Destinations

Explore China by Region

Eight featured destinations across six regions — each chosen for its unique contribution to cultural heritage, natural beauty, and sustainable tourism development aligned with UN SDGs.

North China
Imperial Capitals & Ancient Wonders
The cradle of Chinese civilization — home to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the Silk Road's eastern terminus.
Beijing Great Wall

Beijing

北京 — Capital of the People's Republic

Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one city. The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and the Great Wall at Badaling and Mutianyu. Beijing seamlessly blends 3,000 years of imperial history with contemporary global culture.

UNESCO HeritageGreat WallForbidden CityHutongs
Xi'an Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an

西安 — Ancient Capital of 13 Dynasties

The eastern gateway of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army — 8,000 life-sized warriors guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb. The ancient city walls, Muslim Quarter, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda tell stories of cosmopolitan Tang Dynasty Chang'an.

Terracotta ArmySilk RoadCity WallsTang Heritage
East China
Gardens, Water Towns & Modernity
Where classical Chinese aesthetics meets 21st-century urban innovation — from Suzhou gardens to Shanghai's skyline.
Shanghai skyline at night

Shanghai

上海 — Global Metropolis

The Bund's colonial-era architecture faces Pudong's futuristic towers across the Huangpu River. Shanghai is China's financial capital, a global port city, and a living museum of East-meets-West cultural fusion since the 1840s.

The BundPudongFrench ConcessionGlobal Hub
Hangzhou water town

Hangzhou

杭州 — Paradise on Earth

Marco Polo called it "the finest and most splendid city in the world." West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has inspired poets and painters for a millennium. Hangzhou is also the birthplace of Longjing tea and China's digital economy hub.

West LakeLongjing TeaUNESCO HeritageSilk
South China
Karst Landscapes & Ethnic Diversity
The most photographed landscapes in China — dramatic karst peaks, terraced rice fields, and vibrant minority cultures.
Guilin Li River cruise

Guilin

桂林 — Karst Wonderland

"Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven." The Li River cruise between Guilin and Yangshuo passes through a gallery of limestone peaks reflected in emerald water — arguably China's most iconic landscape, featured on the 20-yuan banknote.

Li RiverKarst PeaksYangshuoCormorant Fishing
Zhangjiajie sandstone pillars

Zhangjiajie

张家界 — Avatar Mountains

China's first national forest park, where 3,000 sandstone pillars rise up to 200 meters from lush valleys. The floating "Hallelujah Mountains" that inspired James Cameron's Avatar are based on Zhangjiajie's Yuanjiajie scenic area.

National ParkGlass BridgeSandstone PillarsUNESCO Geopark
Southwest China
Pandas, Plateaus & Ancient Towns
The most biodiverse region of China — from giant panda habitats to Tibetan highlands and ancient tea-horse road towns.
Chengdu giant panda

Chengdu

成都 — Land of Abundance

Home to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and the gateway to Jiuzhaigou Valley and Mount Emei. Chengdu's UNESCO-recognized gastronomy — Sichuan hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles — makes it one of the world's great food cities.

Giant PandasSichuan CuisineTea HousesUNESCO Creative City
Yunnan misty mountains

Yunnan

云南 — South of the Clouds

China's most ethnically diverse province with 25 recognized minority groups. From the jade-colored waters of Lugu Lake to the snow-capped peaks of Meili Snow Mountain, from ancient Lijiang to the rice terraces of Yuanyang — Yunnan is a world unto itself.

Lijiang Old TownYuanyang TerracesShangri-LaMinority Cultures