China offers ancient cities, soaring skylines, dramatic mountains, and fast-changing creative scenes, all layered with thousands of years of history and culture.
Discover China
Discover China
Why visit China?
What to expect
From Beijing's imperial landmarks to Shanghai's waterfront skyline, Chengdu's laid-back charm, and Guangdong's waterfront cities, you find diverse climates, dialects, and landscapes across one vast country.
Plan your trip
China is well-suited to both first-time and repeat visitors, with efficient domestic flights and high-speed rail linking major hubs, making it an ideal gateway to wider East Asia.
Top experiences in China
Walk Beijing's imperial axis
Explore Beijing's grand avenues, from Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City, then wander traditional hutong alleys for a sense of daily life.
Soak up Shanghai's skyline
Stroll along the Bund at dusk to see colonial facades glow while futuristic towers on the opposite bank light up the Huangpu River.
Cruise the West Lake in Hangzhou
Glide across Hangzhou's West Lake on a boat to see pagodas, willow-lined causeways, and misty hills that have inspired poets for centuries.
Meet the pandas in Chengdu
Visit Chengdu's panda research bases in the cool morning hours to watch giant pandas and cubs feeding, climbing, and napping.
Taste the heat of Chongqing and Sichuan
Experience the region's famous spicy cuisine and lively hotpot restaurants, then take in night views along the Yangtze River.
Discover Pearl River Delta cities
Use Guangzhou and Shenzhen as bases to explore modern art districts, high-tech precincts, and waterfront promenades.
Step into coastal Xiamen
Wander Xiamen's breezy island streets, colonial-era buildings, and nearby islands for a slower-paced coastal escape.
Unwind in city parks
Join locals in morning tai chi, dancing, or chess in leafy city parks from Beijing to Guangzhou for a quiet pause in between sights.
Experience China's way of life
Getting around
China's high-speed rail network links major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, while a dense network of domestic flights and metro systems make crossing cities and regions straightforward.
Local life & culture
You see morning exercise in parks, evening dances on city squares, and neighbourhood communities in teahouses and community spaces, with each region expressing its own dialects, arts, and traditions.
Where to unwind
Relax in classical gardens, lakeside promenades, riverfront walkways, and hilltop viewpoints around major cities, or simply slow down in quiet tea rooms and serene urban parks.
A taste of China
National dishes & specialties
From Beijing's roasted duck and Shanghai's delicate dumplings to Sichuan's fiery flavours and Guangdong's dim sum, each region specialises in its own distinctive styles and techniques.
Casual & modern dining hubs
You find lively food streets, contemporary bistros, and convenient shopping-mall restaurants in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, offering everything from local comfort food to international menus.
Signature & scenic dining
Dine with river views along the Bund in Shanghai, beside lakes and gardens in Hangzhou and Chengdu, or in sky-high restaurants in Beijing and Shenzhen that showcase wide city panoramas.
Retail therapy in China
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Large shopping centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen combine international labels with local designers, entertainment, and dining in one place.
Markets & local crafts
Browse markets and specialist streets in Beijing, Chengdu, and Hangzhou for crafts, calligraphy, tea, textiles, and design pieces that reflect regional character.
Evening retail scene
After dark, illuminated shopping streets, night markets, and late-opening malls in major cities create a lively atmosphere for browsing, snacking, and people-watching.
Best time to visit China
Spring (March to May, shoulder season) brings mild weather to many regions, with typical temperatures of 10–22°C (50–72°F) and blooming parks in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Summer (June to August, peak season) is generally warm to hot, around 22–32°C (72–90°F), with higher humidity in southern cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Xiamen, and school holidays bringing more visitors. Autumn (September to November, shoulder season) offers comfortable conditions of about 10–24°C (50–75°F), clearer skies in northern cities, and colourful foliage in parks and mountain areas. Winter (December to February, low season) is cold and dry in northern cities such as Beijing, often between -5–8°C (23–46°F), while southern cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Xiamen stay milder at around 8–18°C (46–64°F).