China is an enormous country. The world’s most populous nation is a case study in contradiction. Gleaming skyscrapers dot the Shanghai skyline while the garrison at Jiayuguan has guarded the country’s western approaches since the Ming Dynasty. Time seems frozen in Shangri-La, deep in remote Yunnan Province. Beijing’s modern architecture rises above centuries old, densely-packed hutongs. Everywhere you go you find a country constantly moving towards the future yet never managing to escape its past.
In this short guide, we provide our recommendations to those places that captured our imagination. Places that stuck in our heart and minds long after we left. This is our insider’s travel guide to contemporary China. Shanghai There’s an old saying that though Beijing may be China’s capital, Shanghai thinks it is. Shanghai’s hyper-confident attitude is unmistakable. It runs from the modern financial center in Lujiazui, along the waterfront at the historic Bund, and through the elegant neighborhoods in the Former French Concession. Make sure you spend a bit of time in all these locations. Walk along stately Wukang Avenue and pop in for a coffee or maybe croissant at one of the cafes in Ferguson Lane. See the art district along Moganshan Road and visit the Natural History Museum. There’s great shopping in Jing’an and springtime flowers in Century Park. Give yourself 3-4 days and really get to know this dynamic metropolis. Cheap flights to Shanghai and find Shanghai best hotels. Beijing Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall. These unmistakable landmarks make Beijing a must-visit destination for any first-time visitor to China. Nowhere else will you get a better sense for the pulse of China than in Beijing. Whether it’s wandering the enormous National Museum of China or hobnobbing in the diplomatic quarter, you’ll quickly discover why countless young people seek their fortune in the capital. Allot yourself a day for the Forbidden City and a day for the trip out to the Great Wall. You’ll want another day for the major museums and the 798 Art District. Don’t forget the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. You can easily spend the better part of a week here and still find yourself scrambling to take it all in. Cheap flights to Beijing and Beijing best hotels. Xi’an Xi’an in central Shaanxi Province is famous for the fabled Terracotta Warriors, arguably China’s second most important historical attraction after the Forbidden City. The Terracotta Army is part of the massive Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. Give yourself a day to explore here. In downtown Xi’an, walk along the famous old city walls and visit Daming Palace National Heritage Park. In the evening stroll the city’s historic Muslim Quarter, home to many from China’s minority Hui ethnic group. Enjoy the fabulous noodles, breads, and soups on offer before wandering past the icon Drum and Bell Towers, which are simply spectacular at night.Xi’an is a great destination in China. It’s recommended to spend three days in Xi’an. You can also take a daytrip to nearby Mount Hua, one of China’s ‘Five Great Mountains’. There are cheap flights to Xi’an and many best hotels in Xi’an. Guilin and Yangshuo are full of amazing natural wonders. The landscapes are dominated by incredible karst formations. Spend a day exploring Guilin city, wander the impressive Guilin Two Rivers & Four Lakes Scenic Area and see the lovely Sun and Moon Pagodas. Explore Reed Flute Cave and learn about the region’s geology. Take a day to book a trip down the Li River to Yangshuo to see the true majesty. Take pictures with fellow Chinese travelers when they point out the location on the country’s 20 RMB banknote. You can also travel to nearby Fenghuang Ancient Town and see the preserved Qing Dynasty-era city with classic architecture. There are cheap flights to Guilin and best hotels in Guilin. Zhangjiajie is a must-visit if you love natural landscapes. It’s one of China’s best destinations. Tucked into northwest Hunan Province, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired the fictional Hallelujah Mountains in the 2009 blockbuster film Avatar. Allot at least one day for the Forest Park, which is a massive area within the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the valley and ride the world’s tallest outdoor elevator for a view on the canyon rim. Spend a second day exploring the famed Tianmen Mountain with its long ascending staircase and natural stone arch. Zhangjiajie has a developed tourist infrastructure with plenty of accommodation. You can easily visit the parks and return to town for dining and activities. There are cheap flights to Zhangjiajie and best hotels in Zhangjiajie. Dunhuang, in far Western Gansu Province, is a strategic town along the ancient Silk Road trading routes to Central Asia. Perched on the edge of the Gobi desert, it’s different from the coastal provinces. Dunhuang attracts visitors to the famous Mogao Caves, which contain some of the finest Buddhist art. Spend a day here. Tickets are required and only a small portion of the caves is open. Give yourself another day to visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake. You can hike the massive sand dunes and take a camel ride. It’s like the ancient Silk Road is still there. There are cheap flights to Dunhuang and best hotels in Dunhuang. Xiahe County is deep in the foothills leading to the Tibetan Plateau. It’s home to Labrang Monastery, a revered site for Tibetan Buddhism. Historically, this area was part of Tibet and Tibetan people maintain a deep connection with their culture. As a tourist site, it’s less frequented by Western visitors than other places.
China’s transformation in a generation is truly miraculous. For those seeking an adventure off the beaten path, there are several destinations to explore. Walk the pilgrim trail around the monastery in an unknown location. Along the way, several spots offer a beautiful overlook where monks can be seen chanting on balconies. Spend at least a day here to fully take in the slower pace of life.
Shangri-La is long synonymous with paradise. It entered Western imagination in 1933 when Frank Hilton wrote Lost Horizon. Hilton’s vivid description inspired generations of travelers. The real Shangri-La City is in remote Yunnan Province near the border with Myanmar. Lush grasslands stretch to the horizon and are filled with wildflowers in spring and summer. Fresh water streams run down from the Himalayas. The magnificent parallel gorges created by the Hengduan Mountains contain diverse flora and fauna. It’s as spectacular as you might imagine. Kashgar, one of the westernmost cities in China, is a world away from Beijing geographically and culturally. The Uyghur people predominate the region and are ethnolinguistically Turkish. They are closer in relation to Central Asians than Han Chinese. This has led to sporadic ethnic-based conflicts since the Qing Dynasty incorporated Xinjiang into its territory. Today, Kashgar is a bustling city with some of the best-preserved Uyghur culture. The Id Kah Mosque is the largest Islamic house of worship in China. The alleyways in Kashgar Old City are filled with the smells of baking bread and stewed lamb. Take the Karakorum Highway up to the border with Pakistan for a real travel adventure. Lhasa, Tibet’s capital and largest city, is not easy to reach. Travel restrictions make it difficult for Western tourists to move around. The province can suddenly close without warning during sensitive events or periods of tension. However, the Chinese government has improved air and rail connections to Lhasa. It’s possible to take a train from Shanghai to Lhasa. Westerners need to book an organized group tour with a state-approved travel agency. Once there, you can only stay in urban areas and see the spectacular Potala Palace and the famous Barkhor neighborhood. As the spiritual home of Tibetan Buddhism, Lhasa remains a stunningly beautiful destination.Discover the rapid pace of change in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai, while the country remains deeply connected to its rich history and culture. From the awe-inspiring Buddhist cave art in Dunhuang to the breathtaking natural beauty of Guilin, these destinations are sure to captivate any traveler, including seasoned Sinophiles.
This insider’s travel guide profiles some of the greatest destinations in China, promising an unforgettable experience for those who delve into its pages.
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