Things to Do in China 2026: The 30 Icons, Ranked
China is a country of icons: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, the Li River, giant pandas and Zhangjiajie’s Avatar peaks. Here are the 30 things every traveller should do — ranked by region, with what it costs and how to see them without the crowds.
The top things to do in China: walk the Great Wall (Mutianyu), tour the Forbidden City, see the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, cruise the Li River in Guilin, meet giant pandas in Chengdu, and see the Bund skyline in Shanghai. Plan 10 days for the classic route — from $1,650 per person privately.
Empire and army
Great Wall (Mutianyu)
The quieter, most beautiful section — cable car up, toboggan down.
Forbidden City
The world’s largest imperial palace complex, 900+ buildings.
Terracotta Army
8,000 soldiers guarding an emperor’s afterlife, discovered 1974.
Temple of Heaven
Beijing’s most beautiful imperial ritual complex.
Modern and classical China
The Bund
Art-deco waterfront facing the Lujiazui skyline — best at night.
West Lake, Hangzhou
China’s most famous lake — boat rides and tea fields.
Shanghai Disneyland
Themed park with the tallest castle of any Disney.
Yu Garden & Old Town
Ming-dynasty gardens in the heart of the old city.
Nature and the deep south
Li River cruise
The karst landscape on China’s ¥20 note — Guilin to Yangshuo.
Zhangjiajie
The ‘Avatar’ sandstone pillars and the world’s highest glass bridge.
Yangshuo countryside
Bike through rice paddies and karst towers.
Guangzhou dim sum
Morning tea culture — the food capital of southern China.
Pandas, highlands and the Silk Road
Chengdu pandas
See giant pandas at the breeding research base — morning is best.
Yunnan highlands
Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La — Tibetan-border landscapes.
Silk Road
Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves and the rainbow mountains of Zhangye.
Tibet
Lhasa, Everest Base Camp — permits arranged by licensed operators.
10 days, all the icons
Beijing (3) → Xi’an (2) → Guilin/Yangshuo (2) → Shanghai (2), by high-speed rail — our 10-Day Classic China Tour from $1,650 per person, private car and licensed guide throughout.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in China?
The Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracotta Army lead every first-timer list, followed by the Li River cruise in Guilin, Chengdu’s pandas, Shanghai’s Bund and Zhangjiajie’s Avatar mountains. Our ranking below covers all of them, region by region.
How many days do I need for China?
7 days covers Beijing–Xi’an; 10 days adds Shanghai and Guilin; 14+ days allows Chengdu, the Yangtze or Yunnan. See our China Itinerary 2026 guide.
What is the most beautiful place in China?
Guilin and Yangshuo’s karst landscape is the most photographed; Zhangjiajie’s sandstone pillars (the ‘Avatar’ mountains) are the most dramatic; Tibet and Xinjiang offer the grandest scenery.
Are the Great Wall and Terracotta Army worth visiting?
Yes — they are the two icons every first-time traveller should see. We visit the quieter Mutianyu section of the Wall and the full Terracotta complex with a licensed guide.
How much do attractions cost?
Most cultural sites are $5–$15; national parks with cable cars run $50–$150. Our tours include entrance tickets — no hidden extras.
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