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.

  1. Shenzhen Talent Park Shenzhen Talent Park
    201 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
  2. Sik Sik Yuen Ho Ming Monastery
    202 30 min

    Sik Sik Yuen Ho Ming Monastery

    嗇色園可名別苑 Sik Sik Yuen Ho Ming Monastery

    Sik Sik Yuen Ho Ming Monastery is a Buddhist religious site located within the grounds of Wong Tai Sin Temple complex in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  3. Small Wild Goose Pagoda Small Wild Goose Pagoda
    203 30 min

    Small Wild Goose Pagoda

    荐福寺

    Jianfu Temple, known locally as 荐福寺, is a historic Buddhist temple complex located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. The temple is principally renowned as the original site of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xi'an's iconic Tang Dynasty structures.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  4. SoHo East SoHo East
    204 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
  5. Stanley Market Stanley Market
    205 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
  6. Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Memorial Stone
    206 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
  7. Tai O Market Tai O Market
    207 45 min

    Tai O Market

    大澳街市 Tai O Market

    Tai O Market is a local marketplace situated in the historic fishing village of Tai O on Lantau Island, Hong Kong.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  8. Tanzhe Temple Tanzhe Temple
    208 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
  9. Temple Street Night Market Temple Street Night Market
    209 45 min

    Temple Street Night Market

    廟街夜市 Temple Street Night Market

    Temple Street Night Market is a well-known open-air market in Hong Kong, located in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. The street stretches from Man Ming Lane in the north to Nanking Street in the south.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  10. Tian Tan Buddha Tian Tan Buddha
    210 1 hour

    Tian Tan Buddha

    天壇大佛 Tian Tan Buddha Statue

    Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze Buddha statue located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as the Big Buddha.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  11. Tung Choi Street Tung Choi Street
    211 45 min

    Tung Choi Street

    女人街 Ladies Market

    Tung Choi Street is the street name associated with Ladies Market, or 女人街, in Mong Kok, Kowloon. The market section is one of Hong Kong’s best-known street-shopping areas and reflects the dense commercial character of Mong Kok.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  12. Victoria Park Victoria Park
    212 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
  13. Wangfujing Street Wangfujing Street
    213 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
  14. Xiangmi Park
    214 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
  15. Xili Eco Park
    215 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
  16. Xinchang Ancient Town
    216 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
  17. Xingqinggong Park Xingqinggong Park
    217 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
  18. Yandai Byway
    218 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
  19. Yongning Gate (Yongningmen) Yongning Gate (Yongningmen)
    219 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
  20. Yongxingfang Yongxingfang
    220 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
  21. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
    221 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
  22. 光明农场大观园
    222 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
  23. 兴教寺 兴教寺
    223 30 min

    兴教寺

    Xingjiao Temple is a Buddhist temple located in the southern suburbs of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Xi'an
  24. 大潭山郊野公園
    224 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
  25. 广运潭公园
    225 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
  26. 曹雪芹纪念馆 曹雪芹纪念馆
    226 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
  27. 月坛公园 月坛公园
    227 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
  28. 永阳公园
    228 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
  29. 清华大学 清华大学
    229 1 hour

    清华大学

    Tsinghua University Campus is a major higher education institution in Beijing, China.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Beijing
  30. 王顺山国家森林公园
    230 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
  31. 玫瑰海岸
    231 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
  32. 白云观 白云观
    232 30 min

    白云观

    White Cloud Temple, or Baiyun Guan, is Beijing's principal Taoist monastery, an ancestral centre of the Quanzhen tradition and headquarters of the China Taoist Association.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Beijing
  33. 秦二世陵遗址公园 秦二世陵遗址公园
    233 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
  34. 秦岭四宝科学公园
    234 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
  35. Penfold Park Penfold Park
    235 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
  36. Tai Fu Tai Mansion Tai Fu Tai Mansion
    236 45 min

    Tai Fu Tai Mansion

    大夫第 Tai Fu Tai

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  37. Lido Beach
    237 1 hour

    Lido Beach

    麗都灣泳灘 Lido Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  38. Stanley Mosque Stanley Mosque
    238 30 min

    Stanley Mosque

    赤柱清真寺 Stanley Mosque

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  39. Lower Cheung Sha Beach
    239 1 hour

    Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    下長沙泳灘 Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  40. Castle Peak Beach
    240 1 hour

    Castle Peak Beach

    青山灣泳灘 Castle Peak Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  41. Approach Beach
    241 1 hour

    Approach Beach

    近水灣泳灘 Approach Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  42. Ko Shan Road Park
    242 1 hour

    Ko Shan Road Park

    高山道公園 Ko Shan Road Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  43. Aldrich Bay Park
    243 1 hour

    Aldrich Bay Park

    愛秩序灣公園 Aldrich Bay Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  44. Au Pui Wan
    244 45 min

    Au Pui Wan

    坳背灣 Au Pui Wan

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  45. Hoi Bun Road Park
    245 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
  46. Lam Tin Park
    246 1 hour

    Lam Tin Park

    藍田公園 Lam Tin Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  47. Yuen Long Theatre
    247 1 hour

    Yuen Long Theatre

    元朗劇院 Yuen Long Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  48. Statue of Anita Mui
    249 1 hour

    Statue of Anita Mui

    梅艷芳脽像 Anita Mui Statue

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  49. Ching Chung Koon
    250 30 min

    Ching Chung Koon

    青松觀 Ching Chung Koon

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  50. Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving
    251 45 min

    Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving

    滘西洲石刻 Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  51. Hin Tin Playground
    253 1 hour

    Hin Tin Playground

    顯田遊樂場 Hin Tin Playground

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  52. Kadoorie Beach
    254 1 hour

    Kadoorie Beach

    加多利灣泳灘 Kadoorie Beach

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  53. Discovery Park
    258 45 min

    Discovery Park

    愉景新城商場 D • Park

    • High
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  54. Concord Square
    259 45 min

    Concord Square

    協和廣場 Concord Square

    • High
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  55. Ma On Shan Plaza
    260 45 min

    Ma On Shan Plaza

    馬鞍山廣場 Ma On Shan Plaza

    • High
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  56. Jiaoshan
    261 20 min

    Jiaoshan

    焦山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Shanghai
  57. Hung Hom Square
    263 45 min

    Hung Hom Square

    紅磡廣場 Hung Hom Square

    • Notable
    • Market
    • 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.