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Country guide

China

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.

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44 places match

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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 39 Places of worship 0 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 5 1 to 2 hours 39

Interests

History 86 Art 18 Museums 44 Nature 38 Sea and beach 31 Viewpoints 7
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Nanjing Museum
    38 1 hr 30 min

    Nanjing Museum

    南京博物院

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

    Yuen Long Theatre

    元朗劇院 Yuen Long Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  9. 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
  10. 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.