China City Guides

There’s over 100 cities in China with over 1 million people, so trust us we we say there’s always somewhere to go. You’ll probably fly into one of the four so-called 1st Tier Cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou or Shenzhen so they’ll serve as a great springboard to get out an explore some of the lesser known cities of China. We’ve got China city guides for more than 130 of the most popular cities- so you can find your ideal place today!

Top China City Guides

Beijing

Beijing, the vast capital city of China, has a 3,000-year-old history of Imperial style and grandeur. The city boasts s…

Chengdu

Being the natural home of the adorable giant panda, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, China is a very popular t…

Chongqing

Chongqing is a typical self-governed metropolitan city in China just like Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. It is located…

Dali

Located in the Yunnan Province of China is the picturesque Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Its capital, Dali City is an…

Guangzhou

Guangzhou, the third largest city in China, can be best explained as “unity in diversity”. It has modern flyovers and m…

Hangzhou

The city of Hangzhou, the capital of the Zhejiang Province in China was always a popular spot for foreign visitors. The…

Lijiang

Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China (also called Lijiang Ancient Town) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due t…

Luoyang

Surrounded by ancient Buddhist grottoes, parks, monuments, historical relics, etc. is the charming city of Luoyang. The…

Qingdao

Located in the Shandong Province of China is the beautiful seaside city of Qingdao. It has two distinct facets, both eq…

Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world. It’s one of the four direct-controlled municipalit…

Shenzhen

One of China's "modern miracles", Shenzhen was just a small market town of 30,000 people until the opening up policies …

Suzhou

Suzhou is one of the wealthiest cities in China. Located near Shanghai in the southeastern province of Jiangsu, Suzhou …

Tianjin

As Tianjin City is just around 131Kms from Beijing, China’s capital city, it tends to get overshadowed. In fact, a clos…

Xiamen

The beautiful beaches and islands, the old-world charm, and the modern urbanization have collectively made Xiamen City …

Xi'an

Xi’an City is the capital of Shaanxi Province, China and is located at the easternmost tip of the Ancient Silk Route. L…

All China City Guides

Aba Prefecture

The full name of Aba Prefecture located in Tibet, China is Aba Autonomous Prefecture of Tibetan and Qiang Minorities. N…

Ali

The city of Ali has other very interesting names. It is also called Senggzangbo (or Sengghe Tsangpo) which literally me…

Anshan

Anshan is the 3rd biggest city in the Liaoning Province of China. Being just 92Kms from Shenyang, the provincial capita…

Anshun

With the world-famous and impressive Huangguoshu Waterfall in its vicinity, Anshun City sees a lot of tourists from dif…

Anyang

The city of Anyang is located in the north of the Henan Province of China. With a glorious history of 3,300 years, the …

Baoding

Being with a short driving distance from Beijing and Tianjin, the city Baoding has developed into a popular tourist des…

Baoji

Baoji City is a county-level city located in the western regions of Shaanxi Province, China. It is well connected with …

Baoshan

Close to China’s border with Myanmar is the beautiful prefecture-level city of Baoshan. It is located in the Yunnan Pro…

Baotou

Popularly known as the “deer city” is the charming city of Baotou in Inner Mongolia, China. It is located on the banks …

Beihai

Beihai is a charming city in the Guangxi Province along the southwestern coast of China. Downtown Beihai is dominated b…

Beijing

Beijing, the vast capital city of China, has a 3,000-year-old history of Imperial style and grandeur. The city boasts s…

Bo'ao

With irresistible scenery of picturesque beaches, streams, lakes, and rivers Bo’ao City is a popular tourist destinatio…

Bozhou

The county-level city of Bozhou is located in the northwestern section of the Anhui Province, China. It lies on the sou…

Chamdo

Surrounded by the magnificent Trans-Himalayan background is the city of Chamdo (or Qamdo). It is one of the biggest pre…

Changchun

The city of Changchun is located in the northeast of Jilin Province, China. Being the second largest city in the provin…

Changde

Changde City is located in the northern regions of Hunan Province, China. It is not too far from the spectacular West D…

Changsha

The city of Changsha was established on the plains of the Xiang River and was the hub of the Hu-Xiang Culture, an ancie…

Changshu

Changshu is a county-level city which falls under the administration of Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. Lying on …

Changzhou

Located in the Jiangsu Province of China is the charming highly-urbanized city of Changzhou. It is situated on the Yang…

Chengde

The beautiful natural landscape and the variety of attractions are what makes the city of Chengde in Hebei Province, Ch…

Chengdu

Being the natural home of the adorable giant panda, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, China is a very popular t…

Chongqing

Chongqing is a typical self-governed metropolitan city in China just like Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. It is located…

Cixi

Cixi is a small city in the Zhejiang Province of China. It is known more for its massage parlors and spas rather than t…

Dali

Located in the Yunnan Province of China is the picturesque Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Its capital, Dali City is an…

Dalian

The city of Dalian is a modern metropolis and port on the Liaodong Peninsula of China. Due to its picturesque seascape,…

Dandong

Dandong City has beautiful geographical features. The Yalu River acts as a natural border between Dandong and North Kor…

Daqing

Located in the western part of the Heilongjiang Province of China is the beautiful prefecture-level city of Daqing. Sin…

Datong

Datong is the largest city in the Shanxi Province of China. It is a very popular tourist destination due to its wealth …

Dehong

In recent years, the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in the Yunnan Province of China has attracted a lot of…

Dengzhou

Dengzhou City is located in the southwestern part of the Henan Province of China. It lies on the borders of the Henan, …

Dongguan

One of the many much-visited cities in the Guangdong Province of China is Dongguan. This prefecture-level city lies on …

Dujiangyan

Located in the Sichuan Province of China is the remarkable city of Dujiangyan, which is considered a popular summer res…

Dunhuang

The proximity to a wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site has made the city of Dunhuang a much-visited tourist destinatio…

Emei Shan

With a glorious religious history of more than 1,400 years, Emeishan City has grown into a must-see tourist destination…

Enshi

Enshi City, located in the Hubei Province of China is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East”. Its spectacu…

Foshan

The city of Foshan is located in on the banks of the Pearl River, about 20Kms from Guangzhou City, the capital of Guang…

Fushun

Fushun is a prefecture-level city located in the eastern part of the Liaoning Province of China. It was the former capi…

Fuyang

Located in the northwest of the Anhui Province of China is the charming city of Fuyang. Being in close proximity to the…

Fuzhou

Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, China has a picturesque location on the lower reaches of the Min River. The cit…

Garze Prefecture

Made up of not less than 18 beautiful counties, Garze Prefecture is located in the Sichuan Province of China. Words are…

Golmud

Golmud is a charming county-level city in the Qinghai Province of China. It not only boasts of picturesque scenery on i…

Guangyuan

Guangyuan is a lovely city located in the Sichuan Province of China. Well-known for its ancient relics and tombs, it wo…

Guangzhou

Guangzhou, the third largest city in China, can be best explained as “unity in diversity”. It has modern flyovers and m…

Guilin

The city of Guilin is famous for its spectacular landscape of karst (colorful caves and rock formations) hills. Located…

Guiyang

Located at an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau is the scenic city of Guiyang. It …

Haikou

Looking for the best Far Eastern beach with plenty of sunshine, warm seas, clean sands, and luxurious beach resorts are…

Handan

Handan is a medium-sized urban area located in the southern part of Hebei Province in China. The city lies just 200Kms …

Hangzhou

The city of Hangzhou, the capital of the Zhejiang Province in China was always a popular spot for foreign visitors. The…

Harbin

Well-known as the “ice city of the world”, Harbin City is an extremely popular tourist destination for winter sports en…

Hefei

In the last decade, Hefei City, the capital of Anhui Province, China has grown into a popular tourist destination. Hefe…

Hohhot

The charming city of Hohhot (also called Hushi) is the capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region which is situate…

Honghe

The popularity of Honghe Hani Prefecture as a tourist destination has shown an upward trend in the last few years due t…

Hotan

Located on the ancient Silk Route in the Xinjiang Province, China is a beautiful oasis city called Hotan. It has been a…

Huai'an

Huai'an City is situated in the northern regions of Jiangsu Province, China. It is surrounded by a picturesque landscap…

Huaibei

Huaibei is a prefecture-level city located on the northern side of Anhui Province, China. It acts as a link between the…

Huainan

Located along the middle reaches of the Huaihe River is the charming city of Huainan. Being in the Anhui Province of Ch…

Huangshan

Huangshan City (old name Tunxi) has become a much-visited tourist destination in China due to its proximity to the Huan…

Huangshi

Located in the southeastern part of Hubei Province, China is the charming city of Huangshi. It is sandwiched between th…

Hua Shan

Located in the Shaanxi Province of China is the lovely Hua Shan City, also known as Huayin. Although it is almost 120Km…

Huizhou

Huizhou City is situated on the Dayawan Bay in the South China Sea. Being on the coastline of the Guangdong Province of…

Jiangmen

Proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage Site has plummeted Jiangmen City into the limelight since 2007. The city is locate…

Jiangyin

Jiangyin is a port city in the Jiangsu Province of China. Historically, the city has been an important trade and transp…

Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan City is located in Gansu Province of China in what is popularly known as the Hexi Corridor. Therefore, the ci…

Jilin City

There are two major reasons why Jilin City has always been and still is a very popular tourist destination. One reason …

Jinan

The capital of Shandong Province, China is well-known as the “spring city” because it has the most pleasant climate thr…

Jingdezhen

Located in the Jiangxi Province of China is a place that has always been famous for its exquisite porcelain and pottery…

Jiuhua Shan

Located in the Qingyang County of the Anhui Province of China is a national 5A scenic area called Jiuhua Shan or Mount …

Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong

The Sichuan Province of China is the home of twin scenic areas that attract a vast number of inbound tourists throughou…

Kaifeng

Kaifeng City, previously the capital of the Henan Province of China, has the distinction of being the capital of eight …

Kangding

Kangding, also called Dartsendo is the largest city in the Sichuan Province of China. Its picturesque landscape on the …

Kashgar

The city if Kashgar is located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It lies in the westernmost part of China where…

Kunming

Kunming City is a very popular tourist destination in China due to multiple reasons. It is blessed with beautiful lands…

Lanzhou

Lanzhou City, located on the banks of the Yellow River is the capital of Gansu Province, China. It is blessed with sple…

Leshan

Leshan is a prefecture-level city located in the Sichuan Province of China. The city is blessed with spectacular scener…

Lhasa

Lhasa City is also called the “land of the Gods” because it is located in the valleys of the mystic Himalayan Ranges. T…

Lijiang

Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China (also called Lijiang Ancient Town) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due t…

Linyi

Linyi City in the Shandong Province of China is a modern urban area with a tourist-friendly culture. Yet, it is surroun…

Liuzhou

The city of Liuzhou is located in the middle of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The city itself is a well-…

Lu'an

Located in the western regions of the Anhui Province of China is a charming city called Lu’an. It is a popular tourist …

Luoyang

Surrounded by ancient Buddhist grottoes, parks, monuments, historical relics, etc. is the charming city of Luoyang. The…

Lu Shan

In the Jiangxi Province in central China lies the magnificent Lu Shan or Mount Lu which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site…

Ma'anshan

Ma'anshan is a beautiful urban area lying on the southern banks of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The city is …

Mianyang

Mianyang City is the second largest prefecture-level urban area in the Sichuan Province of China. It lies on the middle…

Mogan Shan

Situated near Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China is a perfect little hill station that has breathtaking vistas. Th…

Nagchu

Nagchu (also called Nagqu or Nakchu) is a charming city located at an altitude of 4,507 meters above sea level in the T…

Nanchang

When cities are located on ancient trade routes they evolve into prosperous areas with a charming mix of nationalities …

Nanchong

Located in the Sichuan Province of China is the beautiful city of Nanchong. Being on the middle reaches of the Jialing …

Nanjing

Just 300Kms from Shanghai is the beautiful city of Nanjing. It is the capital of the Jiangsu Province of China and is c…

Nanning

Located on the banks of the Yong River, Nanning is a city full of evergreen trees and a variety of fragrant flowers. So…

Nantong

Nantong City is a major urban area in the Jiangsu Province of China. The fact that the city is a crucial port on the mo…

Nanxun

The Nanxun Ancient Water Town is a prefecture-level city in the Zhejiang Province of China. It is located on the Yangtz…

Nanyang

Well-known for the exquisite quality Dushan jade and dinosaur fossils discovered near the city, Nanyang City is popular…

Ningbo

Being a busy port on the Hangzhou Bay to the south of Shanghai has made Ningbo City one of the most popular tourist des…

Nyingtri

Termed as the Switzerland of China, the prefecture-level city of Nyingtri is located in the eastern part of the Tibetan…

Panjin

Panjin City is located in the southwestern part of the Liaoning Province, China. It is in the middle of the Liaohe Rive…

Pingyao

Located in the Shanxi Province of China is a quaint Pingyao City. Also called Pingyao Old Town, it is so beautiful that…

Pizhou

With a combination of marshy wetlands and tall mountains, the geography around Pizhou City is very attractive for touri…

Putian

Putian City is an urban area in the Fujian Province of China which has gained popularity as a tourist destination only …

Putuo Shan

Located in the Zhoushan Archipelago, Zhejiang Province, China is one of the most picturesque and unique islands in the …

Qingdao

Located in the Shandong Province of China is the beautiful seaside city of Qingdao. It has two distinct facets, both eq…

Qinhuangdao

Located very close to the metro cities of Beijing and Tianjin in China is a beautiful summer beachside destination, nam…

Qiqihar

Qiqihar is an important commercial city in the Heilongjiang Province of China. It is located on the border formed by th…

Quanzhou

Located in the Fujian Province of China, Quanzhou City is a prosperous political, economic, and trading center. It is a…

Qujing

At the mouth of the Pearl River in China lies a surprisingly well-developed metropolitan city of Qujing. This prefectur…

Sanya

The Hainan Archipelago of China enjoys the best tropical-island type of climate which attracts millions of tourists thr…

Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world. It’s one of the four direct-controlled municipalit…

Shangri-La

Made famous by the author James Hilton in his novel Lost Horizon, the term “Shangri-La” is akin to paradise on Earth. T…

Shantou

Shantou City comes under the Special Economic Zone in the Guangdong Province of China. Hence, it is a beautiful city wi…

Shaoxing

Located along the Hangzhou Bay on the eastern coastline of Zhejiang Province, China is a beautiful prefecture-level cit…

Shaxi

Shaxi City, better known as Shaxi Ancient Town lies halfway between the cities of Dali and Lijiang in the Yunnan Provin…

Shennongjia

The city of Shennongjia lies in close proximity with a wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Hubei Province of Ch…

Shenyang

As the provincial capital of Liaoning Province, China, Shenyang is a bustling metropolis with the most modern facilitie…

Shenzhen

One of China's "modern miracles", Shenzhen was just a small market town of 30,000 people until the opening up policies …

Shigatse

Shigatse City (also called Xigaze) has a glorious history of more than 600 years with various dynasties ruling at diffe…

Shijiazhuang

Shijiazhuang City, the capital of the Hebei Province is located in the fertile North China Plain. It has the spectacula…

Shunde

With a location like the Pearl River Delta, Shunde City has always been a fertile and prosperous region. Also called Sh…

Songpan

Famous for its picturesque horse-trekking and cycling trails is the charming city of Songpan. It is located in the Aba …

Suqian

Suqian City is located in the northern part of the Jiangsu Province of China. It is a city full of various types of tou…

Suzhou

Suzhou is one of the wealthiest cities in China. Located near Shanghai in the southeastern province of Jiangsu, Suzhou …

Suzhou (Anhui)

Suzhou is a smallish city located in the Anhui Province of China. It is just over 220 kilometers from Hefei, the capita…

Tai'an

Tai’an City has been a popular tourist spot since ancient times for various reasons. Its proximity to the picturesque T…

Tai Shan

Taishan is a county-sized city located in Jiangmen Prefecture in the southwestern region of Guangdong Province, China. …

Taiyuan

Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province, China is a metropolis that expertly juggles lush greenery, ancient cultur…

Taizhou

The city of Taizhou is located on the coastline of the East China Sea in the Zhejiang Province, China. With a long hist…

Tangshan

Tangshan City was first propelled into fame in 1971 when the martial arts legend Bruce Lee’s movie Tangshan Daxiong (Bi…

Tengzhou

Tengzhou is a small county-city located in the Zaozhuang City limits, Shandong Province, China. During the Spring and A…

Three Gorges

The Three Gorges Scenic Area is a grand canyon on the Yangtze River and is one of the most spectacular regions of China…

Tianjin

As Tianjin City is just around 131Kms from Beijing, China’s capital city, it tends to get overshadowed. In fact, a clos…

Tongli

Tucked away in the Jiangsu Province of China is the charming Tongli Ancient Water Town which is often referred to as th…

Tongren

Enjoying the picturesque scenery of the Fanjing Peak (Wuling Mountain Range) in China is the prefecture-level city of T…

Turpan

Turpan is a prefecture-level city situated in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. It is a charming blend of…

Urumqi

Also spelt as Ürümqi, the city of Wurumuqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Being a re…

Weifang

Being the venue of the annual International Kite Festival, the city of Weifang in Shandong Province, China has always b…

Wenling

Wenling is a county-level city within the municipality of Taizhou in the southeastern part of Zhejiang Province, China.…

Wenshanzhou

Wenshanzhou City (Wenshan for short) is a small city in the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. It is locate…

Wenzhou

Wenzhou City is located on the south-eastern coast of the Zhejiang Province of China. Being a busy port and trading zon…

Wudang Shan

Wudang Shan or Mount Wudang is a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site that has drawn a large number of tourists for a…

Wuhan

There is no doubt that Wuhan City is not as famous as Beijing or Shanghai where tourist destinations in China are consi…

Wuxi

Wuxi City located near Shanghai belongs to the top 10 most visited cities in China due to its picturesque landscapes an…

Wuyi Shan

Located on the spectacular Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian Province of China is the lovely city of Wuyi Shan. This hill-re…

Wuzhen

Wuzhen Water Town falls within the regular tourist circuit because it is a picturesque town with the Shi River flowing …

Xiahe

Popularly known as “small Tibet” Xiahe is a county with breathtaking landscapes of towering mountains, rivers, lush gre…

Xiamen

The beautiful beaches and islands, the old-world charm, and the modern urbanization have collectively made Xiamen City …

Xi'an

Xi’an City is the capital of Shaanxi Province, China and is located at the easternmost tip of the Ancient Silk Route. L…

Xiangtan

Located in the middle reaches of the Xiang River in the Hunan Province, China is the charming city of Xiangtan. Being t…

Xichang

Among the several popular tourist destinations in the Sichuan Province of China, the city of Xichang is a real gem. Als…

Xining

Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, China is endowed with the world’s most stunning scenery. The city is located i…

Xishuangbanna

Xishuangbanna is a prefecture-level city located in the southeastern corner of China. It is the easiest land-based acce…

Xitang

The Xitang Ancient Town is located near the Jiaxing City in China. The town is a 5A category tourist attraction with it…

Xuzhou

The city of Xuzhou epitomizes the Han Chinese culture. Xuzhou is located in the Jiangsu Province of China and lies at t…

Ya'an

The lovely city of Ya’an is termed as the Chinese scenic route because it lies on the intersection of several golden to…

Yan'an

In the middle reaches of the Yellow River of China, in the heart of Shaanxi Province lies the beautiful city of Yan’an.…

Yancheng

Yancheng is located in the central plains of northern Jiangsu Province, China. The city faces east towards the Yellow S…

Yangshuo

Well-known for its colorful karst rock formations and caves, the city of Yangshuo is a very popular holiday destination…

Yangzhou

Listed as one of the top 10 leisure cities of China, Yangzhou City is a sought-after tourist destination of the Jiangsu…

Yantai

Yantai City in the Shandong Province is unlike any other city in China. Instead of the typical traditional Chinese arch…

Yibin

Having a unique location is the biggest asset of prefecture-level Yibin City, Sichuan Province, China. The tributary Mi…

Yichang

Located on the easternmost section of the Three Gorges scenic area is the lovely prefecture-level city of Yichang. It i…

Yinchuan

Yinchuan City is the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. It is located in the central part of the fert…

Yingkou

Yingkou City is located between the cities of Shenyang (provincial capital) and Dalian in the coastal economic zone of …

Yiwu

There are two factors that have made Yiwu City in Zhejiang Province, China a popular tourist destination in recent year…

Yulin

Located in the northernmost part of Shaanxi Province, China is the beautiful but little-known city of Yulin. The city h…

Yuxi

In the center of the colorful Yunnan Province of China lies the prefecture-level city of Yuxi. It is situated just 90Km…

Zhangjiajie

The Heavenly Pillar located in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was the inspiration for creating the Hallelujah Mountai…

Zhangjiakou

The city of Zhangjiakou has a unique location of being close to Beijing City and the provinces of Shanxi and Inner Mong…

Zhanjiang

Zhanjiang, a small fishing and port city is located in the southwest of Guangdong Province, China. Being in the Leizhou…

Zhaoqing

Encompassing the lower and middle reaches of the Xijiang River in China is a charming city named Zhaoqing. It is a pref…

Zhengzhou

Known for its Shaolin Kung Fu martial arts (made famous by Hollywood films) Zhengzhou City is a great blend of ancient …

Zhenjiang

Although it is a popular tourist destination for Chinese tourists, the beautiful city of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, C…

Zhongshan

Located to the south of the Pearl River Delta in the Guangdong Province is the beautiful coastal city of Zhongshan. The…

Zhouzhuang

The exotic Zhouzhuang Water Town has beautiful 900-year-old houses built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Meandering…

Zhuhai

Known for its vast archipelago, the beautiful city of Zhuhai lies on the southern end of the Pearl River Delta in the G…

Zibo

The city of Zibo is located in the middle of the Shandong Province of China. Being sandwiched between the Yellow River …

Zigong

Zigong City is located in the southern section of the Sichuan Province, China. It lies on the banks of the Fuxi River n…