This or that? Every comparison, answered.
Most China itineraries come down to a handful of either/or calls. Each guide below takes one of them, gives you a straight verdict up top, then backs it with a side-by-side table and who-should-pick-which lists.
Beijing vs Shanghai
Beijing or Shanghai for your first China trip? Imperial history vs modern skyline, food, day trips, weather, and how to do both with the 4.5-hour train.
Read the verdict →Chengdu vs Chongqing
Chengdu or Chongqing? Pandas, teahouses and day trips vs river skylines, hotpot and stair-street drama — plus how to do both, 80 minutes apart by rail.
Read the verdict →Guilin vs Zhangjiajie (Wulingyuan)
Guilin's Li River karst vs Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillar forest: scenery, effort, crowds, families vs hikers, and whether you can combine both.
Read the verdict →Zhangjiajie (Wulingyuan) vs Mount Huangshan
Sandstone pillar forest vs granite peaks in a sea of clouds — comparing Zhangjiajie and Huangshan on scenery, hiking, crowds, seasons, and add-ons.
Read the verdict →Lijiang vs Dali
Lijiang's UNESCO canals and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain vs Dali's Erhai Lake ease and Bai culture — crowds, vibe, day trips, and doing both by train.
Read the verdict →Beijing vs Xi'an
Beijing or Xi'an? The Great Wall, Forbidden City and hutongs vs the Terracotta Army, Ming city wall and Muslim Quarter — plus how to do both by 4.5-hour train.
Read the verdict →Shanghai vs Hong Kong
Shanghai or Hong Kong? Two great skylines, very different trips — entry rules, internet, payments, food and day trips compared, plus how to combine them.
Read the verdict →Hangzhou vs Suzhou
Hangzhou or Suzhou from Shanghai? West Lake's big scenery and tea country vs classical gardens and canal streets — compared honestly, with how to do both.
Read the verdict →Chengdu vs Xi'an
Chengdu or Xi'an? Pandas, teahouses and Sichuan food vs the Terracotta Army, city wall and Muslim Quarter — an honest comparison, plus the 3-hour train that links them.
Read the verdict →