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Experience China

China Destinations by Region

Seven regions, one map in words and drawings. Cities anchor each map; UNESCO World Heritage sites and scenic places hang off the city you'd use as a base — pick a hub, then see what's within reach.

North China 华北

Imperial capitals, the Great Wall, and Shanxi’s ancient towns.

华北 112°E114°E116°E118°E38°N40°N BeijingThe Great WallThe Forbidden CityChengde Mountain ResortAncient City of Ping YaoSummer PalaceTemple of HeavenImperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing DynastiesYungang GrottoesMount WutaiBeijing Central Axis BeijingThe Great WallChengde Mountain ResortAncient City of Ping YaoSummer PalaceTemple of HeavenImperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing DynastiesYungang GrottoesMount WutaiBeijing Central Axis 100 kmN

Beijing & around

Beijing BeijingCity Beijing Central Axis Beijing Central AxisUNESCOin Beijing The Forbidden City The Forbidden CityUNESCOin Beijing Temple of Heaven Temple of HeavenUNESCOin Beijing Summer Palace Summer PalaceUNESCOBeijing ~20 km Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing DynastiesUNESCOBeijing ~40 km The Great Wall The Great WallUNESCOBeijing ~65 km Chengde Mountain Resort Chengde Mountain ResortUNESCOBeijing ~175 km Mount Wutai Mount WutaiUNESCOBeijing ~260 km Yungang Grottoes Yungang GrottoesUNESCOBeijing ~280 km

More in North China

Ancient City of Ping Yao Ancient City of Ping YaoUNESCO
East China 华东

Shanghai, the water towns, sacred peaks, and the Fujian coast.

华东 110°E115°E120°E125°E130°E25°N30°N35°N ShanghaiHangzhouMount TaishanMount HuangshanQufu — Temple, Cemetery & Kong MansionLushanClassical Gardens of SuzhouMount WuyiXidi & HongcunFujian TulouMount SanqingshanWest Lake, HangzhouThe Grand CanalKulangsuArchaeological Ruins of Liangzhu CityQuanzhou ShanghaiHangzhouMount TaishanMount HuangshanQufu — Temple, Cemetery & Kong MansionLushanClassical Gardens of SuzhouMount WuyiXidi & HongcunFujian TulouMount SanqingshanKulangsuArchaeological Ruins of Liangzhu CityQuanzhou 300 kmN

Hangzhou & around

Hangzhou HangzhouCity West Lake, Hangzhou West Lake, HangzhouUNESCOin Hangzhou The Grand Canal The Grand CanalUNESCOin Hangzhou Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu CityUNESCOHangzhou ~20 km Mount Huangshan Mount HuangshanUNESCOHangzhou ~195 km Xidi & Hongcun Xidi & HongcunUNESCOHangzhou ~215 km Mount Sanqingshan Mount SanqingshanUNESCOHangzhou ~250 km

Shanghai & around

Shanghai ShanghaiCity Classical Gardens of Suzhou Classical Gardens of SuzhouUNESCOShanghai ~95 km · Hangzhou ~120 km

More in East China

Lushan LushanUNESCO Qufu — Temple, Cemetery & Kong Mansion Qufu — Temple, Cemetery & Kong MansionUNESCO Mount Taishan Mount TaishanUNESCO Fujian Tulou Fujian TulouUNESCO Mount Wuyi Mount WuyiUNESCO Kulangsu KulangsuUNESCO Quanzhou QuanzhouUNESCO
Central China 华中

Zhangjiajie’s pillars, Shaolin kung fu, and Taoist Wudang.

华中 105°E108°E111°E114°E117°E120°E30°N33°N36°N WulingyuanWudang MountainsLongmen GrottoesYinxuHistoric Monuments of DengfengHubei ShennongjiaFenghuang Ancient Town WulingyuanWudang MountainsLongmen GrottoesYinxuHistoric Monuments of DengfengHubei ShennongjiaFenghuang Ancient Town 300 kmN

In this region

Fenghuang Ancient Town Fenghuang Ancient TownScenic place Hubei Shennongjia Hubei ShennongjiaUNESCO Wulingyuan WulingyuanUNESCO Wudang Mountains Wudang MountainsUNESCO Longmen Grottoes Longmen GrottoesUNESCO Historic Monuments of Dengfeng Historic Monuments of DengfengUNESCO Yinxu YinxuUNESCO
South China 华南

Karst rivers, Cantonese food country, and tropical islands.

华南 105°E108°E111°E114°E117°E18°N21°N24°N Hong KongMacauShenzhenGuangzhouGuilinSanyaHistoric Centre of MacaoKaiping DiaolouSouth China KarstChina DanxiaDetian WaterfallChaozhouShundeLongji Rice Terraces Hong KongMacauShenzhenGuangzhouGuilinSanyaHistoric Centre of MacaoKaiping DiaolouSouth China KarstChina DanxiaDetian WaterfallChaozhouShundeLongji Rice Terraces 300 kmN

Guilin & around

Guilin GuilinCity South China Karst South China KarstUNESCOGuilin ~40 km Longji Rice Terraces Longji Rice TerracesScenic placeGuilin ~55 km

Guangzhou & around

Guangzhou GuangzhouCity Shunde ShundeScenic placeGuangzhou ~35 km China Danxia China DanxiaUNESCOGuangzhou ~220 km · Shenzhen ~275 km

Macau & around

Macau MacauCity Historic Centre of Macao Historic Centre of MacaoUNESCOin Macau Kaiping Diaolou Kaiping DiaolouUNESCOMacau ~100 km · Guangzhou ~115 km

Shenzhen & around

Shenzhen ShenzhenCity Chaozhou ChaozhouScenic placeShenzhen ~290 km · Hong Kong ~295 km

More in South China

Sanya SanyaCity Hong Kong Hong KongCity Detian Waterfall Detian WaterfallScenic place
Southwest 西南

Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, Guizhou — mountains, minorities, pandas.

西南 90°E95°E100°E105°E110°E25°N30°N ChengduLhasaChongqingJiuzhaigouHuanglong Scenic and Historic Interest AreaPotala PalaceLeshan Giant Buddha & Mount EmeiOld Town of LijiangDazu Rock CarvingsMount Qingcheng & DujiangyanThree Parallel Rivers of YunnanSichuan Giant Panda SanctuariesHonghe Hani Rice TerracesFanjingshanJingmai Mountain Tea ForestsDaocheng Yading Nature ReserveYamdrok LakeNamtso LakeDali Old Town & Erhai LakeXijiang Qianhu Miao VillageXishuangbannaSanxingdui MuseumTiger Leaping GorgeRuoergai (Zoige) GrasslandMount SiguniangXiling Snow MountainMount GonggaJiami Peak ChengduLhasaChongqingJiuzhaigouHuanglong Scenic and Historic Interest AreaPotala PalaceLeshan Giant Buddha & Mount EmeiOld Town of LijiangDazu Rock CarvingsMount Qingcheng & DujiangyanThree Parallel Rivers of YunnanSichuan Giant Panda SanctuariesHonghe Hani Rice TerracesFanjingshanJingmai Mountain Tea ForestsDaocheng Yading Nature ReserveYamdrok LakeNamtso LakeDali Old Town & Erhai LakeXijiang Qianhu Miao VillageXishuangbannaSanxingdui MuseumTiger Leaping GorgeRuoergai (Zoige) GrasslandMount SiguniangMount Gongga 300 kmN

Lhasa & around

Lhasa LhasaCity Potala Palace Potala PalaceUNESCOin Lhasa Yamdrok Lake Yamdrok LakeScenic placeLhasa ~90 km Namtso Lake Namtso LakeScenic placeLhasa ~130 km

Chengdu & around

Chengdu ChengduCity Sanxingdui Museum Sanxingdui MuseumScenic placeChengdu ~40 km Mount Qingcheng & Dujiangyan Mount Qingcheng & DujiangyanUNESCOChengdu ~60 km Xiling Snow Mountain Xiling Snow MountainScenic placeChengdu ~90 km Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries Sichuan Giant Panda SanctuariesUNESCOChengdu ~105 km Mount Siguniang Mount SiguniangScenic placeChengdu ~120 km Leshan Giant Buddha & Mount Emei Leshan Giant Buddha & Mount EmeiUNESCOChengdu ~130 km Jiami Peak Jiami PeakScenic placeChengdu ~195 km Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest AreaUNESCOChengdu ~235 km Mount Gongga Mount GonggaScenic placeChengdu ~240 km Jiuzhaigou JiuzhaigouUNESCOChengdu ~270 km

Chongqing & around

Chongqing ChongqingCity Dazu Rock Carvings Dazu Rock CarvingsUNESCOChongqing ~85 km Fanjingshan FanjingshanUNESCOChongqing ~280 km

More in Southwest

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers of YunnanUNESCO Jingmai Mountain Tea Forests Jingmai Mountain Tea ForestsUNESCO Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping GorgeScenic place Dali Old Town & Erhai Lake Dali Old Town & Erhai LakeScenic place Old Town of Lijiang Old Town of LijiangUNESCO Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve Daocheng Yading Nature ReserveScenic place Xishuangbanna XishuangbannaScenic place Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Honghe Hani Rice TerracesUNESCO Ruoergai (Zoige) Grassland Ruoergai (Zoige) GrasslandScenic place Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village Xijiang Qianhu Miao VillageScenic place
Northwest 西北

The Silk Road: Xi’an, the Gansu corridor, and Xinjiang.

西北 80°E90°E100°E110°E40°N50°N Xi'anMogao CavesThe Terracotta ArmyXinjiang TianshanSilk Roads: Chang'an–Tianshan CorridorQinghai Hoh XilZhangye Danxia LandformDunhuang: Mingsha Sand Dunes & Crescent LakeKanas Lake & Hemu VillageKashgar Old CityMount HuaDachaidan Emerald LakeBayanbulak & Kalajun Grasslands Xi'anMogao CavesThe Terracotta ArmyXinjiang TianshanQinghai Hoh XilZhangye Danxia LandformDunhuang: Mingsha Sand Dunes & Crescent LakeKanas Lake & Hemu VillageKashgar Old CityMount HuaDachaidan Emerald LakeBayanbulak & Kalajun Grasslands 500 kmN

Xi'an & around

Xi'an Xi'anCity Silk Roads: Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor Silk Roads: Chang'an–Tianshan CorridorUNESCOin Xi'an The Terracotta Army The Terracotta ArmyUNESCOXi'an ~35 km Mount Hua Mount HuaScenic placeXi'an ~110 km

More in Northwest

Kashgar Old City Kashgar Old CityScenic place Xinjiang Tianshan Xinjiang TianshanUNESCO Bayanbulak & Kalajun Grasslands Bayanbulak & Kalajun GrasslandsScenic place Kanas Lake & Hemu Village Kanas Lake & Hemu VillageScenic place Qinghai Hoh Xil Qinghai Hoh XilUNESCO Dunhuang: Mingsha Sand Dunes & Crescent Lake Dunhuang: Mingsha Sand Dunes & Crescent LakeScenic place Mogao Caves Mogao CavesUNESCO Dachaidan Emerald Lake Dachaidan Emerald LakeScenic place Zhangye Danxia Landform Zhangye Danxia LandformScenic place
Northeast 东北

Ice festivals and winter culture on the Manchurian plain.

东北 120°E122°E124°E126°E46°N48°N HarbinHulunbuir Grassland HarbinHulunbuir Grassland 100 kmN

In this region

Harbin HarbinCity Hulunbuir Grassland Hulunbuir GrasslandScenic place