Where to go in China

Neutral, practical profiles of 20 destinations for first-time visitors. Not sure yet? Filter by interest and month →

Beijing 北京Imperial palaces, the Great Wall and hutong life · 3–5 daysChengdu 成都Giant pandas, teahouses and Sichuan cooking · 3–4 daysChongqing 重庆Hillside megacity on the Yangtze, lit up at night · 2–3 daysDali 大理Old town between Erhai Lake and Cangshan · 2–3 daysGuangzhou 广州Cantonese food capital and historic trading port · 2–3 daysGuilin & Yangshuo 桂林・阳朔Karst peaks along the Li River · 3–4 daysHangzhou 杭州West Lake, tea hills and temples · 2–3 daysHarbin 哈尔滨Ice and snow festival and Russian-era streets · 2–3 daysHuangshan 黄山Granite peaks, pines and Hui-style villages · 2–3 daysKunming 昆明Mild 'Spring City' and gateway to Yunnan · 1–3 daysLijiang 丽江Naxi old town below Jade Dragon Snow Mountain · 2–4 daysNanjing 南京Ming city walls and modern Chinese history · 2–3 daysQingdao 青岛Seaside city with German-era streets and beer · 2–3 daysSanya 三亚Tropical beaches on Hainan Island · 3–5 daysShanghai 上海Skyline, the Bund and a base for water towns · 3–4 daysShenzhen 深圳Young tech city next to Hong Kong · 1–3 daysSuzhou 苏州Classical gardens and canal-side lanes · 1–2 daysXi'an 西安Terracotta Army, city walls and Muslim Quarter food · 2–3 daysXiamen 厦门Coastal city, Gulangyu Island and tulou day trips · 2–3 daysZhangjiajie 张家界Sandstone pillars, cliff walkways and cable cars · 3–4 days