China is incredible to visit, but it can be intimidating for newcomers. The country is massive and full of interesting places to visit and things to see. So let’s learn what the best things are to do in China!
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Deciding to visit China is only the easiest part of the trip planning. There are so many reasons to visit it. It’s so big and so varied that it’s hard to find a traveler who wouldn’t love it. China is a paradise for history lovers. We’re talking about a country that has over 5,000 years of recorded culture and civilization! Nowhere else in the world can you see incredible monuments like the Great Wall or the Forbidden City. If you prefer to admire natural wonders, you’ll find so many different landscapes, including some that seem taken from a sci-fi movie.
For the foodies, there’s so much to say about Chinese cuisine, and let’s not forget that its culture varies a lot from region to region. You can try your all-time favorites in their original form, or experiment with dishes that you’ve never even heard of. If you love traveling for the culture, it’s hard to think of a country more immersive. There’s a lot you can see, from martial arts demonstrations to calligraphy and tea ceremonies. If it’s your first time visiting China, you’ll have a great time, and even if it’s your 21st, you’ll still find interesting things to do.
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Best Things to Do in China
Explore China’s Cultural Heritage
Visit the Great Wall of China
One of the very first things you should do in China, but saying it is definitely easier than doing it. At most, you can visit a section or two of the Great Wall of China, since it spans over 21,000 km. To put it in perspective, even if you walked 40 km every single day, it would take you over 18 months to go from one end to the other! And if you’re wondering how it was built, well, it took 9 dynasties and 2300 years. Many of the sections were destroyed and renovated again during that period, and even today, it’s not completely intact either.
Popular sections to visit:
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Badaling: Closer to Beijing, fully restored, and easy to access. So you know it’s going to be crowded.
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Mutianyu: It’s more scenic and less crowded. It also has a cable car and a toboggan ride.
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Jiankou: If you want to see the raw wall, the unrestored parts, then visit this section. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it makes for a great adventure.
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Enter the Forbidden City
If you’re visiting Beijing, you can’t skip the Forbidden City. Also known as the Palace Museum, it’s the heart of imperial China, and it was the political and ceremonial center for over five centuries. The “forbidden” part of its name was a symbol of the absolute imperial power, as for the ordinary people it was completely off-limits. Only the emperor, his court, and approved servants could enter.
Entering is like taking a trip in time to China’s imperial glory. There’s so much care in every single detail and so much to say about the place. If you want to have the best experience, plan to spend at least 2-3 hours inside. Get your tickets early, since there are limited daily admissions, and definitely rent an audio guide so you can learn about the symbolism of everything.
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Best Natural Wonder in China
Traverse Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in the Hunan Province and is one of the most stunning natural wonders of China. It is one of those locations that you might have already seen on social media, with its towering sandstone pillars that seem to float above the forest. It’s actually the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. These pillars are the result of millions of years of erosion, and some are over 200 meters high.
More things to do in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park:
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Walk the Glass Bridge: If you’re not afraid of heights, you have to experience this bridge. It’s the longest and highest in the world, with 430 length of. It’s nerve-wracking but perfectly safe.
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Follow the Golden Whip Stream: A serene trail that takes you through the forest and alongside the river. It’s perfect if you want a relaxing experience.
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Cruise the Li River
The Li River, sometimes called the Lijiang River, is another of China’s most beautiful natural wonders. It flows through Guilin and Yangshuo in the Guangxi Province, and it’s quite photogenic. If you want to take incredible pictures of your trip through China, you have to take a tour on this river.
If you happen to catch a morning after a rain, you’ll get the most magical and mystical shots as the mist settles gently over the river. There are, of course, the Karst Mountains, famous for their limestone peaks rising sharply from the river, and don’t forget to save some space on your camera for the villages. They are very traditional, and you’ll see their people fishing in the river.
Tips for enjoying the Li River cruises:
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Best time to visit: Spring and autumn are the ideal seasons, with more pleasant weather. During summer and winter, the river is still beautiful, but it can be hot and rainy or quite chilly and misty.
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Go early: If you want to avoid the crowds and take the best pictures, take an early morning cruise.
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Unique and Authentic Chinese Experiences
Join a tea ceremony in Hangzhou
If you’re a tea lover, you have to try the tea ceremonies in Hangzhou. China is one of the main producers of tea in the world, and it has been for quite a while. Many of the most widely cultivated varieties are cultivated there, and Hangzhou is no exception. The Longjing tea is pretty unique, with a delicate, barely sweet, and smooth taste. But such a delicacy can’t be prepared without care, and you’ll see it in the ceremony.
For Chinese people, tea is a serious business. It’s not merely a drink, but an art. A tea ceremony is a ritual that emphasizes the knowledge and care of the tea master. With practiced movements that seem almost like a dance, they brew and serve the tea as it has been brewed and served for centuries. Even just observing and drinking it is a meditative practice, an opportunity to fully enjoy the moment with all your senses and appreciate something as simple as a cup of tea.
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Visit Chengdu’s Giant Pandas
You can’t travel to China without visiting their most beloved animals! The giant pandas are loved worldwide, and it’s easy to see why. They’re adorable and look so soft and huggable, but they’re also super iconic and recognizable. And China knows it. Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province, is the heart of panda conservation. There, you’ll find the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It’s also a very popular destination because it offers the very rare and unique experience of observing them in their natural habitat.
Things to do in Chengdu:
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Observe pandas: There are several points throughout the city where you can just watch them going about their day, sleeping, playing, or eating bamboo.
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Participate in the Panda Keeper Program: If you want to help the organization, you can join this program and assist with the food preparation, feeding, and cleaning of the enclosures.
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Visit the Panda Museum: To learn more about these animals and the history of their conservation.
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Best Cities to Visit in China
Beijing
You know already a bit of China’s capital, Beijing, if you visited the Forbidden City and the Great Chinese Wall, but there’s so much more to do and see in Beijing. It’s a city where history meets modern architectural and technological wonders. It’s fascinating no matter how many times you’ve visited. You could spend a whole month and still find new things to do there.
Main attractions to visit in Beijing:
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Tiananmen Square: It’s been a historical place more than once, as it’s one of the largest public places in the world. Near you can find the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Great Hall of the People.
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Temple of Heaven: One of the most important religious complexes in the city. It was where the emperor prayed for a good harvest and is quite the exponent of classical Chinese architecture.
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Summer Palace: Once a summer retreat for the emperors of the Qing dynasty, now a lush, serene park to enjoy a quiet walk. You can take a boat ride on Kunming Lake and admire the Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill.
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Xi’an
Second in importance only to the capital, Xi’an is another incredible historical city in China. It was in Xi’an where the Silk Road started its long and arduous travel to Europe, and it’s also the home of the Terracotta Army. It was so important that, in fact, it was once the capital, long before Beijing took the honor.
Main attractions to visit in Xi’an:
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Terracotta Army: If you’re interested in archaeology, you’ve likely heard the story before, but this was one of the most incredible and important discoveries in the world. It was founded in 1974, and it’s still being studied today. There are over 8,000 soldiers after that, complete with chariots and horses. All were made of terracotta and buried to protect the tomb of the very first emperor of China.
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Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A very famous landmarks in Xi’an. It was built in the 7th century to protect the Buddhist scriptures brought from India.
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Shaanxi History Museum: It’s one of the most important historical museums in all of China. It covers a big part of the history and culture, with over 370,000 objects and artifacts of all kinds.
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Expert Travel Tips to Visit China
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Stay Connected with Mobile Data: Even with all the restrictions that China has over the Internet, that doesn’t mean you want to stay off-the-grid during all your trip. With Yoho Mobile eSIM, you’ll find it easier to manage your internet connection. It’s easy to install, and it will save a lot on roaming fees. Don’t forget to use our promo code YOHO12 for a 12% discount on your purchase.
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Learn Basic Mandarin: If you’re sticking to the big cities, it shouldn’t be so hard to find people who speak some English, but it’s best to know some basics. Be prepared with a translation app or a pocket dictionary.
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Use Chinese Apps: While you might be used to the apps in the rest of the world, China is a bit particular in that regard. If you want a comfortable trip, you can download apps like WeChat, which serves for messaging, payment, booking taxis, and even ordering food.
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Download a Map: Unless you’re using a VPN, don’t count on Google Maps to navigate China, as it’s often blocked.