25 UNIQUE Activities For First Time Tourists In China : Ultimate Bucket List (2026)
👦🏻 What does China offer?
China is similar to the size of Europe and is culturally rich. While most people have heard of a few things, China has a lot of unique activities. The opportunities are endless!
This bucket list offers experiences and activities. It encompasses culture, theatre, dance, music, Chinese language, fitness, food, nature, technology, and more!
All Over China / Most Cities
🎪 Watching an acrobatics show (e.g. Beijing Chaoyang Theatre)
🎭 Seeing a Beijing opera/ Sichuan opera/ Cantonese opera
🥋 Viewing a martial arts show
🪈 Taking in a traditional Chinese music performance
🏮 Dressing up in traditional hanfu clothing / ethnic clothing
🎭 Attending a traditional Chinese show e.g. Hangzhou Impression
🌃 Visiting a night market, trying street food, and buying souvenirs
🪭 Watching an ethnic dance performance
🎭 Admiring shadow puppetry
🈶 Taking a calligraphy class taught by a master
🙆🏻 Taking a tai chi class first thing in the morning
🍯 Trying pottery making
👯 Having fun at a traditional Chinese dance class
🌿 Picking tea leaves at a tea plantation (e.g. Hangzhou Tea Plantations)
🧑🏻🍳 Trying a cooking class e.g. making dumplings or noodles
🍜 Going on a food tour with a culinary expert
🦞 Visiting a wet market
🛖 Immersing yourself in rural villages (see this article for a list of villages)
🚅 Riding a long distance sleeper train (see this article to see how to book trains)
🎆 Gazing at the incredible fireworks, sparks, and lantern displays during Spring Festival
♨️ Going to a hot spring (e.g. Qingyuan, Tengchong, Sanya)
⛴️ Embarking on a boat trip (e.g. Yangtze River, Victoria Harbour, Pearl River)
🈶 Taking a one-off language lesson to learn everyday Mandarin phrases
🤖 Having a robot deliver food to your hotel room (see this article for how to do this)
🚖 Hopping in a robotaxi and seeing the car drive without anyone in the front seat (see this article for how to do this)
