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.

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. Suzhou Museum
    401 1 hr 30 min

    Suzhou Museum

    苏州博物馆

    • High
    • Museum
    • Shanghai
  2. Ching Chung Koon
    402 30 min

    Ching Chung Koon

    青松觀 Ching Chung Koon

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Hong Kong
  3. Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving
    403 45 min

    Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving

    滘西洲石刻 Kau Sai Chau Rock Carving

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Hong Kong
  5. Hin Tin Playground
    405 1 hour

    Hin Tin Playground

    顯田遊樂場 Hin Tin Playground

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  6. Kadoorie Beach
    406 1 hour

    Kadoorie Beach

    加多利灣泳灘 Kadoorie Beach

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  12. Discovery Park
    412 45 min

    Discovery Park

    愉景新城商場 D • Park

    • High
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  13. Concord Square
    413 45 min

    Concord Square

    協和廣場 Concord Square

    • High
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  14. Ma On Shan Plaza
    414 45 min

    Ma On Shan Plaza

    馬鞍山廣場 Ma On Shan Plaza

    • High
    • Market
    • Hong Kong
  15. Jiaoshan
    415 20 min

    Jiaoshan

    焦山

    • High
    • Viewpoint
    • Shanghai
  17. Hung Hom Square
    417 45 min

    Hung Hom Square

    紅磡廣場 Hung Hom Square

    • Notable
    • Market
    • 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.