2026 Travel Guide
From imperial capitals to mountain paradises — the definitive guide to China's top destinations.
1China's Imperial Capital
No visit to China is complete without Beijing. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall are three of the world's most recognisable landmarks, while the city's hutong alleyways, Peking duck restaurants and world-class museums fill weeks of exploration.
2Home of the Terracotta Army
Xi'an was the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road and China's capital for over a thousand years. The Terracotta Army alone justifies the journey, but the intact Ming-era city wall, the Muslim Quarter's food stalls and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda make Xi'an unmissable.
3China's Most Beautiful Landscape
The limestone karst mountains rising from the Li River have inspired Chinese painters and poets for millennia. A cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the quintessential China experience, while Yangshuo's cycling countryside and Moon Hill make for an idyllic base.
4China's Dazzling Metropolis
Shanghai is where tradition and hyper-modernity collide most spectacularly. The colonial-era Bund promenade faces a futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. The French Concession, Yu Garden and the city's phenomenal dining scene round out one of Asia's most exciting cities.
5The Land of Pandas & Spice
Chengdu is the undisputed capital of Sichuan cuisine and home to the world's most beloved bear. The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is a genuine wildlife highlight, and the city's teahouse culture, Wuhou Shrine and proximity to Jiuzhaigou make it one of China's most rewarding stops.
6The Avatar Mountains
The otherworldly sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie were the inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. Glass bridges, canyon cable cars and forest-shrouded walkways make this one of China's most dramatic landscapes.
7The Roof of the World
Perched on the world's highest plateau, Tibet is a place of profound spiritual power and breathtaking high-altitude scenery. The Potala Palace, sacred Barkhor Street, turquoise Namtso Lake and the monasteries of the Yarlung Valley are unlike anywhere else on earth.
8The Three Gorges
A Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges is one of China's grandest travel experiences. Towering cliffs, ancient hanging coffins, the world's largest dam and remote riverside villages pass by as you sail between Chongqing and Yichang on one of Asia's great river journeys.
9China's Most Diverse Province
Yunnan is China at its most culturally and biologically rich. From the UNESCO-listed Lijiang Old Town to the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Tibetan plateau gateway of Shangri-La and the ethnic markets of Dali — Yunnan rewards those willing to go a little further.
10East Meets West
Hong Kong's electrifying skyline, world-class food scene and unique blend of British colonial heritage and Chinese culture make it one of Asia's most vibrant destinations. Victoria Peak's panorama, the Star Ferry crossing and Kowloon's night markets are iconic experiences.
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