China: Insider's guide to experiences and attractions in the world's largest adventure country is written by The editorial staff, RejsRejsRejs in cooperation with The Chinese Cultural Center in Copenhagen
A country full of diversity and discoveries
China is a country that encompasses almost everything at once.
Here, futuristic cities with skyscrapers and high-speed trains stand side by side with thousand-year-old temples, imperial palaces and ancient trade routes that still leave their mark on the landscape. It is a country where history is not hidden away but part of everyday life.
At the same time, China is constantly changing in character. Whether you travel from north to south or from east to west, you encounter completely new landscapes, cultures and atmospheres. From dusty deserts and dramatic mountain ranges to green river valleys and vibrant metropolises – each region has its own identity and its own experiences.
In this insider guide, we take you around some of the most iconic and fascinating places in China – from Beijing and Shanghai to Xi'an, Zhangjiajie and Guilin, as well as selected areas where nature and culture truly surprise.
Along the way, it becomes clear why China is one of those countries you never quite finish exploring.
Beijing – China's vibrant capital
Beijing is an obvious destination filled with iconic sights and great experiences. Here you will find some of the most well-known symbols of China.
You will not miss a visit to the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City, and the capital has plenty of gastronomy, experiences and city life to offer. Beijing is constantly growing and the city is developing enormously fast.
Beijing has one of the world's largest metro systems and you are constantly discovering new sides of the ever-changing and wondrous capital.
Ice sculptures in Northeast China
North of Beijing lies northeast China, which is the old industrial area along the borders with Russia and North Korea.
The culture here is very special, and especially in winter, when the temperature drops to -20 degrees, it is a very special place to visit. The city of Harbin is especially known for one of China's most spectacular winter experiences: the great ice and light sculpture festival.
It attracts guests from near and especially far, who bundle up and join in on an impressive festival of ice and light.
History is always a passenger when you travel around China. Up here, it tells of a time when China's northeastern region had its own culture, identity, and narrative.
China's ancient center Xi'an
The capital has not always been in Beijing. In the past, the center of China was further south, and you will find quite unique evidence of ancient times of greatness in the city of Xi'an and in the area along the Yellow River.
In Xi'an, you will not be able to avoid meeting the first Qin emperor, whose huge burial ground houses the Terracotta Warriors, who are still under excavation.
It is an impressive sight, which only becomes more impressive when you think about how it was possible to build something of that magnitude 2000 years ago.
Magnificent landscapes and mountain wonders
To the west lie China's large but sparsely populated provinces of Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia. Here you will find world-class nature experiences on a grand scale.
This is where you will find desert, plains and the world's highest mountains along with some of the world's friendliest people who still cherish their special cultures and languages.
There is a long way to the neighbor - especially if the neighbor is a nomad who moves his tent around the big plains.
China is Pandaland
Southwest China offers a rich mix of cultural diversity, magnificent scenery and memorable travel experiences – from nature and mountain landscapes to vibrant cities.
Sichuan, with its pandas and remote mountain ranges, is a true backpacker's paradise, where green valleys and quiet landscapes dominate.
In contrast, the megacity of Chongqing in the middle of China, where the city's lights, life and architecture create a completely different type of experience. Here, the Yangtze River transforms at night into a chaotic lightscape reminiscent of a futuristic movie. Blade Runner with neon signs in the haze.
Hong Kong and Macau
Along the south coast you will find one of China's most dynamic areas, where history, culture and modern urban development merge.
Here lies Macau, where Chinese and Portuguese cultural traditions meet. The city's UNESCO-listed heritage, exciting gastronomy and historic urban environments make it one of the region's most fascinating destinations, complemented by modern entertainment and a vibrant city life.
Side by side with Macau lies the historic Canton – today Guangzhou – which has been an important trading center for centuries.
A little further east you'll find Hong Kong SAR, where dense skyscrapers, bustling harbors and steep mountain sides create a dramatic and iconic skyline. Hong Kong is in itself one of the major attractions in China.
In contrast, the neighboring metropolis of Shenzhen has grown from a small fishing village to one of the world's most important centers for technology, electronics and innovation in just a few decades.
Beach in China? Check out Hainan
South of the mainland lies the island of Hainan, often called 'China's Mallorca'. Here you will find long sandy beaches, palm trees and a climate that invites you to sunbathe and swim almost all year round – a rare contrast to the more hectic cities on the mainland.
The island is China's holiday paradise, where the pace slows down and the days are more about relaxation, beach life and resorts. Here, it's considered pure vacation - with sun, sand and water at the center - as we know and love it.
Adventure in the rocks
China contains some of the world's most spectacular and adventurous landscapes, which also inspired the floating dreamscapes in the blockbuster film Avatar.
In Guilin, the distinctive limestone mountains rise dramatically from the green landscape and rivers, while Zhangjiajie National Forest Park offers almost unreal rock formations, often shrouded in mist, creating an almost otherworldly scenery.
Further west you will find the Three Gorges, where the Yangtze River cuts through deep gorges and mountain sides in a dramatic and magnificent landscape.
Shanghai
At the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai is one of China's most fascinating cities, where colorful history meets a hypermodern skyline and city life that never seems to come to a standstill.
Here, the colonial-era buildings along The Bund contrast with the skyscrapers of Pudong, and the city is constantly buzzing with energy, commerce and development.
Shopping, gastronomy and nightlife are hardly better than in Shanghai, and Shanghai is therefore an obvious stop for both curious travelers and city lovers who want to experience China's most international metropolis.
Pagodas and skyscrapers in China
The entire country is connected by high-speed trains that zip through the countryside. Development is unstoppable. China is constantly changing – but always in step with history.
The ancient temples and pagodas stand side by side with modern skyscrapers of imaginative design.
That's why China is a country that, as a traveler, you never really get tired of.
China offers a unique diversity, where experiences and attractions constantly change between nature, culture and modern city life.
In many ways, it feels like a destination where history, culture and modern life come together in an extraordinary way.
10 amazing sights and experiences in China
- Beijing: A capital in wild development
- Ice Sculptures in Northeast China: Winter Magic in the Cold North
- China's ancient center Xi'an: Terracotta warriors and imperial history
- Adventure in China's Wild West
- Pandaland: Pandas, mountains and big cities
- Hong Kong and Macau: City life on the coast of South China
- Beach in China? Check out Hainan: Sun, Sand and Relaxation
- Adventure in the Rocks: Nature like from a movie
- Shanghai: Skyscrapers, shopping and city life
- Pagodas and skyscrapers in China: Future and past side by side
Did you know: Here are the top 7 best nature destinations in Asia according to Booking.com's millions of users
7: Pai in northern Thailand
6: Kota Kinabalu on Borneo in Malaysia
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