I’ve helped several foreign friends adjust their China travel plans. I noticed that most mistakes came from not understanding the country’s real size.
It’s not their fault.
The world maps we learned at school were centered on our own country. They distorted the representation of other parts of the world because of how the maps work.
So I wrote this article to give you a better sense of China’s scale.
First of all, keep this in mind: China is not just a normal country. It’s basically like an entire continent in terms of scale and diversity.
It is as big as the entire Europe. To avoid spending all your holiday on trains or planes, please check this simple guide:
1. A “Province” is NOT a City
- The Myth: “Is Xinjiang or Sichuan Province just a small place?”
- The Reality:
- Xinjiang is as big as 3 France or 4 Japan. Driving 6 to 8 hours between two places is normal. It’s like driving from Paris to Rome.
- Inner Mongolia is super long. From one end to the other is like going from London to Moscow.
- Sichuan Province is bigger than Germany.
2. City Distances (Don’t Trust the Map!)
Places that look close on a map can be very far.
| Route | Distance | Like Going From… | Best Way to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing ⇋ Shanghai | ~1,200 km | New York ⇋ Miami | ️ Flight (2h) or Train (4.5h) |
| Shanghai ⇋ Chongqing | ~1,600 km | Los Angeles ⇋ Chicago | ️ Flight is best (3h). Train takes 8-10 hours! |
| Chengdu ⇋ Lhasa | ~2,000 km+ | San Francisco ⇋ Denver | ️ Flight is best. |
| Guangzhou ⇋ Beijing | ~2,000 km | Seattle ⇋ Boston | ️ Flight (3h) or Train (8h) |
| Xi’an ⇋ Urumqi | ~2,500 km | Lisbon ⇋ Kyiv | ️ Flight is a MUST (3.5h) |
3. The “Same Province” Trap
Even if two places are in the same province, they can be very far apart.
- The Yunnan Trap:
- Kunming ⇋ Shangri-La: They are in the same province, but the distance is like Amsterdam ⇋ Milan. It takes hours by train, plus mountain roads.
- The Sichuan Trap:
- Chengdu ⇋ Jiuzhaigou: They are in the same province, but it used to take 8-10 hours by bus (like Vancouver to Calgary). Even with the new train, you still need a connecting bus. It is NOT right next door.
4. 3 Golden Rules for Beginners
Rule 1: 3 Weeks = Max 3 Places
If you only have 3 weeks, do not visit too many places.
- Wrong: Beijing + Shanghai + Xi’an + Chengdu + Guilin + Sanya (Too tired!).
- Right: Beijing + Xi’an + Shanghai OR Chengdu + Chongqing + Yunnan.
Rule 2: Travel Days are Busy Days
When you change cities, you won’t have time to play in the afternoon.
- Train stations in China are huge. Security and getting on the train take at least 0.5~1 hour.
- Getting from the station to your hotel might take another hour.
- Bottom line: When you change cities, plan for a relaxing evening. Don’t do too much.
Rule 3: Trains are Fast, but Check the Time
- Example: Shanghai to Chongqing by train takes forever. Take a plane instead.
- Example: Shanghai to Suzhou takes only around 30 minutes. It’s like taking a subway, so a day trip is easy.
Hope this helps you avoid a “vacation spent entirely in transit.” Have an amazing trip to China!