China packs more variety into one country than almost anywhere else on earth. In a single trip you can walk a two thousand year old wall, stand in front of a buried clay army, cruise past limestone peaks, watch pandas at breakfast and cross the country at 350 kilometres an hour. This is a shortlist of the best things to do in China, grouped so you can build a trip around what you actually enjoy. For the full picture, start with our China travel guide.
The icons you came for
- Walk the Great Wall. The single must do. Mutianyu has restored ramparts and a cable car, Jinshanling is quieter for a long walk. Go early for light and space. See our Great Wall guide.
- Stand in the Forbidden City. Close to a thousand halls and courtyards in the heart of Beijing. Book a timed slot and finish at Jingshan Park for the rooftop view.
- Meet the Terracotta Warriors. Thousands of individually carved soldiers buried near Xi'an. A guide turns rows of statues into a story worth the trip.
Nature and big landscapes
- Cruise the Li River. The karst peaks between Guilin and Yangshuo are the scene on the twenty yuan note. Stay in Yangshuo and cycle the rice fields.
- Walk the Avatar mountains. Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars, glass bridge and cliff elevator are a full two day adventure.
- See Rainbow Mountain. The striped hills of Zhangye Danxia in Gansu, best in late afternoon sun.
- Wander a water town. Suzhou's classical gardens and canal towns like Zhujiajiao are an easy, calm day out from Shanghai.
Food and everyday life
- Sit down to hotpot. Sichuan hotpot is the social meal of the country. Numbing, spicy and unforgettable.
- Eat your way through a night market. Xi'an's Muslim Quarter and Beijing's snack streets are the easiest introduction. Try the unfamiliar plates from our honest food guide.
- Slow down in a teahouse. Chengdu's People's Park teahouse is where locals spend whole afternoons over bamboo leaf tea.
- Watch pandas at breakfast. Arrive at the Chengdu panda base at opening time, when the animals are actually awake.
City life and modern China
- See the Shanghai Bund at night. Colonial banking houses on one side, a science fiction skyline on the other, with the river moving between them.
- Ride the high speed rail. The train itself is an experience. Book with your passport and glide city to city. See our high speed rail guide.
- Get lost in the hutongs. Beijing's old lanes hide courtyard homes, tiny noodle shops and quiet temples away from the crowds.
- Visit a great temple or garden. The Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the classical gardens of Suzhou show the calm, ordered side of Chinese design.
How to fit it all in
You cannot do all fifteen in one trip, and you should not try. Pick three or four themes, build a route of two or three cities, and leave room to sit still. A first trip that nails the Great Wall, a food city and one great landscape beats a blur of six cities in a week. Our guide to the best time to visit China helps you pick the right season for the outdoor ones.
Short on planning time? Compare China tour packages to see typical routes and durations at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the one thing you must do in China?
Walk the Great Wall. If you only keep one experience on the list, make it a morning on a restored section like Mutianyu, before the tour buses arrive.
What is there to do in China besides the Great Wall?
Plenty. The Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, a Li River cruise near Guilin, the panda base in Chengdu, the Shanghai Bund, and eating through a night market are all trip highlights in their own right.
How many days do you need to see the highlights?
Seven to nine days covers a strong first trip of two cities and one landscape. Ten or more lets you add a third without rushing.
More China travel guides
- China Travel Guide: Visas, Cities, Costs and How to Plan a First Trip
- Places to Visit in China: 12 Best Spots by Region
- Best Time to Visit China: Month by Month, Region by Region
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