China
Itinerary

Qianmen Avenue

Start your day on this beautifully restored Qing-dynasty pedestrian boulevard running south from Tiananmen Square. Historic shopfronts, traditional tea houses, and the nostalgic clang of a vintage tram make it the perfect morning warm-up before the imperial sights ahead.

Tiananmen Gate

The "Gate of Heavenly Peace" — a vermillion fortress wall topped with a portrait of Mao Zedong overlooking the vast square below. The symbolic epicenter of modern China. Arrive early to witness the solemn flag-raising ceremony; the atmosphere is unlike anything else in the country.

Jingshan Park

Climb to the hilltop pavilion — built from earth excavated for the Forbidden City's moat — for the best panoramic view of the Imperial Palace's golden rooftops. Visit right after the Forbidden City (they share a wall) and take in the full scale of what you've just explored from above.

Beihai Park

One of China's oldest imperial gardens, centered on a shimmering lake and crowned by the brilliant White Dagoba pagoda. Rent a rowing boat, stroll the Nine Dragon Screen, or simply sit at a lakeside pavilion with a cup of tea — a peaceful contrast after the grandeur of the Forbidden City.

Shichahai Lakes

A trio of interconnected lakes — Qianhai, Houhai, and Xihai — ringed by willow trees and traditional courtyard homes. The waterfront comes alive in the afternoon with locals playing chess, ballroom dancing, and sailing lotus-shaped boats. A wonderfully authentic slice of everyday Beijing life.

Yandai Slant Street Hutong

One of Beijing's most charming lanes — a narrow diagonal alley dating back 700 years, just steps from Shichahai. Today it's dotted with independent coffee shops, vintage stores, and craft workshops. The name means "Tobacco Pipe Slant Street," a nod to its old pipe-selling merchants.

Nanluoguxiang Hutong

Beijing's most famous hutong stretches nearly one kilometre through the heart of the old city. It's lined with indie boutiques, snack stalls, and courtyards-turned-cafés. A vibrant mix of old Beijing soul and modern creative energy — grab a cold brew or a street skewer as you wander.

Temple of Heaven

A masterpiece of Ming-dynasty architecture where emperors once prayed for good harvests. The circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests — cobalt blue and triple-tiered — is Beijing's most graceful structure. The vast surrounding park buzzes with locals doing tai chi, playing erhu, and flying kites at dusk.

Wangfujing Street

Beijing's premier shopping boulevard is equally famous for its after-dark snack alley — a sensory riot of scorpions on sticks, silkworm skewers, and stinky tofu alongside bubble tea and Peking duck. Window-shop the flagship stores or simply absorb the neon-lit evening energy of the city.

Nightlife at Houhai Lake

As the city settles into night, Houhai's lakeside transforms into one of Beijing's most atmospheric bar districts. String lights reflect off the water, live jazz drifts from open terraces, and pedal-boats dot the dark lake. Pull up a stool at a lakefront bar and toast to an unforgettable first day in Beijing.

Olympic Nest & Park

Head to the Olympic Green as the sun dips low. The Bird's Nest stadium — a daring lattice of interlocking steel built for the 2008 Games — is best seen at dusk when its structure begins to glow. Directly across sits the Water Cube (now Ice Cube), its bubbled facade shimmering in blue. The vast surrounding park is a favourite with locals for an evening stroll.

Nightlife at Sanlitun

Beijing's most cosmopolitan nightlife district pulses with energy after dark. Sanlitun's neon-lit streets are packed with rooftop bars, live music venues, craft beer spots, and international restaurants. Whether you're after a cocktail in a sleek lounge or dancing until sunrise in an underground club, Sanlitun delivers the full spectrum of the city's modern, youthful side.

The Bell Tower

Rising from the exact geographical center of ancient Xi'an, this magnificent Ming-dynasty tower once rang its bronze bells at dawn to mark the start of each day. Climb inside for sweeping views over the old city grid and to see one of China's finest surviving wooden tower structures up close.

The Drum Tower

A short walk west of the Bell Tower stands its counterpart — the Drum Tower, built in 1380, which once thundered its drums at dusk to signal curfew. Inside you'll find a fascinating collection of ancient drums and traditional percussion instruments. The ornate triple-eaved facade is one of Xi'an's most photogenic sights.

Hua Jue Lane Mosque

Tucked into a narrow alley behind the Drum Tower, the Great Mosque of Xi'an is one of the oldest and most important Islamic sites in China — a stunning fusion of Tang Chinese architecture and Islamic geometry. Its serene courtyards, carved archways, and minaret disguised as a pagoda reveal centuries of the Silk Road's cultural blending.

Hui Muslim Street

Spilling out from the mosque, this legendary food street is Xi'an's most vibrant culinary corridor. Sizzling lamb skewers, pillowy roujiamo (Chinese "burgers"), steaming bowls of paomo lamb soup, and pomegranate juice freshly pressed at the stalls — lunch here is an event in itself. The lantern-strung street hums with energy at all hours.

Huaqing Palace

Nestled at the foot of Mount Li near the Terracotta Warriors, this ancient imperial resort is famous for its natural hot springs — favoured by emperors for over 3,000 years. The complex tells the legendary love story of Emperor Xuanzong and consort Yang Guifei, with pavilions, lotus ponds, and bathhouses preserved across the hillside grounds.

Song of Everlasting Sorrow

An extraordinary open-air spectacle staged on the lake of Huaqing Palace itself. Hundreds of performers re-enact the doomed love story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei against a backdrop of real mountains, water reflections, and dramatic lighting. One of China's most acclaimed cultural performances — a fitting, unforgettable close to a day steeped in imperial history.

Defu Alley

Just inside the South Gate, Defu Alley is Xi'an's most celebrated bar and café lane — a cobbled corridor of heritage buildings repurposed into coffee shops, craft beer bars, and art galleries. By day it's a relaxed spot for a post-wall espresso and a browse; by night it transforms into one of the city's liveliest social hubs.

Shuyuanmen Pedestrian Street

A short walk from the South Gate, this elegant cultural street is Xi'an's hub for traditional arts and crafts. Stone-flagged and lined with studio shops, it specialises in Chinese calligraphy, ink paintings, shadow puppets, and antique rubbings from ancient steles. A quiet, refined contrast to the city's busier sights — and the best place to find an authentic souvenir.

Laocaichang Folk Culture & Creative District

A lovingly restored industrial complex turned creative village, celebrating Shaanxi folk culture through art studios, local design shops, street food stalls, and pop-up performances. The mix of weathered brick, colourful murals, and handmade crafts gives it a character entirely its own — part market, part gallery, part community gathering place.

Sajinqiao

One of Xi'an's most atmospheric old neighbourhoods — a tangle of narrow lanes, traditional courtyard homes, and local eateries that have changed little in decades. Wander without a map, follow the smell of cumin and charcoal, and discover a side of Xi'an that exists far from the tourist trail. A perfect spot for an unhurried local lunch.

MixC Cityx

Xi'an's most stylish modern shopping and lifestyle complex — a sleek, multi-level destination with international brands, local designer boutiques, rooftop dining, and some of the city's best contemporary restaurants. A great place to recharge with a meal, a coffee, or a browse before the evening's cultural highlights begin.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

One of the most iconic Buddhist monuments in all of China — a 64-metre Tang-dynasty tower built in 652 AD to house sacred scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang. Climb its seven tiers for panoramic views over the city, then explore the surrounding temple grounds where monks still practise today. The North Square in front hosts Asia's largest music fountain.

Daci'en Temple

Sharing its walled complex with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Daci'en Temple is one of Xi'an's most revered Buddhist sanctuaries. Originally built in 648 AD by Emperor Taizong in honour of his mother, it remains an active place of worship — incense smoke curling through its serene courtyards, monks in saffron robes moving quietly between ornate halls.

Datang Everbright City

As dusk falls, this spectacular Tang-dynasty-themed pedestrian boulevard erupts into colour. Actors in flowing Tang costumes stroll the lantern-lit streets, musicians play ancient instruments, and elaborate light shows project onto classical facades. It's a theatrical, joyful recreation of the golden age of the Tang Empire — arguably Xi'an's most magical evening experience.

Wangping Street

Arrive in Chengdu and dive straight into one of its most beloved local food streets. Wangping Street is a favourite among residents for its honest, unpretentious Sichuan staples — mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, skewers slicked in chilli oil, and cold rabbit ears. No tourist menus, no inflated prices; just the real taste of Chengdu street life at its best.

Yulin Road

A tree-lined residential boulevard that captures the easy, unhurried soul of Chengdu better than anywhere else. Elderly residents play mahjong outside teahouses, barbers set up chairs on the pavement, and cats nap in potted-plant gardens. Grab a seat at a bamboo-chair teahouse, order a pot of Sichuan jasmine tea, and simply watch the afternoon drift by at a very Chengdu pace.

Twin Towers

The Chengdu Financial City Twin Towers are the defining icons of the city's modern skyline — two soaring glass-and-steel spires connected by a dramatic sky bridge, rising from the heart of the CBD. Best seen from below as the late-afternoon light catches their facades, or from the surrounding plaza where the towers frame the horizon in a spectacular way.

Global Center

Step inside the New Century Global Center — the largest single building on Earth by floor area. This colossal structure houses a full-sized artificial beach and ocean, a waterpark, an IMAX cinema, hotels, a skating rink, and hundreds of shops and restaurants — all under one roof. Even if you don't plan to stay long, the sheer scale of it demands a visit simply to say you've been inside.

Zhongshuge Bookstore

One of the world's most visually stunning bookshops — a cavernous, dreamlike interior of soaring mirrored shelves, cascading staircases, and undulating walls housing hundreds of thousands of volumes. Designed by X+Living studio, it's as much an architectural installation as it is a place to browse books. A must-visit even if you don't read Chinese.

Nanqiao Bridge

A graceful historic bridge spanning the Min River, framed by willow trees and traditional pavilions that have stood since the Song dynasty. In the morning light it offers one of Chengdu's most serene and photogenic scenes — particularly beautiful when reflected in the still water below. A quiet pause between the energy of the panda base and the sights ahead.

Dujiangyan Irrigation System

Built in 256 BC by engineer Li Bing, this ancient water management system is one of the world's oldest and still fully operational — irrigating the Chengdu Plain for over 2,000 years without a single dam. Walk the fish-mouth levees above roaring channels, cross suspension bridges over the Min River, and marvel at an engineering achievement that predates the Roman aqueducts.

Guanxian Ancient Town

Adjacent to the Dujiangyan site, this well-preserved ancient market town retains the character of a Qing-dynasty river settlement. Cobbled lanes wind between wooden shophouses selling local snacks, hand-carved souvenirs, and fragrant dried herbs. Grab a bowl of local beef noodles here before heading back toward the city — an unhurried, authentic stop.

Yangtianwo Square

A lively neighbourhood square that embodies the grassroots energy of Chengdu — where residents gather to play cards, practice tai chi, sell homemade snacks, and chat under shade trees. It's entirely local, entirely unpretentious, and exactly the kind of spontaneous urban scene that makes Chengdu one of China's most loveable cities to simply wander through.

Tianfu Square

The vast ceremonial heart of modern Chengdu, dominated by a monumental statue of Mao Zedong and ringed by the Sichuan Science Museum, the city government buildings, and the busiest metro interchange in southwest China. It's the symbolic anchor of the city — dramatic in scale and endlessly busy. The square sits directly above a labyrinthine underground shopping arcade worth exploring.

Chunxi Road

Chengdu's premier pedestrian shopping boulevard has been the city's commercial heart for nearly a century. Today it's a dazzling mix of flagship international stores, local fashion labels, street food vendors, and neon signage that reflects off polished marble underfoot. As the sun goes down, the energy ratchets up — Chunxi Road at night is one of China's great urban spectacles.

Taikoo Li

Directly adjacent to Chunxi Road, Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li is one of Asia's most admired open-air lifestyle destinations — a low-rise grid of glass pavilions and heritage lane houses wrapped around the ancient Daci Temple. Luxury boutiques, concept restaurants, and design-led cafés spill onto covered walkways. The atmosphere is effortlessly cool, the architecture impeccable.

Daci Temple

Tucked inside the Taikoo Li complex, this Tang-dynasty Buddhist temple has stood on this site since the 5th century — a striking counterpoint to the designer boutiques that surround it. The ginkgo trees in its courtyard are over 400 years old. Monks still chant here at dusk; the scent of incense drifts through the space with a calm that cuts through all the surrounding commercial energy.

Hejiang Pavilion

A beautifully restored riverside pavilion perched at the confluence of the Fu and Jin rivers — one of Chengdu's most storied spots for poets and scholars throughout history. Today its multiple tiers offer lovely views over the illuminated riverbanks and the willow-lined promenade stretching in both directions. A peaceful place to pause before the evening's final stretch.

Anshun Covered Bridge

Chengdu's most photographed bridge glows magnificently after dark — a traditional covered corridor bridge spanning the Jin River, its red-lacquered railings and paper lanterns reflected in the water below. Linger on the bridge itself and take in the scene: lit willows on both banks, river cruise boats passing beneath, and the gentle murmur of the water. Pure Chengdu magic.

Jiuyan Bridge Scenic Walk

A leisurely riverside stroll along the promenade flanking the Nine-Eye Bridge — one of Chengdu's ancient landmarks, originally built in the Ming dynasty with its characteristic nine arches. By night the waterfront buzzes with bar terraces, street musicians, and crowds of young locals. The combination of historic stone arches and contemporary city energy makes this walk feel uniquely Chengdu.

Arhat Temple (Luohan Temple)

Hidden in a canyon of skyscrapers in the very heart of Chongqing's CBD, this ancient Buddhist temple has survived since the Song dynasty. Its most famous feature is the Hall of 500 Arhats — a tunnel of life-sized clay monks, each with a completely unique, uncannily expressive face. The contrast between the incense-heavy sanctuary and the glass towers looming above is quintessentially Chongqing.

Chongqing Liberation Monument

The soaring Jiefangbei clock tower — built in 1947 to commemorate victory over Japan — stands at the absolute epicenter of Chongqing's commercial district, surrounded by a galaxy of luxury boutiques, department stores, and Chongqing's legendary hotpot restaurants. It's the busiest pedestrian intersection in southwest China and the defining symbol of the city's modern energy.

Chongqing Guotai Art Center

A striking piece of contemporary architecture rising dramatically from the hillside near the CBD — its interlocking red-lacquered steel frames reference traditional Chinese window lattice at an enormous scale. Home to the Chongqing Grand Theatre and a concert hall, the building is worth seeing from the outside alone. Check the program for any daytime exhibitions or performances.

Kuixinglou

A historic multi-tiered pavilion perched at a clifftop promontory above the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers — one of Chongqing's most dramatic natural viewpoints. The tower has served as a literary landmark since imperial times, dedicated to Kuixing, the god of scholars and exams. The views from the terraces over the river junction and the terraced city below are spectacular.

Liziba Subway Station

Only in Chongqing: a monorail that passes directly through the 6th and 7th floors of a 19-storey apartment block. Liziba Station on Line 2 is one of the city's most photographed urban spectacles — trains glide in and out of the building's belly while residents live just metres away on either side. Watch from the building's exterior platform or ride through it yourself for the full experience.

Huangge Ancient Road to Laojun Cave

A rewarding hillside trail along an ancient stone-paved road leading to Laojun Cave — a Taoist temple complex carved into the cliff face of Chongqing's southern mountains. Worn stone steps wind past incense-filled shrines, weathered stone carvings, and sweeping views over the city. A welcome breath of quiet nature and spiritual calm amid an intensely urban day.

Longmen Road & Xiahaoli

Two adjacent lanes that together capture Chongqing's most creative urban character — Longmen Road with its art studios, vintage shops, and independent cafés built into the hillside terraces, and Xiahaoli with its lantern-hung staircases and street-food vendors selling spicy skewers and cold noodles. The layered topography makes every turn feel like a new discovery.

Yangtze River Cableway

One of China's last surviving urban aerial tramways, the Yangtze Cableway has been ferrying commuters and visitors across the river since 1987. As the gondola swings out over the Yangtze at dusk — 120 metres above the churning brown water, the illuminated cliffs of Chongqing rising on both banks — it feels less like a transport ride and more like a cinematic experience. Round trip highly recommended.

Shibati (Eighteen Stairs)

An ancient stone staircase descending from the upper city down to the Yangtze riverbank — one of Chongqing's oldest and most storied thoroughfares, recently restored as a living museum of wartime and Republican-era architecture. Teahouses, old barber shops, and 1940s-style canteens line the terraced descent. As evening begins, it transforms into one of the city's most atmospheric spots for a pre-dinner wander.

Hongya Cave (Hongyadong)

Chongqing's most iconic image: an 11-storey stilted wooden complex clinging to a cliff above the Jialing River, ablaze with golden lantern light at night. Inspired by the ancient diaojiaolou stilted architecture of Chongqing's mountainous hinterland, Hongyadong houses restaurants, bars, and boutiques across its cascading terraces. Stand on the riverbank opposite at dusk for the definitive Chongqing photograph.

Jiangbeizui Riverside Park

Cross to the north bank and walk the sweeping Jiangbeizui promenade — a beautifully landscaped riverside park offering some of the finest panoramic views of Chongqing's skyscraper-studded peninsula skyline. As the towers illuminate at dusk and the Yangtze reflects the glow, the scale of this mountain city becomes breathtakingly clear. A perfect spot to gather yourself before the evening's high-altitude highlight.

Sky View — 73rd Floor, WFC Huixianlou

Ascend to the 73rd floor of the World Financial Centre — Chongqing's tallest building — for a 360° night view that may be the most dramatic urban panorama in all of China. The city sprawls across mountain ridges, rivers, and gorges in every direction, a sea of light stretching to the horizon. The outdoor deck makes the experience visceral: the wind, the height, and the sheer scale are overwhelming in the best possible way.

Drone Show

On select evenings, Chongqing stages one of the world's most spectacular drone light shows — thousands of illuminated drones forming animated shapes, characters, and city landmarks across the night sky above the Yangtze. The show holds multiple Guinness World Records and is best viewed from the riverside or the mountain parks. Check local schedules as timings vary by season.

Deyi World

A high-concept entertainment and dining district that bills itself as a 24-hour city within a city — terraced open-air plazas lined with concept restaurants, immersive art installations, live music stages, and rooftop bars. The architecture is theatrical and deliberately cinematic, making it a favourite backdrop for social media and a hub for Chongqing's creative community after dark.

Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street

Chongqing's second great commercial boulevard — wider, more local, and arguably more alive than Jiefangbei at night. Department stores, street food stalls, and neon-lit bubble tea shops line a kilometre of pavement teeming with evening shoppers. Stop for a bowl of Chongqing's famous spicy noodles at one of the no-frills stalls tucked into the surrounding alleys — late-night eating is practically a civic institution here.

Nightlife at Nine Street (Jiujie)

Chongqing's most celebrated nightlife corridor occupies a riverside stretch that comes fully alive after midnight. Nine Street's bars, rooftop clubs, and open-air terraces attract a passionate local crowd who take their nightlife as seriously as their hotpot. The Yangtze glitters in the distance, DJs pump bass across the water, and the mountain city reveals its most unguarded, exuberant side. A memorable final note to an extraordinary day.

Fenghuang Ancient Town

One of China's most beautifully preserved ancient towns — a living Ming and Qing-dynasty settlement of stilted wooden houses (diaojiaolou) rising on pillars directly from the Tuojiang River. Red lanterns reflect on the dark water, stone bridges arch between the banks, and the surrounding walls are largely intact. Best experienced at dusk and after dark when the lantern glow transforms the riverside into something almost fictional. Approximately 3 hours by road from Zhangjiajie — best visited as an overnight or early morning extension.

Furong Town (Hibiscus Town)

A breathtaking Tujia minority settlement built across a series of terraces beside a 60-metre waterfall that thunders through the centre of town — one of the most dramatic settings of any ancient town in China. Narrow stone lanes wind between wooden shophouses, and the sight of the waterfall cascading past tile-roofed buildings is unforgettable. Made famous by the 1986 film of the same name, Furong Town is approximately 2–3 hours from Zhangjiajie and best combined with a Fenghuang visit on a dedicated day trip.

Yuanjiajie — Hallelujah Mountain

Take the cable car or Bailong Elevator to the summit plateau of Yuanjiajie first thing — the mist is thickest and most dramatic in the morning. The Southern Sky Column, renamed Hallelujah Mountain after Avatar's release, floats above the gorge like a geological miracle. Walk the cliff-edge boardwalks to First Bridge Under Heaven and Fairy Tale Terrace for the park's most surreal panoramas.

Bailong Elevator

The world's tallest and heaviest outdoor elevator — a glass-fronted double-deck lift scaling 326 metres of sheer cliff face in under two minutes. Descending in the glass cabin, the sandstone pillars spread out at eye level in every direction as the valley floor rushes up to meet you. It's both an engineering marvel and one of the park's most visceral experiences. The ride itself is a highlight of the day.

Tianzi Mountain Scenic Zone

The northern summit zone of the park offers the grandest elevated perspectives — cable car to the top, then walk the ridge-line trails past the Avenue of Stars and the Imperial Brush Peak viewpoints. When cloud fills the valleys between the pillars here, the scene resembles ink-wash paintings that the landscape itself seems to have inspired. The light in the late afternoon turns the stone orange and gold.

Golden Whip Stream

End the day with the park's most tranquil experience — a 7.5km trail following a crystal-clear stream through the valley floor between towering pillars. Macaque monkeys swing overhead, pheasants cross the path, and the sandstone formations close in on both sides as the late-afternoon light filters through the canopy. A meditative contrast to the heights of the morning, and one of the most beautiful forest walks in Asia.

Making the Most of the Day

Arrive at the park gate by 7am sharp — the first cable car fills quickly. Recommended route: Wulingyuan Gate → Yuanjiajie cable car up → Hallelujah Mountain → Bailong Elevator down → Tianzi cable car up → Golden Whip Stream walk out. Wear comfortable walking shoes and layers — summit temperatures are 5–8°C cooler than the valley. The 2-day park pass is worth it even for a single full day as it covers all cable cars and the Bailong Elevator. Avoid weekends and Chinese public holidays when crowds are very heavy.

Solitary Beauty Peak & Prince City

A single limestone pinnacle rising 152 metres from the centre of the city — Guilin's most recognisable landmark and the literal heart of its former Ming-dynasty royal complex. The Jingjiang Prince City surrounds the base: a remarkable walled precinct of ceremonial gates, ancient trees, and stone-carved inscriptions stretching back 600 years. Climb the peak's steep steps for the finest aerial view of Guilin's karst-studded skyline and the Li River beyond.

Xiaoyao Tower

Perched on a riverside promontory between Jiefang Bridge and Fubo Hill, this graceful Tang-dynasty pavilion has been a place of literary gathering and scenic contemplation for over 1,300 years. Poets of the Tang and Song dynasties wrote verses here gazing out at the Li River. The restored tower offers lovely views over the river and the karst peaks that frame the city on all sides — a quiet, contemplative contrast to the busier sights nearby.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Guilin's most beloved natural symbol — a limestone formation that has eroded over millions of years into the uncanny likeness of an elephant drinking from the Li River, its "trunk" forming a perfect arch over the water. The park surrounding it is peaceful and verdant, with caves honeycombing the rock and Song-dynasty carvings hidden in the cliff faces. Best photographed from the opposite bank where the elephant shape is most clearly defined.

East & West Alleys

Two parallel pedestrian lanes of immaculately preserved Republican-era architecture that together form Guilin's most charming historic precinct. Cobbled underfoot and canopied by old banyan trees, the alleys are lined with craft workshops, local snack stalls, Guilin rice noodle shops, and small galleries. The East Alley (Dong Xiang) is quieter and more refined; the West Alley (Xi Xiang) is livelier — perfect for an unhurried late-afternoon browse and an early dinner of the city's famous mifen noodles.

Yulong River Bamboo Rafting

Begin the day on the water. The Yulong River — calmer, narrower, and far more intimate than the Li River — winds through rice paddies and beneath ancient stone arch bridges with karst peaks rising on every side. Your bamboo raft is poled silently downstream by a local boatman; mist drifts off the green water, egrets fish on the banks, and the only sounds are birdsong and the gentle push of the pole. The most peaceful two hours in all of Yangshuo.

Ten-Mile Gallery

Rent a bicycle and roll along the most celebrated cycling route in southern China — a 10km country road flanked by a continuous panorama of karst peaks, water buffalo in emerald fields, and Zhuang minority villages. Each bend in the road reveals a composition so perfectly framed it looks painted. The route passes Moon Hill, the Dragon Bridge, and several quiet villages where farmers still work the fields by hand. Pure countryside bliss.

Internet-Famous Swing

One of the most photographed spots in the Yangshuo countryside — a simple rope swing suspended from a tree on the banks of the Yulong River, with a picture-perfect backdrop of stone arch bridge, river reflections, and karst peaks receding into the haze. It's unashamedly photogenic and completely magical. Arrive mid-morning to beat the queues and catch the light at its most flattering angle over the water.

Fuli Bridge

A graceful Ming-dynasty stone arch bridge spanning the Yulong River — one of the oldest and most photogenic bridges in the Yangshuo countryside, beloved by photographers for the way its reflection forms a perfect circle in the water below. The surrounding hamlet of Fuli is equally charming: a cluster of grey-tile houses, banyan trees, and a small market famous for hand-painted folding fans that make the perfect Yangshuo souvenir.

West Street by Night

Return to Yangshuo as the town's famous West Street comes alive. This ancient cobbled lane is unlike any other in China — a genuine fusion of local Guangxi character and international backpacker energy, where hole-in-the-wall beer bars sit beside Zhuang embroidery shops, and craft cocktail lounges share walls with noodle stalls. Lively, warm, and utterly unpretentious, West Street is the social heart of Yangshuo after dark.

Impression Liu Sanjie

The perfect close to a perfect day — Zhang Yimou's legendary outdoor spectacle uses the Li River itself as its stage and twelve karst peaks as its backdrop. Six hundred performers — fishermen, Zhuang minority singers, and dancers — move across the water in an immersive show of light, music, and ancient folk legend. Hundreds of cormorant fishing boats illuminate the river, and the mountain silhouettes shift colour with the light. Arguably the most spectacular open-air performance in China.

Jinkeng Village

The Jinkeng (Golden Pit) area is the most dramatic section of the terraces, home to the Red Yao minority whose women are famed for their extraordinary hair — grown to floor length and worn coiled in elaborate traditional styles. The village itself is a cluster of wooden stilt houses perched on the ridgeline, and the panoramic "Seven Stars and Moon" viewpoint here offers the most sweeping terraced landscape in the entire Longji system.

Ping'an Zhuang Village

The older and more atmospheric of the two major terrace villages — a Zhuang minority settlement of traditional wooden guesthouses, small restaurants serving bamboo-tube rice and local mountain vegetables, and viewpoints named "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" and "Two Dragons Playing with Water." If time and the flight schedule allow, lunch here on the ridge with the terraces dropping away in every direction is an experience worth scheduling the whole day around.

Guilin → Shanghai

Return from the terraces to Guilin by early afternoon and head to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport. The flight to Shanghai Hongqiao or Pudong takes approximately 2 hours, with multiple daily departures. Aim to land by early evening to have time for a first taste of Shanghai at night — ideally approaching the Bund from the Pudong side to see the historic waterfront skyline reveal itself across the Huangpu River.

Nanjing Road

Begin your full Shanghai day on the boulevard you glimpsed on arrival. By morning light, Nanjing Road reveals a different character — flagship department stores, century-old brands, and the city's most concentrated stretch of urban energy. Walk its full length east toward the Bund, past the Art Deco facades and neon signs, stopping for a local breakfast of scallion pancakes (cong you bing) at one of the pavement stalls along the way.

Waibaidu Bridge

At the northern tip of the Bund where Suzhou Creek meets the Huangpu River stands Shanghai's most beloved historic bridge — a 1907 steel truss span that has appeared in more films, photographs, and literary descriptions of the city than any other structure. Once the divide between the British and Japanese concessions, it is now simply beautiful: a perfect foreground element for photographing both the Pudong skyline and the colonial Bund waterfront simultaneously.

World Reception Room

One of the finest surviving examples of Shanghai's golden-age grandeur — a magnificent heritage reception hall used for state banquets and diplomatic functions, its interiors a showcase of gilded plasterwork, hand-laid parquet, and period chandeliers that evoke the cosmopolitan Shanghai of the 1920s and 30s. A rare chance to step inside one of the city's most storied interiors and sense the weight of history in every room.

Shanghai North Bund Guoke Center

The centrepiece of the North Bund's ambitious regeneration — a sweeping contemporary complex of cultural venues, public plazas, and waterfront promenades that is rapidly becoming one of Shanghai's most exciting new urban spaces. The elevated riverside walkways offer some of the best views of Pudong's skyline from the north, as well as sightlines back across the historic Bund waterfront that reveal the city's full architectural arc in a single glance.

Jinling East Road Ferry

One of Shanghai's great hidden pleasures — a public river ferry crossing that takes just 8 minutes but delivers a front-row perspective of the Huangpu River and both its banks. For the price of a local bus ticket, you float past container ships, river tugs, and cruise liners with the Bund's colonial facade on one side and Pudong's glass towers on the other. Used daily by locals, ignored almost entirely by tourists. A genuinely memorable €0.30 spent.

Shanghai Old City

Cross back west and explore what remains of Shanghai's pre-colonial heart — the winding lanes, traditional tea pavilions, and temple courtyards of the old Chinese city that existed long before the European concessions arrived. The Yuyuan Garden, the City God Temple, and the surrounding bazaar streets give a vivid sense of Shanghai's Chinese soul beneath its cosmopolitan exterior. Busy, characterful, and entirely authentic in its commercial chaos.

Wu Changshuo Memorial Hall

A refined, contemplative gallery dedicated to Wu Changshuo — one of the most revered Chinese painters, calligraphers, and seal carvers of the late Qing dynasty, whose bold, expressive brushwork bridged classical tradition and modernist energy. The memorial hall occupies a beautifully preserved shikumen lane house in the old city, displaying original works and documenting his extraordinary creative life. A quietly unmissable stop for anyone drawn to Chinese ink art.

Pudong Art Museum

Cross to Pudong and visit one of Shanghai's newest and most architecturally striking cultural institutions — a monumental white stone building on the waterfront designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, its layered facade framing the Bund's colonial skyline like a living painting. The museum hosts major international exhibitions alongside Chinese contemporary art, and its rooftop terrace — with the Huangpu River and the Bund spread before you — is one of the finest sunset vantage points in the city.

City God Temple

Adjacent to Yu Garden, the City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) is Shanghai's most important Taoist sanctuary — a complex of ornate halls, incense-thick courtyards, and gilded deities that has served as the spiritual heart of the old Chinese city since the Ming dynasty. Worshippers light coils of incense before the city's divine protector while fortune-tellers and calligraphers ply their trade at the gate. A vivid, authentic slice of Shanghai's religious soul.

City God Temple Commercial Street

The bustling bazaar surrounding the temple is Shanghai's oldest continuously operating market — a labyrinthine maze of two-storey wooden shophouses selling everything from silk fans and jade carvings to xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), glutinous rice balls, and candied hawthorn skewers. It's overwhelming, joyful, and completely irresistible. Allow time to get pleasantly lost in the alleys and eat your way through the stalls.

Old West Gate

One of the last vestiges of Shanghai's original city wall — a reconstructed Ming-dynasty gate tower marking the western entrance to the old Chinese city. Standing here, it's possible to trace the circular footprint of the ancient walled town that once existed entirely separately from the foreign concessions surrounding it. The gate anchors a neighbourhood of surviving alley houses (lilong) that give a rare sense of pre-modern Shanghai street life.

Laoximen

The "Old West Gate" neighbourhood immediately around the historic gate is one of Shanghai's most fascinating urban transitions in progress — traditional shikumen lane houses sitting alongside new development, elderly residents doing tai chi in courtyards that have been home to the same families for generations. Walk its shrinking alleys before they disappear entirely; they hold more of Shanghai's authentic social fabric than any tourist attraction in the city.

Xintiandi

Shanghai's most successful heritage reinvention — two city blocks of 1920s shikumen stone-gate houses meticulously restored and converted into a upscale pedestrian precinct of restaurants, bars, boutiques, and cultural venues. The cobblestone lanes and traditional facades create a beautifully atmospheric setting for afternoon coffee or an early dinner. The blend of historic architecture and contemporary lifestyle is effortlessly sophisticated.

Sinan Mansion

A block away from Xintiandi, Sinan Road is lined with an extraordinary collection of 1920s–30s European-style garden villas — former residences of diplomats, industrialists, and literary figures — now repurposed as boutique hotels, concept restaurants, and cultural spaces. Strolling the tree-shaded lane between the stone mansions, each with its own distinctive character, feels like a walk through a living architectural museum of Shanghai's golden age.

Wukang Road

Shanghai's most beautiful street — a sweeping boulevard of plane trees and Art Deco heritage buildings that reaches its most photogenic point at the Wukang Mansion, a 1924 curved Renaissance-style apartment building where the road bends. Instagram has made this corner world-famous, but the full length of the road — lined with concept cafés, Japanese-style stationery shops, and neighbourhood bakeries — is equally lovely. The light through the plane trees on a clear afternoon is extraordinary.

Anfu Road

Running parallel to Wukang Road, Anfu Road is Shanghai's most quietly fashionable street — a low-rise canopy of parasol trees shading a string of independent bookshops, natural wine bars, specialty coffee roasters, and designer flower studios. The pace here is entirely different from the city's commercial boulevards: slow, considered, and deeply pleasurable. It's the ideal street to decompress on your final afternoon before the evening's celebration begins.

Humble Administrator's Garden

The largest and most celebrated of Suzhou's classical gardens — a 5-hectare UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece of interlocking lakes, covered walkways, pavilions, and sculpted rockeries built by a retired Ming-dynasty official in 1513. The garden's three interconnected sections use water, stone, and carefully framed views to create an endlessly varied series of landscapes within a single walled precinct. Arrive at opening time for the most serene experience.

Lion Grove Garden

The most extraordinary of Suzhou's classical gardens — and the most playful. Built in 1342, its centrepiece is a labyrinthine rockery of grotesque Taihu limestone formations said to resemble crouching lions, forming a 3D maze of caves, tunnels, and hidden courtyards that visitors wander through in genuine bewilderment. Emperor Qianlong visited six times and commissioned replicas in the Imperial Summer Palace. Easy to see why — it is utterly unlike anything else.

Pingjiang Road

Suzhou's most beloved historic street runs for 1.6km alongside the Pingjiang canal — a perfectly preserved Song-dynasty waterway flanked by whitewashed houses, stone arch bridges, and weeping willows. Gondola-style wooden boats glide past as residents hang laundry from upstairs windows and cats doze on canal walls. Browse the indie craft shops, stop for a bowl of Suzhou-style noodles (sweet, subtle, and completely different from anything you've eaten in the rest of China), and absorb the rhythm of the city that gave Venice its Chinese nickname.

Guanqian Street

Suzhou's main pedestrian commercial boulevard — a bustling stretch of shops, snack stalls, and department stores anchored at one end by the Xuanmiao Temple, one of the oldest Taoist complexes in the Yangtze Delta. Browse the local silk vendors, pick up Suzhou's famous sugar-dusted pine nut candy, and step into the temple courtyard for a moment of quiet before heading out of the city to the ancient water town.

Oriental Gate & Jinji Lake

Cross to the Suzhou Industrial Park and the modern city reveals itself in dramatic fashion. The Oriental Gate — a pair of sweeping curved towers forming a monumental arch — frames Jinji Lake's waterfront in one of eastern China's most photographed skyline compositions. The lakefront promenade stretches for kilometres, its glass and steel towers reflected in the vast lake surface as the lights begin to come on across the water at dusk.

Jinji Lake Music Fountain

One of the largest music fountain shows in China — a choreographed spectacle of water jets reaching 100 metres, synchronised to music and coloured by dynamic lighting across the full width of Jinji Lake. The show runs on select evenings (check local listings) and draws large crowds to the lakefront promenade. The Oriental Gate towers frame the backdrop; the reflections across the water double every jet and colour burst into a dazzling mirror image below.

Wanghuge Boat Trip

Take an evening boat cruise across Jinji Lake to Wanghuge — a classical garden pavilion on a small island at the lake's centre, reached only by water. From the boat, the illuminated skyline of the SIP towers surrounds you on all sides while the ancient pavilion looms ahead, its traditional curved rooftop lit against the night sky. A uniquely Suzhou experience: the collision of classical garden culture and 21st-century urbanism, experienced from the water at night.

Suzhou Culture and Arts Center

One of China's most visually arresting contemporary buildings — Paul Andreu's design wraps a continuous ribbon of metal cladding around a series of performance halls and exhibition spaces beside Jinji Lake. The building glows beautifully at night, its curving facade reflecting off the water. Whether or not there is a performance to attend, the exterior and public spaces of the arts centre are worth a visit for the architecture alone — bold, fluid, and unmistakably 21st-century Suzhou.

Oversized Picture Frame

Suzhou's most-shared photo opportunity — a giant illuminated picture frame installation on the Jinji Lake waterfront that perfectly frames the Oriental Gate towers and the glittering lakeside skyline behind it. Queue for your shot, because the composition is genuinely spectacular: the "frame within the frame" effect creates one of the most striking architectural photographs achievable on the entire trip. Best shot after dark when the towers are fully lit.

Elite Bookstore

China's most design-forward independent bookshop concept — the Suzhou branch of Librairie Avant-Garde (Elite) occupies a dramatically styled interior of soaring shelves, curated art objects, and beautifully produced Chinese and international books. More gallery than shop, it's a genuinely peaceful and visually stunning space to end an evening — browse the art books, pick up a beautifully designed journal, and enjoy a coffee in surroundings that feel entirely unlike anything else on the trip.