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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18 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 13 Nature sites 0 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 5 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 17 Half a day or more 1

Interests

History 86 Art 18 Museums 44 Nature 38 Sea and beach 31 Viewpoints 7
  1. Wong Tai Sin Temple Wong Tai Sin Temple
    01 1 hour

    Wong Tai Sin Temple

    黃大仙祠 Wong Tai Sin Temple

    Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple is a working Taoist temple in Kowloon, and the two halves of its name matter.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  2. Chi Lin Nunnery Chi Lin Nunnery
    02 30 min

    Chi Lin Nunnery

    志蓮淨苑 Chi Lin Nunnery

    Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddhist temple complex in Diamond Hill, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Founded in 1934, it was rebuilt in the 1990s using traditional Tang dynasty architectural techniques with wooden structures assembled without nails.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  3. Statue of Bruce Lee Statue of Bruce Lee
    03 1 hour

    Statue of Bruce Lee

    李小龍銅像 Bruce Lee Statue

    The Statue of Bruce Lee is an outdoor bronze memorial on the Avenue of Stars beside the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  4. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
    04 30 min

    Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

    萬佛寺 Ten Thousand Buddha's Monastery

    Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a Buddhist temple complex in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Despite its name, it is not a monastery in the traditional sense as no monks reside there.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  5. Po Lin Monastery Po Lin Monastery
    05 2 hr 30 min

    Po Lin Monastery

    寶蓮禪寺 Po Lin Monastery

    Po Lin Monastery is a working Chan (Zen) monastery on the Ngong Ping plateau, in the middle of Lantau Island, at an altitude of about 400 metres and set between Lantau Peak and Lei Nak Peak.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  6. Xiqu Centre Xiqu Centre
    06 1 hour

    Xiqu Centre

    戲曲中心 Xiqu Centre

    Xiqu Centre is a performing arts venue in Hong Kong dedicated to xiqu, the traditional Chinese opera encompassing Cantonese opera and other regional forms. Opened in 2019, it serves as a major cultural facility within the West Kowloon Cultural District.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  7. Che Kung Miu Che Kung Miu
    07 30 min

    Che Kung Miu

    車公廟 Che Kung Temple

    Che Kung Temple is a Taoist temple in Hong Kong dedicated to Che Kung, a military commander from the Song dynasty revered for his supposed ability to suppress rebellions and bring good fortune.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  8. Old Protestant Cemetery Old Protestant Cemetery
    08 30 min

    Old Protestant Cemetery

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  9. St Lawrence's Church St Lawrence's Church
    09 30 min

    St Lawrence's Church

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  10. Tin Hau Temple Tin Hau Temple
    10 30 min

    Tin Hau Temple

    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.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  11. Templo de Kun Iam Tong Templo de Kun Iam Tong
    11 30 min

    Templo de Kun Iam Tong

    普濟禪院 (觀音堂) Templo Kun Iam

    Kun Iam Temple, known locally as 普濟禪院, is one of the oldest and most significant Buddhist temples in Macau. It serves as a major place of worship and cultural heritage site, reflecting the territory's deep-rooted Buddhist traditions.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Macau
  12. Pak Tai Temple Pak Tai Temple
    12 30 min

    Pak Tai Temple

    北帝宮

    Pak Tai Temple, also known locally as 北帝宮, is a Taoist temple in Hong Kong dedicated to Pak Tai, the Northern Emperor. Worshippers honour him as a protective deity associated with the power to subdue evil spirits and safeguard communities.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  13. Sik Sik Yuen Ho Ming Monastery
    13 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
  14. Stanley Mosque Stanley Mosque
    14 30 min

    Stanley Mosque

    赤柱清真寺 Stanley Mosque

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  15. Yuen Long Theatre
    15 1 hour

    Yuen Long Theatre

    元朗劇院 Yuen Long Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  16. Statue of Anita Mui
    16 1 hour

    Statue of Anita Mui

    梅艷芳脽像 Anita Mui Statue

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  17. Ching Chung Koon
    17 30 min

    Ching Chung Koon

    青松觀 Ching Chung Koon

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • 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.