中China 2028

For Bernadette, from Raymond · 2028

The China we imagined

BBernadetteRRaymond

Bernadette says the big cities all start to look the same. So here are five ways to see the China we imagined instead: stilt-house villages, Tibetan grasslands, the Potala, ink-painting mountains, and how Chinese homes are made. Every one includes three gentle days with Dad in Nanjing.

5ways to go
14nights in China
3 dayswith Dad in Nanjing 南京
Oct 15–28Apr 9–222028 · tap 秋 or 春 above
选一条路

Pick a road

Five ways to go

Each is a full 14-night plan for the two of you. Tap a seal to open it, then flip between them from the top of any page.

寨 Version A · Adventurous but comfortable

Villages, terraces & the Tea-Horse Road

$3,328 each · Oct$3,363 each · Apr

$9,355$9,225 all-in for two

  • Miao and Dong villages, the Dong Grand Choir
  • Rice terraces: Longji in Oct, Yuanyang in Apr
  • Shaxi's Friday market on the Tea-Horse Road
Out of comfort zone ●●●●● Altitude ●●●●●
Open the trip → 康 Version B1 · Truly off the beaten path

Tibetan Kham & Daocheng Yading

$4,260 each · Oct$4,252 each · Apr

$11,219$11,004 all-in for two

  • Watchtower villages and prayer-flag grasslands
  • Yading's sacred peaks in golden larch
  • October only; sleeps up to 3,750 m
Out of comfort zone ●●●●● Altitude ●●●●●
Open the trip → 藏 Version B2 · Off the beaten path, guided

Guided Tibet by the plateau train

$4,622 each · Oct$4,617 each · Apr

$11,944$11,734 all-in for two

  • The Qinghai–Tibet train to Lhasa
  • The Potala, pilgrims and monasteries
  • Everest's north face at sunrise
Out of comfort zone ●●●●● Altitude ●●●●●
Open the trip → 山 Version C · Classic China, easy

Iconic China, easy logistics

$3,263 each · Oct$3,243 each · Apr

$9,225$8,985 all-in for two

  • A night on Huangshan's peaks
  • Tea cliffs, bamboo rafts and a Hakka round house
  • Four days in the Li River karst
Out of comfort zone ●●●●● Altitude ●●●●●
Open the trip → Cheapest 家 Version D · Homes & design

Homes, design & furniture

$3,127 each · Oct$3,087 each · Apr

$8,953$8,673 all-in for two

  • Huizhou merchant houses and Jingdezhen porcelain
  • Lecong's furniture showrooms; the Canton Fair in Oct
  • Kaiping watchtowers and Wang Shu's architecture
Out of comfort zone ●●●●● Altitude ●●●●●
Open the trip →
比一比

Side by side

Compare all five

VersionBest windowComfort zoneHighest sleepHardest dayEach, excl. flightsAll-in for two
寨A · Villages, terraces & the Tea-Horse RoadEither window3/5<2,600 m10 h$3,328$3,363$9,355$9,225
康B1 · Tibetan Kham & Daocheng YadingOctober only5/53,750 m12 h$4,260$4,252$11,219$11,004
藏B2 · Guided Tibet by the plateau trainEither (Oct clearer)4/5~4,390 m12 h$4,622$4,617$11,944$11,734
山C · Iconic China, easy logisticsEither window2/5~1,800 m8 h$3,263$3,243$9,225$8,985
家D · Homes, design & furnitureOctober (fairs)1/5Lowland8 h$3,127$3,087$8,953$8,673

Mid estimates from 2026 prices projected to 2028. All-in adds American's DFW–Shanghai nonstop. Switch 秋 / 春 to see April.

Where you sleep each night, all five versions
DayOct (Apr)AB1B2CD
1Sun 15 (9)NanjingChengdu airportNanjingNanjingNanjing
2Mon 16 (10)NanjingDanbaXiningNanjingNanjing
3Tue 17 (11)NanjingDanbaXiningNanjingNanjing
4Wed 18 (12)Xijiang (Apr: Zhaoxing)KangdingZ21 trainTangkouXidi
5Thu 19 (13)Xijiang (Apr: Zhaoxing)KangdingLhasaHuangshan summitXidi
6Fri 20 (14)ZhaoxingXinduqiaoLhasaXidiJingdezhen
7Sat 21 (15)Zhaoxing (Apr: Xijiang)XinduqiaoLhasaXidiJingdezhen
8Sun 22 (16)Zhaoxing (Apr: Xijiang)DaochengGyantseWuyishanShunde
9Mon 23 (17)Longji (Apr: Yuanyang)RiwaShigatseWuyishanShunde
10Tue 24 (18)Longji (Apr: Yuanyang)RiwaOld TingriTulouShunde
11Wed 25 (19)XizhouRiwaShigatseYangshuo (or a 2nd tulou night)Shunde
12Thu 26 (20)ShaxiNanjingLhasaYangshuoKaiping
13Fri 27 (21)ShaxiNanjingNanjingYangshuoHangzhou
14Sat 28 (22)Dali XiaguanNanjingNanjingYangshuoHangzhou
15Sun 29 (23)DLU → PVG → DFWNanjing → PVG → DFWNanjing → PVG → DFWKWL → PVG → DFWHangzhou → PVG → DFW

The B2 column is the arrival fallback from lodging.md §3. The review flagged the Sunday-evening PVG→XNN flight as unsupported; see Version B2.

求签 · can't decide?

Shake the fortune sticks

In a Chinese temple you shake a cup of numbered sticks until one falls out, then read its fortune. Tap the cup and let it pick a version for you.

南京

In every version

Nanjing with Dad

父

Three gentle days with Raymond's father: the Ming wall, Purple Mountain, a palace inside a quarry, and salted duck at a farewell dinner.

  • Where it falls:
    • A, C and D: first (Oct Sun 15–Tue 17 / Apr Sun 9–Tue 11). It doubles as jet-lag recovery.
    • B1: last (Oct Thu 26–Sat 28 / Apr Thu 20–Sat 22). It's low-altitude rest, and the block is also the weather buffer for the plateau exit flight.
    • B2 (fallback plan): dinner with Dad on arrival night (Sun 15 / Sun 9), then the last 2 nights (Fri 27–Sat 28 / Fri 21–Sat 22).
  • Pace: Dad's age and mobility aren't known ?. The plan assumes ~3–4 h of gentle activity a day, a long lunch, and DiDi taxis between stops. Every item can be shortened or dropped.
  • Sleep: Jinling Hotel (金陵饭店), Xinjiekou (新街口). It's a 5★ landmark from 1983, 200 m from the Line 1/2 metro and ~20 min to Nanjing South station. to book ~$100/night, refundable rate. Street address isn't in the research.
    • Re-pick the hotel once Dad's district is known: Hexi → Olympic Centre; Jiangning → Line 1 south; Gulou → InterContinental.
    • Home option ($0): police registration (派出所) within 24 h of arrival. Bring both passports with visas and Dad's ID. The fine is up to ¥2,000. An online registration system may exist from Sep 2026 ?.

Nanjing day A · Arrival day (A/C/D: Sun Oct 15 · Apr Sun Apr 9)

  • Sat: AA127 DFW 10:45 → PVG 14:50 (+1). to book
  • PVG → Airport Link Line (~40 min, ≤¥26) → Shanghai Hongqiao → G-train to Nanjing South (南京南站), 1–1 h 45. Book a train ≥3 h after landing. You arrive ~19:00–20:00. to book Oct rail releases Sat 30 Sep (Golden Week servers); use Trip.com pre-order or the 12306 waitlist (候补).
  • If you have the energy: an evening Qinhuai River (秦淮河) boat at Fuzimiao with Dad (~¥80 at night, seated, buy on the day). Otherwise a light dinner near the hotel.
  • Buy a 3C-marked power bank in town (~¥100). You'll need it for any domestic flight.

Nanjing day B · Purple Mountain and the wall

  • Morning: Ming Xiaoling (明孝陵) Sacred Way, a flat avenue of stone animals (~¥70 ?).
  • Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (中山陵): free, but needs a timed slot on the WeChat mini-program, linked to your passport, 1–7 days ahead to book ?. It's ~392 steps ?, so Dad can wait at the base.
  • Lunch: Nanjing Impressions (南京大牌档), Zhongshanling branch. Order at the counters; expect queues.
  • Late afternoon: Ming City Wall (明城墙), North Line at Taicheng (台城) above Xuanwu Lake (玄武湖). Enter at Jiming Temple (鸡鸣寺), ¥30, book online with passports. It's flat on top; walk as far as Dad likes.
  • Rain backup: Nanjing Museum (南京博物院), free, with lifts. Weekend WeChat slots go in minutes to book.

Nanjing day C · Niushou Shan and a farewell dinner

  • Niushou Shan (牛首山), Usnisa Palace (佛顶宫): a huge Buddhist palace built into a quarry. ~¥145 online a day ahead (¥160 at the gate) ?. Mostly indoor, with escalators ?. ~40 min from the centre; go on a weekday morning.
  • Optional instead: a Gaochun / Yangzhou half day, only if Dad likes outings ?.
  • Farewell dinner at Plum Garden (梅苑), Jinling Hotel 2F. Order the salted duck, sweet-sour ribs, shredded eel ruandou, lion's-head meatballs and Aozao noodles. Half portions are available. ~¥250–450 pp + 15% service ?. Ask Dad or the concierge to book for 3, 1–2 weeks ahead to book.
    • Cheaper "local family" alternative: Xin Fang Yuan (新芳园), 57 Tangzi St. Michelin Bib, cash only, +86 25 8659 1901.
  • October: ask for Gucheng Lake hairy crab by name (steamed only; ~¥100–300 a crab ?).
  • April: malantou with pressed tofu. It sells out at markets by 10 a.m.

Nanjing-last versions (B1, B2):

  • Arrival evening (Thu 26 for B1 / Fri 27 for B2): do nothing. Fly in, check in, eat simply.
  • Fit days B and C into the remaining full day(s).
  • Don't book timed slots (Sun Yat-sen, the museum) until the plateau exit flight has actually happened.
  • Day home (Sun 29 / Sun 23): G-train from Nanjing South at ~10:00–11:00 → Hongqiao → Airport Link Line → at PVG by ~13:30. Keep a fallback train one slot later.

Nanjing dishes:

  • Salted duck (盐水鸭): cured and brined, served cold. Locals warn it's salty. Plum Garden.
  • Duck blood vermicelli soup (鸭血粉丝汤): blood curd like moronga in a peppery broth. Cui Jie Xiao Chi or any snack shop.
  • Beef potstickers (牛肉锅贴): egg-coated and crisp. Xin Fang Yuan.
  • Hairy crab (大闸蟹), Oct only: Gucheng Lake crab, steamed. Ask Dad where.
  • Malantou (马兰头), Apr only: a spring wild green with pressed tofu. At markets and home-style restaurants.
出发前

Paperwork and practicalities

Before you go

Visas, apps, money and health

Documents

  • Passports: valid to ~end-2029, with 2 blank pages. Check now.
  • Raymond's citizenship history: if he was born in China or holds an old or valid PRC passport, the visa form, his entry rules, the Tibet permit (B2) and Canton Fair eligibility (D) all change. Confirm this before the visa decision.
  • L visa:
    • Option 1: a 10-year visa at the reduced fee (~$68 ? + agent). Decide by early Dec 2026, submit by mid-Dec, deadline 31 Dec 2026. It needs >1 year of passport validity. It also covers future visits to Dad.
    • Option 2: a single-entry visa in early–mid Jan 2028 (April window) or early–mid Jul 2028 (October window).
    • Texas is served by the Embassy in DC; most people use an agent.
  • 12306 rail account: verify your passports weeks ahead. Seats release 15 days before departure.
  • B2: the Tibet permit (~3 weeks via the agency; needs a visa copy). The original goes to the Xining hotel; carry colour copies.
  • D: Canton Fair pre-registration (passport data; your approval needed). Bring printed business cards that are honest about who you are.
  • Insurance with medical evacuation, bought at your first non-refundable purchase. B1 needs cover to ~4,800 m and B2 to ~5,300 m. For D, shipped goods need separate cover.
  • Optional: enroll in STEP. The US advisory for mainland China is Level 2.

Money and phones

  • Set up Alipay / WeChat Pay with a Visa or Mastercard. There's a 3% surcharge above ¥200, and transaction caps ?.
  • Use Alipay's Transport QR for metros and DiDi for taxis.
  • Carry RMB cash for villages, Tibetan areas, markets and cash-only restaurants (e.g. Xin Fang Yuan).
  • Install an eSIM before departure. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked.
  • 3C-marked power bank only on domestic flights. Buy one in China on day 1. B1/B2 may need one at PVG.

Health

  • Don't drink tap water. Avoid raw dishes: Dali shengpi, yak "sashimi", drunken crab, Shunde raw fish. Bring a travel diarrhea kit (ask your doctor).
  • B1/B2: see a doctor about acetazolamide (125 mg every 12 h, starting the day before ascent) and check for a sulfa allergy. No alcohol for the first 48 h at altitude.
  • Tell us about any food allergies before any set menus are booked.

Packing for this trip

  • One medium bag each. Xijiang, Ping'an, Zhaoxing and the Barkhor are car-free (porters or a 10–15 min carry).
  • C also needs a daypack for the Huangshan summit night.
  • Rain shells in both windows, April especially. October nights are ~10 °C at Huangshan.
  • B1/B2:
    • Down jackets, hats, gloves, UV sunglasses and sunscreen.
    • Trekking poles, in checked luggage.
    • Microspikes in April.
    • Warm sleeping layers for Old Tingri and the Kham guesthouses.
    • Snacks for the long drives.

Deadlines that gate everything

  1. Now: passports and Raymond's citizenship history.
  2. Mid-Dec 2026: the 10-year visa application (fee deadline 31 Dec 2026).
  3. ~mid-May 2027 (April trip) / ~mid-Nov 2027 (October trip): AA DFW–PVG goes on sale.
  4. Nov–Dec 2027: the 2028 holiday notice. Buy only refundable domestic bookings before it.
  5. Version-specific dates are in each version's "Book soonest" list.
Still to confirm
  • Pick a version (A, B1, B2, C or D) and a window (October or April). Everything downstream waits on this.
  • Nanjing lodging: hotel (Jinling, planned) or Dad's home (police registration within 24 h). A hybrid works too: 1 night at home, 2 at the hotel.
  • Dad: his district (to re-pick the hotel), his mobility and pace, and which Nanjing outings he'd like.
  • Raymond's citizenship history (affects the visa, B2 and D).
  • Visa option: 10-year now, or single-entry in 2028.
  • B2: the arrival plan (fallback / canonical / PVG hotel + FM9209). Also train or flight into Lhasa, and a private or join-in tour.
  • C: tulou nights, 1 / 2 / none.
  • D:
    • Canton Fair eligibility (email the Buyer Service Center).
    • The Day 8 routing (through train or JDZ→CAN flight).
    • Whether any purchases are planned (freight and duty quotes).
  • Unnamed properties: the Zhaoxing core inn (A) and the Tangkou 4★ (C).
  • Unverified prices or details:
    • Prices: Pig's Heaven, Old Theatre Inn and Li-An Lodge.
    • Foreign-passport acceptance at the Luobu homestay.
    • Facilities at Qingdelou.
    • The Risong Gongbu (ex-Crowne Plaza) brand.
  • Hotel street addresses aren't in the research for most properties (exceptions: Hilton Garden Inn Xining, HIE&S Yading, the Jinzhu Hotel, Old Theatre Inn). Add them at booking.
  • Dietary needs and allergies, including sulfa, are unknown.
  • D dining hasn't been reviewed by dining-scout. Run a pass if D is shortlisted.
  • 2028 confirmations: the holiday notice, fair dates, Yading fees, Tibet's reopening (April), and the Potala and EBC rules.
  • Housekeeping: the decisions.md title still says "china-2027", and D's Nanjing-first order isn't recorded there (review, all-versions item 3). That's for the orchestrator.
  • Nothing is booked. No bookings.md exists yet.