Plan around the hardest last stretch, not the longest journey. The stairs at a hotel entrance, the lift that serves only some floors and the cobbled lane from the taxi are what tire people, and all three can be checked before you book.
It is reasonable to dread a hotel change when stairs are hard for someone you love. A little checking beforehand makes the day much lighter.
What should you ask a hotel before paying?
Send these five questions in one message and keep the answers.
- Is there a lift, and which floors does it serve?
- Is there a step or stairs at the front door?
- Can a taxi stop at the door, and how far is the carry?
- Can you hold our bags after check-out, and until when?
- Can you write our address in Chinese for the taxi?
Which stays need extra care?
Old towns, hutongs and courtyard inns are charming, but the lanes can be narrow, cobbled and stepped. Lijiang’s Old Town, inscribed by UNESCO in 1997[1], is a good example.
Read our guides on Lijiang Old Town or Baisha, the Beijing hutong stay and Pingyao courtyard inns before choosing one with a heavy bag.
How should you pack for a change?
Pack so that each person can carry their own bag in one trip. The official rail limit is 20 kg for adults and 10 kg for children, with each item at most 130 cm, though bags are rarely weighed[2].
Keep passports, medicines and snacks in a day bag, never in the suitcase. Hotels copy the passport at check-in[3], so it should be easy to reach.
What about the station?
Expect X-ray bag checks at station entrances, and arrive 30 to 40 minutes before departure at major stations[4]. A hotel next to the station can save stairs, but trades away the old streets. Our station versus sights guide weighs that.
What should you do next?
Choose the lift first and the view second. Browse the cities topic page, read how to time your check-in and check-out, and see our note on hotel changes for seniors.