Destinations in China
From the imperial capitals of the north to the karst landscapes of the south — handpicked travel guides for every region of China.
China is the size of a continent and changes character every few hundred kilometres. A first-time visitor might fit Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai into two weeks — three cities that already show you 3,000 years of imperial history, a sea of terracotta, and a skyline that defines the 21st century. A return trip opens up Sichuan's spicy food and pandas, Yunnan's rice terraces, or Xinjiang's Silk Road oases.
The destinations below are grouped by region so you can plan a realistic route — flight times between far-flung cities can be longer than you expect, and the high-speed rail network makes regional clusters easier to combine. Each guide covers visas, transport, what to eat, where to sleep, and the practical tips that the big guidebooks tend to skip.
North China
Imperial capitals, the Great Wall and the cradle of Chinese civilisation. Cold winters, dry summers. Beijing is the obvious base.
West China
Sichuan spice, Yunnan rice terraces, Tibetan plateaus and the Silk Road oases of Xinjiang. Where China feels biggest.
Not sure where to start?
Browse our curated multi-city routes — pre-built itineraries that combine these destinations in the smartest order.