Chengdu surprised me. Even after doing research, I didn’t know what to expect when visiting. It’s a major city in its own right, with wider streets than places like Chongqing, but everything about it felt calmer and more laid-back. There’s still that big city energy, just balanced with old-town streets and a slower pace throughout….

Chongqing is the city from my recent China trip that I often miss the most. The city is built on cliffs and hillsides where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet — and it’s likely the city you’ve seen all over social media. It’s overwhelming and chaotic, while laid-back and easygoing. This guide covers the top…

Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie is worth the visit, but similar to the national park, planning Tianmen Mountain is more complicated than it should be! It’s a lot, and the navigation isn’t always obvious. Plus the weather can be a big factor. But to be over 1,200 meters (4,000 ft) high in the air is a…

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is worth the visit, but was also the stop that required the most planning of my entire trip. Still, it was unlike anything I’ve seen in China: sandstone pillars that rise out of a forest and look like they belong on a different planet. It’s also famously used as one of…