Holiday in China 2026 and beyond

[Lala81]

Creating another thread specially for CN. Cos this country is huge and also can be very hard to keep track of the info in the other various holiday threads.

Too many locations even within China. 

Thinking of going somewhere in CN in Year end 2026. Probably 8 max 9 days due to work commitments.
Not been there in 20 years.
Avoiding southern CN due to the winter rains (Yunnan etc)

What's the best way to go Zhang Jia jie? Via Changsha?
I think can go HSR via Sichuan (Chengdu also) but Sichuan alone should be a separate trip.

Any other places to recommend? 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Lala81

[Davidklt]

Yes. Sichuan should be a separately trip.

[Davidklt]

[Tohto]

On 12/2/2025 at 11:14 AM, Lala81 said:

Creating another thread specially for CN. Cos this country is huge and also can be very hard to keep track of the info in the other various holiday threads.

Too many locations even within China. 

Thinking of going somewhere in CN in Year end 2026. Probably 8 max 9 days due to work commitments.
Not been there in 20 years.
Avoiding southern CN due to the winter rains (Yunnan etc)

What's the best way to go Zhang Jia jie? Via Changsha?
I think can go HSR via Sichuan (Chengdu also) but Sichuan alone should be a separate trip.

Any other places to recommend? 

 

 

You are planning F & E or package? 

Recently seem to have a new airline flying directly to 张家界. Heard the ads from radio.

Sichuan food will spicy, oily etc... might be heavy taste for you. 

Since you left southern China,  city like 厦门 will be out. From there can go 武夷山, which I went once is also very nice. 

How about 江南 side? 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Tohto

[Kangadrool]

On 12/2/2025 at 12:10 PM, Davidklt said:

With typical traditional banks, the the forex spread may not be attractive to use. 

[Lala81]

On 12/2/2025 at 2:44 PM, Tohto said:

You are planning F & E or package? 

Recently seem to have a new airline flying directly to 张家界. Heard the ads from radio.

Sichuan food will spicy, oily etc... might be heavy taste for you. 

Since you left southern China,  city like 厦门 will be out. From there can go 武夷山, which I went once is also very nice. 

How about 江南 side? 

My friend just came back from shanghai suzhou. Seems the gardens etc still pleasant. I thought winter liao will be bare bare liao. So maybe just go shanghai etc. 

Dunno leh. Want to see some of the more famous scenery. 

Like ZJJ. 

Sichuan is a possibility cos of the pandas. So JZG is there. 

Li jiang/gui lin is closer to southern China. 

[Lala81]

For some guy who don't have a lot of travel time but don't want to spend all the time on train and bus. CN bit challenging out of the city. Country too big lol. 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Lala81

[Volvobrick]

On 12/2/2025 at 3:08 PM, Lala81 said:

My friend just came back from shanghai suzhou. Seems the gardens etc still pleasant. I thought winter liao will be bare bare liao. So maybe just go shanghai etc. 

Dunno leh. Want to see some of the more famous scenery. 

Like ZJJ. 

Sichuan is a possibility cos of the pandas. So JZG is there. 

Li jiang/gui lin is closer to southern China. 

Sichuan has many historical sites like 乐山大佛, 都江堰, 峨眉山 etc. Definitely one trip by itself.

 

[Volvobrick]

On 12/2/2025 at 3:09 PM, Lala81 said:

For some guy who don't have a lot of travel time but don't want to spend all the time on train and bus. CN bit challenging out of the city. Country too big lol. 

Most decent cities are linked with the high speed rail.  Just target visit one province at a time, at most neighbouring provinces.

[Tohto]

On 12/2/2025 at 3:08 PM, Lala81 said:

My friend just came back from shanghai suzhou. Seems the gardens etc still pleasant. I thought winter liao will be bare bare liao. So maybe just go shanghai etc. 

Dunno leh. Want to see some of the more famous scenery. 

Like ZJJ. 

Sichuan is a possibility cos of the pandas. So JZG is there. 

Li jiang/gui lin is closer to southern China. 

Nowadays, winters are shifting later. Late Nov till early Dec cities like Hangzhou will still have beautiful autumn colour. Hangzhou is just 1hr+ by HSR from Shanghai. For a relax trip I will say like 5D4N there. Min is 4D3N. So for 8 to 9 days for you, the remaining day will be Shanghai and some old towns at Shanghai outskirt for day trip or 1/2 day trip.

Fancy scenery, maybe June or can go to Inner Mongolia or Xinjiang. I am hoping to go to Xinjiang during the Autumn season in future.. 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Tohto

[inlinesix]

On 12/2/2025 at 3:09 PM, Lala81 said:

For some guy who don't have a lot of travel time but don't want to spend all the time on train and bus. CN bit challenging out of the city. Country too big lol. 

Direct flight to the nearest city.

Get the fastest HSR.

That should save you some time.

 

[Tohto]

Friend just arrived Shanghai yesterday.  Look at all the red leaves. 

[Lala81]

Yeah found out a few things from my friend. Just the more kid friendly stuff. 

He stayed at the hotel at the new 滑雪场 also. 

been looking at which 古城 to go to also. 

同里 or 乌镇 （quite close to 杭州 already) 

Anything to do in winter for 莫干山? Saw it like a retreat for shanghainese to nature. 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Lala81

[Tohto]

On 12/2/2025 at 10:11 PM, Lala81 said:

Yeah found out a few things from my friend. Just the more kid friendly stuff. 

He stayed at the hotel at the new 滑雪场 also. 

been looking at which 古城 to go to also. 

同里 or 乌镇 （quite close to 杭州 already) 

Anything to do in winter for 莫干山? Saw it like a retreat for shanghainese to nature. 

乌镇 is almost 200 km from Shanghai. I just went there this year late Mar.

 

[Tohto]

You can also also visit 朱家角 MRT from Shanghai city center or take a didi. This is out skirt of Shanghai city. 

 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Tohto

[Lala81]

On 12/2/2025 at 11:07 PM, Tohto said:

You can also also visit 朱家角 MRT from Shanghai city center or take a didi. This is out skirt of Shanghai city. 

 

朱家角 is the most convenient one but the photos I've seen. The nicest seems 乌镇？

[Jman888]

On 12/2/2025 at 11:03 PM, Tohto said:

乌镇 is almost 200 km from Shanghai. I just went there this year late Mar.

 

nice, I last went many years ago was deciding this or 同里镇，end up went to 同里 cos nearer to suzhou for a day tour. I also think 乌镇 is nicer.

[Voodooman]

On 12/2/2025 at 11:03 PM, Tohto said:

乌镇 is almost 200 km from Shanghai. I just went there this year late Mar.

 

How is it compared to 周庄 at Suzhou?