# Nihao Routes

> Nihao Routes (nihaoroutes.com) is an independent English guide for first-time visitors to mainland China, checked in October 2026. It is not a travel agency. Travelers send a free trip request; a trip designer at a licensed travel agency in China replies within 24 hours with a plan and a quote. Travelers book and pay the agency directly, and the agency pays Nihao Routes a referral fee.

## Plan a trip

- [Plan my trip](https://nihaoroutes.com/plan-my-trip): free trip request form; reply within 24 hours, no obligation to book.
- [Confinement center request](https://nihaoroutes.com/plan-confinement-stay): free request form for families looking for a postpartum confinement (yuezi) center in China; an English-speaking coordinator at a partner company replies within 24 hours. Nihao Routes doesn't arrange hospital care or give medical advice.
- [How it works](https://nihaoroutes.com/how-it-works): who the agencies are, what we do and don't do, how we make money.

## Guides: Before you fly

- [China visa-free entry: the 30-day list and the 240-hour transit](https://nihaoroutes.com/china-visa-free): As of October 28, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Europe, can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges or transit. For 48 of those countries the policy ends on December 31, 2026 (Russia's runs to December 31, 2027 and Brunei's has no end date), and no 2027 extension had been announced yet. US citizens are not on the 30-day list: they can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, open to 57 nationalities at 65 ports in 24 provinces, if they travel on to a third country or region, or apply for an L tourist visa.
- [How to pay in China as a visitor](https://nihaoroutes.com/how-to-pay-in-china): The easiest way to pay in China is Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or JCB card from home, set up before you fly. As of October 2026, payments of ¥200 (about $30) or less carry no platform fee and larger ones cost 3% extra, and passport-verified visitors can spend up to about US$5,000 per payment and US$50,000 a year. Carry a few hundred yuan in cash as a backup: it is legal tender and businesses may not refuse it.
- [China eSIM and the apps you need](https://nihaoroutes.com/china-esim-and-apps): For most visitors a roaming travel eSIM is the simplest option: install it at home, switch it on when you land, and expect to pay about $10-15 for 3-5 GB or $35-38 for 10 days of unlimited data (list prices, October 2026). Roaming data is routed outside mainland China, so Google and WhatsApp usually work on it, though this is a gray area under Chinese law. Before you fly, also install Alipay, WeChat, Amap, DiDi, Trip.com, Railway 12306 and a translator with offline Chinese.
- [Is it safe to travel to China?](https://nihaoroutes.com/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-china): For most visitors, yes, with clear caveats. As of October 2026 the US State Department rates mainland China Level 2 of 4, "Exercise Increased Caution," citing arbitrary enforcement of local laws, exit bans and the risk of wrongful detention, while the UK Foreign Office does not advise against travel but warns about broad national security laws and exit bans linked to business disputes. Serious crime against foreign visitors is relatively rare; the risks you're more likely to meet are tea-house and massage scams, traffic, bad-air days and tap water you shouldn't drink.
- [How much a trip to China costs in 2026-27](https://nihaoroutes.com/china-trip-cost): Excluding international flights, a 10-day first trip to Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai costs roughly $470-790 per person on a budget and $780-1,350 mid-range, by our estimate from current train and flight fares, ticket prices and hotel price data. A private tour with a guide, car and 4-5 star hotels typically runs $165-350 per person per day. Hotel level and the number of private guide days drive most of the difference.
- [The best time to visit China, month by month](https://nihaoroutes.com/best-time-to-visit-china): For most first trips, the best time to visit China is April to May or September to October, when average highs in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai run about 19-28°C (66-82°F) and there is less rain than in summer. Plan around the holiday crowds: Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, inside a travel rush of about 40 days, and the May Day break (expected May 1-5) and National Day Golden Week (October 1-7) bring the biggest crowds at major sights. Summer is hot, wet and full of school-holiday crowds; winter is cold but quieter in the north and is the season for Harbin's ice festival.

## Guides: Places and trips

- [Harbin Ice Festival 2026-27](https://nihaoroutes.com/harbin-ice-festival): The Harbin Ice Festival runs from mid or late December to late February. As of late October 2026 the 2026-27 dates and prices have not been announced; last season Harbin Ice and Snow World opened on December 17, 2025, closed early on February 21, 2026, and charged adults ¥328 (about $49). Expect January highs around -12°C (11°F) and lows around -22°C (-8°F), and plan 2-3 days in Harbin, including one afternoon-into-evening visit to Ice and Snow World.
- [Great Wall tours from Beijing: which section and how to go](https://nihaoroutes.com/great-wall-tours-from-beijing): For a first Great Wall tour from Beijing, go to Mutianyu: it is fully restored, less crowded than Badaling and 1.5-2.5 hours away by car, with a cable car and a toboggan. Entry is ¥40 (about $6), booked online with your passport, and a return cable car is ¥140 (about $21). A private car and driver typically costs ¥600-1,000 (about $90-150) for the day, while the public bus takes about 3 hours and under ¥20 (about $3) each way.
- [Zhangjiajie travel guide 2026-27](https://nihaoroutes.com/zhangjiajie): Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the core of Hunan's Wulingyuan Scenic Area, is where the sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar's floating mountains stand. Plan 2-3 days in the park plus 1 day for Tianmen Mountain. The park ticket with eco-buses costs ¥236 (about $35) and is valid for 4 consecutive days; the Bailong Elevator (¥65 one way) and cable cars cost extra. As of October 2026, Tianmen Mountain's main cableway is closed for renovation and visitors use Line C (¥288).
- [Traveling China with kids](https://nihaoroutes.com/china-with-kids): China is a good family destination for kids from about age 6, and for younger ones at a slow pace: high-speed trains are easy, children get free or half-price tickets on trains and at many sights, and the pandas deliver. A strong first trip is 12 days on Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu, linked by two high-speed trains of about 4 and 3-4 hours, with one big sight a day. On trains, one child under 6 per adult rides free without a seat and ages 6-13 pay half; the Chengdu panda base charges ¥55 (about $8) for adults and nothing for kids 6 and under.

## Guides: Food and wellness

- [Michelin Guide China: where to eat in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu](https://nihaoroutes.com/michelin-guide-china): As of October 2026, the MICHELIN Guide covers 17 mainland Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xiamen, and the newest edition, Beijing and Tianjin 2027, came out on October 28, 2026. A Bib Gourmand marks good cooking at moderate prices, and every mainland Bib Gourmand sits in Michelin's two cheapest price bands. On a first trip, look for Peking duck in Beijing, soup dumplings and braised Shanghainese dishes in Shanghai, dim sum and roast meats in Guangzhou, and mapo tofu, chili-oil wontons and hotpot in Chengdu.
- [Chinese bathhouse guide for first-time visitors](https://nihaoroutes.com/chinese-bathhouse-guide): A Chinese bathhouse (xiyu zhongxin) is a large bath and leisure complex, often open 24 hours. You bathe nude in a single-sex area with hot pools, saunas and an optional cuozao body scrub, then put on a cotton uniform for shared floors with buffets, lounges and nap halls. Standard entry costs about ¥100-300 (about $15-45) for 12-24 hours, including fruit, drinks and snacks, according to China Daily in April 2026. Scrubs, massages and overnight stays usually cost extra and go on a wristband you settle at checkout.
- [Traditional Chinese medicine in China: a visitor's guide](https://nihaoroutes.com/traditional-chinese-medicine-in-china): The most reliable place to try traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in China is the outpatient department of a public TCM hospital, such as Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou or Guang'anmen and Dongzhimen hospitals in Beijing, where you register with your passport and pay by Alipay, WeChat Pay or cash. As of October 2026, Guangzhou's public hospitals charge ¥35-128 (about $5-19) for a TCM consultation and ¥80 (about $12) for a standard acupuncture session, with herbs extra. Spas and massage chains sell foot reflexology, cupping and gua sha as wellness services, but they may not use acupuncture needles or treat illness.
- [Chinese postpartum confinement: zuo yuezi and confinement centers](https://nihaoroutes.com/postpartum-confinement-china): Zuo yuezi, or "sitting the month," is the Chinese custom of resting for about a month after giving birth: traditionally staying indoors, keeping warm and avoiding raw or cold food. Today many families in Chinese cities book a postpartum confinement center, part hotel and part nursery, usually for 28 days, or hire a live-in confinement nanny (yuesao). In Guangzhou, a consumer council survey published in March 2024 found that the common 28-day center package averaged ¥45,400 (about $6,800).

## Sample itineraries

- [Classic first trip, 10 days](https://nihaoroutes.com/routes/classic-first-trip-10-days): Beijing (4 nights), Xi'an (2 nights), Shanghai (3 nights). Spend four nights in Beijing for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, two in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, and three in Shanghai with a day trip to Suzhou. A morning high-speed train takes 4 hours 10-25 minutes from Beijing to Xi'an, then a flight of about 2 hours 20 minutes (about 6 hours door to door) beats the 6-9 hour train ride on to Shanghai. It suits first-time visitors who want China's best-known sights with just two travel days and two hotel changes.
- [Family trip with pandas, 12 days](https://nihaoroutes.com/routes/family-trip-with-pandas-12-days): Beijing (4 nights), Xi'an (3 nights), Chengdu (4 nights). Spend four nights in Beijing for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, three in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and four in Chengdu for the giant pandas and a day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha. Two high-speed trains replace domestic flights: about 4 hours 10 minutes from Beijing West to Xi'an North on the fastest trains, then 3-4 hours on to Chengdu East. It suits families with children from about 5 to 15, with one main sight a day and only two hotel changes.
- [Winter in Harbin, 7 days](https://nihaoroutes.com/routes/harbin-winter-7-days): Harbin (3 nights), Yabuli (1 night), Snow Town (1 night), Harbin (1 night). Three nights in Harbin for the ice and snow parks, then a high-speed train of about 1-1.5 hours to Yabuli for a night of skiing, a 2-3 hour road trip to China Snow Town for a night in the village, and about 4-5.5 hours by road and train back to Harbin for a final night. It suits first-time visitors, including people who have never skied, who want Harbin's ice festival plus a real mountain winter in one week, from late December to mid-February.

## Destinations (https://nihaoroutes.com/destinations)

- Beijing: Imperial palaces and the Great Wall. Stay 3-4 days; best Apr-May, Sep-Oct. The Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven sit in the center, and restored stretches of the Great Wall are 1 to 2 hours away by road. Between the big sights are hutong lanes, courtyard houses and Peking duck.
- Shanghai: The Bund, Pudong skyline and water towns. Stay 2-3 days; best Apr-May, Oct-Nov. Early-20th-century banks and hotels on the Bund face the Pudong skyscrapers across the Huangpu River, with plane-tree streets in the former French Concession behind them. It's also an easy base for day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou by fast train.
- Xi'an: Terracotta Army and a bikeable city wall. Stay 2-3 days; best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. The Terracotta Army, about 40 km northeast of the center, is the headline sight. The 13.7 km Ming-era city wall, the Muslim Quarter's food streets and the Shaanxi History Museum fill the rest of a visit.
- Chengdu: Giant pandas, hotpot and teahouse afternoons. Stay 2-3 days; best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the big draw. The rest of a visit goes to Sichuan food (hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles) and long afternoons in teahouses such as the one in People's Park.
- Guilin and Yangshuo: Karst peaks along the Li River. Stay 3-4 days; best Apr-May, Sep-Oct. Limestone karst peaks line the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo, about 65 km apart by road. The classic plan is to cruise downriver to Yangshuo, then use it as a base for cycling and bamboo rafting in the countryside.
- Zhangjiajie: Sandstone pillar forests and cliff walkways. Stay 3 days; best Apr-May, Sep-Nov. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the Wulingyuan World Heritage area, is a maze of sheer sandstone pillars linked by trails, cable cars and the Bailong cliff elevator. Tianmen Mountain, on the edge of the city, adds glass cliff walkways and a natural arch reached by 999 steps.
- Harbin: Ice sculptures, Russian-style streets, serious cold. Stay 2-3 days; best Late Dec-Feb. Each winter the city builds Ice and Snow World, a park of lit-up buildings made from ice and snow that covered 1.2 million square meters last season. In town, Central Street and the onion-domed Saint Sophia Cathedral show Harbin's Russian-influenced architecture.
- Chongqing: Hillside city of monorails and hotpot. Stay 2-3 days; best Mar-May, Oct-Nov. Chongqing is built on steep hills where the Jialing River meets the Yangtze, so streets stack on top of each other and the Line 2 monorail runs through floors 6 to 8 of an apartment block at Liziba. It is also known for fiery, numbing hotpot.

## Questions about Nihao Routes

- Is Nihao Routes a travel agency? No. We're an independent guide to traveling in China. Trips are planned, contracted and paid for with licensed travel agencies in China, which pay us a referral fee when you book.
- What does it cost to send a trip request? Nothing. Sending a request is free and you're under no obligation to book. If you book, you pay the agency directly for the trip.
- Who replies to my request? A trip designer at a licensed partner agency in China emails you within 24 hours, in English, with a suggested plan and a quote. You can change anything before you decide.
- Can I get help with just part of my trip? Yes. You can ask for a guide for two days in Beijing and nothing else, or for trains and hotels booked with no guide at all. Say what you need in the form.
- Do I need a tour to visit China? No. Many first-timers travel on their own with the help of a translation app and mobile payments, and our guides cover how. A local agency is most useful for tight schedules, families, older travelers and places with timed tickets.
- What happens to my details? We read your request and pass it to one partner agency so they can reply. We don't sell your details or add you to a mailing list.

Contact: hello@nihaoroutes.com