Best cities in China to visit

China is a country that every self-respecting traveler should visit at least once, or better yet, several times in their lifetime. Here you will find an eclectic mix of modern and traditional architecture, impressive landscapes, amazing nature, unique culture, and exotic cuisine. All this will make you fall in love with this country and want to come back again and again. We will tell you about the most popular cities in the country, which are the best places to start exploring China: a visit here can be both a full-fledged journey and a starting point for new discoveries.

Beijing

The capital of the PRC is the country’s cultural centre, so if you want to gain a deeper understanding of China’s traditions, Beijing is a must-see. The city was founded in 473 AD and is home to some of China’s most ancient and interesting landmarks. These include the Badaling section of the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs, and the Confucius Temple. Beijing’s Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, is the largest palace complex in the world, with around 980 buildings and 10,000 rooms. The main entrance is adorned with the famous Gate of Heavenly Peace, which you’ve probably seen in movies and photographs, as it’s one of China’s most recognizable symbols.

Beijing has many picturesque parks, such as Beihai, Botanical Garden, Xiangshan, Yuanmingyuan and Shichahai, and interesting temples and pagodas can be found on the streets. However, it is worth noting that the ecology in the city leaves much to be desired - smog is often observed here, so tourists prefer not to stay for long. Nevertheless, like any capital, Beijing has many options for leisure: bars, theaters, concerts, shopping centers, antique shops and restaurants for every taste and budget.

Shanghai

This popular tourist port city resembles a set from a science fiction movie about high technology and the future. Skyscrapers, magnetic levitation trains and impressive bridges testify to how developed and successful China has become in recent years. Once a fishing village, Shanghai is now often called the Paris of the East and the Pearl of the Orient. Among the city's main attractions, you can find both historical buildings in traditional and colonial styles (Longhua Pagoda, Sheshan Basilica, Songjiang Mosque, Yuyuan Complex) and modern structures - the Bund, Jin Mao Tower, Pudong District and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, which is the fifth tallest in the world.

When visiting Shanghai, be sure to set aside a day for Shanghai Disneyland, deepen your knowledge of Asian culture at the Oriental Art Center, explore Shanghai's markets (including antique, traditional clothing, flower and bird markets), and take a boat ride on the Huangpu River.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a modern, skyscraper-studded trading city that has been around for over two thousand years. It is the third largest city in China, behind only Beijing and Shanghai, and is home to over 15 million people. It is interesting that in the 20th century Guangzhou became the capital of China three times, although not for long. One of the city's most famous attractions is Yuexiu Park, famous for its flowers and trees. Every spring and autumn, it hosts major spring fairs and chrysanthemum exhibitions, and on January 28, the city is transformed during the famous Flower Festival.

Guangzhou is also home to an opera house, the Zhenghailou Museum in the city's ancient observation tower, the oldest mosque, Huaisheng, the Canton Tower (the second tallest in the world), the Mausoleum of the Nanyue Kings, the Chen Family Temple, and two major exhibition centers, Liuhua and Pazhou. For those who want to be closer to nature, Shamian Island or Baiyun Mountain are suitable.

Shenzhen

The city, famous for its numerous parks and skyscrapers, is located on the coast of the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Pearl River. It is called the Silicon Valley of Asia and the Chinese economic miracle, because just 40 years ago Shenzhen was a small town that arose from a fishing village, and today it is a vibrant and attractive metropolis with a population of 11 million people. Tourists especially appreciate the local theme parks, among which are "Window of the World" (where miniature copies of famous historical landmarks from around the world are presented), "Gorgeous China Folk Village", "Happy Valley", "Oriental City of Overseas Chinese" and "Art Park", where you can see the works of modern artists and sculptors. 

The city also has parks for walks among the greenery: the Xianhu Botanical Garden, located around the mountain lake of the same name, the Wutongshan National Park, the Lianhuashan Park ("Lotus Mountain"), the Yantai Mountain Forest Park and the Mangrove Forest Park. Among the historical attractions, it is worth paying attention to the Old Town of Nantou (or Xin'an), where several monuments from the Ming and Qing dynasties have been preserved, as well as the tomb of the last emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Bing.

Hangzhou

This place is ideal for those who are tired of noisy megacities or have always preferred natural beauty. Hangzhou has many excellent hiking routes, such as Fushan Hill, surrounded by blooming gardens. The city attracts tourists with its attractions, such as the China National Tea Museum, the Six Harmonies Pagoda, Wushan Square, the Silk Museum and the Temple of the Soul's Refuge. 

Hangzhou retains its uniqueness - there are many traditional restaurants and craft workshops where you can watch the process of creating clay products and fans, as well as buy them as original souvenirs. Marco Polo, who visited the city in the 13th century, is said to have called Hangzhou the most beautiful city in the world, and it still remains an amazing place with a unique atmosphere. In addition, from here you can easily get to the small but charming ancient towns of Xitang and Wuzhen, which are often called the Chinese Venice due to their many canals.

Chengdu

The main reason tourists come to Chengdu is to see the adorable giant pandas at the Panda Park Research and Breeding Center. The reserve was founded in 1987 to protect these rare and enchanting bamboo-loving creatures and today covers an area of ​​about 100 hectares and is home to over a hundred black and white pandas.

Chengdu itself has a rich history of over two thousand years. Here you can find amazing ancient gardens and parks such as Baihuatan and Wenhua. Chengdu is home to the largest single building in the world, the New Century, built in 2013, as well as one of the most beautiful squares in the country, Tian Fu. We recommend visiting the Sichuan Museum, the house of the poet Du Fu, the 7th-century Qinyang Temple, and then climbing the West Pearl Tower. Also worth seeing are the Dujiangyan Dam, built in the 3rd century BC, as well as the three-thousand-year-old ruins of Jinsha and ancient burial mounds that are over 5 thousand years old.

Xi'an

Xi'an is an ancient city with a rich historical heritage, which was once the center of the Qin, Han, Zhou, Sui, and Tang dynasties. It is most famous as the home of the Terracotta Army, the eight thousand statues of warriors who accompanied Emperor Qin Shi Huang on his final journey. The mausoleum took about 40 years to build, with each statue handcrafted in a different city (except for the horses, which were made in Xi'an due to their heavy weight). The Terracotta Army is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, and it truly leaves an unforgettable impression on all who see it.

Other iconic buildings of Xi'an worth mentioning include the Great Mosque, built in 742 (the interior is decorated in Chinese style, but with Arabic elements), the Drum and Bell Towers, the Fortress Wall and the Wild Goose Pagodas. For archeology buffs, Xi'an should definitely be a priority place to visit in China.

Guilin

Surrounded by picturesque mountains, Guilin is considered by the Chinese government to be the country's top tourist city. The unique landscape, which harmoniously combines cliffs, hills, caves and lakes, attracts hikers, extreme sports enthusiasts, climbers and speleologists. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the rice terraces in Longji, visit Shangri-La and Seven Stars Parks, stroll through the ruins of the ancient city of Daxiu and explore the Bajiao Zhai Nature Reserve. A trip to Guilin is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the fascinating nature of China.

China is truly a unique country that can offer travelers urban, cultural, natural and even beach tourism. Go on a great trip to this amazing country and don't forget to connect to mobile Internet for China from fedafone - with unlimited access to the online translator your travels will become much easier.