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Country guide

Historic monuments in China — page 4

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...

Photograph · Severin.stalder · CC BY-SA 3.0

39,927 Places
6Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.

  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.

Filter the list

89 places match

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Category

Historic monuments 89 Museums 104 Places of worship 44 Nature sites 87 Viewpoints 18 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 17 Entertainment 15 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 11 Art and culture 23 Activities 9

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 79 1 to 2 hours 6 Half a day or more 4

Interests

History 30 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. SoHo East SoHo East
    76 45 min

    SoHo East

    SoHo East 蘇豪東

    SoHo East is a dining and entertainment district on the eastern shore of Hong Kong Island, positioned along the Sai Wan Ho waterfront.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  2. Stanley Market Stanley Market
    77 45 min

    Stanley Market

    赤柱市集 Stanley Market

    Stanley Market is a well-known outdoor shopping destination located in the Stanley district of Hong Kong Island. The local name is 赤柱市集 Stanley Market.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  3. Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Memorial Stone
    78 45 min

    Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Memorial Stone

    大欖涌水塘紀念碑 Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Memorial Stone

    Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Memorial Stone is a commemorative monument located in the vicinity of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir, Hong Kong's first country park reservoir completed in the 1950s.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  4. Wangfujing Street Wangfujing Street
    79 45 min

    Wangfujing Street

    王府井大街

    Wangfujing Street is Beijing's most famous central shopping street and a major pedestrian visitor district. Located in Dongcheng District near the Forbidden City, it stretches as a commercial thoroughfare that has served as a retail hub for over a century.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Beijing
  5. Xinchang Ancient Town
    80 45 min

    Xinchang Ancient Town

    新场古镇

    Xinchang Ancient Town, known locally as 新场古镇, is a historic water town located in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China. It represents a preserved example of traditional Jiangnan architecture and canal-town settlement patterns.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Shanghai
  6. Yandai Byway
    81 45 min

    Yandai Byway

    烟袋斜街

    Yandai Xiejie, whose local name is 烟袋斜街, is a historic hutong alleyway in Beijing. The name translates approximately to Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street, derived from its distinctive shape resembling a traditional tobacco pipe.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Beijing
  7. Yongning Gate (Yongningmen) Yongning Gate (Yongningmen)
    82 45 min

    Yongning Gate (Yongningmen)

    永宁门

    Yongning Gate is the southern gate of Xi'an's historic city wall. Known as the Gate of Eternal Peace, it combines a preserved Ming-era defensive setting with an active urban landmark.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Xi'an
  8. Yongxingfang Yongxingfang
    83 45 min

    Yongxingfang

    永兴坊

    Yongxingfang is a visitor-oriented cultural and food district where Shaanxi traditions are presented through regional dishes, themed architecture, craft displays, and pedestrian lanes. It works best as a relaxed tasting stop rather than a single monument.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Xi'an
  9. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
    84 45 min

    Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

    朱家角古镇旅游区

    Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a historic water town located in the Qingpu District of Shanghai municipality. The settlement dates to the Yuan dynasty period and developed as a trading hub along the Dianshan Lake watershed.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Shanghai
  10. 光明农场大观园
    85 45 min

    光明农场大观园

    Guangming Farm Grand View Garden is an agricultural tourism attraction in Shenzhen’s Guangming District. It offers a rural counterpoint to the city’s dense urban landscape, bringing visitors into a farm-oriented setting within the metropolitan area.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Shenzhen
  11. 曹雪芹纪念馆 曹雪芹纪念馆
    86 45 min

    曹雪芹纪念馆

    The Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall commemorates the celebrated Qing dynasty author of Dream of the Red Chamber, China's most famous classical novel. Located in Beijing, this cultural site honors Cao Xueqin's literary legacy and his connection to the city.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Beijing
  12. Tai Fu Tai Mansion Tai Fu Tai Mansion
    87 45 min

    Tai Fu Tai Mansion

    大夫第 Tai Fu Tai

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  13. Au Pui Wan
    88 45 min

    Au Pui Wan

    坳背灣 Au Pui Wan

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  14. Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving
    89 45 min

    Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving

    滘西洲石刻 Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • 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.