Antisocial Tourist

China is one of the most misunderstood travel destinations in the world. Most people know it’s big, but few realize just how massive and diverse it actually is. You can stand on a 13,000-mile-long wall, walk among thousands of ancient clay soldiers, float past karst mountains that appear in traditional Chinese paintings, and explore cities that look like they’re straight out of a science fiction movie — all within the same country.

The challenge is knowing where to start. Unlike destinations where the focus is on beaches, food, or adventure activities, China is a place you visit to see things. Some of the world’s most unique landscapes, cities, animals, and man-made wonders are found here, and many of them simply don’t exist anywhere else on Earth.

There are plenty of beautiful places in China that didn’t make this list. In fact, we left off some of the country’s most famous attractions. That’s because this isn’t a list of pretty views or places worth stopping by if you’re already nearby. These are the experiences that feel truly bucket list-worthy. The kinds of places you’d travel all the way to China to see, even if they were the only thing on your itinerary.

If you’re dreaming about visiting China someday but don’t even know where to begin, these are the most epic bucket list places to visit in China.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions allow us to continue creating this blog’s content.

Jinshanling Section of the Great Wall of China

1. Walk the Great Wall of China

What it is. The Great Wall of China is a series of ancient defensive walls and fortifications that stretch more than 13,000 miles across northern China. It’s one of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth and one of the greatest engineering achievements in human history.

Why it’s worth visiting. Standing on a structure so massive that it disappears over mountain ridges in both directions is a humbling experience. Few places live up to the hype quite like the Great Wall.

Where it is. The most famous sections of the Great Wall are located in northern China near Beijing. Since Beijing serves as the primary gateway to the wall, most travelers fly directly into the city. Beijing is about a 2-hour flight from Shanghai.

How to get there. The closest sections of the wall (Badaling and Mutianyu) are located about 1–1.5 hours from Beijing, and they’re also the busiest. We recommend visiting the Jinshanling section instead, which sits a little farther from the city but has far fewer crowds and more dramatic scenery. To get there, most people join a private tour to Jinshanling from Beijing. Just keep in mind that most private “tours” are really just round-trip transfers that include hotel pickup, time to explore at your own pace, and transportation back to the city. If you do prefer a guide, many companies offer English-speaking guides as an upgrade.

2. See the Terracotta Army

What it is. The Terracotta Army is a collection of thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried more than 2,000 years ago alongside China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

Why it’s worth visiting. The Terracotta Army is one of the most incredible archaeological discoveries in human history. Even if you’re not that into history, standing in front of thousands of ancient warriors that remained hidden underground for centuries feels almost impossible to comprehend. Even more impressive, every soldier has unique facial features, meaning no two faces are exactly alike.

Where it is. The Terracotta Army is located just outside Xi’an in central China. Xi’an is about a 2-hour flight from Beijing or a 2.5-hour flight from Shanghai. Travelers can also reach Xi’an from Beijing by high-speed train in about 4.5 hours.

How to get there. Most travelers visit the Terracotta Army as a half-day trip from Xi’an. The site is located about 25 miles (40 km) from the city center and can be reached by tour, taxi, or public transportation. Once you arrive, you’ll explore several exhibition halls, including the massive main pit where thousands of soldiers stand in battle formation.

3. Watch Giant Pandas in Chengdu

What it is. Chengdu is home to several panda conservation and breeding centers where visitors can see China’s most famous animal up close. Depending on where you visit, you’ll have the chance to see adult pandas, young pandas, and sometimes even playful panda cubs.

Why it’s worth visiting. China is the best place in the world to see giant pandas. They’re adorable, fun to watch, and uniquely Chinese. Seeing one in person is a completely different experience than seeing photos online, especially when you catch them climbing, playing, or stuffing their faces with bamboo.

That said, it’s important to manage your expectations. Pandas are not social animals like elephants or giraffes, so you won’t find encounters or interactive experiences here (and if you do, those should be avoided for ethical reasons). This experience is all about observing the pandas and watching them behave naturally.

Where it is. Chengdu is located in Sichuan Province in southwestern China. It’s about a 3-hour flight from both Beijing and Shanghai.

How to get there. Most travelers visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which is located about 30 minutes from downtown Chengdu. We recommend arriving as early as possible since pandas tend to be most active in the morning and spend much of the afternoon sleeping. The experience feels more like walking through a large nature park than visiting a traditional zoo, with multiple panda enclosures connected by walking paths throughout the property.

4. Stand Beneath the Leshan Giant Buddha

What it is. The Leshan Giant Buddha is a massive stone Buddha carved directly into a cliff face overlooking the meeting point of three rivers. At 233 feet (71 meters) tall, it’s the largest stone Buddha in the world.

Why it’s worth visiting. It’s hard to appreciate the scale of the Leshan Giant Buddha until you see people standing next to it. The Buddha’s shoulders are wider than many buildings, and its head towers above visitors. Carving something this enormous into the side of a cliff more than 1,000 years ago feels almost impossible, which is exactly what makes it such a memorable place to visit. It’s one of those places that leaves you wondering how people actually pulled it off.

Where it is. The Leshan Giant Buddha is located in Sichuan Province in southwestern China, about an hour south of Chengdu. Chengdu is about a 3-hour flight from both Beijing and Shanghai. Because Chengdu is also the best place in China to see giant pandas, many travelers visit both attractions during the same trip.

How to get there. Most visitors travel to Leshan from Chengdu, either on their own or by booking a private Giant Buddha Day Tour. Once you arrive, you can either walk the pathways beside the Buddha for an up-close view or take a boat ride on the river to appreciate its full scale from the water. We recommend both! There are also combined Leshan Buddha and Panda tours available.

5. See the Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie

What it is. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a massive mountain landscape filled with sandstone pillars that rise hundreds of feet above the forest floor. The scenery became famous worldwide after inspiring the floating mountains seen in the movie Avatar and is now affectionately referred to as the Avatar Mountains.

Why it’s worth visiting. The Avatar Mountains are easily one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited. The landscape feels surreal, and no photo you see does it justice. That alone makes it bucket list-worthy. But the park offers so much more to explore, including scenic viewpoints, walking trails, glass observation decks, and cable cars. The entire area feels like a theme park built by nature.

Where it is. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is located in Hunan Province in central China. It’s about a 2.5-hour flight from Beijing or Shanghai.

How to get there. Most travelers visit the Avatar Mountains while staying in Wulingyuan. The entrance to the park is easy to reach there by foot or a quick Didi ride (China’s version of Uber). The park is a bit overwhelming so many opt for a guided day tour. It’s also common to visit Tianmen Mountain during the same trip, but we recommend exploring them on separate days and starting early at each.

6. Climb the 999 Steps to Heaven’s Gate

What it is. Heaven’s Gate is a giant hole in the side of a mountain that looks almost too perfect to be natural. It’s located at Tianmen Mountain and has a staircase with 999 steps climbs from the valley floor to the opening (although visitors can also use a series of escalators built into the mountain). The park also includes cliffside walkways, glass skywalks, and one of the longest cable car rides in the world.

Why it’s worth visiting. Heaven’s Gate is one of the most unusual natural landmarks in China. Standing at the base of the giant opening and looking up at the staircase is an unforgettable sight. The views from the top are equally impressive, with mountains stretching across the horizon in every direction. Since Tianmen Mountain sits just outside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, it’s an easy addition to any itinerary that includes the Avatar Mountains.

Where it is. Tianmen Mountain is located just outside Zhangjiajie City in Hunan Province in central China. Zhangjiajie is about a 2.5-hour flight from Beijing or Shanghai. Unlike Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is located near Wulingyuan, Tianmen Mountain sits right next to the city (and airport) and is one of the easiest major attractions in the region to reach.

How to get there. Most travelers visit Tianmen Mountain while staying in Zhangjiajie or Wulingyuan. The entrance is easy to reach by Didi ride (China’s version of Uber) or you can book a guided day tour. Most travelers visit Tianmen Mountain and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park during the same trip, but don’t make the mistake of rushing both into a single day.

7. Cruise Past Karst Mountains on the Li River

What it is. The Li River winds through one of the most beautiful landscapes in China, passing karst mountains, small villages, and lush countryside. This is the scenery that appears in traditional Chinese paintings and on the back of the 20 yuan note.

Why it’s worth visiting. The Li River offers some of the most iconic scenery in China. What makes this area special is the combination of rivers, villages, farmland, and mountains all existing together in the same landscape. It’s quite literally picture-perfect.

Where it is. Where it is. The most famous stretch of the Li River runs between Guilin and Yangshuo in southern China. Guilin is about a 2.5-hour flight from Shanghai or a 3-hour flight from Beijing. Yangshuo is located about 1.5 hours from Guilin by car and serves as the main base for exploring the region.

How to get there. The best way to experience the Li River is by taking the one-way Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. The journey takes about 4 – 5 hours and passes some of the most famous scenery in China. We recommend bringing your luggage with you, spending at least one night in Yangshuo, and experiencing the river a second time on a traditional bamboo boat ride while you’re there.

💣_{Antisocial Tourist Tip — If you’re staying overnight in Yangshuo, check out the Impression Liu Sanjie Show. The performance takes place directly on the river with the karst mountains serving as the backdrop.}

Monorail Passes Through Building Chongqing China

8. Watch a Train Pass Through a Building in Chongqing

What it is. Chongqing is one of the strangest cities on Earth. The city is built between steep mountains and river valleys, forcing roads, train lines, skyscrapers, and entire neighborhoods to stack on top of each other. The most famous example is Liziba Station, where a monorail train passes directly through the middle of an apartment building.

Why it’s worth visiting. Most cities spread outward. Chongqing couldn’t, so it grew upward instead. The result is a city filled with multi-level roads, elevated walkways, endless staircases, and neighborhoods built on top of one another. When people talk about China’s futuristic cities, this is the place they’re talking about. You can spend an entire day exploring and rarely find yourself at street level. Watching a train disappear into an apartment building is what gets people’s attention, but the entire city feels unlike anywhere else in the world.

Where it is. Chongqing sits in southwestern China where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet. It’s about a 3-hour flight from Beijing or Shanghai.

How to get there. The train-through-a-building can be seen at Liziba Station, which is located right in the city and easy to reach using the metro system or Didi. Trains pass through frequently throughout the day, so there’s no need to carefully time your visit. Afterward, spend some time exploring the rest of Chongqing. Most travelers spend at least a full day here or stay overnight.

Final Thoughts

China isn’t a destination you’ll fully experience in a single trip. The country is simply too large, too diverse, and too packed with incredible places for that.

But if you focus on the experiences in this guide, you’ll see some of the most remarkable places on Earth. From ancient wonders and giant pandas to Avatar-like mountains and futuristic cities, these are the sights that make China unlike anywhere else we’ve visited.

Whether you’re planning your first trip or building a long-term travel bucket list, start with the experiences that excite you most. After all, that’s what a bucket list is really about — not seeing everything, but making sure you don’t miss the things you’d regret not experiencing.

Thank you for reading our post! We hope it helps you plan the perfect trip! Check out our other guides here and follow us on Instagram (@AntisocialTourist) or on Facebook to see our latest adventures!