Find places in China

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• National Museum of China (Tiananmen Square)
  Vast collections spanning Chinese history from the Neolithic to today; reserve free tickets online.
• Chaoyang Theatre acrobatics (Chaoyang)
  Gasp worthy Chinese acrobatics that delights all ages.

Great for Date Night

• 798 Art District (Chaoyang)
  Former factories turned galleries, studios and cafés, lovely for a slow afternoon.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Nanluoguxiang and the Gulou hutongs (Dongcheng)
  Grey brick lanes and courtyard homes around the Drum and Bell Towers, best explored on foot.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ming Tombs and Sacred Way (Changping)
  A peaceful avenue of stone animals leading to the tombs of the Ming emperors.

Fun for Everyone

• Beihai Park (Xicheng)
  Paddle boats, the White Dagoba and a classic imperial garden right in the centre.

Must-Haves

• Mutianyu Great Wall (Huairou)
  A restored, scenic stretch of the Wall with a cable car up and a toboggan ride down.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jinshanling Great Wall (Luanping, Hebei)
  Wild, partly restored watchtowers and big mountain views for a proper hike.
• Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) (Haidian)
  Haunting European style ruins and lotus lakes in a huge, quiet park.

Fun for Everyone

• Jingshan Park (Xicheng)
  A short climb to the best view over the golden roofs of the Forbidden City.

Great for Date Night

• Houhai Lake bars (Xicheng)
  Lakeside bars with live music and lantern reflections on summer evenings.

Must-Haves

• Siji Minfu (Dongcheng)
  Crisp Peking duck carved at the table, a local favourite near the Forbidden City.

Great for Date Night

• Da Dong Roast Duck (Dongcheng)
  Refined, lean roast duck and elegant dishes in a polished dining room.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Panjiayuan Antique Market (Chaoyang)
  A sprawling weekend flea market of curios, books and crafts; haggle with a smile.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dashilar (Qianmen)
  Old merchant street of silk shops, tea houses and historic pharmacies.

Must-Haves

• Aman Summer Palace (Haidian)
  Courtyard suites beside the Summer Palace with a private gate into the grounds.

Great for Date Night

• The Peninsula Beijing (Wangfujing)
  Polished luxury within walking distance of the Forbidden City.

Fun for Everyone

• Spring Festival temple fairs (Ditan Park)
  Lunar New Year fairs with lion dances, folk arts and snacks.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Shanghai Tower observation deck (Lujiazui)
  One of the highest observation decks in the world, with views over the whole city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Wukang Road (Xuhui)
  Plane tree avenue of historic villas and the photogenic Wukang Mansion.

Great for Date Night

• Tianzifang (Huangpu)
  Shikumen lanes filled with tiny shops, studios and bars.

Must-Haves

• Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
  Superb bronzes, ceramics and paintings in one of China's best museums.
• Jing'an Temple (Jing'an)
  A gilded Buddhist temple glittering among the skyscrapers.

Fun for Everyone

• Shanghai Museum East (Pudong)
  The museum's large new branch with spacious galleries and family friendly exhibits.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Zhujiajiao Water Town (Qingpu)
  Stone bridges and canals reachable by metro for an easy old town escape.
• Chenshan Botanical Garden (Songjiang)
  Gardens set in a dramatic old quarry with greenhouses and lakes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fuxing Park (Huangpu)
  Morning dancers, card players and tai chi in a French era park.

Must-Haves

• Jia Jia Tang Bao (Huangpu)
  Famous little shop for delicate xiaolongbao soup dumplings.
• Din Tai Fung (Xintiandi)
  Reliable, beautifully made dumplings in a busy, family friendly setting.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Yang's Dumpling (Huangpu)
  Pan fried shengjian bao with crisp bottoms and hot soup inside.

Great for Date Night

• Lost Heaven (The Bund)
  Yunnan cuisine in an atmospheric dining room near the Bund.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lao Zheng Xing (Huangpu)
  A long running restaurant for classic Shanghainese red braised dishes.

Great for Date Night

• Seesaw Coffee (Jing'an)
  Shanghai grown specialty coffee in calm, design minded cafés.

Great for Date Night

• Flair Rooftop (Lujiazui)
  A high rooftop bar facing the Bund and Oriental Pearl Tower.

Must-Haves

• Speak Low (Xuhui)
  A hidden speakeasy behind a bartending shop, one of Asia's best known cocktail bars.

Fun for Everyone

• Peace Hotel Jazz Bar (The Bund)
  Old Shanghai jazz in a landmark Art Deco hotel.

Low Cost and Authentic

• South Bund Fabric Market (Huangpu)
  Have clothes tailored quickly from floors of fabric stalls.

Fun for Everyone

• Nanjing Road (Huangpu)
  China's famous shopping street, lit up and lively every evening.

Must-Haves

• Fairmont Peace Hotel (The Bund)
  A 1929 Art Deco icon right on the Bund.

Great for Date Night

• The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund (The Bund)
  Grand historic rooms in the former Shanghai Club building.

Fun for Everyone

• Yu Garden Lantern Festival (Old City)
  Huge lantern displays across the old city around Lunar New Year.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Great Mosque of Xi'an (Muslim Quarter)
  A serene mosque in Chinese temple style hidden behind the food streets.

Fun for Everyone

• Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles) (Beilin)
  Thousands of carved stone tablets, a treasure of Chinese calligraphy.

Great for Date Night

• Tang Paradise (Qujiang)
  Reconstructed Tang gardens and pavilions lit up beautifully at night.

Must-Haves

• Xi'an City Wall (City centre)
  Cycle the full circuit of the Ming dynasty wall, especially at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Yanta)
  Tang dynasty pagoda with a lively square and evening fountain show.

Great for Date Night

• Datang Everbright City (Qujiang)
  An illuminated pedestrian boulevard of Tang style performances at night.

Off the Beaten Path

• Huaqing Palace (Lintong)
  Imperial hot spring gardens near the Terracotta Warriors.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Small Wild Goose Pagoda (Beilin)
  A peaceful pagoda in a quiet park beside the Xi'an Museum.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mount Hua (Huashan) (Huayin)
  A sacred granite mountain with cable cars, temples and dizzying cliff paths.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Muslim Quarter food streets (Beiyuanmen)
  Lamb skewers, roujiamo and persimmon cakes in bustling lanes.
• Lao Sun Jia (Dongdajie)
  A historic restaurant for yangrou paomo, lamb soup with torn bread.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sajinqiao food street (Lianhu)
  Where locals queue for paomo and grilled meats away from the tourist crowd.

Must-Haves

• De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant (Bell Tower)
  Banquets of dumplings in many shapes and fillings.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Shuyuanmen Cultural Street (Beilin)
  Calligraphy brushes, ink stones and paintings by the South Gate.

Must-Haves

• Sofitel Legend People's Grand Hotel (Xincheng)
  An elegant historic hotel in the walled city.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Xianggong Hill (Xingping)
  A sunrise lookout over a sweeping bend of the Li River.
• Silver Cave (Lipu)
  Big limestone cave with lit formations, easy for all ages.

Fun for Everyone

• Moon Hill (Gaotian)
  A short climb to a natural arch with views across the karst.

Off the Beaten Path

• Xingping Ancient Town (Xingping)
  A quieter old riverside village to stay in and walk from.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Great for Date Night

• Impression Liu Sanjie (Yangshuo)
  An evening light and music show staged on the river beneath the peaks.

Must-Haves

• Yangshuo beer fish restaurants (West Street area)
  Taste the town's signature fish braised in beer and tomatoes.

Fun for Everyone

• West Street (Yangshuo town)
  A lively pedestrian street of bars, snacks and evening crowds.

Great for Date Night

• Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (Yulong River)
  A riverside retreat facing the peaks, perfect for slow days.

Must-Haves

• Alila Yangshuo (Yangshuo)
  A striking design hotel built around an old sugar mill.

Off the Beaten Path

• The Giggling Tree (Aishanmen Village)
  A countryside guesthouse in old farm buildings among rice fields.

Must-Haves

• Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng)
  Dragon's Backbone terraces with Zhuang and Yao villages and walking trails.

Fun for Everyone

• Reed Flute Cave (Guilin city)
  Colourfully lit cave chambers close to the city centre.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Seven Star Park (Guilin city)
  Big park of karst hills, caves and pavilions.

Fun for Everyone

• Elephant Trunk Hill (Guilin city)
  Guilin's symbol, a rock arch over the river.

Great for Date Night

• Two Rivers and Four Lakes night cruise (Guilin city)
  Evening boat trip past lit pagodas and bridges.

Must-Haves

• Li River cruise from Guilin (Mopanshan Pier)
  The classic full day cruise through karst scenery to Yangshuo.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Guilin rice noodle shops (Guilin city)
  A cheap bowl of the city's famous noodles with braised meat and pickles.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Zhengyang Pedestrian Street (Guilin city)
  Busy evening street for snacks and souvenirs.

Must-Haves

• Shangri-La Guilin (Guilin city)
  A comfortable riverside base for early cruises.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jingjiang Princes' City (Guilin city)
  Ming dynasty palace complex below Solitary Beauty Peak.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• People's Park (Qingyang)
  Dancers, matchmaking corner and teahouses in the city's favourite park.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Heming Teahouse (People's Park)
  Bamboo chairs, jasmine tea and ear cleaning in a classic park teahouse.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Shufeng Yayun Sichuan Opera (Qingyang)
  Face changing, fire spitting and puppetry in a lively evening show.

Fun for Everyone

• Kuanzhai Xiangzi (Qingyang)
  Restored Qing dynasty alleys full of teahouses and snacks.

Must-Haves

• Shu Daxia Hotpot (Chengdu)
  Bubbling Sichuan hotpot in a lively, traditional setting.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Great for Date Night

• Yulin Road bars (Wuhou)
  Small bars and live music in Chengdu's easygoing nightlife district.

Fun for Everyone

• Taikoo Li Chengdu (Jinjiang)
  Open air shopping streets around the old Daci Temple.

Must-Haves

• The Temple House (Jinjiang)
  A design hotel built around a restored Qing courtyard.