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.

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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 6 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 6 Half a day or more 1

Interests

History 44 Art 17 Museums 5 Nature 37 Sea and beach 31 Viewpoints 6
  1. Tai Mo Shan Tai Mo Shan
    01 20 min

    Tai Mo Shan

    大帽山 Tai Mo Shan

    Tai Mo Shan, known locally as 大帽山, stands as the highest peak in Hong Kong at an elevation that dominates the New Territories landscape.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Hong Kong
  2. Lion Rock Lion Rock
    02 20 min

    Lion Rock

    獅子山 Lion Rock

    Lion Rock is a prominent mountain in Hong Kong, situated in Sha Tin District within the Lion Rock Country Park. The peak rises above Kowloon and is one of the most recognisable natural landmarks in the territory.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Hong Kong
  3. Lantau Peak Lantau Peak
    03 20 min

    Lantau Peak

    鳳峰 Lantau Peak

    Lantau Peak, known locally as 鳳峰, stands as the highest point on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. This prominent summit rises within Lantau Country Park, offering commanding views across the territory.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Hong Kong
  4. Lung Fu Shan Lung Fu Shan
    04 20 min

    Lung Fu Shan

    龍虎山 Lung Fu Shan

    Lung Fu Shan is a wooded hill and country park area on Hong Kong Island, between the University of Hong Kong and the Victoria Peak area.

    • Must see
    • Viewpoint
    • Hong Kong
  5. Jiaoshan
    05 20 min

    Jiaoshan

    焦山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Shanghai

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.