Language · 11 published
Country guide
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
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Mustang Joe · CC0
Photograph · Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · ScareCriterion12 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Charlie fong · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
11 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Macao Giant Panda Pavilion is a wildlife attraction dedicated to giant pandas in Macau. It gives visitors a chance to observe these animals in a managed setting while learning about their behaviour and conservation.
香港動植物公園 Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Garden
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is a historic public garden on a hillside above Central, Hong Kong Island. It combines botanical collections with zoological enclosures, creating a green retreat close to the business district.
尤德觀鳥園 Edward Youde Aviary
Edward Youde Aviary is a walk-through aviary located within Hong Kong Park in the Central district of Hong Kong Island. Named after Sir Edward Youde, a former British Governor of Hong Kong, it occupies a forested valley setting.
嘉道理農場暨植物園 Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden is a conservation and education centre in the New Territories of Hong Kong.
北京动物园
Beijing Zoo is a zoological park in Beijing, China. Its local name is 北京动物园. The zoo occupies a significant area in the Xicheng District and represents one of the older established zoological institutions in the country.
上海动物园
Shanghai Zoo is a large zoological garden in Shanghai, known locally as 上海动物园. The grounds combine animal viewing, landscaped walking routes and public education across a substantial urban site.
上海海洋水族馆
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is a major public aquarium located in Shanghai, China. Its local name is 上海海洋水族馆. The facility stands as one of the city's notable visitor attractions, recognized in broader assessments of Shanghai's tourism offerings.
深圳野生动物园
Shenzhen Safari Park is a large zoological attraction in Shenzhen, known locally as 深圳野生动物园. It is designed around encounters with wild animals in safari-themed surroundings and suits travellers looking for a dedicated wildlife day.
上海野生动物园
Shanghai Wild Animal Park is a zoological garden in Shanghai, China. Its local name is 上海野生动物园. The park is identified in OpenStreetMap data as way/182969057.
北京海洋馆
Beijing Aquarium is a large public aquarium located within the Beijing Zoo complex in the Xicheng District. Its local name is 北京海洋馆. The facility opened to complement the zoo's existing animal collections with marine and freshwater exhibits.
曲江海洋极地公园
Qujiang Polar Ocean Park is a marine-themed family attraction in Xi'an's Qujiang New District, known locally as 曲江海洋极地公园. It offers an alternative to the city's archaeological and dynastic landmarks, with a visit centred on aquatic displays and polar wildlife.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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