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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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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