Travel in China is like traveling through time. You will experience a great contrast between a modern society and an ancient world tracing back thousands of years ago. There is a lot to explore in China, century-old cultural towns, remote picturesque villages, a diverse of traditional activities, some of the best scenic destinations in the world, and so many more… A trip to China from Ireland can be easy and trouble-free, if you follow our travel guide.
Where is China?
Check the world map showing the location of China: China is located in East Asia, the west bank of the Pacific, the eastern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere.
China borders 14 countries by land, including North Korea, Russia, Mongolia Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, and lies off the coast of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. So you may plan your Asia tour from China to other countries.
Distance from Ireland to China
How far is it from Ireland to China? The shortest air travel distance between the two countries is 8,180 km / 5,083 miles / 4417nautical miles.
Time Difference between Ireland and China
China has five time zones, though, it uses UTC/GMT+08:00 as standard time. We call it Beijing Time or China Time.
China is normally 8 hours ahead of Ireland (UTC±0). But when Ireland is in summer time and at time zone of UTC+1, you are 7 hours behind China.
Geographic Differences between China and Ireland
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China
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Ireland
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GPS Coordinates (DMS)
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35° 51´ 41.9760'' N
104° 11´ 43.4400'' E
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53° 24´ 46.4760'' N
8° 14´ 38.0040'' W
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Latitude
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35.86166
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53.41291
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Longitude
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104.19540
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-8.24389
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Average Elevation
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1084 m (6,037 ft)
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118 m (387 ft)
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When to Go - Best Time to Visit China
China offers different scenes in different months. When to go depends on your personal preference and what you are interested in. Nevertheless, it is better for you to have a general idea of
China weather and Climate before traveling to China. Similar to Ireland, January to February is the coldest time of a year, and July to August is the hottest time. Different from Ireland where the weather is variable and it rains frequently and suddenly, most parts of China have a stable weather conditions.
| China in Four Seasons |
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Spring: from March to May
Summer: from June to August
Autumn: from September to November
Winter: from December to next February
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If you are looking for China holidays to experience the old traditions and essence of Chinese culture, you may join in the traditional festival celebrations, such as Dragon Boat Festival in late May or early June, Mid-autumn Festival in late September or early October and Lantern Festival around early to middle February (the celebrating dates are according to lunar calendar). There are more traditional festivals celebrated by minority groups mainly in Southwest China, such as the Torch Festival of Yi in Yunnan and Sichuan, Sister Festival of Miao in Guizhou, Sho Dun Festival of Tibetan in Tibet, Gansu and Qinghai.
You are not suggested to have holiday to China during National Day Holiday on Oct.1-7 and May Day on May 1-3, when the tourist attractions are packed with people and the hotel rates are rather high.
How to Apply for Chinese Visa in Ireland
All foreigners, including Irish passport holders, are required to obtain a visa to have a trip to mainland China. So you have to prepare the necessary documents and make a visa application to the China Embassy in Ireland. >>
How to Apply for China Visa
Consular Office of Embassy of PRC in Ireland (For Visas)
Address: 118 Merrion Road, Dublin 4, Ireland
Tel: 01-2196651
Fax:01-2196647
Email: chinaemb_ie@mfa.gov.cn
Requirements for Irish citizens travel to China: You need to apply for L-Visa as a tourist. The required documents include valid passport, a complicated visa application form and photo, proof of your China itinerary including round-trip air ticket booking record and proof of hotel reservation, etc.
Regarding Hong Kong Visa and Macau visa
Irish Passport Holders can travel to Hong Kong and Macau without a visa, and stay for up to 90 days for each place.
Irish passport holders can free-transit in a dozen China cities and provinces, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xian, Chongqing, etc:
Entry Cities - How to Get to China from Ireland
Since there is not direct flight available from Ireland to China right now, you need to make a transfer in another city (e.g. Amsterdam, Istanbul, London or Dubai), have 1 stop there, and then fly to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou or other China destinations.
Your air journey will be around 13 to 17 hours.
The Air Routes and Travel Time from Dublin Ireland to China for Reference
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Departure city in Ireland
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Arrival City in China
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Alternative transit cities included, but not limited to
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Travel time
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Dublin
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Beijing
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Amsterdam, Istanbul, Manchester, Abu Dhabi, London
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12.5 to 17 hours
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Dublin
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Shanghai
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Dubai, London, Helsinki, Istanbul
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13.5 to 17 hours
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Dublin
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Hong Kong
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Istanbul, London, Frankfurt, Doha, Dubai
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14 - 17 hours
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Notes: The above information is for reference only. Please check the official website of each airline for the accurate flight schedule and airfares.
Where to Go – Best Places to Visit in China for Irish Tourists
When planning your trip to China from Ireland, you must want to know where to visit. On this section, you will have trip ideas and find destinations in China for cultural and natural heritages, ancient Chinese architecture gems, surreal landscape on earth, and those places to have fun-filled food tour and to experience unique Chinese traditions.
Beijing, Shanghai & Xian are Best Destinations for First Trip to China
Beijing: A treasure house for historical and cultural heritages, Beijing is home to many must-visit sights in China, including the Great Wall, Palace Museum and Temple of Heaven. Your China won’t be perfect if you don’t visit Beijing and the best it has to offer.
Shanghai: No one fails to love Shanghai. It has the most remarkable skyscraper in China and beyond, yet it features so many historical sites. The night life is Shanghai is superb and the food is of amazing variety and excellent. Shanghai is nearby several other popular destinations in China. It is 30minutes by bullet train to Suzhou, 40 minutes by bullet train to Hangzhou, and four hours by bullet train to Huangshan.
Xian: The city always reminds people of Terra-Cotta Warriors, one of the world wonders. But there are more to see and experience. The Ancient City Wall is ideal for biking and having a great view of the old and new Xian. The historical museums are the best in China. And in the suburb, Mt. Huashan is extremely steep and featuring magnificent views.
Best Cultural activities you may join in…
- Peking Opera or Kung Fu night show in Beijing
- Dumpling banquet in Xian, for jiaozi of different shapes and tastes, and the fantastic Tang Dynasty Dance Show
- Chinese calligraphy or painting class in Xian
- Amazing acrobatic show in Shanghai
- Cooking class in Chengdu or Yangshuo to learn authentic local dishes
More Recommended Destinations
Guilin: The famous saying goes that, “Guilin landscape tops those elsewhere.” And make sure you also visit the town of Yangshuo nearby Guilin, since “Yangshuo landscape tops that of Guilin”.
Chengdu: No matter you are planning a cultural tour or a foodie tour, you shouldn’t miss Chengdu, where there are sights of Sichuan Culture, Taoism and Buddhism, research centers of giant pandas and excellent spicy foods.
Tibet: Standing on the top of the world, it is on every one’s travel bucket list. However, it is not easy to travel to Tibet. Our
Tibet group tours, with local English-speaking guide, a dozen departure dates and Tibet travel permit service, suit for all.
Recommended China Tour Packages from Ireland
Top China Travel agency was founded in 1959, and has provided high quality China travel services for world tourists for over 50 years. (Check
TripAdvisor Reviews on our tours) The tour packages we offer can include the most popular cities and the hidden secret destinations in China as well. Please feel free to send us an enquiry or contact us for a tailor-made China tour.
Below we list are the best-selling travel packages for your reference. The detailed itinerary can be adjusted to meet your requirements.
Destinations: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shanghai
Highlight Attractions: China Great Wall, Forbidden City, Olympic Park, Temple of Heaven, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall of Xian, Reed Flute Cave, Li River, Yangshuo, the Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden
Why Recommended: Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November -- it is a China highlight tour package for you to discover the best destinations in China and visit all big-name landmarks.
Destinations: Beijing, Xian, Lhasa, Shanghai
Highlight Attractions: Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Bird Nest, Terracotta Warriors, Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund
Why Recommended: Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November -- we promise you a China tour of history, culture and beautiful landscape. The sacred land of Tibet a is waiting for you to explore...
Destinations: Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Chongqing, Yichang, Shanghai
Highlight Attractions: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Olympic Park, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall of Xian, Li River, Yangshuo, Yangtze Cruise, Shanghai Tower
Destinations: Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xian, Shanghai, Tongli Water Town, Suzhou
Highlight Attractions: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall of Xian, Yuyuan Garden, Humble Administrator Garden
Why Recommended: An all inclusive China tour suitable for those addicted to Chinese culture and ancient architecture. You’ll see the most significant architectural monuments of ancient China.
Travel Tips for Irish Tourists to China
To plan your trip to China from Ireland, you also need guidance for the preparation and tips when touring in China.
What to Pack: Bring with passport, China visa and other required documents, the contact list with your hotel info and contact number of local guides (your travel consultant of TCT will send to you in advance), suitable clothes for different seasons, etc.
Healthy & Medical Tips: Before you travel to China, you are suggested to consult with your doctor and get knowledge about vaccinations.
Travel in China by Plane: When taking China domestic flights, you are supposed to know the luggage allowance and restrictions in advance.
Accommodation in China: China hotels are similar to those of international standers, but you may need to know the differences and detailed services.
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