My Travel Suggestions in China | 中国旅行建议

Travel Suggestions in China | 中国旅行建议

The practical guide to the most popular major cities, including must-see sights, highly recommended restaurants (local specialties + reliable quality), and the best souvenirs/gifts to bring home in 2025.

2025年最受欢迎主要城市的实用指南,包括必看景点、强烈推荐的餐厅(当地特色菜 + 可靠品质)以及最佳纪念品/礼品。

1. Beijing 北京

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Beijing Photo Guide | 北京摄影指南
  • Great Wall (Mutianyu or Jinshanling > Badaling – less crowded, more beautiful) | 长城(慕田峪或金山岭 > 八达岭 - 人少,更美)
  • Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square | 故宫 + 天安门广场
  • Summer Palace (Kunming Lake + Longevity Hill) | 颐和园(昆明湖 + 万寿山)
  • Temple of Heaven | 天坛
  • 798 Art District (contemporary art & cool cafés) | 798艺术区(当代艺术和酷咖啡厅)
  • Hutong rickshaw tour + family visit (South Luogu Lane or Yandai Xiejie) | 胡同三轮车游览 + 家庭访问(南锣鼓巷或烟袋斜街)

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Quanjude Roast Duck (全聚德) – classic Peking duck | 经典北京烤鸭
  • Da Dong (大董) – modern upscale Peking duck (less oily, artistic presentation) | 现代高档北京烤鸭(少油,艺术呈现)
  • Hai Wan Ju (海碗居) – old Beijing zhajiangmian & traditional dishes | 老北京炸酱面和传统菜肴
  • King's Joy (京兆尹) – 3-Michelin-star vegetarian (near Yonghegong Lama Temple) | 米其林三星素食(近雍和宫)
  • Black Sesame Kitchen – excellent private dining & cooking classes | 优秀的私房菜和烹饪课程

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Palace Museum (Forbidden City) official souvenirs (imperial jewelry replicas, bookmarks) | 故宫官方纪念品(皇家珠宝复制品、书签)
  • Cloisonné (jingtai lan) vases or jewelry | 景泰蓝花瓶或珠宝
  • Beijing roasted chestnuts or fruit candy (boli) | 北京烤栗子或水果糖(玻璃)
  • Chinese tea from Maliandao Tea Street | 马连道茶街的中国茶

2. Shanghai 上海

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Shanghai Photo Guide | 上海摄影指南
  • The Bund night view + Huangpu River cruise | 外滩夜景 + 黄浦江游船
  • Yu Garden + Old Town bazaar | 豫园 + 老城厢集市
  • Shanghai Tower (118th-floor observatory) or Oriental Pearl Tower | 上海中心(118层观景台)或东方明珠塔
  • Tianzifang or Xintiandi (artsy lanes) | 田子坊或新天地(艺术小巷)
  • Zhujiajiao Water Town (day trip) | 朱家角水乡(一日游)
  • Jing'an Temple & Jade Buddha Temple | 静安寺和玉佛寺

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet – world's most avant-garde dining experience, 20-course | 世界最前卫的用餐体验,20道菜
  • Fu 1088 (沪上经典沪菜) – Shanghainese in an old mansion | 老宅中的上海菜
  • Jesse (老吉士) – legendary xiaolongbao & hairy crab dishes | 传奇小笼包和大闸蟹
  • Da Dong Shanghai – same excellent Peking duck with river view | 同样优秀的北京烤鸭,带江景
  • Lost Heaven – Yunnan cuisine on the Bund | 外滩的云南菜

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Silk scarves, pajamas or qipao from Shanghai Silk Mansion | 上海丝绸大厦的丝巾、睡衣或旗袍
  • Pearls from Hongqiao Pearl Market | 虹桥珍珠市场的珍珠
  • Vintage propaganda posters (Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre) | 复古宣传海报(上海宣传画艺术中心)
  • Local craft beer from Boxing Cat Brewery | 拳击猫啤酒厂的本地精酿啤酒

3. Xi'an 西安

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Xi'an Photo Guide | 西安摄影指南
  • Terracotta Warriors (must book in advance) | 兵马俑(必须提前预订)
  • Ancient City Wall (bike ride!) | 古城墙(骑自行车!)
  • Muslim Quarter night food market | 回民街夜市
  • Big Wild Goose Pagoda + light show | 大雁塔 + 灯光秀
  • Shaanxi History Museum | 陕西历史博物馆
  • Bell & Drum Towers | 钟楼和鼓楼

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Muslim Quarter street food: yangrou paomo, roujiamo ("Chinese hamburger"), biangbiang noodles | 回民街街头小吃:羊肉泡馍、肉夹馍("中国汉堡")、biangbiang面
  • De Fa Chang (德发长) – best jiaozi dumplings in China | 中国最好的饺子
  • Xi'an Roast Duck (西安烤鸭) at Xi'an Fan Zhuang | 西安饭庄的西安烤鸭

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Mini Terracotta Warrior replicas (buy from official museum shop) | 迷你兵马俑复制品(从官方博物馆商店购买)
  • Shadow puppets | 皮影
  • Papercuts from Huixian Paper-cut Village | 辉县剪纸村的剪纸
  • Pomegranate-themed souvenirs (city symbol) | 石榴主题纪念品(城市象征)

4. Chengdu 成都 (Sichuan)

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Chengdu Photo Guide | 成都摄影指南
  • Chengdu Panda Base (go at 7:30–8:00 am for active pandas) | 成都大熊猫基地(早上7:30-8:00去,熊猫最活跃)
  • Jinli Ancient Street & Kuanzhai Alley | 锦里古街和宽窄巷子
  • People's Park (tea houses + ear cleaning!) | 人民公园(茶馆 + 掏耳朵!)
  • Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip) | 乐山大佛(一日游)
  • Dujiangyan + Mount Qingcheng (Daoist mountain) | 都江堰 + 青城山(道教山)

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Chen Mapo Tofu (陈麻婆) – the original mapo tofu since 1862 | 自1862年以来的正宗麻婆豆腐
  • Dan Dan Noodles at Long Chao Shou (龙抄手) | 龙抄手的担担面
  • Huangcheng Laoma (皇城老妈) – top hotpot | 顶级火锅
  • Yu's Family Kitchen – amazing private Sichuan dining | 令人惊叹的私房川菜

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Shu embroidery (Sichuan embroidery) handkerchiefs or table runners | 蜀绣(四川刺绣)手帕或桌旗
  • Panda plush toys/postcards (official Panda Base shop) | 熊猫毛绒玩具/明信片(官方熊猫基地商店)
  • Sichuan peppercorns & chili oil (vacuum-packed) | 四川花椒和辣椒油(真空包装)
  • Bamboo products from Qionglai | 邛崃的竹制品

5. Guangzhou (Canton) 广州

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Guangzhou Photo Guide | 广州摄影指南
  • Canton Tower night view | 广州塔夜景
  • Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (amazing architecture) | 陈家祠(令人惊叹的建筑)
  • Shamian Island (European colonial buildings) | 沙面岛(欧洲殖民建筑)
  • Yuexiu Park & Zhenhai Tower | 越秀公园和镇海楼
  • Flower & bird markets | 花鸟市场

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Dim sum breakfast at Dian Du De (点都德) or Guangzhou Restaurant (广州酒家) | 点都德或广州酒家的早茶
  • Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居) – century-old Cantonese | 百年粤菜
  • Bingsheng (炳胜) – modern upscale Cantonese | 现代高档粤菜

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Cantonese pastry (wife cakes/lao po bing, almond cookies) | 广式糕点(老婆饼、杏仁饼)
  • Herbal tea (wang lao ji granules) | 凉茶(王老吉颗粒)
  • Ceramic tea sets from Chen Clan shops | 陈家祠商店的陶瓷茶具

6. Hangzhou 杭州

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Hangzhou Photo Guide | 杭州摄影指南
  • West Lake (boat ride + Su Causeway walk) | 西湖(游船 + 苏堤漫步)
  • Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak | 灵隐寺和飞来峰
  • Longjing tea village (spring best) | 龙井茶村(春季最佳)
  • Hefang Street night market | 河坊街夜市
  • Xixi Wetland | 西溪湿地

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Lou Wai Lou (楼外楼) – oldest restaurant by West Lake (since 1848) | 西湖边最古老的餐厅(自1848年)
  • Grandma's Home (外婆家) – delicious & affordable Zhejiang cuisine | 美味实惠的浙江菜
  • Green Tea (绿茶) – modern Hangzhou dishes | 现代杭州菜

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Longjing green tea (buy directly from village, look for pre-Qingming grade) | 龙井绿茶(直接从村里购买,寻找明前等级)
  • Silk umbrellas & fans | 丝绸伞和扇子
  • Wang Xing Ji scissors (famous brand since 1663) | 王星记剪刀(自1663年以来的著名品牌)

7. Guilin / Yangshuo 桂林阳朔

Top Sights | 必看景点

📷 Guilin & Yangshuo Photo Guide | 桂林阳朔摄影指南
  • Li River cruise (Xingping section is the most beautiful) | 漓江游船(兴坪段最美)
  • Yangshuo countryside biking | 阳朔乡村骑行
  • West Street nightlife | 西街夜生活
  • Reed Flute Cave | 芦笛岩
  • Longji Rice Terraces (2.5h drive, best Apr–May or Sep–Oct) | 龙脊梯田(2.5小时车程,4-5月或9-10月最佳)

Best Restaurants | 最佳餐厅

  • Yangshuo: beer fish (啤酒鱼) at "Thank the World" restaurant | 阳朔:"谢三姐"餐厅的啤酒鱼
  • Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) everywhere | 到处都有桂林米粉

Gifts to Buy | 推荐礼品

  • Guilin san hua jiu (osmanthus rice wine) | 桂林三花酒(桂花米酒)
  • Painted rice-paper fans | 彩绘宣纸扇
  • Cormorant fisherman miniature models | 鸬鹚渔夫微缩模型
  • Hand-painted inside-bottle art | 手绘内画瓶艺术

Bonus Quick List for Other Popular Cities | 其他热门城市快速列表

  • Hong Kong: Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, buy pineapple buns & egg tarts. | 香港:太平山顶、天星小轮、添好运的早茶,购买菠萝包和蛋挞。
  • Chongqing: Hongya Cave, Ciqikou old town, insane spicy hotpot, buy small noodles spice mix. | 重庆:洪崖洞、磁器口古镇、超辣火锅,购买小面调料。
  • Zhangjiajie: Avatar mountains, Tianmen Mountain glass walkway, buy Tujia embroidery. | 张家界:阿凡达山、天门山玻璃栈道,购买土家刺绣。
  • Lijiang (Yunnan): Old town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, buy Pu'er tea cakes & silver jewelry. | 丽江(云南):古城、玉龙雪山,购买普洱茶饼和银饰。
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