China is one of the most wonderfully diverse countries in the world that boasts endless landscapes, countless rivers and lakes, picturesque countryside, gorgeous mountains and wild terrain stretching the Tibet highlands. China is a perfect destination for family, couples and groups to witness the Earth’s nature at its best. The top 10 most beautiful places to visit in China include Guilin’s karst landscape, Zhangye’s Danxia Landform, Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou, Shangri-La, Tibet, Lijiang, Huangshan, Yangtze River and Hangzhou. Most of the places are/boast UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites.
>>Recommended 20 China Odyssey Tour to discover China’s Best Natural Scenery, which can be customized to your needs and preference.
Guilin & Yangshuo – a Truly Fairyland of Karst Landscape
- Best Time to Visit: From April to May, you can enjoy the misty Li River and the rice-growing season of Longji Terraces. From September to October, the weather is pleasant and the Longji Terraces are in incredible golden color.
- Highlight Attractions: Li River, Naxin Mountain, Luodizi Cave, Yangshuo West Street, Longji Terraces, Yulong River, Ruyi Peak
- Best for: Families with children, the elderly, photography enthusiasts, and rural tourism lovers
- How to Visit: Take a flight or high-speed train to Guilin; Take a cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo; Hike/cycle in Yangshuo countryside
- Recommended 6 Days Guilin Tour to Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terraces
When you think Chinese landscape, you think Guilin and Yangshuo landscape. They are definitely among the most beautiful places in China as being a realm where surreal limestone peaks and silky rivers meet and blend. CNN travel list Li River that flows from Guilin to Yangshuo one of the 15 best rivers in the world for travelers. Take a luxury cruise down Li River is the best way to explore it.
Guilin and Yangshou are ideal for family and couples that long for relaxation. For nature lovers, the region is also a paradise that offers a myriad of outdoor activities, such as cycling, hiking, rock climbing, bamboo rafting, kayaking, etc.
Zhangjiajie - Avatar Hallelujah Mountains
- Best Time to Visit: April to October, when Zhangjiajie has a mild climate and is suitable for hiking, mountain climbing and other outdoor activities
- Highlight Attractions: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and the Glass Bridge, Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake
- Best For: Hikers, Adventurers, active families
- How to Visit: There are direct flights from major cities in China to Zhangjiajie; from places like Changsha and Chongqing, you can take high-speed rail; there are shuttle buses and cable cars at each scenic spot to help you reach the top easily
- Recommended 5 Days Zhangjiajie Tour with Tianmen Mountain and Glass Bridge
Zhangjiajie became known to the world because of venue of X-sport like wing outfit flight and stunt flying since 20th-century. But what make Zhangjiajie really world famous was being the inspiration of Hallelujah Mountains in Avatar.
Zhangjiajie has been on the top search list of travel in China, not only for the other-worldly landscape, precipitous pillars, towering peaks, but also for the thrilling sky walks and world’s longest grass bridge. At Easy Tour China, we can tailor make a Zhangjiajie tour for you, so that you can visit everything on your bucket list.
Huangshan –Yellow Mountain & Ancient Huizhou Village
- Best time to visit: All year round (except summer), with beautiful clouds and blooming flowers in spring, colorful maple and dogwood leaves in autumn, and snowy scenes in winter
- Highlight attractions: West Sea Gorge, Bright Summit, North Sea Scenic Area, Welcoming Pine
- Suitable for: Photography enthusiasts, travelers who enjoy hiking and natural scenery
- How to visit: You can hike up or take the cable car (Cloud Valley Cable Car, Yiping Cable Car, Taiping Cable Car)
- Recommended: 4 Days Essence of Huangshan Tour
Huangshan City has been known far for Yellow Mountain, regarded as the most beautiful mountain in China. It stands out for its twisting pine trees growing on the cliff, interesting oddly-shaped rocks, sunrise and sunset merging from the seas of clouds, natural hot springs and winter landscape.
Right next to Yellow Mountain are several thousand year-old Huizhou villages such as Hongcun and Xidi Villages that remain intact, where you can admire the elegant Huizhou architectures, witness traditional lifestyle, experience traditional culture of tea, paper making, cooking, ink-making, etc.
Hangzhou – Heaven on Earth
- Best time to visit: Spring from March to May and Autumn from September to November
- Highlight attractions: the West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing Tea Plantation, ancient Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Hefang Street
- Suitable for: History and culture lovers
- How to visit: There are direct high-speed trains from Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangshan to Hangzhou (about 1 - 2.5 hours); it is recommended to combine your Hangzhou tour with surrounding old water towns like Wuzhen
One of the most beautiful cities in China, Hangzhou was depicted as "the city of heaven" by Marco Polo when he journeyed to the East. A leisure walk around or cruise on West Lake is a must-do in Hangzhou. Discover its many cultural landscapes – the bridges, causeways, pagodas, pavilions, lotus pools on the beautiful West Lake. Marvel at the Linyin Temple, one of the oldest and most famous temples in China. And sip the famous Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea at its original tea plantations.
Lijiang – Naxi Ethnic Ancient Town with Breathtaking Natural Scenery
- Best time to visit: April-May and September-October, avoiding summer when is the rainy season and the peak period of domestic tourism
- Highlight attractions: Lijiang Ancient Town, Yulong Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shuhe Ancient Town, Lugu Lake
- Best for: Couples, honeymooners, families, the elderly
- How to visit: Fly to Lijiang from major domestic cities; Take the high-speed train from Kunming to Lijiang
- Recommended: 9-day Kunming Dali Lijiang Shangri-La Tour
More than the charming ancient towns of Naxi ethnic culture and traditions, Lijiang also features amazing natural beauty, from mighty snow mountains and deep valleys to highland grasslands, wetlands and lakes. Apart from Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe Old Town and Bai Old Town are must-visits to learn about local culture of and history of the Tea-horse road, with fewer visitors.
When traveling in Lijiang, you’re suggested to take cableway up to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, boat on Lashihai Lake, view the First Bend of Yangtze River and hike Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Tibet – Kingdom on the Roof of the World
- Best time to visit: May to October, when the weather in Tibet is pleasant and the oxygen content is higher than at other months, therefore good periods for first-time visitors to Tibet
- Highlight attractions: The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Everest Base Camp, Namtso Lake, Lhasa Peach Blossom Valley, Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake...
- Best for: Adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, cultural enthusiasts
- How to visit: Fly directly from Beijing/Chengdu/Chongqing/Shanghai or take a train to reach Lhasa
- Recommended: 7 Days Tibet Highlights Tour
Have you ever pictured yourself standing and traveling in awe through the Tibet Plateau, the highest and purest lands on earth? Tibet is bucket travel list for many travelers around the world, especially those seeking an adventure of life. The natural beauty of Tibet has been kept at its original and best. No wonder Tibet is listed as one of the most beautiful places in China and in the world.
You may never reach the top of Everest, but on your Tibet tours, at least you can have a best view of it at the Everest Base Camp, after having picnic at heavnly Yamdrok Lake, driving through the Yarlung Zangbo River, and taking in spell-binding landscapes.
Zhangye Danxia Landscape – Fascinating Rainbow Mountain
- Best Time to Visit: From June to October, when Zhangye has a warm climate and the "Rainbow Mountain" is at its most vibrant colors, therefore best for sightseeing and photography
- Highlight Attractions: Zhangye Colorful Danxia National Geological Park, Ma Tixi Grotto Group, and Dafosi Temple
- Best for: People interested in the Silk Road culture, photography enthusiasts, and geology lovers
- How to Visit: Fly directly to Zhangye Ganzhou Airport; Take high-speed rail from Lanzhou, Xining, Jiayuguan, etc. to Zhangye; The Danxia Geological Park has scenic sightseeing buses to facilitate your visit
- Recommended: 7-day Essence of Gansu Tour: Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang
Along the ancient Silk Road, the geopark of Zhangye Danxia Landform is an iconic sight and one of the most beautiful places you shouldn't miss. Also known as one of the best destinations in China for nature photography, Zhangye’s Danxia Landscape is covers an area of fifty square kilometers. Peculiar, magnificent, vast and colorful, this huge geological park is nicknamed as the “rainbow mountain” in China.
No matter you’re nature lovers or a photographer, you’ll be fascinated by Zhangye Danxia Landscape and its surrounding wild natural beauty of Northwest China. Make sure you bring with your camera for awesome pictures.
Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong –Serene Valleys and Splendid Colorful Lakes
- Best time to visit: Any time of the year is suitable, as December to February it is frozen wonderland, April to May it is full of spring charm, and September to October it has the astonishingly beautiful fall foliage
- Highlight attractions: Five Flower Lake, Mirror Lake, Pearl Beach Waterfall, Nuorilang Waterfall, Long Lake, Primitive Forest
- Best for: Nature lovers, couples
- How to visit it: Take a flight or high-speed rail to Jiuzhaigou; The eco-friendly sightseeing vehicles inside the scenic area will allow you to easily move from one place to another.
- Recommended: 3-day Jiuzhaigou Tour
When talking about the most beautiful places in China, you can never miss Jiuzhaigou in the wild West China. It is a truly fairyland and a splendid work of nature. At the foot of the snow-capped mountains are the colorful Jewell-like lakes, plunging waterfalls, gurgling mountain streams, and scatted Tibetan villages. Travel to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong to discover the valleys and virgin forests for a myriad of flora and fauna.
Autumn is generally regarded as the best season to visit Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, when the landscape is especially amazing with fall foliage. However, it is a fairyland beautiful all year round, with different sceneries to explore.
Yangtze River – China’s Most Legendary River with Ever-changing Landscape
- Best Time to Visit: April to May when the flowers along the Yangtze River are in full bloom; September to October when the scenery of the Three Gorges is at its most beautiful
- Highlight Attractions: The Three Gorges (Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge), the Small Three Gorges, Shennong Stream, Shen Nu Stream, the Three Gorges Dam, Shennongjia
- Best for: Couples, the elderly, families with children
- How to Visit: Embark on a Luxury Yangtze River cruise
Flowing down from Northwest China to Southeast China, the Yangtze River is the third longest river on Earth. The landscape along it is diverse, varied and changing. The most classic way to explore the Yangtze River is by taking a cruise between Chongqing and Yichang (4-5 days), so that you can witness the highlight natural beauty – the famous three gorges.
Shangri-La – a Mysterious Land of Peace & Natural Beauty
- Best time to visit: all year round, but April to May has alpine meadows and September to October have golden grasslands and the best snow scenery
- Highlight attractions: Pudacuo National Park, Songzanlin Monastery, Meili Snow Mountain, Napahai Lake, Dukong Ancient Town, Yuanding Village
- Best for: Hikers, nature lovers, active families
- How to visit: Fly directly to Shangri-La Airport; Take the bullet train from Kunming/Baisha/Lijiang to get there.
- Recommended:12 Days Yunnan West Wildness Tour to Lijiang & Shangri-La
In his novel The Lost Horizon, James Hilton first described a place of eternal peace and tranquility far away in the mountains of the East that is called Shangri-La. One of the remotest places in China, Shangri-La is nestled between mountains and right at the center of the UNESCO-listed Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas. Travel further deeper of Shangri-La to Meili Snow Mountain, you will witness gorgeous wildness of nature all along.
The Most Beautiful Places in China, by Types
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| Type | Best Places to Visit in China |
| Historical & Cultural Gems | Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Potala Palace, Mount Kailash, Xian Ancient City Wall, Yungang Grottoes, Kaiping Diaolou, Classical Gardens of Suzhou, Dali Three Pagodas, Fujian Tulou |
| Natural Wonders | Jiuzhaigou Valley, Daocheng Yading, Yellow Mountain, Three Gorges, Huangguoshu Waterfall, Changbai Mountain & Heaven Lake, Hukou Waterfall, Shennongjia, Pudacuo National Park |
| Mountains & Countryside | Yangshuo, Longji Rice Terraces, Wuyuan, Zhangjiajie, Mt. Fanjing |
| Ancient Towns | Hongcun Village, Wangxian Valley, Fenghuang Ancient Town, Furong Ancient Town, Tongli Water Town, Zhuajiajiao Water Town |
| Snow & Grasslands | China Snow Town, Nalati Grassland, Hulunbuir Grassland, Hemu Village |
| Deserts & Oases | Singing Sand Bay, Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake, Badain Jaran Desert |
| Coastal & Islands | Sanya (Yalong Bay, Wuzhizhou Island), Gulangyu Island, Zhoushan Archipelago |
| Lakes & Wetlands | West Lake, Qinghai Lake, Erhai Lake, Lugu Lake, Napahai Wetland |