# Things to do in China: best places to visit > China's classics: the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Bund and the Lujiazui skyline in Shanghai, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, West Lake in Hangzhou, the panda base and the Leshan Giant Buddha near Chengdu, and Hongyadong lit up at night in Chongqing. High-speed trains join them — Beijing to Shanghai takes about four and a half hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china ## Cities - [Shanghai](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai.md): 30 places with the YesGo score - [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing.md): 30 places with the YesGo score - [Guangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Shenzhen](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Chengdu](https://yesgo.io/china/chengdu.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Sanya](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Chongqing](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Harbin](https://yesgo.io/china/harbin.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Xi’an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian.md): 10 places with the YesGo score - [Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou.md): 10 places with the YesGo score ## Itineraries across the country - [7 days in China: an itinerary by city](https://yesgo.io/china/in-7-days.md): The Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven, the Terracotta Army and Xi'an's pagodas, then Pudong's towers and the French Concession. ## Top places across the country - [Forbidden City](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/forbidden-city.md), Beijing: YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h 30 min · ¥40 Nov–Mar, ¥60 Apr–Oct. The Forbidden City is Beijing's imperial palace, now the Palace Museum. You enter only by the south Meridian Gate and leave by the north… - [The Bund](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/the-bund.md), Shanghai: YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free. The Bund (Waitan) is a free, always-open riverside promenade: about 1.5 km of early 20th-century banks and hotels on the Huangpu's west… - [Terracotta Army](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/terracotta-army.md), Xi’an: YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · ¥120, passport booking ahead. The Terracotta Army is the excavated pit museum of China's First Emperor in Lintong, about 40 km east of central Xi'an, with thousands of… - [Grand Canal in Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hangzhou-grand-canal.md), Hangzhou: YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free; water bus ¥3. The Grand Canal ends in northern Hangzhou, and its landmark here is Gongchen Bridge, a three-arched stone bridge from 1631. Walking the… - [Canton Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/canton-tower.md), Guangzhou: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · From ¥150, under 1.2 m free. Canton Tower (广州塔) is Guangzhou's 600 m lattice TV tower on the south bank of the Pearl River. The basic ticket to the indoor decks at… - [Ping An Finance Centre](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/ping-an-finance-centre.md), Shenzhen: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥200 at the counter, from ¥180 online. Ping An Finance Centre is Shenzhen's tallest building — 599 m in the Futian business district. Its Free Sky observation deck is on floor… - [Tianfu Square](https://yesgo.io/china/chengdu/tianfu-square.md), Chengdu: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free. Tianfu Square is Chengdu's central plaza: a white marble Mao statue in front of the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum, fountains and a… - [Jiefangbei](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/jiefangbei.md), Chongqing: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, open 24 hours. Jiefangbei is Chongqing's pedestrian downtown, built around a 27.5-metre octagonal monument with clocks on four sides. It's free and open… - [St Sophia Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/china/harbin/harbin-st-sophia-cathedral.md), Harbin: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Square free, inside ≈ ¥25. St Sophia Cathedral is Harbin's former Russian Orthodox cathedral, now the city's architecture museum. The square is free; going inside… - [Phoenix Island](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/phoenix-island.md), Sanya: YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free from the shore; island by booking. Phoenix Island (凤凰岛) is an artificial island in Sanya Bay, a couple of kilometres from downtown, crowned by five egg-shaped towers. It… - [Temple of Heaven](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/temple-of-heaven.md), Beijing: YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ¥10–15, ¥28–34 with halls. The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) is a vast walled park in southern central Beijing where emperors prayed for good harvests, crowned by the… - [Shanghai Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-tower.md), Shanghai: YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120. Shanghai Tower is China's tallest building — 632 m of twisting glass in Lujiazui, Pudong. The Top of Shanghai deck is on floor 118, at 546… - [Great Mosque of Xi’an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/xian-great-mosque.md), Xi’an: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free. The Great Mosque of Xi’an is a working mosque built like a Chinese temple — four courtyards, a pagoda for a minaret and shady gardens… - [West Lake](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/west-lake.md), Hangzhou: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free; island boat ¥55. West Lake is Hangzhou’s defining sight and a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape: 15 km of shoreline, two historic causeways, islands… - [Dafo Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/guangzhou-dafo-temple.md), Guangzhou: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free. Dafo Temple (大佛寺, 'Grand Buddha Temple') is a working Buddhist temple in a lane off Beijing Road, Guangzhou, with roots over a thousand… - [Lianhuashan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen/lianhuashan-park.md), Shenzhen: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free. Lianhuashan Park (莲花山公园, Lotus Hill Park) is a hilltop park in Futian, right north of Shenzhen’s CBD. Entry is free; it’s open daily… - [Chunxi Road](https://yesgo.io/china/chengdu/chunxi-road.md), Chengdu: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Chunxi Road is Chengdu's main pedestrian shopping district, trading since 1924 — and right next to it a 15-metre panda appears to climb… - [Hongyadong](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing/hongyadong.md), Chongqing: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free. Hongyadong (洪崖洞, Hongya Cave) is an 11-storey complex of stilt-style houses on a cliff above the Jialing River in central Chongqing… - [Central Street](https://yesgo.io/china/harbin/harbin-central-street.md), Harbin: YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free. Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie) is Harbin's 1.45 km cobbled pedestrian street, laid out by Russian builders from 1898 and lined with 71… - [Dadonghai Bay](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/dadonghai.md), Sanya: YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free. Dadonghai is Sanya's city beach, about 3 km from downtown: a crescent of sand roughly 3 km long, free and open around the clock. Swim in… - [Great Hall of the People](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/great-hall-of-the-people.md), Beijing: YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · ¥30, students ¥15; WeChat booking. The Great Hall of the People is China's parliament building on the west side of Tiananmen Square, open to visitors when no meetings are… - [Shanghai World Financial Center](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-world-financial-center.md), Shanghai: YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · CNY 180, seasonal. The 492 m “bottle opener” in Pudong has viewing levels on floors 94, 97 and 100, topped by a glass-floored walkway at 474 m. The… - [Muslim Quarter](https://yesgo.io/china/xian/xian-muslim-quarter.md), Xi’an: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free, open 24 hours. Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter (回民街) is a web of Hui street-food lanes right behind the Drum Tower. It’s free and open around the clock; stalls… - [Hefang Street](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou/hefang-street.md), Hangzhou: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Hefang Street is old Hangzhou’s pedestrian shopping street at the foot of Wushan Hill: stone paving, two-storey wooden shophouses, a… ## China travel guide Before you go: where to start, visa-free entry and paying, the internet, high-speed trains, weather by region and Hainan’s beaches. ## Trip essentials - Visa: Depends on your passport — 30 days visa-free or 240-hour transit for many - Paying: Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card - Internet: Google, WhatsApp, YouTube blocked — roaming eSIM - First trip: Beijing + Xi’an + Shanghai in 7–10 days - Trains: High-speed rail links almost every city - When to go: April–May and September–October - Beaches: Sanya on Hainan, November to April - Holidays: Early May and 1–7 October — everything is packed - Passport: Needed for trains, museums and hotels - Time zone: UTC+8 nationwide ## Key facts - **≈ 60** — UNESCO World Heritage Sites — among the most of any country (source: UNESCO World Heritage List) - **1** — time zone for the whole country — Beijing time (source: Wikipedia, “Time in China”) - **≈ 48,000 km** — of high-speed rail — the largest network in the world (source: Wikipedia, “High-speed rail in China”) - **240 h** — visa-free transit for many nationalities with an onward ticket to a third country (source: National Immigration Administration of China) ## Best places to visit in China The best places to visit in China on a first trip are Beijing for the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, Xi’an for the Terracotta Army and Shanghai for the Bund — the classic 7–10-day loop by high-speed train. Add Chengdu and Chongqing for pandas and spicy food, Hangzhou for West Lake and tea, and Sanya for the beach. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above. | City | Why go | Days | | --- | --- | --- | | [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing) | Forbidden City, Great Wall | 4–5 days | | [Shanghai](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai) | The Bund, Pudong, water towns | 3–4 days | | [Xi’an](https://yesgo.io/china/xian) | Terracotta Army, city wall | 2–3 days | | [Hangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/hangzhou) | West Lake, Longjing tea | 2 days | | [Chengdu](https://yesgo.io/china/chengdu) | Pandas, Leshan Buddha | 3–4 days | | [Chongqing](https://yesgo.io/china/chongqing) | Hill city, hotpot | 3 days | | [Guangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou) | Cantonese food, Canton Fair | 2–3 days | | [Shenzhen](https://yesgo.io/china/shenzhen) | Skyline, Hong Kong next door | 2 days | | [Harbin](https://yesgo.io/china/harbin) | Ice festival, old streets | 2–3 days | | [Sanya](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya) | Hainan beaches, tropics | 7–10 days | Ready trips across the country are above on this page. ## China visa and how to pay China visa rules depend on your passport: many nationalities now get 30 days visa-free, and others can use 240-hour transit with an onward ticket to a third country. Paying is almost always by QR code through Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept most foreign Visa and Mastercard cards after passport verification. - **Alipay and WeChat Pay** — link a foreign card with your passport before you go. - **Contactless cards** — accepted on many city metros and in big hotels. - **Cash** — yuan must be accepted, but change can be short. - **Passport** — needed for train tickets, museums and hotel check-in. ## Getting around China by train High-speed trains are the best way around China: Beijing–Shanghai ≈ 4.5 hours, Shanghai–Hangzhou ≈ 1 hour, Beijing–Xi’an ≈ 4.5–6 hours. Tickets are sold by passport on the 12306 app and at stations. In cities, use the metro and DiDi taxis. - **Trains** — book a few days ahead, two weeks ahead for holidays. - **Flights** — for long hops: Beijing–Sanya, Shanghai–Harbin. - **Metro** — in every big city, paid by Alipay QR or card. - **DiDi** — inside Alipay, with an English interface. ## Internet in China: what works China blocks Google with its maps and mail, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram and many Western services. They work over roaming or tourist eSIMs routed abroad. Set everything up before you travel — those sites are blocked inside China. - **Roaming eSIM** — the easiest way to stay connected. - **Maps** — Amap or Apple Maps instead of Google Maps. - **Translation** — download an offline dictionary in advance. ## China weather by month The best time to visit China is April–May and September–October, when the north and centre are ≈ 20–27 °C. Summer is hot and rainy almost everywhere; winter is freezing in the north, mild in the south and beach season on Hainan. Below is Beijing. - **January in Beijing**: day ≈ 2°C, night ≈ -8°C, rainy days: 2. Freezing and dry; beach season on Hainan. - **February in Beijing**: day ≈ 6°C, night ≈ -5°C, rainy days: 2. Spring Festival — everything is busy. - **March in Beijing**: day ≈ 13°C, night ≈ 1°C, rainy days: 3. About 13°, spring moves north. - **April in Beijing** (best time): day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 8°C, rainy days: 4. About 21° — a great time. - **May in Beijing** (best time): day ≈ 27°C, night ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 6. About 27°; early-May holidays. - **June in Beijing**: day ≈ 31°C, night ≈ 19°C, rainy days: 9. Hot; rain in the south. - **July in Beijing**: day ≈ 31°C, night ≈ 22°C, rainy days: 13. Heat and downpours; southern typhoons. - **August in Beijing**: day ≈ 30°C, night ≈ 21°C, rainy days: 11. Hot and rainy. - **September in Beijing** (best time): day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 16°C, rainy days: 6. About 26° — the best month. - **October in Beijing** (best time): day ≈ 19°C, night ≈ 8°C, rainy days: 4. About 19°; 1–7 October holidays. - **November in Beijing**: day ≈ 10°C, night ≈ 0°C, rainy days: 2. Cooling in the north. - **December in Beijing**: day ≈ 3°C, night ≈ -6°C, rainy days: 1. Freezing north; Harbin’s ice. Each city has its own weather: Harbin drops to –24° in winter, Sanya stays ≈ 26–32° all year. ## China travel tips China is safe and easy for visitors who prepare: set up payments and internet, carry your passport for every ticket and plan around national holidays. Little English is spoken outside hotels — a translation app helps. - **Holidays** — Spring Festival, early May and 1–7 October bring peak prices and queues. - **Booking** — the Forbidden City, big museums and the Wall sell out; book online days ahead. - **Water** — don’t drink tap water; hotels and trains have boiling water. - **Safety** — China is generally considered safe for tourists; check your government’s travel advice. ## Tips - Set up Alipay with a linked card and an eSIM at home — it is the key to a smooth trip. - For Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai, take high-speed trains: faster than flying centre to centre. - Avoid national holiday weeks, especially the first week of October. ## Questions ### Do I need a visa for China? It depends on your passport: many nationalities now get 30 days visa-free, and others can use 240-hour transit with an onward ticket to a third country. Check the official rules for your passport. ### What are the best places to visit in China? Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai for a first trip; Chengdu, Chongqing and Hangzhou next; Sanya for beaches. ### How do I pay in China as a tourist? With Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card; many metros also take contactless cards. Carry a little cash. ### Does WhatsApp work in China? No — WhatsApp, Google and many Western apps are blocked. A roaming eSIM set up before you go keeps them working. ### When is the best time to visit China? April–May and September–October, avoiding the early-May and early-October holidays. ### Is China safe for tourists? China is generally considered very safe for visitors, with low street crime. Check your government’s current travel advice. ### How do I get around China? By high-speed train between cities and by metro and DiDi within them; train tickets are booked with your passport. ### Where are the beaches in China? The main beach resort is Sanya on Hainan Island, best from November to April. ### How many days do you need in China? Ten days covers Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai; two weeks adds Chengdu or Hangzhou. ### Do people speak English in China? Little outside hotels and big attractions; a translation app and offline maps help a lot. ## Sources - UNESCO World Heritage List — sites in China - National Immigration Administration of China — visa-free and transit policies - Wikipedia, “China”; “High-speed rail in China”; Beijing climate (1991–2020 normals) - China Railway 12306 — official ticketing Facts checked: 09.11.2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.