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7 highlights of China: must-sees and more

Is China at the top of your must-visit list? Don’t leave these top seven highlights off your itinerary, from the Great Wall of China to Xian's Terracotta Warriors.

Updated by: Aimee White - Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Updated: 13 February 2026

 

Choosing where to go in China can be difficult. It's such a huge country with a variety of landscapes, cities and cultures to take in - so where to start? We've narrowed down our seven highlights of China. Visit the Summer Palace and Forbidden City in Beijing; soak up the views on a Li River cruise in Guilin; and tuck into speciality cuisine in the Muslim quarter of Xi'an. 

 

With so much to see and do, read on to discover these unmissable China highlights:

  1. Beijing
  2. Xi'an
  3. The Great Wall of China
  4. Shanghai
  5. Guilin
  6. Chengdu
  7. Yangtze River
 

1. Beijing

Beijing is over 3,000 years old, so undoubtedly it's best known for its epic history. The sprawling capital of China has been the political and culture centre of the country since Kublai Khan made it the heart of his mighty Asian empire – its presence is so dominant that all of China’s clocks are set to ‘Beijing time’ despite the western reaches being some 5,000 kilometres from the capital city!

 

No trip to China is complete without a visit to Beijing, not least to explore the famous sights of the former emperors such as the Forbidden City (the largest palace on earth), the expansive Summer Palace and the vast Tiananmen Square – you can see all this and more during a three-day stop on our China Highlights trip.

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A traditional Chinese palace stands majestically within a courtyard, framed by large red doors adorned with golden studs, under a clear blue sky.

2. Xi'an

At the start of the eastern end of the Silk Road, Xi'an is a fascinatnig city which for centuries held an exciting archaeological secret. It’s unsurprising that this remote outpost is home to buried treasures, given that it was the home of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties. In the vast, barren plains surrounding the city you’ll find Bingmayong, best known as the Terracotta Warriors – thousands of life-size soldiers, horses and chariots standing sentry over the Qin Shi Huangdi Tomb since 200BC.

 

The terracotta army was only discovered by accident in the 1970s and is considered one of the century’s greatest finds. On our Walk the Great Wall + Xian Extension tour you’ll spend three days in Xi'an, giving you plenty of opportunity to explore the Terracotta Army, as well as the National Museum, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque.

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Terracotta soldiers stand silently, lined up in rows. These clay figures wear armor and unique headgear, set within an archaeological excavation site of earthy, dusty trenches and surrounding soil.

3. The Great Wall of China

It’s one of China’s most recognisable sights, snaking around 21,000 kilometres across the country: the Great Wall of China is more than just a wall but a series of fortifications to protect the northern border from attack and the scale of the site is staggering. It’s hard to believe that it was built without the modern building materials and techniques that we rely on today, but instead with rice flour mortar and compacted earth.

 

It would take around 18 months to walk the entire length of the Great Wall, but you can walk some of its most fascinating parts on our Walk the Great Wall tour. Spend 10 days traversing sections through rural China, beginning at the Dragon’s Head where the Wall meets the sea, and concluding among the watchtowers of Jinshanling. Discover more facts about the Great Wall of China here.

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A stone walkway leads to a watchtower along a portion of the Great Wall of China, surrounded by lush green hills under a colorful, vibrant sky with pink and purple hues.

4. Shanghai

While other cities may vie for attention, Shanghai - known as the 'Paris of the Orient' - is China’s biggest, boldest city as well as a global financial centre. There's no missing the Bund, a waterfront promenade where colonial-era buildings are set against a backdrop of futuristic skyscrapers. This area is known as Pudong, situated across the yawning Huangpu River, where you’ll find the space-age pink bubbles of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

 

Seeing it now, it’s hard to imagine that the city began as a humble fishing village in the 11th century. If your tour ends in Beijing, consider extending your trip so you can reach Shanghai by high-speed train. Take time to stroll the leafy, elegant boulevards of the Gallic-inspired French Concession or wander the 16th-century Yu Yuan Gardens.

 

Visitors from countries including the UK, Australia, Ireland and Italy can visit China for stays up to 30 days without requiring a visa.

Skyscrapers, including a distinctive tower with spheres, stand illuminated by sunlight. They line the waterfront under a clear blue sky, reflecting off a calm river in an urban setting.

5. Guilin

Guilin is one of the most naturally beautiful places to visit in China. Surrounded by karst scenery, pristine lakes and a medieval-era moat, Guilin is famed for its green landscapes. Whether you take a leisurely stroll or explore by boat, you can enjoy beautiful views over its dramatic hills and traditional fishing villages, water buffalo wallowing in the limpid shallows and rice paddies tended to by conical-hatted farmers.

 

Arrive into Guilin by high-speed train and join a cruise along the Li River. Your surrounds might feel familiar - this picturesque section of Guilin features on the 20 Chinese Renminbi note!

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Lush green fields with a winding river cross through a valley surrounded by misty, jagged mountains under a partly cloudy sky. A cluster of small buildings sits to the right.

6. Chengdu

The capital of China’s southern Sichuan province, Chengdu is best known for its famously spicy cuisine, laidback teahouse culture and Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. While the city is as energetic and modern as any other Chinese metropolis, Chengdu is also surrounded by untamed scenery.

 

Our Walk the Great Wall + Xi'an Extension trip ends in Xi'an, so you can consider adding a few extra days to your China adventure to soak up the best of this eclectic city, which is as progressive as it is traditional. Make time to watch an unforgettable Sichuan Opera performance, too.

A giant panda is exploring a patch of lush green grass, surrounded by scattered bamboo stalks, in a natural outdoor setting.

7. Yangtze River

The longest river in Asia and the third longest river in the world, the Yangtze’s accolades are as impressive as its yawning width. Flowing from the Tibetan Plateau to empty into the East China Sea, the 'golden river' passes through impressive limestone gorges towards a series of mighty (yet controversial) dams.

 

A Yangtze River cruise is a picturesque way to bookend your trip to China. Spend a few days gliding along the river through the Three Gorges, hemmed by cliffs towering some 900 metres above.

Two boats cruise through a wide river flanked by steep, lush green mountains under a bright blue sky, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.

Don't just travel, Explore!

If you ask us, the best way to explore China is on a small group tour. You'll follow a carefully crafted itinerary (compatible for 10- or 12-day trips) that packs in the top sites and authentic experiences, with your expert tour leader at the helm. Whether you want to walk the Great Wall of China, check out the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an or roam the famous hutongs of Beijing, our China small group tours are ideal for first-time and well-seasoned adventurers alike.
Let's visit China
Ornate traditional Chinese building stands beside a scenic pond. Visitors walk along a covered wooden bridge, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, creating a tranquil garden setting.

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