Explore

China

Want to travel to places that even your Chinese friends might not know? We swapped the big cities and spent our trip exploring the quieter, underrated side of China like locals by trains and more — it’s mystical mountains, ancient cliff-side towns, and cultural treasures hidden far from the crowds. And the best part? So many of these breathtaking spots are still wildly unknown by travelers.

City of lights- Ancient Furong Town
Avatar Mountains @ Zhangjiajie

Language

Mandarin/Chinese– most spoken. English is limited to major cities.

Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY/ RMB)

Card + mobile payments are widely used in cities (Alipay / WeChat Pay). Carry some cash for rural areas.

Vegan-Friendly

Difficult to find in rural areas. Big cities offer many options.

Suggested Applications

Alipay (Payment), WeChat (Communication), Gaode Maps (Amap).

Weather

Country is huge- varies by region. N & S China – Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct; W China– May-Oct; E China– Mar-May & Sep-Nov

Festivals

Chinese New Year (Jan–Feb), Mid-Autumn Festival (Sep–Oct), Dragon Boat Festival (Jun)

At a glance

China Off the Beaten Path

Most travel guides talk about the same handful of spots: the Great Wall, Beijing’s Forbidden City, Shanghai skyline, maybe Guilin’s rivers. And yes — those are incredible. But for us, we opted for quiet ancient cities and trust us- these underrated gems are breathtaking.

We spent 1 week travelling these hidden wonders of China, but yes, we hope to visit China again coz this huge country has so much more to offer. Check out our itinerary for a mix of nature, history, and modern energy – a travel like the locals do.
Zhangjiajie → Wangxian Valley → Shanghai

3 days in Zhangjiajie- home to the Avatar Mountains, Glass Bridge, waterfall town
2 Days 1 Night in Wangxian Valley- A town dazzled with lights
1 Day in Shanghai- Futuristic Towers with a blend of ancient architecture

This was our short stay exploring China but do check out these spots while you plan your next trip. This is not the end- we will definitely plan another visit there and update this list. Watch out!

China Posts

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