Essential Reading
The must-see sights every first-time visitor should experience.
📍 Beijing & beyond
The ultimate symbol of China, the Great Wall stretches over 21,000 km across northern China. The most accessible sections are near Beijing — Mutianyu offers a fully restored wall with stunning scenery and far fewer crowds than Badaling.
Insider Tip
Go early morning (before 9am) to avoid crowds. Mutianyu is best for atmosphere; Jinshanling for hikers.
📍 Xi'an
Discovered by farmers in 1974, the Terracotta Army is one of history's greatest archaeological finds. Over 8,000 life-size clay soldiers, each with a unique face, were buried to guard the first Qin Emperor in the afterlife. Pit 1 alone — the size of an aircraft hangar — is awe-inspiring.
Insider Tip
Book a guide in advance — context makes the experience ten times richer. Allow 3 hours minimum.
📍 Guilin, Guangxi
The 83km cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is one of the world's iconic river journeys. Limestone peaks hundreds of metres tall line both banks, reflected perfectly in the jade-green water. This landscape has appeared on the 20 yuan banknote for decades.
Insider Tip
Best from April to October. Book a small bamboo raft in Yangshuo for a more intimate experience.
📍 Beijing
The world's largest ancient palace complex, the Forbidden City covers 720,000m² and contains nearly 1,000 buildings. For 500 years it was the exclusive domain of China's emperors and their courts. Today it is China's most visited museum.
Insider Tip
Pre-book timed entry tickets online — walk-up entry is no longer possible. Allow at least 3–4 hours.
📍 Chengdu
Seeing a giant panda in person is a bucket-list experience. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the world's leading centre, home to over 200 pandas. Arrive before 10am when pandas are active and feeding.
Insider Tip
The volunteer panda keeper programme (at Bifengxia, 2 hours from Chengdu) lets you get hands-on with the pandas.
📍 Hunan
The pillar-shaped sandstone mountains of Zhangjiajie inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar. The Tianmen Mountain cable car (the world's longest at 7.5km) and the vertiginous glass bridge over the canyon are unforgettable additions.
Insider Tip
Allow 2–3 days to properly explore the park. Avoid Golden Week holidays (Oct 1–7) as crowds are intense.
📍 Lhasa
Rising 13 storeys above Lhasa's Red Hill, the Potala Palace is the most recognisable symbol of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. Once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama, it contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues.
Insider Tip
Tibet requires a special permit (Tibet Travel Permit) — your tour operator will arrange this. Acclimatise to the altitude (3,650m) for 1–2 days before major activities.
📍 Chongqing to Yichang
The Three Gorges — Qutang, Wu and Xiling — represent one of Asia's great scenic river journeys. The sheer walls of Qutang Gorge, the misty forests of Wu Gorge and the engineering marvel of the Three Gorges Dam together form an unmissable China experience.
Insider Tip
A 3–4 night cruise from Chongqing to Yichang is the classic direction. April–May and September–October offer the best weather.
📍 Shanghai
The Bund's 1.5km of colonial-era European architecture faces the hyper-futuristic towers of Lujiazui across the Huangpu River, creating one of the world's most dramatic urban panoramas. At night, both banks light up spectacularly.
Insider Tip
Walk the Bund at dusk when both the colonial buildings and the Pudong towers are illuminated. Take the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel or a river ferry for a unique perspective.
📍 Lijiang, Yunnan
The ancient Naxi capital of Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone lanes, red-lacquered wooden houses, and rushing mountain streams. Back-dropped by the 5,596m Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it is one of China's most atmospheric old towns.
Insider Tip
Stay at least two nights to explore the quieter lanes away from Sifang Square. Sunrise over the old town is magical.
Our 16-day China Highlights tour covers most of these iconic attractions with an expert guide.