Destinations & Itineraries

Guilin is where China’s most iconic scenery comes to life. The karst mountains rising from the Li River have inspired poets and painters for centuries-and once you see them in person, you’ll understand why. This is not just a travel destination; it’s a living postcard. Getting There & Around Airport: KWL (Guilin Liangjiang International). About 28km from downtown, take airport bus or taxi. High-Speed Train: Guilin North Station (Guilinbei) connects to major cities. 2.5 hours from Guangzhou, 4 hours from Changsha. ...

Yangshuo is Guilin’s cooler, more laid-back cousin. While Guilin is all about the Li River cruise, Yangshuo is about slow travel-bicycling through rice fields, floating on bamboo rafts, and wandering the ancient streets. It’s the kind of place where you’ll plan to stay for 2 days and end up staying for a week. Getting There & Around From Guilin: Bus: 1 hour, ~30 RMB Li River Cruise: 4 hours (the scenic route) Taxi: ~1 hour, ~150 RMB Within Yangshuo: ...

Beijing is where China’s imperial past collides head-on with its futuristic present. You’ll cycle past 600-year-old palace walls in the morning and sip craft beer in a restored hutong courtyard by night. It’s chaotic, grand, and absolutely unmissable. Getting There & Around Airports: PEK (Capital): Older, closer to city center. Airport Express train to downtown in 30 min. PKX (Daxing): Newer, massive, designed by Zaha Hadid. Airport Express connects to subway. Metro: The world’s longest subway system. Buy a Beijing Transit Card or use Alipay/WeChat transit QR. Avoid rush hours (79 AM, 68 PM) unless you enjoy human sardine situations. ...

Chengdu is my home. I’ve lived here for years, married into a Sichuan family, and eaten enough hot pot to legally qualify as a chili pepper. This city moves slower than Beijing or Shanghaiin the best way possible. People here prioritize good food, good tea, and good company. It’s also the only place on Earth where you can hold a baby panda in the morning and eat noodles that’ll make you cry in the afternoon. ...

Shanghai doesn’t do subtle. It’s a city of superlativessecond-tallest building in the world, busiest container port, longest metro network. But beyond the skyline spectacle, you’ll find quiet lanes of French plane trees, dumpling shops older than your grandparents, and a nightlife scene that rivals Tokyo. Getting There & Around Airports: PVG (Pudong): Main international hub. Maglev train hits 431 km/h and gets you to downtown in 8 minutes (if you time it right). Metro Line 2 is the budget option (~1 hour). SHA (Hongqiao): Mostly domestic flights, but way closer to the city center. Metro: Shanghai’s metro is clean, efficient, and covers basically everything. Get a Shanghai Public Transport Card or use Alipay/WeChat. ...

Xi’an is China’s original capital. Thirteen dynasties ruled from here, and you feel that weight everywherefrom the massive city wall to the army of terracotta soldiers standing guard outside the city. But Xi’an isn’t just a museum piece. The Muslim Quarter buzzes with street food energy, and the city’s mix of Hui, Han, and Silk Road influences makes it feel distinct from anywhere else in China. Getting There & Around Airport: XIY (Xianyang International). Airport bus or metro Line 14 to downtown (~1 hour). ...