One of the biggest and oldest civilizations on Earth, China is a vast and varied nation that draws superlatives. Activities in China range from the ancient Terracotta Warriors of Xian to the futuristic skyscrapers of Shanghai, passing through breathtaking scenery such as Zhangjiajie and the Three Gorges. However, a lot of tourists just concentrate on a few cities: Shanghai for canal villages, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and the Bund; Beijing for the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace; and Hong Kong, which is arguably the simplest site for tourists to begin a lifelong love affair with China.
Mutianyu Great Wall
As an alternative to the increasingly well-liked Badaling part of the Great Wall of China, the Mutianyu Great Wall was completely repaired in the 1980s. Although the Mutianyu part is more far from Beijing (approximately 90 minutes by vehicle) than the more well-known areas, it is also much less crowded and has some entertaining, contemporary attractions like a chairlift, cable car, and toboggan. With 23 historic watchtowers scattered throughout, the lengthy, level section—the longest totally restored portion accessible to tourists—winds along hilltops that are densely forested.
The Forbidden City
Located in the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is the largest palace complex in the world, consisting of over 800 buildings and almost 8,000 rooms. Once thought to be inaccessible to tourists for around 500 years, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is now one of the city’s most visited destinations.
Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)
The largest public square in the world, Tiananmen Square, has long represented both opposition to and support for Mao’s grand Communist dream. The 1989 massacre site is now a busy spot, frequently crowded with tourists and local children flying kites, despite its somber past.
Yuyuan Garden
One of China’s best-preserved classical gardens is Yuyuan Garden, also known as Yu Garden, located in the center of Old Town (Nanshi) Shanghai and dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Yuyuan Garden, which spans 5 acres (2 hectares), is renowned for its lovely landscape, tasteful design, and charming pavilions, pagodas, lakes, bridges, and rockeries.
Terracotta Warriors Museum
One of the 20th century’s biggest archaeological discoveries was the discovery of hundreds of life-sized Terracotta Warriors close to Xian in 1974. The 210 BC figurines were intended to protect China’s first emperor in the afterlife. One of the most popular tourist destinations in China today is the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, also known as the Terracotta Warriors Museum, which is classified by UNESCO.
Upper Lascar Row
Cat Street, sometimes called Upper Lascar Row, is a mix of a flea market and bazaar. The roughly 550-foot (168-meter) stretch is crammed with over 30 stores and stalls offering jade, silk, porcelain, antiques, vintage goods, secondhand goods, curios, Mao memorabilia, and souvenirs.
Victoria Peak (The Peak)
Overlooking the Central district on Hong Kong Island, Victoria Peak (The Peak) is one of the best vantage points for top views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. Rising 1,810 feet (552 meters), the mountain is topped with a 360-degree Sky Terrace viewing platform and the Peak Tower complex of shops and restaurants. There’s also a network of nature trails through lush tropical forests.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
One of China’s national treasures is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The 165-acre (67-hectare) open-air sanctuary was established in 1987 to care for rescued wild pandas. Because of its emphasis on breeding, conservation, and reintroducing new pandas into wild populations, it has become one of southern China’s most visited locations.
Zhujiajiao
Of the four historic water towns in the Shanghai region, Zhujiajiao, also referred to as the “Venice of Shanghai,” is the finest preserved. Zhujiajiao, which has a history spanning more than 1,700 years, is teeming with charming canals and waterways, narrow streets, charming bridges, and historic structures, many of which date back to the Ming and Qing eras.
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
Emperor Qianlong commissioned the opulent Summer Palace in 1750 as a sumptuous lakeside getaway from Beijing’s heat. The UNESCO World Heritage site on Kunming Lake, which includes pavilions, pathways, gardens, and bridges, was Empress Dowager Cixi’s seat of government in her final years.
Shanghai Tower (Shanghai Zhongxin Dasha)
The Shanghai Tower (Shanghai Zhongxin Dasha), one of the tallest structures on Earth, dominates the skyline with its twisted silhouette. Some of the fastest elevators in the world speed to an observation platform 1,841 feet (561 meters) above the city from the 137-story, 2,073-foot (632-meter) tall structure. The vistas are breathtaking on a clear day.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The landscape of China’s magnificent Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Zhangjiajie Guojia Senlin Gongyuan) may look familiar to you if you’ve seen the James Cameron movie Avatar. The Avatar Hallelujah Mountains may be seen in Yuanjiajie, the park’s most visited location, and one of the world’s tallest and longest glass bridges can be found in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon region.
Man Mo Temple
Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan, one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most well-known temples, is devoted to the gods of war, Mo Tai, and literature, Man Cheong. This Taoist and Buddhist temple, a community pillar, provides a break from the bustle of the city and represents social and religious customs in Hong Kong.
Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan, one of Hong Kong’s trendiest neighborhoods, is situated immediately west of Central. Sheung Wan, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, is a bustling blend of more conventional stores, marketplaces, and temples with hip coffee shops, eateries, bars, clubs, boutiques, antique stores, art galleries, and creative spaces.
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour, which separates Hong Kong Island from Kowloon, has long been the city’s vitality. The city’s dual skylines are best seen from these waters, which are frequently teeming with a diverse array of modern and traditional vessels. Hong Kong’s development as a significant global commerce hub has been directly attributed to the port’s deep and protected waters, which are ideally located on the South China Sea. Historically, the harbor has also been responsible for the city that surrounds it.