My Top 5 Favourite Cities in China

Having travelled to over 70 cities across China, visited 95% of the provinces, you can say I’m well travelled. Only Tibet and Hainan are left on my to-visit list. The natives are surprised at how much of China I’ve explored in so little time.

I would have included Shenzhen on this list, however taking into account that it one of my second homes, it would be a little bit biased giving it an unfair advantage taking up a spot when there’s plenty of amazing cities out there. In no particular order, here are my top 5 favourite cities.

Shanghai 上海

People will prefer either Shanghai or Beijing. The friendly rivalry between the two cities is just like between the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. In my case, Shanghai is my jam. Beijing is rich in culture and history whilst Shanghai is more of a modern and cosmopolitan city. I had visited every well known and lesser-known tourist spots within my first month in Beijing which had resulted in gradually disliking the city itself. I became bored in a very short amount of time.

When I had first stepped into Shanghai, I could immediately feel a different vibe. I could see myself living there and to not be bored just from the very first day of visiting. Better food, nightlife and shopping. It reminds me of Hong Kong, a city I hold dearly close to my heart. The variety of food available is a winner here and more suited to my palate. It’s easier to find good quality food to satisfy whatever you’re craving, especially if you’re missing something Western. Plus, many international food chains will open their first branch here like Taco Bell and Tim Hortons.

It’s the fashion capital of China, hence Shanghai Fashion Week, and overall just full of opportunities. You’ll meet all walks of life from around the world within this one city. If you love a mix of China and international energy, you will love Shanghai. Dynamic and vibrant.

Guilin 桂林

Guilin is famous for its karst landscape, leaving me feeling breathless at the beautiful, jaw-dropping views in and around Guilin. It’s a city I wouldn’t mind retiring in. There is a saying in Chinese, “桂林山水甲天下，阳朔山水甲桂林” which can be roughly translated to “The landscape in Guilin is the best in China, and the landscape in Yangshuo is the best in Guilin”. I without a doubt agree with it.

There is something about Guilin and its surrounding area (including Yangshuo) that was love at first sight. I could take a stroll at my own pace and just breathe, but only when it’s off-peak season, although, don’t get me started during peak season. This applies to every tourist destination in China, not just Guilin alone. When tourists aren’t crowding the areas, you will be able to fully immerse yourself in tranquil lakes, beautiful green scenery and magical mountains up close and afar. No picture will ever come close to what you see with your own eyes. It’ll exceed your own expectations. Guilin is probably the number one city I would recommend everyone to visit.

Chengdu 成都

Panda heaven. When I think of Chengdu, the giant pandas come straight to mind then the numbing spicy food comes in a close second. Chengdu is known for its slow-paced, calm and leisurely lifestyle, the total opposite of Beijing and Shanghai. It’s also the gateway to Tibet. Being in this city has brought out my inner child and love for all things panda. There’s always a smile on my face. It’s also known as the new youth capital, attracting the new generation of youth. From this, you can say it’s very youth-orientated, combining modern and ancient flavours.

Jiuzhaigou National Park (九寨沟) is a must place visit but sadly I didn’t have the opportunity during my stay in Chengdu. It was closed at the time due to the earthquake in 2017 and rainstorm in 2018 and has been open since late 2019, but visitors are limited to 5000 per day. You’ll need to book your reservation months in advanced. I believe it is currently closed to foreigners due to the pandemic.

Huanglong Valley, known as the Fairy Land of Earth, is 2 hours away from Jiuzhaigou and another area of interest. You can immediately guess it’s full of stunning natural landscapes like its older brother, Jiuzhaigou. I can go on and on the various areas of interest but there’s just not enough time. Or I can just spam you with panda photos and videos.

Qingdao 青岛

Being seaside born and raised myself, I without a doubt had to include a seaside city. Hence, the beach and sea are naturally dear to my heart. In my opinion, Qingdao beats Xiamen and Dalian. You’ll notice that there is a unique mixture of Eastern and Western architecture due to its history and has retained this. It doesn’t feel like you’re in a Chinese city most of the time, then again, I wouldn’t consider it as your typical city. If anyone feels homesick, a trip to Qingdao can make you feel at home, well maybe not 100% but it does help when you see something familiar and reminds you of the West.

For the beer lovers, it’s the home of famous Tsingtao beer and you can tour the factory, grab a beer in a bag too. As with any other coastal city or town, there is an amazing array of fresh seafood, and you’ll get a taste of Lu (鲁) cuisine. For the sea travellers, you can catch a 17-hour ferry to Incheon, South Korea – the capital’s, Seoul, next-door neighbour. Qingdao hosted the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events back in 2008 so there’s a big sailing culture here. To sum it up, unique architecture, mountains, sea, beautiful beaches, relaxed feel, what’s not to love. I love sitting on the beach, watching the sunset whilst reflecting and go for nightly walks afterwards.

Yunnan 云南

OK, this is sort of cheating as Yunnan is a province and not a city. I couldn’t decide. Yunnan contains the highest concentration of ethnic minorities (26 to be exact) therefore you’ll be exposed to various food, dialects and culture. I’ve visited various ethnic minority villages that aren’t very touristy or known to foreigners and they were as authentic as you can get. You’ll see them integrating into modern China life too, wearing their beautiful, traditional clothing. Yunnan is beautifully diverse in both cultures and nature.

I had travelled the typical route, Kunming – Dali – Lijiang but I do wish I had travelled a lot deeper. Next time, exploring outside the touristy cities and towns and hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge from the start rather than 14km in would be a priority. No matter whereabouts you are in Yunnan or what transport you’re taking, there are scenic and picturesque views in your eye line, a definite must-visit province on top of my Guilin recommendation. It’s one of the few areas in China I would visit over and over again, through the different seasons and experience various festivals. One day.

These are my top 5 favourite cities in China. What is your favourite city in China?

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