Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

China

A photograph of China
Photograph · Severin.stalder · CC BY-SA 3.0

China covers 9.6 million km², third largest of any country, and holds more than 1.4 billion people — about 17 per cent of everyone alive. It is divided into 33 province-level divisions, two of them special administrative regions. Beijing is the capital; Shanghai is the most populous city by urban area. Between them the land runs from the Central Plain and the Yangtze and Yellow rivers out to desert, plateau, subtropical and temperate forest, and the Himalayas in the southwest. The first decision a visitor makes here is therefore not which sight to see but which climate to travel in.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Standard Chinese; regional languages are widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+86 mainland · +852 Hong Kong · +853 Macao
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Renminbi (CNY); HKD and MOP in the SARs
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
110 police · 120 medical on the mainland
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, C and I · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers mainland China and both SARs

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

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Category

Historic monuments 0 Museums 0 Places of worship 0 Nature sites 8311 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 0 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 0 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 8311

Interests

History 1 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 8311 Sea and beach 8311 Viewpoints 0
  1. Hong Kong Park
    01 1 hour

    Hong Kong Park

    Hong Kong Park is a major public park in the Central district of Hong Kong Island.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  2. Kowloon Park
    02 1 hour

    Kowloon Park

    Kowloon Park is a major public park in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The site was formerly a military barracks before conversion to parkland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  3. Hong Kong Wetland Park
    03 1 hour

    Hong Kong Wetland Park

    Hong Kong Wetland Park is a conservation and education facility located in the New Territories. The site combines a visitor centre with outdoor wetland habitats, serving as both a recreational destination and a venue for ecological study.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  5. Kowloon Walled City Park
    05 1 hour

    Kowloon Walled City Park

    Kowloon Walled City Park occupies the site of the former Kowloon Walled City, a densely populated and largely ungoverned settlement that was demolished in the early 1990s.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  6. Nan Lian Garden
    06 1 hour

    Nan Lian Garden

    Nan Lian Garden is a public classical Chinese garden in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is designed in the Tang dynasty style with hills, water features, trees, rocks and wooden structures arranged according to traditional landscaping principles.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  9. Tamar Park
    09 1 hour

    Tamar Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  25. Ma Wan Park
    25 1 hour

    Ma Wan Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  28. Hollywood Road Park
    28 1 hour

    Hollywood Road Park

    Hollywood Road Park is a public park situated on Hollywood Road in Hong Kong's Central district. The park occupies a site of historical significance in one of Hong Kong's oldest established areas.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  34. Long Ke Wan
    34 1 hour

    Long Ke Wan

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  37. Middle Bay
    37 1 hour

    Middle Bay

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  44. Lido Beach
    44 1 hour

    Lido Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  52. Fa Hui Park
    52 1 hour

    Fa Hui Park

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  54. Trio Beach
    54 1 hour

    Trio Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  80. Repulse Bay Beach
    80 1 hour

    Repulse Bay Beach

    Repulse Bay Beach is a public bathing beach located on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. It is one of the most famous beaches in Hong Kong, situated in an affluent residential area.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  90. Tai Ho Wan
    90 1 hour

    Tai Ho Wan

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong
  95. Pui O Beach
    95 1 hour

    Pui O Beach

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Hong Kong

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to China be?

Twelve to eighteen days can link Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai by high-speed rail, with Shenzhen as a southern extension. Hong Kong and Macao need separate border planning and should not be treated as ordinary domestic stops on the same timetable.

What entry documents are needed for China?

Entry rules differ between mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, even within one journey. Check the official immigration authority for every border segment and match the permission to the passport, purpose, and exact itinerary.

What is the best way to travel around China?

High-speed rail and domestic flights cover mainland distances, while metros handle most urban journeys. Hong Kong uses Octopus and separate border controls, and Macao has its own formalities, so prepare payment and identity requirements for each jurisdiction.

When is a practical time to visit China?

April to May and September to October are only broad mainland planning windows. Beijing, Shanghai, the south, Hong Kong, and Macao have different heat, rain, and holiday pressures; the least flexible regional leg should set the dates.

What money and payment basics apply in China?

Mainland China uses renminbi (CNY), while Hong Kong and Macao use HKD and MOP. Payment systems and card acceptance differ across those jurisdictions, so prepare the appropriate local method before crossing each border.

What practical safety details should I save for China?

On the mainland, save 110 for police and 120 for medical help; Hong Kong and Macao use separate emergency systems. Mainland electricity is recorded as 220 V with Type A, C, and I sockets, while tap-water guidance is not recorded.