China travel answer · Destinations
What are the must-see destinations for a first trip to China?
Reviewed 2026-09-07 · Conditions and policies can change
Direct answer
Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai are the strongest first-trip trio for most visitors. They cover imperial China, the Terracotta Warriors, modern city life and easy transport links.
What to know
- ●Add Guilin and Yangshuo for scenery if you have 10 to 12 days.
- ●Add Chengdu if pandas, Sichuan food and a softer pace matter more than another megacity.
- ●Avoid adding too many distant regions unless you have two weeks or more.