Destinations: Explore the Middle Kingdom

From the neon skyline of Shanghai to the yak-filled pastures of Tibet. Browse our complete library of regional guides, sorted by province and city to help you find your perfect corner of China.

The upper levels of the Yellow Crane Tower, a traditional Chinese multi-tiered pavilion with orange tiled roofs and red painted columns, are visible against a clear blue sky. Green foliage from trees and branches frame the lower and left sides of the image. A black plaque with Chinese characters is mounted on the central structure.

Wuhan 48-Hour Weekend Guide: Hot Dry Noodles & Yangtze Views

Wuhan is a city that runs on high-octane energy, fueled by rich sesame paste and the relentless current of the [...]

An elaborate nighttime lantern display featuring illuminated traditional Chinese-style temples with multi-tiered roofs and golden accents, set against a clear blue night sky. The lanterns are arranged on sculpted mountains and waterfalls made of light, with glowing blue rivers and pathways in the foreground.

Salt, Lanterns, and Dinosaurs: A 2-Day Guide to Zigong, Sichuan

Most international travelers flock to Sichuan for the pandas in Chengdu or the spicy hotpot in Chongqing. But just a [...]

An aerial view of a busy Guangzhou night market at night, with numerous illuminated street food stalls lining a street. People are seen walking, eating, and interacting at the stalls, with trees and lights overhead. Some stalls have colorful signs and displays of food, while others are equipped with cooking equipment. Small tables and chairs are set up for diners. Several motorized carts, including a blue three-wheeled vendor vehicle, are also present on the street.

Guangzhou's Best Night Markets: A Guide to Evening Street Food and Local Life

The humid evening air in southern China carries an unmistakable scent: a mix of sizzling garlic, sweet soy sauce, and [...]

A person wearing a hat and plaid shirt stands on a walkway in front of a traditional multi-tiered pagoda with a modern blue glass skyscraper behind it. A red wooden railing runs along the walkway in the foreground.

Chaozhou Street Food Guide: Best Markets and Local Snacks

Chaozhou (often known as Teochew) is a legendary culinary destination in Guangdong province, recognized by UNESCO as a City of [...]

An aerial view of the Forbidden City in Beijing during golden hour, featuring its signature golden tiled roofs, red walls, and a flock of birds flying in the hazy sky. In the foreground, several trees with blurred foliage frame the lower part of the image, while a crowd of people and a white bus are visible in the courtyard below the main palace structure.

How to Book Forbidden City Tickets in 2026: A Survival Guide for Foreigners

Traveling to Beijing in 2026 requires military-level planning, especially when it comes to the Palace Museum. If you think you [...]

A beach scene with a large white sign spelling 'HOUHAI' in capital letters. Five decorative surfboards stand upright behind the sign. The surfboards have various colorful designs: one has a white hibiscus flower and the text 'I LOVE HOUHAI', another has tropical leaves and the text 'Go Surfing', a third has a pink background with large floral patterns, a fourth features a palm tree illustration against a blue sky, and the fifth is yellow with dark blue palm leaf patterns. Behind the surfboards and sign, there is a sandy beach, the ocean with gentle waves, and a mountainous coastline under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Several ATVs and a motorcycle are visible on the beach behind the surfboards.

Surfing in Houhai: A Practical Guide to China's Most Relaxed Village

Tucked away on Hainan Island, Houhai Village has transformed from a sleepy fishing outpost into the epicenter of China's booming [...]

A desert landscape at sunset featuring towering, wind-eroded rock formations in warm, earthy tones. The foreground is dominated by dark sand dunes with visible ripples. The sky above is a vibrant blue with scattered wispy white clouds, and a crescent moon is visible in the upper left corner.

Beyond Dunhuang: Exploring the Yumen Pass and Yardang National Geopark

Beyond Dunhuang: Exploring the Yumen Pass and Yardang National Geopark (Your Ultimate Yumen Pass Travel Guide) TL;DR: Trip Essentials Distance: [...]

A woman wearing a black beret and jacket walks away from the camera through a narrow alleyway lined with numerous colorful oil paintings displayed on easels and walls. A black camera hangs from her hand. The paintings vary in size and style, featuring portraits, abstract designs, and detailed scenes. Some paintings are on wooden stands in the foreground, while others are hung higher up on the building's facade. The alley floor is concrete with painted graffiti and a manhole cover. An air conditioning unit is visible on the building to the left.

Art on a Budget: A Practical Guide to Shenzhen's Dafen Oil Painting Village

Stepping into the labyrinth of alleys in Shenzhen's Longgang District, the thick, earthy scent of linseed oil and turpentine immediately [...]

A large white bowl filled with Guilin rice noodles topped with slices of roasted pork belly, pan-fried pork belly, and peanuts. A side bowl of creamy soup and small bowls of condiments like chili flakes, chopped green onions, and pickled vegetables are visible in the background.

A Guide to Guilin Rice Noodles: Where to Eat and How to Order Like a Local

Stepping into a humid Guilin morning, the first thing that hits you isn't the view of the karst mountains—it's the [...]

An aerial view of a traditional Chinese siheyuan courtyard. The courtyard features tiled roofs, wooden architecture, a central paved area, lush greenery, grapevines laden with purple grapes, a koi pond with a stone bridge, and decorative stonework.

Beijing Courtyard Hotels: Best Hutong Stays for Every Budget

Finding the perfect balance between modern comfort and ancient charm is the biggest challenge when visiting China's capital. While towering [...]

An aerial drone view of a winding road leading through a dense pine forest towards a temple complex nestled on a hillside. In the background, majestic, snow-capped mountains rise against a blue sky with scattered clouds. A small white car is visible on one of the curves of the road.

Beyond the Bullet Train: A Practical Guide to Regional Buses in Yunnan

China’s high-speed rail network is an engineering marvel, but it will not take you to the misty rice terraces [...]

An aerial view of a densely packed city with numerous buildings featuring red tiled roofs. In the distance, a body of water, likely the sea, is visible under a bright sky, with several modern skyscrapers and a hill with a building on top dotting the horizon.

Discovering Qingdao: Beer Street, Coastal Walks & Hidden German Architecture

Stepping off the high-speed train into the salty, humid air of the Shandong peninsula, you immediately realize this is [...]

A bustling street market in Chengdu, China, with traditional red-and-orange buildings lining both sides. Stalls are set up along the street, covered by various colored awnings and umbrellas, displaying clothing, food, and other merchandise. Many people are walking through the market, some on foot and some on scooters. Signage in Chinese is visible throughout the scene.

Beyond Tea: A Local's Guide to Lesser-Known Chengdu Beverages

When most travelers arrive in Sichuan's capital, they immediately seek out a bamboo chair at Heming Teahouse. But if you [...]

A multi-story building with a whimsical, hobbit-like design, featuring rounded doorways and windows, wooden accents, and abundant greenery. The building is illuminated by warm, hanging lanterns and features decorative mushrooms and rabbit figures. In the foreground, a large, circular wooden doorway has a rabbit statue inside, and a smaller circular window to its left.

Beyond the Crowd: The Ultimate Photography Guide to Lijiang Old Town

Capturing the perfect shot in a UNESCO World Heritage site visited by millions requires more than just a good [...]

Several ancient wooden coffins are affixed to a sheer, weathered limestone cliff face. The coffins are box-like and appear to be suspended on wooden beams jutting out from the rock. The cliff is rough and textured with some vertical streaks of discoloration.

Discovering the Hanging Coffins of the Bo People: A Guide to Gongxian

Deep in the misty karst mountains of southern China, hundreds of ancient wooden coffins defy gravity, suspended on sheer cliff [...]

An aerial view of an ancient stone village complex built on the side of a steep, forested mountain. The architecture features grey tiled roofs, stone walls, and courtyards, with narrow staircases and patios clinging to the cliff face. Lush green trees surround the structures.

Anshun Beyond the Falls: Exploring Guizhou's Ancient Tunpu Villages

If you are piecing together your China itinerary, you need a reliable Anshun travel guide that looks beyond the obvious. [...]

A panoramic aerial view of the Bund in Shanghai at sunset. In the foreground, the prominent clock tower of a historic colonial building stands tall, casting long shadows. Adjacent to it is a grand white dome structure. The Huangpu River reflects the golden light of the setting sun, with a small boat navigating its waters. In the background, a dense collection of modern skyscrapers pierces the sky, some illuminated by the sunset.

Shanghai's Cultural Canvas: Exploring Art & Heritage Beyond the Skyline

Most visitors to Shanghai crane their necks at the Lujiazui skyscrapers or shuffle along the crowded Bund. But to truly [...]

Two split images. The top image shows a street scene at night with many people in traditional Tang Dynasty Hanfu clothing. Ornate lanterns hang overhead and fireworks are visible in the sky. The bottom image shows a similar scene with people in Hanfu on a wooden bridge over water, with more lanterns and fireworks.

Immersive Tang Dynasty Xi'an: A Guide to the Great Tang All Day Mall

Stepping into Xi'an at night feels like peeling back a millennium of history, especially when you find yourself standing under [...]

A young man wearing a backpack stands on a wooden walkway with a railing, looking out at the Zhangjiajie sandstone pillars that rise through the clouds.

Zhangjiajie Luggage Logistics: How to Handle Your Bags while Hiking

Arriving in the Avatar mountains is breathtaking, but dragging a 20-kilogram suitcase up thousands of stone steps is a guaranteed [...]

A perfectly still salt lake creates a mirror-like reflection of a vast blue sky filled with white clouds, and a distant, flat horizon line with snow-capped mountains.

Chaka Salt Lake: A Complete Photography & Logistics Guide

Planning a trip to China's wild northwest requires moving beyond the standard Beijing-Shanghai-Xi'an itinerary. If you want to experience the [...]

A wide shot aerial view of the Grand Canal in Hangzhou at sunset. A traditional arched bridge, lit by numerous golden lights, spans the canal, with boats passing underneath. The banks of the canal are lined with traditional Chinese buildings with tiled roofs and illuminated windows. Lush green trees surround the buildings and the canal. In the background, a dense cityscape of modern high-rise buildings rises against a vibrant orange and red sky filled with dramatic clouds.

Hangzhou on 3 RMB: A Guide to the Grand Canal Water Bus

If you want to experience the ancient Grand Canal without paying 150 RMB for a crowded tourist boat, you need [...]

View looking up through the eaves of a traditional wooden Chinese temple towards a steep, densely forested mountainside. Golden Chinese characters are inscribed on a dark plaque above the temple entrance. Bells hang from the wooden eaves.

Hiking Mount Qingcheng: A DIY Day Trip Guide from Chengdu

Hiking Mount Qingcheng: A DIY Day Trip Guide from Chengdu TL;DR: Trip Essentials Location: Dujiangyan, roughly 1.5 hours from central [...]

A wide, low-angle shot of a grand stone mausoleum building with a dark blue tiled roof, approached by a very wide, long, and steep set of stone stairs. Many people, dressed in casual clothing, are walking up, down, and resting on the stairs. The building features ornate architectural details and Chinese characters above a large arched entrance. The sky is bright blue with some scattered white clouds.

Beyond the Wall: A Practical Guide to Visiting Nanjing's Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Standing at the base of Purple Mountain, the sheer scale of the 392 stone steps stretching up into the humid [...]

A person holds up a newspaper titled 'Chongqing Hotpot Daily' which features a picture of a large spread of hot pot ingredients. The newspaper is in front of a long table laden with various dishes of raw meats, vegetables, seafood, and other hot pot ingredients, arranged around a central divided hot pot. The table is set in a long, arched concrete tunnel with blue and white lights illuminating the background, suggesting it's a converted air raid shelter. Several bottles of yellow liquid and dipping sauces are also visible on the table.

Chongqing's Civil Defense Architecture: A Guide to Converted Air Raid Shelters

Chongqing is famously known as one of China's "Furnace Cities," where summer temperatures regularly push past 40°C (104°F). To truly [...]