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  • Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River, with the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower
    Pudong skyline from the Bund, ShanghaiPxfuel contributor · CC0 1.0
    East China

    Shanghai

    上海

    Walk the Bund, compare the skyline with residential lanes and choose a museum. For travelers who enjoy architecture and everyday city exploration.

    • first arrivals in China
    • architecture walks
    Signature sights
    The Bund · Yuyuan Garden
    Read the Shanghai city guide
  • Traditional wooden tour boat passing stone houses and autumn trees beside Suzhou's Grand Canal
    Traditional canal boat at Shantang Street, SuzhouPeter K Burian · CC BY 4.0
    Jiangsu, East China

    Suzhou

    苏州

    A lived-in canal city where classical gardens reward slow looking rather than checklist sightseeing.

    • classical garden design
    • canal walks
    Signature sights
    Humble Administrator's Garden · Suzhou Museum
    Read the Suzhou city guide
  • West Lake dotted with sightseeing boats, with green shoreline and Hangzhou's modern skyline beyond
    West Lake and the Hangzhou skyline from HubinCatOnMars · CC BY 4.0
    Zhejiang, East China

    Hangzhou

    杭州

    A lake-and-hills city where landscape, tea culture and Southern Song history are part of the urban fabric.

    • landscape walks
    • tea culture
    Signature sights
    West Lake · Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak
    Read the Hangzhou city guide
  • Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, with visitors in the courtyard
    Temple of Heaven, BeijingMikhail Lazarev · CC0 1.0
    North China

    Beijing

    北京

    Explore imperial palaces, courtyard neighborhoods and the Great Wall. A strong starting point for travelers drawn to history and large historic sites.

    • first-time China history
    • imperial architecture
    Signature sights
    Forbidden City / Palace Museum · Mutianyu Great Wall
    Read the Beijing city guide
  • Central Tianjin skyline rising above older neighbourhoods under a vivid blue summer sky
    Central Tianjin skylineTyngrwey · CC BY 4.0
    North China

    Tianjin

    天津

    A Haihe port city of former concession streets, vernacular crafts, comic storytelling and distinctive local food, about 30 minutes from Beijing by rail.

    • modern Chinese urban history
    • architecture walks
    Signature sights
    Italian Style Area · Haihe riverfront
    Read the Tianjin city guide
  • Red footbridge reflected in the lake at Chengde Mountain Resort, backed by pavilions and wooded hills
    Lake and pavilions at Chengde Mountain ResortH2v5o68z · CC0 1.0
    Hebei, North China

    Chengde

    承德

    A Qing imperial summer capital where a vast landscape palace and outlying Tibetan Buddhist temples form one World Heritage ensemble.

    • Qing history
    • imperial landscapes
    Signature sights
    Chengde Mountain Resort · Putuo Zongcheng and Xumi Fushou temples
    Read the Chengde city guide
  • Blue-tiled octagonal Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall framed by trees and gardens in Guangzhou
    Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, GuangzhouShujianyang · CC BY 4.0
    Guangdong, South China

    Guangzhou

    广州

    A two-millennia trading city where Cantonese food, Lingnan craft and a modern Pearl River skyline coexist.

    • Cantonese food
    • Lingnan architecture
    Signature sights
    Chen Clan Ancestral Hall · Shamian Historical District
    Read the Guangzhou city guide
  • Illuminated Shenzhen Bay skyline and China Resources Headquarters reflected in the lake at Talent Park
    Shenzhen Bay skyline from Talent ParkRenchaii · CC0 1.0
    Guangdong, South China

    Shenzhen

    深圳

    A young design-and-technology metropolis with a long coastline, migrant food culture and older walled settlements beneath the skyline.

    • contemporary architecture
    • design and creative districts
    Signature sights
    Shenzhen Bay Park · Nantou Ancient Town
    Read the Shenzhen city guide
  • Passengers on a Li River cruise surrounded by limestone karst mountains near Guilin
    Li River cruise near GuilinRenek78 · CC0 1.0
    Guangxi, South China

    Guilin & Yangshuo

    桂林与阳朔

    A karst landscape cluster linking Guilin city, the Li River corridor, Yangshuo countryside and Longji rice terraces.

    • karst landscapes
    • river journeys
    Signature sights
    Li River core cruise · Yulong River countryside
    Read the Guilin & Yangshuo city guide
  • Chengdu's dense skyline beneath layered blue ridges and the snow-capped Mount Siguniang horizon
    Chengdu skyline with Mount Siguniang on the horizonFISU · CC BY 3.0
    Sichuan, Southwest China

    Chengdu

    成都

    A food-led Sichuan capital connecting giant-panda conservation, Three Kingdoms memory, Tang poetry and Ancient Shu archaeology.

    • giant-panda conservation
    • Sichuan food
    Signature sights
    Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · Sanxingdui Museum
    Read the Chengdu city guide
  • Xi'an Bell Tower rising above its stone base beneath a clear blue sky
    Bell Tower in the historic centre of Xi'anxiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
    Shaanxi, Northwest China

    Xi’an

    西安

    See the Terracotta Army, explore the old-city streets and choose a section of the City Wall. Best suited to an interest in archaeology and urban history.

    • Qin archaeology
    • Tang dynasty and Silk Road history
    Signature sights
    Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum · Xi’an City Wall
    Read the Xi’an city guide
  • Sandstone pillars rising through mist and dense forest in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
    Sandstone pillar landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest ParkLe Zenits · CC BY 2.0
    Hunan, Central China

    Zhangjiajie

    张家界

    A landscape-first mountain destination split between Wulingyuan's quartz-sandstone peak forest, city-side Tianmen Mountain and an underground karst cave.

    • quartz-sandstone peak forests
    • mountain walking and viewpoints
    Signature sights
    Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area / Zhangjiajie National Forest Park · Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park
    Read the Zhangjiajie city guide
  • Granite peaks and forested ridges stretching across Mount Huangshan beneath layered clouds
    Granite peaks and forested ridges at Mount HuangshanFrançois Philipp · CC BY 2.0
    Anhui, East China

    Huangshan

    黄山

    A split mountain-and-Huizhou heritage destination linking Mount Huangshan's granite peaks with Yi County villages and Tunxi's historic city-centre streets.

    • granite mountain landscapes
    • Hui village architecture
    Signature sights
    Mount Huangshan Scenic Area · Hongcun
    Read the Huangshan city guide

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