There are many places worth visiting in China, and below we recommend 20 of the most worthwhile places to visit.
01 Beijing Palace Museum
The Forbidden City in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, was a royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, located at the center of the central axis of Beijing. It covers an area of 720000 square meters, with over 70 palaces of various sizes and more than 9000 houses. The architectural complex of the Forbidden City is the culmination of ancient Chinese architecture, especially loved by photography enthusiasts. In recent years, the Forbidden City has adopted various new methods such as exhibitions, Taobao stores, documentaries, and variety shows to make cultural inheritance more down-to-earth. Tickets are available for 60 yuan during peak season and 40 yuan during off-season, and can be purchased by making an appointment on the official website. When playing, usually starting from the central axis, walking for about 2 hours from the Meridian Gate to the North Gate, you can see the Hall of Supreme Harmony, one of the three major palaces in China.
02 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Valley
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area is known as a fairyland on earth, and it is a Yaochi left behind in the mortal world. Located on the edge of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, this place is composed of emerald green lakes, cascading waterfalls, and colorful forest slopes, with elevations ranging from 6600 to 14800 feet, creating a beautiful scenery between turbulent water flows and calm lakes. After reconstruction, most areas of Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area have been reopened to the outside world, and the flow of people is limited. It is recommended that tourists choose to go in autumn or spring, when the scenery is particularly spectacular.
03
Hangzhou
Hangzhou, known as the “heaven on earth”, is one of the must visit tourist destinations in China. West Lake is a representative of Hangzhou, suitable for all seasons and each season has its unique charm. The peach willows in spring, the lotus flowers in summer, the moonlight on autumn nights, and the red plum blossoms in winter all add poetic and picturesque charm to this lake. West Lake is not only a poem or a painting, but also a place full of love stories. From the eighteen mile journey across the long bridge to the reunion of Xu and Bai on the broken bridge, West Lake silently witnessed countless encounters of love. In addition, West Lake State Guesthouse, Liuyingli and Xizi Hotel are excellent choices for experiencing the beautiful scenery of West Lake.
04
Mount Huangshan
Mount Huangshan, known as “the most beautiful mountain in China”, occupies an important position in the history of art and literature. Xu Xiake, a traveler in the Ming Dynasty, once visited Mount Huangshan twice and spoke highly of it, calling it “the most wonderful mountain in the world”. Mount Huangshan is famous for its five wonders: strange pines, strange rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs and winter snow, attracting countless poets and painters. In addition, Mount Huangshan has rich historical and cultural relics, such as Greeting Pine, Ciguang Pavilion and Guanyin Bridge.
05Guilin
Guilin, known as the “Guilin landscape is the best in the world”, is a famous scenic tourist city and historical and cultural city in China. This place boasts the scenery of the Li River and unique karst landforms, with beautiful mountains, clear waters, and peculiar caves and rocks. In particular, the Shili Gallery along the Lijiang River, where the scenery along the way, such as children worship Guanyin, nine horse painting mountain, yellow cloth reflection, are all the essence of Guilin’s landscape. In addition, Guilin also has unique folk customs and culture of ethnic minorities such as Zhuang, Yao, Miao, and Dong. The best time to visit Guilin is from September to November every year, as well as during May Day and National Day.
06Suzhou Gardens
Suzhou gardens are outstanding representatives of Chinese gardens, among which Humble Administrator’s Garden, Tiger Hill, and Lingering Garden are the most famous. These gardens are a model of private gardens in Jiangnan, blending the styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Especially the Humble Administrator’s Garden, as the largest garden in Suzhou, not only contains all the elements that a private garden should have, but also served as a royal palace and the yamen of the Jiangsu governor during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period. The lotus flowers in the garden bloom in summer, adding endless charm to this classical garden. In addition, Suzhou Museum is also adjacent to Humble Administrator’s Garden, and visitors can visit it together.
07The Old Town of Lijiang
The Old Town of Lijiang is one of the few ethnic minority ancient cities in China, known as the “World Cultural Heritage” and “China’s excellent tourist city”. Here, “Two Mountains, One City, One Lake, One River, One Civilization, One Charm” are the primary representatives, and attractions such as Yulong Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge are worth visiting. The Old Town of Lijiang is not only a paradise of love, the air is filled with sweet ambiguities, but also the leisurely ancient music of the Naxi nationality, which makes people intoxicated. In addition, the Old Town of Lijiang is suitable for all seasons, with small bridges, flowing water and scattered residential buildings showing its unique charm.
08Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is a tourist destination full of fantasy and natural beauty. There are over 3000 strange mountains and peaks here, each of which seems like a masterpiece of nature, leaving people stunned. By taking the world’s tallest outdoor sightseeing elevator, the Hundred Dragon Sky Ladder, you can enjoy the stunning scenery of Zhangjiajie and experience a truly magical journey. In addition, Zhangjiajie’s 5th and 7th sections are stunning, leaving people stunned just ten steps away, known as the Three Thousand Extraordinary Peaks and Eight Hundred Beautiful Waters. Here, you can not only enjoy the magnificent natural scenery, but also experience the infinite possibilities of life.
09the great wall
The Great Wall is a symbol of the Chinese nation and a world cultural heritage site. It originated in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period in the fifth century BC, and after more than two thousand years of construction and expansion, it eventually became the longest city wall in the world. The Great Wall spans nine provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, from Jiayuguan in the west to Hushan in Liaodong in the east, with a total length of 8851.8 kilometers. Among them, Badaling and Juyong Pass in Beijing, Laolongtou and the First Pass in the World in Hebei, and Jiayuguan Pass City in Gansu are all famous scenic spots. The Great Wall not only showcases the military defense wisdom of ancient China, but also has become a popular tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
10 Xiamen
Xiamen is an ideal travel destination for artistic youth. This city represents the “artistic style” in the hearts of young people, with many famous movies filmed here and art shops scattered everywhere, offering beautiful scenery at any moment. In addition to the bustling city center, Xiamen also has Gulangyu Island, a small island without motor vehicles. The sunshine, beaches, and century old buildings together create a romantic atmosphere. Tourists can stay near the former consulate or Catholic church to enjoy peaceful weekends and the sunset by the seaside. In addition, Xiamen University and Huandao Road are also symbols of literature and art, allowing people to feel the freshness and culture of this city.
11 Shanghai Bund
The Bund is a famous scenic spot in Huangpu District, Shanghai, renowned for its night view. Every night, colorful lights illuminate the buildings on the Bund, making them appear dreamlike and attracting countless tourists and local residents. These lights not only add a visual feast, but also reflect the prosperity and vitality of Shanghai as an international metropolis. In addition, the Bund Square is bustling with people and laughter, giving people a feeling of nostalgia and modernity intertwined. The architectural complex here also represents the integration of China’s economic strength and culture.
12 Sanya
Sanya is the most beautiful beach in China, known as the ‘Hawaii of the East’. Here, there are clear water and white sand beaches, lush rainforests, and affordable seafood. The best time to travel is from October to March of the following year. In addition to beaches, tourists can also visit attractions such as Wuzhizhou Island, Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, and Yalong Bay to experience tropical rainforests and diving. In addition, Sanya’s natural climate and air quality make it a natural place for health preservation.
13 Xi’an
Xi’an, this millennium ancient capital, is the city with the most history and influence during the founding of the Chinese capital. Entering Xi’an, you can climb the ancient city wall, stand on the weathered city wall, and enjoy the ancient city time. In addition, as one of the eight wonders of the world, the Terra Cotta Warriors show the wisdom of our ancient people. In addition to these, there are also many scenic spots in Xi’an, such as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise, Huaqing Pool, as well as unique northwest flavor foods, such as waxed meat buns, Liangpi, etc. Xi’an, this’ world historical city ‘, will definitely make you linger and forget to leave.
14 Daocheng Yading
Daocheng Yading is known as the “last pure land on Earth” and the last pure place on earth. This place is very close to the sky, standing here, it seems like you can touch the flawless sky, and the beautiful scenery is refreshing and pleasant. Daocheng Yading is located in Shangri La Town, Daocheng County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a world 5A biosphere scenic spot and a national nature reserve. Its unique primitive ecological environment, majestic, peculiar, beautiful, and stunning natural scenery make it famous both at home and abroad, and it is known as the “soul of Shangri La” and the “last Shangri La”.
15 Chengdu
Chengdu, known as the “Land of Abundance”, attracts countless tourists with its slow paced lifestyle, delicious food, and rich historical and cultural heritage. There are not only delicious food, beautiful women and beautiful scenery, but also famous teahouse culture and various places of interest, such as Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, Wuhou Temple and Du Fu Thatched Cottage. These elements together create a unique relaxed, optimistic, and peaceful atmosphere in Chengdu, making people linger and forget to leave. In addition, as the best tourist city and cultural city in China, Chengdu has also been awarded the title of “Capital of Cuisine”, representing slow and comfortable lifestyles.
16 Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake is the largest saltwater lake in China, located in the northeast of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, and is a representative tourist attraction in Qinghai Province. The source of the lake mainly relies on surface runoff and surface precipitation recharge. Qinghai Lake not only has magnificent scenery and abundant tourism resources, but also five islands with different shapes, including Haixin Mountain, Sankuai Stone, Bird Island, Haixi Mountain, and Sand Island, making it an excellent choice for ecological and cultural tourism. July to August is the best time to visit Qinghai Lake, where rapeseed flowers bloom in large quantities and there is also an annual cycling race around the lake.
17 Qingdao
Qingdao is a nearby tourist destination, especially suitable for tourists from Beijing. Not only are there famous attractions such as Laoshan and Zhanqiao here, but there are also places worth visiting such as Huangdao, Qingdao Underwater World, Fantawild Dreamland, and Haichang Polar Ocean Park. The coastline of Qingdao is blue, and the architectural style features red walls and green trees, giving people a fresh and comfortable feeling. Especially in early summer, the scenery in Qingdao is incredibly beautiful. However, tourists need to be cautious when choosing restaurants to avoid being exploited by unscrupulous merchants.
18 Kanas, Xinjiang
Kanas in Xinjiang is known as a “fairyland on earth and the backyard of gods”. Surrounded by primitive forests of spruce, fir, and Siberian larch, as well as distinct plant communities. The lake water is clear, and its color often changes with the seasons and weather. Especially in autumn, the beautiful scenery of Kanas is picturesque, with lakes, snow capped mountains, and flowers all presenting stunning views. In addition, Kanas Lake is believed to have mysterious water monsters, adding to the mysterious charm of this land.
19 Dali
Dali, this seemingly noisy but actually leisurely city, is an ideal place for wind, flowers, snow, and moon. The deep blue sea, gentle breeze, and the enchanting Erhai Lake, Cangshan Mountain, and ancient city all make people feel like they are in a dream away from the hustle and bustle. Here, time seems to have lost its importance, and people can wander aimlessly through the ancient town or sit on wicker chairs in the inn, lost in thought. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Butterfly Spring, and the Bright Moon over Erhai Lake are all iconic attractions in Dali, and the young girl dressed in Bai ethnic clothing adds a touch of romance and charm.
20 Chongqing
Chongqing, known as the first internet famous city in China, is an 8D city full of magic and charm. The transportation here is unique, such as the light rail passing through buildings, which makes navigation feel scared. The night scenery of Chongqing is worth millions of yuan, and countless tourists are fascinated by it. Not only that, Chongqing’s cuisine is also a major highlight, making people linger and forget to leave. In addition, attractions such as a tree in Nanshan, Hongya Cave, and Ciqikou are not to be missed. For tourists who like to explore, Wulong’s Tianshengsan Bridge and Dazu Rock Carvings are also worth visiting.