International Travel Destination : China

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For students, summer is a favourite time for longer trips travelling to international destinations, with lots of time off and nice sunny weather, that’s no surprise. Summer time is also great for those working to take their longer vacations. With restrictions being lifted just about everywhere, it’s finally less of a hassle to hit up those spots waiting on your list.  

If you’re wondering where you should go or have already been to a lot of destinations and are just looking for that next one, China is a great choice. China is a vast country with a rich history and diverse culture. It has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers from around the world, offering a wealth of unique and memorable experiences. 

From bustling cities to stunning natural scenery, there are countless travel spots in China worth exploring. The vast landscape has everything from rainforests, bamboo forests, volcanoes, beaches, deserts to mountains, plateaus, lakes, rivers, canyons and just about every other landscape on earth. In this article, we will highlight some of the top travel spots in China.

Beijing

No trip to China would be complete without a visit to Beijing, the capital city. With a history dating back over 3,000 years, Beijing is home to some of China’s most iconic landmarks, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. Visitors can also explore traditional hutongs, the city’s narrow alleyways lined with traditional courtyard homes, and sample some of Beijing’s famous cuisine, including Peking duck and jianbing, a savoury crepe. 

The Great Wall is one of China’s and the world’s most famous destinations, but what some people may not know is that there are little go-kart-like cars you can slide down the Great Wall in. There’s a section of it that has a metal slide built for sliding down, with unmatched views and a serene ride down, it’s bound to give you a thrill and memories like no other.

Shanghai

Shanghai is China’s largest city, known for its towering skyscrapers, bustling nightlife, and modern vibe. Visitors can explore the Bund, a waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings on one side and Shanghai’s tallest modern skyscrapers on the other side of the river, including the Shanghai Tower, the second-tallest building in the world. For a taste of Shanghai’s history and culture, visitors can visit the Yuyuan Garden or explore the city’s traditional neighbourhoods, such as the French Concession.

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Some nice spots in Shanghai to explore include Nanjing Road, one of largest pedestrian shopping streets in the world, with all kinds of stores lining both sides of the road. It leads all the way down to the Bund. These places are even more magical at night when lit up, creating a night view with a blend of all sorts of colours you can’t really see outside of China. Another cool one is Tian Zi Fang, with neat shops and cafes nestled inside ancient looking alleys inside an ultra modern city. Of course, no trip to Shanghai is complete without some delicious Xiaolongbao, the famous little soup buns Shanghai is known for. 

Xi’an

Located in central China, Xi’an is one of China’s oldest cities, with a history that dates back over 3,000 years. It is home to the Terracotta Army, a collection of thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers and horses that were buried with the first emperor of China. Visitors can also explore the city’s ancient walls, which date back to the Ming Dynasty, or sample the city’s famous cuisine, including Xi’an-style noodles and roujiamo, a type of meat sandwich.

One cool thing you can do while there is to rent a bike and ride the bike on the ancient city wall that goes around the city. Being so high up and able to see different areas of the city this way gives you a view like no other.

Guilin

Located in southern China, Guilin is known for its stunning natural scenery, including the Li River and the karst mountains that dot the landscape. Visitors can take a boat ride down the Li River, hike through the mountains, or explore the city’s many parks and gardens. Guilin is also home to a vibrant minority culture, with many ethnic minority groups living in the surrounding countryside.

Guilin is actually on the Chinese currency because of its unique landscape, and Guilin is also one of the most popular subjects of Chinese paintings for the same reason.

Zhangjiajie

Located in the Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie is a natural wonderland of towering sandstone pillars and lush forests. Visitors can take a cable car to the top of one of the pillars for stunning views of the surrounding landscape, or explore the nearby Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys and giant salamanders. Zhangjiajie is also home to several traditional minority villages, where visitors can experience local culture and cuisine.

There really is no other place on earth like Zhangjiajie, to give you a better picture of what it looks like, Zhangjiajie is the place Avatar’s mountains were actually based off of. It simply feels like you’re on another planet.

Lhasa

Located in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, Lhasa is the spiritual and political centre of Tibet. Visitors can explore the city’s many Buddhist temples and monasteries, including the iconic Potala Palace, or visit the Jokhang Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lhasa is also known for its vibrant culture and lively markets, where visitors can sample traditional Tibetan foods and handicrafts.

Tibet and Lhasa have some beautiful mountains and lakes, but they’re also known for their high altitude, so be prepared for cases of altitude sickness if you’re planning to travel there.

Hainan Island

Located off the southern coast of China, Hainan Island is a tropical paradise known for its beaches, clear waters, and lush forests. Visitors can swim, snorkel, or dive in the warm waters of the South China Sea, or explore the island’s many parks and nature reserves. Hainan Island is also home to several minority cultures, including the Li and Miao peoples, with many traditional villages and cultural sites to explore.

Chengdu

Located in the Sichuan Province, Chengdu is known for its spicy cuisine, relaxed pace of life yet being a modern city with all the amenities and comforts of one. But Chengdu’s most famous attraction is its pandas. If you’re a panda lover like me Chengdu is a must see. Two of the best spots to see them are Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan Panda Base. Chengdu Panda Base is the largest panda base on the planet and you can see over 50 pandas there, from cubs to adult pandas. Another thing Chengdu is known for is hotpot, but like previously mentioned, Chengdu cuisine is very hot so make sure you can handle your spice or tell the staff at restaurants to adjust the levels in advance. 

Harbin

Last but not least, this is a city located in Heilongjiang in the northeast, a city closer to Russia with the temperatures to match. I grew up in Harbin and still have very fond memories of it. Most places on this list are fit for visiting in the summer, but Harbin is definitely better during winter. In winter, the temperature dips to below 30 Celsius and Harbin is the host of the famous annual Snow and Ice Festival, where a small city gets built using only snow and ice, with buildings that are 20 to 30 storeys tall and ice slides and buildings you can go on, it’s the place to go if you’re in the city. The way it lights up at night makes it even more surreal and Harbin is also home to some ice restaurants you can have hotpot in, talk about yin and yang. 

China is one of the most visited countries on earth for good reasons, from bustling, modern cities with towering skyscrapers, the most awe inspiring landscapes and natural scenery to places with rich history and culture, it’s truly a place where you can have it all. If you’re planning to travel internationally this year, China is a perfect destination.   

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