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The Li River bends around karst peaks near Yangshuo, in the Guilin region of Guangxi.

Follow a feeling.
Find your China.

Some journeys begin with a view, others with a flavour or a slower pace. Follow what draws you in, then find a city to make it yours.

Follow your curiosity

Six ways to meet China.

From misty rivers to late-night tables, China opens up in many ways. Choose a mood, then follow one of the cities below.

The Li River bends around karst peaks near Yangshuo, in the Guilin region of Guangxi.

Mountains & Water

Follow the Li River, linger among peaks, and let the landscape set the pace.
GuilinZhangjiajieYangshuoDaliQingdao
A watchtower and city wall illuminated at night in Xi’an.

The Living Old Town

City walls, quiet courtyards and old lanes where history is still part of the day.
Xi’anPingyaoSuzhouLijiangKashgar
The illuminated Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River in Shanghai.

City After Dark

Walk the waterfront after sunset and discover the city in a different light.
ShanghaiChongqingShenzhenHong KongGuangzhou
A nine-compartment hotpot with different broths in a Chongqing restaurant in February 2018.

A Taste of the City

Start with a local table, then follow the flavours into the neighbourhood.
ChengduChangshaGuangzhouXi’anGuiyang
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain seen from Yak Meadow in February 2026.

Beyond the City

Wide skies, distant peaks and places that make you look a little further.
LhasaUrumqiDunhuangKashgarLijiang
Jixian Pavilion and water lilies on West Lake in Hangzhou.

Jiangnan, Unhurried

Garden paths, lakeside mornings and afternoons with nowhere else to be.
HangzhouSuzhouNanjing

Through the seasons

Where suits China this month?

Each season reveals a different China. Choose your month to find a few places worth looking closer at.

Your first journey

A thoughtful place to begin.

You don’t have to see it all on a first visit. Begin with a route that feels right, and leave a little longer for the places you love.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony and its marble terrace in Beijing’s Forbidden City.A first journey
China’s First Chapter
Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai

Imperial courtyards, an ancient capital and a city looking forward: a first journey through China’s past and present.

The Li River bends around karst peaks near Yangshuo, in the Guilin region of Guangxi.A first journey
From Lakes to Rivers
Shanghai → Hangzhou → Guilin → Yangshuo

Leave the skyline for lakeside walks, then follow the Li River into a landscape of peaks and village paths.

A nine-compartment hotpot with different broths in a Chongqing restaurant in February 2018.A first journey
Follow the Flavour
Guangzhou → Changsha → Chongqing → Chengdu

Morning tea, street-side snacks and a shared hotpot table. Let each city introduce itself through its food.

A watchtower and city wall illuminated at night in Xi’an.A first journey
Along the Old Walls
Beijing → Luoyang → Xi’an → Pingyao

Palace gates, carved cliffs and living old towns. Read the layers of history without rushing past the everyday life around them.

A giant panda resting on a wooden platform at Chengdu Panda Base.A first journey
Towards the Highlands
Chengdu → Lijiang → Lhasa

Begin in Chengdu, then move towards mountain landscapes and the light of the plateau. Give each place time to unfold.

Make room for the journey

Find a journey that fits your time.

Two days for a city’s first impressions; a week to connect a few favourites. Leave space for the moments you didn’t plan.

48 hours
One city, a first impression
  • Beijing · palaces & hutongs
  • Shanghai · riverfront & old lanes
  • Chengdu · pandas & tea houses
3–5 days
One city in depth, or two nearby
  • Beijing · 4 days
  • Shanghai & Suzhou · 4 days
  • Chengdu · 4 days
  • Chongqing · 3 days
  • Xi’an · 3 days
  • Guilin & Yangshuo · 5 days
7–10 days
Connect a few favourites
  • Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai
  • Shanghai → Hangzhou → Suzhou
  • Chengdu → Chongqing → Zhangjiajie
  • Kunming → Dali → Lijiang
14 days+
A wider view of China
  • East China, at an easy pace
  • Southwest cities & landscapes
  • The Silk Road · Xi’an to Kashgar
  • Yunnan, then the Tibetan plateau

The Jade Atlas edit

Places worth travelling for.

Six curated collections bring together remarkable landscapes, local flavours and places rich in history. Find a favourite, then explore its city guide.

Leave room for chance

Let the next city find you.

When more than one place calls to you, let a little chance make the first choice. Pick a symbol and meet a city you may not have considered.

The Li River bends around karst peaks near Yangshuo, in the Guilin region of Guangxi.

A city, chosen by chance.

Choose one of six symbols. Discover your destination, its story and a guide to take you further.

Find my next city →