China for First Timers

Every place below is pinned on the interactive map with its exact location. You can browse it for free, and copy the whole map into your own Ikuzo account to adapt it to your trip.

Beijing

Great Wall at Mutianyu

The best Great Wall section for a first visit, restored, spectacular and far less crowded than Badaling. Take the cable car up, walk toward Tower 20, and ride the toboggan down.

Forbidden City

The vast Ming and Qing imperial palace, the heart of Beijing. Book tickets online several days ahead with your passport, closed on Mondays, enter from the south gate.

Temple of Heaven

Iconic round altar where emperors prayed for good harvests. Come early morning to watch locals doing tai chi and dancing in the surrounding park.

Summer Palace

Lakeside imperial retreat with the Long Corridor, temples on Longevity Hill and boat rides on Kunming Lake. Plan half a day, it is much bigger than it looks.

Tiananmen Square

The world's most famous square, flanked by the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Entry requires an advance reservation and a passport security check, so combine it with the Forbidden City.

Jingshan Park

Small hill just north of the Forbidden City with the classic view over its golden rooftops. Climb up for sunset after your palace visit.

Nanluoguxiang Hutongs

Beijing's most famous hutong alley, packed with snacks and small shops. Wander the quieter side alleys east and west to see real old Beijing courtyard life.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong)

Beijing's most atmospheric Tibetan Buddhist temple, full of incense smoke and a huge 18 meter Buddha carved from a single sandalwood trunk. Easy to pair with the nearby hutongs.

798 Art District

Former military factory complex turned into galleries, cafes and street art. A relaxed half day when you need a break from imperial sights.

Wangfujing Street

Beijing's main pedestrian shopping street, close to the Forbidden City. Good for an evening stroll, souvenirs and the food alleys nearby.

Xi'an

Terracotta Army

Thousands of life size warriors guarding the tomb of China's first emperor, about an hour east of Xi'an. Visit pits in order 1, 3, 2 and consider a guide, there is little signage.

Xi'an City Wall

The best preserved ancient city wall in China, a full 14 km rectangle around the old town. Rent a bike on top near the South Gate and ride the whole loop in about two hours.

Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street)

Buzzing food streets behind the Drum Tower, home of roujiamo, biangbiang noodles and lamb soup. Come hungry in the evening and explore the narrow side lanes toward the Great Mosque.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Seventh century Buddhist pagoda built to store scriptures brought back from India along the Silk Road. The square north of it has a big fountain show at night.

Bell Tower of Xi'an

Ming dynasty tower at the exact center of the old city, beautifully lit at night. See it together with the nearby Drum Tower on your way to the Muslim Quarter.

Shanghai

The Bund

Riverside promenade of colonial era banks facing the futuristic Pudong skyline. Walk it twice, once by day and once after dark when the towers light up.

Yu Garden

Classical Ming dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old town. Arrive at opening to beat the crowds, then try soup dumplings in the bazaar around it.

Nanjing Road

China's busiest pedestrian shopping street, running from People's Square to the Bund. Best experienced in the evening under the neon signs.

Shanghai Tower

China's tallest building with a 546 meter observation deck reached by one of the fastest elevators in the world. Go on a clear day, ideally before sunset to see day and night views.

Tianzifang

Maze of narrow shikumen lanes in the French Concession filled with craft shops, studios and cafes. Combine it with a stroll along the plane tree avenues nearby.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Canal town with stone bridges and gondola style boats, about an hour from central Shanghai by metro line 17. The easiest water town day trip if you skip Suzhou.

Jade Buddha Temple

Active Buddhist monastery famous for two jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1880s. A quiet spiritual pocket in the middle of the city.

South & Karst

Li River Cruise (Guilin to Yangshuo)

Four hour boat ride through the dreamiest karst scenery in China, ending in Yangshuo. Book a morning departure a day or two ahead, boats leave from piers south of Guilin.

Yangshuo West Street

Lively old street at the heart of Yangshuo, surrounded by karst peaks. Use the town as a base to cycle the Yulong River valley and see the light show on the water.

Xingping Viewpoint

Old fishing town on the Li River with the exact view printed on the 20 yuan banknote. Reachable by bamboo raft or bus from Yangshuo, climb Laozhai Hill for sunset.

Longji Rice Terraces

The Dragon's Backbone terraces climb whole mountainsides above Yao and Zhuang villages. About two hours from Guilin, best flooded and mirror like in May and June or golden in late September.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Forest of sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. Plan two days, take the Bailong glass elevator up and do not miss Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain.

Tianmen Mountain

Home of Heaven's Gate, the 99 bend road and cliff hugging glass walkways. The cable car from Zhangjiajie city is one of the longest in the world, buy timed tickets early.

Fenghuang Ancient Town

Riverside town of stilted wooden houses in Miao country, magical when lit at night. Pairs naturally with Zhangjiajie, stay one night to see it before the day trippers arrive.

Detian Waterfall

Asia's largest transnational waterfall, tumbling in tiers on the border with Vietnam. Remote but spectacular, reached by bus or driver from Nanning in about three and a half hours.

West & Nature

Chengdu Giant Panda Base

The best place in the world to see giant pandas, including cubs in the nursery. Arrive at the 7:30 opening for feeding time, by mid morning the pandas mostly sleep.

Leshan Giant Buddha

A 71 meter Buddha carved into a river cliff in the 8th century, the largest stone Buddha on earth. Easy day trip from Chengdu by high speed rail, walk down the cliff stairs or view it by boat.

Jiuzhaigou Valley

Alpine valley of impossibly blue and turquoise lakes, waterfalls and Tibetan villages. Daily visitor caps apply, book tickets ahead and allow a full day inside the park.

Mount Emei

One of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, topped by the Golden Summit statue above a sea of clouds. Combine with Leshan, and watch out for the cheeky macaques on the trails.

Lijiang Old Town

UNESCO listed maze of cobbled lanes and canals beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, heart of Naxi culture. Touristy but gorgeous early morning, and the gateway to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, where the Yangtze squeezes between 5000 meter peaks. The two day high trail hike between guesthouses is a classic, doable from Lijiang.

Other Highlights

Huangshan (Yellow Mountains)

Granite peaks, twisted pines and seas of cloud, the landscape behind classical Chinese painting. Take the cable car up and sleep one night on the summit for sunrise.

West Lake

Hangzhou's poetic lake ringed by pagodas, causeways and tea hills, an hour from Shanghai by train. Rent a bike or take a boat, and try Longjing tea in the villages just west.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Suzhou's largest and most celebrated classical garden, a masterpiece of ponds and pavilions. Book ahead with your passport, it caps daily visitors, then wander nearby Pingjiang Road.

Pingyao Ancient City

China's best preserved walled Ming and Qing city, once the country's banking capital. Sleep in a courtyard inn inside the walls, easy high speed rail stop between Beijing and Xi'an.