City Guides for Foreign Visitors

Overview

China has dozens of cities worth visiting, each with distinct character. This page provides a quick-reference guide to the 20 most popular destinations for foreign tourists, organized by region.

Which cities are best for foreign visitors to China?

City	Region	Days	Highlights	Best Season
Beijing	North	4-5	Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace	Apr, Sep-Oct
Shanghai	East	3-4	The Bund, French Concession, Shanghai Tower, Yu Garden	Apr-May, Sep-Oct
Guangzhou	South	2-3	Dim sum capital, Canton Tower, Shamian Island	Oct-Mar
Shenzhen	South	2-3	Tech hub, Hong Kong border crossing, modern architecture	Oct-Apr
Chengdu	Southwest	3-4	Giant Panda Base, Sichuan hotpot, Leshan Buddha day trip	Apr, Oct
Chongqing	Southwest	2-3	3D mountain city, hotpot capital, Yangtze River cruises	Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Xi’an	Northwest	2-3	Terracotta Warriors, City Wall cycling, Muslim Quarter	Apr-May, Sep-Oct
Hangzhou	East	2-3	West Lake, Longjing tea plantations, Lingyin Temple	Apr, Sep
Nanjing	East	2-3	Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming City Wall, Qinhuai River	Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Suzhou	East	1-2	Classical gardens (UNESCO), water towns, canals	Apr-May, Sep-Oct
Guilin	South	2-3	Li River cruise, karst mountains, Reed Flute Cave	Sep-Oct
Yangshuo	South	2-3	Cycling karst countryside, rock climbing, river rafting	Sep-Oct
Lijiang	Southwest	2-3	UNESCO Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Naxi culture	Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Dali	Southwest	2-3	Erhai Lake cycling, Old Town, Bai culture, digital nomad hub	Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Zhangjiajie	Central	2-3	Avatar mountains, Bailong Elevator, Tianmen Mountain glass skywalk	Apr-May, Sep-Oct
Kunming	Southwest	1-2	Stone Forest, Green Lake, “Spring City” mild weather year-round	Year-round
Xiamen	Southeast	2-3	Gulangyu Island (UNESCO), beaches, Nanputuo Temple, seafood	Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Urumqi	Far West	1-2	Grand Bazaar, Heavenly Lake, Xinjiang cuisine, gateway to Silk Road	Jun-Sep
Kashgar	Far West	2-3	Old City, Sunday Market, Uyghur culture, Karakoram Highway	May-Oct
Lhasa	Tibet	3-4	Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (permit required)	May-Oct

What are good multi-city routes for a China trip?

Classic First-Timer (14 days)

Beijing (4-5d) > Xi’an (2-3d) > Chengdu (3-4d) > Shanghai (3-4d)

Transport: High-speed rail between all cities. Fly into Beijing, out of Shanghai.

East Coast Express (7-10 days)

Shanghai (3-4d) > Hangzhou (2d) > Suzhou (1d) > Nanjing (2-3d)

Transport: All cities connected by 30-90 min HSR.

Southwest Nature & Culture (10-14 days)

Chengdu (3d) > Chongqing (2d) > Zhangjiajie (3d) > Guilin/Yangshuo (3-4d)

Yunnan Loop (10-14 days)

Kunming (2d) > Dali (3d) > Lijiang (3d) > Shangri-La (2-3d)

Silk Road (7-10 days)

Xi’an (3d) > Urumqi (2d) > Kashgar (3d)

Note: Requires domestic flights for western segments.

Practical Notes

• Metro apps: Each city has its own metro mini-program. Set up upon arrival (takes ~5 minutes).
• Language: English signage is good in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen. Limited elsewhere; translation apps essential.
• Permits: Tibet Permits required for Lhasa. Xinjiang cities (Urumqi, Kashgar) do not require permits but expect additional security checks.
• Budget: Shanghai and Beijing have broadly similar accommodation costs (Numbeo data shows less than 5% average difference). Hotel prices vary more by location and season than by city. Tier-2 cities (Chengdu, Xi’an, Nanjing) offer excellent value.
• Avoid: National holidays (May 1-5, Oct 1-7) bring extreme crowds to all destinations.

Which cities should I visit on a first trip to China?

• Beijing vs Shanghai first? Shanghai is easier to navigate and more international. Beijing offers deeper cultural immersion. Both are excellent starting points.
• Short trip (5-7 days): Pick Beijing + Shanghai (connected by 4.5h HSR, ~$50).
• Nature focus: Guilin/Yangshuo or Zhangjiajie.
• Food focus: Chengdu (spicy) or Guangzhou (Cantonese dim sum).
• Off the beaten path: Kashgar, Dali, or Nanjing.