In China, antiquity and heritage meet 21st-century innovation and lightning-fast development. Start by immersing yourself in one of China’s gigantic, sprawling cities, which contain plenty of frenetic energy, as well as hidden pockets of serenity. Take a break from the crush by soaking up the nation’s natural scenery, with jagged peaks and pine forests draped in a sea of mist that look like they’ve been lifted straight from a masterpiece scroll painting. As one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, China also offers wonderful opportunities to explore astounding relics from its millennia of history.
This is a country packed with highlights and astonishing experiences, whether you dream of gilded temples, boisterous urban environments, fabulous food or the wonders of the Great Wall. Start planning your visit with our pick of the best places to see in China.
1. Beijing
Unmissable city
One of the world’s greatest cities and China’s absolute can’t-miss destination, Beijing is home to many big-ticket attractions: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace and more. But its appeal goes well beyond blockbuster sights. Get lost among its labyrinth of traditional hutongs (alleyways), marvel at its cutting-edge modern architecture, feast on Peking duck and a million other dishes from across the country.
Among China’s imperial sights, none can compare in size, grandeur or mystique to Beijing’s Forbidden City. Built between 1406 and 1420, this sprawling palace was off-limits for 500 years until the overthrow of the last Qing emperor in 1911. Despite the crowds, its massive scale remains humbling.
Planning tip: Security around Tiananmen Square is tightly controlled; expect to show your passport at multiple checkpoints. Advance reservations must be made via WeChat. You’ll need to ask a local travel agent or your concierge to arrange this unless you can read Chinese and have a local phone number. Tickets for the Forbidden City are released 7 days in advance and can sell out quickly.
2. Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang
Best for Buddhist art
Along the ancient Silk Road, the atmospheric frontier town of Dunhuang is home to one of the world’s most important collections of Buddhist art. Among 492 caves in the area, the mural and statue-filled Mogao Grottoes represent perhaps the zenith of Buddhist artistry in China. When this astounding site was at its apex during the Tang dynasty, it housed 18 monasteries, 1400 monks and nuns, and countless artists, translators and calligraphers. Tours can be quite rushed, but visits should include the famous Hidden Library Cave (Cave 17), the vast 35.5m-tall Buddha (Cave 96) and the reclining 15m-long Buddha (Cave 148).
Planning tip: Foreigners can buy tickets by showing their passports at the Mogao Grottoes Reservation and Ticket Center in downtown. English-language tours take place at 9am, 12pm and 2:30pm.
3. Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan
Best for mountain hikes
One of China’s most famous treks, this 25km hiking trail winds through Tiger Leaping Gorge, a World Heritage-listed gorge in Yunnan and one of Asia’s most striking landscapes. Framed by spectacular snowcapped mountains and the scenic Jinsha River, the natural monument plunges to depths of 3900m, making it one of the deepest gorges in the world.
Planning tip: It’s a 2-day trek with lots of guesthouses en route for your overnight stop. If you’re not hiking, join one of the many day tours from Lijian or Shagri-La that stop at the three viewpoints along the gorge.
4. Leshan, Sichuan
The world’s largest ancient Buddha
Standing at the confluence of two rivers, the monumental 1200-year-old Buddha image at Leshan is carved directly into the rock face. World Heritage–listed, the extraordinary monument stands 71m tall and 28m wide, making it the largest ancient Buddha in the world. Whether you’re spiritually inclined or not, coming face to face with this sculpture is quite a moving experience.
Planning tip: To fully appreciate this Buddha’s magnitude, get an up-close look at his head, then descend the steep, winding stairway for the Lilliputian view of him. Admission also includes access to a number of temples on the grounds.
Meet your new travel partner
Get unlimited data while you travel with Holafly eSIM. Peace of mind and no hidden fees wherever you go.
5. Shanghai
Best city for past and present
Glitzy, elegant, historic and cosmopolitan: everything you’ve heard about Shanghai is true. Just take a stroll through the French Concession or along the Bund, and you’ll see for yourself. From the grand display of 1920s architecture to the city’s sophisticated restaurants and rooftop bars to the sci-fi neon-lit skyscrapers across the bay, Shanghai is past and future China brought to vivid life.
Planning tip: Thanks to its inexpensive public transport system, it can be easy to explore the many neighborhoods of this vast megacity.
6. The Great Wall
Iconic travel experience
Snaking through China’s majestic mountainous terrain, the spectacular Great Wall is the nation’s most iconic landmark. Built over two millennia, this awe-inspiring, 21,196km-long fortification is a true marvel of human accomplishment. In fact, it’s not one wall but many, stretching from the east coast all the way to the far western desert.
Planning tip: A teeming industry has grown up around Great Wall visits, and if you haven’t already booked a tour, your hotel can connect you with a charter bus and seasoned guide. If you’re going it alone, head for Badaling, accessible by train from Beijing. Once you’ve arrived, the park is walkable, and the wall is (literally) straightforward; you’d be hard-pressed to get lost, but beware, the crowds can be intense.
7. Chengdu
Best place to see pandas
With its charming teahouses, lively nightlife and fiery Sichuan food, Chengdu is one of China’s most popular cities for travelers. But most folk visit here for its pandas. And while you’d be very lucky to spot one in the wild, sightings are guaranteed at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Other draws of this inland regional capital include temples, pavilions and museums devoted to the culture of the ancient Shu kingdom. Chengdu is also China’s unofficial LGBTQ+ capital with a relatively visible gay culture.
Planning tip: Allow 3 to 5 hours to see everything at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.
8. Karst peaks, Yangshuo
Best for remarkable landscapes
Spanning the distance from Guilin to Yangshuo, the picture-perfect karst limestone peaks offer an extraordinary backdrop to the scenic Li River and rice paddies. Outdoor enthusiasts will love Yangshuo – a city with a youthful spirit – where cycling, hiking, rock climbing and bamboo rafting are among the many ways to enjoy views over the beguiling landscape. Escape the crowds simply by going for a walk along the Li River or making tracks for nearby villages like Xingping and Guilin.
Planning tip: There are over 900 bolted rock-climbing routes around Yangshuo and plenty of outfitters and guides ready to lead the way. Should you make it to the top of any of the routes, pause to take in the scenery before your descent – Yangshuo is best viewed from above.
9. Guangzhou
Best place to try Cantonese food
The vibrant and dynamic megacity of Guangzhou, built around the Pearl River, is one of China’s most fascinating hubs. You’ll find an intriguing mix of old and new here, where skyscrapers nudge the clouds and monks shuffle around 1500-year-old Buddhist temples. But it’s the Cantonese cuisine that lures in many, with some of the finest dim sum in all of China. This is the place to try roast goose, Cantonese-style sashimi and even scorpion-snake soup, as well as delightful handcrafted dim sum.
Planning tip: To see some of Guangzhou’s iconic sights, embark on one of its most famous activities: the Pearl River Night Cruise. Everything is awash in neon – the boat, the buildings, the bridges, even the pier – as you chug down the waters of the delta on the 70-minute cruise. Purchase a ticket for the open-air top level for the best views and photo opportunities.
10. Longji Rice Terraces, Guangxi
Beautiful rice paddy scenery
You’ll find rice paddies all over China, but few are as spectacular as the ones in Longji, built against a backdrop of lush mountains. The layered landscapes date back to the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368) and make for some of the best hiking in Guangxi, with routes connecting the area’s 13 ethnic minority villages. Walks here lead to viewpoints overlooking sculpted, iridescent green terraces with swirling patterns resembling the contours of a giant thumbprint.
Planning tip: Don’t miss Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing point, a 30-minute walk on a well-marked trail above Ping’an. The undulating fields punctuated by the smoke coming from surrounding houses will make you feel like you’re walking along the spine of a curvaceous fire-breathing dragon at rest.
11. Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an
Best archaeological site
Unearthed in Xi’an by unsuspecting rural workers in 1974, this enigmatic army of life-sized statues remains one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological finds. Dating back 2200 years, they were built to protect the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Meeting these warriors face to face is an experience you’ll never forget.
Planning tip: Book tickets online in advance. From the ticket entrance to the pits enclosure, it’s a 500m walk, or you can pay for a ride on an electric cart. Tickets include entry to the nearby Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, where you can visit the superb Bronze Chariots Museum. A free shuttle bus runs here from opposite the Terracotta Army’s ticket office.
12. Xi’an
Best for Silk Road lore
In a country where cities seemingly spring up overnight, this is one of the oldest and grandest. Known to most for its extraordinary Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an is also remarkable in its own right – notably as the beginning of the Silk Road, a trade route with a legacy that remains intact within its atmospheric Muslim Quarter. An evening stroll from the beautifully illuminated South Gate of Xi’an City Wall is highly recommended.
Planning tip: As one of China’s more pleasant big cities, with a youthful, relaxed vibe, delicious food and an appealing nightlife scene, give yourself at least 3 days here – you’ll easily be tempted to spend more.
13. Zhangjiajie
Best for cloud-level views
Rising dramatically from the subtropical forests of northwest Hunan, the pinnacle rock formations of Zhangjiajie inspired the scenery in the film Avatar (2009). Take it all in on Tianmen Mountain, visible from anywhere in the city. Accessed by two cable cars, the mountain’s most distinctive feature is Tianmen Dong, a natural hole, 113m tall, through the mountainside. There’s a temple at the summit, a chairlift ride and a circular walking route that includes two glass-bottomed sections, in case you weren’t already reeling from the awesome surrounding views.
Planning tip: It’s easy to spend half a day on Tianmen – if you visit in the afternoon, stay for the light show that plays around Tianmen Dong after sunset.
About the Author
