Beijing + Guangzhou: northern and southern China on one trip
Thirty visa-free days in China is a rare window, and spending them in a single city is a waste. Beijing and Guangzhou differ more than some neighbouring countries — and they are four hours apart by high-speed rail.
Why it works
The flight to China is long, and the visa-free regime for Russian passports gives 30 days — enough for two entirely different trips. Beijing is imperial: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, avenues as wide as squares. Guangzhou is subtropical, Cantonese and commercial, where China looks nothing like the north. Domestic flights are cheap, so the second half of the route adds little to the price.
How to split the days
Four nights in Beijing, three in Guangzhou. Beijing needs at least four: a day for the Wall (Mutianyu over Badaling — fewer people), a day for the Forbidden City and Tiananmen, another for the hutongs and the Temple of Heaven. Guangzhou is compact: Canton Tower, Shamian Island, Qingping market, and eating three times a day starting with morning yum cha.
Between the cities: train or plane
The high-speed train takes about 8 hours and arrives downtown; the plane flies 3 hours plus airports and security. Costs are comparable, the train is calmer if you take a daytime one. The planner assumes flying by default — tick “Train” to compare, but note that Chinese rail is shown as an estimate and tickets are bought separately.
Check before you book
Visa-free entry for Russian citizens has been in force since 15 September 2025: up to 30 days per visit, no limit on entries, extended through the end of 2027. Other passports differ — check yours. Practical: Google, WhatsApp and most familiar services do not work in China without a VPN, and payment is by QR almost everywhere — link a card to WeChat Pay or Alipay in advance, foreign cards are accepted now.
Moscow → Beijing → Guangzhou
Route and nights go into the form — adjust the date and passengers.