Last updated: July 2026
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China’s attractions span 5,000 years of history and eleven cities that could each anchor a trip on their own: Beijing, the imperial capital of the Ming and Qing dynasties and home to the Forbidden City and several Great Wall sections; Shanghai, a skyline of colonial-era architecture and futuristic towers on the Huangpu River; Xi’an, the ancient capital where the Terracotta Army was unearthed; Guilin, famous worldwide for its karst-mountain river scenery; Suzhou, the “Venice of the East” and home to China’s most celebrated classical gardens; Guangzhou, the Cantonese trading hub with the towering Canton Tower; Chongqing, the mountain megacity known for cliffside night views and cave temples; Nanjing, a former imperial capital ringed by the world’s longest surviving city wall; Qingdao, a former German treaty port with beaches and beer history; Xiamen, a subtropical coastal city anchored by car-free Gulangyu Island; and Kunming, the gateway to Yunnan’s karst landscapes and ethnic-minority culture.
Below is a ranked list of the 100 attractions across these eleven cities that come up most often in travel guides, official tourism ratings, and general visitor recognition. Two of the top picks — the Forbidden City and the Mutianyu Great Wall — already have full trip-planning guides on this site, linked below.
How This Ranking Was Made
This is an editorial ranking, not a list of confirmed visitor-traffic statistics — China’s individual attractions do not publish standardized, comparable annual visitor numbers, so any list claiming an exact traffic-based order should be treated with skepticism. Instead, this ranking combines several public signals as of July 2026:
- Wikipedia coverage and cross-language article depth — a rough proxy for how widely known and well-documented a site is internationally.
- General visitor recognition — how often a site appears in mainstream travel guides, “best of China” round-ups, and traveler review platforms.
- Official Chinese tourism ratings — China’s A-level scenic area system, with 5A being the highest tier awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, plus UNESCO World Heritage or World Heritage Tentative List status.
- International name recognition — whether a foreign traveler with no prior knowledge of the city would likely have heard of the site before visiting.
Rankings like this are inherently subjective once you move past the handful of unmistakable icons at the top. Treat the exact order past roughly #20 as a rough guide to what’s worth prioritizing, not a scientific measurement.
Top 15 Attractions in China
These are the fifteen sites that combine the highest tier of official recognition (5A rating and/or UNESCO status) with the broadest international name recognition. The Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall link to full, in-depth guides; the rest link to Klook so you can check current tours, tickets, and skip-the-line options.
Ranked #16–100
The remaining 85 attractions, grouped roughly by how consistently they appear in travel guides and official ratings for each city.
| Rank | Attraction | City | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Canton Tower | Guangzhou | Tower/observatory | 600m, China’s tallest observation tower |
| 17 | Yangshuo West Street | Guilin | Street/market | International backpacker street against karst scenery |
| 18 | Elephant Trunk Hill | Guilin | Nature (rock formation) | Symbol of Guilin since the Tang dynasty |
| 19 | Lingering Garden | Suzhou | Classical garden | One of Suzhou’s Four Great Gardens, Qing-era craftsmanship, 5A/UNESCO |
| 20 | Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street | Shanghai | Shopping street | China’s premier shopping street |
| 21 | Shanghai Tower | Shanghai | Skyscraper | China’s tallest building (632m) |
| 22 | Muslim Quarter | Xi’an | Market/street | Hui-community food street behind the Drum Tower |
| 23 | Hongya Cave | Chongqing | Landmark | 11-story cliffside complex over the Jialing River, symbol of Chongqing’s night skyline |
| 24 | Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum | Nanjing | Mausoleum | Purple Mountain scenic area, 5A |
| 25 | Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum | Nanjing | Mausoleum | Tomb of Ming founder, UNESCO Ming/Qing Tombs |
| 26 | Chimelong Safari Park / Ocean Kingdom | Guangzhou | Theme park | Guangzhou’s only 5A resort, one of the world’s largest safari parks |
| 27 | Dazu Rock Carvings | Chongqing | Rock carvings/religious site | 141 sites of 9th-13th century carvings, 5A, UNESCO |
| 28 | Lion Grove Garden | Suzhou | Classical garden | Built 1342, famous rockery, one of Suzhou’s Four Great Gardens, UNESCO |
| 29 | Stone Forest (Shilin) | Kunming | Karst landscape | “First Wonder on Earth,” 5A, UNESCO World Natural Heritage (2007) |
| 30 | Confucius Temple & Qinhuai River | Nanjing | Temple/river | Founded 1034, famous for night river cruises |
| 31 | Ming Tombs | Beijing | Imperial tombs | Burial site of 13 Ming emperors, 5A, UNESCO |
| 32 | Huaqing Palace | Xi’an | Palace/hot springs | Tang-era imperial villa, linked to Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei legend, 5A |
| 33 | Zhujiajiao Water Town | Shanghai | Water town | “Venice of Shanghai,” 1,700 years of history |
| 34 | Ciqikou Ancient Town | Chongqing | Ancient town | Song-dynasty roots, Chongqing’s largest ancient town |
| 35 | Purple Mountain | Nanjing | Nature/national park | 7,660 acres hosting 15+ heritage sites |
| 36 | Shamian Island | Guangzhou | Historic district | 19th-century British/French concession, European-style architecture |
| 37 | Lama Temple (Yonghegong) | Beijing | Tibetan Buddhist temple | Beijing’s only large Tibetan Buddhist temple, giant sandalwood Buddha |
| 38 | Badaguan Scenic Area | Qingdao | Historic district | 200+ buildings in 20 architectural styles, former concession, 5A |
| 39 | Bell Tower | Xi’an | Ancient landmark | Built 1384, geographic center of Xi’an |
| 40 | Nanjing City Wall | Nanjing | Ancient city wall | 25.1km, world’s longest surviving city wall |
| 41 | Reed Flute Cave | Guilin | Karst cave | Stalactite cave, Guilin’s signature attraction, 5A-level |
| 42 | Xintiandi | Shanghai | Shopping/entertainment district | Shikumen architecture turned commercial district |
| 43 | Tiger Hill | Suzhou | Nature/historic site | 2,500-year history, leaning pagoda (“China’s Leaning Tower”) |
| 44 | Chen Clan Ancestral Hall | Guangzhou | Ancestral hall | Built 1894, showcase of Cantonese wood/stone/ceramic craft |
| 45 | 798 Art Zone | Beijing | Contemporary art district | Former munitions factory turned art district |
| 46 | Wulong Karst / Three Natural Bridges | Chongqing | Nature | Asia’s largest natural bridge cluster, “Transformers” filming site, UNESCO South China Karst |
| 47 | Drum Tower | Xi’an | Ancient landmark | Built 1380, paired with the Bell Tower |
| 48 | Zhanqiao Pier | Qingdao | Pier/landmark | Built 1891, Qingdao’s first pier |
| 49 | May Fourth Square | Qingdao | Public square | Commemorates the May Fourth Movement of 1919 |
| 50 | Master of the Nets Garden | Suzhou | Classical garden | Built 1180, most refined small-scale Suzhou garden |
| 51 | Xiamen University | Xiamen | Landmark/campus | Called “China’s most beautiful university” |
| 52 | Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall | Nanjing | Museum/memorial | National first-tier museum, internationally significant history site |
| 53 | Fengdu Ghost City | Chongqing | Cultural landmark | ~2,000-year history, themed on Chinese mythological underworld |
| 54 | Baiyun Mountain | Guangzhou | Nature/mountain | 30+ peaks, “most beautiful mountain in Guangzhou” |
| 55 | St. Michael’s Cathedral | Qingdao | Cathedral | Completed 1934, Shandong’s largest cathedral, German-colonial Romanesque style |
| 56 | Shanghai Museum | Shanghai | Museum | Bronze and ceramics collections, People’s Square |
| 57 | South Putuo Temple | Xiamen | Buddhist temple | Tang-era founding, major Guanyin worship site |
| 58 | Dianchi Lake | Kunming | Lake | Yunnan’s largest freshwater lake (~300 km2) |
| 59 | Beihai Park | Beijing | Imperial garden | Royal garden behind the Forbidden City, White Pagoda landmark |
| 60 | Yunnan Nationalities Village | Kunming | Theme park/cultural village | Recreates architecture/culture of 26 Yunnan ethnic groups |
| 61 | Shaanxi History Museum | Xi’an | Museum | Artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi, famed Tang tri-color ceramics |
| 62 | French Concession & Tianzifang | Shanghai | Historic district | Former French concession turned art/shopping alleys |
| 63 | Tsingtao Beer Museum | Qingdao | Museum | ~100 years of German brewing history, tasting included |
| 64 | Longji Rice Terraces | Guilin | Nature (terraced fields) | Terraces dating to the Yuan dynasty, ethnic minority villages |
| 65 | Prince Kung’s Mansion | Beijing | Historic mansion/garden | Qing-era princely residence, 5A |
| 66 | Jinfo Mountain | Chongqing | Nature/mountain | South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage, 5A |
| 67 | Hulishan Fortress | Xiamen | Fort/historic site | Built 1891 (Qing), 50+ preserved Ming/Qing-era cannons |
| 68 | Green Lake Park | Kunming | Urban park | Kunming’s “eye,” winter gathering site for migrating gulls |
| 69 | National Museum of China | Beijing | Museum | One of the world’s largest museums, Tiananmen Square |
| 70 | Yuexiu Park | Guangzhou | Urban park | Guangzhou’s largest park, Five Rams sculpture (city symbol) |
| 71 | Jade Buddha Temple | Shanghai | Buddhist temple | Houses a large white-jade seated Buddha statue |
| 72 | Seven Star Park | Guilin | Nature (karst peaks) | Karst-peak park within Guilin city |
| 73 | Beijing Olympic Park | Beijing | Landmark | Bird’s Nest stadium & Water Cube from the 2008 Olympics |
| 74 | Golden Temple | Kunming | Taoist temple | Built 1602 (Ming), China’s largest copper temple |
| 75 | Xuanwu Lake Park | Nanjing | Lake/park | 4.72 km2, China’s largest imperial lake garden historically |
| 76 | Presidential Palace | Nanjing | Historic government building | Site of the Republic of China’s provisional & national government |
| 77 | Small Wild Goose Pagoda | Xi’an | Pagoda/temple | Tang-era brick pagoda, paired with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda |
| 78 | Pearl River Night Cruise | Guangzhou | Night cruise | One of the “Eight Views of Guangzhou,” Canton Tower skyline |
| 79 | Laoshan (Mount Lao) | Qingdao | Nature/mountain | Historic Taoist mountain, home to Taiqing Palace |
| 80 | Yulong River | Guilin | Nature (river) | Bamboo-raft rafting near Yangshuo, “Little Li River” |
| 81 | Houhai Lake | Beijing | Lake/nightlife district | Lakeside hutong & bar district |
| 82 | Chongqing Zoo | Chongqing | Zoo | 230+ species incl. giant pandas & South China tigers |
| 83 | Daming Palace National Heritage Park | Xi’an | Palace ruins | Tang-era palace site, UNESCO (Silk Road component) |
| 84 | Nanyue King Museum | Guangzhou | Museum | Mausoleum & artifacts of the King of Nanyue |
| 85 | Hanshan Temple | Suzhou | Buddhist temple | Made famous by the Tang poem “A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge” |
| 86 | Zhouzhuang Water Town | Suzhou | Water town | Called “China’s #1 water town” |
| 87 | City God Temple | Shanghai | Taoist temple/market | Near Yu Garden, reflects old Shanghai’s character |
| 88 | Jing’an Temple | Shanghai | Buddhist temple | 1,700-year history amid Shanghai’s skyscrapers, large jade Buddha |
| 89 | Western Hills (Xishan) | Kunming | Nature/temple cliffs | “Sleeping Beauty Mountain,” cliffside temple complex |
| 90 | Yuantong Temple | Kunming | Buddhist temple | Kunming’s largest Buddhist temple, Tang-era founding |
| 91 | Zeng Cuo An | Xiamen | Village/cafe district | Former fishing village turned art & cafe strip |
| 92 | Xiaoyushan Park | Qingdao | Park/viewpoint | Best viewpoint over Qingdao and the sea |
| 93 | Beijing Road Pedestrian Street | Guangzhou | Shopping street | Guangzhou’s leading shopping street, glass-covered ancient road ruins |
| 94 | Wanshi Botanical Garden | Xiamen | Botanical garden | Subtropical plant collection at Wulaoshan |
| 95 | Nanluoguxiang Hutong | Beijing | Historic alley | Yuan-dynasty grid-plan hutong street |
| 96 | Crown Cave / Silver Cave | Guilin | Karst cave | Large stalactite cave with underground boat rides |
| 97 | Pingjiang Road | Suzhou | Historic street | Preserved Southern Song-era canal-and-alley grid |
| 98 | Eling Park | Chongqing | Urban park | Riverside modern-era park with Yangtze views |
| 99 | Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street | Xiamen | Shopping street | Xiamen’s arcade-style commercial street |
| 100 | Liziba Monorail Station | Chongqing | Landmark/transit | Line 2 monorail runs directly through a 19-story residential building, one of China’s most-photographed urban curiosities |
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FAQ
What is the #1 tourist attraction in China?
The Forbidden City in Beijing tops this list. It’s the world’s largest surviving wooden palace complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and holds China’s top 5A scenic-area rating — and it’s usually the single most recognized Chinese landmark among first-time international visitors, alongside the Great Wall.
Which city has the most attractions on this list?
Beijing leads with 14 entries in the Top 100, followed closely by Shanghai with 13 and Xi’an with 10. That roughly tracks their roles as China’s historic imperial capital, its modern commercial capital, and its ancient dynastic capital, respectively.
Is this ranking based on actual visitor numbers?
No. China does not publish standardized, comparable visitor-count data across individual attractions, so this list is based on official 5A/UNESCO recognition, Wikipedia coverage, and general international name recognition rather than ticketed-entry statistics. Treat it as an editorial starting point, especially past the top 20.
What’s the best way to book tickets for these attractions?
Many of the top sites (the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Shanghai Disneyland, and others) sell out or require timed-entry booking, especially in peak season. Booking a skip-the-line ticket or small-group tour in advance through Klook is generally faster than queuing at the gate, and many listings include free cancellation.
Related Guides
Forbidden City Travel Guide 2026: Tickets, Booking & What to See
Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Guide 2026: Tickets, Tips & What to See
Best Things to Do in Beijing (2026 Guide)
Best Things to Do in Shanghai (2026 Guide)
Best Things to Do in Xi’an (2026 Guide)
Related Guides
- Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Guide
- Best Things to Do in Xi'an
- Best Things to Do in Beijing
- Best Things to Do in Suzhou
- How to Use DiDi in China
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