Roavina

Country guide

China

A photograph of China
Photograph · Severin.stalder · CC BY-SA 3.0

China covers 9.6 million km², third largest of any country, and holds more than 1.4 billion people — about 17 per cent of everyone alive. It is divided into 33 province-level divisions, two of them special administrative regions. Beijing is the capital; Shanghai is the most populous city by urban area. Between them the land runs from the Central Plain and the Yangtze and Yellow rivers out to desert, plateau, subtropical and temperate forest, and the Himalayas in the southwest. The first decision a visitor makes here is therefore not which sight to see but which climate to travel in.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Standard Chinese; regional languages are widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+86 mainland · +852 Hong Kong · +853 Macao
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Renminbi (CNY); HKD and MOP in the SARs
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 120 medical on the mainland
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, C and I · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers mainland China and both SARs

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Xiqu Centre Xiqu Centre
    02 1 hour

    Xiqu Centre

    戲曲中心 Xiqu Centre

    Xiqu Centre is a performing arts venue in Hong Kong dedicated to xiqu, the traditional Chinese opera encompassing Cantonese opera and other regional forms. Opened in 2019, it serves as a major cultural facility within the West Kowloon Cultural District.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  2. National Centre for the Performing Arts National Centre for the Performing Arts
    03 1 hour

    National Centre for the Performing Arts

    国家大剧院

    The National Centre for the Performing Arts, known locally as 国家大剧院, is a major performing arts venue in Beijing. Located near Tiananmen Square, this distinctive building features a dome-shaped design that has made it a notable landmark in the capital.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Beijing
  3. Dom Pedro V Theatre Dom Pedro V Theatre
    04 1 hour

    Dom Pedro V Theatre

    伯多祿五世劇院 Teatro Dom Pedro V

    Dom Pedro V Theatre is a historic performing arts venue in Macau's St. Lawrence Parish district, situated on Calçada de S. Lourenço. Built in the mid-19th century during the Portuguese colonial period, it represents one of Asia's earliest Western-style theatres.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Macau
  4. Shanghai Grand Theatre Shanghai Grand Theatre
    05 1 hour

    Shanghai Grand Theatre

    上海大剧院

    Shanghai Grand Theatre is a major performing arts venue in Shanghai, China. The building stands as a prominent cultural landmark in the city, designed for opera, ballet, symphony concerts, and other large-scale theatrical productions.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shanghai
  5. Mercedes-Benz Arena Mercedes-Benz Arena
    06 1 hour

    Mercedes-Benz Arena

    梅赛德斯-奔驰文化中心

    Mercedes-Benz Arena is a major indoor arena located in Shanghai, China. The venue serves as a prominent entertainment and sports complex on the Pudong side of the Huangpu River, within the Expo Park area developed for the Shanghai World Expo.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shanghai
  6. Shanghai Oriental Art Center Shanghai Oriental Art Center
    07 1 hour

    Shanghai Oriental Art Center

    上海东方艺术中心

    The Shanghai Oriental Art Center is a major performing arts venue in Shanghai, China. Its local name is 上海东方艺术中心. The building is recognized as a distinct visitor destination in Shanghai, noted in breadth-first top rankings of city attractions.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shanghai
  7. Macao Cultural Centre Macao Cultural Centre
    08 1 hour

    Macao Cultural Centre

    澳門文化中心 Centro Cultural de Macau

    Macao Cultural Centre is a major performing-arts and exhibition venue operated by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government. Opened in 1999, it provides a home for concerts, theatre, festivals and visual-art presentations.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Macau
  8. Shenzhen Concert Hall Shenzhen Concert Hall
    09 1 hour

    Shenzhen Concert Hall

    深圳音乐厅

    Shenzhen Concert Hall is a major performing arts venue in Shenzhen, China. Its local name is 深圳音乐厅. The building serves as a cultural landmark within the city, contributing to Shenzhen's growing reputation as a destination for arts and entertainment.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shenzhen
  9. Today Art Museum Today Art Museum
    10 1 hour

    Today Art Museum

    今日美术馆

    Today Art Museum, known locally as 今日美术馆, is a contemporary art institution in Beijing. It operates as a private museum dedicated to presenting modern and contemporary art exhibitions.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Beijing
  10. Tap Seac Gallery Tap Seac Gallery
    11 1 hour

    Tap Seac Gallery

    塔石藝文館 A Galeria Tap Seac

    Tap Seac Gallery is an arts and cultural venue in Macao’s Tap Seac Square area. Known locally as 塔石藝文館, it occupies a building within the Historic Centre of Macao, the UNESCO World Heritage area inscribed in 2005.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Macau
  11. He Xiangning Art Museum He Xiangning Art Museum
    12 1 hour

    He Xiangning Art Museum

    何香凝美术馆

    He Xiangning Art Museum is a public art museum in Shenzhen devoted to the work and legacy of He Xiangning, an artist and prominent figure in modern Chinese history.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shenzhen
  12. Museum of Art Pudong Museum of Art Pudong
    13 1 hour

    Museum of Art Pudong

    浦东美术馆

    The Museum of Art Pudong, known locally as 浦东美术馆, is a contemporary art museum located in Shanghai's Pudong district. Situated along the Huangpu River, the institution occupies a prominent position within the Lujiazui financial area.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shanghai
  13. Red brick art museum
    14 1 hour

    Red brick art museum

    红砖美术馆

    The Red Brick Art Museum is a contemporary art institution in Beijing, China. Its local name is 红砖美术馆. The museum occupies a distinctive architectural complex that integrates exhibition spaces with landscaped gardens and water features.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Beijing
  14. Shenzhen Reservoir Shenzhen Reservoir
    15 1 hour

    Shenzhen Reservoir

    深圳水库

    Shenzhen Reservoir, known locally as 深圳水库, is a major water-storage facility in Shenzhen, Guangdong.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shenzhen
  15. Tian Tan Buddha Tian Tan Buddha
    16 1 hour

    Tian Tan Buddha

    天壇大佛 Tian Tan Buddha Statue

    Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze Buddha statue located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as the Big Buddha.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  16. 清华大学 清华大学
    17 1 hour

    清华大学

    Tsinghua University Campus is a major higher education institution in Beijing, China.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Beijing
  17. Yuen Long Theatre
    18 1 hour

    Yuen Long Theatre

    元朗劇院 Yuen Long Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  18. Statue of Anita Mui
    19 1 hour

    Statue of Anita Mui

    梅艷芳脽像 Anita Mui Statue

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to China be?

Twelve to eighteen days can link Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai by high-speed rail, with Shenzhen as a southern extension. Hong Kong and Macao need separate border planning and should not be treated as ordinary domestic stops on the same timetable.

What entry documents are needed for China?

Entry rules differ between mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, even within one journey. Check the official immigration authority for every border segment and match the permission to the passport, purpose, and exact itinerary.

What is the best way to travel around China?

High-speed rail and domestic flights cover mainland distances, while metros handle most urban journeys. Hong Kong uses Octopus and separate border controls, and Macao has its own formalities, so prepare payment and identity requirements for each jurisdiction.

When is a practical time to visit China?

April to May and September to October are only broad mainland planning windows. Beijing, Shanghai, the south, Hong Kong, and Macao have different heat, rain, and holiday pressures; the least flexible regional leg should set the dates.

What money and payment basics apply in China?

Mainland China uses renminbi (CNY), while Hong Kong and Macao use HKD and MOP. Payment systems and card acceptance differ across those jurisdictions, so prepare the appropriate local method before crossing each border.

What practical safety details should I save for China?

On the mainland, save 110 for police and 120 for medical help; Hong Kong and Macao use separate emergency systems. Mainland electricity is recorded as 220 V with Type A, C, and I sockets, while tap-water guidance is not recorded.