1 When to book
International fares to China are usually cheapest 2–4 months out. Shoulder seasons (spring, late autumn) are both cheaper and pleasanter than summer and the National Day week in October. Set price alerts on a comparison site rather than checking daily.
2 Major gateways
- Beijing Capital (PEK) & Beijing Daxing (PKX) — north and connections to the Wall.
- Shanghai Pudong (PVG) — the biggest international hub; easy Maglev/Metro to the city.
- Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), Hong Kong (HKG) — the south.
- Chengdu (TFU), Xi'an (XIY), Hangzhou (HGH) — growing direct routes.
Many carriers now fly direct from Europe, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and (on select routes) North America.
3 At the airport & on board
Have your visa/entry confirmation, hotel address (in Chinese) and return ticket handy for arrival checks. Fill in the arrival card if asked. Long-haul cabins are busy — download entertainment and a translator offline before boarding.
4 Quick tips
- Fly into the city you start in to avoid a same-day cross-country transfer.
- Save your hotel's name and address in Chinese characters on your phone.
- Check baggage rules for any domestic leg booked separately.
Arriving at Shanghai Pudong? The Maglev train reaches the city in ~7 minutes and beats any taxi in rush hour.