A photograph of China

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in China — page 6

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. Na Tcha Temple Na Tcha Temple
    107 30 min

    Na Tcha Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  2. Huaqing Chi Huaqing Chi
    108 1 hour

    Huaqing Chi

    华清宫

    Huaqing Palace is a historic hot spring complex at the northern foot of Mount Li, approximately 30 kilometres east of central Xi'an.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Xi'an
  3. Tianzifang Tianzifang
    109 45 min

    Tianzifang

    田子坊

    Tianzifang is a distinctive lane neighbourhood in Shanghai’s Huangpu District, entered at Lane 210 on Taikang Road and known for its close-grained mix of pedestrian passages, creative businesses and older urban surroundings.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Shanghai
  4. St. Joseph's Seminary and Church St. Joseph's Seminary and Church
    110 30 min

    St. Joseph's Seminary and Church

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  5. Seac Pai Van Park Seac Pai Van Park
    111 1 hour

    Seac Pai Van Park

    石排灣郊野公園 Parque de Seac Pai Van

    Seac Pai Van Park, or 石排灣郊野公園, is a country park on Coloane Island in Macau. It gives travellers a green hillside setting within a highly urban territory, combining wooded paths with a major panda-viewing facility.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Macau
  6. Gongqing Forest Park Gongqing Forest Park
    112 1 hour

    Gongqing Forest Park

    共青森林公园

    Gongqing Forest Park is a large urban park located in Yangpu District, Shanghai. The park occupies substantial green space in northeastern Shanghai and represents one of the city's significant forest park developments.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Shanghai
  7. Shanghai Botanical Garden Shanghai Botanical Garden
    113 1 hour

    Shanghai Botanical Garden

    上海植物园

    Shanghai Botanical Garden, known locally as 上海植物园, is a botanical garden in Shanghai, China. It serves as a space for plant conservation, scientific research, and public recreation.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Shanghai
  8. Qinglong Temple Qinglong Temple
    114 45 min

    Qinglong Temple

    青龙寺

    Qinglong Temple, also known as 青龙寺, is a historic Buddhist temple site in Xi’an. Its importance is closely connected with Esoteric Buddhism and the Tang dynasty, when the temple served as a centre for Buddhist learning and scripture translation.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Xi'an
  9. Daci'en Temple Daci'en Temple
    115 30 min

    Daci'en Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  10. Qiniangshan Qiniangshan
    116 20 min

    Qiniangshan

    七娘山

    Qiniang Mountain, or 七娘山, is a natural landmark in Shenzhen and a destination for visitors who want a demanding outdoor experience rather than an urban attraction.

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Shenzhen
  11. Beijing Antique Market Beijing Antique Market
    117 45 min

    Beijing Antique Market

    潘家园旧货市场

    Panjiayuan Antique Market is a sprawling Beijing bazaar filled with secondhand goods, curios and objects connected with Chinese material culture. Known locally as 潘家园旧货市场, it attracts collectors, browsers and travellers searching for distinctive souvenirs.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Beijing
  12. Fairylake Botanical Garden Fairylake Botanical Garden
    118 1 hour

    Fairylake Botanical Garden

    仙湖植物园

    Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, or 仙湖植物园, is a large botanical garden in Shenzhen’s eastern area. Hills, a lake and cultivated plant landscapes shape the visit.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  13. Hac Sa Beach Hac Sa Beach
    119 1 hour

    Hac Sa Beach

    黑沙海灘 Praia de Hác Sá

    Hac Sa Beach, or 黑沙海灘, is a coastal beach on the southeastern side of Coloane Island in Macau. Its name means Black Sand Beach and refers to the dark mineral-rich sand that gives the shoreline its distinctive appearance.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Macau
  14. St. Augustine's Church St. Augustine's Church
    120 30 min

    St. Augustine's Church

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  15. Xiangji Temple Xiangji Temple
    121 30 min

    Xiangji Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  16. Shanghai Oriental Art Center Shanghai Oriental Art Center
    122 1 hour

    Shanghai Oriental Art Center

    上海东方艺术中心

    The Shanghai Oriental Art Center is a major performing arts venue in Shanghai, China. Its local name is 上海东方艺术中心. The building is recognized as a distinct visitor destination in Shanghai, noted in breadth-first top rankings of city attractions.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Shanghai
  17. Cheung Chau Park Cheung Chau Park
    123 1 hour

    Cheung Chau Park

    長洲公園 Cheung Chau Park

    Cheung Chau Park is a public green space on Cheung Chau, one of Hong Kong's outlying islands. The island's fishing-community character, harbourfront, narrow lanes and lack of motor vehicles give a visit a different rhythm from the dense mainland city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  18. Caotang Temple Caotang Temple
    124 30 min

    Caotang Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  19. Daxingshan Temple Daxingshan Temple
    125 30 min

    Daxingshan Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  20. Guangren Temple Guangren Temple
    126 30 min

    Guangren Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  21. Fuxing Park Fuxing Park
    127 1 hour

    Fuxing Park

    复兴公园

    Fuxing Park, known locally as 复兴公园, is a public park located in Shanghai's former French Concession area. Established during the colonial era, it reflects European garden design influences uncommon in Chinese urban green spaces.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Shanghai
  22. Nantou Nantou
    128 45 min

    Nantou

    南头古城

    Nantou Ancient City, or 南头古城, is a historic fortified settlement in Shenzhen. It preserves the memory of an older urban landscape within a city better known for new towers, technology, and rapid construction.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Shenzhen
  23. Lin Fong Temple Lin Fong Temple
    129 30 min

    Lin Fong Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  24. Honghu Park Honghu Park
    130 1 hour

    Honghu Park

    洪湖公园

    Honghu Park is a public urban park in Shenzhen, known locally as 洪湖公园. The park centers on Honghu Lake and serves as a recreational green space within the dense metropolitan environment.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Shenzhen
  25. Tomb of Emperor Shao of Song Tomb of Emperor Shao of Song
    131 45 min

    Tomb of Emperor Shao of Song

    宋少帝陵

    The Tomb of the Young Song Emperor, known locally as 宋少帝陵, is a memorial site in Shenzhen associated with the final years of the Southern Song dynasty.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Shenzhen

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.