China’s great sights, and how to actually get in
Most major sights in China now sell timed tickets online against your passport number. These guides cover booking, timing, transport and what not to miss.
14 of 14 sights
All sights
The Great Wall near Beijing
Which section to choose — Mutianyu, Badaling, Jinshanling, Jiankou or Simatai — and how to get there without a tour bus.
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
The palace of 24 Ming and Qing emperors: how to book, which route to take, and what most visitors miss.
Temple of Heaven
Where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests — and where Beijingers now come to dance, sing and play cards every morning.
Summer Palace
The Qing imperial garden on Kunming Lake: the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat and Longevity Hill.
Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers buried to guard the tomb of the First Emperor of Qin — how to visit, and how to make sense of it.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The best place in the world to see giant pandas — go early, and know what is and isn’t on offer.
Li River
The karst river between Guilin and Yangshuo — cruise, bamboo raft or riverside walk, and where to find the 20-yuan view.
West Lake
Causeways, pagodas and tea hills: how to spend a day around Hangzhou’s West Lake.
The Bund
Shanghai’s riverside parade of banks, trading houses and hotels from the treaty-port era, facing the towers of Pudong.
Potala Palace
The thirteen-storey palace above Lhasa: timed tickets, the climb at altitude and what you will see inside.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan: how to plan two days inside the park, and which lifts and trails to use.
Mogao Caves
A thousand years of Buddhist cave art at a Silk Road oasis — and how the timed-ticket system works.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Turquoise lakes, waterfalls and Tibetan villages in northern Sichuan — one of China’s most beautiful national parks.
Leshan Giant Buddha
The largest stone Buddha in the world, carved into a cliff where three rivers meet — an easy day from Chengdu.
Want a trip built around these sights built around your dates, pace and interests? Tell us what you have in mind and our desk will reply within 24 hours.
Commission a Private China Proposal
Tell us your travel window, interests, or hospital checkup requirements. Our specialists will return a tailored route blueprint — zero obligation.