Ask most people about China and they’ll probably rattle off the Great Wall, bustling Shanghai, or maybe pandas munching bamboo. But look beyond the usual postcards and China opens up like a storybook — ancient towns with misty canals, rapeseed fields stretching like golden seas, and landscapes straight from a painting.

Curious to see which corners of this incredible country should top your list? Dive deeper into our guide on the best places to visit in China and start dreaming up your own route.

China’s grand capital is a fascinating clash of old and new. One morning you might be exploring the endless courtyards of the Forbidden City — did you know it’s made up of over 9,000 rooms? — then by afternoon you’re sipping coffee in a sleek Sanlitun café or cycling around hutongs full of local life.

Don’t miss the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a slightly quieter stretch where watchtowers march off into rolling hills. It’s brilliant for families wanting a manageable hike, plus the toboggan ride down is sure to be a hit with kids.

If Beijing is imperial and stately, Shanghai is dazzling and playful. The futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong light up like jewels by night, while across the Huangpu River, the Bund stands proud with its elegant European facades.

Wander into the French Concession and you’ll find leafy boulevards hiding boutiques, wine bars and villas with a century of stories. Couples adore evening strolls here, pausing for cocktails on hidden terraces.

A fun surprise? The maze-like alleys of Tianzifang, where every turn seems to reveal a quirky gallery or tiny noodle shop. It’s the sort of place that rewards slow wandering.

Traveloka lets you sort plush city hotels, flights, and even river cruises in one go — so you can spend less time fiddling with bookings and more time picking which dumpling shop deserves your first stop.

No trip through China is complete without a brush with its incredible history, and nowhere captures that quite like Xi’an. Of course, there are the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-sized soldiers silently guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor.

But Xi’an itself is a delight to explore: stroll along the imposing city walls, which date back to the 14th century and are so wide you can hire bikes and pedal around the entire old town. By evening, the Muslim Quarter bursts to life with spicy skewers, sticky buns and locals bargaining over nuts and sweets.

Hunt down a bowl of biang biang noodles, named after the comical “biang” sound the dough makes when slapped on the counter, or try roujiamo—crispy flatbread stuffed with spiced, shredded meat that’s often called a “Chinese hamburger.”

It’s a fabulous stop for families and anyone with a soft spot for stories etched into stone. A well-placed hotel inside the walled city means you can soak up the ancient atmosphere from the moment you wake — easy to line up on Traveloka.

Chengdu might just be China’s most relaxed city. Here, long afternoons are spent sipping jasmine tea in leafy courtyards, and nights revolve around fiery Sichuan hotpots that tingle your tongue in the best way.

The city is also home to the adorable residents of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can watch fluffy cubs tumble over each other or laze about crunching bamboo.

Chengdu’s streets are practically a playground for your taste buds. This is the proud home of mapo tofu, a gloriously spicy dish where soft tofu swims in a bubbling sauce of fermented beans and numbing Sichuan peppercorns. 

Then there’s kung pao chicken, with its sweet, sour, and mildly spicy crunch of peanuts and dried chilli. Street vendors tempt you with sticks of mala grilled skewers, dusted in fiery spice powders, or bowls of dandan noodles, tangled up in rich, savoury sauce. 

Food lovers, couples and families all find something to smile about in Chengdu. And with Traveloka, finding a cosy hotel close to panda central is a breeze.

Guangzhou blends old-world elegance with modern sparkle, and it does it effortlessly. Stroll down Shamian Island, a leafy enclave lined with colonial-era buildings and quaint cafes, or take an evening cruise along the Pearl River, where the skyline lights up in shimmering colour. 

For history lovers, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Yuexiu Park offer a glimpse into traditional Cantonese architecture and local legends. The city’s buzzing arts district and sprawling markets make it a brilliant place to wander, explore, and stumble upon surprises.

Of course, you can't talk about Guangzhou without mentioning the food — this is the birthplace of dim sum, after all. Just enough to whet your appetite with fluffy char siu buns, delicate shrimp dumplings, crispy cheong fun rice noodle rolls, golden egg tarts, and steaming bowls of wonton noodles. It’s a city where breakfast can stretch into lunchtime simply because the next bamboo basket always looks too tempting to skip.

Pair the sights with bites, and you’ll quickly see why Guangzhou belongs on any list of the best places to visit in China.

If you’ve ever seen a Chinese ink painting of jagged green peaks dipping into rippling water — chances are it was inspired by Guilin and Yangshuo. The Li River winds through limestone towers in scenes so striking they ended up on the 20 yuan note.

A bamboo raft cruise is pure magic, floating past water buffalo and fishermen with cormorants perched on long poles. Meanwhile, Yangshuo’s lanes glow by lantern light come evening, with open-air bars and markets brimming with local crafts.

It’s an unforgettable setting for romantic getaways or family adventures. Traveloka makes pairing river tours with local stays wonderfully straightforward.

Step off the typical tourist path and you’ll find Wuyuan, a region in Jiangxi province famed for its old villages and countryside that bursts into yellow during rapeseed flower season each spring. The patchwork of fields, stone bridges and ancient Hui-style homes look like they’ve leapt from a storybook.

Photographers flock here, but it’s also a peaceful retreat if you’re craving slow mornings and meandering village lanes without the crush of big city crowds.

It’s the kind of place where local guesthouses serve breakfast under flowering trees — a little slice of China that feels deeply personal. With Traveloka, you can stitch together trains, boutique stays and even local guided walks without fuss.

Just outside Shanghai and Hangzhou lie the water towns of Jiangnan, where stone bridges arch over narrow canals and wooden boats glide by under red lanterns. Zhujiajiao, Tongli, and Xitang are among the most picturesque. Many popular Chinese historical dramas like Nirvana in Fire (2015) and The Story of Minglan (2018-2019) are filmed in these towns thanks to their perfectly preserved look.

Spend the day wandering cobbled alleys, stopping for delicate sweet rice cakes, or watching old men play chess by the water. As dusk falls, the towns take on a gentle glow that’s impossibly romantic — perfect for couples wanting a change from big city nights.

Traveloka can help tie your Shanghai hotel with a day trip or overnight stay in these serene little towns, so you experience both sides of modern China with minimal planning.

Hangzhou has long been celebrated by Chinese poets and emperors for its gentle beauty. The star is West Lake, with arched bridges, willow trees trailing into the water, and boats drifting past tiny islands. Come spring, it’s sprinkled with peach blossoms.

Climb the hills around Longjing village to visit tea plantations where green leaves are still pan-fired by hand. A cup of freshly brewed Dragon Well tea here tastes like nowhere else.

Ever wondered where the floating Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar came from? Look no further than Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan, where slender quartz-sandstone pillars rise hundreds of metres through swirling mist.

Visitors can walk along vertigo-inducing glass skywalks or take cable cars that thread between jagged peaks. It’s spectacularly dramatic, and kids or anyone with a taste for adventure will be talking about it for years.

For something completely different, head north to Harbin, close to Russia. In winter, the city transforms into a glittering wonderland during the Harbin International Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival, with castles, dragons and palaces all carved from blocks of ice lit by neon.

Beyond the festival, Harbin’s streets tell their own story — St. Sophia Cathedral stands with onion domes, and bakeries serve up hearty Russian breads and sausages.

It’s a magical pick for families or couples chasing a unique cold-weather holiday. Traveloka can sort your hotel right in the thick of the festivities.

China is more than just its famous icons. It’s hotpot steam swirling around laughter in Chengdu, ancient warriors silently standing guard in Xi’an, rivers that wind through fairy-tale peaks, and canals glowing under lantern light.

Ready to find the corner of China that steals your heart? Dive deeper into these places and start sketching out your adventure—with Traveloka keeping your flights, stays and even panda meet-and-greets delightfully simple.