From quaint villages and friendly locals to stunning landscapes and ancient architecture, rural China offers travelers a unique Chinese experience.

China

10 Great Reasons to Visit Rural China

Find out where you can learn more about Hong Kong’s fascinating history, heritage and unique culture with this list of the city’s top museums to check out.

Hong Kong

The Best Museums in Hong Kong

Explore Beijing's imperial history, folk hutong culture and art scene at the 798 with the company of English-speaking experts.

Beijing

The 7 Best Guided Tours in Beijing

We've selected China’s prettiest towns that will take your breath away with their beauty.

The 10 Most Beautiful Towns In China

Any literature lover visiting Beijing should explore these landmarks, memorials, and libraries.

The Top Literary Landmarks To Visit In Beijing

Beijing, China’s sprawling capital city, is where the country’s long history of dynastic rule meets its ambition to become a high-tech giant. This dynamic plays out in the city’s architecture; ultra-modern structures built for the 2008 Olympics jar with the temples, palaces and hutongs (narrow alleyways) that have defined Beijing for centuries.

With six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Temple of Heaven and the enormous complex of palaces that make up the Forbidden City, Beijing thrums with imperial history. Many visitors use it as a base from which to explore the Great Wall of China; Badaling, the most frequented and best-known section of the wall, is within easy reach of the city.

Introducing Beijing

It might be the epicentre of Chinese history, but today Beijing is the country’s capital of cool. Former brothels are now stylish coffee shops, traditional hutongs house tiki bars and microbreweries, and a revolving carousel of works at the achingly trendy 798 Art Zone places the city comfortably at the forefront of modern Chinese art. 

While new restaurants routinely pop up all over, the best of Beijing’s cuisine can be sampled at its old-school hotpot and Peking-duck restaurants. As China’s cultural capital, Beijing also serves up a superb showcase of traditional entertainment, including Peking-opera playhouses and breathtaking acrobatic shows at Chaoyang Theatre.

Beijing culture

Beijing neighbourhoods

Picture Hong Kong and the first thing that springs to mind is its skyline: a condensed sprawl of skyscrapers soaring over Victoria Harbour, backdropped by verdant hills. Behind its urban exterior, however, is a region that remains deeply connected to and proud of its distinctive culture, which blends Chinese, British and indigenous influences.

Each of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods, districts and islands has a personality of its own. Kowloon serves up sprawling markets and fascinating museums, while high-end Hong Kong Island offers endless options for shopping, drinking and dining. The outlying islands of Lamma and Cheung Chau give off a more laid-back, artsy vibe, and those craving nature should look no further than the hiking hotspot of Tung Lung Chau Island.

Introducing Hong Kong

With everything from top-notch restaurants to delicious street food, Hong Kong’s renowned cuisine is reason enough to visit. To eat as the locals do, tuck into Cantonese noodles and roast meat, or stack up dim sum dishes and wash them down with fragrant tea. 

There are some must-dos on any Hong Kong trip: riding the historic Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour; practising the ancient art of tai chi; browsing the Mong Kok markets; visiting the region’s temples and monasteries; watching horse racing in Happy Valley; and experiencing traditional Cantonese opera at Sunbeam Theatre. Vibrant festivities take place year-round, from the Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Mooncake Festival) to the Lunar New Year.

The best of Hong Kong culture

Hong Kong neighbourhoods

China’s business and financial centre, Shanghai appears to be throwing itself headfirst into the future, with soaring superstructures, opulent shopping malls and the world’s fastest commercial train zipping back and forth from Shanghai Pudong International. Peel your eyes away from the skyline, though, and you’ll see a different side to the city.

To experience real Shanghainese culture, take a stroll along traditional longtang, narrow residential lanes peculiar to Shanghai; tuck in to skewered quail in Qibao Town; watch elderly local residents play cards in Fuxing Park or practise tai chi as the sun rises; and attend a marriage market in People’s Square.

Introducing Shanghai

Visiting Shanghai is a true East-meets-West experience. Buddhist temples, classical gardens and the Old City offer a taste of traditional Chinese culture, while periods of European and American occupation have transformed China’s ‘City on the Sea’ into an international metropolis. The Bund, Shanghai’s busy waterfront on the Huangpu River, is lined with historic buildings of numerous architectural styles that include Art Deco, Renaissance Revival and Neo-Classical. Western influence is apparent in areas such as the former French Concession (FFC), whose tree-lined boulevards, bijou bistros and hip boutiques give the area a distinctly Parisian character.

Shanghai culture

Shanghai neighbourhoods

Things to do

Food & Drink

Places to stay

Check out these cool Cape Town boutiques where you'll find an eclectic selection of local gifts and curios.

Africa

South Africa

Cape Town

The Best Boutiques In Cape Town For Christmas Shopping

From delicious meaty dishes to mega sandwiches, these dishes are a must-try when in Cape Town!

Dishes You Have to Eat When in Cape Town

Read our guide to the top Cape Town delis that stock everything from cured meats and cheeses to freshly-baked goods and unique delicacies.

The Best Delicatessens In Cape Town

Cape Town is a veritable foodie heaven. Here are some of the top food-related experiences to seek out when in the city.

Unique Things For a Foodie to Do in Cape Town

Cape Town is packed full of writers, photographers and illustrators. Here are some of the freshest zines that showcase the city's top talent.

Cape Town's Freshest Zines To Pay Attention To

Looking for the best brunch or breakfast in Cape Town? Here's our selection of the best spots to visit.

10 Best Brunch and Breakfast Spots in Cape Town

Read more about Shosholoza, a South African song of unity and a symbol of national pride that finds its roots in the country's history and eclectic ethnicity.

How a Mining Song Became South Africa's Anthem of Unity

Scared of Cape Town's great white sharks? Fear not, these hillside spotters have your back!

Meet the Shark Spotters in Cape Town

You've read about all the things you have to do in Cape Town. Now check out those things you should avoid.

11 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Cape Town

Looking for memorable date ideas that don't cost you an arm and a leg? Check out our pick of 13 cheap or free date ideas in Cape Town.

13 Free and Cheap Date Ideas to Try in Cape Town

Discover a vibrant arts and culture scene, delicious food and a plethora of things to see and do in Cape Town.

An Essential Guide to Cape Town

From whale watching to wine tasting, Cape Town's top attractions invite adventure-seekers from all over the world.

10 Top Things to Do in Cape Town

Visit these historical South African landmarks to get a sense of the country's rich history, covering architecture, language, apartheid and more.

10 Historical Landmarks to See in South Africa

These 10 women, who are prominent in the fields of medicine, the arts, activism and more, are inspiring females all over South Africa.

10 Inspiring Women to Know from South Africa

Did you know that South Africa has 11 official languages? Learn how to distinguish between them with this handy guide.

A Guide To Languages Spoken In South Africa

Shanghai is more than just the Bund. From a renovated slaughterhouse to protected national wetlands, here are Shanghai's most Instagrammable spots.

The Most Instagrammable Spots in Shanghai

Guilin's karst rock formations are some of the most recognizable mountains in China. But how were these amazing peaks formed?

How Were Guilin's Magical Mountains Formed?

From the rollercoasters of Disneyland to the stilt houses of Tai O, these are the 20 things that every visitor must see in Hong Kong.

20 Must-Visit Attractions in Hong Kong

The Best Travel, Food and Culture Guides for China, Asia - Local News & Top Things to Do