For over 5,000 years China has attracted travellers searching for wonders from the past, present and future. Sprawling palatial compounds and mountainside temples and shrines serve as reminders of the country’s dynastic past, while the soaring skyscrapers of neon megacities like Shanghai and Hong Kong point to its future. Whether you’re immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Hangzhou’s West Lake, encountering pandas at a sanctuary in Chengdu, or wandering the markets and canals of Suzhou, China charms like none other.
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Visit China: get started
See the country’s best and explore China's top attractions with our tour packages or create an itinerary of your own. Head to Beijing to visit the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall of China, and the Old Summer Palace before going to Xi’an to see the world-famous Terracotta Army and the old city walls. After, swing over to Suzhou and immerse yourself in the beauty of its classical gardens, or choose Chongqing to experience its unique karst mountain landscapes and striking urban design.
Thanks to our China tours, it’s never been easier to go from Canada to Shanghai, or Canada to Beijing.
China travel guide
Destination facts
Language
Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese, though English is understood in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
When to visit
The best time to visit China is generally in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and rainfall is limited. If you are planning on visiting the North, we recommend avoiding winter travel as it gets very cold. You should also be aware that the two main holiday periods—the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival—are when China is at its busiest and most bustling.
What to bring back
Fine teas from specialized markets (Maliandao in Beijing, Tian Shan Tea City in Shanghai); consumer electronics like drones, cameras or power banks; special local handicrafts like Chengdu embroidery or Beijing opera masks and sweets; silk scarves, accessories and clothes; iconic blue-and-white porcelain pieces; and traditional Chinese calligraphy.
What to eat
With a country as vast as China, it’s hard to name just a few dishes, so here are a few highlights: Beijing/Peking duck is a meal fit for an emperor, Shaoxing rice wine (not the cooking wine) and other huangjiu are excellent paired with meals, siu mei (Cantonese barbecue) in Hong Kong, aged pu’er tea and tanghulu (skewered fruits spun in sugar syrup).
Fun fact
China is one of the oldest continuous civilizations, having been ruled by thirteen royal dynasties, starting from the legendary Xia dynasty in 2070 B.C.E., and ending with the Great Qing dynasty in 1912.
Important info
For more information on all necessary documents for travel to China from Canada including visa, taxes and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.
Experience our China tour packages
China tour packages include round-trip flights, domestic flights, shared transfers, accommodation, daily breakfast and English-speaking guides. Gratuities, other meals and attractions may also be included and vary by itinerary.
