12 Best Things to Do in China for First-Time Visitors

The best things to do in China include walking the Great Wall, exploring the Forbidden City, seeing the Terracotta Warriors, watching giant pandas in Chengdu, hiking through Zhangjiajie and cycling or rafting through Yangshuo’s karst landscape.

This list focuses on specific experiences in mainland China. It does not rank entire cities or provide a complete itinerary. Each activity includes the best location, time needed and the type of traveler it suits, so you can choose experiences that match your interests and trip length.

Quick Comparison: Which China Experiences Should You Choose?

1. Walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu

At Mutianyu, you can walk along a restored section of the Great Wall between stone watchtowers. The wall follows a mountain ridge, so you get wide views of the surrounding hills.

Mutianyu is the best choice for most first-time visitors. It has the classic Great Wall scenery many travelers expect, but it is easier to explore than a remote hiking section. Cable cars can take you up and down, so you do not need to climb the mountain from the entrance.

The wall still has steep steps and uneven surfaces. Visitors with limited mobility can use the cable car and walk only a short distance near the upper station. Active visitors can continue between more watchtowers for a harder walk.

Allow about 5–7 hours, including transport from central Beijing. The journey and entrance process take a large part of the day, while most visitors spend two to three hours on the wall.

Choose Jinshanling instead when you want a longer hike, fewer restored surfaces and fewer tour groups. It is about 130 kilometres from central Beijing, so it normally requires a full day and more physical effort.

2. Explore the Forbidden City and View It from Jingshan Park

Enter the Forbidden City through the southern Meridian Gate. Walk north through the main courtyards, ceremonial halls and former residential areas. Most visitors finish at the Gate of Divine Prowess on the northern side.

After leaving, continue to nearby Jingshan Park. A short uphill walk leads to a viewpoint overlooking the palace roofs and central Beijing. This view helps you understand the enormous size and straight north-to-south layout of the Forbidden City.

Allow 3–5 hours for both places. Visitors who are not interested in imperial architecture may find the repeated courtyards and halls tiring. The site also involves long walks with limited shade.

Reserve your Forbidden City ticket before arrival. The museum does not sell same-day tickets, and foreign visitors must enter their passport details when booking online.

3. See the Terracotta Warriors outside Xi’an

The Terracotta Warriors Museum is about 35 kilometres east of central Xi’an. Inside the excavation halls, you look down into large pits containing life-sized clay soldiers, horses, chariots and partly restored figures. Some areas also show broken pieces and ongoing archaeological work.

Pit 1 is the main attraction. It is the largest pit and contains the famous rows of standing soldiers seen in most photos. Pits 2 and 3 are smaller, but they help explain how different military units and command areas were arranged.

Allow roughly half a day, including transport from Xi’an and two to three hours at the museum.

The site is especially worthwhile for history lovers, but its size and visual impact also make it suitable for families and casual tourists. Crowds can make the viewing platforms slow and noisy, but the visit is still worth making. Arriving near opening time usually gives you a better view before the largest tour groups enter.

4. Watch Giant Pandas in Chengdu Early in the Morning

Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding near opening time. Pandas are often more active during the morning feeding period. You may see adult pandas eating bamboo, walking around or climbing. Some pandas may still be sleeping, especially when the weather is warm.

The base opens at 7:30 a.m. from March to October and 8:00 a.m. from November to February. Morning and afternoon tickets are sold separately, and tickets can be reserved online up to 14 days ahead.

Allow about 2–4 hours. The base is large, so you may need to walk between several enclosures to see adult pandas, younger pandas and red pandas.

A normal visit means watching the animals from public viewing areas. It does not include feeding pandas, cleaning enclosures or working with keepers. Volunteer and keeper programs are separate activities with their own application rules. Some are offered at other panda centres outside central Chengdu.

Do not expect to hold or touch a panda. These are protected animals, and regular visitors must remain outside the enclosures.

5. Cycle or Take a Bamboo Raft through Yangshuo’s Karst Landscape

Yangshuo lets you experience the karst mountains at a slower and closer level than viewing them from Guilin city. Around the Yulong River, narrow roads and paths pass rice fields, villages, old bridges and limestone hills.

Active travelers can rent a bicycle and ride through the countryside near the river. Choose a short route of two to three hours unless you are comfortable riding in heat or rain. Families can also use electric carts or hire a driver for part of the route.

For a calmer experience, book a bamboo-raft trip from one of the designated Yulong River wharves. A boatman moves the raft with a long pole while you sit and watch the fields and mountains. Different sections vary in length, and some include small drops over low river barriers.

Cycling is best for active visitors who want to stop in villages. Rafting is easier for families and travelers who want to rest. Photographers can combine both activities.

Allow half a day for either option or one full day for both.

The Yulong River is smaller and quieter than the Li River. A Li River cruise usually covers a longer route on a larger boat, while the Yulong River gives you a closer view of the countryside from a small raft.

6. Hike among the Sandstone Pillars of Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the main place to see the tall sandstone pillars shown in most Zhangjiajie photos. Do not confuse it with Tianmen Mountain, which is a separate attraction closer to Zhangjiajie city.

A visit involves more than standing on one observation deck. You move between high viewpoints and forest paths using shuttle buses, cable cars and the Bailong Elevator. Some routes include many stairs, but the transport system lets visitors reduce the amount of climbing. Cable cars and the elevator normally cost extra.

Allow at least one full day. Two days are better when you want longer walks or do not want to rush between viewpoints.

Zhangjiajie suits travelers who enjoy dramatic mountain scenery, hiking and high viewing platforms. It may be frustrating for visitors who dislike queues, crowded photo stops or complicated park routes. Arrive early and decide on your entry gate and main route before entering.

Choose Zhangjiajie over Yangshuo when you want steep vertical mountains and more structured hiking. Choose Yangshuo when you prefer rivers, flat countryside, cycling and slower exploration.

7. Watch Shanghai Change from Day to Night at the Bund

Arrive at the Bund about 45 minutes before sunset. Start where East Nanjing Road meets the waterfront, then walk south along the Huangpu River toward Shiliupu Wharf.

On the west side, you will see the Bund’s historic stone buildings. Across the river, Pudong has modern towers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao Tower. The contrast between the two sides is the main reason to visit. The waterfront is about 1.5 kilometres long.

Stay until darkness falls and the Pudong skyline lights up. Allow 2–3 hours for the walk, photos and a short break.

The free waterfront promenade provides the essential view. You do not need to pay for an observation tower unless you specifically want to see Shanghai from above.

8. Eat Sichuan Food on a Chengdu Food Tour

A Chengdu food tour lets you try several local dishes in one meal or evening. Common choices include mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, Zhong dumplings, chuan chuan skewers and Sichuan hotpot.

A small guided tour is useful if you cannot read Chinese menus or do not know which dishes to order. The guide can also explain ingredients, help with ordering and take you to smaller local restaurants that are easy to miss.

Sichuan food can be both spicy and numbing. Tell the guide or restaurant staff “少辣”, which means less chili. Some dishes can be made milder, but strong flavors may still remain.

Allow about 3–4 hours for a food tour with several stops. Choose a daytime tour for snacks and noodles, or an evening tour if you want hotpot and a wider range of dishes.

9. Spend a Night inside Pingyao Ancient City

Pingyao is more enjoyable after the daytime tour groups leave. In the evening, you can walk through quieter streets, see the old buildings under lantern light and explore the city at a slower pace.

During the day, walk along part of the city wall for views over the grey rooftops and traditional courtyards. Later, explore the main streets, small shops and side lanes without trying to visit every museum.

Accommodation inside the old city usually includes small guesthouses or courtyard hotels in restored traditional buildings. Rooms may be simpler than those in modern hotels, and some old properties have steep stairs or limited soundproofing.

Allow one full day and one night. Two nights are only necessary if you want to visit several historic buildings and museums.

Pingyao is best for travelers interested in old architecture, photography and slower travel. Visitors who prefer modern hotels, nightlife or fast-paced sightseeing may find the experience too quiet.

10. Hike Huangshan and Stay for Sunrise

Huangshan, also called the Yellow Mountains, is known for granite peaks, pine trees, stone stairways and high viewpoints. You can hike from the base or take a cable car uphill to save time and energy. Cable cars reduce the climb, but you will still need to walk up and down many steps between viewpoints.

Allow one full day for a basic visit. Choose two days and one night if you want a slower hike and a chance to watch the sunrise.

Staying in a mountain hotel makes sunrise easier because you are already close to the viewing areas. However, rooms can be expensive, and clouds or rain may block the view. A day trip is enough if sunrise is not important to you. Official two-day routes include a mountain stay followed by an early walk to a sunrise viewpoint.

Huangshan requires moderate fitness, even when using cable cars. It is best for travelers who enjoy mountain scenery and marked walking routes. Choose Yangshuo instead when you want flatter countryside, cycling and relaxed river views.

11. Ride a Chinese High-Speed Train between Two Major Cities

A high-speed train journey is both transportation and part of the China travel experience. Useful first routes include Beijing to Xi’an, Shanghai to Hangzhou and Chengdu to Chongqing.

Book through the official China Railway 12306 website or app. Enter each passenger’s name and passport number exactly as shown in the passport. Most journeys use electronic tickets, so foreign passengers can normally scan their passport at an automatic gate or show it at a staffed gate.

At the station, pass through a security check, find your train on the departure screen and wait near the correct boarding gate. Boarding stops before the train leaves, so do not arrive as late as you might for a small local train. Allow about 60 minutes at a large station, or longer during national holidays.

High-speed trains usually have assigned seats, luggage racks, toilets and space for larger cases near the end of some carriages. Standard adult passengers may carry up to 20 kilograms. On high-speed trains, the combined length, width and height of each item should not exceed 130 centimetres.

Keep your passport with you throughout the journey. You may need it when entering the station, passing the boarding gate or during an onboard ticket check.

12. See Harbin Ice and Snow World in Winter

Harbin Ice and Snow World is a seasonal winter experience. The park contains large ice buildings, towers, sculptures, slides and other attractions. Many structures are lit after dark, so late afternoon and evening are the best times to visit.

The park usually opens in mid or late December and operates into February, depending on the weather. For example, the 2024–2025 season opened on December 21, while the 2025–2026 season opened on December 17. Exact dates change each year, so verify the current opening and closing dates before publishing or booking a trip.

Allow about 3–5 hours. Winter temperatures can fall below −20°C, especially at night. Wear thermal base layers, a fleece or light down middle layer, a thick windproof coat, insulated boots, gloves, a hat and a scarf. Hand warmers are also useful.

Skip this activity if you strongly dislike extreme cold or cannot remain outdoors for several hours. If you visit China outside winter, replace it with another experience from this list, such as Zhangjiajie, Yangshuo or the Bund in Shanghai.

Which Experiences Are Most Worth It for Your First China Trip?

Choose activities based on your main interest rather than trying to complete all 12.

• For ancient history, choose the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors.
• For dramatic mountain scenery, choose Zhangjiajie or Huangshan.
• For relaxed countryside and river views, choose Yangshuo.
• For pandas and local food, choose Chengdu.
• For modern city scenery, choose the Bund in Shanghai.
• For a slower historic-town experience, spend a night in Pingyao.
• For a winter trip, consider Harbin Ice and Snow World.

Most first-time visitors should choose three to five major experiences that fit a practical route. Trying to include all 12 in one trip would require too much travel time and leave little time to enjoy each place.

Stay Connected while Exploring China

Many of these experiences require mobile data for maps, attraction reservations, train information and translation. This is especially useful when traveling independently between Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shanghai and smaller destinations.

A China eSIM can be installed before the trip on a compatible unlocked phone, so you do not need to collect a SIM card or carry a separate Wi-Fi device after arrival.

Conclusion

China’s strongest first-trip experiences usually combine one major historic site, one natural landscape, one local food experience and one modern city.

Choose the activities that match your interests, season and travel route. Do not treat this list as a checklist. A smaller number of well-planned experiences will usually make a better trip than trying to visit every famous attraction.

Read more:

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• 5 Best eSIM for China in 2026 (travel eSIM providers)

• Best Time to Visit China for Good Weather and Fewer Crowds