China attractions

Close to the towering South Gate (Yongningmen) of the Xian City Wall, Shuyuanmen Pedestrian Street is a pedestrianized lane that’s tailor-made for souvenir shopping. Head here for traditional arts and crafts, as well as Chinese signatures from jade to chopsticks, from teapots to calligraphy. The historic-looking buildings are reconstructions.

Covered by lush tropical evergreen rainforest, Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park protects a huge swath of coastal land, and contains more than 130 plant and 190 animal species. The park is also home to one of the biggest trail networks in the province. A small pagoda at the top of the highest peak affords views of Hainan Island.

At this cultural park on Hainan Island, visitors can learn about the traditional lifestyle of the region’s rural Li and Miao communities. Craftspeople demonstrate their skills in recreated old-style huts, while local villagers stage an outdoor dance production. Two on-site museums display traditional Li and Miao clothing, arts and crafts.

Macau’s heritage has long been linked with the sea, and the Maritime Museum celebrates the connection while tracing the nautical histories of Portugal, China, and Macau. Fittingly enough, Macau’s oldest museum opened in 1987 near the spot believed to be where the first Portuguese traders came ashore.

The Juma River snakes through Shidu Nature Park and its landscape of striking limestone karst formations, making it a photogenic spot from almost every vantage point. The park in China’s Fangshan District encompasses some 74,131 acres (30,000 hectares) and is a popular day trip from Beijing for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

The highest of the bizarre rock formations that jut up from either side of the Li River is Yao Mountain at nearly 3,000 feet (900 meters. Views from the peak extend out over the hills, rice fields, and rural villages outside of Guilin. The peak was named after the Yaoshan Emperor Temple, which can be found about halfway up the mountain.

One of Hangzhou’s most noteworthy landmarks, the Qiantang River Bridge is both an architectural and a historical highlight. The first modern steel bridge to be designed and constructed by Chinese engineers, the landmark has stood for upwards of 80 years. Today, the double-decker bridge serves pedestrians, trains, and vehicles.

Located southwest of Hong Kong Island, charming Cheung Chau Island has long been a favorite day-trip destination of locals. Known for its beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, traditional temples, and laidback village vibe, Cheung Chau offers an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.

Zipping over the waves, TurboJET’s fleet of scarlet hydrofoil ferries link Hong Kong and China’s Shenzhen area to Macau in a fraction of the time (or carbon cost) of flying. Services nip between Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan and Macau’s Outer Harbour day and night in a little under an hour. Other routes run shorter and less frequent schedules.

Clear, unmanned tram cars surrounded by a psychedelic music and light show travel under the Huangpu River on the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel tourist ride. The 2,122-foot-long (647-meter-long) tunnel connects passengers from the Bund to Pudong in three to five minutes.

Visiting the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre can be a sobering experience, but it portrays a significant event in Chinese history where more than 300,000 lives were lost, and it’s well worth a visit. Explore four different areas, including a mass grave, the Peace Park, the Site Square, and Exhibition Area for a comprehensive tour of the memorial hall.

Mogao Caves, or the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas, are located southeast of Dunhuang, nestled into the cliffs above the Dachuan River. The temple caves are covered with preserved Buddhist frescoes and sculptures, most likely made by monks, pilgrims, and traders who stayed here while making journeys or pilgrimages along the Silk road, created over a period of 1,000 years.

See the unique geological landforms of Hong Kong at the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. The Geopark includes eight designated geo-areas across the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region. The terrain includes islands, cliffs, sea caves, volcanic rocks, and rare hexagonal columns.

China is home to the world’s largest network of high-speed rails, which connects Beijing with other notable destinations in the country. Quiet, fast, and efficient, bullet trains reach a top speed of 220 miles (354 kilometers) per hour. The longest route covers more than 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) from Beijing south to Guangzhou.

Located in Kowloon Bay, the modern Hong Kong Kai Tak Cruise Terminal serves as a gateway for exploring Hong Kong. A former British colony and a Special Administrative Region of China, Hong Kong is an international and cosmopolitan city with a rich culture and history, and plenty to do and see.

Located along the Huangpu River near downtown Shanghai, the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal is conveniently located for cruise ship passengers to disembark and make the most of their shore time. From the port, it's easy to explore the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, both one of the largest and most popular cities in China.

Located in northern Chengdu, Wenshu Monastery (Wenshu Yuan) is often regarded as the best-preserved Buddhist temple in the city. Originally known as Xinxiang Temple, the Buddhist center was later renamed after a 17th-century monk who famously inhabited the monastery. Wenshu Temple features an 11-story iron pagoda—the largest of its kind in China.

Hong Kong Central, as the names suggests, is the main business and commercial district of Hong Kong Island. One of the earliest areas to be developed, today Central is a heady mix of new and old, packed with skyscrapers next to historical landmarks, swanky malls near traditional shops, and a constantly evolving retail, dining, and nightlife scene.

The Pingshan Grand Canyon, located in Gansu province in the Gobi Desert, is something to behold. You can see different shades of red and yellow rock representing the different periods in which the canyon developed. There’s a stone forest, gullies, and mazes to explore, plus the annual Obo Festival, which celebrates Mongolian sporting culture, including archery, wrestling, and horse racing.

Located at the confluence of the Yangtze, Huangpu, and Yunzaobang rivers, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal serves as a gateway for cruise passengers to explore Shanghai, one of the most popular cities in China. As one of the largest terminals in Asia, Wusongkou berths both international liners and smaller China-bound ships.

This is one well-preserved city wall. Built around 1370 during the Ming Dynasty, it was incredibly important for the defense of Pingyao, which was once the main banking center in China. The wall has six gates, resembling a turtle from above, so Pingyao has been nicknamed the “Tortoise City,” a city of immortality.

A wetland scenic area across the river from downtown Harbin, Sun Island is home to the world’s largest permanent indoor ice and snow theme park, plus epic snow sculpture displays during the Harbin Ice Festival—but you don't have to like the cold to have a good time. Other attractions include landscaped gardens, animal displays, a Russian-style village, and small museums and galleries.

Noah's Ark Hong Kong was the world’s first full-size replica of the famous biblical vessel and remains a Hong Kong attraction for Christian families. The centerpiece of the park is the full-scale replica ark, which houses a collection of smaller ark models, an interactive children’s museum, plus a hotel, a cinema, and restaurants. Outside in the garden, guests walk among 67 pairs of life-size animal sculptures.

The Ancient City of Pingyao is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1370. Over the centuries, it served as a financial center during different dynasties, kind of like the Qing Dynasty’s Wall Street. The architecture here dates to Imperial China, and there are photo opportunities at every turn in this UNESCO-protected ancient city.

With colorful colonial architecture standing over bold, swirling pavement, Senate Square (Senado Square or Largo do Senado) is the beating heart of Macau’s UNESCO-listed historic center. Highlights include the 18th-century Leal Senado (Municipal Council), once the seat of the Portuguese government, and St. Dominic’s Church.

Located in West Kowloon, the 118-story International Commerce Centre (ICC) is the tallest building in Hong Kong, rising a dizzying 1,588 feet (484 meters). A landmark in Hong Kong, it’s part of the Union Square development and houses offices, a 360-degree observation deck, a 5-star hotel, and a multilevel luxury shopping mall.

A former international settlement, the small island of Gulangyu charms visitors with its colonial-era heritage buildings, tree-lined and car-free roads, pretty gardens and beaches, and various attractions, including the world’s largest piano museum. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site is a popular day trip destination from Xiamen.

Part of the massive Chimelong Tourist Resort in Guangzhou, Chimelong Water Park is one of the most popular water parks in the world, welcoming more than 2 million visitors a year. Spanning 450 acres (182 hectares), the largest water park in Asia offers plenty of slides, pools, and rides for families and thrill-seekers alike.

Towering twice as high as the Statue of Liberty is tall, the Three Gorges Dam is earth’s largest hydroelectric project and home to the planet’s largest boat lift—the Three Gorges Dam Five-Step Ship Lock. It has reshaped not only the Yangtze River but the Three Gorges that gave it its name: Xutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.

At the foot of the Haba Snow Mountains, the White Water Terraces (Baishuitai) is an otherworldly landscape of crystallized limestone terraces. One of the most popular day trips from Shangri-La, the scenic White Water Terraces is also an important cultural site, as it's the birthplace of the Dongba culture of the Naxi minority group.