Discovering China – a fascinating country

In December 2025, I had the great opportunity to discover China on a study trip.

The highlights:

• Beijing

• Early morning Tai Chi sessions

• The Forbidden City

• Creative culinary experiences

• A show at the Temple of Heaven

• The Terracotta Army in the snow

• A calligraphy workshop

• Shanghai

• The Great Wall

What impressed you the most during your trip to China?
This country is incredible in many ways. What surprised me the most was the blend of tradition and modernity. For example, on the first evening we walked through streets filled with small shops, especially street food stalls. And payments are made almost exclusively using an app on the phone.

Which place in China surprised or amazed you the most?
The Great Wall, without a doubt. You have to climb more than 900 steps to reach it, but it was by far the most beautiful experience of my trip. We were also lucky enough to witness the first snowfall of the season, which made the experience even more magical.

In your opinion, what experience should you absolutely have on a first trip to China?
The night train! It was a very original experience where tourists and locals travel together.

China is a vast country: which itinerary would you recommend for a first discovery?
For a first trip, I think it’s essential to visit the three main highlights: Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.

What would be the ideal length of stay?
We stayed for five days, which was quite intense. I would say 8 to 10 days would be ideal to discover the country at a more relaxed pace.

Do you have any tips for our clients?
It’s advisable to plan for an eSIM and a VPN so you can stay connected and make payments via Chinese apps. This is the most commonly used payment method locally.
I would also strongly recommend having a local guide. Communication in English can sometimes be challenging, and visiting the major sites is much easier with a guide who can handle ticket purchases and logistics.La Chine est un pays immense : quel itinéraire recommanderais-tu pour une première découverte ?
Je pense qu'il faut au minimum faire les 3 essentiels pour une première découverte, à savoir Pékin, Xi'an et Shanghai.
 

Quelle est la durée idéale pour un séjour?
Nous sommes restés 5 jours, c'était intense. Je dirais qu'une durée de 8-10 jours serait idéale pour découvrir à un rythme plus tranquille.
 

As-tu peut-être un ou plusieurs tuyaux pour nos clients? 
Prévoir une e-sim et un VPN pour pouvoir resté connecté et pouvoir payer via les applications chinoises. Sur place c'est le moyen de paiement le plus utilisé. 
Avoir un guide est pour moi indispensable. Parler l'anglais est parfois difficile avec les chinois, et se rendre sur les sites touristiques est plus simple avec un guide qui se charge d'acheter les accès aux sites etc.

Would you like to discover this fascinating country?

Come and visit me at the Emile Weber travel agency in the Opkorn shopping center (Differdange).
It will be my pleasure to plan your Chinese adventure together with you.