China overwhelms with scale: sunrise over the Great Wall, Shanghai's neon canyons, the "floating mountains" of Zhangjiajie from "Avatar", Chengdu's tea courtyards and Yunnan's rice terraces — and all of it is one country. It is huge, but the world's best network of high-speed trains compresses distances: far-off cities turn out to be a couple of hours from each other.
And getting there is easier than ever: since 2025 Russians have had visa-free entry for up to 30 days (extended until the end of 2027). People pay here with a smartphone — WeChat Pay and Alipay are accepted everywhere, from the subway to street noodles; the wallet can be topped up through Nihao China or a UnionPay card, and cash is almost unnecessary.
Why independently
- Control over scale. You decide yourself: ancient capitals, futuristic megacities or national parks.
- Price and speed. High-speed trains + direct bookings are cheaper and more flexible than a group tour.
- Depth. Beijing's hutongs, Chengdu's teahouses, Yunnan's rice terraces — beyond standard excursions.
The best time to go is spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October).
