There's no single "most beautiful" city as beauty is subjective, but Guilin/Yangshuo (karst mountains, Li River), Hangzhou (West Lake, history), Lijiang (ancient town, Jade Dragon Mountain), and Dali (Cangshan, Erhai Lake) are consistently praised for stunning natural scenery and culture, while Zhangye offers unique Rainbow Mountains, making them top contenders for China's most beautiful.
China's Top Scenic Cities
Hunan - Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is famed for its Unesco World Heritage site, the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. This scenic area encompasses the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the Zhangjiajie National Geopark, where virgin forests and towering sandstone pillars form a mesmerising landscape.
As of 2023, the five largest cities in China by population are Chongqing (31.91 million), Shanghai (24.87 million), Beijing (21.86 million), Chengdu (21.403 million) and Guangzhou (18.827 million).
The imperial and modern Chinese capital, Beijing is a must-visit place for your first visit to China. It is also a popular gateway city and many international travelers plan their China tours from Beijing. We've curated classic activities for your Beijing trips.
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
For first-time visitors to China, Shanghai and Beijing are safe and popular choices. Shanghai is famous for its excellent tourism safety index and international environment, while Beijing, as the capital, has complete public services and transportation systems that are equally safe and reliable.
What is the cheapest city to visit in China? According to 2024 data, Chongqing, Xian, and Quanzhou are all among the budget-friendly destination list in China. They are not only affordable but also don't skimp on experience.
Ranking as the top tourist hub in China, Beijing is most famous for its splendours dating back from the Ming-Qing dynasty, which is also the most thriving days of the city in the past.
Most Popular Travel Destinations
Lijiang is probably the most beautiful ancient city in China. Located at the foot of the imposing Jade Dragon Mountain, it perfectly combines nature and architecture. The Southern Song Dynasty founded Lijiang in the late 13th century. For centuries, it was a major trading post for tea and other goods.
Beijing Feels Much More Chinese
Beijing is China's capital with incredible cultural heritage, and it shows everywhere you look. While Shanghai has its own interesting history, its long colonial past and strong Western influences make it feel similar to London or Paris rather than distinctly Chinese.
The Li River and Yangshuo
This is one of the most picturesque area of China, an archetypal land of rice paddies and a meandering river dotted with limestone karsts. Whether you choose to explore by foot, bike or boat, you will come face to face with scenes that have featured in Chinese art for generations.
Some of the most beautiful places in the world include: 1. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - Stunning limestone karsts and emerald waters. 2. Santorini, Greece - Picturesque whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches.
The 16 best places for expats to live in China are Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Qingdao, Kunming, Tianjin, Nanjing, and Fuzhou. Read on to learn about what each city has to offer, where it is located, how big it is, and some brief pros and cons about it.
While China is huge and incredibly varied, we've narrowed our list down to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing — cities that give first-timers a perfect balance of the country's history, modernity, and unique character!
Five US dollars (around 35 Chinese Yuan) isn't a lot in China for tourists but is a meaningful amount for daily necessities, buying several street food meals or bus rides, though it won't go far in big cities for luxuries, varying greatly by location and type of purchase.
China's "0.1% rule" refers to its October 2025 export controls, requiring licenses for foreign products containing ≥0.1% by value of certain Chinese-origin rare earths or made with controlled Chinese rare earth tech, extending China's jurisdiction extraterritorially to high-tech supply chains like EV magnets and AI chips, impacting global industries by giving Beijing leverage over critical materials. This "de minimis" rule creates significant compliance burdens for foreign firms, potentially halting supply of advanced tech.
The most expensive city to live in China is Shanghai.
It really depends on what you're going to do with that $100. If you're living a western style of life with food, $100 US in the cities would be like $120 US maybe? It'll stretch out a little. But if you're eating like the locals, buying groceries and the like, this can be a small fortune.
The "Three Ts" in China refer to the highly sensitive topics of Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen Square, which are major taboos and subjects of strict censorship, with discussions often discouraged or forbidden due to their challenge to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative and authority. Foreigners are often advised to avoid these topics to prevent discomfort, legal issues, or awkwardness with Chinese citizens.
Shanghai has the highest density of English speakers in China, thanks to its: Role as a global financial hub. Expat communities.