Things to do in China

25 things to do in China

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Hike a section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu

  Escape the crowds and walk the fully restored, forest-flanked Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, where watchtowers unfold over rugged ridgelines. The thrilling toboggan ride back down adds an extra dose of adventure.

  Beijing

• Walk through the Forbidden City

  Step into the heart of imperial China inside the vast 15th-century palace complex that housed 24 emperors. The layered golden roofs, intricate dragon motifs, and sheer scale transport you back through 500 years of history.

  Beijing

• Stand face-to-face with the Terracotta Army

  Come eye-to-eye with thousands of life-sized warriors, each with a unique face, silently guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor for over 2,000 years. Unearthed in situ, the underground legions are one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

  Xi'an

• Cruise the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo

  Glide past a dreamscape of emerald limestone karst peaks, bamboo groves, and water buffalo reflected in the mirror-like river. The 83-kilometer stretch is so iconic that it appears on the 20-yuan banknote.

  Guilin

• Catch sunrise at Huangshan's Lion Peak

  Watch dawn break over a sea of clouds swirling around jagged granite pinnacles and twisted pine trees perched impossibly on cliffs. The ethereal light transforms the Yellow Mountains into an ink-wash painting come to life.

  Huangshan

• See the giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base

  Observe roly-poly cubs tumbling and adults munching bamboo in a carefully recreated natural habitat. Morning visits reward you with the pandas at their most active and playful.

  Chengdu

• Eat Peking Duck at Quanjude in Beijing

  Savour wafer-thin, caramel-crisp skin wrapped in a delicate pancake with sweet bean sauce, cucumber, and scallion at the century‑old restaurant that perfected the dish. Watch master chefs carve the duck tableside in a ritual of culinary theatre.

  Beijing

• Stroll along the Bund in Shanghai

  Walk the colonial-era waterfront promenade and gaze across the Huangpu River at the futuristic skyscrapers of Lujiazui—the ultimate juxtaposition of east and west, old and new. The illuminated skyline at night is pure city magic.

  Shanghai

• Marvel at the Rainbow Mountains in Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

  Stand among undulating, candy-striped hills painted in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows by mineral deposits over 24 million years. The surreal, multicoloured landscape looks like a giant’s spilled paint palette.

  Zhangye

• Experience face-changing (Bian Lian) at a Sichuan opera in Chengdu

  Watch in awe as dancers whip brightly coloured silk masks across their faces in a split second, a closely guarded secret skill of Sichuan opera. The lively show also includes puppetry, acrobatics, and fire-breathing.

  Chengdu

• Sip tea at a traditional teahouse by Hangzhou's West Lake

  Sit on a lakeside veranda with a cup of Dragon Well tea, watching willows sway over misty water and pagodas reflected on the surface. The UNESCO-lauded scenery has inspired poets and painters for centuries.

  Hangzhou

• Explore the ancient water town of Wuzhen

  Step onto stone bridges arching over narrow canals lined with whitewashed, wood-shuttered houses in this impeccably preserved 1,300-year-old town. Lantern-lit evenings and quiet gondola rides reveal a timeless world away from modern bustle.

  Zhejiang

• Walk the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

  Dare to traverse the world’s longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, suspended 300 metres above a deep canyon in the Avatar-like mountains of Zhangjiajie. The transparent floor delivers a dizzying, adrenaline-soaked view straight down.

  Zhangjiajie

• Visit the Potala Palace in Lhasa

  Ascend the iconic red-and-white fortress rising over the Tibetan plateau, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Inside, explore labyrinthine chapels, lavish golden stupas, and rare scripture-filled halls under fluttering prayer flags.

  Lhasa

• Cycle around the ancient city walls of Xi'an

  Pedal atop the 600-year-old fortification that still encircles the inner city, taking in the contrast between old watchtowers and modern high-rises. The wide, near-empty rampart offers a breezy escape and panoramic views at sunset.

  Xi'an

• Dine on xiaolongbao at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant in Shanghai

  Bite into delicate, pleated soup dumplings at the 120-year-old restaurant inside Shanghai’s old City God Temple bazaar. Each mouthful explodes with rich, savoury broth and tender minced pork.

  Shanghai

• Trek the Tiger Leaping Gorge

  Hike one of the deepest river canyons on earth, where the Jinsha River thunders between snow-dusted peaks towering 3,790 metres above. The high trail passes through cool forests and sparse villages with jaw-dropping drop-offs.

  Yunnan

• Watch the panoramic skyline from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong

  Ride the historic Peak Tram to the highest point on Hong Kong Island and soak in the glittering harbour, tight-packed towers, and green mountains beyond. The 360-degree vista at twilight is one of the world’s great urban views.

  Hong Kong

• Shop and taste street food at Jinli Ancient Street in Chengdu

  Wander a lantern-strung alley lined with Qing‑style wooden buildings selling spicy rabbit heads, sugar‑coated hawthorns, and Sichuan peppercorn delicacies. Evening brings folk performances and the aroma of sizzling chuan chuan.

  Chengdu

• Attend a chanting ceremony at the Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) in Beijing

  Inhale the scent of sandalwood and watch red-robed Tibetan monks chant and debate inside an 18th-century temple that houses an 18-metre sandalwood Buddha. The serene atmosphere offers a spiritual counterpoint to modern Beijing.

  Beijing

• Marvel at the Leshan Giant Buddha carved into the cliff

  Stand at the feet of the 71-metre-tall stone Buddha, the largest pre‑modern carved statue of the Maitreya, overlooking the confluence of three rivers. The engineering marvel includes a hidden drainage system that has preserved it since the 8th century.

  Leshan

• Ride a bamboo raft down the Yulong River in Yangshuo

  Float under ancient stone bridges past karst peaks rising dramatically from rice paddies, with only the dip of a pole breaking the silence. The gentle drift on a narrow, emerald river is pure countryside tranquility.

  Yangshuo

• Explore the ice sculptures at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival

  Wander through a frozen city of illuminated, full‑scale buildings carved from blocks of ice, glowing in neon pinks and blues against the -20°C air. The record‑breaking festival also features colossal snow sculptures and ice slides.

  Harbin

• Visit the Tulou earthen buildings in Fujian

  Discover the fortress-like round earthen houses, some up to five storeys tall, built by Hakka communities centuries ago. Stepping inside reveals a whole self‑sustaining village with a ancestral hall at the centre.

  Nanjing County, Fujian

• Linger in the gardens of the Summer Palace in Beijing

  Wander through the imperial retreat’s tranquil Long Corridor, painted pavilions, and willow-fringed Kunming Lake. The harmonious mix of water, hill, and royal architecture makes it the pinnacle of Chinese garden design.

  Beijing