China · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in China
These are the places worth your time in China, from the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors to Shanghai's lanes, Chengdu's teahouses and the karst rivers of Yangshuo. Classics sit beside quiet corners many travellers miss, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Beijing
Arts and Culture
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum) (Dongcheng)
Five centuries of imperial power in the largest palace complex on earth; book online days ahead. - Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple) (Dongcheng)
A working Tibetan Buddhist temple with incense, prayer halls and a giant sandalwood Buddha. - National Museum of China (Tiananmen Square)
Vast collections spanning Chinese history from the Neolithic to today; reserve free tickets online. - 798 Art District (Chaoyang)
Former factories turned galleries, studios and cafés, lovely for a slow afternoon. - Chaoyang Theatre acrobatics (Chaoyang)
Gasp worthy Chinese acrobatics that delights all ages.
Things to Do
- Temple of Heaven (Dongcheng)
Ming dynasty perfection, best early in the morning when locals practise tai chi in the park. - Summer Palace (Haidian)
Lakeside pavilions, the Long Corridor and boat rides in the emperors' summer retreat. - Nanluoguxiang and the Gulou hutongs (Dongcheng)
Grey brick lanes and courtyard homes around the Drum and Bell Towers, best explored on foot. - Ming Tombs and Sacred Way (Changping)
A peaceful avenue of stone animals leading to the tombs of the Ming emperors. - Beihai Park (Xicheng)
Paddle boats, the White Dagoba and a classic imperial garden right in the centre.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mutianyu Great Wall (Huairou)
A restored, scenic stretch of the Wall with a cable car up and a toboggan ride down. - Jinshanling Great Wall (Luanping, Hebei)
Wild, partly restored watchtowers and big mountain views for a proper hike. - Jingshan Park (Xicheng)
A short climb to the best view over the golden roofs of the Forbidden City. - Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) (Haidian)
Haunting European style ruins and lotus lakes in a huge, quiet park.
Bars and Nightlife
- Houhai Lake bars (Xicheng)
Lakeside bars with live music and lantern reflections on summer evenings.
Restaurants
- Siji Minfu (Dongcheng)
Crisp Peking duck carved at the table, a local favourite near the Forbidden City. - Da Dong Roast Duck (Dongcheng)
Refined, lean roast duck and elegant dishes in a polished dining room. - Guijie (Ghost Street) (Dongzhimen)
A late night strip of red lantern restaurants famous for spicy crayfish. - Huguosi Snacks (Xicheng)
Old Beijing snacks such as fried dough rings and sweet bean cakes in a time honoured shop.
Shopping and Markets
- Panjiayuan Antique Market (Chaoyang)
A sprawling weekend flea market of curios, books and crafts; haggle with a smile. - Dashilar (Qianmen)
Old merchant street of silk shops, tea houses and historic pharmacies.
Stays
- Aman Summer Palace (Haidian)
Courtyard suites beside the Summer Palace with a private gate into the grounds. - The Peninsula Beijing (Wangfujing)
Polished luxury within walking distance of the Forbidden City.
Events
- Spring Festival temple fairs (Ditan Park)
Lunar New Year fairs with lion dances, folk arts and snacks.
Places to Visit in Shanghai
Things to Do
- The Bund (Huangpu)
Riverside promenade of 1930s landmarks facing Pudong's skyline, magical at dusk. - Yu Garden (Old City)
A Ming dynasty classical garden of rockeries and ponds, best before the crowds. - Shanghai Tower observation deck (Lujiazui)
One of the highest observation decks in the world, with views over the whole city. - Wukang Road (Xuhui)
Plane tree avenue of historic villas and the photogenic Wukang Mansion. - Tianzifang (Huangpu)
Shikumen lanes filled with tiny shops, studios and bars.
Arts and Culture
- Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
Superb bronzes, ceramics and paintings in one of China's best museums. - Shanghai Museum East (Pudong)
The museum's large new branch with spacious galleries and family friendly exhibits. - Long Museum West Bund (Xuhui)
Contemporary and classical Chinese art in a striking concrete building by the river. - Power Station of Art (Huangpu)
China's first state run contemporary art museum in a former power plant. - Jing'an Temple (Jing'an)
A gilded Buddhist temple glittering among the skyscrapers.
Nature and Outdoors
- Zhujiajiao Water Town (Qingpu)
Stone bridges and canals reachable by metro for an easy old town escape. - Fuxing Park (Huangpu)
Morning dancers, card players and tai chi in a French era park. - Chenshan Botanical Garden (Songjiang)
Gardens set in a dramatic old quarry with greenhouses and lakes.
Restaurants
- Jia Jia Tang Bao (Huangpu)
Famous little shop for delicate xiaolongbao soup dumplings. - Yang's Dumpling (Huangpu)
Pan fried shengjian bao with crisp bottoms and hot soup inside. - Lost Heaven (The Bund)
Yunnan cuisine in an atmospheric dining room near the Bund. - Din Tai Fung (Xintiandi)
Reliable, beautifully made dumplings in a busy, family friendly setting. - Lao Zheng Xing (Huangpu)
A long running restaurant for classic Shanghainese red braised dishes.
Cafés
- Seesaw Coffee (Jing'an)
Shanghai grown specialty coffee in calm, design minded cafés.
Bars and Nightlife
- Flair Rooftop (Lujiazui)
A high rooftop bar facing the Bund and Oriental Pearl Tower. - Speak Low (Xuhui)
A hidden speakeasy behind a bartending shop, one of Asia's best known cocktail bars. - Peace Hotel Jazz Bar (The Bund)
Old Shanghai jazz in a landmark Art Deco hotel.
Shopping and Markets
- South Bund Fabric Market (Huangpu)
Have clothes tailored quickly from floors of fabric stalls. - Nanjing Road (Huangpu)
China's famous shopping street, lit up and lively every evening.
Stays
- Fairmont Peace Hotel (The Bund)
A 1929 Art Deco icon right on the Bund. - The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund (The Bund)
Grand historic rooms in the former Shanghai Club building.
Events
- Yu Garden Lantern Festival (Old City)
Huge lantern displays across the old city around Lunar New Year.
Places to Visit in Xi'an
Arts and Culture
- Terracotta Warriors (Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum) (Lintong)
Thousands of life size clay soldiers guarding China's first emperor. - Shaanxi History Museum (Yanta)
Treasures from the Zhou to the Tang dynasties; tickets sell out online. - Great Mosque of Xi'an (Muslim Quarter)
A serene mosque in Chinese temple style hidden behind the food streets. - Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles) (Beilin)
Thousands of carved stone tablets, a treasure of Chinese calligraphy. - Tang Paradise (Qujiang)
Reconstructed Tang gardens and pavilions lit up beautifully at night.
Things to Do
- Xi'an City Wall (City centre)
Cycle the full circuit of the Ming dynasty wall, especially at sunset. - Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Yanta)
Tang dynasty pagoda with a lively square and evening fountain show. - Datang Everbright City (Qujiang)
An illuminated pedestrian boulevard of Tang style performances at night. - Huaqing Palace (Lintong)
Imperial hot spring gardens near the Terracotta Warriors.
Nature and Outdoors
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda (Beilin)
A peaceful pagoda in a quiet park beside the Xi'an Museum. - Mount Hua (Huashan) (Huayin)
A sacred granite mountain with cable cars, temples and dizzying cliff paths.
Restaurants
- Muslim Quarter food streets (Beiyuanmen)
Lamb skewers, roujiamo and persimmon cakes in bustling lanes. - Sajinqiao food street (Lianhu)
Where locals queue for paomo and grilled meats away from the tourist crowd. - De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant (Bell Tower)
Banquets of dumplings in many shapes and fillings. - Lao Sun Jia (Dongdajie)
A historic restaurant for yangrou paomo, lamb soup with torn bread.
Shopping and Markets
- Shuyuanmen Cultural Street (Beilin)
Calligraphy brushes, ink stones and paintings by the South Gate.
Stays
- Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel (Xincheng)
An elegant historic hotel in the walled city.
Places to Visit in Yangshuo
Nature and Outdoors
- Yulong River (Yangshuo County)
Cycle or raft past karst peaks and the Ming era Dragon Bridge. - Li River bamboo raft, Yangdi to Xingping (Xingping)
The most dramatic river stretch, as seen on the twenty yuan note. - Xianggong Hill (Xingping)
A sunrise lookout over a sweeping bend of the Li River. - Moon Hill (Gaotian)
A short climb to a natural arch with views across the karst. - Silver Cave (Lipu)
Big limestone cave with lit formations, easy for all ages.
Things to Do
- Xingping Ancient Town (Xingping)
A quieter old riverside village to stay in and walk from. - Yangshuo Cooking School (Chaolong Village)
Market tour and hands on class in a farmhouse kitchen. - Rock climbing in Yangshuo (Yangshuo)
One of Asia's great climbing areas, with guiding shops in town.
Events
- Impression Liu Sanjie (Yangshuo)
An evening light and music show staged on the river beneath the peaks.
Restaurants
- Yangshuo beer fish restaurants (West Street area)
Taste the town's signature fish braised in beer and tomatoes.
Bars and Nightlife
- West Street (Yangshuo town)
A lively pedestrian street of bars, snacks and evening crowds.
Stays
- Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (Yulong River)
A riverside retreat facing the peaks, perfect for slow days. - Alila Yangshuo (Yangshuo)
A striking design hotel built around an old sugar mill. - The Giggling Tree (Aishanmen Village)
A countryside guesthouse in old farm buildings among rice fields.
Places to Visit in Guilin
Nature and Outdoors
- Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng)
Dragon's Backbone terraces with Zhuang and Yao villages and walking trails. - Reed Flute Cave (Guilin city)
Colourfully lit cave chambers close to the city centre. - Seven Star Park (Guilin city)
Big park of karst hills, caves and pavilions.
Things to Do
- Elephant Trunk Hill (Guilin city)
Guilin's symbol, a rock arch over the river. - Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise (Guilin city)
Evening boat trip past lit pagodas and bridges. - Li River cruise from Guilin (Mopanshan Pier)
The classic full day cruise through karst scenery to Yangshuo.
Restaurants
- Guilin rice noodle shops (Guilin city)
A cheap bowl of the city's famous noodles with braised meat and pickles.
Shopping and Markets
- Zhengyang Pedestrian Street (Guilin city)
Busy evening street for snacks and souvenirs.
Stays
- Shangri-La Guilin (Guilin city)
A comfortable riverside base for early cruises.
Arts and Culture
- Jingjiang Princes' City (Guilin city)
Ming dynasty palace complex below Solitary Beauty Peak.
Places to Visit in Chengdu
Nature and Outdoors
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chenghua)
Watch giant and red pandas at their liveliest in the early morning. - Leshan Giant Buddha (Leshan)
A colossal Tang dynasty Buddha carved into a river cliff. - Mount Qingcheng (Dujiangyan)
Forest trails and Taoist temples on a sacred mountain. - Dujiangyan Irrigation System (Dujiangyan)
An ancient water engineering marvel still working after two thousand years. - People's Park (Qingyang)
Dancers, matchmaking corner and teahouses in the city's favourite park.
Cafés
- Heming Teahouse (People's Park)
Bamboo chairs, jasmine tea and ear cleaning in a classic park teahouse.
Arts and Culture
- Wenshu Monastery (Qingyang)
A working Buddhist temple with a calm garden and vegetarian food. - Wuhou Shrine and Jinli Street (Wuhou)
Three Kingdoms shrine beside a lantern lit old street. - Jinsha Site Museum (Qingyang)
Ancient Shu treasures including the gold sun bird ornament. - Sanxingdui Museum (Guanghan)
Extraordinary bronze masks from a lost Bronze Age culture, an hour north. - Shufeng Yayun Sichuan Opera (Qingyang)
Face changing, fire spitting and puppetry in a lively evening show.
Things to Do
- Kuanzhai Xiangzi (Qingyang)
Restored Qing dynasty alleys full of teahouses and snacks.
Restaurants
- Shu Daxia Hotpot (Chengdu)
Bubbling Sichuan hotpot in a lively, traditional setting. - Chen Mapo Tofu (Qingyang)
The restaurant linked to the origin of mapo tofu. - Zhong Shuijiao (Chunxi Road)
Dumplings in sweet chilli oil from a long running snack brand.
Bars and Nightlife
- Yulin Road bars (Wuhou)
Small bars and live music in Chengdu's easygoing nightlife district.
Shopping and Markets
- Taikoo Li Chengdu (Jinjiang)
Open air shopping streets around the old Daci Temple.
Stays
- The Temple House (Jinjiang)
A design hotel built around a restored Qing courtyard.
Places to Visit in Hangzhou
Nature and Outdoors
- West Lake (Hangzhou)
Willow lined causeways, pagodas and boats on China's most celebrated lake.
Places to Visit in Suzhou
Arts and Culture
- Humble Administrator's Garden (Suzhou)
The finest of Suzhou's UNESCO listed classical gardens.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Jubaoyuan Hotpot (Niujie, Beijing)
Copper pot lamb hotpot from a halal institution in the Muslim neighbourhood of Niujie. - The Orchid Hotel café (Dongcheng, Beijing)
A calm courtyard café and rooftop with views over hutong roofs. - Liyuan Theatre Peking Opera (Qianmen Jianguo Hotel, Beijing)
Short, subtitled Peking opera shows with costumes and make up you can watch being applied. - Courtyard 7 (Dongcheng, Beijing)
A restored hutong courtyard guesthouse near Nanluoguxiang. - Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre (Changning, Shanghai)
A fascinating basement collection of twentieth century political posters. - Old China Hand Reading Room (Xuhui, Shanghai)
A book lined café full of old photographs and quiet corners. - URBN Boutique Shanghai (Jing'an, Shanghai)
A small design hotel in a converted factory building. - Defu Lane bar street (Beilin, Xi'an)
A small lane of bars and cafés for a relaxed evening. - Han Tang Inn (Bell Tower, Xi'an)
A friendly hostel with traditional décor close to the Drum Tower. - Yangshuo farmers market (Yangshuo town, Yangshuo)
Local produce, spices and daily life away from the tourist strip. - Yangshuo riverside cafés (Yangshuo town, Yangshuo)
Unhurried coffee and river views after a morning on the bike. - Li An Lodge (Ping'an Village, Guilin)
Wooden lodge with terrace views at Longji. - Yu Zhi Lan (Qingyang, Chengdu)
Intimate, refined Sichuan cooking, famous for hand made noodles. - Little Bar (Yulin, Chengdu)
A long running live music venue at the heart of Chengdu's indie scene. - Mrs Panda Hostel (Chengdu, Chengdu)
A friendly backpacker base for meeting other travellers.