China destinations
North China华北17
Beijing and the imperial north — dynastic capitals, cave temples, walled towns and the Inner Mongolian steppe.
Beijing
Capital blending imperial landmarks, hutong lanes and buzzing art districts.
Great Wall (Mutianyu) · Forbidden City · Summer Palace
Pingyao
Superbly preserved Ming–Qing walled banking town.
Walled old town · Rishengchang bank · City Wall
Datong大同
Ancient Northern Wei capital with stunning cliff-carved grottoes.
Yungang Grottoes · Hanging Temple · Datong City Wall
Wutai Shan五台山
Sacred Buddhist mountain of temples and monasteries.
Buddhist temples · Pilgrimage · Cool summers
Chengde承德
Qing emperors' summer resort with grand temples and gardens.
Mountain Resort · Outer Eight Temples · Puning Temple
Tianjin
Port city beside Beijing with colonial architecture and snacks.
European-style streets · Ancient Culture Street · Gull Bridge
Arxan阿尔山
Inner Mongolian forest-and-volcano park with turquoise crater lakes and a rail heritage.
volcano lakes · forest trains · mineral springs
Baotou包头
Inner Mongolian industrial city ringed by grassland and Mongolian manor temples.
Meidaizhao Manor · Kubuqi edge · grassland
Chifeng赤峰
Autumn birch and steppe scenery where the Horqin sands meet grass.
Ulan Butong grassland · Keshiketeng · Dali Lake
Manzhouli满洲里
Flashy border city on the Russia–Mongolia frontier, all onion domes and neon.
Matryoshka Square · Russia border gate · Lake Hulun
Ordos鄂尔多斯
Desert-and-steppe city of the Genghis Khan memorial and Kubuqi dune playgrounds.
Genghis Khan Mausoleum · Kubuqi Desert · resorts
Qinhuangdao秦皇岛
Seaside resort town with the Great Wall meeting the sea.
Beidaihe beach · Laolongtou · Shanhaiguan pass
Shijiazhuang石家庄
Gateway to Zhengding's thousand-year temples and the world's oldest open-spandir bridge.
Zhengding old temples · Zhaozhou Bridge · Hebei Museum
Tangshan唐山
Rebuilt industrial port with a Qing imperial tomb complex, an easy rail hop from Tianjin.
Qingdongling imperial tomb · Earthquake memorial park · South Lake reclamation park
Northeast东北13
Ice festivals, birch forest, volcanic lakes and the cold, wide open north-east.
Harbin
Russian-flavoured “Ice City” famous for its winter ice festival.
Ice & Snow Festival · Central Street · Saint Sophia Cathedral
Changbai Shan长白山
Volcanic highland with the mirror-like Heaven Lake crater.
Heaven Lake · Waterfalls · Hot springs
Changchun长春
Forest-city of the last emperor's palace, ice-and-snow festivals and China's film history.
Puppet Manchukuo Palace · Jingyuetan Forest · Film Museum
Dandong丹东
Border city on the Yalu facing Sinuiju, with the wall's eastern start at Hushan.
Yalu River & North Korea · Hushan Great Wall · strawberries
Jilin吉林
Famed each winter for “rime” frost lining the Songhua River in mist.
Rime ice on the Songhua · Wusula lake
Mohe漠河
China's northernmost town — polar light in summer, ice and aurora-hunting in winter.
China's north pole · Arctic Village · midnight sun / aurora
Mudanjiang牡丹江
Volcanic lake country wrapped in Heilongjiang winter frost.
Jingpo Lake · Waterfall · Rime ice
Panjin盘锦
Coastal wetlands that turn crimson each autumn, home to migratory cranes.
Red Beach (Suaeda) · wetland cranes · Liao River delta
Yabuli亚布力
Heilongjiang's premier ski resort, host of the 1996 Asian Winter Games.
ski resorts · forest railway · snow scenery
Yanji延吉
Capital of China's Korean ethnic prefecture — food, culture and a gateway to Changbai.
Korean culture · Changbai nearby · border markets
Yichun伊春
The red-pine forest city of Xiao Xing'an Ling, a summer and snow escape.
Wuying pine forest · Red-snow scenery · Hot springs
East China华东47
Shanghai skylines, classical gardens and canal towns, Anhui villages, Fujian coast and Shandong beaches.
Shanghai
Skyline metropolis — colonial riverside, neon towers and nearby water towns.
The Bund · Yu Garden · Lujiazui skyline
Xiamen
Breezy seaside city with car-free Gulangyu island and colonial villas.
Gulangyu Island · Nanputuo Temple · Beachfront cycle path
Suzhou
“Venice of the East” — refined classical gardens and water-town lanes.
Classical Gardens · Pingjiang Road canals · Silk museums
Hangzhou
Elegant West Lake city of tea, gardens and the Grand Canal.
West Lake · Longjing tea plantations · Lingyin Temple
Nanjing
Former capital with historic walls, memorials and riverside old streets.
Confucius Temple · Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum · City Wall
Qingdao
Red-roof German-era old town, beaches and China’s famous beer.
German old town · Beaches · Tsingtao Beer Museum
Wuyuan婺源
Postcard white-walled villages of Jiangxi.
Rapeseed flowers · Hui villages · Huangling terraces
Wuzhen乌镇
Picture-perfect Jiangnan water town of canals, stone bridges and lantern-lit lanes.
East & West Scenic Zones · canal night views · Indigo workshops
Huangshan
China’s most iconic granite peaks, twisted pines and sunrise cloud seas.
Sunrise & sea of clouds · Welcoming Pine · Hongcun village
Hongcun宏村
Huizhou village laid out like a bull around artificial ponds — the white walls and black tiles that painters come for.
Moon Pond and the water-mill · South Lake and the Painted Bridge · Chengzhi Hall
Shaoxing绍兴
Water-town of canals, yellow wine and the writer Lu Xun.
Lu Xun native place · East Lake · Orchid Pavilion
Jingdezhen景德镇
The millennial porcelain capital of China.
Imperial Kiln Museum · Ceramic workshops · Taoyangli town
Chizhou池州
Home of sacred Mount Jiuhua, one of the four Buddhist mountains.
Mount Jiuhua · Buddhist temples · Qingxiu pagoda
Fuzhou福州
Fujian capital of old lanes and gardens.
Three Lanes Seven Alleys · Yuelu Mountain · Drum Hill
Hefei合肥
Lakeside capital of Anhui with Song-dynasty shrines and an easy water-town day trip.
Lord Bao Memorial · Chaohu Lake · Sanhe Ancient Town
Huzhou湖州
Taihu lakeside city of silk, the town of Nanxun and Moganshan retreats.
Nanxun water town · Moganshan · Taihu Lake
Jiaxing嘉兴
Gateway to the classic water towns of Wuzhen and Xitang.
Wuzhen water town · Xitang old street · South Lake
Jinan济南
City of springs at the foot of Mount Tai.
Baotu Spring · Daming Lake · Thousand Buddha Mountain
Jinggang Shan井冈山
Birthplace of the revolution, now a green mountain of memorials and forests.
Revolutionary sites · Bamboo sea · Waterfalls
Lianyungang连云港
Coastal Jiangsu city with the Monkey King's Huaguo Mountain and seaside resorts.
Huaguo Mountain (Monkey King) · coastal beaches · Yutai temples
Longhu Shan龙虎山
Cradle of Taoism with Danxia cliffs and ancient hanging coffins.
Taoist temples · Hanging coffins · Xianshui rock
Nanchang南昌
City of the famous Tengwang Pavilion and the gateway to China's largest freshwater lake.
Tengwang Pavilion · Bayi Square · Poyang Lake
Nantong南通
River city opposite Shanghai, built around one industrialist's mills, museums and schools.
Hao River old town · Langshan hill temple · Zhang Jian industrial heritage
Nanxun南浔
Refined silk-merchant water town, quieter and grander than its peers.
Xiaolian庄 garden · Lishi Township · canal museums
Putian莆田
Birthplace of the sea-goddess Mazu, centred on pilgrimage Meizhou Island.
Meizhou Island (Mazu) · Nanputuo · litchi groves
Rizhao日照
Shandong's sunny seaside — wide beaches, fishing villages and green-tea hills.
sandy beaches · Mottled Beach · tea plantations
Sanqing Shan三清山
UNESCO granite spires and misty clifftop boardwalks in Jiangxi.
Granite peaks · Oriental Goddess · Cloud sea
Tongli同里
Serene garden water town near Suzhou with a UNESCO classical garden.
Retreat & Reflection Garden · Tuishou Street · lakeside old town
Weifang潍坊
The “Kite Capital of the World”, famous for spring kite festivals and folk prints.
World Kite capital · Yangjiabu New Year prints · Shandong food
Weihai威海
A quiet peninsula summer town of long beaches and imperial-navy history.
Liu Gong Island · International Bathing Beach · Dongtou peninsula coastal road
Wenzhou温州
Coastal city famed for the peaks and waterfalls of Yandang Mountain.
Yandang Mountain · Nanxi River · Jetong bridge
Wugong Shan武功山
Rolling highland grass and golden sunrises, a beloved hiking and camping ridge.
Alpine meadow · Sunrise · Cloud sea
Xitang西塘
Compact water town famed for its rainy covered lanes and riverside cafés.
Covered corridors · Qiantang bridge · night bar street
Xuzhou徐州
Han-dynasty capital of stone reliefs, terracotta armies and lakeside parks.
Han terracotta warriors · Yunlong Lake · Tomb of the Chu King
Zhangzhou漳州
Fujian's tulou heartland — round earthen fortresses and warm coastal old towns.
Nanjing tulou · old streets · coast
Zhenjiang镇江
Yangtze-side old town of legends, vinegar and riverside hills.
Jinshan Temple · Beigu Mountain · West Ferry Street
Zhujiajiao朱家角
“Venice of Shanghai” — an easy old water town on the Qingpu river.
Fangsheng Bridge · North Street · canal boats
Central China华中21
The Central Plains and the Yangtze middle reaches — Shaolin, old capitals, gorges and Hunan cooking.
Zhangjiajie
Towering sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar’s floating peaks.
Avatar mountains (Yuanjiajie) · Glass Bridge · Tianmen Cave
Wuhan
Central Yangtze hub famed for Yellow Crane Tower and spring blossoms.
Yellow Crane Tower · Yangtze River · Chu culture
Luoyang
Ancient capital famed for Longmen’s cliff-carved Buddhas.
Longmen Grottoes · White Horse Temple · Luoyang Museum
Changsha
Lively Hunan capital known for fiery food and night markets.
Yuelu Academy · Orange Isle · Street food
Anyang安阳
Cradle of Chinese writing — the Shang oracle-bone capital at Yinxu.
Yinxu oracle bones · Shang tombs · Red Flag Canal
Chenzhou郴州
Hunan's “Evergreen City”, famous for the misty “White Swallows” sunrise over Dongjiang Lake.
Dongjiang Lake mist · Gaoyiling · Mangshan forest
Hengyang衡阳
Sacred southern mountain, one of China's five great peaks.
Mount Heng (Nanyue) · Zhurong Peak · Huilian Temple
Jiaozuo焦作
Henan city for Yuntai's gorges and waterfalls, and the birthplace of Tai Chi (Chen Village).
Yuntai Mountain · Red Stone Gorge · Taiji village
Jingzhou荆州
Ancient Three Kingdoms city with a grand Ming wall.
Jingzhou city wall · Guanyin pavilion · Three Kingdoms sites
Laojun Shan老君山
Taoist sacred peak with gilded summit temples floating above cloud seas.
Golden temples · Sea of clouds · Cable car
Shaoshan韶山
Birthplace of Mao Zedong, a red-tourism pilgrimage in green hills.
Mao Zedong former residence · Memorial hall · Shaoshan peak
Shennongjia神农架
Misty Hubei wilderness reserve famed for old-growth forest and the wild “Yeren” legend.
primeval forest · golden monkeys · Shennong Peak
Shiyan十堰
Base for the Taoist temples and martial arts of Mount Wudang.
Wudang Taoist mountains · Three Gorges nearby · Dongfeng car city
Xiangyang襄阳
Walled Han River city tied to Zhuge Liang and the Three Kingdoms.
Xiangyang古城 wall · Gulongzhong · Han River
Yueyang岳阳
Famous tower above Lake Dongting, immortalised by Fan Zhongyan.
Yueyang Tower · Dongting Lake · Junshan Island
Yuntai Shan云台山
Karst canyon country of red cliffs, gorges and the world's largest cluster of waterfalls.
Red Stone Gorge · Three Gorges · Waterfall cluster
South China华南18
Cantonese food, karst rivers, minority terraces and the tropical beaches of Hainan.
Guilin
Karst peaks and the Li River — China’s most painted landscape.
Li River cruise · Elephant Trunk Hill · Reed Flute Cave
Yangshuo
Laid-back karst town for cycling, bamboo rafting and rice-field views.
Yulong River rafting · West Street · Ten-Mile Gallery
Sanya
China’s tropical beach-resort city on Hainan island.
Yalong Bay · Tianya Haijiao · Resort beaches
Guangzhou
Cantonese food capital — skyscrapers, old streets and morning tea.
Canton Tower · Shamian Island · Dim sum / yum cha
Chaozhou潮州
Teochew old city of the famous pontoon bridge and snacks.
Guangji Bridge · Paifang Street · Kaiyuan Temple
Chongzuo崇左
Border city for Asia's largest transboundary waterfall, Detian, and rice terraces.
Detian Falls · Zuojiang petroglyphs · Mingshi Terraces
Mount Danxia丹霞山
The type-site of “danxia” red-sandstone landforms, with river cruises and sunrises.
Jinjiang River cruise · Yangyuan Peak · red sandstone cliffs
Haikou海口
Hainan capital with old arcade streets.
Qilou Old Street · Leiqiong volcanic field · Wugong Temple
Liuzhou柳州
Karst river city on the Liujiang, famed for snail noodles.
Liujiang river · Mafeng Mountain · Yaobu hills
Longsheng龙脊
Dramatic stacked rice terraces carved into Guangxi hills by Zhuang and Yao farmers.
Pingan & Dazhuang terraces · Yao villages · bamboo train
Qionghai琼海
Home of Boao and the Wanquan River — river, sea and tropical villages.
Boao forum town · Tanmen fishing port · Tianlai Lake
Shantou汕头
Chaoshan port of century-old arcade streets and China's most famous beef hotpot.
Nan'ao Island · Old Town arcades · Chaoshan beef hotpot
Shaoguan韶关
Home of Danxia landform and the Zen patriarch's temple Nanhua.
Danxia Mountain · Nanhua Temple · Jianghou
Shenzhen
Futuristic tech hub with theme parks and seaside greenery.
Window of the World · Tech & shopping · Coastal parks
Wanning万宁
Hainan's laid-back surf coast of bays, rainforest and coconut plantations.
Shimei Bay surfing · Dongshan Ridge · coconut groves
Zhuhai珠海
Sunny seaside city of theme parks and island views right beside Macau.
Chimelong Ocean Kingdom · Lovers' Road · Wailingding Island
Southwest西南48
Pandas, gorges and Buddha mountains, then the Yunnan plateau up into Tibet.
Chengdu
Laid-back Sichuan capital — pandas, teahouses and the spiciest food in China.
Giant Panda Base · Jinli Street · Sichuan hotpot
Lijiang
Charming Naxi old town beneath snow peaks on the Yunnan plateau.
Lijiang Old Town · Jade Dragon Snow Mountain · Blue Moon Valley
Dali
Lakeside Bai town of boutique stays, cycling and Cangshan backdrops.
Erhai Lake · Dali Old Town · Three Pagodas
Shangri-La香格里拉
Tibetan highland town of Yunnan.
Songzanlin Monastery · Pudacuo National Park · Old Town
Kunming
The “Spring City” — mild all year, gateway to Yunnan scenery.
Stone Forest · Dianchi Lake · Flower & bird market
Jiuzhaigou
Alpine valley of impossibly blue lakes and waterfalls in Sichuan.
Five Flower Lake · Nuorilang Waterfall · Turquoise lakes
Huanglong黄龙
Terraced travertine pools in a glacial valley, almost always paired with Jiuzhaigou; the boardwalk sits above 3,000 m.
Calcified pool terraces · Wucai (Five-Colour) Pool · Donggeru valley walk
Chongqing
Mountain megacity of rivers, neon nights and fiery hotpot.
Hongya Cave · Yangtze cableway · Sichuan hotpot
Tengchong腾冲
Volcanic hot-spring town of western Yunnan.
Rehai hot springs · Volcanic cluster · Heshun town
Nyingchi林芝
Green, Jiangnan-like valley of Tibet.
Peach blossoms · Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon · Basum Lake
Daocheng Yading稻城亚丁
Himalayan alpine paradise of western Sichuan.
Yading nature reserve · Three Holy Peaks · Pearl Sea
Wulong武隆
Chongqing karst country of giant natural stone arches — a Transformers filming site.
Three Natural Bridges · Furong Cave · Xianren Mountain
Lhasa
Sacred Tibetan capital beneath the Potala Palace on the plateau.
Potala Palace · Jokhang Temple · Barkhor circuit
Aba阿坝
Tibetan-Qiang plateau of travertine pools, wetlands and snow peaks.
Huanglong pools · Ruoergai grassland · Four Girls Mountain
Anshun安顺
Home of Huangguoshu, the largest waterfall in China.
Huangguoshu Falls · Tianlong Tunbao · Dragon Gorge
Baoshan保山
Burma Road country on the way to Tengchong — hot springs, mountain forest and China's coffee belt.
Gaoligong Mountain foothills · Songshan battlefield and Burma Road · Coffee-growing country
Bijie毕节
Cave wonders and the world's largest wild azalea forest.
Zhijin Cave · Baili Azalea · Nine-Dragon Valley
Dazu大足
Home of the UNESCO Dazu rock carvings — thousands of medieval Buddhist figures.
Baoding Mountain carvings · Thousand-Hand Guanyin
Deyang德阳
Home of the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze civilisation.
Sanxingdui Museum · Bronze masks · Ancient Shu
Dongchuan东川红土地
Patchwork of iron-red fields and blue sky near Kunming — a colour-block paradise.
Luoxia Valley · Da Mawu · coloured fields
Dujiangyan都江堰
Ancient 2,000-year irrigation wonder beside Taoist Qingcheng.
Dujiangyan irrigation · Qingcheng Mountain · Anlan suspension bridge
Fengdu丰都
The “Ghost City” of Chinese folklore on the Yangtze — temples and afterlife mythology.
Ghost City · Named Hall · Yangtze cruises
Garze甘孜
Kham Tibetan highlands of glaciers, monasteries and golden light.
Hailuogou glacier · Seda larang · Xinduqiao
Guiyang贵阳
Cool highland hub for Guizhou sights.
Qingyan Ancient Town · Huangguoshu Falls · Qianling Mountain
Jianshui建水
Charming Yunnan old town of pottery, tofu snacks and heritage temples.
Chaoyang Tower · Confucius Temple · double-bracket bridges
Xishuangbanna西双版纳
Tropical Dai homeland of southern Yunnan.
Dai culture · Tropical rainforest · Garden night market
Kaili凯里
Gateway to Xijiang, the largest Miao stilt-house village.
Xijiang Miao Village · Qingyan · Miao markets
Kangding康定
The Sichuan–Tibet highway gateway: a Tibetan quarter in a steep gorge, first proper taste of the plateau.
Zheduo Mountain pass · Paoma Mountain · Mugecuo Lake
Langzhong阆中
One of China's four great historic towns, laid out on feng-shui lines.
Old town · Hua Guang Tower · Three Kingdoms sites
Libo荔波
Emerald pools, caves and karst forest — a UNESCO South China Karst gem.
Xiao Qikong (Small Seven Holes) · Da Qikong · Wangfeng Valley
Lincang临沧
Deep tea country in southwest Yunnan, home to some of the oldest cultivated tea trees in China.
Bingdao and Conglin tea mountains · Cangyuan cliff paintings · Wa minority villages
Mangshi芒市
Dehong's easygoing capital of gilded Dai temples, coffee and cross-border snacks.
Menghuan Golden and Silver Pagodas · Tree-Wrapped Stupa · Dehong border markets
Puzhehei普者黑
Lake-and-karst wetland blanketed in summer lotus — paddling and birdlife.
lotus lakes · karst peaks · cave boat rides
Ruili瑞丽
Border town on the Myanmar road — jade markets, Dai villages and tropical light.
One Village, Two Countries · Jiegao border gate · Moli rainforest
Shannan山南
Cradle of Tibetan civilisation, home to Yamdrok Lake and the first monastery, Samye.
Yamdrok Lake · Samye Monastery · Tibet's first fields
Pu'er (Simao)普洱
The city named after the tea: plantation visits, mild weather and forest reserves.
Pu-erh tea plantations · Ancient tea-tree gardens · Wa and Dai villages
Tongren铜仁
Base for the UNESCO mushroom-rock peak of Mount Fanjing.
Mount Fanjing · Tongren trails · Miao villages
Xichang西昌
Sunshine lakeside city of Qionghai and the Tibetan plateau gateway.
Qionghai Lake · Lushan · Satellite centre
Xijiang西江千户苗寨
The world's largest Miao village — stilt houses climbing a valley, glowing at night.
Thousand-household Miao village · night lights · silver & long-table banquet
Xinduqiao新都桥
A small town on the road to Tibet that photographers treat as a destination in its own right.
Poplar-lined light corridors · Tibetan village studios · Zheduo Mountain approach
Yibin宜宾
Where the Yangtze begins, gateway to the sea of bamboo.
Shunan Bamboo Sea · Lizhuang town · Yangtze source
Yuanyang元阳
Sculpted Hani rice terraces flooding with water at dawn — a photographer's icon.
Duoyishu sunrise · Bada & Laohuzui · Hani villages
Zhenyuan镇远
Ancient mountain-and-river town on the Wuyang, with a Taoist temple clinging to cliffs.
Wuyang River · Longchang Temple · old streets
Zigong自贡
“Dinosaur City” and lantern capital, with fiery Zigong cuisine.
Dinosaur Museum · Lantern Festival · salt history
Zunyi遵义
Red-tourism city near the Moutai distillery and Chishui canyon.
Zunyi Conference site · Chishui waterfalls · Moutai town
Northwest西北36
The Silk Road in full — terracotta warriors, desert passes, oasis towns and high-altitude lakes.
Xi'an
Ancient capital and Silk Road start, home to the Terracotta Warriors.
Terracotta Army · Ancient City Wall · Muslim Quarter
Dunhuang
Silk Road oasis of painted Buddhist caves and desert dunes.
Mogao Caves · Crescent Moon Spring · Singing Dunes
Turpan吐鲁番
Desert depression of grapes and ancient ruins.
Flaming Mountains · Karez wells · Jiaohe ruins
Langmusi郎木寺
Remote Tibetan-monastery town straddling the Gansu–Sichuan border in high grassland.
two monasteries · alpine meadows · Tibetan villages
Baoji宝鸡
Silk Road city guarding Famen Temple and the peaks of Qinling.
Famen Temple · Mount Taibai · Bronware Museum
Chaka Salt Lake茶卡盐湖
The "Sky Mirror" salt flat reflecting clouds on a still white surface.
Mirror sky · Salt railway · Sunset reflections
Ejin Populus额济纳
Desert oasis whose populus trees blaze gold for a few weeks each October.
Golden populus forest · Sunrise at number two · Erta river
Gannan甘南
Tibetan plateau county of a great monastery and mist-shrouded stone villages.
Labrang Monastery · Zhagana village · Grasslands
Golmud格尔木
High-plateau rail gateway to Lhasa, ringed by salt lakes and the Kunlun range.
Qinghai-Tibet rail hub · Salt Lake · Yaozi Peak
Hami哈密
Xinjiang's eastern gateway — melons, desert and a rare green-roofed sultan's palace.
Hami Melon · King's Palace · Yiwu lighthouse
Hanzhong汉中
Fertile Qinling basin that erupts in yellow rapeseed bloom each spring.
rapeseed-flower basin · Three Kingdoms sites · Qinling gorges
Hezuo合作
Gateway town to Gannan's Tibetan grasslands and the great Labrang Monastery.
Milarepa Pavilion · Gannan grassland · Labrang nearby
Hotan和田
Desert-frontier jade-and-silk town on the southern Taklamakan rim.
jade market · Kunlun desert edge · silk & carpet
Mount Hua华山
One of China's five great mountains, famed for its sheer granite and the cliff plank walk.
Plank Road · South Peak · Cable car
Kanas喀纳斯
Turquoise glacial lake and birch forest among the Altai mountains.
Kanas Lake · Three Bays · Tuva villages
Korla库尔勒
Green oasis on the edge of the Taklamakan, hub for southern Silk Road routes.
Bayingolin River · Loulan ruins · pear orchards
Kuqa库车
Ancient Kucha on the northern Silk Road — canyons, caves and a lively old bazaar.
Kuqa Grand Bazaar · Subashi ruins · Tianshan canyons
Nalati Grassland那拉提
Rolling alpine meadow beneath the Tianshan, heart of Ili horse country.
Skyline grassland · Snow mountains · Horse trekking
Sayram Lake赛里木湖
A jewel-blue alpine lake ringed by Tianshan peaks and summer flowers.
Alpine lake · Wildflowers · Snow peaks
Tashkurgan塔什库尔干
Tajik town in the high Pamirs, gateway to Karakoram peaks and Karakul Lake.
Eagle Pagoda · Karakul Lake · Pamir mountains
Tianshan Tianchi天山天池
A glacier lake beneath the snows of Bogda Peak on the northern Tianshan.
Mountain lake · Bogda Peak · Boat ride
Tianshui天水
Silk Road city famed for the cliff-carved Maijishan Grottoes.
Maijishan Grottoes · Fuxi temple · Watershed Jiangnan
Urumqi
Xinjiang’s gateway — Silk Road bazaars and alpine lakes.
International bazaar · Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) · Silk Road
Wuwei武威
Ancient Hexi-corridor garrison town, birthplace of China's iconic Galloping Horse.
Flying Horse bronze · Buddhist Temple · desert edge
Xianyang咸阳
Tang and Qin imperial tombs ring this old capital beside Xi'an.
Qianling tomb · Maoling · Qin palace ruins
Yanan延安
The revolutionary capital of cave-dwelling compounds, near the Yellow River falls.
Pagoda Hill · Cave dwellings · Hukou Waterfall
Yining伊宁
Leafy Ili-valley city ringed by grasslands, lavender fields and Kazakh culture.
Ili valley · Nalati grassland · poplar forests
Yulin榆林
Fortress town of the Great Wall's nine garrisons, on the Loess–desert frontier.
Zhenchuan old town · red-boulder gorges · desert oases
Yushu玉树
High plateau town in Qinghai's river-source country, deep Kamba culture and very thin air.
Xinzhai Mani stone city · Jiegu monastery · Sanjiangyuan source plateau
Zhongwei中卫
Where the Yellow River meets sand dunes — Shapotou's camel rides and river slides.
Shapotou dunes & Yellow River · silk-road sites
Hong Kong · Macao · Taiwan港澳台9
Three destinations with their own entry rules, each a short hop from the mainland.
Hong Kong
Dramatic harbour, skyline and street food at a global crossroads.
Victoria Peak · Star Ferry · Temple Street market
Macau
East-meets-West old town, casinos and Portuguese-influenced food.
Ruins of St Paul’s · Casino strip · Portuguese lanes
Hualien花莲
Cliff-bound coast city opening onto the marble depths of Taroko.
Taroko Gorge · Qixing beach · East Coast
Alishan嘉义
Mountain tea and cedar country, reached by a century-old forest train.
Alishan forest railway · Sunrise · Sister-lotus peaks
Kaohsiung高雄
Southern Taiwan's port city of temples, harbour light shows and seafood markets.
Canglong wetlands · Donggang night market · Love River
Nantou南投
Taiwan's only landlocked county, home to the scenic Sun Moon Lake.
Sun Moon Lake · Formosan trail · Qingjing farm
Taichung台中
Comfortable central-Taiwan city, gateway to Sun Moon Lake and night markets.
Fengjia night market · Sun Moon Lake nearby · creative districts
Taitung台东
Taiwan's wild east coast — surf towns, hot springs and the beautiful Luye plateau.
Coastline & hot springs · Luye · Hitachi forest railway