North China
Start with a capital visit, an old-town and temple route, a coastal stay, or a grassland journey. Those are different trips even when they share a place on a map of the north.
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Compare regions & routes →Choose a part of China before adding more stops
See the national position map and compare complete time allowances, moving days and trade-offs. The regions below are different trip choices, not one route through all China.
Northeast China
Northeast China offers city history, coast, mountain nature and winter-focused places. Choose dates and bases around one of those purposes.
East Coast & Lower Yangtze
This region offers an easy-to-understand city-and-garden corridor, but Huangshan's mountain bases and Fujian's coast and inland villages change the shape of the trip.
- ShanghaiThe Bund, river views, neighbourhood walks and museums.
- SuzhouClassical gardens, canals and old-city lanes.
- HangzhouWest Lake, Lingyin’s temples and the tea-growing hills.
Choose the full city, history, mountain or Fujian arrangement →
Central China & Middle Yangtze
The middle of China contains several strong routes: ancient capitals, a river corridor, mountain scenery, and craft or village stays. Choose a thread before counting cities.
- LuoyangLongmen’s monumental carvings, museums and ancient-capital sites.
- ZhangjiajieWulingyuan’s sandstone pillars and the separate Tianmen Mountain.
- JingdezhenPorcelain collections, living craft, Taoxichuan and a Sanbao choice.
South China
A Pearl River city route, Guangxi's karst, coast and border-side landscapes, and Hainan's beaches answer different holiday questions. Climate, boats and border-side outings need date-specific checks.
Southwest China
The southwest spans big-city food, mountain parks, karst and highland journeys. Chengdu or Kunming can be an entry point, but neither makes every destination nearby.
Northwest China
Choose between Xi’an heritage, the Gansu corridor, Qinghai's lake country and Ningxia's Yellow River and desert-edge landscapes. The Silk Road route here ends in Gansu; Qinghai and Ningxia call for separate plans.
- Xi’anThe walled city, museum collections and a Terracotta Army day.
- Zhangye & DanxiaColourful hills, the Great Buddha Temple and Zhangye city food.
- DunhuangMogao’s booked caves, desert scenery and a town base.
Hong Kong ↔ mainland crossings and Macau crossing choices have separate border and onward-travel conditions.
Compare regions, bases and routes when choosing where to go. Find a known city A–Z and its detailed guides, or open the regional directory below.
Browse all 156 cities and scenic destinations by region
Cities and scenic destinations are listed A–Z within each region. Open a city for its overview and detailed guides, or compare wider regional routes.
North China
Beijing · Tianjin · Hebei · Shanxi · Inner Mongolia · Shandong
Baoding 保定
Spend a full day in central Baoding with the Zhili Governor’s Office, Ancient Lotus Pond and West Street, plus food choices, lodging and a two-night budget.
Beijing 北京
Imperial courtyards, hutong lanes and a separate Great Wall day.
More Beijing guides
Chengde 承德
Lakes and gardens at the Mountain Resort, with outlying temples.
Datong 大同
Yungang’s Buddhist sculpture, old-city temples and a Hunyuan outing.
Hohhot 呼和浩特
Temples, Inner Mongolia’s museum collections and a city food base.
Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔
A Hailar grassland stay, conditional on Morgele passport admission and a confirmed return.
Jinan 济南
Clear springs, Daming Lake and walks through the old city.
Mount Wutai 五台山
Taihuai’s Buddhist temples and a stay shaped by mountain access.
Pingyao 平遥
A walled town, historic banks and a courtyard stay.
Qingdao 青岛
Historic streets, a working beer tradition and a long coastline.
Qingzhou 青州
Buddhist sculpture, an old-town garden and a slower Shandong city day.
Qufu 曲阜
Confucius’s Temple, Mansion and Cemetery, with time for each.
Shanhaiguan & Beidaihe 山海关与北戴河
The Great Wall at the sea, or a quieter Beidaihe beach stay.
Shijiazhuang 石家庄
Plan two full days for Hebei Museum and Zhengding’s temples, towers and food, with a practical city base, station choices and an explicit two-person budget.
Tai’an 泰安
Choose a walking or bus-and-cable route on Mount Tai, then plan Dai Temple, hotel location, station transfers and a budget for two nights in Tai’an.
Taiyuan 太原
Jinci’s old architecture, museum collections and Shanxi food.
Tianjin 天津
Haihe river walks, old streets and the city’s museums.
Weifang 潍坊
Spend one full day in Weifang with the kite museum, Shihu Garden and its cultural streets, plus a practical base, station plan and two-person budget.
Weihai 威海
Plan two full days in Weihai with a mainland coast route, beach and lodging choices, Korean food, and a Liugong Island option with ferry-return checks.
Yantai 烟台
Seafront walks, old commercial streets, wine history and optional Penglai.
Yuncheng 运城
Salt-lake history and a city museum, with a separate Jiezhou temple day.
Zibo 淄博
Plan two full days in Zibo with Zhangdian food and ceramic art, a separate Zhoucun day, realistic transfers, museum reservation rules and a worked budget.
Northeast China
Liaoning · Jilin · Heilongjiang
Changbai Mountain 长白山
Tianchi crater lake and a mountain visit with a weather-buffer day.
Changchun 长春
Palace history, film heritage and a city stay with optional forest time.
Dalian 大连
Port-city architecture, open sea views and a relaxed seafood break on the Liaodong coast.
Harbin 哈尔滨
Historic streets, river walks and a separate winter ice decision.
Jilin City 吉林市
Plan Jilin City with Songhua river walks, Beishan Park and the museum. Understand rime uncertainty, meteorite booking, Longjia airport connections and where to stay.
Shenyang 沈阳
Early-Qing palace courtyards, Liaoning Museum and Korean-Chinese food in Xita.
Yanji 延吉
Plan two relaxed days in Yanji with Korean-Chinese food, West Market, Yanbian Museum and the Folk Park, including hotel areas, transport and a shared-room budget.
East Coast & Lower Yangtze
Shanghai · Jiangsu · Zhejiang · Anhui · Fujian
Changzhou 常州
Plan a Changzhou stop around Qingguo Lane and Hongmei Park, or add a full Dinosaur Park day, with station choices, stay areas and a two-person budget.
Fuzhou 福州
Courtyard lanes, merchant quarters, jasmine tea and Min River evenings.
Hangzhou 杭州
West Lake, Lingyin’s temples and the tea-growing hills.
Hefei 合肥
Anhui Museum, old-city food, Bao Park and reused industrial spaces.
Hongcun & Xidi 宏村与西递
Two Huizhou villages, with different lanes and overnight choices.
Huai’an 淮安
Choose two full days in Huai’an, separating Hexia and the old prefectural city from Qingjiangpu’s canal, with meals, lodging, station choices and a calculated budget.
Huangshan 黄山
Granite peaks, mountain paths and the choice of a summit night.
Huzhou 湖州
Choose a Huzhou city base or a Nanxun overnight, then plan canals, gardens, local noodles, the right railway station and a transparent two-day budget.
Jiaxing 嘉兴
Plan a relaxed Jiaxing city stay with South Lake, Yuehe and Meiwan streets, local food, station choices and a worked budget. Keep Wuzhen as a separate trip.
Jinhua 金华
Plan Jinhua with Guzi Cheng and an optional Shuanglong Cave day, including lodging areas, cave access, railway choices, food and a two-person budget.
Lianyungang 连云港
Plan two days in Lianyungang with Huaguoshan, Liandao and a mainland coastal base, plus beach conditions, station choices, return transport and a budget.
Lishui 丽水
Plan Lishui around Guyan Huaxiang and a city evening, with the two scenic banks explained, a return plan, lodging choices and a worked budget.
Longyan 龙岩
Use Longyan for a full Yongding tulou excursion and a separate city day, with Hongkeng versus Gaobei choices, return transport, regional meals and a worked budget.
Mount Jiuhua 九华山
A temple-town stay and a distinct mountain visit above it.
Nanjing 南京
Imperial history, museum visits and Qinhuai river lanes.
Nanjing Tulou 南靖土楼
Tianluokeng or Yunshuiyao, with a village circuit and overnight base.
Nantong 南通
Build a Nantong stay around the Hao River, Nantong Museum and Langshan, with old-city lodging, local food, station choices and a transparent budget.
Ningbo 宁波
Tianyi Pavilion, port heritage and a choice of lake outings.
Putian 莆田
Plan Putian with an old-city day and a separate Meizhou Island day: temple choices, ferry rules, where to stay, local meals and a calculated two-person budget.
Quanzhou 泉州
Maritime heritage, temples and an old town worth exploring slowly.
Quzhou 衢州
Plan Quzhou’s old city or add Longyou Grottoes or Jianglang Mountain, with lodging areas, transport choices, local food and a clear two-person budget.
Shanghai 上海
The Bund, river views, neighbourhood walks and museums.
More Shanghai guides
Shaoxing 绍兴
Literary houses, canals, stone bridges and a Yuecheng base.
Suzhou 苏州
Classical gardens, canals and old-city lanes.
Taizhou (Zhejiang) 台州（浙江）
Base a first Taizhou visit in Linhai for the historic wall, Ziyang Street and East Lake; compare regional extensions, stations, lodging and a two-night budget.
Wenzhou 温州
Old-city lanes, a river-island ferry choice and local food.
Wuhu 芜湖
Jinghu, old-city lanes and a Yangtze riverside evening, with a museum option.
Wuxi 无锡
Taihu’s lakeshore, Huishan’s heritage and canal walks.
Wuyishan 武夷山
The Nine-Bend River, mountain walks and tea-growing valleys.
Wuyuan 婺源
Huizhou villages, rural scenery and a base that fits the chosen valley.
Wuzhen 乌镇
East or West Gate, canal lanes and an overnight water-town stay.
Xiamen 厦门
A coastal city base, Gulangyu’s ferry journey and old-city walks.
Xuzhou 徐州
Plan two full days in Xuzhou with Han history, lake walks and local meals, plus museum booking, station choices, lodging areas and a shared-room budget.
Yandangshan 雁荡山
Rock peaks, a waterfall outing and a separately timed Lingfeng night visit.
Yangzhou 扬州
Gardens, old streets and the Grand Canal’s history.
Yixing 宜兴
Choose a pottery day in Dingshu and a separate bamboo-hill outing in Yixing, with museum booking, easier alternatives, hotel areas, local meals and a two-person budget.
Zhangzhou 漳州
Old-city architecture, a temple courtyard and Minnan food.
Zhenjiang 镇江
Jinshan, Xijindu and a compact river-city stay with noodles.
Zhoushan 舟山
A Zhujiajian base, Putuoshan ferry day and time for the coast.
Central China & Middle Yangtze
Henan · Hubei · Hunan · Jiangxi
Anyang 安阳
Plan two days in Anyang around Shang archaeology, the Chinese Writing Museum and Wenfeng Pagoda, with museum reservations, hotel areas and a shared-room budget.
Changsha 长沙
Hunan Museum, Yuelu Academy and a city stay shaped by food.
Chenzhou 郴州
Xiaodongjiang, Zixing and the choice of a separate Chenzhou city night.
Dengfeng & Shaolin 登封与少林
Shaolin, Songshan’s temples and a choice of mountain routes.
Enshi 恩施
A city base for a canyon day, Tujia heritage and local food.
Fenghuang 凤凰
An old-town stay, riverside lanes and an evening beside the Tuojiang.
Ganzhou 赣州
Explore Ganzhou’s river walls, Yugu Pavilion district, floating bridge and Fushougou heritage. Choose a central base, two full days and a realistic city budget.
Hengyang 衡阳
Separate Hengyang city from Nanyue mountain town. Plan Shigu Academy, the Grand Temple and a daytime Hengshan visit with hotel bases, tickets and the return.
Jingdezhen 景德镇
Porcelain collections, living craft, Taoxichuan and a Sanbao choice.
Jingzhou 荆州
Plan Jingzhou’s museum and east gate in one full day, or add a separate Chu chariot-site day, with old-city lodging, meals, return transport and a calculated budget.
Jiujiang 九江
Enjoy Jiujiang’s riverfront and Gantang Lake, then choose a separate Lushan stay with mountain transfers, passport ticket support, lodging and an explicit budget.
Kaifeng 开封
Song heritage, pagodas and lively city evenings.
Longhushan 龙虎山
Float below red cliffs, walk the Danxia paths and give Shangqing’s Taoist heritage its own time.
Luoyang 洛阳
Longmen’s monumental carvings, museums and ancient-capital sites.
Lushan 庐山
Guling’s mountain base for lakes, valley walks and villas, with waterfalls planned separately.
Nanchang 南昌
Tengwang Pavilion, Jiangxi history and old-city noodles beside the Gan River.
Sanqingshan 三清山
Granite pinnacles and cliffside walks, with a Jinsha base and a complete mountain return.
Shangrao 上饶
Choose a Shangrao city stay, Wangxian Valley or Sanqingshan, with regional geography, overnight bases, return transport and clear budget inputs.
Wudangshan 武当山
Taoist temples, a Golden Summit day and distinct mountain approaches.
Wuhan 武汉
Museum collections, riverfront walks and three distinct city areas.
Xiangyang 襄阳
Plan Xiangyang around the Han River old city, Ancient Longzhong and an optional Tang City evening, with hotel areas, station choices and a two-day route.
Yichang 宜昌
Choose a Yichang city day and a confirmed gorge or dam excursion. Compare river products, passport limits, hotel areas, rail arrivals and complete return plans.
Yueyang 岳阳
Plan Yueyang Tower, the Dongting Lake waterfront and an optional Junshan day, with current ticket references, hotel areas, food and a complete return plan.
Zhangjiajie 张家界
Wulingyuan’s sandstone pillars and the separate Tianmen Mountain.
Zhengzhou 郑州
Henan Museum, Shang City archaeology and the right rail gateway.
South China
Guangdong · Guangxi · Hainan
Beihai 北海
Silver Beach, port streets and a separately planned Weizhou Island stay.
Chaozhou 潮州
Old-town lanes, bridge choices and Teochew meals with a complete return.
Foshan 佛山
Zumiao, Shiwan ceramics and a separate Shunde food day.
Guangzhou 广州
Dim sum, Lingnan courtyards and Pearl River nights.
Guilin 桂林
A city day, limestone scenery and a decision about the Li River.
Haikou 海口
Arcaded old streets, island history, Hainanese meals and a choice of coast or volcanic landscapes.
Huizhou 惠州
Explore Huizhou’s West Lake, Shuidong Street and Su Dongpo heritage. Plan two city days, choose the right railway station and keep the distant coast separate.
Jiangmen 江门
Plan a Jiangmen city stay around Changdi, Qimingli and the Overseas Chinese Museum, with a one-day route, stay areas, rail choices and a budget for two.
Kaiping Diaolou 开平碉楼
Village watchtowers and emigrant-built homes across separate rural sites.
Liuzhou 柳州
A river city for karst scenery, public parks and luosifen meals.
Longji Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田
Terraced fields and village nights, with Ping’an and Jinkeng kept distinct.
Meizhou 梅州
Use one full day in Meizhou for the Hakka Museum, Jiaying old streets and the Mei River, with admission recovery, local meals, rail arrival and a budget for two.
Nanao Island 南澳岛
An island stay, fishing-village meals and a limited coastal route from Shantou.
Nanning 南宁
Qingxiu Mountain, Guangxi culture and an old-city food base.
Sanya 三亚
Choose a bay, a hotel base and a separate island outing.
Shantou 汕头
Plan a food-led Shantou stay with old port streets, bay walks and a conditional museum visit. Compare hotel bases, rail gateways and a separate Nan’ao extension.
Shaoguan 韶关
A northern Guangdong city base for river streets, regional history and Nanhua, with Danxia on its own day.
Shenzhen 深圳
Bay walks, design districts and the contrast between old and new.
Weizhou Island 涠洲岛
Volcanic shores and island nights with a complete Beihai ferry return.
Yangshuo 阳朔
Yulong River countryside, Xingping views and a base that fits.
Zhanjiang 湛江
Choose two relaxed days in Zhanjiang, pairing Chikan with Jinshawan and Xiashan’s historic streets with the waterfront, with station choices and a budget.
Zhaoqing 肇庆
Give Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain a day each, stay in Duanzhou and add old streets and local food. Includes station choices, return transport and a two-day budget.
Zhongshan 中山
Plan Zhongshan with one day around Sun Wen West Road and a separate Cuiheng visit. Choose a hotel area, understand station choices and budget a two-day stay.
Zhuhai 珠海
Public coastal walks, Tangjia’s old streets and a Jida base.
Southwest China
Sichuan · Chongqing · Guizhou · Yunnan
Anshun 安顺
Choose the base for Huangguoshu waterfalls, Tunpu villages and city streets.
Chengdu 成都
Pandas, tea and Sichuan city life, with a separate excursion choice.
More Chengdu guides
Chongqing 重庆
River terraces, hillside streets and the city’s changing levels.
Dali 大理
Old Town, Cangshan’s mountain routes and Erhai-side outings.
Dazu Rock Carvings 大足石刻
Baodingshan’s monumental scenes and Beishan’s finer figures, with a realistic Dazu base.
Fanjingshan 梵净山
A forest ascent to Mushroom Stone and steep golden summits, using the Jiangkou east-gate return.
Guangyuan 广元
Two contrasting cliff-carving sites and a river-city day, followed by a separate Zhaohua outing.
Guiyang 贵阳
Sour-soup meals, wooded city hills and a stone-town outing to Qingyan.
Huangguoshu 黄果树
Waterfalls and limestone trails across three distinct scenic areas.
Jianshui 建水
Confucian courtyards, old streets, grilled tofu and Double Dragon Bridge.
Jinghong 景洪
Dai food, Manting Park and a separate tropical botanical garden day.
Jiuzhaigou 九寨沟
Colourful valley lakes, park routes and a nearby overnight base.
Kunming 昆明
Green Lake, Dianchi and a separate Stone Forest day.
Leshan 乐山
A Buddha choice, city river walks and a night for food; Emei is separate.
Libo 荔波
Clear-water cascades and a karst gorge, with an east-gate base and separate village choices.
Lijiang 丽江
Naxi towns and the choice of a Jade Dragon Snow Mountain visit.
Luzhou 泸州
Choose Luzhou for working baijiu heritage, river streets and a separately planned Yaoba day.
Mangshi 芒市
Choose Mangshi for hilltop pagodas, Dai food and a relaxed three-night city stay.
Mengzi 蒙自
Nanhu, border-trade history and rice-noodle meals, with a separate Bisezhai railway outing.
Mount Emei 峨眉山
Buddhist temples and a separately planned Golden Summit day.
Puer 普洱
Use Simao for tea hills, local coffee and old-street meals; give distant Jingmai its own stay.
Shangri-La 香格里拉
Dukezong and Songzanlin with a gentle pace at high altitude.
Tengchong 腾冲
Heshun old town, volcanic landscapes and geothermal scenery.
Wulong 武隆
Natural bridges, a deep gorge and a forest mountain; choose separate days from Xiannüshan town.
Xichang 西昌
Qionghai lake, Lushan and old-town evenings in southern Sichuan.
Xingyi 兴义
Wanfenglin villages, Maling Gorge and local meals across two complete days.
Yibin 宜宾
Three rivers, old streets and a separately planned bamboo-forest stay.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces 元阳梯田
Hani rice terraces, morning light and village life, with road transfers and crop seasons made clear.
Zigong 自贡
Salt history, dinosaur fossils and lantern culture beyond festival dates.
Zunyi 遵义
The conference memorial, local food and an optional Hailongtun outing.
Northwest China
Shaanxi · Gansu · Qinghai · Ningxia
Baoji 宝鸡
Spend one full day in Baoji around the bronze museum and Shigu Park, with an optional second day, museum entry rules, station choices and a worked budget.
Dunhuang 敦煌
Mogao’s booked caves, desert scenery and a town base.
Hanzhong 汉中
Han history in the city, with a separate Mianxian shrine-and-tomb day.
Lanzhou 兰州
Yellow River walks, Gansu’s Silk Road collections and a morning bowl of beef noodles.
Tianshui 天水
Plan two full days in Tianshui with Maijishan’s cave walkway, Qinzhou’s Fuxi Temple and local food, including ticket choices, return transport, lodging and budget.
Xi’an 西安
The walled city, museum collections and a Terracotta Army day.
Xining 西宁
Qinghai history, city food and a separate Kumbum Monastery outing.
Yinchuan 银川
Western Xia heritage, city museums and a bounded Helan road outing.
Zhangye & Danxia 张掖与丹霞
Colourful hills, the Great Buddha Temple and Zhangye city food.
Hong Kong & Macau crossings
Hong Kong SAR · Macau SAR · mainland connections
Check the border crossing and onward connection separately from a city stay.
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