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...
Photograph · Severin.stalder · CC BY-SA 3.0
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
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
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
43 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
雍和宫
The Lama Temple, known locally as Yonghegong, stands as one of Beijing's most significant Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Originally constructed in 1694 as an imperial residence, it was converted to a lamasery in 1744.
北京牛街礼拜寺
Niujie Mosque, known locally as 牛街礼拜寺, is Beijing's oldest and most important historic mosque. Founded in 996 and rebuilt across later dynasties, it combines Chinese timber halls and courtyard planning with Islamic orientation, Arabic inscriptions and worship functions.
法源寺
Fayuan Temple is one of Beijing's oldest Buddhist establishments, founded in the Tang period and rebuilt repeatedly under later dynasties. The present compound on Fayuansi Back Street consists of four principal courtyards and remains an active place of worship.
徐家汇圣依纳爵主教座堂
Saint Ignatius Cathedral, known locally as Xujiahui Catholic Church, stands as a prominent Catholic cathedral in Shanghai's Xujiahui district. The cathedral represents one of Shanghai's most recognizable religious landmarks and holds significance in the city's architectural and cultural heritage.
媽閣廟 Templo de A-Ma
A-Ma Temple is a historic Chinese temple complex in Macau dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers. Its traditions predate Portuguese colonisation and connect the site with Macau's maritime heritage and long-standing local religious life.
玉佛禅寺
Jade Buddha Temple is one of the first ten publishable places in Shanghai’s current curated ranking. Its clearest visitor purpose is the active Buddhist temple complex and its devotional spaces.
静安寺
Jing'an Temple, known locally as 静安寺, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Shanghai's Jing'an District. The temple stands as one of Shanghai's most recognizable religious landmarks, situated in a prominent urban position amid modern commercial development.
上海城隍庙
The Shanghai City God Temple, known locally as 上海城隍庙, is a historic Taoist temple complex located in Shanghai's old city district. It serves as a cultural and religious center dedicated to the city's protective deity.
佘山进教之佑圣母大殿
Sheshan Basilica, known locally as 佘山进教之佑圣母大殿, stands as a significant Catholic pilgrimage site on Shanghai's western outskirts. Perched atop Sheshan Hill, this landmark represents one of China's most prominent surviving ecclesiastical structures from the pre-1949 era.
玫瑰聖母堂
St. Dominic's Church is a historic Catholic church in Macau, known locally as 玫瑰堂.
龙华寺
Longhua Temple, known in Chinese as 龙华寺, is a Buddhist temple and historic religious complex at 2853 Longhua Road in Shanghai’s Xuhui District.
舊基督教墳場 Cemitério Protestante
The Protestant Cemetery is a historic burial ground within Macau’s Historic Centre, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
聖老楞佐堂 Igreja de S. Lourenço
St. Lawrence's Church is a historic Catholic church in Macau, one of the territory's oldest religious structures. The local name is 聖老楞佐教堂. It stands as a significant monument within the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
大三巴哪吒廟 Templo de Na Tcha, junto às Ruínas de S. Paulo
Na Tcha Temple, or 哪吒廟, is a small Chinese folk-religion temple dedicated to Na Tcha, a child deity associated with protection and exorcism. Its position beside the Ruins of St.
聖若瑟修院大樓及聖堂 Igreja e Seminário de São José
St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church is a historic religious complex in Macau’s Historic Centre and part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage setting. The seminary was founded in 1728 and the church was consecrated in 1758.
大慈恩寺
Da Ci'en Temple is a Buddhist temple complex in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. The site is historically significant as the place where the monk Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures upon his return from India during the Tang Dynasty.
聖奧斯定教堂 Igreja de Santo Agostinho
St. Augustine’s Church, 聖奧斯定教堂, is a historic Catholic church in Macau’s Historic Centre. Founded by Augustinian missionaries, it represents the religious architecture that developed during the Portuguese presence in Macau.
香积寺
Xiangji Temple, known locally as 香积寺, is a Buddhist temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The temple adds a religious and architectural dimension to a city better known internationally for imperial history and archaeological sites.
草堂寺
Caotang Temple, known locally as 草堂寺, is a Buddhist temple in the Xi’an region. Its identity is tied to Buddhist scripture translation and the early development of Buddhist thought in China.
大兴善寺
Daxingshan Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in Xi'an, China, known locally as 大兴善寺. It remains a religious institution and a destination for visitors interested in Buddhist history, Chinese temple culture, and the long cultural history of Xi'an.
广仁寺
Guangren Temple, or 广仁寺, is a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Xi’an. It adds a distinct religious and cultural dimension to a city often introduced through imperial history and Han Chinese heritage.
蓮峰廟 Templo Lin Fung
Lin Fong Temple, also called 蓮峰廟 and Templo Lin Fung, is a living Chinese place of worship on Macau Peninsula.
云居寺
Yunju Temple is a historic Buddhist temple complex located in Beijing's Fangshan District. The temple holds significant religious and cultural importance, particularly renowned for its association with the engraving of Buddhist sutras on stone tablets.
大学习巷清真寺
The Great Learning Lane Mosque, known locally as 大学习巷清真寺, is an Islamic place of worship in Xi’an’s historic urban fabric.
天后古廟 Tin Hau Temple
Tin Hau Temple is a traditional Chinese place of worship dedicated to Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Sea. Her presence reflects Hong Kong’s long relationship with fishing, sailing, and coastal communities.
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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