You can get to the city from the airport using the DidiTaxi app.

Important information for the trip

Check if visas are required for your trip.

To use the websites and social networks you are used to in China, you need to activate a VPN before entering the country.

I recommend installing the most important mobile applications immediately upon arrival: 

1) AliPay - cashless payments everywhere: you have a card uploaded in the application from which money is deducted and paid in two ways (either you scan the seller's QR code or you create it yourself and the seller reads it)

2) BaiduMaps - for navigation in the subway and around the city, something like Chinese Google Maps: you enter the destination and the route is displayed, which you start (combines walking with subway travel and you can immediately see which subway lines you will take and how many meters you will walk) 

3) DidiTaxi - something like Chinese Uber: you enter the destination and the price is shown (after ordering, you can see the license plate and type of car), the only difference is that you pay after the ride

For some trips, reservations need to be made in advance, ideally two weeks in advance. You can find more detailed information in the itinerary.

You always need to have your passport with you, because you will have tickets and train tickets uploaded in it.

Also, be careful about tap water - it is not drinkable.

If you arrive in the morning like we did, you can head into the city right away. It's nicely lit up in the evening. 

The Beijing National Stadium is known in China and around the world as the "Bird's Nest". It was designed as the primary stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games.

You can get here by subway. First, set your destination in BaiduMaps and start the route. When you get to the subway, buy a ticket.

Buying a ticket on the subway:

1) Set the vending machine to English.

2) Select the destination station: first select the line number and then the station name.

3) Select the number of tickets.

4) Confirm and pay (you can pay via AliPay).

5) A card will come out, which you beep at the turnstile. When you exit the subway, the turnstile will "eat" it again.

If you don't know what to do, ask the locals, they will definitely be happy to help. In all the cities you visit, buying subway tickets is the same. There is also a security check in the subway like at the airport. It is always at the entrance, it is quick and there are no queues here. 

You can get here by metro and then about 10 minutes on foot. From the south entrance (Meridian Gate), gradually walk to the north exit, and from there it's a short walk to the next stop today. 

The Forbidden City was founded during the Yuan Dynasty, which inhabited the area from 1271 to 1368. However, many of the buildings you see here were completed between 1406 and 1420 – from these years, the complex served mainly emperors from the Qing and Ming dynasties. Entry to the area was then practically forbidden to all "ordinary" people.

Right behind the Forbidden City is an artificial hill also known as Coal Hill or Jingshan Park. We bought tickets on the spot (2 CNY), even though there were crowds of people there because of the national holiday.

It was created in 1420 from piled-up soil that accumulated after digging the moats around the Forbidden City. It's not just an ordinary "hill." It was built in accordance with the principles of feng-shui, and it was also meant to protect the imperial palace from the cold northern winds. It offers a beautiful view of Beijing and the Forbidden City.

If you still have energy, you can spend the evening on an interesting street - the street food is especially famous here (e.g. fried scorpion, snake kebab or roasted insects on sticks). But don't worry, you will definitely come across these peculiarities during your stay. I recommend taking DidiTaxi.

It's best to arrange this trip through an agency. We liked that they picked us up at the metro and then took us by bus (about a 2-hour ride) directly to the visitor center. We had the tickets uploaded in our travel passport. The guide showed us where to meet in the evening, and we headed to the wall on our own.

I definitely recommend the Mutianyu area - it's very nice, easy (less steep section, plus you can take a cable car up and down), and there are supposedly fewer tourists than in other parts. 

The Great Wall of China is an ancient fortification system stretching across northern China. Its present form was built during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th to 17th centuries. It was intended to protect China from Mongol raids. Today it is one of the modern wonders of the world, but you probably already know that.

You can easily get to one of the most famous temples in Beijing by subway. You can buy tickets on the spot (25 CNY). Then slow down for a moment and light 3 incense sticks like the locals. 

Lama Temple is the main and largest Buddhist temple in Beijing. It was built in 1694 as part of the city walls for Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. A few years later, his son, Emperor Qianlong, took care of accommodation for 300 Tibetan monks and 200 Chinese students, and since then the temple has served as one of the largest centers of Buddhism outside Tibet.

You will enjoy visiting Yandai Xie Hutong. It's easy to get here, it's just a short walk from the metro. 

Hutongs are ancient alleys. They were gradually built during the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1368 to 1912 and retain part of the traditional culture and way of life from the past. You can shop or eat in one of the local restaurants, but you will also get to know the old inhabitants of the Chinese metropolis and their daily life - just turn off the main street.

Flights are secured by Worldee. You will receive them before departure.

You can book this trip through an agency. We appreciated the guide and the hotel pick-up; the van ride took about 3/4 of an hour. The guide provided a lot of information, but there were also funny stories.

The Terracotta Army was discovered by a local farmer while digging a well in 1976 and is one of the most important historical events of the 20th century. To date, over 8,000 statues made of terracotta have been discovered. They are over 2,200 years old and are life-size. They depict soldiers arranged in battle formations – from archers to spearmen to several war chariots. The features and positions of the warriors vary, they were originally painted and made according to the best living soldiers of their time. It was believed that the emperor would have the army at his disposal even after death.

Transportation to the site was included in the price of the previous trip, but you can also get there by metro. On-site, I recommend moving around independently (unless you want a guided tour) to better enjoy the amazing atmosphere. The guide bought the tickets for us in bulk, and then we paid him via AliPay.

The pagoda dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries, from the period of the greatest expansion of the Silk Road; important Buddhist scriptures brought from India were laid in its foundations.

You can comfortably take the high-speed train to and from, then take a DidiTaxi from the station directly to the entrance of the complex. You can buy tickets on the spot (90 CNY).

The Longmen Grottoes are a valued Buddhist treasure. The history of this stone work dates back 1,500 years and can be traced back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (around 500 AD). The area itself stretches between the Xiang and Longmen Mountains and you will find more than 2,300 individual caves or tens of thousands of Buddha statues.

Flights are secured by Worldee. You will receive them before departure.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - after entering the park, take the shuttle bus to the Bailong Elevator. It is the largest outdoor elevator in the world - you pay extra for it on the spot. You can get up to the breathtaking views very comfortably. Enjoy the Avatar Mountains - they are nicknamed that because the filmmakers were inspired by them. Some of the cone-shaped formations are taller than 1000 meters. If the weather is not nice, swap this and the following day.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - today, just take a walk in the lower part of the park. There is a nice path along the river, and you can look at the mountains from below. Just when we thought we wouldn't be lucky, a decent bunch of smaller monkeys appeared. They took food from the tourists, and there were a lot of young ones among them. Just be careful they don't steal something from you.

Once you've had your fill of the national park, you can take a DidiTaxi to the next attraction. Enjoy a pleasant walk across the glass bridge; the views are also gorgeous here. You can also experience various adrenaline activities at the site. We bought the tickets on the spot (216 CNY).

In the morning, pack up and transfer to Zhangjiajie city (DidiTaxi). You can leave your luggage at the airport like we did. We bought the tickets on the spot (288 CNY). I recommend buying route B - the shuttle bus will take you to a smaller cable car to the stairs. You can walk up these stairs or take escalators, and then take more escalators to get to the top for the views. Back down you will take the longest cable car in the world. Route A is the same, but in the opposite direction.

Take a DidiTaxi here. You can distract yourself a bit before departure. 72 Strange Buildings is a breathtaking place, especially after dark. You can buy tickets on the spot (evening ticket 88 CNY).

It is a cultural monument and offers architecture, local crafts, food and a nightly performance with light shows. It holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest building of its kind on stilts (almost 110 m high). The hole in the middle represents Tianmen Cave.

Flights are arranged by the Worldee platform, you will receive your tickets before departure. Don't forget to be at the airport with enough time to spare.

You can get to the place by subway. Then you can walk for about half an hour or take a DidiTaxi. This place is nicknamed the Venice of Shanghai - you can take a boat ride or just wander the streets and have something good. 

This is a very famous shopping street and is easily accessible by metro. A visit here is most impressive in the early evening when the advertisements start to light up. 

Don't miss the Louis Vuitton Maison – Shanghai Flagship Store, the largest Louis Vuitton flagship store in China. The building, shaped like an elegant modern ship, is in itself an expression of luxury, creativity and architectural excellence. Inside you'll find much more than just fashion. This multi-level space offers exclusive collections, a VIP lounge, bespoke customization services, and even art installations and limited editions only available here.

You can get here by subway and then take a DidiTaxi (we managed to arrange a tuk-tuk on the spot and it was a fantastic experience). You can buy tickets to the Zoo on the spot (165 CNY). You can enjoy direct interaction with some of the animals here. We came here mainly for the pandas, but the other enclosures impressed us much more. Be sure not to miss the lemurs running right around you. And then the red pandas. You can also feed some of the animals (for an extra charge on the spot).

You can easily get there by metro. 

The Old Town area is the pearl of Shanghai's center and will transport you to the 1920s. It is home to historically valuable shikumen residences (north block) as well as modern architecture (south block). This exceptional district also offers great shopping and gourmet experiences, as well as a vibrant nightlife.

This place is easily accessible by metro. 

It is a shopping and cafe area whose history dates back to the 1930s when it was dominated by residential buildings known as shikumen. Today, there are more than 200 small shops, restaurants and art galleries.

The beautiful temple is right by the subway. You can buy tickets on the spot. You will really enjoy the peace and atmosphere, the contrast with the surrounding skyscrapers is interesting. 

It is the most famous temple in Shanghai and its history is more than 780 years long and also quite complex. It was first built during the Three Kingdoms period and named Hudu Chongyuan. During the Song Dynasty, it was subsequently moved to its current location. In 1945, the temple was renamed Jing'an by the famous calligraphy creator. However, the temple burned down in 1972 and was not reopened until 1990.

Take the subway and don't miss the most stylish end to your stay in China. From the Bund waterfront, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the iconic skyscrapers. The lights turn on around six in the evening.