Everyone has heard of Beijing and Shanghai, but there are some truly terrific places to visit in China beyond these two grand cities. If you have some extra time on your trip, here are some places in China you absolutely must consider visiting.
Nature & Scenery
When you think of China, you probably envision sprawling cities or perhaps the Great Wall stretching across the countryside. But there are a lot of truly gorgeous places in China to visit.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in south-central China, two hours by flight from Beijing. It’s a region filled with towering sandstone pillars, cliffs covered in mist, and lush forests. It inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. Take a hike through Yuanjiajie Scenic Area to see these inspiring mountains
Take a walk across the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge for a thrilling view of the landscape beneath you. You can also get terrific panoramic views by taking a cable car up Tianzi Mountain. Another unique experience is the BaiLong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor elevator. If all of these heights are getting to you, you can stay firmly grounded by taking a hike on the accessible and family-friendly Golden Whip Stream trail.
Guilin & Yangshuo
Located in southern China are Guilin and Yangshuo. Both have striking steep limestone karsts jutting up from flat plains. Guilin is a city where you will likely transit into by plane or high speed train. Yangshuo is a smaller city where you will find most of the key activities to do in the region. You can stay in either place. But know that if you stay in Guilin, you will be taking day trips to Yangshuo most days.
The must-do experience in the region is a Li River river cruise. You will see the limestone peaks and enjoy glimpses of rural life. Another option is bamboo rafting on the Yulong River for similar views but a more peaceful environment. Some key sites to see include Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Longji Rice Terraces, and Silver Cave. The entire region is great for biking, hiking, and rock climbing. And definitely don’t miss the Impression Liu Sanjie, an impressive show featuring over 600 performers that uses the Li River as a stage and the karst mountains as a backdrop.
Chengdu
Located in southwestern China, Chengdu is THE place to see giant panda bears. First on your itinerary should be the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Not only will you see the famously cute black and white giant pandas, you will also see the more rare red pandas.
Chendu is also a great place to soak up Chinese culture in a relaxed atmosphere. Go to Jinli Pedestrian Street for street food, shopping, and local vibes. Visit a traditional teahouse in Chengdu Renmin Park. And definitely eat your fill of the Sichuan hot pot. You will cook raw ingredients in a pot of boiling spicy broth.
If you can stay an extra day, consider booking a day trip to see the Leshan Giant Buddha. Carved into a hill, this Buddha was created in the 8th century and is said to be the largest in the world.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Also in southwestern China lies Jiuzhaigou Valley, a UNESCO site that will take your breath away. Imagine turquoise lakes with crystal-clear water, multi-tiered waterfalls, and seasonal color changing forested mountains. The top things to do there are visiting Five Flower Lake to see its vivid turquoise water and seeing the Nuorilang Waterfall. The site has scenic boardwalks through valleys and forests, and it also has shuttle busses to take you from section to section. For the most striking scenery, go in the autumn for fall foliage or the spring for lush greenery.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains)
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) are in eastern China. This striking mountain range has granite peaks and twisty pine trees. It’s often appears surreal, with mist and mountain peaks jutting out of cloud cover. There are three areas to explore. The Front Mountain area has the Jade Screen Scenic Area and the Yuping Cableway. The Back Mountain area has the Yungu Cableway and Beihai Scenic Area. The West Sea Grand Canyon has the Xihai Cable Car.
The Front Mountain area features a unique protruding limestone boulder called Feilai Stone (Flying-over Rock). It’s also one of the places you can take a cable car to Guangming Ding (Bright Summit Peak). The highest spot is Lianhua Feng (Lotus Peak) that you can reach on a strenuous hike. Also visit the Guest-Greeting Pine, a 1,000 year old tree that appears to be a person reaching out to welcome guests.
The Back Mountain area has one not-to-be-missed spot, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea. This rock formation resembles a monkey sitting on a cliff’s edge. And the West Sea Grand Canyon features tons of trails and viewpoints. Take the Xihai Cable Car up and then hike down the West Sea Canyon Trail.
History & Culture
China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilization dating back over 5,000 years. There’s history everywhere, but here are the places in China that are the most impressive.
Xi’an
Xi’an is in northern China. Historically the city was the eastern starting point of the Silk Road. Today the city is a major economic and transportation hub and is famous for its archeological treasures.
Many people have heard of the famous Terracotta Army of Xi’an. Thousands of life-size soldiers, horses and chariots are on display. They originally were constructed to guard over China’s first emperor in the afterlife. You can find them at the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum.
Another historical site is the Xi/an City Walls. Built 600 years ago, these are the best preserved city walls in China. You should also take some time to explore the Muslim Quarter for great street food and markets. And don’t leave until you’ve also visited the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, located in a circa 652 Buddhist temple called Jainfu.
Luoyang
Luoyand is in central China and is one of the country’s ancient capitals. The major thing to see there is the Longmen Grottos. This UNESCO World Heritage Center site has more than 100,000 Buddhist stone statues carved into cliffs. You can also see White Horse Temple, China’s first Buddhist temple. And don’t miss the Luoyang Museum to see a fine collection of art and artifacts.
About an 1.5 hours away lies Shaolin Temple. This is where Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu was born. Here you can see a kung fu performance by monks and see them training. Explore the temple complex, and visit the Pagoda Forest of monks’ tomb pagodas.
Lijiang
Lijiang is yet another of our places in China that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is in southwest China and is famous for being a canal city full of cobblestone streets with mountains in the backdrop. Spend time in Old Town admiring the many canal bridges and enjoying shops and cafes.
Visit Black Dragon Pond Park for great views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Even better, take a cableway and scenic train tour up the mountain. And don’t miss the Lijiang Impression outdoor show with more than 500 people showcasing the traditions and lifestyles of the local Naxi culture.
Nanjing
Nanjing is in Eastern China and is a historic former capital city located along the Yangtze River. Climb up the steps of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, built for Dr. Sun Yat-Sen who is known as the Father of Modern China. Another resting place worth visiting is Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty which honors the dynasty’s first emperor.
Spend some time at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall to learn about some of the atrocities committed in World War II. Then lighten up your trip with a visit to the Confucian Temple Area for great restaurants, street, food, shops, and entertainment. From there you can take a 40 minute wooden boat ride along the Inner Qin Huai River.
Pingyao
Pingyao is in northern China and is one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in the country. Start your visit by walking or biking along the city walls for great views of the ancient city. Then get lost in the narrow alleyways as you explore the streets lined with traditional courtyard homes. You can even see inside the home of a rich merchant at Qiao Jia Dayuan.
There are plenty of temples to visit, include the Shuanglin Temple and Ping Yao Temple of the City God. Visit Ming and Qing Dynasties Street for great shopping and dining. And you can learn more about the city’s banking history at the China Escort Agency and the Rishengchang Former Bank.
Less Well-Known Cities
Most people can name only a few cities in China. But the country is huge and is filled with many cities worth visiting. Every place on this list of places in China worth visiting is a city, but here are two more that deserve a place on your itinerary.
Chongqing
Located in southwestern China, Chongqing is a megacity with a futuristic skyline set in the mountains and by a river. So it has a great mix of city attractions and opportunities to interact in nature. Hongya Cave is a must-do. It’s an 11-story, 2,300 year old stilt house that is illuminated at night. You should also visit Liziba Station to see a monorail passing through the middle of a residential building. And make sure to visit Ciqikou (Porcelain Port), Chongquing’s old town filled with shops. Ride the Yangtze River Cableway for great skyline and river views.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a beautiful city located in east China. The top thing to do there is visit West Lake. Here you can take a boat cruise to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and enjoy the many scenic walking paths. This is also the site of the Leifeng Pagoda, Su Causeway, and Lingyin Temple.
This area is a great place to visit tea fields. Go to Longjing Tea Fields to sample Dragon Well green tea. And take some time to explore Hefang Street where you will find shops, traditional snacks, and great souvenirs.
Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
If you really want to extend your vacation, check out these places in China that very few tourists venture far enough to see!
Tibet
Tibet is in the southwestern part of China. This high-altitude area is vast and known for its Tibetan Buddhist culture. It’s the home of the Himalayan mountains which I always associate with my favorite ride at the fair. But actually seeing the Himalayas would be just as thrilling!
One key site is the Potala Palace, where the Dalai Lama used to live. You will also want to visit Jokhang Temple to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism. Walk with pilgrims on Barkhor Street in Lhasa and enjoy the hundreds of shops and stalls offering prayer wheels, scroll paintings, and traditional clothing.
If you are nature lover, go out to see the beautiful Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. And you can visit Mount Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side by simply driving to it! You will need to book a guided tour and drive several days from Lhasa. But it will give you stunning views of Mount Everest, and you can visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world.
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is the last of our places in China you should definitely consider visiting. Located in northwestern China, it was the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road. Start by visiting Kashgar and enjoying its famous bazaar. Visit Id Kah Mosque, and then explore ancient ruins in Turpan.
Xinjiang is also a place of natural wonders. Visit Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) to admire its clear waters surrounded by snow-capped peaks and pine trees. Another beautiful lake is Kanas Lake. And the vast Taklamakan Desert is well worth a visit.
What’s top on your list of places you must visit in China?
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