City Guides
in China
Explore major cities, what they’re best for, and where to start your trip.
Last reviewed: June 2026
How to use this page
Choose the city that best matches your travel style, trip length, and interests.
Choose Beijing or Shanghai for a classic first trip and modern city travel.
Choose Chengdu or Guangzhou for food, local culture, and a slower pace.
Choose Guilin or Zhangjiajie for nature, scenery, and outdoor travel.
Choose Jiuzhaigou or Dunhuang for more destination-focused trips that need extra transport planning.
All city guides
Choose a city to see highlights, practical tips, and ideas for planning your stay.
Classic history routes
Good starting points for imperial history, old capitals, and Silk Road culture.
Easy city starts
Urban bases with strong transport, food, shopping, and easier logistics.
Nature & scenery
Better for landscapes, slower days, and outdoor travel.
Food & local life
Good picks for eating well and feeling daily city life.
Beijing
China’s classic first-trip city, with imperial landmarks, hutong neighborhoods, major museums, and easy access to the Great Wall.
Shanghai
China’s most international city, known for the Bund, skyline views, stylish neighborhoods, shopping, and easy first-time urban travel.
Xi’an
An ancient capital best known for the Terracotta Army, city walls, Muslim Quarter, and a compact introduction to China’s early history.
Chengdu
A relaxed Sichuan city for pandas, hotpot, teahouses, spicy food, and a slower pace of local life.
Guilin
A scenic nature base for Li River cruises, limestone peaks, bamboo rafting, and countryside stays around Yangshuo.
Jiuzhaigou
A mountain nature destination known for colorful lakes, waterfalls, forest scenery, and slower park-focused travel.
Hong Kong
A high-energy city with harbor views, efficient transport, English-friendly travel, shopping, hiking, and world-class food.
Dunhuang
A Silk Road stop for Mogao Caves, desert scenery, Crescent Moon Spring, history, and slower northwest China travel.
Hangzhou
An elegant lakeside escape near Shanghai, known for West Lake, tea culture, temples, gardens, and relaxed scenery.
Zhangjiajie
A dramatic mountain destination with sandstone pillars, cable cars, glass bridges, and some of China’s most iconic natural scenery.
Guangzhou
A southern food capital known for Cantonese cuisine, dim sum, riverside views, traditional markets, and links to Hong Kong and Macau.