Top 3 Attractions To Visit In Each Chinese Province - A Full List (2026)
Introduction
Many visitors to China find it difficult to work out what is worth seeing outside of the megacities. Some Chinese provinces are bigger than most European countries!
I’ve listed 3 of the top attractions against each province to help you decide which provinces to add to your list.
This is my personal list, aimed to guide tourists new to China. You’ll find that a lot of Chinese people will come up with a similar list.
There is no official list that states the top 3 things each province is famous for.
Each province is limited to 3 attractions to keep the list concise. I must emphasise that some provinces have dozens of attractions worth your trip.
For first time visitors, I recommend Sichuan, Hunan, Guangdong.
I aim to give you a better understanding of China’s diverse provinces.
It may be tempting to just focus on the most famous cities, but be sure to include 1-2 provinces in your trip! If you don’t have enough time, come back in the future for more!
There are many landscape wonders in China. Check out my article 👉🏻 20 Natural Wonders You Should See In China
Also, check out my 👉🏻 Ultimate China Bucket List By A Chinese: 50 Places To Visit
This list focuses on the provinces and autonomous regions in mainland China only. It does not include Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, which will be covered elsewhere.
Wishing you an amazing trip throughout China!
You could save money on your China trip by:
North China
1. Shanxi 山西
Pingyao Ancient City 🏯
Hanging Temple of Hengshan 🏯
Yungang Grottoes 🗿
2. Inner Mongolia 内蒙古
Hulunbuir Grasslands 🏞️
Ulan Lake 🏞️
Genghis Khan Mausoleum 🗿
3. Hebei 河北
Chengde Mountain Resort 🏯
Jinshanling Great Wall 🪨
Cangyan Mountain and Fuqing Temple 🏞️
South China
4. Guangdong 广东
Canton Tower + Zhujiang skyline + Huacheng Square 🌆
Shenzhen Lianhuashan skyline 🏙️
Danxia Mountain Geopark 🏞️
5. Guangxi 广西
Guilin karst mountains 🏞️
Longji Rice Terraces 🏞️
Detian Waterfall 🌊
6. Hainan 海南
Yalong Bay 🏖️
Wuzhizhou Island 🏝️
Nanshan Temple 🏯
7. Yunnan 云南
Yulong Snow Mountain 🏞️
Lijiang Ancient Town 🛖
Dali Old Town 🛖
8. Guizhou 贵州
Huangguoshu Waterfall 🌊
Huajiang Bridge 🌉
Xijiang Miao Village 🛖
East China
9. Jiangsu 江苏
The canals and gardens of Suzhou 🛶
The historic city of Nanjing 🗿
Lingshan Grand Buddha and Taihu Lake 🌊
10. Zhejiang 浙江
West Lake scenic area 🏞️
Lingyin Temple 🏯
Wuzhen water town 🛶
11. Anhui 安徽
Huangshan 🏞️
Ancient Villages of Hongcun and Xidi 🛖
Jiuhuashan 🏞️
12. Jiangxi 江西
Wangxiangu 🏯
Wuyuan 🏞️
Jingdezhen (capital of porcelain) 🫖
13. Fujian 福建
Hakka Tulou 🛖
Gulangyu Island 🏝️
Wuyishan 🏞️
14. Shandong 山东
Temple of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion 🗿
Qingdao waterfront 🏖️
Taishan 🏞️
West China
15. Sichuan 四川
Jiuzhaigou + Huanglong 🏞️
Leshan Buddha 🗿
Sanxingdui Museum 🗿
16. Shaanxi 陕西
Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum and Terracotta Warriors 🗿
Xi’an City Wall 🪨
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 🏯
17. Gansu 甘肃
Zhangye Landform 🏞️
Mogao Grottoes 🗿
Crescent Lake 🌊
18. Xinjiang 新疆
Kashgar Old Town 🛖
Desert Cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang 🏜️
Salimuhu (Sayram Lake) 🌊
19. Ningxia 宁夏
Xixia Imperial Tombs 🗿
Shapotou Desert and Yellow River 🏜️
Zhenpeipu Western Film Studio 🎞️
20. Qinghai 青海
Qinghai Lake 🌊
Ta’er Temple 🏯
Dachaidan Emerald Lake 🌊
21. Tibet 西藏
Potala Palace 🏯
Jokhang Temple 🏯
Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon 🏞️
Central China
22. Hunan 湖南
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park + Tianmenshan National Forest Park 🏞️
Fenghuang Ancient Town + Furong Ancient Town 🛖
The city of Changsha 🌆
23. Henan 河南
Longmen Grottoes (Luoyang)
Shaolin Temple 🏯
Yuntaishan 🏞️
24. Hubei 湖北
Three Gorges 🏞️
Enshi Grand Canyon 🏞️
Yellow Crane Tower 🏯
Northeast China
25. Heilongjiang 黑龙江
Ice and Snow Festival 🧊
Xuexiang snow town ❄️
Yabuli Ski Resort ⛷️
26. Jilin 吉林
Changbaishan 🏞️
Wusong Island 🏝️
Songhua Lake 🌊
27. Liaoning 辽宁
Ming Imperial Palace of Shenyang 🏯
Xinghai Square (Dalian) 🌳
Benxi Water Cave 💧
Relevant articles to plan your trip 👇🏻
30 Historical Landmarks You Must See In China
30 Futuristic Landmarks You Must See In China
20 Scenic Towns and Villages You Should Visit In China
20 Natural Wonders You Should See In China
20 Engineering Megastructures You Should See In China
5 Skylines You Must See in China: A Full Guide
Ultimate China Bucket List By A Chinese: 50 Places To Visit
Prepare
How Long Should I Spend In China On My First Trip? Example Itineraries from a Chinese Traveller
Best Time To Visit China Without Crowds - Public Holidays To Avoid In 2026
What Apps Do You Really Need As A Tourist In China? Super-Apps and Mini-Programs Unpacked
How Safe is China for Solo Travellers, Females, Families in 2026?
How To
How to Get The Best Deal For Hotels in China
How to Buy Tickets to Attractions in China
How Much Does It Cost Me For 3 Days in Shanghai? My Real Spend
16 Misconceptions and Mistakes All First Time Visitors to China Must Know!
City Guides
