Local context
What a city adds to a journey, what it asks of your time, and whether it belongs on your route.
A city earns its place for a reason. These notes say what that reason is, and what it asks of the days around it.
Published and maintained
Start with the question you actually have. The rest can wait.
A first visit to Shenyang: one or two days, with Shenyang Imperial Palace as the anchor, then one later historical layer rather than a long checklist.
A first visit to Haikou: one or two days for Qilou Old Street, one waterfront stretch, and the volcanic landscape only as a separate excursion.
A first visit to Xiamen: two or three days, with Gulangyu as a substantial block of the day, then one part of Xiamen Island and one stretch of coast.
A first visit to Qingdao: two or three days, with the old city and one stretch of coast first, and Laoshan only as a separate day.
A first visit to Hangzhou: one or two days with West Lake as the main landscape, Lingyin as a separate block, and no overload of famous names.
A first visit to Shenzhen: one or two days, choosing Futian, Nanshan, or Luohu before collecting sights across the map.
A first visit to Chengdu: two or three days, the panda base planned only if it matters, then tea, one neighborhood, and a meal with room around it.
YOUR TRAVEL NOTE
You do not need a finished itinerary. As you explore, mark the ideas and questions that matter. When you are
ready, our China-based team will respond with an honest first perspective—not a generated itinerary.
Open your Travel Note to keep an idea, a question, or something you are still unsure about.