A land of contradictions
Full of paradoxes, China is both at the cutting edge of the modern world and home to the oldest continuous civilization on earth. Therefore, any trip to China is sure to bring you face-to-face with both. From the ancient wonders of the Forbidden City to the historic Great Wall and the Buddhist monasteries of Tibet, there are endless ancient, architectural wonders to explore. Paired with China’s natural beauty and the high-tech power of the country’s major cities, a visit to China will wow any visitor.
Rare sights of the Middle Kingdom
Go panda-spotting in bamboo forests, hike along the Silk Road or cycle through rice paddies in the Karst Mountains around Yángshuò. The Middle Kingdom offers all this and more for intrepid travellers. Nature-lovers will feel like a kid in a candy store with everything that China has to offer, including palm-lined beaches, wild grasslands, impassable mountain ranges and boundless deserts.
Indulge and explore
So, find budget flights to China with Netflights and brace yourself for a sensory overload. Be brave and try the unidentifiable, but extremely tasty, local cuisine. Browse through the colourful wares at small town markets or watch a desert sunset for an unforgettable display of colour. Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo by arriving at an isolated monastery on a high plateau. Whatever you choose to do, China is the perfect place to create new memories.
When to visit China
Spring and autumn offer tourist-friendly, temperate weather and are popular times for visitors. During these shoulder seasons, travellers can enjoy either an abundance of spring flowers or bright, autumn colours. The cities are often less busy than during the summer when oppressive heat and large crowds are common. However, June to September remains the best time for outdoors activities, such as hiking and biking, and can see higher prices as a result.
Because China has many different micro-climates and endless reasons to visit, it’s almost always a good time to go. The subtropical south has hot, wet and humid summers and cold winters, as well as a typhoon season on its east coast. Central China has long, humid summers with clear, sub-zero winters. Inner Mongolia and Dongbei have dry, bitterly cold winters and hot summers. Although Xinjiang has very little humidity in the summer, the temperature can still get quite high.
Whether you’re planning the trip of a lifetime or you’ve suddenly been bitten by the travel bug, Netflights can get you there with great, last-minute flight and holiday deals. The best time to book budget China flights is between two weeks and three months before your travel date. The cheapest airfares available can usually be found at least two months prior to departure. Keep in mind that the further in advance you can book, the greater your choice of routes and rates will be.
Airports and airlines
With so many airlines offering flights from the United Kingdom (UK) to China, it can be hard to pin down the best deals. When you compare deals with our search engine, you can benefit from an optimised open search; simply leave the destination airports and dates unspecified to get a broad overview of the flights available. Then, choose the best option with confidence.
The major entry points for the country are Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou in the south and Chengdu in the west. Travelling on a Sunday or Friday (business days) or during popular holidays (unless you’re joining the party), will likely raise the price of your ticket; consider flying during the week instead to find the best deals.
Airlines with direct, cheap flights to China from the UK include Air China, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, China Eastern, China Southern, Capital Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Tianjin Airlines. Consider breaking up your journey with a stopover or flying with multiple airlines for one trip to save some extra money.