Best Hotels in China for Every Budget — 49 Real Picks From £13 (2026)

Our best-value China pick for 2026 is Guilin Flowers Inn in Guilin from ~£13 a night — but the real story of this guide is how far your money goes across one of the world's biggest and most varied countries: real, bookable hotels from just ~£13 a night, from ancient-capital Beijing to futuristic Shanghai, harbour-side Hong Kong and the karst rivers of Guilin. This is 49 verified, distinct, currently bookable stays spanning Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guilin and Zhangjiajie — each labelled by city and linking straight to its live price.

Few countries pack this much into one trip: the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in Beijing, the neon Bund and space-age Pudong skyline in Shanghai, Victoria Peak and dim sum in Hong Kong, giant pandas in Chengdu, and the Avatar-like sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie — all knitted together by the largest high-speed rail network on earth. And thanks to cheap mainland cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu and Guilin, it is far more affordable than most travellers expect.

Jump to your budget: Best luxury hotels · Mid-range hotels · Budget stays from £13 · China hotel FAQs

Scout's 3 best-value picks right now: 🏞️ Guilin Flowers Inn — from ~£13 in Guilin, a simple, cheap base for Li River cruises and karst-peak scenery. 🐼 Chengdu Sonderia Hostel&Bar-Lazybones — from ~£20 in Chengdu, a hugely reviewed (1,651) sociable hostel near the pandas and Sichuan hotpot. 🌊 Hangzhou Memory Travel International Hotel — from ~£21, a tidy 3★ near Hangzhou's serene West Lake, an easy rail hop from Shanghai. From-prices are live rates pulled while writing — tap any hotel for today's price on your dates.

Flights from the UK are long-haul — roughly 10-13 hours nonstop to Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG) or Hong Kong (HKG), with many one-stop options via the Gulf often cheaper. A crucial planning note: mainland China normally needs a visa for UK visitors (though recent visa-free transit and trial schemes have expanded — check the latest official rules), while Hong Kong and Macau are visa-free for around 90 days. On the mainland, familiar apps like Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked, so set up a VPN or roaming and a mobile-payment app (Alipay/WeChat Pay) before you go. Compare live China hotel prices or search UK flights to Beijing (PEK) to fix your dates first. The official Travel China site helps plan your route, and UK visitors should check the UK government's China travel advice for current entry rules.

The Best Luxury Hotels in China

China's top hotels deliver five-star polish — harbour-view towers in Hong Kong, sleek Shanghai landmarks, a grand Beijing address and even the themed lodges of Hong Kong Disneyland — often at prices well below comparable Western cities.

1. Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World — Shanghai · 5★ · 9,154 reviews · from ~£104/night. The most-reviewed hotel in this guide, a landmark five-star tower on People's Square in the heart of Shanghai, crowned by a revolving restaurant with sweeping city views. Central for the Bund, Nanjing Road shopping and the metro, with contemporary rooms and full facilities.

2. Harbour Grand Hong Kong — Hong Kong · 5★ · 9,076 reviews · from ~£105/night. A polished waterfront five-star on Hong Kong Island with a rooftop pool and superb Victoria Harbour views. Sleek rooms, several restaurants and a free shuttle to the business and shopping districts make it a reliable harbour-side luxury base.

3. Regal Airport Hotel — Hong Kong · 5★ · 6,479 reviews · from ~£189/night. A vast five-star connected directly to Hong Kong International Airport by covered walkway — ideal for early flights or a long layover. Expect big soundproofed rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and multiple restaurants, with the Airport Express whisking you to the city in minutes.

4. Royal Plaza Hotel — Hong Kong · 5★ · 6,134 reviews · from ~£130/night. A well-regarded five-star above Mong Kok East station in Kowloon, famous for its huge landscaped pool and its location atop a shopping mall. Handy rail links, comfortable rooms and easy access to the buzzing markets and street food of Mong Kok.

5. Cordis, Hong Kong - Langham Hospitality Group — Hong Kong · 5★ · 5,343 reviews · from ~£142/night. A sophisticated five-star above the Langham Place mall in Mong Kok, with a rooftop pool, an acclaimed Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant and a strong art collection. Directly connected to the MTR for effortless city exploring.

6. Disney Explorers Lodge — Hong Kong · 5★ · 5,130 reviews · from ~£210/night. The most premium stay in this collection, an adventure-themed resort hotel at Hong Kong Disneyland with gardens inspired by four continents, family rooms, pools and direct park access. A magical, splurge-worthy base for families visiting the resort.

7. Legendale Hotel Beijing — Beijing · 5★ · 4,941 reviews · from ~£179/night. A grand European-style five-star in central Beijing near Wangfujing shopping street, all chandeliers, marble and old-world opulence. Spacious rooms, fine dining and a central location put the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square within easy reach.

8. Disney's Hollywood Hotel — Hong Kong · 5★ · 4,497 reviews · from ~£155/night. A fun, retro-glamour Disney resort hotel with a piano-shaped pool, movie-era styling and a shuttle to Hong Kong Disneyland. A slightly more affordable Disney option than the Explorers Lodge, great for families who want the theme-park experience.

9. Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West — Hong Kong · 5★ · 4,383 reviews · from ~£106/night. A modern twin-tower five-star above Tsuen Wan West station in the New Territories, with a pool, spa and direct MTR access to the city. Bright contemporary rooms and strong value for a full-facility Hong Kong five-star.

10. Dorsett Wanchai, Hong Kong — Hong Kong · 5★ · 3,990 reviews · from ~£74/night. A smart five-star in the lively Wan Chai district on Hong Kong Island, close to the convention centre, bars and the harbour. Free shuttle buses, comfortable rooms and a great-value rate make it one of the best five-star deals in the city.

From-prices are live rates pulled while writing and vary by date and season. See all China stays · Search flights to Beijing (PEK).

The Best Mid-Range Hotels in China

The dependable middle: well-reviewed four-star hotels across Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai — comfortable, well-located and mostly between £70 and £135 a night.

11. The Kowloon Hotel — Hong Kong · 4★ · 7,759 reviews · from ~£105/night. A superbly located four-star right behind the Peninsula in Tsim Sha Tsui, steps from the harbourfront, the Star Ferry and the MTR. Compact but smart rooms and an unbeatable position for shopping, museums and the Symphony of Lights show.

12. Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel Beijing — Beijing · 4★ · 6,777 reviews · from ~£83/night. A comfortable, well-run four-star near Beijing Railway Station and the central business district, with spacious rooms and good breakfasts. A practical, central base for the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and onward rail travel.

13. Eaton HK - Langham Hospitality Group — Hong Kong · 4★ · 6,438 reviews · from ~£110/night. A design-led, creative four-star on Nathan Road in Kowloon, with a rooftop pool, a lively food hall and a strong cultural programme. Great transport links and a distinctive, arty personality set it apart from cookie-cutter city hotels.

14. Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong, Tung Chung — Hong Kong · 4★ · 6,417 reviews · from ~£135/night. A modern four-star on Lantau Island near the airport, the Ngong Ping cable car and Hong Kong Disneyland, with a rooftop pool and mountain-and-sea views. A relaxed, well-connected base a little away from the downtown bustle.

15. BEST WESTERN PLUS Hotel Hong Kong — Hong Kong · 4★ · 5,524 reviews · from ~£81/night. A dependable four-star in the Sai Wan / Sheung Wan area of Hong Kong Island, with a rooftop garden and easy tram and MTR access. Clean, comfortable rooms and solid value in a characterful, more local part of the city.

16. Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen by IHG — Beijing · 4★ · 5,469 reviews · from ~£70/night. A reliable, well-priced four-star at the Dongzhimen transport hub, with direct airport-express and metro links and a free-breakfast Holiday Inn Express formula. A smart, no-fuss Beijing base with excellent connections across the city.

17. Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong — Hong Kong · 4★ · 4,433 reviews · from ~£91/night. A contemporary four-star in west Kowloon with free shuttle buses to key districts and easy access to the Mong Kok markets and the high-speed-rail terminus for the mainland. Comfortable modern rooms at a fair Hong Kong price.

18. SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund — Shanghai · 4★ · 4,382 reviews · from ~£130/night. A stylish boutique four-star right by the Bund, some rooms looking across the Huangpu River to the Pudong skyline. A prime location for Shanghai's most famous waterfront, with polished design and easy metro access.

19. Holiday Inn Golden Mile by IHG — Hong Kong · 4★ · 4,331 reviews · from ~£113/night. A long-established four-star in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui's 'Golden Mile' on Nathan Road, connected to the MTR and surrounded by shopping and dining. A dependable, central Kowloon choice with a pool and reliable service.

20. The Harbourview - Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong — Hong Kong · 4★ · 4,296 reviews · from ~£90/night. A great-value four-star in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, many rooms with harbour views and a handy location near the convention centre, ferries and tram. Simple, comfortable and a favourite for its price-to-position ratio.

From-prices are live rates pulled while writing and vary by date and season. See all China stays · Search flights to Beijing (PEK).

Cheap Hotels in China — 49 Real, Bookable Options From £13

This is where China's value really shows — especially on the mainland. Every stay below is a real, currently bookable inn, hostel or budget hotel from ~£13 a night, spread across ten cities and labelled by city. Guangzhou, Chengdu, Guilin, Shenzhen and Zhangjiajie deliver clean rooms for a fraction of Western prices; Hong Kong's budget guesthouses run a little higher. The tier tops out around £55.

21. Guilin Flowers Inn — Guilin · 2★ · 21 reviews · from ~£13/night. The cheapest bed in this guide, a simple, friendly inn in Guilin, gateway to the famous karst-peak scenery of the Li River and Yangshuo. A no-frills base for river cruises, bamboo rafting and cycling among the limestone hills.

22. Zhangjiajie Cat Theme Inn — Zhangjiajie · 2★ · 41 reviews · from ~£16/night. A cheerful, cat-themed budget inn in Zhangjiajie, the Hunan region whose towering sandstone pillars inspired the floating mountains of Avatar. A cheap, characterful base for the national park's glass bridges, cable cars and forest trails.

23. Kaixin Express Hotel — Shenzhen · 2★ · 44 reviews · from ~£17/night. A tidy, low-cost express hotel in Shenzhen, the tech megacity right on Hong Kong's northern border. Simple, clean rooms at a rock-bottom rate, handy for cross-border trips and the city's shopping and electronics districts.

24. Chengdu Flipflop Hostel — Chengdu · 2★ · 21 reviews · from ~£17/night. A relaxed, sociable hostel in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan and home of the giant pandas. A friendly, backpacker-priced base for panda visits, fiery hotpot and the city's famous teahouse culture.

25. Swiss Hostel — Hong Kong · 1★ · 31 reviews · from ~£20/night. A basic, budget-friendly hostel in central Hong Kong — one of the cheapest options in a famously pricey city. A no-frills bed for travellers who want to spend their money on dim sum and the harbour rather than the room.

26. Chengdu Sonderia Hostel&Bar-Lazybones — Chengdu · 2★ · 1,651 reviews · from ~£20/night. A hugely popular, well-reviewed hostel and bar in Chengdu with a sociable vibe and a great reputation among backpackers. Excellent value near the pandas and Sichuan food scene, and a top pick for solo travellers.

27. Hangzhou Memory Travel International Hotel-Edge Westlake — Hangzhou · 3★ · 113 reviews · from ~£21/night. A tidy, good-value three-star near Hangzhou's serene West Lake, one of China's most beautiful spots, ringed by pagodas, tea hills and causeways. An easy high-speed-rail hop from Shanghai and a lovely, affordable lakeside base.

28. Colour Inn Shenzhen Dongmen Branch — Shenzhen · 3★ · 107 reviews · from ~£21/night. A bright, clean budget three-star in Shenzhen's lively Dongmen shopping district, close to the metro and the border with Hong Kong. Great value for a comfortable city stay in one of China's newest megacities.

29. Guangzhou Royal Garden Hotel — Guangzhou · 3★ · 100 reviews · from ~£22/night. A comfortable, well-priced three-star in Guangzhou, the historic Cantonese trade and food capital of southern China. A dependable budget base for exploring the city's markets, temples and legendary dim sum.

30. New Asia Hotel — Guangzhou · 2★ · 23 reviews · from ~£22/night. A simple, central budget hotel in Guangzhou, handy for the older downtown districts and the Pearl River. A cheap, practical choice in one of China's best-value big cities.

31. Cebu Inn — Hong Kong · 1★ · 20 reviews · from ~£23/night. A basic guesthouse in central Hong Kong offering some of the lowest rates in the city. A tiny but well-placed room for travellers prioritising location and price over space in this famously compact metropolis.

32. Timmy Hotel — Guangzhou · 3★ · 103 reviews · from ~£27/night. A clean, well-reviewed budget three-star in Guangzhou with helpful staff and comfortable rooms. Solid value for exploring the southern megacity's food, markets and Canton Fair district.

33. Arrivee Hotel — Guangzhou · 3★ · 105 reviews · from ~£28/night. A neat, good-value three-star in Guangzhou with tidy modern rooms at a low price. A reliable budget pick for a night or two in China's Cantonese capital.

34. Cendre Hotel — Suzhou · 3★ · 24 reviews · from ~£32/night. A comfortable budget three-star in Suzhou, the canal city famed for its classical gardens and sometimes called the 'Venice of the East'. A quiet, affordable base just a quick high-speed-rail hop from Shanghai.

35. 凯旋龙酒店广州区庄地铁站店 交易会期间提供免费穿梭巴士 — Guangzhou · 3★ · 118 reviews · from ~£33/night. A handy three-star beside Quzhuang metro station in Guangzhou, offering a free shuttle bus during the Canton Fair. Well-connected and well-reviewed, a practical budget base for business or sightseeing in the city.

36. Liuhua Hotel — Guangzhou · 4★ · 103 reviews · from ~£36/night. A great-value four-star in Guangzhou near Liuhua Lake Park and the railway station, with comfortable rooms at a budget-tier price. Excellent connections for the Canton Fair complex and onward high-speed rail.

37. Pazhou Hotel — Guangzhou · 3★ · 42 reviews · from ~£36/night. A convenient three-star in Guangzhou's Pazhou district, home to the vast Canton Fair exhibition complex. Comfortable rooms at a fair price, popular with trade visitors and value-minded travellers alike.

38. Fortune Hotel — Hong Kong · 1★ · 120 reviews · from ~£38/night. A compact budget guesthouse in central Hong Kong, a well-reviewed cheap sleep in one of the world's priciest cities. Simple rooms in a handy location for the MTR, markets and harbour.

39. Likto Hotel — Guangzhou · 4★ · 79 reviews · from ~£38/night. A modern four-star in Guangzhou with smart rooms and good facilities at a budget-tier rate. Strong value for those wanting a little more polish in China's Cantonese food capital.

40. Prince Hotel — Hong Kong · 1★ · 76 reviews · from ~£38/night. A simple, low-cost guesthouse in Hong Kong, a practical budget bed near the shopping and street food of Kowloon. Small rooms, but a fair price and a central position in a costly city.

41. Sandhu Guest House — Hong Kong · 2★ · 26 reviews · from ~£38/night. A no-frills guesthouse in central Hong Kong offering budget rooms in a prime location. A cheap, cheerful base for exploring the harbour, markets and dim sum on a tight budget.

42. Soso Hostel — Hong Kong · 1★ · 207 reviews · from ~£40/night. A well-reviewed, sociable hostel in Hong Kong with a strong following among backpackers. A friendly, good-value base for keeping costs down in a famously expensive city.

43. Johnson Hostel — Hong Kong · 1★ · 266 reviews · from ~£41/night. A popular, highly rated budget hostel in central Hong Kong, one of the most-reviewed cheap stays in the city. Clean, compact and well-located for the MTR and the sights, a reliable backpacker favourite.

44. K & B Hostel — Hong Kong · 1★ · 249 reviews · from ~£45/night. A friendly, well-reviewed hostel in central Hong Kong with simple rooms and a sociable feel. A dependable budget choice in the heart of the city, popular with solo and value travellers.

45. Ocean Hotel — Guangzhou · 4★ · 101 reviews · from ~£47/night. A comfortable four-star in Guangzhou with well-kept rooms and good facilities at a modest price. A reliable, roomier option for exploring the southern megacity and its famous Cantonese cuisine.

46. 维也纳国际酒店上海浦东国际机场店 — Shanghai · 4★ · 745 reviews · from ~£48/night. A well-reviewed four-star near Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), handy for early or late flights with a free-shuttle setup typical of the chain. A great-value, comfortable base for arrival or departure nights in Shanghai.

47. Sleep Inn — Hong Kong · 1★ · 145 reviews · from ~£52/night. A tidy budget guesthouse in central Hong Kong, well-reviewed for its cleanliness and location. Compact rooms at a fair Hong Kong price, close to the MTR and the city's shopping and dining.

48. Keypai Hotel — Guangzhou · 4★ · 27 reviews · from ~£55/night. A smart four-star in Guangzhou with modern, comfortable rooms and good service. The priciest stay in the budget tier and a roomy, well-appointed choice for a southern-China city break.

49. Yanling Hotel — Guangzhou · 4★ · 20 reviews · from ~£39/night. A comfortable four-star in Guangzhou offering spacious rooms and solid facilities at a low price. A dependable, good-value base to round out the list in China's best-value big city.

From-prices are live rates pulled while writing and vary by date and season; the budget tier tops out around £55. See all China stays · Search flights to Beijing (PEK).

Where to Base Yourself in China

China is enormous, so most trips pick two or three cities and link them by high-speed rail. Each has its own character:

• Beijing — the capital and historic heart, home to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall (Mutianyu and Badaling make popular day trips). The widest hotel choice in this guide and superb rail links.
• Shanghai — China's dazzling financial capital: the riverside Bund, the futuristic Pudong skyline, and the leafy former French Concession for cafes and boutiques. A cosmopolitan, well-connected base.
• Hong Kong — a Special Administrative Region with its own visa-free entry, currency and unrestricted internet. Ride the tram up Victoria Peak, cross the harbour on the Star Ferry, and feast on the world's best dim sum.
• Guangzhou & Shenzhen — vast southern megacities in the Pearl River Delta. Guangzhou is a historic Cantonese food and trade capital with the best-value hotels here; Shenzhen is a modern tech powerhouse on Hong Kong's border.
• Suzhou & Hangzhou — quick high-speed-rail hops from Shanghai. Suzhou for classical gardens and canals, Hangzhou for the serene West Lake ringed by pagodas and tea hills.
• Chengdu — capital of Sichuan and the best place on earth to see giant pandas, plus fiery hotpot and relaxed teahouse culture.
• Guilin — karst limestone peaks rising above the Li River, the scene on the 20-yuan note, best seen by river cruise or bamboo raft.
• Zhangjiajie — the towering quartz-sandstone pillars in Hunan that inspired the floating mountains of Avatar, explored via glass bridges, cable cars and forest trails.

Two practical reminders: spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the most comfortable seasons, and on the mainland you will want a VPN or international roaming for Google, WhatsApp and Instagram, plus Alipay or WeChat Pay for everyday payments. Hong Kong needs neither.

Explore more of Asia

Planning a wider Asian trip? Compare our other big-city guides:

• Best Hotels in Tokyo for Every Budget — real, bookable stays across Japan's capital, from capsule hotels to skyline towers.
• Best Hotels in Seoul for Every Budget — value-packed picks across South Korea's buzzing, tech-forward capital.

China Hotels FAQs

Are hotels in China cheap? They can be remarkably good value. This guide has 49 real, bookable stays from around £13 a night for a clean budget inn, with comfortable 3-4 star city hotels widely in the £20-£55 band, and five-stars in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong often between £70 and £210. Mainland cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu, Guilin and Zhangjiajie are especially cheap; Hong Kong runs a little higher.

How much is a hotel per night in China? Budget inns and hostels start from about £13-£20, comfortable 3-4 star city hotels run roughly £20-£55, mid-range four-stars in Hong Kong and Shanghai sit around £70-£135, and the top five-stars here reach up to around £210 a night. Mainland China is generally cheaper than Hong Kong for the same standard.

What is the cheapest hotel in this guide? The cheapest is Guilin Flowers Inn in Guilin from around £13 a night, followed by Zhangjiajie Cat Theme Inn (~£16) and Kaixin Express Hotel in Shenzhen and Chengdu Flipflop Hostel (both ~£17) — all real, currently bookable rooms.

What is the most expensive hotel listed here? The priciest stay is Disney Explorers Lodge at Hong Kong Disneyland from around £210 a night, followed by Regal Airport Hotel in Hong Kong (£189) and Legendale Hotel Beijing (£179). Almost everything else sits between £13 and £155.

Do UK travellers need a visa for China? It depends where you go. Mainland China normally requires a visa for UK passport holders, though recent visa-free transit and short-stay trial schemes have expanded significantly — always check the latest official Chinese government and UK FCDO guidance before you book, as the rules change. Hong Kong and Macau are separate and visa-free for around 90 days. If your trip mixes the mainland and Hong Kong, treat them as two different entries.

Is Hong Kong visa-free for UK visitors? Yes — UK passport holders can visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to around 90 days, and Macau is similarly visa-free. This is different from mainland China, which normally needs a visa (subject to the current visa-free transit and trial schemes). Crossing from Hong Kong into the mainland is a separate immigration entry with its own rules.

What is the best time to visit China? Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the most comfortable across most of the country. Summers are hot and humid (especially in the south and Hong Kong) with coastal typhoons; winters are cold in the north but fine in the far south. Avoid the big 'Golden Week' holidays in early May and early October, plus Chinese New Year, when domestic travel peaks.

How do you get around China? China has the largest and one of the best high-speed rail networks in the world, linking Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Suzhou and dozens more cities at up to 350 km/h — often easier than flying. City metros are cheap, modern and extensive. Book popular rail routes ahead and carry your passport, which is needed for tickets and station security.

Do I need a VPN in China? On the mainland, many familiar sites and apps — Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X and others — are blocked by the country's internet controls. Many travellers set up a reputable VPN before arriving (download it in advance) or rely on international roaming, which can bypass the restrictions. Hong Kong and Macau have unrestricted internet, so nothing extra is needed there.

How do you pay for things in China? Mobile payments dominate the mainland — Alipay and WeChat Pay are used almost everywhere, and both now let overseas visitors link an international card. Set one up before or on arrival, as some places prefer it to cash or foreign cards. Carry some cash as a backup; Hong Kong is more card- and cash-friendly, with its own Octopus card for transport and shops.

What currency is used in China? Mainland China uses the Chinese yuan, also called renminbi (CNY/RMB). Hong Kong uses the separate Hong Kong dollar (HKD), and Macau the pataca. We quote every price in this guide in pounds as a from-rate for easy comparison.

Is China safe for tourists? Yes — China is generally a very safe destination, with low rates of violent and street crime. Standard precautions apply: watch for pickpockets in crowded transport hubs and markets, use licensed taxis or ride-hailing, and keep your passport safe. Check current official FCDO travel advice before you go, and be mindful of local laws and customs.

Which airports do you fly into for China? The main gateways are Beijing (Capital PEK and Daxing PKX), Shanghai (Pudong PVG and Hongqiao SHA) and Hong Kong (HKG), with Guangzhou (CAN) and Shenzhen (SZX) also major hubs. Flights from the UK are long-haul — roughly 10-13 hours nonstop — with many one-stop options often cheaper.

Where should I base myself in China? Beijing for the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Temple of Heaven; Shanghai for the Bund, skyline and French Concession; Hong Kong for Victoria Peak, the harbour and dim sum. Guangzhou and Shenzhen are southern megacities strong on food and business; Suzhou and Hangzhou offer gardens and West Lake near Shanghai; Chengdu is for pandas; Guilin for karst-river scenery; Zhangjiajie for the Avatar peaks.

How many days do you need in China? China is huge, so most first trips focus on two or three cities over 10-14 days — a classic loop links Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, or Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, using high-speed rail. A shorter week can concentrate on one region. Add days for Chengdu's pandas, Guilin's rivers or Zhangjiajie's peaks.

Is Beijing worth visiting? Absolutely — Beijing is China's capital and the heart of its history: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and accessible Great Wall day trips (Mutianyu and Badaling). It has the widest hotel choice in this guide and superb rail links.

What is there to do in Shanghai? Walk the riverside Bund for its colonial architecture, gaze across the Huangpu at the futuristic Pudong skyline and Shanghai Tower, wander the leafy former French Concession, and take easy high-speed-rail day trips to Suzhou's gardens or Hangzhou's West Lake. It is modern, cosmopolitan and very well connected.

Is Hong Kong part of China? Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China with its own immigration, currency, legal system and unrestricted internet. For travellers, UK visitors enter Hong Kong visa-free for around 90 days, while the mainland normally needs a visa. Ride the tram up Victoria Peak, cross the harbour on the Star Ferry, and eat superb dim sum.

What are Guangzhou and Shenzhen like? Two vast, modern megacities in the southern Pearl River Delta. Guangzhou is a historic Cantonese trade and food capital with some of the best-value hotels here; Shenzhen, next to Hong Kong, grew from a fishing village into a tech powerhouse. Both link to Hong Kong by high-speed rail.

Are Suzhou and Hangzhou worth a day trip? Yes — both are quick high-speed-rail hops from Shanghai. Suzhou is famed for classical gardens and canals, the 'Venice of the East'; Hangzhou is built around the serene West Lake, ringed by pagodas, tea hills and causeways. Either makes a lovely day trip or overnight.

Can you see pandas in Chengdu? Yes — Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, is the best place in the world to see giant pandas, at the Chengdu Research Base just outside the city (go early). It is also a food-lover's city, home of fiery Sichuan hotpot and mapo tofu, with some very cheap, well-reviewed hostels.

Why visit Guilin and Zhangjiajie? Guilin and nearby Yangshuo are famous for karst limestone peaks rising above the Li River — best seen by river cruise or bamboo raft. Zhangjiajie, in Hunan, has the towering sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains of Avatar, explored via glass bridges, cable cars and forest trails.

What food should I try in China? Peking duck in Beijing, soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) in Shanghai, dim sum and roast meats in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, fiery hotpot and mapo tofu in Chengdu's Sichuan, and endless street food, noodles and dumplings everywhere. Eating is cheap and superb, especially away from Hong Kong.

Do people speak English in China? English is widely spoken in Hong Kong and in international hotels and major sights, but much less so day to day on the mainland, especially outside big cities. A translation app (download an offline pack) is invaluable, and having your destination written in Chinese characters helps with taxis.

What is the budget per night for backpackers in China? Backpackers can sleep well from around £13-£25 a night — Guilin Flowers Inn opens at ~£13, and Chengdu, Shenzhen and Guangzhou all have clean options under £30. With cheap street food and low-cost metro and rail travel, China is very affordable, with Hong Kong the one pricier exception.

How do I book these exact hotels at the prices shown? Every hotel name in this guide links to that hotel's live page on JetMeAway — real-time rates, taxes shown, and a date picker for your trip. From-prices here were pulled on live searches while writing, so your dates will differ; tap through for today's number. No booking fees either way.