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Compare China destinations

Best places to visit in China.

Compare eight city bases by what each is best for, how long to allow and the role it can play in a wider route.

Or start from a theme: Travel Inspiration

City guides

Compare eight cities before you build the route.

Use these 8 city guides to compare fit, time and route role. Open one for stay areas, arrival points, major sights and sensible next stops.

8 published city guides

  1. Beijing's Drum Tower and Bell Tower rising above grey-tiled hutong roofs, with a busy lane on the right.

    Beijing

    Best for
    A first trip, imperial history and the Great Wall
    Allow
    4–5 nights
    Route role
    Northern gateway; a natural start before Xi’an or a southbound route
    Open city guide
  2. Two bridges cross Suzhou Creek at dusk, with older Puxi buildings in front and the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower beyond.

    Shanghai

    Best for
    Modern China, neighbourhoods and the Yangtze Delta
    Allow
    3 complete city days
    Route role
    International gateway and a practical start or finish
    Open city guide
  3. Xi'an's Bell Tower lit up gold against a deep-blue evening sky, with streaks of light from the traffic passing in front.

    Xi'an

    Best for
    Ancient capitals, the Terracotta Warriors and the city wall
    Allow
    3 nights; 4 with Mount Hua
    Route role
    A compact history stop between north China and the southwest
    Open city guide
  4. People drinking tea in bamboo chairs under a covered wooden pavilion hung with red lanterns, at a tea house in Chengdu's People's Park.

    Chengdu

    Best for
    Pandas, Sichuan food and a slower city base
    Allow
    2–3 city nights; longer for Sichuan extensions
    Route role
    Southwest base for trips deeper into Sichuan
    Open city guide
  5. Dim sum in bamboo steamers, red rice-noodle rolls, a teapot, a brass kettle and a wicker flask on a round table at Pan Xi Restaurant.

    Guangzhou

    Best for
    Cantonese food, Lingnan culture and a working southern city
    Allow
    2–3 nights
    Route role
    Southern gateway for the Pearl River Delta
    Open city guide
  6. Small boats crossing West Lake in Hangzhou beneath wooded hills and mist.

    Hangzhou

    Best for
    West Lake, tea landscapes and an easy change of pace
    Allow
    A day trip or 2 nights
    Route role
    A natural extension from Shanghai rather than a rushed add-on
    Open city guide
  7. Tall grey and tan sandstone pillars capped with trees, with white mist drifting between them, in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

    Zhangjiajie

    Best for
    Sandstone peaks, forest walks and mountain scenery
    Allow
    3 complete sightseeing days
    Route role
    A mountain segment that needs its own full days and base
    Open city guide
  8. The Yuzhong skyline across the Jialing River at sunset, with the red-lit Qiansimen Bridge on the right.

    Chongqing

    Best for
    A steep megacity, night views and bold regional food
    Allow
    3 nights
    Route role
    Southwest gateway; keep Wulong as a separate extension
    Open city guide
Travelling in December, January or February? Compare winter destinations.

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Look beyond the city name.

Use these place indexes when the question is geographic: which region, which kind of city, or which sight and landscape belongs in the route.

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