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Places to visit in China — from 376

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.

Filter the list

417 places match

Category

Historic monuments 89 Museums 104 Places of worship 44 Nature sites 87 Viewpoints 18 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 17 Entertainment 15 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 11 Art and culture 23 Activities 9

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 263 1 to 2 hours 143 Half a day or more 11

Interests

History 86 Art 18 Museums 44 Nature 38 Sea and beach 31 Viewpoints 7
  1. 梅兰芳纪念馆
    376 1 hr 30 min

    梅兰芳纪念馆

    The Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum is a cultural memorial site in Beijing dedicated to Mei Lanfang, the celebrated Peking opera artist renowned for his dan roles.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Beijing
  2. 永阳公园
    377 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
  3. 深圳科学馆 深圳科学馆
    378 1 hr 30 min

    深圳科学馆

    Shenzhen Science Museum, known locally as 深圳科学馆, is a science education venue in Shenzhen. It belongs to the city’s cultural and educational landscape and reflects Shenzhen’s strong connection with technology and scientific learning.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Shenzhen
  4. 清华大学 清华大学
    379 1 hour

    清华大学

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

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Beijing
  5. 王顺山国家森林公园
    380 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
  6. 玫瑰海岸
    381 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
  7. 白云观 白云观
    382 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
  8. 秦二世陵遗址公园 秦二世陵遗址公园
    383 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
  9. 秦岭四宝科学公园
    384 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
  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. Tai Fu Tai Mansion Tai Fu Tai Mansion
    386 45 min

    Tai Fu Tai Mansion

    大夫第 Tai Fu Tai

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  12. Lido Beach
    387 1 hour

    Lido Beach

    麗都灣泳灘 Lido Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  13. Stanley Mosque Stanley Mosque
    388 30 min

    Stanley Mosque

    赤柱清真寺 Stanley Mosque

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  14. Lower Cheung Sha Beach
    389 1 hour

    Lower Cheung Sha Beach

    下長沙泳灘 Lower Cheung Sha Beach

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

    Castle Peak Beach

    青山灣泳灘 Castle Peak Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  16. Approach Beach
    391 1 hour

    Approach Beach

    近水灣泳灘 Approach Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  17. Ko Shan Road Park
    392 1 hour

    Ko Shan Road Park

    高山道公園 Ko Shan Road Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  18. Aldrich Bay Park
    393 1 hour

    Aldrich Bay Park

    愛秩序灣公園 Aldrich Bay Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  19. Au Pui Wan
    394 45 min

    Au Pui Wan

    坳背灣 Au Pui Wan

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  20. Hoi Bun Road Park
    395 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
  21. Lam Tin Park
    396 1 hour

    Lam Tin Park

    藍田公園 Lam Tin Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  22. Nanjing Museum
    397 1 hr 30 min

    Nanjing Museum

    南京博物院

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Shanghai
  23. Yuen Long Theatre
    398 1 hour

    Yuen Long Theatre

    元朗劇院 Yuen Long Theatre

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
  25. Statue of Anita Mui
    400 1 hour

    Statue of Anita Mui

    梅艷芳脽像 Anita Mui Statue

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Hong Kong
Show 17 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.