Chiny — przewodnik: Pekin, Szanghaj, Xi'an i gdzie jechać w 2026

China has expanded its visa-free policy dramatically — as of early 2026, 79 countries have visa-free entry, with most stays at 30 days. The list includes most EU member states (including all Nordics, France, Germany, Italy, Spain), the UK (added February 2026), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most ASEAN countries. Russian citizens got visa-free entry from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2026 (a trial period). US citizens still need a visa, but qualify for the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit if flying to a third country — Beijing → Shanghai → Hong Kong counts. Tibet, Xinjiang, and a few other regions still require a separate permit regardless of nationality. Always check current status before booking — China's policy is changing fast.

China is enormous — a meaningful first trip needs at least 10–14 days. The classic route: Beijing (3–4 days) for the Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu (less crowded than Badaling), Summer Palace, hutongs, Peking duck; Xi'an (2 days) for the Terracotta Warriors and the Muslim Quarter food street; Shanghai (3 days) for the Bund, French Concession, Yu Garden, and contemporary food and architecture; Guilin/Yangshuo or Chengdu (2–3 days) for the karst scenery on the Li River or pandas at the Chengdu Research Base. Bullet trains (CR/CRH) connect everything fast and cheap — Beijing-Shanghai in 4.5 hours, Beijing-Xi'an in 4.5. Two weeks lets you see all of the above without rushing.

April to mid-June and September to mid-November are the universal answers — mild temperatures, lower humidity, gardens in bloom in spring and autumn colours in the north. Avoid the two big domestic travel weeks: Chinese New Year (late January or February — exact dates shift, 2026 falls February 17) and National Day Golden Week (October 1–7) — half a billion people are on the move and every major attraction is at capacity. Summer (July–August) is hot (35°C+) and humid, but it's the only time to visit Tibet comfortably. Winter is bitterly cold in the north (Beijing routinely -10°C in January), but it's also when the Forbidden City under snow is at its most striking — and there are far fewer tourists.

Three tools change everything. Alipay or WeChat Pay — both now support foreign cards (since 2024); set up before flying, since most shops, taxis, and even small noodle stalls only accept QR payments. Cash is welcome but inconvenient. A VPN installed in advance — Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western sites are blocked behind the Great Firewall; ExpressVPN and Astrill are the most reliable. Use Baidu Maps or Amap (高德) for navigation instead of Google Maps — they actually work in China. Pleco is the essential translation/character-recognition app. Bullet train tickets buy via the Trip.com app or Railway Service Center (12306) with your passport. English signage is good in major cities, patchy outside them — DiDi (the Chinese Uber) lets you order rides in English.

Xi'an for the Terracotta Warriors and the country's most atmospheric old city walls (cycle the top of them at dusk). Chengdu for pandas at the breeding base, then Sichuan cooking that's a different language of spice. Guilin and Yangshuo for the karst-mountain river scenery on the Li River — the landscape on the 20-yuan note. Hangzhou and Suzhou for classical Chinese gardens and West Lake, both an easy bullet train from Shanghai. Zhangjiajie for the sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar. Pingyao for an intact Ming-dynasty walled city. For the truly off-the-beaten-track, Yunnan province (Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La) offers minority cultures, mountains, and quieter trails. Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia require additional permits.