Tips & Answers · Community post
First time in China (14–21 days): city choices for Oct/Nov?
draqsaShared Aug 25, 2026Hi everyone! This would be my first time going to China and I have 14–21 days. I want to see at least one city and more nature, such as Guilin and the Avatar cliffs.
I have seen beautiful YouTube videos of cities like Chongqing and Shenzhen, but I am concerned about pollution. I am thinking of going in late October or early November.
Which cities should I go to?
Comments (1)
For air quality, avoid northern China in the coldest part of winter and you will largely avoid the more difficult pollution days.
For natural scenery, classic choices include Zhangjiajie (the “Avatar mountains”), Guilin–Yangshuo, Chongqing and Chengdu. If you have extra time, Yunnan is also well worth visiting. These routes work well for a first trip.
If you want a detailed travel plan, try the site’s TripCraft China trip planner. It can help turn your city choices into a realistic route.