easiest place to obtain a Chinese visa is in your home country. Another problem is that China visa requirements dictate that you have your whole itinerary mapped out with accommodation and transports booked and paid for in advance. This, unfortunately, requires some flexibility. Book your accommodation through a website like Agoda, where you can cancel the bookings afterward as soon as you receive the confirmation emails which you need for the visa application.

The application process depends on your nationality and your country of residence. I applied for a Chinese visa on my own, but you can also use a visa agency. It will cost you more, but you get expert support to make sure that all your documents are complete. Whatever you do, just don’t wait until last minute for the application. By the way: If you’re a traveler from Europe or the United States and only passing through China, you might not need a visa because big cities like Beijing, Harbin, and Kunming now offer 144-hour visa-free visits, while several others give you 72 hours.

China Travel Guide to Getting Around

One of the biggest challenges facing backpackers in China is simply getting around! China is a really, really big country and sometimes the travel distances are absolutely massive. Urumqi and Hong Kong, for example, are 3,410 kilometres apart – that’s a staggering 9-hour flight!

Flying In China

Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, or Shenzhen have airports that serve both domestic and international flights. Some regional airports serve international flights too but rarely serve direct flights from Europe and North America. This still provides plenty of options to start your backpacking trip. The most comfortable way to get around China is usually by domestic flights but for backpackers on a budget.

There are several budget airlines in China you can look for cheap flights. Spring Airlines, West Air and 9 Air are the most popular low-cost carriers in China. However, with the low price come the downsides of flying with low-costers – little to no in-cabin service and fees for checked baggage. A word about pricing: you can get decent flight deals for as low as 280-340CNY between some destinations if you book in advance.

Train Travel in China

Traveling by train is often a better bet. With the extensive rail network in China, few countries can compete with it when it comes to train travel. There are now high-speed trains connecting many major cities across China. I must admit, they are impressively fast. For example, the high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai train cuts through the 1,300 kilometres in under 5 hours. But, in general, the faster the train is, the more you pay.

Slower trains are often the older version of China’s rail system so it will take much longer to reach your destination with them. However, local trains are great when you need to cover the distance between smaller cities or throughout less-developed regions of China. They are also much cheaper than the lightning-fast trains and usually divided internally into “Soft Sleeper”, “Hard Sleeper”, “Hard Seat” and sometimes a “Soft Seat”. They often have a squat toilet and don’t have an AC. Expect to spend between 200-350 Yuan when backpacking China by domestic trains.

If you book your train ticket online you often will need to show up to the station to collect yours in person. Bring your passport because you’ll need it to get tickets and sometimes even to board local trains. Always give yourself an extra 30 or 40 minutes to get to your train. Chinese train stations are much less straightforward, and security checks are routinely done which can add delays.

Traveling by Bus in China

There are many bus routes in China. In general, buses tend to have fixed prices and you don’t have to worry about booking in advance. Since even the smaller cities in China are served by at least one bus route, they run at a higher frequency than flights or trains. There will be a bus between two cities that runs at least once every 40 minutes, if not more. The local bus to Chongqing can be as cheap as 168CNY from Chengdu!

There is a ton of both sleeper and seated buses set up for locals and backpackers. These buses are the most comfortable way to get around China when there are no trains. Beware though, taking an intercity bus in China can be a bit confusing. Unlike trains and airplanes, you can’t easily figure out your schedule or buy tickets online. It’s possible, but it’s often in Chinese and not translated into English.

Thus I recommend learning some basic phrases in Mandarin or get a decent Chinese phrasebook to make the entire process easier. Alternatively, you can ask the staff at your hotel or hostel to give you some help and advice.

Pro Tip: Always bring your passport when purchasing your bus tickets in person.

Metro

Most Chinese cities have extensive subway systems. I used the subway systems in Beijing and Shanghai to get to most attractions and locations. They are cheap, clean, efficient and easy to use. Stations names are repeated in English. The underground can get extremely crowded at rush hour. If possible, avoid using the underground at all costs between 8 am and 10 am and 4 pm and 6 pm.

When it comes to figuring out transit directions Google Maps is your best bet. But since it’s blocked in China, you’ll need a VPN to use it. If you’re a Mac or iPhone user, you can also plan your trip by using the Maps app. It has transit directions built-in and doesn’t require a VPN.

Pricing: Metro tickets in most cities less than 5 Yuan. A ride from the Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) will set you back 25CNY. Beijing subway includes 22 lines (2019).

Internet Access While Backpacking China

Although Internet access is widely available in China, you definitely should get yourself a VPN client in advance if you plan on using Western favorites such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and many others. The government censorship of certain websites and apps will affect you in one way or another. There are countless companies offering a plethora of VPN products and the “Middle Kingdom” is for sure a big market because of the reasons stated above. Depending on your budget, you can find free VPN options and paid ones starting from $3/month. Many will give you a risk-free trial window and much more. It won’t be a problem for you to pick the option that fits your needs.

Best Time to go Backpacking in China

Obviously, China’s sheer size means you need to closely investigate your destination’s climate before you arrive. The best time to visit China really depends on where you’re going and what you’re going to do there. In a nutshell, the spring and autumn months are the most pleasant.

In big cities like Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai winter can be very cold while the summer can bring plenty of hot and stuffy days. Weather is less of a concern in places like Kunming (where you don’t have to constantly wear face masks) and Hong Kong (it’s a year-round travel destination).

As far as crowds go, they are definitely bigger in the summer months. Another thing to keep in mind is public holidays in mainland China.

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You may want to avoid backpacking China during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) unless you can book your accommodation, buy airline tickets and apply for a Chinese visa well in advance. The Chunyun period (Chinese New Year) is when hundreds of millions of people travel across China by trains, motorbikes, buses, and planes, to reunite with their families in their hometowns for the Lunar New Year. The Chunyun is based on the lunar calendar, so be sure to look it up before planning your trip.

The best time to backpack around China is, in my opinion, a few weeks before National Day (October 1st) or right after. Expect lovely sunny days, and you can just avoid the crowds by going before or after the major holiday. If you don’t plan a multi-destination trip (or you have your tickets booked) and can tolerate HUGE crowds consider going on Labor Day (May 1st). While this isn’t my favorite time to go backpacking in China, the weather (and prices) is great for soaking up the local culture.

China Backpacking Travel Costs

Your backpacking budget for China will depend on the destination, what type of traveler are you and the level of comfort you need. I found China to be quite expensive if you’re buying tickets for the high-speed trains, go to bars all night and opt for hotels in Hong Kong. But do you really need that? I bet you don’t. That is why no China travel guide would be complete without an honest and real-world backpacker budget.

Backpacking in China can be cheap without you really having to think about it. I spent around $45–50 a day in China, sometimes a little more when splurging on museums and boutique hostels. With that kind of budget, you can stay in a hostel, take the bus, drink some Huangjiu, eat out in the streets, and still have enough to pay for a few entrance fees and long-distance buses.

It is possible to travel in China on as little as $35/day, but it isn’t easy, and nearly impossible in bigger cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong where accommodation tends to be a bit more expensive. If you don’t have anything spare, think about teaching English in China for a longer stay in the country.

Average backpacking China costs in Dollars:

Backpacker Accommodation in China

I agree, staying in a hostel in China isn’t the first thing that comes to backpacker’s mind. In fact, staying in hostels is quite popular among Chinese backpackers that support a thriving hostel scene in their home country. Even in smaller cities that draw very few foreign travelers, it’s possible to spend a night or two in a decent hostel.

While the hostel scene may not be as popular as in Thailand or Indonesia, it’s definitely impressive. Many hostels in China are modernizing to stay competitive and attract foreign backpackers. That said, hostels keep their social spaces trendy, offer clean and modern facilities, fast and reliable connection and friendly English speaking hostel staff on hand.

Prices for hostels in China vary depending on the location. It’s possible to find a bed in a dorm for anywhere from 30-70 Yuan a night in the lesser developed areas. Whereas in larger and busy cities, such as Guangzhou, Macau, and Shenzhen, it will closer to a minimum of 85 CNY by comparison. Private rooms tend to go from 190-320 Yuan.

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If you are backpacking China and really looking to save on accommodation, use Couchsurfing as an alternative. It’s s totally safe to stay with local and foreign hosts in China. In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong where you’ll find plenty of working and studying expats willing to share their home with foreigners.

If you are backpacking in China and don’t want to share a room with snoring travelers, Airbnb is a great way to find a quality apartment for a cheap price. It’s especially handy if you do speak Mandarin Chinese or backpacking through China as a couple and need to retreat away from the hustle and bustle of noisy dorms. Always check your room for broken amenities if your host allows doing it! Follow this link for $35 free credit!

Here are Some of My Favorite Budget Places to Stay in China:

Chinese Box Courtyard Hostel, Beijing
The Great Wall Box House – Beijing, Beijing
Ming Courtyard, Beijing
Chengdu Desti Youth Park Hostel, Chengdu
Xian Han Tang House, Xian
Datong Bravo Youth Hostel, Datong
Kunming Cloudland International Youth Hostel, Kunming
Shanghai Blue Mountain Bund Youth Hostel, Shanghai
Lonely Village Youth Hostel, Chongqing
Kaiyue International Hostel, Qingdao
The Mahjong Boutique Hostel, Hong Kong

China Travel Food Guide

First things first, the food in China is incredibly delicious and cheap. Eating out in China won’t drain your wallet since there are plenty of decent eateries, restaurants and street vendors selling street food for as low as 15 Yuan. You shouldn’t be afraid of eating like a local though. I never had an upset stomach there because I always opt for stalls that already have a queue. If you see people queuing for food be sure to join them!

Chinese food in China tastes very different from the food you can buy in your local supermarket. That is another BIG reason to try it. On average I spent 65CNY per day on food given that I walked a lot, used public transport and went hiking (I was really hungry!). Portions are often too big for one person so you could cut your meals down to two per day to save on groceries. Keeping your food costs low is much easier in southwestern China and outside of the big cities where you generally don’t have to look after your backpacking China budget.

One of my favorites is a Jianbing. This savory crisp-fried crêpes with egg, cilantro, peppery scallions, tangy pickles, sweet and spicy layer of tianmian sauce and a fried wonton only costs about 4CNY. This traditional breakfast will no doubt keep you full until lunch. You can always find a bowl of hand-pulled noodles, a plate of dumplings, or common dishes like Dim Sum or Kung Pao chicken with some rice for 15-20CNY.

Where to Go Backpacking in China

After spending a whopping four months backpacking around China, I reckon I’ve only scratched the surface of this truly amazing, truly vast, country. It’s so big that is really does make sense to plan your itinerary for backpacking China before you rock up and to focus on seeing one part of the country at a time.

There are plenty of incredible places to visit but you need to be sure you choose the right spots at the right time. You don’t want to explore the Great Wall when it’s 104F (40C) outside! To make things a bit easier, I’ve put together China travel guide to my favorite things to do; these can easily be combined into different China travel itineraries or added together to create a truly amazing longer trip.

1. Visit Yuanyang Rice Terraces

You’ve no doubt seen pictures of these terraces on the Internet. However, it is hard to get an idea of how magnificent the view is until you find yourself here. Yuanyang rice terraces are some of the most beautiful in the world. Sowing takes places in February and March, while September is the time to harvest it. The view of rice terraces substantially changes throughout the year – from emerald green in July to golden-yellow in September.

The best time to visit Yunnan terraces is from late November to early April when flooded surface reflects the sun’s rays creating a truly unique and impressive view. There are several direct buses from Kunming South Bus station, the ticket is around 139CNY.

2. Hike the Great Wall

No backpacking trip to China is complete without hiking the Great Wall. Thousands of visitors visit the Great Wall every year, in particular, its Badaling section, and going there was one of the highlights of my China trip. While the Badaling section is most popular (read crowded), there are Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Jiankou, Huanghuacheng, and Simatai section that leave you breathless as you explore the ancient decrepit sections, often overgrown with vegetation, not yet rebuilt.

3. Explore the Silk Road

From the former capital of Chang’an (modern Xi’an), where the famous terracotta warriors were found the Silk Road diverged in different directions. However, the most well-known route is the one, leading to the West, passing the Gansu and Xinjiang provinces, and then further to the Middle East, to Rome and Italy. With many locations to check out along the road, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang are the most unusual landmarks. Diving into the intangible cultural heritage of the Silk Road can be very rewarding.

4. See the Pandas in Chengdu

I’m not a big fan of visiting Zoos or animal parks as they should live in their natural environment. But going to Chengdu Panda research base was a drastically different experience. Situated in Sichuan province in western China, the Giant Panda Breeding centre is the best place to get up close to adult giant pandas and adorable cubs. The centre is home to dozens of them eating bamboo and wrestling with each other. You can easily arrange a tour to the giant panda research base from your hostel. A visit only takes half a day.

5. Admire the Charm of Potala Palace

Potala Palace is the must-see place to visit in Lhasa. The palace consists of two parts. The White Palace accommodates administrative facilities, while the Red Palace is the place for the temple complex. The museum holds the most valuable collection of the Buddhist texts and Buddha statues.

If you want to visit the museum you will have to book the ticket at the West Gate of the palace one day earlier. The Palace is an impressive facility with incredible views that involves a lot of walking and stair climbing. Thus, I recommend visiting it when your body fully gets used to being at a higher altitude. During high season lines can be long because Potala Palace is a popular attraction in Lhasa.

6. Hang Out in Shanghai

It takes about eight minutes for the Shanghai Maglev high-speed train to bring you from Pudong International Airport to Longyang Road. Considering that the distance between these two points around 30 kilometers, you start realizing that Shanghai is the city of the future.

Shanghai is one of the richest and most visited cities in China. Well-organized, high-tech and cosmopolitan city it boasts a number of colorful historic districts, local markets, an energetic nightlife scene, artist enclaves and seemingly endless opportunities for exploration. Stroll along the Bund promenade to enjoy Shanghai’s classic skyline views of colonial-era buildings and towering skyscrapers along the Huangpu River. Or catch a glimpse of ancient China by visiting the Old City of Zhujiajiao or Yuyuan Gardens.

7. Outdoor Adventures in Yangshuo

I found another hiking paradise and it’s called Yangshuo. Located in southern China, I spent five days here, exploring what locals call ‘the paradise under heaven’ by foot and by bike. I knew that Yangshuo had some pretty spectacular scenery to offer but I kept on being surprised over and over again by the diversity of this place.

One day I’d explore the banks of the Li River and the next day I’d be on the top of one of the karst hills enjoying the unparalleled view of the Li River. When you are going rock climbing and camping here, there is no way you will get disappointed. The region is becoming more and more popular and attracts adrenaline junkies from all over the world! If you’re adventurous enough or if love adventure tours, such as hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge, biking, kayaking, rafting, cave-exploring, ziplining, it will be a good chance to have a try when you travel to Yangshuo.

8. Southeast China

To the south of Shanghai and the Yangtze River, there are coastal provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. Despite their tumultuous history, some of the port cities managed to retain their charm. For example, the architecture of Xiamen Island reflects its openness to outside influences – a Colonial-Western-Fujian architectural style, the ornate colonial mansion, and cozy cottages are the positive legacy of European colonization in southern China. Take a little step inland and you’ll discover rural China as it was during the Tang Dynasty. As well as unusual fortified houses, bridges and observation towers that have withstood the period of the Cultural Revolution.

9. Spot the Best Hotspots for Expats in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the largest financial center in the Asia-Pacific region and has everything you’ll need to turn your time as an expat into the time of your life. High-rise apartment buildings, vibrant nightlife, trendy restaurants serving authentic Chinese dishes and bustling markets. Hong Kong has a special history. Being a colony of the British Empire from 1842 until 1997, it now has one of the largest expatriate communities in China and is considered one of the safest city in the world.

I love Hong Kong. The city that never stops has a great mix of both Western and Eastern, both when it comes to culture, food, shopping, and architecture. Expats can explore the buzzing bars and clubs of the Lan Kwai Fong neighborhood in the Central District. Or they can head to Wan Chai, a melting pot of eclectic restaurants, British-style bars, local markets, and live music venues.

10. See the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an

The life-sized stone terracotta warriors dating back to the Qin Dynasty were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong District, Xi’an. The main purpose of the Terracotta Army was to protect Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife. Now it’s one of the most touristy spots in China.

This amazing archaeological site can hardly be compared to any other attraction regarding its historical significance and uniqueness. The Army consists of more than 2000 clay soldiers, their horses, and chariots. It’s said that these soldiers triumphed over all their rivals, played a decisive role in the country’s formation. The Terracotta Army Museum is only two kilometers east of the Qin Shi Huang tomb, the First Qin Emperor. Be sure to visit the Museum on weekdays and avoid holidays when it is fully packed.

11. Cruise the Yangtze River

The third longest river in the world, Yangtze, flows through Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan and Chongqing provinces. There are five sacred Buddhist and Taoist mountains along its banks. The entire area is popular for its spectacular views, especially in the northern Sichuan and northern Hunan. If you go on a cruise to visit the Three Gorges, be sure set aside some time to explore the cities of Chongqing and Wuhan. Another place that is worth paying a visit, though a bit far from the river is Dazu Rock Carvings.

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