3 Dec
Tiananmen SquareBook ahead
天安门广场
Free, but you need a morning slot. Reserve 26 Nov to 2 Dec in the WeChat mini programme 天安门广场预约参观, using your passport.
Beijing 北京
2 to 4 December
Activities
3 Dec
Forbidden CityBook ahead
故宫博物院
¥40 per person (about £4)
Tickets open 26 Nov at 12:00 UK time (8pm Beijing). Aim to enter around 13:00, and allow 90 to 120 minutes. Last entry 15:30.
2 or 3 Dec
Temple of HeavenBook ahead
天坛公园
¥28 per person (about £3)
Buy your ticket in the WeChat mini programme. Winter entry covers the Hall of Prayer, Echo Wall and Circular Mound. Go early, when locals are out doing tai chi. Halls shut at 17:00, last entry 16:30.
2 or 3 Dec
Jingshan Park
景山公园
¥2 per person (about under £1)
Cross the road from the Forbidden City's north gate and walk up to Wanchun Pavilion for the view over the palace roofs.
3 Dec option
Mutianyu Great WallBook ahead
慕田峪长城
¥140 to ¥280 per person (about £16 to £31)
The quieter Wall, and it takes the whole of 3 Dec instead of the city sights. The higher price adds the cable car. Book now, and check winter buses and wind.
How long it takes: about 7 to 10 hours in total. That is 2 to 2.5 hours each way by coach from Qianmen, 30 to 60 minutes each way by transfer bus and cable car, and 2 to 3 hours on the Wall.
3 Dec option
Badaling Great WallBook ahead
八达岭长城
¥205 to ¥245 per person (about £23 to £27)
The later-start Wall option, by train from Qinghe. Trains go on sale 19 Nov. The north cableway is closed until 25 Dec, so use the south funicular.
How long it takes: about 4 to 6 hours in total. That is 1.5 to 2.25 hours each way from Wangfujing, and 1 to 1.5 hours on the Wall.
2 or 3 Dec
National Museum of ChinaBook ahead
中国国家博物馆
Free, and a good indoor swap on a bitter day. Timed slots open 7 days ahead at 09:00 UK time (5pm Beijing).
2 or 3 Dec
Lama Temple
雍和宫
¥25 per person (about £3)
Temple halls and courtyards. Winter ticket sales end at 16:00.
2 or 3 Dec
Shichahai lakes and hutongs
什刹海
Free. Walk the lanes from Yinding Bridge and stop for a hot drink by the lake.
Restaurants
3 Dec
Quanjude, Qianmen
全聚德前门店
The duck dinner on your route, a short walk from Qianmen Street. Sliced duck with pancakes and spring onions. Confirm the last dinner seating.
Peking Chamber (Siji Minfu)
四季民福烤鸭店
¥130 to ¥220 per person (about £15 to £25)
The classic choice and better value, known in China as Siji Minfu. Several branches. The Forbidden City one can queue for 1 to 2 hours, so try another if you are short of time.
Da DongBook ahead
大董
¥300 to ¥500 per person (about £33 to £56)
The smarter option for a special night, known for its crisp duck and artful plating. Its Dongcheng flagship, 美·大董, is in the Michelin guide.
Huajia Yiyuan
花家怡园
¥285 per person (about £32)
Old courtyard restaurant on Guijie (Ghost Street) with an open duck oven, also known for its Huajia cabbage. Pick the courtyard main branch. Reviews of the duck vary, and the price is a rough figure from one listing.
Li Qun Roast Duck
利群烤鸭店
Old-school duck in a hutong. Check it shows as open on Amap before heading over.
Shengyongxing
盛永兴
A chef favourite for a smarter duck dinner.
Fangzhuanchang No. 69
方砖厂69号炸酱面
¥15 per person (about £2)
Family-run zhajiang noodles, on the Michelin list for years.
Man Jie Dumplings
满姐饺子
¥60 to ¥70 per person (about £7 to £8)
Thin-skinned, generously filled dumplings from a reliable local chain. Get the Man Jie signature dumplings (满姐招牌饺子).
Nanmen Shuanrou
南门涮肉
Classic Beijing lamb hotpot in a copper pot. Ideal for a freezing night.
Jubaoyuan
聚宝源
Famous lamb hotpot on Niujie. Check the branch address on Amap before you go.
Hu Da, Ghost Street
胡大饭馆
Spicy crayfish on Guijie, the late-night food street. The main branch is listed as open 24 hours and it is known for its queues.
Shops
2 or 3 Dec
Qianmen Street
前门大街
Historic pedestrian street, good just before dinner. Quanjude is close by.
2 or 3 Dec
Wangfujing and Beijing apm
北京apm
Head inside apm for shops, cafes and a warm break. Guides warn off the nearby snack street as a tourist trap.
Sanlitun Taikoo Li
三里屯太古里
Open-air mall for fashion, flagship stores and people watching.
Yandai Xiejie
烟袋斜街
Small hutong lane of gift shops, right by Shichahai.
Panjiayuan Antique Market
潘家园旧货市场
Huge flea market, at its best on weekend mornings, so your midweek stay will be quieter. Haggle, and assume antiques are not genuine.
Daoxiangcun pastries
稻香村
Traditional cakes to take home. Local advice is to look for the 三禾 brand.
Snacks
Huguosi Snacks
护国寺小吃
The classic old Beijing snack shop. Try lvdagun (sticky rice rolls) and aiwowo. Queues at lunchtime.
Yao Ji Chaogan
姚记炒肝
Stewed liver soup with little pork buns. Very local, and an acquired taste.
Niujie food street
牛街
Beijing's main halal area, around the old mosque. Lamb skewers, baodu and sweet treats.
Jianbing
煎饼果子
¥8 to ¥15 per person (about £1 to £2)
The breakfast crepe. Best from a cart early in the morning.
Good to know
Weather
December averages a high of 3C and a low of -7C, the coldest stop by far. Pack proper layers, as most of the sights are outdoors.
Great Wall
Choose Mutianyu to avoid the crowds. Entry (¥45) does not cover everything, so also get tickets for the transfer bus (¥15) and the cable car (about ¥140 return).
Bookings that open soon
Forbidden City: 26 Nov, 12:00 UK time. Tiananmen Square: 26 Nov to 2 Dec. Badaling trains: 19 Nov. Mutianyu: on sale now.
Passport
Bring the original you booked with to every sight. The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are separate bookings and separate security queues.
Choosing a duck dinner
Your route has one duck dinner, at Quanjude on 3 Dec. You land at 05:15 on 2 Dec, so that evening is free for a second one.
Leaving
Your Guangzhou flight is 08:30 on 4 Dec. Book a 05:15 taxi the day before.
Anywhere in China
Entry on a UK passport
Visa free for up to 30 days, and you enter at Beijing on 2 Dec. UK advice is 6 months' validity from arrival (2 June 2027 or later) and two blank pages.
Arrival card
Fill in the free online arrival card before you leave Manchester, and skip sites that charge a fee. Save your first hotel's Chinese address offline.
Paying
Almost everywhere uses Alipay or WeChat Pay. Set up both before you fly, link your card, verify your passport and try a small payment. Carry a little cash as backup.
Internet
A UK roaming plan or travel eSIM usually keeps Google and WhatsApp working, but hotel and cafe wifi will not. VPNs are unreliable, so sort this before you land.
Apps to install at home
Amap (the links on this page need it), Alipay, WeChat, Trip.com, 12306 and Didi. Didi can also run inside Alipay.
Using these links
Each button searches Amap for the exact Chinese name in that city, so chains show several branches. Choose the closest and check the opening hours.
Dates on this page
A date means that place is on your route. Option means it could fit that day as a swap or extra.
Trains
Your passport is your ticket, so scan the one you booked with at the gate. Set up and verify it in 12306 now.
Power banks
For your flights inside China, the 3C mark must be printed on the power bank itself, and it must go in hand luggage. Without the mark, staff can stop you taking it on board.
Water and tipping
Do not drink the tap water. Tipping is not expected.
Places change
Restaurants close and move, and opening hours shift. Look at Amap before crossing town.
Guangzhou 广州
4 to 7 December
Activities
4 Dec
Yongqing Fang
永庆坊
Free. Follow Enning Road through restored Xiguan lanes and stop for Cantonese snacks on the way to Shamian.
5 Dec
Chimelong ParadiseBook ahead
长隆欢乐世界
¥250 per person (about £28)
Launch coasters and the Super Rapids in Panyu, 6 to 8 hours on a Saturday. Book by 4 Dec, bring your passport, and check the rides running that day.
6 Dec
Baiyun Mountain Cableway
白云山索道
¥45 per person (about £5)
Line 11 to Yuntai Garden, then follow the signs. About 7 minutes each way to Summit Park. Price includes the return and park entry. Check the last downhill car.
4 Dec option
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
陈家祠
¥10 per person (about £1)
Look up at the carved roof ridges, then explore the courtyard galleries. Pairs well with Yongqing Fang.
4 Dec option
Cantonese Opera Art Museum
粤剧艺术博物馆
Free. Embroidered costumes and stage props at 127 Enning Road, beside Yongqing Fang.
4 Dec option
Shamian Island
沙面岛
Free. Finish the old-city walk on this leafy island, along the waterfront past the old trading houses.
4 Dec option
Pearl River night cruise
天字码头
¥50 to ¥150 per person (about £6 to £17)
Evening sailing from Tianzi Wharf. Match the pier on your ticket to this one, as the last departure varies.
5 Dec option
Chimelong International CircusBook ahead
长隆国际大马戏
¥350 to ¥450 per person (about £39 to £50)
Evening acrobats after the rides. Separate ticket, so confirm there is a 5 Dec show. Rules out the Zhuhai day trip.
5 Dec option
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, ZhuhaiBook ahead
珠海长隆海洋王国
¥547 to ¥655 per person (about £61 to £73)
Whale shark aquarium and the Parrot Coaster, as a swap for Chimelong Paradise. Price includes return trains. Allow 2 to 3 hours each way.
6 Dec option
Baiyun Mountain on foot
白云山风景区南门
¥5 per person (about £1)
Walk from the south gate to Summit Park instead of the cableway. Allow 3 to 5 hours.
6 Dec option
Guangdong MuseumBook ahead
广东省博物馆
Free timed entry, booked through the museum's Alipay channel. Slots update at 14:00 UK time, 7 days ahead. See the Chaozhou woodcarving.
6 Dec option
Huacheng Square
花城广场
Free. Walk south through the square to the river for views of Canton Tower.
6 Dec option
Canton Tower
广州塔
¥150 per person (about £17)
On a clear day, go up to the 433m indoor deck. Outdoor rides cost extra.
Restaurants
6 Dec
Guangzhou Restaurant, Wenchang
广州酒家文昌总店
¥80 to ¥110 per person (about £9 to £12)
The 1935 flagship for morning tea on your route. Order har gow and char siu bao with tea.
Tao Tao Ju
陶陶居
One of the oldest and most famous dim sum houses. Michelin Plate at its Ya Yuan branch in 2024 and 2025.
Lian Xiang Lou
莲香楼
Dates from 1889 and is known for lotus seed paste. Good for pastries as well as tea.
Bingsheng
炳胜品味
Well regarded modern Cantonese. Go for a proper dinner.
Lei Garden
利苑酒家
Smart Cantonese with handmade dim sum and double-boiled soups.
Shops
6 Dec option
Beijing Road
北京路步行街
Shop the pedestrian street and look through the glass panels at the old road underneath.
Shangxiajiu
上下九步行街
Older and more atmospheric, with arcaded buildings, cheap food stalls and cafes. Close to Yongqing Fang.
Taikoo Hui
太古汇
The upscale option in Tianhe, with more than 180 brands.
Zhengjia Plaza
正佳广场
Giant mainstream mall on Tianhe Road.
Liuyun Xiaoqu
六运小区
Quiet residential blocks in Tianhe known for small independent shops and cafes.
Snacks
4 Dec option
Yuan Ji rice rolls
源记肠粉
¥20 to ¥35 per person (about £2 to £4)
Between Chen Clan Hall and Yongqing Fang, at 93 Huagui Road. Get the freshly steamed shrimp rolls with sweet soy. Expect a queue, and check hours as guides disagree.
Nanxin desserts
南信牛奶甜品专家
The place for double-skin milk, made with rich buffalo milk. Number 47 on Dishifu Road.
Yin Ji rice rolls
银记肠粉
¥10 per person (about £1)
Silky rice noodle rolls. The beef in soy is the one to get.
Lin Lin beef offal
林林牛杂
Beef offal and radish in broth, near Shangxiajiu. Cheap and very local.
Xihua Road
西华路
A long street of old neighbourhood food shops for grazing.
Roast goose
烧鹅
A Cantonese classic. Look for one hanging in the window.
Good to know
Weather
December averages a high of 21C and a low of 11C. Bring a light jacket for the evenings.
Getting in
You land at T3 at noon on 4 Dec. Take an official taxi to Yuexiu or Liwan and allow 45 to 75 minutes.
Morning tea
Dim sum is mainly a morning and lunchtime meal. Go before 10am to beat the queues.
Tea charge
Most places charge per person for tea, usually ¥5 to ¥10. It is normal and will appear on the bill.
Ordering
Many places use a paper slip you tick, or a QR code. Point at the Chinese names if you get stuck.
7 Dec flight
The Sanya flight leaves T2 at 07:05. Book the airport hotel near T2 and confirm a 04:30 shuttle or taxi.
Anywhere in China
Entry on a UK passport
Visa free for up to 30 days, and you enter at Beijing on 2 Dec. UK advice is 6 months' validity from arrival (2 June 2027 or later) and two blank pages.
Arrival card
Fill in the free online arrival card before you leave Manchester, and skip sites that charge a fee. Save your first hotel's Chinese address offline.
Paying
Almost everywhere uses Alipay or WeChat Pay. Set up both before you fly, link your card, verify your passport and try a small payment. Carry a little cash as backup.
Internet
A UK roaming plan or travel eSIM usually keeps Google and WhatsApp working, but hotel and cafe wifi will not. VPNs are unreliable, so sort this before you land.
Apps to install at home
Amap (the links on this page need it), Alipay, WeChat, Trip.com, 12306 and Didi. Didi can also run inside Alipay.
Using these links
Each button searches Amap for the exact Chinese name in that city, so chains show several branches. Choose the closest and check the opening hours.
Dates on this page
A date means that place is on your route. Option means it could fit that day as a swap or extra.
Trains
Your passport is your ticket, so scan the one you booked with at the gate. Set up and verify it in 12306 now.
Power banks
For your flights inside China, the 3C mark must be printed on the power bank itself, and it must go in hand luggage. Without the mark, staff can stop you taking it on board.
Water and tipping
Do not drink the tap water. Tipping is not expected.
Places change
Restaurants close and move, and opening hours shift. Look at Amap before crossing town.
Sanya 三亚
7 to 11 December
Activities
7 Dec
Haitang Bay beach walk
海棠湾
After your flight, walk the sand by the resort strip and finish at your hotel pool.
8 Dec
Atlantis Aquaventure
亚特兰蒂斯水世界
¥250 to ¥400 per person (about £28 to £45)
Give it the day. Try the Leap of Faith slide and the lazy river. Check whether your room rate includes entry, and confirm closing time, as Atlantis lists both 18:00 and 20:00.
9 Dec
Sense Spa, Rosewood SanyaBook ahead
三亚保利瑰丽酒店
¥780 per person (about £87)
The 60-minute foot massage, at 6 Haitang North Road. Open 11:00 to 23:00. Confirm the last treatment when booking.
10 Dec
Wuzhizhou IslandBook ahead
蜈支洲岛
¥144 per person (about £16)
Ferry from Houhai, then walk the coastal paths. Price covers entry and the return boat. Last ferry out 16:00, last return 19:30 in low season. Check at the pier.
7 Dec option
Houhai surf village
后海村
Browse the lanes and watch the surfers. An easy first afternoon from Haitang Bay.
7 Dec option
Lost Chambers Aquarium
亚特兰蒂斯失落的空间水族馆
¥188 per person (about £21)
Underwater viewing windows inside Atlantis, for an indoor afternoon.
9 Dec option
Beginner surf lesson, Houhai
后海冲浪
¥498 per person (about £56)
Two hours, priced for a class of two with basic English. Agree the meeting point and time with the school.
9 Dec option
Luhuitou lookout
鹿回头风景区
Free on foot, with sunset views above the harbours. Allow for the drive into the city.
10 Dec option
Yalong Bay Forest Park
亚龙湾热带天堂森林公园
¥158 per person (about £18)
Park shuttle uphill to rainforest paths and bay views. Winter entry includes the shuttle. The glass walkway is extra.
10 Dec option
Nanshan and the Guanyin statue
南山文化旅游区
¥129 to ¥159 per person (about £14 to £18)
A day on the west coast at the temples and the offshore Guanyin, with a long transfer. The higher price adds the park bus.
Restaurants
8 Dec option
Ye Xiaoji, Haitang 68
椰小鸡海棠68
¥115 per person (about £13)
Chicken cooked in fresh coconut water, on the ground floor of Haitang 68. Good after Aquaventure. It can have a long queue.
Lin Jie Xiangwei Seafood
林姐香味海鲜
Well known seafood restaurant with a branch in Haitang Bay, near Atlantis, so the handy choice for your stay.
First Market seafood
第一市场
Buy live seafood at the market, then pay a nearby kitchen to cook it. It is in the city, a long ride from Haitang Bay. Read the tips in Good to know first.
Chunyuan Seafood Plaza
春园海鲜广场
A famous seafood area in the city, best for dinner. Look for 海鲜广场, because prices differ at the similarly named 海鲜排档.
Zao Lao Tou
糟老头文昌糟粕醋火锅
Hainan's sour vinegar hotpot, inside First Market. Seafood is the thing to dip.
Mengdada Coconut Chicken
萌哒哒椰子鸡
Coconut chicken hotpot, recommended by locals. The owner is from Hainan.
Wenchang chicken
文昌鸡
Hainan's most famous dish, served cold with rich yellow skin.
Shops
9 Dec
CDF Duty Free City
三亚国际免税城
Beauty and fashion at Haitang Bay, open 10:00 to 22:00. Read the duty free rule in Good to know, and ask how collection works.
Yalong Bay Outlets
亚龙湾奥特莱斯
Outlet shopping by the beach, with a big seafood market alongside.
First Market
第一市场
Fun for tropical fruit and dried seafood as well as dinner.
Snacks
Baoluo rice noodles
抱罗粉
Hainan's must-try noodle soup. The hot, savoury broth is the point.
Qingbuliang
清补凉
Cold coconut milk dessert with beans and fruit. Perfect after the beach.
Qunzhong Road snack street
群众路小吃街
Where locals go for traditional Hainan snacks and shrimp cakes. In the city, so pair it with Luhuitou.
Good to know
Weather
December averages a high of 27C and a low of 19C, the warmest stop. The sun is strong, so bring sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
Getting around
You stay in Haitang Bay, 40 to 60 minutes by taxi from Phoenix Airport. Luhuitou, First Market and Nanshan are all long rides, so give each its own trip.
Duty free rule
Over 18s, including foreigners, qualify when leaving Hainan for elsewhere in China with a ticket and passport. Your 11 Dec flight to Guangzhou should count, but confirm at the shop.
First Market touts
People around the market pull customers in for kitchens that pay them commission. Ignore them and choose your own.
Seafood prices
Prices are per jin (500g), so a price that looks cheap may not be. Agree the price and watch it being weighed.
Leaving
Book a 06:30 resort pickup on 11 Dec, to reach the airport by 07:40 for the 09:40 flight.
Anywhere in China
Entry on a UK passport
Visa free for up to 30 days, and you enter at Beijing on 2 Dec. UK advice is 6 months' validity from arrival (2 June 2027 or later) and two blank pages.
Arrival card
Fill in the free online arrival card before you leave Manchester, and skip sites that charge a fee. Save your first hotel's Chinese address offline.
Paying
Almost everywhere uses Alipay or WeChat Pay. Set up both before you fly, link your card, verify your passport and try a small payment. Carry a little cash as backup.
Internet
A UK roaming plan or travel eSIM usually keeps Google and WhatsApp working, but hotel and cafe wifi will not. VPNs are unreliable, so sort this before you land.
Apps to install at home
Amap (the links on this page need it), Alipay, WeChat, Trip.com, 12306 and Didi. Didi can also run inside Alipay.
Using these links
Each button searches Amap for the exact Chinese name in that city, so chains show several branches. Choose the closest and check the opening hours.
Dates on this page
A date means that place is on your route. Option means it could fit that day as a swap or extra.
Trains
Your passport is your ticket, so scan the one you booked with at the gate. Set up and verify it in 12306 now.
Power banks
For your flights inside China, the 3C mark must be printed on the power bank itself, and it must go in hand luggage. Without the mark, staff can stop you taking it on board.
Water and tipping
Do not drink the tap water. Tipping is not expected.
Places change
Restaurants close and move, and opening hours shift. Look at Amap before crossing town.
Shenzhen 深圳
11 to 13 December
Activities
12 Dec
Hongqiao Park, the Crimson Ribbon
红桥公园
A 4km red forest walkway in Guangming. Allow 75 to 90 minutes from Futian, and walk the western section towards Bihu Lake. One local source says not all of it is open, so check before you set off.
12 Dec
Thai Comfort Spa, Luohu MixCBook ahead
罗湖万象城
¥200 to ¥400 per person (about £22 to £45)
An hour's Thai massage after Dongmen. This button opens the mall, and the exact branch and price will be on your Klook voucher.
11 Dec option
Futian skyline light showBook ahead
深圳市民中心
Free. Check 11 Dec is listed, and reserve a viewing slot in the WeChat mini programme 福田中心区夜景灯光预约导引服务.
12 Dec option
Window of the WorldBook ahead
世界之窗
¥220 per person (about £25)
Miniature world landmarks and rides, for the whole Saturday in place of the park and shopping. Buy a dated ticket by 11 Dec.
12 Dec option
Splendid China Folk Culture VillageBook ahead
锦绣中华民俗村
¥220 per person (about £25)
Folk performances and miniature Chinese landmarks, also a day-long swap. The spa can still follow in the evening.
12 Dec option
Dafen Oil Painting Village
大芬油画村
¥50 to ¥150 per person (about £6 to £17)
Ask for an indoor studio seat and paint a canvas to take home. A morning swap for Hongqiao Park. Agree the price first.
12 Dec option
Lianhuashan Park
莲花山公园
Free. Walk to the summit above the Civic Center for the Futian skyline, in the morning before heading east.
12 Dec option
OCT-LOFT
华侨城创意文化园
Former factory courtyards with design shops, cafes and exhibitions. Pairs with Nantou for a west-side day.
12 Dec option
Nantou Ancient Town
南头古城
Free. Enter through the South Gate for old lanes, local snacks and independent shops.
12 Dec option
Shenzhen Bay Park
深圳湾公园
Free. Walk the bay promenade from Shenzhen Bay Park metro, and look out for winter birds on the mudflats.
12 Dec option
Ping An Free Sky
平安金融中心云际观光层
¥180 to ¥200 per person (about £20 to £22)
The 116th floor of Ping An Finance Centre. Choose a clear day, or take the free Lianhuashan view.
Restaurants
The Bay by Chef FeiBook ahead
东湾
Two Michelin stars in the city's first guide (2026). Cantonese with Chiu Chow flavours. The big splurge.
Yun JingBook ahead
云璟
Two Michelin stars. New-style Cantonese on the 70th floor.
Chao Shang ChaoBook ahead
潮上潮
One Michelin star for Chiu Chow cooking.
Bahe Li Haiji
八合里海记牛肉火锅
The best known Chaoshan beef hotpot, with over 20 branches. The beef is cut fresh.
Daimu beef hotpot
潮汕大目牛肉火锅
Open for about 42 years, in the Guomao area of Luohu, close to Dongmen.
A Xiang beef hotpot
阿翔鲜牛肉火锅
A local recommendation in Luohu. Get the neck cut and the beef dumplings.
Runyuan Coconut Chicken
润园四季椰子鸡
Shenzhen's favourite hotpot style, with branches in Futian near your hotel area. 润青 is a different brand with a similar name.
Xinji Hakka
新记客家味道
Hakka home cooking, a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick.
Shops
12 Dec
Dongmen pedestrian area
东门步行街
Street shopping in the lanes around Laojie, then a short walk or ride to the spa.
12 Dec option
Huaqiangbei and SEG Plaza
赛格广场
Start at SEG Plaza for electronics stalls and components, then continue east to Dongmen. An alternative to Hongqiao Park.
COCO Park
购物公园
Mall option in Futian, handy for your hotel. Pair it with a nearby spa to limit taxis.
MixC
深圳万象城
The big polished mall for international brands, and where the Thai Comfort branch is.
Luohu Commercial City
罗湖商业城
Known for bargains and tailoring, right by the Hong Kong border. Sellers are pushy, so haggle hard.
Snacks
12 Dec option
Dongmen Ding Food Street
东门町美食街
¥35 to ¥80 per person (about £4 to £9)
Stalls near Laojie metro. Try an oyster omelette or seafood congee, then a buffalo milk dessert before the spa.
Jieyang Lao Er
揭阳老二粿条汤
Traditional Chaoshan rice noodle soup. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Gao San Jie
高三姐豆花店
Sichuan-style tofu pudding. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Xiao Long beef noodles
小龙牛肉面
Beef noodles with a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its Futian branch.
Jiu Jiu noodles
九九面馆
Small noodle shop, also a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Good to know
Weather
December averages a high of 22C and a low of 13C.
Trains
11 Dec Guangzhou South to Shenzhen North goes on sale 27 Nov, so choose one after 15:00. 13 Dec back goes on sale 29 Nov, so choose one by 13:00. Allow ¥45 to ¥82 each way on 12306.
One full day
12 Dec is your only full day here, and a Saturday. Hongqiao Park is far out in Guangming, so pick either the west side or the east side, not both.
Booking top restaurants
Locals book through Dianping or WeChat. Ask your hotel to call for the starred places.
Huaqiangbei
Test anything you buy. Check that plugs and batteries suit the UK, and remember the power bank rule below.
Getting home
Leave Futian around 11:30 on 13 Dec, and aim for Baiyun T3 by 18:15 for the 21:15 flight.
Anywhere in China
Entry on a UK passport
Visa free for up to 30 days, and you enter at Beijing on 2 Dec. UK advice is 6 months' validity from arrival (2 June 2027 or later) and two blank pages.
Arrival card
Fill in the free online arrival card before you leave Manchester, and skip sites that charge a fee. Save your first hotel's Chinese address offline.
Paying
Almost everywhere uses Alipay or WeChat Pay. Set up both before you fly, link your card, verify your passport and try a small payment. Carry a little cash as backup.
Internet
A UK roaming plan or travel eSIM usually keeps Google and WhatsApp working, but hotel and cafe wifi will not. VPNs are unreliable, so sort this before you land.
Apps to install at home
Amap (the links on this page need it), Alipay, WeChat, Trip.com, 12306 and Didi. Didi can also run inside Alipay.
Using these links
Each button searches Amap for the exact Chinese name in that city, so chains show several branches. Choose the closest and check the opening hours.
Dates on this page
A date means that place is on your route. Option means it could fit that day as a swap or extra.
Trains
Your passport is your ticket, so scan the one you booked with at the gate. Set up and verify it in 12306 now.
Power banks
For your flights inside China, the 3C mark must be printed on the power bank itself, and it must go in hand luggage. Without the mark, staff can stop you taking it on board.
Water and tipping
Do not drink the tap water. Tipping is not expected.
Places change
Restaurants close and move, and opening hours shift. Look at Amap before crossing town.