Destinations

Seven places to begin China

Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Lijiang and Hangzhou — what to see, when to go, and the insider tips that make the difference.

Imperial capital

Beijing

Great Wall, Forbidden City, hutong alleys — and the best roast duck in the world.

The place

Beijing is where most first trips begin — and for good reason. The imperial scale of the Forbidden City, the fortress silence of Mutianyu's wall, and the small-town warmth of a hutong courtyard all sit within one city.

When to go

Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer clear skies and comfortable weather. Summer is hot but lively; winter is cold, crisp, and dramatically quiet at the Great Wall.

Don't miss

The Great Wall at Mutianyu (less crowded, cable car available)
Forbidden City (book tickets days ahead — timed entry)
Temple of Heaven at sunrise, where locals practice tai chi
A hutong walking tour around Shichahai
Summer Palace for a lakeside afternoon

Getting there

Arrive at Beijing Capital or Daxing airport; the subway is clean, cheap, and English-labeled. For the Great Wall, take the 916 express bus to Huairou or join a small-group day tour from your hotel.

Insider tip: Book the Forbidden City online at least 3 days ahead — walk-up tickets are almost never available. And order roast duck at 11:00 to skip the lunch queue.

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Ancient capital

Xi'an

The Terracotta Army, a city wall you can cycle, and a food street that never sleeps.

The place

Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and the capital of 13 dynasties. The Terracotta Army is only the headline — the old city wall, the Muslim Quarter, and the quiet museums deserve equal time.

When to go

March–May and September–November. Summer is hot; winter is dry and cold but emptier.

Don't miss

Terracotta Army (go early, spend 3+ hours)
Cycle the 14 km Ming City Wall at sunset
Muslim Quarter food street: roujiamo, liangpi, yangrou paomo
Shaanxi History Museum (free timed entry, book in advance)
Big Wild Goose Pagoda at night

Getting there

High-speed rail links Xi'an to Beijing (4.5h), Shanghai (6h) and Chengdu (3h). The airport express + metro reach the center in under an hour.

Insider tip: At the Terracotta Army, hire a licensed guide at the entrance — the story is 10 times richer with context. Skip the cheap 'army replica' shops outside.

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Karst landscape

Guilin & Yangshuo

Limestone peaks, Li River cruises, and bamboo rafts on quiet mornings.

The place

The karst mountains of Guilin and Yangshuo look like a Chinese ink painting because Chinese painting learned from here. Boats glide between peaks, rice paddies hold villages, and the light changes every hour.

When to go

April–June for green rice terraces; September–October for clear skies. Rain is common — a misty river is not a disappointment, it is the postcard.

Don't miss

Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (the classic 4-hour ride)
Yulong River bamboo-raft drift near Yangshuo
Cycle the countryside east of Yangshuo
Xingping town for the 20-yuan-bill view
Longji Rice Terraces (2h north) at sunrise

Getting there

Fly into Guilin Liangjiang airport, take the high-speed train from major cities (Guangzhou 2.5h), then a 1h bus or river ferry to Yangshuo.

Insider tip: Skip the packaged 'tourist attractions' in the city center — the best Guilin is on a bicycle east of Yangshuo, where the paths are empty by 9am.

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Sandstone pillars

Zhangjiajie

The mountains that inspired Avatar — mist-wrapped sandstone columns and glass walkways.

The place

Hundreds of sandstone pillars rise out of subtropical forest, often above a sea of clouds. The park is huge, vertical, and best taken slowly — cable cars, cliff walkways, and one well-chosen sunrise.

When to go

April–May and September–October for clear air. Avoid Chinese public holidays — the park queues are legendary.

Don't miss

Yuanjiajie 'Avatar' pillars (early morning, before tour groups)
Tianzi Mountain cable car at sunrise
Glass bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (nerves required)
Golden Whip Stream — a gentle 7km valley walk
Tianmen Mountain's 'Heaven's Gate' arch

Getting there

Fly or take the high-speed train to Zhangjiajie West station, then a 40-minute bus to the Wulingyuan park entrance.

Insider tip: Stay one night inside or right at the park entrance and enter before 7am — the difference between a crowd and a wilderness is one hour.

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Panda city

Chengdu

Pandas, teahouses, hotpot, and the slowest, happiest pace in China.

The place

Chengdu is famous for pandas, but locals will tell you it is famous for a way of life: afternoon teahouses, endless hotpot, mahjong in the park, and no one in a hurry.

When to go

March–June and September–November. Pandas are most active in the morning — arrive at opening time.

Don't miss

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (go at 8:00)
People's Park teahouse for a bamboo-seat afternoon
Hotpot on a street corner (start mild — it escalates)
Wenshu Monastery and its vegetarian restaurant
A Sichuan opera face-changing show

Getting there

Chengdu Tianfu airport is 1h from the city; the metro reaches the panda base with one transfer. High-speed rail: Chongqing 1h, Xi'an 3h, Beijing 8h.

Insider tip: Pandas nap by midday — be at the base's enclosures by 8:30 and you will see them eating bamboo, not sleeping. Hotpot order: 'guo di la' (half-spicy) if unsure.

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Old town

Lijiang

A Naxi old town with canals, snow mountains, and night bars under the stars.

The place

Lijiang's UNESCO-listed old town is a web of canals, cobblestones, and Naxi wooden houses, with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towering behind it. Bustling by day, lantern-lit by night.

When to go

March–May (spring flowers) and October–November (clear mountain views). Rainy season runs June–September.

Don't miss

Wander the old town canals before 9am, when it is quiet
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car (book in advance)
Baisha village for Naxi murals and a slower pace
Shuhe old town — smaller sister, half the crowd
A Naxi orchestra performance in the evening

Getting there

Fly to Lijiang Sanyi airport (30 min to town) or take the high-speed rail from Kunming (3h) through Dali.

Insider tip: The old town's core is a maze that repeats itself — drop a pin at your guesthouse gate. For sunrise photos, walk to the west edge where the canals are widest.

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Lake & tea

Hangzhou

West Lake at dusk, Longjing tea fields, and the calm poets wrote about for a thousand years.

The place

Hangzhou has been China's favorite retreat since the Song dynasty: West Lake ringed by temples and causeways, Longjing tea terraces in the hills, and a lakefront that rewards a slow bicycle more than a fast itinerary.

When to go

March–May (peach blossoms) and September–November. A rainy afternoon is a feature, not a bug — the lake is at its most atmospheric.

Don't miss

West Lake promenade at sunset, from the Broken Bridge side
Longjing village tea fields at dawn (villagers may offer you a cup)
Lingyin Temple and its thousand-Buddha cliff
Boat across the lake to the islands at dusk
A bicycle loop of the 15km lake path

Getting there

High-speed rail: 45 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao. The airport shuttle + metro reach West Lake in about an hour.

Insider tip: The classic West Lake photo spot (Leifeng Pagoda viewpoint) is beautiful — but the real magic is the quiet north shore at 7am, when only the swans are out.

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