Activities and experiences, from markets and classes to outdoor trips and evening entertainment, for filling your time in a destination.
10 places · Updated October 27, 2026
Our top 3 things to do in China
Thing to do
A self-guided walk from People's Square along East Nanjing Road's 1.2-kilometre pedestrian street to the Bund, finishing with the short ferry ride across to Lujiazui.
View details — East Nanjing Road and the Bund walkThing to do
A restored Ming section of the Great Wall about 70 km north-east of Beijing, with 22 watchtowers, a cable car, a chairlift and a toboggan ride down.
View details — Mutianyu Great WallThing to do
Three linked lakes north of Beihai Park, once the end of the Grand Canal, surrounded by hutongs, princely mansions, bars and the Drum and Bell Towers.
View details — Shichahai and Houhai LakesThing to do
A three-kilometre walk through the former French Concession, from László Hudec's Wukang Mansion along plane-tree-lined Wukang Road to the shops and cafés of Anfu Road.
View details — Wukang Road and Anfu Road walkThing to do
A former 1950s electronics factory complex in Chaoyang, now Beijing's best-known art district with galleries, studios, design shops and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art.
View details — 798 Art ZoneThing to do
A maze of 1930s shikumen lanes off Taikang Road, saved from demolition and now filled with more than 200 small cafés, studios, craft shops and bars.
View details — TianzifangThing to do
Beijing's largest antiques and collectibles market, near the South Third Ring Road, with stalls selling ceramics, calligraphy, jade, furniture and second-hand books.
View details — Panjiayuan Antique MarketThing to do
A district of restored shikumen lanes around Madang Road, turned into restaurants, bars and shops, beside the site of the Chinese Communist Party's first congress.
View details — XintiandiThing to do
The burial ground of thirteen Ming emperors in a valley in Changping, with the stone-lined Sacred Way and the open tombs of Changling, Dingling and Zhaoling.
View details — Ming TombsThing to do
A canal town in Qingpu with 36 stone bridges, Qing-era streets and boat rides, reached directly by Metro Line 17 for an easy day trip from central Shanghai.
View details — Zhujiajiao Ancient Town