Best Places To Visit In China For First Timers: China Tourism

Visiting China has been my long-cherished dream, and it finally came true last year as I planned a trip to Beijing.

Tourism in China is booming. The country experienced 1.79 billion domestic tourist trips in the first quarter of 2025.

Further, a friend of mine from China called me up telling me how the country is gearing up for the Labor Day Holiday, which will take place from May 1st to 5th.

However, the tourism industry in China is eager to maintain the momentum even after the “Golden Holiday Period” is over.

For example, China observes its National Day Holiday in October, which creates expectations of high footfall in various parts of the country.

Nevertheless, I share my experiences about the best places to visit in China last year. From Xinjiang tours to a trip to Hangzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was a lifetime experience for me.

Let’s know about the stories in this Dream and Travel Guide.

What Are The Best Places To Visit In China? Don’t Miss These Top Attractions

Are you ready to explore China? Here are my favorites and the best places to visit in the country.

1. Xinjiang

Not a country that starts with X, but Xinjiang is an autonomous region in China that begins with the letter X.

Furthermore, Xinjiang has recently been in the news for conducting joint armed exercises aimed at deterrence and counterterrorism. The exercise, named “Counterterrorism Deterrence-2025″ in the valley of the Ili River, took place on 29th April 2025.

However, Xinjiang has always been a popular tourist destination with its diverse landscape, cultural heritage, and food.

The top tourist attractions in Xinjiang are:

Xinjiang Kanas National Geopark
The Xinjiang Museum
The Ancient City of Jiaohe

2. Xi’an

The capital of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, is home to multiple sites identified and recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

The top attractions in this city are:

The Terracotta Army
The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Moreover, being present in Xi’an itself is an enriching experience for history buffs. The Xi’an Muslim Quarter area is especially home to Hui Muslim people.

The origin of these people goes back to the Silk Route days. .

3. Beijing

The vibrant culture and rich history of Beijing make it one of the best places to visit in China. Also, Beijing is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China.

Do you know my favorites in Beijing?:

The Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square
Beihai Park

Moreover, Beijing is trying to attract more foreign tourists with the Enhanced Tax Refund Regime to encourage the love for shopping among tourists.

I mean, it’s hard to avoid the lure of those pretty little things when you are in Beijing. Also, there are friends who were eagerly waiting for the souvenirs.

4. Shanghai

The most populous region of China, Shanghai, is also a major financial hub. It is also at the epicenter of the technological, manufacturing, and scientific landscapes of China.

Also, Shanghai is the city where the old meets the new. Moreover, the places to visit in Shanghai are:

Yu Garden
The Bund
Longhua Temple
Jade Buddha Temple.

Moreover, Shanghai is now basking in the glory of the Shanghai Cruise Culture and Tourism Festival. It starts from 30th April 2025 and will end on 20th May on the Baoshan Riverside.

5. Huangshan

Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to visit in China for first-timers.

I loved the granite peaks against the backdrop of Huangshan pine trees.

Also, I came across many painters and art connoisseurs in Huangshan. Chinese traditional paintings and calligraphy owe a lot to these beautiful mountains.

Moreover, Huangshan is home to the famous Huangshan Maofeng tea and Keemun black tea.

6. Lhasa

Lhasa, or the Forbidden City, is one of the most populous cities in China today. The history of Communists occupying the city’s religious structures in 1958 gave me goosebumps.

Further, I loved the long hours of Sunshine every day during my stay in Lhasa. No wonder that it is called the “City of Sunshine.”

In addition. Lhasa has the Potala Palace and many other sacred places of Tibetan Buddhists. Potala Palace is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7. Yangzhou

Yangzhou is the birthplace of the Huaiyang or Wiyang School of cuisine.

Also, I will recommend Yangzhou as one of the best places to visit in China to learn about the cultural heritage of the country.

It has popular attractions such as:

The Slender West Lake
Ho Family Garden
Dongguan Street
China Grand Canal Museum.

Also, when you are in Yangzhou, don’t forget to try the delicacies such as clay-baked chicken, Yangzhou-style Tofu, and Yangzhou-style Fried Rice.

It is a city with a culinary history of over 2500 years and has been identified as the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

8. Hangzhou

Hangzhou is another UNESCO World Heritage Site on the list of the best places to visit in China for first-timers. The favorite city of Marco Polo, Hangzhou, is also the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Further, don’t forget to try the Longjing Tea when you are in Hangzhou.

9. Suzhou

Home to many canals, Suzhou is also famous as the Venice of the East. Also, it is one of the most livable cities in China.

The places to visit in this city are:

Jinghang Waterway
Suzhou Silk Museum
Jinji Lake

Furthermore, I could not believe my eyes as I saw the classical gardens of Suzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What Is The Best Time To Explore The Best Places To Visit In China?

The shoulder seasons, or spring and autumn, are the ideal seasons to visit China. I visited China last autumn.

The spring months of March to May and the autumn months of September to October typically experience pleasant weather conditions, making them ideal for exploring the country’s major attractions.

However, the temperatures differ from one region of China to another. For example, the temperature conditions in Shanghai differ significantly from those in Beijing.

So, while planning a family China tour, you must get the information from the people of the specific area you are visiting.