Know where the information comes from.

Our source notes and photo credits are part of the trip.

Information, with a date

Core planning notes were checked on 2026-10-28; each detailed guide carries its own source-review date. A date check is not a promise that a venue is open or that tickets remain available. Public holidays, exhibitions and temporary changes require a current check.

Detailed place guides link individual visitor facts to their sources. The city index below connects every guide to its evidence.

Decorative artwork

An earlier decorative ink landscape remains in the asset archive. It is AI-generated artwork, not a photograph of a named destination. The landscape discovery pages use credited real photographs. Journal covers also use real photographs with their destination credits.

More destination photographs

Recorded 360° panoramas

The Bund at night: a recorded 360° viewpoint
Greg Zaal · April 2018 · CC0
Creator-supplied tone-mapped JPEG resized to 4096×2048 for interactive viewing. A rectilinear 100° horizontal / 62° vertical perspective preview was mathematically projected with FFmpeg v360; no generative content or scene edits. File provenance and credits.

Film sources

The art of a Chinese imperial garden
UNESCO / NHK · © NHK. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

An army made for an emperor
UNESCO / TBS · © TBS. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Mountains that inspired a thousand paintings
UNESCO / TBS · © TBS. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Inside the sandstone landscape of Wulingyuan
UNESCO / NHK · © NHK. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
UNESCO TV / NHK · © NHK. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A Day Roaming Mutianyu: Discover the Great Wall with an Overseas Blogger
Mutianyu Great Wall official portal · original external video host. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Virtual Tour | Jingshan Park
Visit Beijing · municipal tourism authority. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Discovering Beihai: stone calligraphy in the imperial garden
CCTV-10 · Travel Along the Books. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A changing display: Ming–Qing galleries
National Museum of China. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Prince Kung’s Palace: the museum’s own film
Prince Kung’s Palace Museum. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Tibetan Buddhist Temple: Beijing Yonghegong
Yonghegong official website. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Visiting Soong Ching Ling’s residence: home and public life
CCTV-10 · Travel Along the Books. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

National Treasure: objects from Shaanxi History Museum
CCTV-3 · National Treasure. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Xi’an’s north-eastern wall and moat at dusk
Liuxingy · recorded 28 March 2024. CC BY-SA 4.0 · A local playback conversion retains the same licence. Full media credit and modifications.

Xuanzang: a journey, then a lifetime of translation
CCTV Documentary · Asia: Light of Civilization. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A recorded view of the Bell Tower
CGTN · published 28 October 2025. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

The galloping horse and its rider
Guangming Online · Museum Speaks. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Rice and dates: the craft behind zenggao
Jiangxi Satellite TV programme · Shaanxi ICH digital museum host. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A short look at the illuminated street
CGTN · published 20 August 2025. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Stroll along the Bund, read Shanghai
CGTN · Caroline Wu · 26 February 2026. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Yu Garden: a celebrated garden of the southeast
Kankan News feature · Yu Garden official host. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Da Ke Ding: a vessel and its inscription
Shanghai Museum official video page · published 29 June 2021. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Hengfu streets through a visitor’s eyes
International Services Shanghai · 19 May 2026. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

M50 through a visitor’s eyes
International Services Shanghai · 9 July 2026. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A Huangpu evening: Xintiandi and Yuyuan
Huangpu district government / International Services Shanghai · 16 October 2025. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A recorded view from The Stage
International Services Shanghai · 16 April 2025. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Feel the pulse of the West Bund
International Services Shanghai · 29 October 2025. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A water town through Italian eyes
Zhujiajiao scenic-area operator · original recorded feature. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Heritage activities in Guyi Garden
Shanghai television / KankanNews · municipal archive · 6 June 2024. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Three temples with visiting Thai hosts
City News Service / SHINE · Yan Jingyang and Wang Xinzhou · 5 March 2025. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Shanghai from the observatory
International Services Shanghai · 22 May 2026. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Shanghai: A vibrant city
Shanghai Municipal Government General Office / Shanghai Fabu · 9 March 2026. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Craft, up close at Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
GDToday · Guangzhou municipal English portal. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A rainy-day walk through Shamian
GDToday · Liwan District government portal. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Nantou in a short operator montage
Nantou City website · original publisher; film rights remain with their creators. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Drone delivery of food at a Futian park
EyeShenzhen / Shenzhen Daily · video by Marina · 27 September 2024. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A little time in the sun
Chengdu Panda Base · original recorded clip. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

The shrine, introduced in motion
Wuhou Shrine Museum · linked digital cultural journey. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A street becomes a stage
Jinli operator · original video index. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

A small introduction to a poet’s place
CGTN · A Slice of Chengdu · 10 November 2024. Official external player or source page. No video file is rehosted here.

Practical guide sources

Checked 2026-10-28. Policy dates and product conditions may change. The guides distinguish official facts from our preparation suggestions.

Chinese Embassy in the UK · visa-free entry

GOV.UK · China entry requirements

US Department of State · China travel guidance

National Immigration Administration · transit policy

State Council portal · overseas visitor payment guide

Ministry of Commerce · 2025 daily-life guide

China Railway 12306 · English FAQ

Shanghai government · metro travel guide

Beijing government · accommodation registration

GOV.UK · internet access in China

GOV.UK · emergency services in China

Palace Museum · official reservation instructions

Shanghai Museum · East branch visitor information

Landscape background

Hangzhou · UNESCO heritage record

Suzhou · UNESCO heritage record

Huangshan · UNESCO heritage record

Jiuzhaigou · UNESCO heritage record

Wulingyuan · UNESCO heritage record

Guilin · UNESCO heritage record

Landscape photographs

Detailed place-guide sources

Every guide links individual practical facts to the relevant source. Open the guide for publication dates, current uncertainties and editorial visit suggestions.

Chengdu · 4 place guides

Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum · full guide & evidence
Museum home: actual foreign-ticketing link

Jinli Cultural & Tourism Street · full guide & evidence
Jinli operator: current home, activities and notice links

Wuhou Shrine Museum · full guide & evidence
Wuhou Shrine: current Chinese ticket categories and linked mobile booking rules

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · full guide & evidence
Panda Base: Chinese and English current admission, documents and refunds

Beijing · 10 place guides

The Palace Museum · full guide & evidence
Palace Museum · international visitor guide

Temple of Heaven · full guide & evidence
Temple of Heaven · official hours and facilities

Mutianyu Great Wall · full guide & evidence
Mutianyu operator · current visitor rules (Chinese)

A slower morning in the hutongs · full guide & evidence
Xicheng district · Shichahai cultural routes

The Summer Palace · full guide & evidence
Beijing government · Summer Palace visitor information

Jingshan Park · full guide & evidence
Beijing government · current Jingshan visitor page

Beihai Park · full guide & evidence
Beijing government · Beihai visitor page

Prince Kung’s Palace Museum · full guide & evidence
Prince Kung’s Palace · official guide

Yonghegong · Lama Temple · full guide & evidence
Beijing tourism portal · Yonghegong

National Museum of China · full guide & evidence
National Museum of China · visitor reservation guidelines

Xi’an · 8 place guides

The Terracotta Army · full guide & evidence
Museum · official visitor guide

Shaanxi History Museum — Main · full guide & evidence
Shaanxi History Museum · official visitor guide

Time on the city wall · full guide & evidence
Xi’an government · wall and Yongning Gate background

An evening exploring Xi’an food · full guide & evidence
Amap · Sajinqiao food-street location listing

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area · full guide & evidence
Xi’an government · Giant Wild Goose Pagoda background

Grand Tang Mall · full guide & evidence
Xi’an government · Grand Tang Mall

Xi’an Bell & Drum Towers · full guide & evidence
Xi’an government · Bell Tower and Drum Tower background

Xi’an Museum & Small Wild Goose Pagoda · full guide & evidence
Xi’an government · museum and pagoda background

Shanghai · 12 place guides

Yu Garden · full guide & evidence
Yu Garden · official admission and entrances

Shanghai Museum East · full guide & evidence
Shanghai Museum · East branch admission

A walk along the Bund · full guide & evidence
Shanghai tourism authority · Bund overview

Wukang Road & Anfu Road · full guide & evidence
Municipal Wukang–Anfu district overview

M50 Creative Park · full guide & evidence
Municipal M50 visitor introduction

Xintiandi neighbourhood · full guide & evidence
Shanghai government · Xintiandi Shikumen Block

North Bund riverside · full guide & evidence
Hongkou government · North Bund walking route

West Bund art & riverfront · full guide & evidence
West Bund operator · museum overview

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town · full guide & evidence
Shanghai government · Zhujiajiao heritage overview

Nanxiang Old Street & garden area · full guide & evidence
Shanghai government · Nanxiang Ancient Town

Shanghai Tower · Top of Shanghai · full guide & evidence
Shanghai Tower operator · observatory and ticket-channel information

Jing’an Temple · full guide & evidence
Official Shanghai tourism site · Jing’an Temple

Guangzhou · 5 place guides

Cantonese Opera Art Museum · full guide & evidence
UNESCO: Yueju opera, Representative List 2009

Yongqing Fang · full guide & evidence
Liwan District: Yongqing Fang, English introduction, 4 September 2026

Shamian Island · full guide & evidence
Guangzhou municipal English portal: Shamian Island, 14 April 2025

Canton Tower · full guide & evidence
Haizhu District: Canton Tower, 1 September 2023

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall · full guide & evidence
Guangdong Folk Arts Museum: current home and contacts

Shenzhen · 5 place guides

Ping An Finance Centre · Free Sky · full guide & evidence
Trip.com UK: current commercial admission rules and product listings

Dafen Oil Painting Village · full guide & evidence
Organiser: bilingual village and venue introduction

Shenzhen Museum · History & Folk Culture · full guide & evidence
Museum: Chinese visitor services

Lianhuashan Park · full guide & evidence
Shenzhen park manager: Lianhuashan visitor page

Nantou Ancient City · full guide & evidence
Nantou operator: current homepage, visitor contacts and dated calendar

More attraction photographs

Dates, authors and licences (753 photographs)
Ping an 1.jpg

Ping an 1.jpg · Gigel.atat
2015-09-26 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

WingHingFong.jpg

WingHingFong.jpg · PQ77wd
2018-11-07 20:23:13 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Beijing Danbi Bridge.jpg

Beijing Danbi Bridge.jpg · 钉钉
2021-02-15 13:22:20 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Original image proportions retained in the files; the hero layout crops its display. Original licence applies to the adapted image.

雍和宫法轮殿 1.jpg

雍和宫法轮殿 1.jpg · 호고호
2026-04-06 12:44:26 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

GwongFukGun.jpg

GwongFukGun.jpg · PQ77wd
2018-05-17 11:39:45 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

烟袋斜街.jpg

烟袋斜街.jpg · EditQ
2023-07-20 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

荷花市场.jpg

荷花市场.jpg · EditQ
2023-07-20 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Yongningmen 15.jpg

Yongningmen 15.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-19 14:18:28 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Daci'en Temple 11.jpg

Daci'en Temple 11.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-14 10:07:24 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Daci'en Temple 8.jpg

Daci'en Temple 8.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-14 10:03:10 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Daci'en Temple 2.jpg

Daci'en Temple 2.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-14 09:16:44 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Bell Tower 1.jpg

Xi'an Bell Tower 1.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 11:19:50 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Bell Tower 3.jpg

Xi'an Bell Tower 3.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 11:37:10 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Drum Tower 7.jpg

Xi'an Drum Tower 7.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-16 21:26:35 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Drum Tower 6.jpg

Xi'an Drum Tower 6.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 10:48:12 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Drum Tower 4.jpg

Xi'an Drum Tower 4.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 10:47:28 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Drum Tower 1.jpg

Xi'an Drum Tower 1.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 10:39:43 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Drum Tower 3.jpg

Xi'an Drum Tower 3.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 10:40:33 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Drum Tower 5.jpg

Xi'an Drum Tower 5.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-13 10:43:51 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Museum 3.jpg

Xi'an Museum 3.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-19 09:26:10 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Museum 1.jpg

Xi'an Museum 1.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-19 09:24:17 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Museum 15.jpg

Xi'an Museum 15.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-19 09:07:24 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Xi'an Museum 5.jpg

Xi'an Museum 5.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-19 08:33:20 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Jianfu Temple 4.jpg

Jianfu Temple 4.jpg · H2v5o68z
2025-11-19 09:18:24 · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

莲湖 洒金桥.jpg

莲湖 洒金桥.jpg · Liuxingy
30 June 2019 (according to Exif data) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Shizibing.jpg

Shizibing.jpg · Popo le Chien
15 April 2014 (upload date) · CC0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

玉玲珑.jpg

玉玲珑.jpg · 钉钉
2022-08-13 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

M50 Pathway.jpg

M50 Pathway.jpg · Marshmack
2016-10-23 12:11:02 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

1000 Trees 20251127.jpg

1000 Trees 20251127.jpg · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข้อความบอกกล่าวด้วย) Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract.
2025-11-27 09:49:44 · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Silver Egg - The North Bund 20251127.jpg

Silver Egg - The North Bund 20251127.jpg · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข้อความบอกกล่าวด้วย) Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract.
2025-11-27 06:49:08 · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

The North Bund Entrance 20251127.jpg

The North Bund Entrance 20251127.jpg · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข้อความบอกกล่าวด้วย) Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract.
2025-11-27 06:43:55 · CC BY 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP. Image-file proportions retained; hero and preview layouts may crop the display. Original licence retained.

Real photographs

The images below are photographs, not generated destination images. Our display versions are resized to WebP and may be cropped by the layout. Older photos are not evidence of current access or crowd levels.

Share-alike photographs and adapted display versions remain under their respective licences. Download complete photo records.