A gargantuan mix of modern and primitive, free and authoritarian, China boasts some of the most impressive and iconic sights in the world, as well as some spectacular scenery. (We hear the lo mein's not bad, either!)

 

 

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Chinese opera: compelling, fascinating - but definitely an acquired taste

Hung Chung Chih When I first witnessed a performance of Peking opera (the best-known form of Chinese opera, with Peking by the way being the traditional English spelling of Beijing) years ago in Beijing’s ornate, early-19th-century Huguang Guild Hall, I admit I was mesmerized by the gestalt of this elaborate art form. Unlike Western opera, it’s even more stylized, with exaggerated gestures, vocalisations, and heavily symbolic costume and makeup (and in some cases obviously extremely fakey…

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Started by David Paul Appell
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7 amazing places to explore in China beyond Beijing and Shanghai

When people think of travelling to China, Beijing’s imperial grandeur and Shanghai’s futuristic skyline often dominate the imagination. While these two cities are undeniably fascinating, they represent only a fraction of what China has to offer. Stretching across vast landscapes and shaped by thousands of years of history, China is home to ancient towns, dramatic natural wonders, culturally rich regions, and cities that feel refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. To truly understand the…

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Started by Tripatini
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Experience old China in the southeast-central villages of Huangshan

      Known as one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in China, Huangshan is situated in Huizhou region of the country's southeast-central province of Anhui. Millions of visitors make a trip each year to catch a sight of theses magnificent granite peaks cradled by beds of clouds and frequently depicted in traditional Chinese paintings. And named after the mountain, the area around Huangshan City (pop. 1.5 million, a 4½-hour drive west of Shanghai) is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites:…

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Started by Tripatini
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  • Wendy Capra May 22, 2026 at 10:58pm
    This would´ve been helpful on my trip here three years ago, for sure https://www.cntraveler.com/story/23-unwritten-rules-you-should-know...
    23 Unwritten Rules You Should Know Before Visiting China
    From bullet trains and breakfast noodles to selfies with strangers, these top tips will help you get the most out of your trip.
  • Barbara Necker May 20, 2026 at 4:56pm
    Mindblowing futuristic - Chonqqing is an example of the cities that really make China look like the country of the future https://www.travelandleisure.com/chongqing-cyberpunk-capital-of-the...
  • Ken Kok Lee May 13, 2026 at 11:26am
    Improved logistics and access to central Bijing´s iconic sites along with more of the nearby Ming Tombs being opened up and night tours at the Great Wall are among the reason the capital has made National Geographics list of destinations to visit this year: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-of-the-world...
    Best of the World 2026
    From a legendary Alpine range to a less-traveled but no less stunning alternative to the Mediterranean, here are the year’s must-visit destinations,…
  • Maria de los Angeles December 22, 2025 at 3:08pm
    Tourism to the beautiful but controversial Xinjiang region is booming in part because heavy promotion by the Chinese government - including, cynically, the very Uighur culture it is trying to suppress: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8x1rnnd5gjo
    Tourism to Xinjiang booms as China gives the region a makeover
    China has repackaged Xinjiang into a tourist haven, touting "ethnic" experiences that activists say it's trying to erase.
  • Ed Wetschler December 21, 2025 at 10:56pm
    New developments prompted National Geographic to put Beijing on its list of best places in the world to travel to in the coming year: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-of-the-world...
    Best of the World 2026
    From a legendary Alpine range to a less-traveled but no less stunning alternative to the Mediterranean, here are the year’s must-visit destinations,…
  • Paul Varmuza January 13, 2025 at 1:52pm
    Wow, this sounds and looks amazing https://apnews.com/article/ice-sculptures-harbin-china-photos-b476a...
    Making art and fun from the ice, snow and freezing cold in Harbin, China
    People are making the best of the freezing weather in northeast China: Sculptors have finely chiseled ice into elaborate structures resembling landma…
  • José Balido December 17, 2024 at 10:00pm
    I can´t say I´m super motivated to go back to China per se, but I am very interested in Tibet - and the Robb Report says now is the time: https://robbreport.com/travel/destinations/tibet-best-time-to-visit...
    Here's Why There's Never Been Better Time to Visit Tibet.
    From Lhasa to Shangri-La, Songtsam hotels, palaces, and temples are showing visitors why there's never been a better time to visit Tibet.
  • David Paul Appell July 4, 2023 at 6:24pm
    Having been to a number of places in China, including Peking, Shanghai, and Xian, I find myself uninterested in going back in part due to my distaste for the dictatorship. I was thinking of making a single exception next year for Tibet, but then I read this - same old bullshit: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/03/politics/china-travel-advisory-s...
    https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/03/politics/china-travel-advisory-state-department/index.html
  • Max Pesling February 9, 2023 at 11:25am
    China is vast enough to provide visitors with a lifetime of travel experiences, and after biggies including Peking, Shangai, Xi'an, and others, there's a wealth of lesser known places like Tengchong and Leshan, both covered in CNN Travel's recent look at a dozen and a half under-the-radar gems in Asia: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/asia-underrated-places-intl-...
    https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/asia-underrated-places-intl-hnk/index.html
  • José Balido January 7, 2023 at 1:01pm
    As China relaxes its super-stringent COVID-19 restrictions of the past three years, what's the situation now for international visitors"? CNN Travel take s a look: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/china-reopening-tourism-expl...
    Can international tourists visit China? Everything you need to know about the country's reopening
    What are the new rules as China lifts its Covid travel restrictions for the first time in three years? We answer the key questions about how people c…
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