• 2 Days Chengdu City Tour with Dujiangyan Irrigation System & Mount Qingcheng

    2 Days Chengdu City Tour with Dujiangyan Irrigation System & Mount Qingcheng

    There is no doubt that you’ll enjoy a happy time in the “Hometown of Giant Pandas” and “Land of Abundance”. This tour is the best choice for travelers who show interest in giant pandas, Chinese Taoism culture and engineering project. It is a combination of city exploration to see all the stunning highlights with a…

  • Private Tour Temple of Heaven Houhai Hutong & Local Delicacy from Beijing

    Private Tour Temple of Heaven Houhai Hutong & Local Delicacy from Beijing

    New visitors to Beijing can get acquainted with the city at an easygoing pace on this private layover tour. With an expert guide, explore a China’s ancient sacrificial building – Temple of Heaven; wander in Tian’anmen Square and admire a variety of significant edifices; stroll on the most well-known and prosperous Wangfujing Street; visit the…

  • Shanghai Private Full-Day Tour Featuring Chinese and Western Architectures

    Shanghai Private Full-Day Tour Featuring Chinese and Western Architectures

    With the assistance of the knowledgeable guide, you will get an overview of the international metropolis, visit the city’s Chinese and Western heritages and hear about its history. The Former French Concession, Old Millfun and the Refugee Museum and Memorial are representative here, and have a deep history.1. All admission fees included2. Private professional guide…

  • Shanghai Attractions Highlights Full-Day Private Tour

    Shanghai Attractions Highlights Full-Day Private Tour

    This tour provides a great opportunity to explore must-see attractions of Shanghai. With an private guide, you will learn about profound history and culture of Shanghai, admire the city’s skyscrapers and experience the original Shanghai atmosphere. The itinerary includes People’s Square, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Old Street, Yu Garden, Pudong New Area, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai…

  • Private 2-Day Chengdu Sightseeing Tour: City Highlights, Panda, Leshan Buddha

    Private 2-Day Chengdu Sightseeing Tour: City Highlights, Panda, Leshan Buddha

    There are so many things to see in Chengdu, and it can be hard for first-time visitors to know where to start. Take the guesswork out of the sightseeing process on this private 2-day tour of the city, which includes guided visits to must-see attractions like Leshan Giant Buddha, Wuhou Temple, Kuanzhai Alley, Wenshu Temple…

  • 3-Day Private Tour: Incredible Chengdu Highlights

    3-Day Private Tour: Incredible Chengdu Highlights

    There are so many things to see in Chengdu, and it can be hard for first-time visitors to know where to start. Take the guesswork out of the sightseeing process on this private 3-day tour of the city, which includes guided visits to must-see attractions like Leshan Giant Buddha, Wuhou Temple, Kuanzhai Alley, Wenshu Temple,…

  • 4 Days Xi’an & Luoyang Heritage and Culture Tour

    4 Days Xi’an & Luoyang Heritage and Culture Tour

    This four days private Xi’an and Luoyang tour will allow you to have enough time to explore the city in your own pace. Explore the profundity of Xian’s History and culture, and in addition, to get some local experience by tasting authentic Xi’an food. The itinerary covers most of those popular sites and real highlights…

  • 2-Day Private Tour from Guilin/Yangshuo to Guangzhou With the Driver

    2-Day Private Tour from Guilin/Yangshuo to Guangzhou With the Driver

    Visit highlights of Southern China including the Guilin and Guangzhou with this private 2 days tour from Guilin.You will be picked up from Guilin hotel and dropped off at Guangzhou.

  • Half-day Private Panda Tour with Vegetarian Lunch in Nunnery

    Half-day Private Panda Tour with Vegetarian Lunch in Nunnery

    During this Panda+Vegetarian Lunch Half-day Tour, you’ll be taken into Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to see a great number of lovely pandas ranging from infants to adults with your English-speaking local guide. After finishing panda base, you’ll then ramble through “off-the-beaten” streets to visit a nunnery and have vegetarian lunch with a special Buddhist…

  • 2-Day private tour Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven,Mutianyu Great Wall

    2-Day private tour Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven,Mutianyu Great Wall

    Discover Beijing through our private tours with excellent guides and professional drivers.All entrance fees are included in the tour price.Travel comfortably in a clean、air-conditioned car,door to door private transfer services are available within the 5th ring zone of Beijing city.Enjoy 8 hours time to see the top Bejing city attractions,The Forbidden City,The Temple of Heaven,The…

  • 2-Day Luoyang Private Tour: Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple

    2-Day Luoyang Private Tour: Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple

    Discover the highlights of Luoyang with a private guide during a 2-day sightseeing tour. See three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest. You’ll also watch a kung-fu performance that displays amazing martial arts moves; Eat at the restaurant where the locals go. This private tour includes two lunches, private transportation, entrance tickets, and hotel…

  • 2-day Private Chengdu Classic Tour with Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha

    2-day Private Chengdu Classic Tour with Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha

    2-day private Chengdu tour includes the most of highlights of Chengdu city with Giant Panda Base where you will have a wonderful time with the lovely creatures in the charming park, a great harmony of natural beauty and man-made landscape. Sanxingdui Relics Museum tells you the story of Shu Kingdom about 3000 years ago. The…

  • Full-Day Private Plane Tour to Shaolin Temple from Guilin

    Full-Day Private Plane Tour to Shaolin Temple from Guilin

    Discover the incredible UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites of Shaolin Temple on a private tour from Guilin by plane. Greeted by a knowledgeable guide, travel by private air-conditioned vehicle, you will have plenty time to watch a kung-fu performance that displays amazing martial arts moves, discover the history and culture of the Shaolin Temple and admire…

  • Full-Day Old Shanghai City Lifestyle and Culture Private Tour with Lunch

    Full-Day Old Shanghai City Lifestyle and Culture Private Tour with Lunch

    New visitors to Shanghai can get acquainted with the city at an easygoing pace on this small group tour. With a private guide, travel the city by private vehicle, stopping at major attractions like Former French Concession, Fuxing Park, Shanghai Zhougong Mansion, Xintiandi, Shikumen Museum, Yuyuan Old Street, Yu Garden, ShiLiu Pu Cloth Market, local…

  • 5-Day Private Yunnan Discovery from Nanjing: Kunming, Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang

    5-Day Private Yunnan Discovery from Nanjing: Kunming, Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang

    On this Yunnan Discovery Cultural Trip, you will experience the historical cities of Kunming, Dali, Shaxi Ancient Town and Lijiang from Nanjing by plane. This personalized tour is tailored to your needs and allows you to tick off famous attractions, such as Stone Forest, Guihu Park, Flower and Birds Market, Chongsheng Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient…

  • Private Chengdu Day Tour: Giant Pandas and Jinsha Site Museum

    Private Chengdu Day Tour: Giant Pandas and Jinsha Site Museum

    This private one-day tour focuses on the main highlights of Chengdu city. You will see China’s national treasure, giant pandas in their natural habitat. After that you will stroll along ancient alleys and admire the historical Jinsha Site Museum. This tour will start early in the morning so that you can watch pandas at their…

  • Luoyang Private Tour to Longmen Grottoes and Peony Blossom Sightseeing

    Luoyang Private Tour to Longmen Grottoes and Peony Blossom Sightseeing

    Penoy Blossom season is one of the most magical times of the year in Luoyang. Since the Tang Dynasty, no Chinese city has been able to rival Luoyang in growing peonies, boasting nearly 10 million peony trees with more than 700 species. Join this private day tour to discover the most famous peony blossom viewing spots in Luoyang. Marvel at…

  • Beijing Tian’anmen Forbidden City Beihai Park and Hutong Tour

    Beijing Tian’anmen Forbidden City Beihai Park and Hutong Tour

    Hit Beijing’s top attractions in just a day on this comprehensive private layover tour. With an expert guide, stroll around Tian’anmen Square and explore the world’s best-preserved imperial residence – Forbidden City; visit Beihai Park and admire the imperial architecture. At dusk, stroll along Lotus Lane in the Back Lakes (Houhai) area, see its night-time…

  • 10 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Everest Namtso Group Tour

    10 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Everest Namtso Group Tour

    This well-designed tour will help you to discover most of the wonders from Lhasa to Mt Everest and Lake Namtso. The tour starts with the top holy sites in Lhasa such as Potala Palace which is the landmark of Tibet and Jokhang temple, an ancient temple holds the highest position in Tibetan Buddhism. Then you will head to Gyantse…

  • Panda Breeding Center (Panda Base) & Taoism temple tour

    Panda Breeding Center (Panda Base) & Taoism temple tour

    Not just have been in Chengdu, but immersed in our local culture and learning Taiji lesson, which is Kongfu Panda practices. And even when you go back home you could practice in the morning when you wake up and start the beautiful day!Chengdu is the Taoism birthplace. After visiting baby pandas then you’ll get to…

  • Private Day Tour to Chengdu Panda Base by Round-way Flight from Beijing

    Private Day Tour to Chengdu Panda Base by Round-way Flight from Beijing

    Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base is a well-known site for the cute pandas. This private day tour will let you take round-way flight from Beijing to Chengdu to view these cute pandas. Time permits, you can select other attraction in Chengdu to visit as well from Kuai & Zhai Alleys, Wenshu Temple, or Qingyang Temple.Beijing…

  • Beijing Private Tour of Summer Palace, Lama Temple, Confucius, Hutong and Snacks

    Beijing Private Tour of Summer Palace, Lama Temple, Confucius, Hutong and Snacks

    New visitors to Beijing can get acquainted with the city at an easy-going pace on this full-day tour. Save hours spent researching what to see and where by taking this tour. Visits some of the city’s many well-known attractions to discover ancient architecture, the original Beijing atmosphere and Chinese culture. Explore largest and best-preserved of…

  • Shanghai Private Tour by Metro Featuring Must-See Attractions

    Shanghai Private Tour by Metro Featuring Must-See Attractions

    This tour provides a great opportunity to explore must-see attractions of Shanghai, transmitting as a local. With the assistance of the knowledgeable guide, you will get an overview of the Modu CITY, visit the city’s skyscrapers and walk into Shanghai Old Street. The itinerary includes Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Shanghai Old Street, Yu…

  • Bus tour to Jinshanling Great Wall with hotel pick up

    Bus tour to Jinshanling Great Wall with hotel pick up

    This group day tour is available daily all the year round. Each morning, you will be picked up from your midtown hotel, then you will go visit the major attractions together with other tourists. Groups are kept to about 20-40 passengers in an air-conditioned coach or van with a professional Beijing chauffeur and a licensed…

  • All Inclusive Luoyang Private Day Tour to Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple

    All Inclusive Luoyang Private Day Tour to Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple

    Delve into the heritage and history of Luoyang on this all inclusive private day trip. With an expert guide, experience the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site – Longmen Grottoes to view thousands of Buddhist statues carved into the steep limestone cliffs. Admire awesome views of the surrounding area. Explore iconic White Horse Temple which is considered the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism, stroll…


All about Northern China

When to visit

Never knowingly understated, the Northern China climate tends to extremes: Generally speaking, icy winters serve up bone-chilling winds, while Beijing summer temperatures can nudge a steamy 90°F (32°C). Unless you’re keen to discover Harbin’s spectacular ice festival, which usually runs from late December until late February, or witness the Lunar New Year celebrations, shoulder seasons (May, June, and September) should hit the sweet spot. Avoid traveling during the first weeks of May and October, when most locals are on vacation.

Getting around

High-speed rail makes getting around most of Northern China a breeze: It’s greener than flying, much less prone to delays, and often faster once you factor in travel times to the airport and the inevitable wait before boarding. Larger cities have fast, cheap metro systems with signage in both English and Mandarin. Buses are hard to use if you don’t speak or read Chinese. As elsewhere in China, there are harsh penalties for driving without a valid Chinese driving license.

Traveler tips

While many Chinese cities have a rich roast duck tradition, sampling Beijing duck is a Northern China rite of passage—and the succulent meat, crispy skin, and delicate slices are well worth traveling for. Make the pilgrimage to Beijing’s Liqun Roast Duck Restaurant in Qianmen district, about a 30-minute walk from Tiananmen Square, for flavor-packed fowl prepared in an oven stoked with fruitwood.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is in the north of China?

The star attractions in Northern China extend beyond the Great Wall and the capital of Beijing, home to the Forbidden City and Summer Palace. Harbin hosts one of Earth’s largest ice festivals, Datong offers historic grottoes and a hanging temple, and the walled city of Pingyao was once China’s banking capital.

What is the main city in north China?

The main city in Northern China is Beijing, China’s capital and second largest city. A travel hub and foodie haven, it’s a great base for exploring the Great Wall and offers the country’s best collection of imperial relics. But Northern China extends more than 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) north of Beijing.

What language do they speak in north China?

The official language of China—and the most spoken in the northern part of the country—is Mandarin Chinese. Young people and tourism workers in Beijing will generally speak some English, but in smaller cities, English is often thin on the ground. Southern Chinese dialects like Cantonese, Hakka, and Hokkien are rarely understood.

Is Beijing safe at night?

While violent crime rates in China may not be as low as authorities claim, gun-free, surveillance-heavy Beijing is much, much safer than any US city. However, petty crime, from pickpocketing to an alphabet of tourist scams, is not uncommon, while fights can and do occur in and around bars and clubs.

Does Northern China get snow?

Yes, Northern China has cold, snowy winters, but because it sees generally arid conditions, there are fewer snow days than you might expect. That doesn’t stop people from enjoying ice skating, ice lanterns, ice festivals, and even skiing.

What is the best month to visit Northern China?

If ice festivals and winter fun are not on your China to-do list, June is a great month to visit Northern China. Not only is it less busy and less rainy than the July–August summer vacation peak season, but most travelers will find the weather comfortably warm rather than oppressively hot.