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

Featured Stories

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

Los Angeles's top attractions include a cemetery-cinema, unconventional museums, a mega-shopping destination and outstanding urban hiking.

North America

California

20 Must-See Los Angeles Attractions

Between New York City’s crowds, never-ending lists of things to do and relentless attitude, the City That Never Sleeps can be overwhelming. Make your NYC experience a little bit easier with these hacks.

New York

New York City Hacks Even Locals Don't Know

Read on for a brief look at the complex concept of muxe, Mexico's so-called third gender, which is at times rejoiced and reviled in equal measure.

Mexico

Life Outside the Binary: Meet Mexico’s Muxe Community Celebrating Genderqueerness

Muxe: Meet Mexico's Third Gender Community

From the trendy South Congress district to the Domain in North Austin, these are the top 10 fashion boutiques in town.

Texas

The Top 10 Fashion Boutiques in Austin

Mexico is teeming with artistic talent, from illustrators to photographers and sculptors, but these are the 11 female artists you really need to know.

10 Female Mexican Artists You Need to Know About

Not only is 'SunFlowers – A Garden of Energy' a beautiful piece of public art, but it also serves another purpose, bringing together art and sustainability.

A History of Mueller SunFlowers in 60 Seconds

The British-Trinidadian artist invites us into his North London studio to talk about identity and contemporising cultural heritage

Trinidad And Tobago

Trinidad

Meet Zak Ové, the Sculptor Inspired by the Myths of Carnival

If you think Mexico is just mole and tacos, you are in for a big surprise. Read on to learn about Mexico's Bajio region and its delectable cuisine.

Menu of the Day: Mexico's Bajío

Find out our 20 favorite must-do activities in New York City that are best while you're young, like dancing and eating your way through the city.

20 Things to Do in New York City in Your Twenties

If you're looking for the best sights and attractions in Mexico City, here's a brief guide to the top 20 that you must visit, from markets to parks!

20 Must-Visit Attractions in Mexico City

We pay homage to the vast, varied beauty that is the U.S. with 10 lovely towns that would take even the most seasoned traveler's breath away.

The 10 Most Beautiful Cities In The USA

Read our guide for why San Francisco is the best place to go for fresh seafood, world-class art, thrilling wildlife experiences, and so much more.

10 Reasons Why You Should Visit San Francisco

If you're planning your first trip to New York City, discover what's in store for you, from the restaurants to the late-night music.

15 Reasons Why You Should Visit New York City at Least Once in Your Lifetime

From history and art, to music, theater, hiking and food – here are 16 reasons why you need to visit LA.

16 Reasons Why You Should Visit Los Angeles at Least Once in Your Lifetime

If it's your first time in New York City, avoid angering locals by following our guide to essential NYC etiquette.

Essential NYC Etiquette for First-Time Visitors

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