The 197-foot-tall (60-meter) Hong Kong Observation Wheel, or Hong Kong Ferris Wheel, is the city’s answer to the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer. Located prominently at the Central Harbourfront, the wheel offers passengers sweeping views of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Victoria Harbour, and surrounding areas—day and night.
Scaling the monumental Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River near Yichang city in Hubei, the Three Gorges Dam Five-Step Ship Lock is one of the largest in the world. Large freight ships ascend or descend 40 stories in five separate stages, while many smaller vessels use the ship elevator (ship lift), which is the world’s biggest.
The Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum (Shanghai Youtai Nanmin Jinianguan) is housed within the restored Ohel Moshe Synagogue, which played a key role in the lives of the 20,000 European Jewish refugees who settled in the city during World War II. The museum highlights their story through photos, films, documents, and personal items.
Experience the world’s fastest commercial train: Shanghai Maglev Train (SMT). The train uses magnetic levitation to “float” along the tracks and can make the 19-mile (30 kilometer) journey between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road Station in Shanghai in just over seven minutes, reaching speeds of up to 268 miles per hour (431 kilometers per hour).
Located north of Sichuan Province, Jiuzhai Valley, also known as Jiuzhaigou Valley, is one of China’s most spectacular nature reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning 278 square miles (720 square kilometers), the valley is famed for its colorful lakes, cascading waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, diverse wildlife, and Tibetan culture.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Huanglong Scenic Area offers some of Sichuan’s most stunning landscapes, known for waterfalls, forests, and terraced travertine pools, all backed by mountains topped with year-round snow. Ancient temples and dramatic gorges complete the natural beauty of the 230-square-mile (600-square-kilometer) park, which can be reached in about 2 hours from Chengdu by bullet train.
The Dingling Underground Palace was the first of the 13 Ming royal tombs to officially be opened to the public. The tomb houses the remains of Emperor Wanli (Zhu Yijun, the longest-reigning Ming Dynasty emperor, and his two wives, Xiaoduan and Xiaojing. An onsite museum displays some 3,000 objects excavated from the site.
China’s Dujiangyan Panda Base focuses on rehabilitation, disease prevention, and public education for the conservation of the endangered giant panda, one of the rarest species in the world. Tour the panda hospital, enclosures, and educational center for the opportunity to spot dozens of pandas munching on bamboo and playing.
In a city known for its beautiful gardens, Lingering Garden (Li Yuan is a standout. One of the four most famous classical gardens in China, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s renowned for its wonderful layout and use of space, with ponds, bridges, rockeries, gardens, statues, pavilions, and buildings with striking architecture.
The Pearl River stretches for 1,376 miles (2,214 km from Xi Jiang to the South China Sea. It’s the third-longest river in China and the second-largest by volume. The most famous portion of the Pearl River flows through the heart of Guangzhou, and the waterfront is home to many of the city’s top attractions.
Chaoyang Theatre is one of the best places to see a Chinese acrobatics show. Young acrobats from across China perform here, spinning plates, balancing on stacks of chairs, and riding motorcycles upside down in a steel cage, among other seemingly impossible feats of athleticism and strength.
Located in Diamond Hill, the beautiful Nan Lian Gardens offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Built in the style of a traditional Tang Dynasty garden, Nan Lian Garden offers lush greenery, ornamental rocks, ponds, bridges, waterfalls, and pavilions, all set against a backdrop of mountains and skyscrapers.
Located in Anhui, Mt. Huangshan (aka Yellow Mountain) is considered one of China’s most beautiful mountains and is renowned for its four wonders: a sea of clouds, jagged granite peaks, odd-shaped pine trees, and hot springs. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mountain is also one of the most visited scenic areas in the country.
The classical gardens of Suzhou feature some of the most tranquil and pristine landscapes in China. More than 50 gardens dating as far back as the sixth century BC feature a network of manicured paths, bridges, ponds, and pavilions over much of the historic city of Suzhou. Nine of the gardens are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Experience the “wild” Great Wall at Gubeikou, one of the most historically significant and hard-to-reach sections of the Great Wall. Stretching across the Yan mountains, the Gubeikou section has remained unrestored, making it ideal for visitors looking for an authentic Great Wall experience, away from the crowds.
Situated in northeast Guilin, beautiful Fubo Hill (Fubo Shan) sits half in and half out of the Li River, causing the passing water to swirl and lending it its other name: “Wave-Subduing Hill.” With a height of 695 feet (213 meters), Fubo Hill offers spectacular views of the city and river views from its summit.
During the Tang dynasty, over 1,000 years ago, Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Hot Springs) was a popular retreat for emperors who ruled from the city of Chang’an (now Xian). Today, the site is home to a lake, restored pavilions, five hot-spring pools, and a hill with a Taoist temple. It also offers cultural shows on summer evenings.
The City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) is one of the main Taoist temples in Shanghai. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, the temple has a rich history, which has survived its near destruction and renovation over the years. Still an active and lively temple, it’s a beautiful oasis within bustling Old Shanghai.
Located on the South Side of Hong Kong Island, Repulse Bay offers a beach resort environment in close proximity to the city. An up-market residential neighborhood with a beautiful, crescent-shaped public beach, and plenty of amenities, Repulse Bay is an easy and popular escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.
A popular day-trip destination, the lush, green Longqingxia (aka Longqing Gorge or Dragon’s Rejoice Ravine) has been attracting visitors since the Song dynasty. Rent a boat, or just marvel at Rooster Crown Mountain—which resembles a rooster lying down, surrounded by water on three sides.
Dating back nearly 2,000 years, the Wuhou Memorial Temple (Temple of Marquis Wu) in a southern suburb of Chengdu is steeped in history and lore. The site is meant to honor Liu Bei, emperor of the Shu Kingdom, as well as his much revered military strategist Zhuge Liang (later Marquis Wu)—two immensely popular figures in Chinese history.
The fishing village of Tai O, located on the western coast of Lantau Island, is known for its traditional culture and seafaring way of life. Once a bustling trade port, the village features stilt houses, seafood markets, and graded buildings that provide insight into a Hong Kong of the past, while its street food, cafes, and wildlife-watching boat tours keep it a popular destination today.
Located in the heart of bustling Tsim Sha Tsui, Chungking Mansions offers a diverse collection of shops, restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts, small businesses, and residences spread over 17 floors and five blocks. Visit the Chungking Mansions and you’ll find a melting pot of global commerce and cultures.
Xian's Drum Tower (Gulou), built during the Ming Dynasty, is set across from the equally ancient Bell Tower in the heart of the Old City. The structure's original purpose was to keep time, with its drums beaten each evening to mark sunset; sunrise was marked with the tolling of bells in the Bell Tower.
Located in north Kowloon, Wong Tai Sin Temple (Sik Sik Yuen) is one of the most famous and popular temples in Hong Kong. Although dedicated to the Immortal Wong, a Taoist deity of healing, the temple caters to Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian worshippers. The beautifully ornamented temple is also famous for fortune-telling and answering prayers.
Jiankou is the adventurer's Great Wall of China—an unrestored section with crumbling masonwork snaking along a wild mountain ridge 43 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Beijing. Built during the Tang Dynasty, the wall is dotted with interesting features, including the Nine-Eye Tower, which offers views of China's capital city on a clear day.
Located in Suzhou’s historic quarter, Suzhou Museum was designed by famed architect I.M. Pei. It’s a masterful blend of modern design, traditional Suzhou architectural style, and classical garden layout, and the museum’s light-filled galleries house a collection of bronze, jade, ceramics, porcelain, handicrafts, paintings, calligraphies, and relics.
Built on a mountain ridge, the Huangyaguan Great Wall (Great Wall at Huangya Pass) is known for its steep steps and climbs, but the effort yields spectacular views. Huangyaguan, which is located farther away from Beijing than many other sections of the Great Wall, is ideal for visitors looking to explore a restored section of the wall, away from the crowds.
Temple Street Night Market (Men’s St.) is one of the biggest and busiest night markets in Hong Kong. Stretching for 1,968 feet (600 meters), it brims with clothing for men and women along with a wide range of goods, from DVDs and electronics to accessories and souvenirs, as well as food stalls, fortune tellers, and street performers.
Located in the Chaoyang District, the New Silk Alley Market (Xiu Shui) is a 376,737-square-foot (35,000-square-meter) complex housing more than 1,700 retail vendors. Popular with tourists looking for bargains, the market is jam-packed with silk goods, clothing, jewelry, electronics, souvenirs, and more.
