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Country guide

Places to visit in China — page 16

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

39,939 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

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

421 places match

Category

Historic sites 90 Museums 104 Places of worship 45 Nature sites 87 Viewpoints 18 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 18 Entertainment 15 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 11 Art and culture 24 Activities 9

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 267 1 to 2 hours 143 Half a day or more 11

Interests

History 87 Art 20 Museums 45 Nature 39 Sea and beach 32 Viewpoints 7
  1. Xingjiao Temple Xingjiao Temple
    376 30 min

    Xingjiao Temple

    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
  2. Xingqinggong Park Xingqinggong Park
    377 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
  3. Xu Beihong Memorial Museum
    378 1 hr 30 min

    Xu Beihong Memorial Museum

    徐悲鸿纪念馆

    Xu Beihong Memorial Museum is a Beijing museum devoted to Xu Beihong, the modern Chinese artist celebrated especially for paintings of horses.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Beijing
  4. Yandai Byway
    379 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 site
    • Beijing
  5. Yongning Gate (Yongningmen) Yongning Gate (Yongningmen)
    380 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 site
    • Xi'an
  6. Yongxingfang Yongxingfang
    381 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 site
    • Xi'an
  7. Yongyang Park
    382 1 hour

    Yongyang Park

    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
  8. Yuetan Park Yuetan Park
    383 1 hour

    Yuetan Park

    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
  9. Zhujiajiao Ancient Town Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
    384 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 site
    • Shanghai
  10. Penfold Park Penfold Park
    385 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
  11. Sunbeam Theatre
    386 1 hour

    Sunbeam Theatre

    新光戲院大劇場 Sunbeam Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  12. Ohel Leah Synagogue
    387 30 min

    Ohel Leah Synagogue

    猶太教莉亞堂 Ohel Leah Synagogue

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  13. Tai Fu Tai Mansion Tai Fu Tai Mansion
    388 45 min

    Tai Fu Tai Mansion

    大夫第 Tai Fu Tai

    • Must see
    • Historic site
    • Hong Kong
  14. Tung Chau Street Park
    389 1 hour

    Tung Chau Street Park

    通州街公園 Tung Chau Street Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  15. Lido Beach
    390 1 hour

    Lido Beach

    麗都灣泳灘 Lido Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  16. Stanley Mosque Stanley Mosque
    391 30 min

    Stanley Mosque

    赤柱清真寺 Stanley Mosque

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  17. Lower Cheung Sha Beach
    392 1 hour

    Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    下長沙泳灘 Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  18. Castle Peak Beach
    393 1 hour

    Castle Peak Beach

    青山灣泳灘 Castle Peak Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  19. Approach Beach
    394 1 hour

    Approach Beach

    近水灣泳灘 Approach Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  20. Ko Shan Road Park
    395 1 hour

    Ko Shan Road Park

    高山道公園 Ko Shan Road Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  21. Aldrich Bay Park
    396 1 hour

    Aldrich Bay Park

    愛秩序灣公園 Aldrich Bay Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  22. Au Pui Wan
    397 45 min

    Au Pui Wan

    坳背灣 Au Pui Wan

    • Must see
    • Historic site
    • Hong Kong
  23. Hoi Bun Road Park
    398 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
  24. Lam Tin Park
    399 1 hour

    Lam Tin Park

    藍田公園 Lam Tin Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  25. Nanjing Museum
    400 1 hr 30 min

    Nanjing Museum

    南京博物院

    The Nanjing Museum is a provincial public museum in Nanjing, Jiangsu, owned by the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government and operated by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Shanghai
Show 21 more places

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.