If you are looking for a destination that is exotic, packed full of new sights and experiences, stimulating, and over all different, China is best in the world.
China isn't a place where you just go to enjoy a vacation — it is a destination where you can discover a country that's vastly different from your own.
Here are the eight reasons why China should be at the top of your must-visit list.
1. The World's Richest Breadth of Culture
China is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations, with a history of over 3,000 years. It boasts the world's richest breadth of culture.
China's language supersedes others in originality and complexity. Kung fu and tai chi similarly surpass karate, taekwondo, and Thai boxing.
Also consider China's food and tea cultures, Chinese medicine, poetry, calligraphy, opera, costume, festivals, and porcelain, before even considering the hundreds of ethnic minorities.
Recommended tour: 11-Day Classic Wonders (Beijing – Xi'an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai)
2. Most Impressive Ancient Heritage
A Beijing opera actor on the Great Wall: China's culture and architectural feats are top reasons to visit.China's awesome and monumental ancient treasures exceed all other countries for size and number — from ancient palaces to the Great Wall, city walls, buried armies, canals, pagodas, temples, and giant Buddhas. See:
Recommended tour: 6-day tour of Beijing and Xi'an (Time Travel in Two Ancient Chinese Capitals)
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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An amazing experience in Beijing !
We had a wonderful time visiting the Beijing Zoo and the Great Wall with our guide Paul! He was exceptionally kind and knowledgeable and took exceptionally good care of us. We enjoyed conversing with him and learning about life in Beijing as well as the history of the Great Wall. He was also helpful in finding us food to fit my dietary needs which I appreciated. Everything about our trip has been smooth and we had such good fun. I would absolutely recommend China Highlights and Paul for their professionalism! more
Sep 2024, Ann-Marie M@E2527CAannmariem
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Family Fun Beijing!
Great experience with China Highlights!!! Great sightseeing, wonderful people! Thank-you Selinda (Tour guide) for a wonderful time! more
Sep 2024, DSD
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Guide Olivia
Olivia was an excellent and thoughtful guide. Would highly recommend. H as d an excellent trip to Beijing in September 2024 more
Sep 2024, RupertL
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3. Most Varied and Spectacular Natural Wonders
As far as natural beauty goes, China goes bigger and more-varied and spectacular than any country in the world, if you count everything.
The Li River karst scenery in Guilin is treasured as "the best landscape under heaven".For example, the legendary Yellow Mountains, with their seas of cloud and charismatic rocks and pines, the rainbow lakes of Jiuzhaigou, Pandora's floating pinnacles in Zhangjiajie, Guilin's charming karst, hikers most-loved gorge — Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the world's highest and most majestic plateau in Tibet. See:
Our China Nature Tours can be customized to include the natural wonders that capture your imagination.
4. The World's Greatest Variety of Cuisine
Chinese dim sumChinese food is famous worldwide. However, it's doubtful you'll discover the delights of Chinese food, and sample its surprising variety of ingredients, until you try it in China.
Each region has its own unique dishes. Some specialties you should try are Beijing roast duck, Shanghainese soup dumplings, spicy hotpot in Chengdu, rice noodles in Guilin, and dim sum in Hong Kong.
Recommended tour: 13-Day A Broad Taste of China (Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Guilin – Hong Kong)
5. Adorable Giant Pandas
A giant panda cub playing on a treeThe adorable giant panda lives nowhere else in the world outside captivity. It is the world's most treasured endangered species. "China's national treasure" woos with its round features and uniquely cuddly appearance.
Our Panda Tours allow you to get up close and personal with the lovely pandas. Be a panda keeper. You can even go with our panda specialists to try to meet wild pandas in their natural habitat.
Recommended tour: 13-Day China Essence and Panda Tour (Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu –Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai)
6. Fascinating Ethnic Cultures and Customs
Visiting ethnic groups in Guizhou, you can discover their culture your way (wine from a horn is offered in welcome).There are 55 ethnic minorities in China and over 500 people groups, practicing a multitude of different cultural customs.
Four major places to experience colorful minority culture are Yunnan, Guilin, Guizhou, and Tibet:
- Go to Lugu Lake in Yunnan to explore "the world's last matrilineal society" — the Mosuo people. (3-Day Lugu Lake Tour)
- See the Zhuang people's traditional wooden stilted houses and record-breaking long-haired Yao women, and try local bamboo-tube rice in Guilin's Longji Rice Terraces. (6-Day Guilin, Yangshuo and Longji Terraced Fields Tour)
- Visit a Miao village, hear their mountain songs, and see their silver crowns and a traditional way of making paper from trees in Guizhou. (6-Day Diverse Minority Adventure)
- Walk through Lhasa's pilgrim streets and mountain monasteries to meet the devout people of Tibet. (8-Day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Private Tour)
7. Greater Travel Convenience and Traditions Retained
High-speed rail is a popular way to travel in China.China has been entering its digital era with its highly-developed four modern innovations: shared transport, high-speed rail, mobile communication/payment, and Internet shopping.
Travel in China is easier than ever before. With a smartphone in China, you can board a high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai running at 250-350 km/h, buy a coffee with your digital wallet, and ride a shared bike to explore the city.
However, China is thankfully not so "developed" in other areas — it's still a country full of intriguing traditions, a love for fresh ingredients, ready hospitality, and a strongly-held cultural identity.
Recommended tour: 5-Day Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou Bullet Train Tour
8. Easily Accessible: Direct International Flights, Free-Visa Policies
Even though China may be thousands of miles away, it is easily accessible. Many direct international flights connect major cities around the world with Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou...
The 72/144-hour visa-free transit policies in major cities allow you to enjoy a short tour without a visa.
Read more about China Travel Restrictions.
Discover Authentic China with Local Experts
Learn to make local food and experience unique local ethnic minority culture in Guilin.Can't wait to explore this incredible country? Contact a local expert here for a more authentic experience to enrich your once-in-a-lifetime China tour.
Our specialists have explored all the country's facets and can help plan your holiday as an individual tailor-made trip to match your preferences.
Here are some sample itineraries for your inspiration:
- Classic Wonders (11-day) — the highlights in Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai
- The Golden Triangle (8-day) — just the big three: similar to the above, without Guilin
- Find inspiration on our China tours.
- Or visit our tour page for more interesting tour itineraries.