Best cities to visit in China?
Whoa! That’s a tough question to answer.
Even for people like us who travel the length and breadth of this vast, diverse, and exciting country to create China tours with beautiful travel memories.
So, how do we narrow the list of best cities to visit in China when there are so many exciting destinations you can choose?
Between bustling Beijing, exciting Shanghai, and everything in between, you may feel a tad perplexed about how to filter your selection. It can be especially challenging if you’re planning your first trip to China. There are just so many diverse regions, each with unique natural, cultural, and historical attractions that unless you’re prepared to do lots of research, you could find yourself confused - or worse still, on a holiday that is nothing like your expectations.
We totally understand.
To answer your question about the best cities to visit in China, we’ve decided to keep things simple.
Fortunately, we can do that by relying on the experience and wisdom of our travel consultants. We’ve also drawn from the insights and first hand knowledge of our trusty local travel guides. And we’re big fans of the feedback we receive from our lovely customers who share their reviews and feedback while traveling with us.
Of course, deciding the best places to visit in China is subjective, but this updated list reflects decades of experience freely shared by our team who remain as ever, intrepid adventurers, even in these times of restricted travel.
So, grab your pen and notebook and get ready to create your own ultimate list of the best cities to visit in China.
Visit Beijing: it’s one of the best cities to visit in China
No China destination list would be complete without including the country’s modern capital Beijing.
A unique mix of history, culture, and China’s contemporary advancement, Beijing is a fascinating place. The city’s sheer size alone - measured in its expanding population of over 21 million people, and the endless view of cloud-topping highrise apartments - is enough to make the head spin of any China tour traveler.
While some may be satisfied with a single day tour, this simply does not do this immense city and surrounds justice.
Beijing offers so much. Its history alone - much of it fraught with tragedy and intrigue and spanning millennia - is captured in iconic structures like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven. For the uninitiated, the intelligence, diligence, and typical iron will exhibited by previous generations of empirical rule, can be a challenge to comprehend.
Modern Beijing is an altogether different experience. Competing easily with its Western contemporaries, new Beijing is bright lights, high end hotels and fancy restaurants, and a bustling centre of commerce and politics. Balanced with heritage areas, such as the hutongs (Beijing’s most expensive real estate), a multi-day tour or even a Beijing layover can satisfy diverse interests of those hungry for culture, history, and what’s happening now.
And of course Beijing offers close proximity to multiple spots along the Great Wall of China - a marvel of human endurance, engineering, and willpower. Whether you spend just an hour - or walk kilometres along the wall itself - it is a marvel to behold and will make for special China tour travel memories.
| Beijing at a glimpse | |
| Must see | Great Wall Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Summer Palace |
| Experience it
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● Eat authentic Peking Duck. ● Take in a performance at the National Centre for Performing Arts. ● Wander through the hutong. ● Overnight at a siheyuan and experience life as a traditional Beijinger. |
| Stay for | 3 - 5 days |
| Explore | Explore More |
Shanghai: luxury, life and lots of fun
Shanghai is a fabulous and fun city that continues to reflect the legacy of its international heritage.
With a rich combination of Chinese, French, and English colonial influence - and a long turbulent history to boot - Shanghai once the Paris of the East, is now more an example of Chinese commercial advancement.
A couple of days in Shanghai will allow you to enjoy a walk along the Bund. At once both iconic and prestigious, it is a well-preserved example of historical Shanghai glamour. You can walk Nanjing Road too, the busiest shopping precinct in China.
A change in tempo is possible with a visit to peaceful Yuyuan Garden, where you can marvel at the stunning gardens. Stroll around the nearby Chenghuangmiao bazaars and make a worthwhile detour to visit the fascinating Shikumen Museum in New Spot (XinTianDi) for a true taste of old world Shanghai.
More recent history is available by wandering the quieter streets of Dongping Road or Sinan Road in the Former French Concession. It’s here you will find the essence of classic Shanghai and understand why this city continues to appeal to international travelers from all over the world.
| Shanghai at a glimpse | |
| Must see | The Bund Yuyuan Garden Former French Concession Shanghai Tower Shanghai Museum |
| Experience it
|
● Be amazed by the talent, strength and ingenuity of the performers in the ERA Intersection of Time at Shanghai Circus World. ● Dine at a Shanghai style restaurant and Indulge in the exciting flavors of Shanghai cuisine. ● Take a walking tour through the Tianzifang precinct with its boutique art, fashion, and dining options. |
| Stay for | 3 - 5 days |
| Explore | Explore More |