China’s major cities are very different from one another, and which ones suit you depends on what you want from the trip: history, food, landscape or modern city life. This guide explains what each city is actually best for.

Beijing — History and Scale

The essential first stop for most travellers. Two sections of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace are all here, along with the traditional hutongs. It is also the most straightforward city for international visitors: extensive English signage, a cheap metro and easy transport connections.

Best for: imperial history, major landmarks, first-time visitors.
Time needed: 3–4 days.
Read the Beijing travel guide

Shanghai — Modern China

China’s most international city, and the easiest introduction for anyone nervous about a first trip. The Bund and Pudong skyline are the obvious draws, but the former French Concession, the museums and the restaurant scene reward a slower pace.

Best for: modern city life, architecture, food and nightlife.
Time needed: 2–3 days.
Read the Shanghai travel guide

Xi’an — Ancient China

Thirteen dynasties’ worth of history, plus the Terracotta Army and one of the best-preserved city walls in the country. Xi’an adds depth to a Beijing-focused trip and is an easy high-speed rail hop from the capital.

Best for: archaeology, ancient history, Silk Road context.
Time needed: 2 days.
Read the Xi’an travel guide

Chengdu — Food and Pandas

The capital of Sichuan and the most relaxed of China’s big cities. The panda research base is the headline attraction, but the teahouses, hotpot and general pace of life are what people remember.

Best for: food, pandas, a slower rhythm.
Time needed: 2–3 days.
Read the Chengdu travel guide

Guilin and Yangshuo — Landscape

The karst peaks along the Li River are the most photographed scenery in China, and Yangshuo makes a relaxed base for cycling, river trips and rice terrace walks.

Best for: scenery, photography, outdoor days.
Time needed: 3 days.
Read the Guilin travel guide

Hangzhou — Lakes and Tea

An hour from Shanghai by high-speed rail, making it an easy addition or day trip. West Lake, the Longjing tea villages and Lingyin Temple make for a gentle, elegant stop.

Best for: a calm break from bigger cities, tea culture.
Time needed: 1–2 days.
Read the Hangzhou travel guide

Chongqing — Drama and River Cruises

A mountain city stacked across steep riverbanks, with a famous night skyline and some of the spiciest food in the country. It is also the departure point for Yangtze River cruises through the Three Gorges.

Best for: striking cityscapes, hotpot, river cruises.
Time needed: 2 days, more with a cruise.
Read the Chongqing travel guide

Guangzhou and Shenzhen — South China

Guangzhou is the home of Cantonese cooking and a historic trading port; Shenzhen is a fast, modern tech city on the Hong Kong border. Both are within an hour of Hong Kong by high-speed rail, which makes them easy to combine with a southern route.

Best for: food, contemporary China, Hong Kong links.
Time needed: 1–2 days each.
Read the Guangzhou guide · Read the Shenzhen guide

Zhangjiajie — Natural Landscapes

Not a city break so much as a national park visit. The sandstone pillars are extraordinary, and the area suits travellers who are happy to spend full days walking and queuing for cable cars.

Best for: hiking, dramatic scenery.
Time needed: 3 days.
Read the Zhangjiajie travel guide

Yunnan — Old Towns and Mountains

Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La form a classic route through China’s most ethnically diverse province. It is best treated as a separate trip rather than an add-on.

Best for: culture, old towns, trekking.
Time needed: 10–14 days.
Read the Yunnan travel guide

Historic and Coastal Options

Luoyang and Pingyao are the strongest additions for travellers interested in ancient China — the Longmen Grottoes and a complete Ming-era walled city respectively. On the coast, Xiamen, Qingdao and Hainan offer beaches, seafood and a very different pace.