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.
While the Yulong Bridge is the largest single-arch bridge in the province and the Xiangui Bridge is the oldest passage across the Yulong River, the Fuli Bridge is the tallest span. When seen from a distance, the bridge’s high arched back and the reflection it creates in the water form a perfect circle, called a full moon by locals.
Opened in 1998, Happy Valley Shenzhen is an 86-acre (35-hectare) theme park in the Nanshan District of Shenzhen. Highlights among the park’s more than 100 rides and attractions are Shooting the Chute, one of the highest free falls in the world; Xueshan Fei Long, China’s first suspended roller coaster; and the Space Shuttle screaming tower.
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.
Located in south Xiamen at the base of Wulaofeng Mountain, South Putuo Temple (Nanputuo Temple) is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Xiamen and Fujian. The expansive temple complex features four main buildings and numerous smaller rooms built along the mountainside and is a popular attraction and pilgrimage site.
Walking paths wind past lakes, playgrounds, landscaped gardens, and recreational areas within 247-acre (100-hectare) Yuexiu Park (Yuexiu Gongyuan) at the heart of Guangzhou. The park’s most recognizable landmark, the Five Ram Statue, depicts the five immortals who legend says came on the back of rams to deliver grain and prosperity to the starving people.
Yangshuo is well-known for its limestone karst formations, which dominate the countryside. Less known are the numerous caves within these karst formations, formed by thousands of years of erosion. Explore Yangshuo’s Longmen Water Caves, and finish off with a mud bath and a swim in an underground pool.
Shekou, a waterfront neighborhood on the southern tip of Shenzhen, faces Yuen Long in Hong Kong across Shenzhen Bay. The biggest attraction in this expat enclave on the mainland is a Western-style entertainment center known as Sea World with a 3-D cinema, hotel, nightclub, and several restaurants built up around a grounded Minghu ship.
KK100 (formerly known as Kingkey 100) is a 100-story skyscraper in Shenzhen, China. At 1,450 feet (442 meters), this was the tallest building in Shenzhen until 2015, when the Ping An Finance Center was built. The observation deck on the top floor offers one of the best views of Shenzhen.
Quanzhou was an important hub on China’s maritime Silk Road for many centuries. The fascinating Quanzhou Maritime Museum explores this rich trading history, with 200-odd model ships—from goatskin rafts to Zheng He’s treasure ships—and stone tombstones inscribed with quotes from the religions that have passed through Quanzhou, plus ceramics, compasses, and more.
Located just outside of Shenzhen, OCT East Shenzhen is a hilltop entertainment and resort complex. Spanning 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers), OCT East Shenzhen has something for everyone; you’ll find three theme parks, scenic towns, golf courses, hotels, and a range of shows and attractions.
With a history dating back to 686 AD, Kaiyuan Temple is Fujian’s biggest Buddhist temple and is inscribed on Quanzhou’s UNESCO World Heritage listing. Ancient trees enfold twin stone pagodas, which are symbols of the city; the main hall incorporates stonework from a Hindu shrine; and a museum houses the hull of a medieval junk that sank off Quanzhou.
Located in the Yuexiu District of Guangzhou, the Temple of the Five Immortals (Wuxian Guan) is a historically important Taoist temple. It was built in the Ming dynasty to commemorate the five immortals of legend who prevented famine by bringing rice cultivation to the people. Today it offers a peaceful escape from the bustle of Guangzhou.
Learn about more than 5,000 years of local history and culture at the Guangzhou Museum, located inside Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park. Built in 1380, the 5-story Zhenhai Tower is a historic landmark of old Guangzhou. Today, it houses nearly 1,000 exhibits illustrating the city’s development and offers spectacular views over the city.
Located on Ersha Island in Guangzhou, the Guangdong Museum of Art (GDMoA) is a major cultural institution. In addition to a permanent collection that showcases modern and contemporary fine art, primarily in the form of paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, the museum also hosts over 60 special exhibitions and shows a year.
Green Lotus Peak (Bilian Feng), the most famous peak in Yangshuo, is so named because it resembles a green lotus bud rising out of the Li River. With an elevation of 977 feet (298 meters), Green Lotus Peak offers stunning panoramic views over Yangshuo and the Li River, and has attracted visitors for more than a thousand years.
Yangshuo Cooking School offers classes to those visitors who want to not only munch their way around China, but also to take home a new skill: the ability to re-create some of their favorite regional dishes. Set in a traditional farmhouse on the Li River, the Yangshuo Cooking School offers a scenic spot to get hands-on.
Located on the southeast coast of Hainan Island, Haitang Bay is one of the new hot spots on the Chinese resort island. Stretching for around 27 miles (43 kilometers), Haitang Bay is home to a wide range of high-end, luxury hotels and resorts. Enjoy wonderful views, a pretty beach, and the biggest duty-free shopping center in the world.
Also known as the Dragon Bridge, the 600-year-old Yulong Bridge stands amid hundreds of tall karst peaks, rural mudbrick villages, rice paddies, and grazing water buffalo. The 197-foot-long (60-meter-long) single-arched bridge—the largest of its kind in Guangxi Province—is shaped like a rainbow bending its way over the languid Yulong River.
