China

China’s enormous size means you find every type of climate within its borders, from tropical to polar, as well as ancient ruins, ultra-modern skyscrapers, and a cuisine that runs from dumplings to numbingly spicy hot pot. Its megacities buzz with energy while deep pockets of its vast gorgeous nature landscape—turquoise beaches, mist-wreathed mountains, and seemingly infinite deserts—remain wild.

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Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to China.

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Read Before You Go
Hotels
Sleeping with the fishes takes on a whole new meaning at these villas and suites under the sea.
Whether you’re looking for seaside getaways, reinvented spaces, classics reborn, urban sanctuaries, or adventure retreats, these hotels make being on the road feel like home. This is hospitality in the 21st century.
With underwater suites, waterslides, and a record-setting aquarium, it’s a luxury hotel with the soul of a theme park.
These hotel openings and events will do just that.
Experience a hotel stay made for royalty.
Resources to help plan your trip
When the Terra Cotta Army was uncovered in Xi’an in 1974, the world took notice of the Shaanxi city. The army—filled with 8000 life-size soldiers, as well as weapons, horses, chariots, and other characters—was buried in the tomb of China’s first emperor. Visitors can discover more treasures than frozen troops in Xi’an, though: Along with its famous cuisine, the city is rich with peaceful temples and and holy mosques, hutongs that rival those in Beijing, historic palaces from the Tang Dynasty, and intact walls and fortifications that date back to the seventh century.
In central China, at the east end of the Silk Road, the alluring city of Xian (pronounced shee-EN) has been a cultural capital for thousands of years. It’s most famous for the Terracotta Army, an astounding collection dating back to 211 B.C. But there are plenty more ways to immerse yourself in Xian’s rich history, from visiting the enchanting Wild Goose Pagoda to sampling the traditional flavorful soup. Here are five favorites to send you on your way.
While you’ll never have time for all of Shanghai’s best sights, here are some of our favorites. Seek out the city’s art and mind-blowing architecture, decompress in tranquil gardens, or tour long-forgotten nightclubs. Trust us: You won’t be bored.
Shanghai is an adventurous shopper’s wonderland—here you’ll find everything from vintage Communist propaganda to ceramic paperweights shaped like dim sum. Bargain hunters and fashion-forward travelers will be in their element, too: You can grab expertly tailored suits and trendy Feiyue sneakers for scary cheap prices. No matter what you’re into, here’s where to shop.
Pack your hunger: the streets of Xi’an are packed with dumpling shops and noodle carts and wonderful smells that will keep you distracted planning about your next meal.
From dumplings to duck—specifically Peking duck—China’s capital offers a bounty of delicious meals, both local dishes and international cuisine. Here are our picks of the top places for memorable meals.
With celebrated chefs hailing from every corner of the globe, Shanghai’s broad culinary landscape offers incredible restaurants in a spectrum of styles. Dumplings—Shanghai’s most popular snack—come in every glorious incarnation: fried and steamed, pork and radish. But there’s much more to eat and drink here. Duck into an urban soup kitchen, sit down for satisfying noodles, or discover the plethora of options on Wujiang Lu. Here are our picks of where to go!
On a trip through the less-visited corners of Yunnan, China, writer Peggy Orenstein searches for the bliss and grace of the unexpected.
While the number of people traveling is still down from last year, numbers show travel is beginning to rebound in China.
Sometimes treasured World Heritage sites aren’t sites at all.
Within hours of the lockdown ending, roughly 65,000 people left the city by train and plane alone. Despite the new freedom, many measures such as wearing masks and temperature checks will stay in place to prevent the epidemic from resurging.
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