A photograph of China

Country guide

China

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.

  1. Shenzhen Bay Park Shenzhen Bay Park
    57 1 hour

    Shenzhen Bay Park

    深圳湾公园

    Shenzhen Bay Park is a coastal linear park stretching along Shenzhen Bay in southern Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. The park forms part of the city's waterfront green corridor, facing Hong Kong across the bay.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  2. Shenzhen Talent Park Shenzhen Talent Park
    58 1 hour

    Shenzhen Talent Park

    深圳人才公园

    Shenzhen Talent Park is a waterfront public park in Shenzhen, China. Its local name is 深圳人才公园. The park is situated in the Nanshan District near Shenzhen Bay, forming part of the city's coastal park network.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  3. Tanzhe Temple Tanzhe Temple
    59 1 hour

    Tanzhe Temple

    潭柘寺

    Tanzhe Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in the Western Hills of Beijing. Known locally as 潭柘寺, it stands as one of the most ancient temples in the Beijing region with deep cultural significance.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Beijing
  4. Victoria Park Victoria Park
    60 1 hour

    Victoria Park

    維多利亞公園 Victoria Park

    Victoria Park is a major public park on Hong Kong Island, situated in Causeway Bay between Causeway Road and Hing Fat Street.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  5. Xiangmi Park
    61 1 hour

    Xiangmi Park

    香蜜公园

    Honey Park is a mapped public green space in Shenzhen, identified by OSM way 540340500.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  6. Xili Eco Park
    62 1 hour

    Xili Eco Park

    西丽生态公园

    Xili Ecological Park, locally called 西丽生态公园, is a green space in Xili, within Shenzhen’s Nanshan District. It gives visitors an outdoor setting among natural surroundings in one of the city’s densely developed metropolitan areas.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  7. Xingqinggong Park Xingqinggong Park
    63 1 hour

    Xingqinggong Park

    兴庆宫公园

    Xingqing Palace Park is a public park in eastern Xi'an on the site of historic Xingqing Palace, once a political and residential center during the Tang dynasty.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  8. 大潭山郊野公園
    64 1 hour

    大潭山郊野公園

    Taipa Grande Natural Park is a green hillside retreat on Taipa Island in Macau, also known locally as 大潭山郊野公園. It gives travelers a chance to leave the dense urban setting and spend time among trees, slopes, and open outdoor space.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Macau
  9. 广运潭公园
    65 1 hour

    广运潭公园

    Guangyun Lake Park, locally known as 广运潭公园, is a lakeside public green space in Xi'an. It offers a change of rhythm from the city's historic monuments, busy commercial streets, and dense urban setting.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  10. 月坛公园 月坛公园
    66 1 hour

    月坛公园

    Yuetan Park, known locally as 月坛公园, is a historic park located in Beijing, China. It forms part of the city's cultural heritage as one of the ancient altar complexes.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Beijing
  11. 永阳公园
    67 1 hour

    永阳公园

    Yongyang Park is a public green space in Xi'an, a city historically known as Chang'an and recognised for its long imperial and cultural history.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  12. 王顺山国家森林公园
    68 1 hour

    王顺山国家森林公园

    Wangshun Mountain National Forest Park is a protected mountain destination near Xi'an, known locally as 王顺山国家森林公园. It forms part of the Qinling landscape in southern Shaanxi and suits travelers seeking forest, mountain air, changing vegetation, and outdoor recreation.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  13. 玫瑰海岸
    69 1 hour

    玫瑰海岸

    Rose Coast, also known locally as 玫瑰海岸, is a coastal scenic destination in Shenzhen. The experience centers on shoreline scenery and landscaped outdoor spaces, offering a change from the city’s towers and commercial streets.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  14. 秦二世陵遗址公园 秦二世陵遗址公园
    70 1 hour

    秦二世陵遗址公园

    Qin Ershi Mausoleum Heritage Park preserves the burial site of Qin Er Shi, the second emperor of the Qin dynasty. The site offers a focused encounter with the later chapter of the dynasty that unified China.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  15. 秦岭四宝科学公园
    71 1 hour

    秦岭四宝科学公园

    Qinling Four Treasures Science Park is a wildlife and conservation-focused attraction in the Xi'an area. Its name refers to four characteristic Qinling species: the giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, takin, and crested ibis.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  16. Penfold Park Penfold Park
    72 1 hour

    Penfold Park

    彭福公園 Penfold Park

    Penfold Park is a landscaped public park in the infield of Sha Tin Racecourse. The Hong Kong Jockey Club built the park, has managed it since it opened to the public in 1979, and now publishes its access calendar.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  17. Lido Beach
    73 1 hour

    Lido Beach

    麗都灣泳灘 Lido Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  18. Lower Cheung Sha Beach
    74 1 hour

    Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    下長沙泳灘 Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  19. Castle Peak Beach
    75 1 hour

    Castle Peak Beach

    青山灣泳灘 Castle Peak Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  20. Approach Beach
    76 1 hour

    Approach Beach

    近水灣泳灘 Approach Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  21. Ko Shan Road Park
    77 1 hour

    Ko Shan Road Park

    高山道公園 Ko Shan Road Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  22. Aldrich Bay Park
    78 1 hour

    Aldrich Bay Park

    愛秩序灣公園 Aldrich Bay Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  23. Hoi Bun Road Park
    79 1 hour

    Hoi Bun Road Park

    海濱道公園 Hoi Bun Road Park

    Hoi Bun Road Park is a 9,300-square-metre public open space on Hoi Bun Road in Kwun Tong. The original park was built in 1990 mainly for people working in the surrounding area.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  24. Lam Tin Park
    80 1 hour

    Lam Tin Park

    藍田公園 Lam Tin Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  25. Hin Tin Playground
    81 1 hour

    Hin Tin Playground

    顯田遊樂場 Hin Tin Playground

    • High
    • Nature site
    • 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.