With so much to see and experience, it can be overwhelming choosing where to go. These are my top five places to visit in China.
Beijing
As an obvious international gateway into China, Beijing is a great place to start and end your journey from just about anywhere in the world and to get to anywhere else in China. In winter, Beijing can be very cold, and in summer, very hot, so plan your trip to avoid the extremes of temperature, which could make prolonged outdoor sightseeing uncomfortable. It is one of the world’s mega cities, with many sources stating a population of around 20 million residents. The city is a mix of ancient, modern, and new—from roads, houses, and bridges to larger civic and commercial architecture. There are key sites like the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and Tiananmen Square that are ‘must-sees’. Avoid holiday festivals and weekends for the Forbidden City, as even mid-week it is very busy. Head to the hill in Jingshan Park for a good view across the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square beyond. Of course, there are many parks and museums to visit as well.
No doubt in the top five places to visit in China, a must-see is, quite rightly, the Great Wall. There are a number of locations north of downtown Beijing, around 80 km and one and a half hours’ drive from Tiananmen Square. Due to the importance of these sites and their proximity to Beijing, they can be crowded. Huanghuacheng might be one of the better locations, depending on where you are staying. One of my favourites of the many Great Wall locations is Jinshanling, just a little further out at around two hours’ drive from Tiananmen Square. Here, you may well have the wall almost to yourself, as it spans out from one horizon to the other, twisting impossibly along knife-edge mountain ridges. In addition to the quieter location set in beautiful forest, there is a cable car with great views as an alternative to the well-maintained walkway up the hill to the wall. It is easy and affordable to hire a driver and car privately to take you there and back. Two other things you may consider: one, the jewellery ‘centres’ in No. 2 Huixin East Street, Chaoyang District, or Yangrou Hutong in Xisi, Xicheng District. Very professional, with a huge choice and very competitive with each other. High-quality fine jewellery is a fraction of the cost in the West. Finally, can you visit Beijing without having the famous Peking duck? There are many locations, but perhaps try Siji Minfu in Xicheng District, Da Dong in Dongcheng District, or the famous Quan Jude in Qianmen Dajie, one of the older duck specialist restaurants.
Xi’an
Once one of the former capitals of China, Xi’an feels like a remarkable living museum. It is easily accessed from Beijing by plane or Gaotie bullet train. The city is located at the start of the Silk Road and, as a result, has many Middle Eastern influences from ancient traders, most notably in the foods (naan bread, lamb, and Middle Eastern spices). Of course, the global highlight is the Terracotta Army and Qin Dynasty history. The Terracotta Army should be on everyone’s bucket list; it is quite simply remarkable. I recommend hiring a badged, licensed guide at the Terracotta Army site who speaks your preferred language to make your visit complete. The Xi’an city wall is great and around 14 metres high and wide. You can hire a cycle on the top of the wide wall and cycle around some or all of the 14 km old wall. The 14th-century Bell Tower is also spectacular and equally dazzling when illuminated at night. Close to the Bell Tower, the food scene lights up at night in the Muslim Quarter or Huimin Street. This is a collection of all kinds of food shops selling any Middle Eastern food you can imagine. The area stretches over a number of streets. There are a few kilometres of walking past the many food stalls if you are up to it, snacking on foods from all the different vendors as you go.
Xi’an can easily be included as a second visit centre, along with a trip to Beijing or Shanghai.
Tibet
Still mysterious and moving, this high-altitude Chinese province is a kingdom in the sky that will thrill and awe you. You will spend your time above 3,000 metres and at least some of the time between 4,000 and 5,000 metres. You will need to be in good health. Nowadays, better hotels pipe oxygen into rooms, and private hire transport will provide a large oxygen bottle if you need it. If you are older or have a weaker heart or breathing issues, think first and get some advice. Expect beautiful monasteries, touching encounters with monks, gushing rivers, spectacular mountain roads, lush valley forests, high mountains with year-round snow, and no air! Of the many holy sites, the Potala Palace (featured on the 50 RMB banknote) is another UNESCO Heritage Site. Day or night, this is a spectacular destination in the heart of Lhasa. Travel to Tibet needs to be well planned. You will need an additional visa to visit Tibet, a pre-approved route that you cannot deviate from, and a licensed guide. If you hire a car, you will need a licensed driver and vehicle. You need to register with the local police if you change towns during your stay (correct as of my last visit). Simply put, you will find it easiest to sort everything with a specialist company in China. It is easy to get to Lhasa by plane, sleeper train, or, for the brave, by car, but you will need the correct paperwork to board transport to Tibet. Tibet is like nowhere else I have been. Do overcome the logistics and add an adventure to Tibet to your life experience.
River Li
The River Li at Guilin in the southern province of Guangxi is a UNESCO World Heritage site, easily reached by plane from Hong Kong or Shanghai. It is possible to boat through more than 40 miles of spectacular limestone mountains. There are many locations where you can hire a boatman to take you for a ride on the river, or go on an organised short cruise. The river is treasured nationally and is featured on the 20 RMB banknote. There are ancient cities to visit and modern vibrant towns like Yangshuo where you can stay. Depending on water levels and the trip you take, you will see many exceptional views of the limestone karsts as you drift lazily down the gentle river. It is a truly beautiful and serene place.
Harbin Ice Festival/Changbaishan
Harbin is a large northern Chinese city on the edge of Siberia with strong Russian roots, easily reached from Beijing by plane or train. You will most likely go in winter to see the spectacular temporary ice city built each year in mid-winter. Each year it is themed differently, and the final buildings are illuminated with colourful LED lights. Volunteers carve ice blocks from the frozen river to build the structures. It is easier to look online and see photos and videos than for me to describe. I have never found anything like the Harbin Ice Festival. It’s vast. There are cafés where you can warm up. This is important, as Harbin in mid-winter is exceptionally cold, commonly -20°C. You will wear layers, use heat pads, and probably still feel cold. I believe this is also a must-see event. The city is also the site of the famous Russian Saint Sophia Cathedral. There is a supervised frozen river swim for the brave and a Siberian Tiger Park where you can get up close to the massive and intimidating Siberian tigers and see them running in the snow—quite unforgettable.
In summer, Harbin is hot, +25–35°C. This would open up different exploring opportunities. One addition that may be possible is a trip to Changbaishan; there is at least one flight daily from Harbin. Changbaishan is the home of Heaven Lake, the world’s highest caldera (flooded volcanic crater). The lake straddles the border with North Korea. Park buses conveniently take tourists to the top, with a short final walk. Some snow survives all year at the very top. The mineral-blue lake and surrounding park with forests and crystal-clear waterfalls are breathtaking and a photographer’s dream.