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. Hong Kong Heritage Museum Hong Kong Heritage Museum
    02 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Heritage Museum

    香港文化博物館 Hong Kong Heritage Museum

    The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a major cultural institution operated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  2. Hong Kong Museum of History Hong Kong Museum of History
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Museum of History

    香港歷史博物館 Hong Kong Museum of History

    The Hong Kong Museum of History is a major cultural institution dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of Hong Kong and South China. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the museum occupies a purpose-built facility.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  3. Flagstaff House Flagstaff House
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Flagstaff House

    茶具文物館 Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware

    Flagstaff House is Hong Kong’s oldest surviving Western-style building and now houses the Museum of Tea Ware. The historic building stands inside Hong Kong Park in Central, placing colonial architectural heritage beside one of the city’s major urban green spaces.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  4. M+ M+
    05 1 hr 30 min

    M+

    M+ is a museum of visual culture in Hong Kong, located in the West Kowloon Cultural District. It focuses on twentieth- and twenty-first-century art, design, architecture, and moving image from Hong Kong, China, Asia, and beyond.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  5. Hong Kong Maritime Museum Hong Kong Maritime Museum
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Maritime Museum

    香港海事博物館 Hong Kong Maritime Museum

    The Hong Kong Maritime Museum is a museum in Hong Kong dedicated to the maritime history and heritage of the region.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  6. Hong Kong Railway Museum Hong Kong Railway Museum
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Railway Museum

    香港鐵路博物館 Hong Kong Railway Museum

    The Hong Kong Railway Museum occupies a historic building that was formerly the Tai Po Market Railway Station, constructed in 1913.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  7. Hong Kong Science Museum Hong Kong Science Museum
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Science Museum

    香港科學館 Hong Kong Science Museum

    Hong Kong Science Museum is a public science museum in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon. It presents science as something to explore with your hands, eyes, and curiosity rather than only through labels or glass cases.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  8. Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence

    香港抗戰及海防博物館 Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence

    The Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence is a museum dedicated to Hong Kong's military history, particularly its coastal defence heritage and role during the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  9. Statue of Bruce Lee Statue of Bruce Lee
    10 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
  10. Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum

    孫中山紀念館 Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum

    The Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum is a museum in Hong Kong dedicated to the life and revolutionary activities of Dr Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Republic of China.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  11. Sam Tung Uk Museum Sam Tung Uk Museum
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Sam Tung Uk Museum

    三棟屋博物館 Sam Tung Uk Museum

    Sam Tung Uk Museum is a restored Hakka walled village in Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  12. Hong Kong Film Archive Hong Kong Film Archive
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Film Archive

    香港電影資料館 Hong Kong Film Archive

    The Hong Kong Film Archive in Sai Wan Ho is a cultural venue devoted to Hong Kong’s moving-image heritage. It brings together public exhibitions, film screenings and archival resources, offering a focused way to understand the territory through cinema.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  13. Hong Kong Police Museum Hong Kong Police Museum
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Police Museum

    警隊博物館 Police Museum

    Hong Kong Police Museum traces the history of the Hong Kong Police Force from the colonial period to the present.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  14. Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum

    李鄭屋漢墓博物館 Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum

    Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum preserves a tomb discovered in 1955 during construction work in Sham Shui Po. Dating from the Eastern Han dynasty, the tomb is one of Hong Kong’s most important archaeological sites.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  15. Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences

    香港醫學博物館 Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences

    Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences presents the history of medical science in Hong Kong inside a historic former bacteriological institute. The museum connects public health, scientific research and the development of healthcare in the territory.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  16. Xiqu Centre Xiqu Centre
    17 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
  17. Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery

    展城館 City Gallery

    Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery, also called 展城館 or City Gallery, introduces visitors to the territory’s urban planning, infrastructure, transport networks, harbourfront projects, and future development.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  18. Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

    香港文物探知館 Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

    Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is a cultural institution in Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, devoted to Hong Kong’s archaeological and built heritage.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  19. Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum

    香港懲教博物館 Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum

    The Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum is a museum operated by the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department. It is located in Stanley on Hong Kong Island.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  20. Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre

    香港視覺藝術中心 Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre

    The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre is a visual arts facility in Hong Kong. It operates under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong government.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  21. Mausoleum of Mao Zedong Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
    22 1 hr 30 min

    Mausoleum of Mao Zedong

    毛主席纪念堂

    Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is the state memorial at the southern end of Tiananmen Square. Its public route normally passes through security and the memorial chambers in a controlled one-way flow.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Beijing
  22. Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre
    23 1 hr 30 min

    Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre

    衞生教育展覽及資料中心 Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre

    The Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre is a public health education facility in Hong Kong. Its Chinese name is 衞生教育展覽及資料中心. The centre serves as a venue for promoting health awareness and providing educational resources to the public.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  23. Hong Kong Museum of Education Hong Kong Museum of Education
    24 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Museum of Education

    香港教育博物館

    Hong Kong Museum of Education focuses on the history and development of education in Hong Kong. Its subject reaches beyond classrooms to teaching practice, learning, educational policy and the institutions that shaped society.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  24. Drum Tower of Xi'an Drum Tower of Xi'an
    25 1 hr 30 min

    Drum Tower of Xi'an

    西安鼓楼博物馆

    Xi'an Drum Tower is a Ming Dynasty landmark in the centre of Xi'an's walled city. It stands opposite the Bell Tower and is one of the city's defining historic buildings.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Xi'an
  25. Mandarin's House Mandarin's House
    26 1 hr 30 min

    Mandarin's House

    鄭家大屋 Casa do Mandarim

    Mandarin’s House, also known as Zheng Guanying’s former residence, is a historic mansion in Macau’s Historic Centre. It was the ancestral home of the Zheng family and is associated with the thinker Zheng Guanying.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Macau
  26. Museum of Macau Museum of Macau
    27 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Macau

    澳門博物館 Museu de Macau

    Macao Museum is a cultural institution located within the Mount Fortress complex in the historic centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The museum occupies a prominent position overlooking the city, integrated into the seventeenth-century Portuguese military fortification.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Macau
  27. Macau Museum of Art Macau Museum of Art
    28 1 hr 30 min

    Macau Museum of Art

    澳門藝術博物館 Museu de Arte de Macau

    The Macao Museum of Art is the largest visual arts museum in Macau, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting artworks. It occupies a purpose-built facility in the Macau Cultural Centre complex near the Outer Harbour.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Macau
  28. Astropark Astropark
    29 1 hr 30 min

    Astropark

    天文公園 Astropark

    Astropark, also known as 天文公園, is an astronomy-themed public park in Hong Kong devoted to stargazing and astronomical education.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  29. Hong Kong Racing Museum Hong Kong Racing Museum
    30 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Racing Museum

    香港賽馬博物館 The Hong Kong Racing Museum

    Hong Kong Racing Museum explores the history and culture of horse racing in Hong Kong. It sits within the Happy Valley Racecourse complex and is operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  30. Fong Yuen Study Hall Fong Yuen Study Hall
    31 1 hr 30 min

    Fong Yuen Study Hall

    芳園書室 Fong Yuen Study Hall

    Fong Yuen Study Hall, known locally as 芳園書室, is a historic study hall in Hong Kong.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  31. Jao Tsung-I Academy Jao Tsung-I Academy
    32 1 hr 30 min

    Jao Tsung-I Academy

    饒宗頤文化館 Jao Tsung-I Academy

    Jao Tsung-I Academy is a cultural institution in Hong Kong dedicated to Professor Jao Tsung-I, a major Chinese scholar in the humanities.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  32. Insect House Insect House
    33 1 hr 30 min

    Insect House

    昆蟲屋

    Insect House, also known locally as 昆蟲屋, is a Hong Kong attraction centred on insects. The name gives the visit a clear entomological focus, making it a natural choice for travellers who enjoy small creatures, natural history, and close observation.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  33. Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark Volcano Discovery Centre Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark Volcano Discovery Centre
    34 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark Volcano Discovery Centre

    火山探知館 Volcano Discovery Centre

    The Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark Volcano Discovery Centre serves as the primary visitor gateway to Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. Located in Sai Kung, the centre introduces visitors to the territory's remarkable volcanic geology and hexagonal rock columns.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  34. Hong Kong Museum of Art Hong Kong Museum of Art
    35 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Museum of Art

    香港藝術館 Hong Kong Museum of Art

    The Hong Kong Museum of Art is a public art museum located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, on the waterfront of Victoria Harbour.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  35. Hong Kong Palace Museum Hong Kong Palace Museum
    36 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Palace Museum

    香港故宮文化博物館 Hong Kong Palace Museum

    The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a museum dedicated to Chinese art and culture, located in the West Kowloon Cultural District. It displays treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing alongside Hong Kong collections.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  36. Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage
    37 1 hr 30 min

    Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage

    香港文化古蹟資源中心 Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage

    The Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage is a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and promoting Hong Kong's historical and architectural legacy.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Hong Kong
  37. Nanjing Museum
    38 1 hr 30 min

    Nanjing Museum

    南京博物院

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Shanghai
  38. Yuen Long Theatre
    39 1 hour

    Yuen Long Theatre

    元朗劇院 Yuen Long Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  39. Statue of Anita Mui
    40 1 hour

    Statue of Anita Mui

    梅艷芳脽像 Anita Mui Statue

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  40. Suzhou Museum
    41 1 hr 30 min

    Suzhou Museum

    苏州博物馆

    • High
    • Museum
    • 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.