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:

👉 Comparing flight prices to China HERE

👉 Comparing hotel rates in China HERE


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

Chongqing: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Chinese

Shanghai: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Chinese

Beijing: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Chinese

Hangzhou: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Chinese

Guangzhou: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Chinese

Shenzhen: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Chinese

Hong Kong: Ultimate Travel Guide By A Local Chinese

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