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What to see in China: the 10 must-see places for a first visit

The 10 places at a glance

The stars are Macalaoshi's own rating, our editorial opinion: they are not user reviews or scores from other sites. They depend on how unique the place is, how easy it is to reach and how much you enjoy it on a first visit. The days are our own suggestion.

The 10 places, one by one

Each place is deliberately short; to go deeper, see historic China, natural landscapes, Chinese cities and business travel. Bookings, opening hours and entry requirements for the country change: confirm them with the official channel or your embassy before you travel.

1. The Great Wall (长城, Chángchéng)

Why go. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and the best-known sections date from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Near Beijing: Badaling, the easiest to reach and the most crowded; Mutianyu, restored, with a cable car, about 85 km from the centre; and Jinshanling, in Hebei, the least visited.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★★ — the symbol of China; Mutianyu makes a first visit easy.

Practical tip. Mutianyu requires a real-name booking on its official website and accepts a passport. More sections in historic China.

What to eat there: 北京烤鸭 (Běijīng kǎoyā, Peking duck); 炸酱面 (zhájiàngmiàn, noodles with fermented soybean sauce)

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2. The Forbidden City (故宫, Gùgōng)

Why go. The palace of 24 Ming and Qing emperors, completed in 1420: it covers more than a million square metres and has been a UNESCO site since 1987. Today it is the Palace Museum.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★★ — China's great imperial palace, worth half a day.

Practical tip. There are no same-day tickets: book under your real name in the official WeChat mini program (sales open seven days ahead, at 20:00). A passport is accepted; enter with the original. Closed on Mondays except public holidays.

What to eat there: 涮羊肉 (shuàn yángròu, instant-boiled mutton hotpot); 糖葫芦 (tánghúlu, candied fruit on a stick)

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3. The Terracotta Army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng)

Why go. Farmers digging a well found it on 29 March 1974. Estimates speak of more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 520 horses. It has been a UNESCO site since 1987. In Xi'an you can also walk its Ming city wall, 13.74 km long.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★★ — unique in the world; the Xi'an wall rounds it off.

Practical tip. Buy tickets only through the museum's official channels (its website and WeChat accounts). Foreigners show their passport when buying and entering.

What to eat there: 肉夹馍 (ròujiāmó, stuffed bun with meat); 凉皮 (liángpí, cold noodles with chili and vinegar)

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4. The Bund in Shanghai (外滩, Wàitān)

Why go. A promenade of about 1.6 km along the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, with about 52 historic buildings in varied styles. The buildings of the Bund and Pudong are lit up every evening.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★☆ — the easiest postcard of Shanghai, though not a unique historic site.

Practical tip. Go at dusk and stay until the lights come on.

What to eat there: 小笼包 (xiǎolóngbāo, steamed soup dumplings); 生煎包 (shēngjiānbāo, pan-fried pork buns); 红烧肉 (hóngshāoròu, braised pork belly)

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5. Zhangjiajie (张家界, Zhāngjiājiè)

Why go. Wulingyuan has been a UNESCO site since 1992: more than 3,000 sandstone pillars, many over 200 m. One mountain was renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" in 2010, and the Bailong Elevator climbs 326 m.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★★ — a landscape like no other, made accessible by cable cars.

Practical tip. According to Wikivoyage, the ticket is valid for four days and is registered under your real name; the elevator is paid separately. Ticket validity can change, so check it when you buy. More in natural landscapes.

What to eat there: 三下锅 (sānxiàguō, spicy meat stew, the local dish); 莓茶 (méichá, berry tea)

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6. Guilin and the Li River (桂林 / 漓江, Guìlín / Lí Jiāng)

Why go. The Li River (164 km) runs through karst towers of 30 to 80 m, and its view is on the 20 yuan note. Part of the Guilin karst is a UNESCO site (2014 extension). The cruise to Yangshuo takes 3.5 to 4 hours.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★★ — a postcard landscape, easy to enjoy by boat.

Practical tip. Book the boat in advance; in the dry winter season the first stretch may be done by road.

What to eat there: 桂林米粉 (Guìlín mǐfěn, Guilin rice noodles); 啤酒鱼 (píjiǔyú, beer fish, famous in Yangshuo)

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7. The Chengdu pandas (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地, Chéngdū Dàxióngmāo Fányù Yánjiū Jīdì)

Why go. The Chengdu base was founded in 1987 with six pandas rescued from the wild and now breeds giant and red pandas. It is a breeding and research centre, not a nature park.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★☆ — a morning everyone loves.

Practical tip. Everyone books online under their name, up to 14 days ahead; with a passport you use a separate lane. Go early, when the pandas are most active.

What to eat there: 麻婆豆腐 (mápó dòufu, spicy tofu); 担担面 (dàndàn miàn, noodles in a spicy, numbing sauce)

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8. West Lake in Hangzhou (西湖, Xīhú)

Why go. A UNESCO site since 2011. About 6.4 km², two historic causeways and the Leifeng Pagoda (975, rebuilt in 2002). Since 2002 you can stroll most of its shore for free.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★☆ — a serene walk, under an hour from Shanghai.

Practical tip. From Shanghai Hongqiao the high-speed train takes about 50 minutes. The Longjing tea fields are best seen at harvest: from March to shortly after 1 May.

What to eat there: 西湖醋鱼 (Xīhú cùyú, fish in vinegar sauce); 东坡肉 (Dōngpō ròu, braised pork belly); 龙井虾仁 (lóngjǐng xiārén, shrimp with Longjing tea)

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9. The gardens of Suzhou (苏州园林, Sūzhōu yuánlín)

Why go. Nine classical gardens are UNESCO sites (four since 1997 and five more since 2000) and span almost a thousand years of garden art, from the Northern Song to the late Qing.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★☆ — calm and detail, for those who enjoy subtlety.

Practical tip. From Shanghai it is under half an hour by train. Summer is humid and can reach 40 °C: better in spring or autumn.

What to eat there: 松鼠鳜鱼 (sōngshǔ guìyú, sweet-and-sour "squirrel" fish, the emblem of Suzhou)

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10. Huangshan, the Yellow Mountains (黄山, Huángshān)

Why go. A UNESCO site since 1990 for its natural and cultural value. Lotus Peak is 1,864 m high. People speak of "four wonders": strange pines, odd rocks, a sea of clouds and hot springs.

Macalaoshi rating: ★★★★☆ — spectacular, though it depends on the weather and the booking.

Practical tip. Entry is under your real name and by time slot, on the official platform. The summit is in cloud over 200 days a year; the sea of clouds often shows after rain or snow.

What to eat there: 臭鳜鱼 (chòu guìyú, fermented mandarin fish); 毛豆腐 (máodòufu, "hairy" tofu)

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Suggested route for a first visit

About 12 days, by high-speed train and one flight. It is our own suggestion and timetables change: check them before buying.

Train tickets. Register beforehand with your passport in the official 12306 app or website; if automatic verification fails, manual review takes three to five working days.

Best time to travel

In general, spring and autumn: in summer the monsoon brings most of the rain to much of the country, and winter is cold and dry in the north. For Beijing, Visit Beijing recommends late March to May and September to mid-October.

Avoid the long holidays or book far ahead: since 2025, Chinese New Year is 4 official days off, plus 1 and 2 May and 1 to 3 October, and they are often joined to weekends.

Traveller's vocabulary

Many of these words are from HSK 1 and HSK 2, the levels Macalaoshi trains: learn them before the trip. To speak, there are 50 Chinese phrases for travel, greetings and numbers.

Pinyin is given as in the dictionary. In speech, when two third tones come together, the first becomes a second tone: 洗手间 sounds xíshǒujiān.

How Macalaoshi does it

Recognizing these characters before you travel saves you on signs, menus and at stations. In Macalaoshi you learn them through challenges to save the world from the Empress with the power of Chinese characters: more than 1300 words and characters from HSK 1 to 4, bosses, stroke-by-stroke writing in the correct order and story mode with Lili. Every character you get right goes up a level and what you miss comes back for you to review. Getting started is free; to lock in the vocabulary, see how to memorize vocabulary.

Improve your Chinese with Macalaoshi Flashcards

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• 1,300+words and characters
• HSK 1–4by level
• Freeto start

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Learn with our songs

We made them for Macalaoshi. Singing along is a fun way to practice pronunciation and review vocabulary.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need to see the main sights of China?

About 12 days is enough to link Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai without rushing. With less time, pick two or three cities and leave the rest for another trip.

What is the best time to travel to China?

In general, spring and autumn: the summer monsoon brings most of the rain to much of the country. For Beijing, the best months are late March to May and September to mid-October. Avoid, or book far ahead for, Chinese New Year, 1 May and 1 October.

Do you have to book the Forbidden City in advance?

Yes. The Palace Museum does not sell same-day tickets: you book under your real name through its official WeChat mini program, with sales opening seven days ahead. Foreign visitors can use a passport. It is closed on Mondays except public holidays.

Can a foreigner buy high-speed train tickets?

Yes. You can create an account in the official 12306 app or website with your passport and verify your identity; if automatic verification fails, you upload photos and the review can take three to five working days. It is best to do this before you travel.

Does this guide include Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macao?

No. It covers mainland China, where the simplified characters taught by Macalaoshi are used.

Which Chinese words are worth knowing before the trip?

The ones on signs and in stations: 门票 (ménpiào, entrance ticket), 入口 (rùkǒu, entrance), 出口 (chūkǒu, exit), 地铁 (dìtiě, metro) and 预约 (yùyuē, booking). They are in the vocabulary table of this guide.

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