Do I need a visa to travel to China?

China offers 30-day visa-free entry for citizens of several countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Malaysia. A 240-hour transit visa-free policy is also available for 53 countries. For others, a tourist visa (L Visa) is required.

What is included in a QTour private tour?

Every booking includes a private guide speaking your language (English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish and more), private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver, all entrance fees, hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, and airport transfers. An optional photographer with DSLR and drone is available.

What is the best time to visit China?

Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-November) are the best times to visit most of China. The weather is mild, skies are clear, and crowds are smaller. Summer is ideal for Tibet and Inner Mongolia.

How much does a private China tour cost?

A private tour with 4-star hotels typically costs $150-300 per person per day, including guide, driver, vehicle, hotels, entrance fees, and domestic transport. Prices vary by itinerary length and accommodation level.

Learn about the most important Chinese festival — its history, customs, food, and how it's celebrated across China.

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival (Chunjie), is the most important traditional festival in China. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and lasts 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. In 2026, Chinese New Year falls on February 17, ushering in the Year of the Horse. The festival is a time for family reunions, feasting, and honoring ancestors.

New Year's Eve Dinner

The reunion dinner on New Year's Eve is the most important meal of the year. Families gather to eat symbolic foods: dumplings (shaped like ancient gold ingots for wealth), fish (the word for fish sounds like "surplus"), spring rolls (resembling gold bars), niangao (rice cake for higher prosperity), and tangyuan (sweet rice balls for family unity). Each dish carries auspicious meaning.

Red Envelopes (Hongbao)

Red envelopes containing money are given during Chinese New Year, primarily from older generations to children and unmarried adults. The amount is typically an even number (odd numbers are associated with funerals), and the number 8 is preferred as it sounds like "wealth." Digital red envelopes via WeChat have become popular in recent years.

Lion and Dragon Dances

Lion dances and dragon dances are performed during the New Year period to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits. The lion dance features two performers in a lion costume, accompanied by drums and firecrackers. The dragon dance involves a team of performers holding a long dragon on poles, making it undulate through the streets. Both are spectacular to watch.

Lantern Festival

The 15th and final day of the New Year celebration is the Lantern Festival. People display and sometimes release lanterns, solve riddles written on lanterns, eat tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), and watch lion dances. In some cities, spectacular lantern fairs are held, featuring enormous illuminated displays of animals, flowers, and mythical creatures.