Worth a DetourHeritageUNESCOPalaces

Chengde

The Qing emperors' summer retreat, a World Heritage park of lakes and palaces ringed by grand Tibetan-style temples.

Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
Best Time to Go
May–Oct
Our full guide to Chengde is being written. It's on the North China list as Worth a Detour.

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1–3 of 18
Must-See
Heritage · UNESCO

Great Wall of China

Beijing and northern China
About 81 miles away

Thousands of miles of wall on mountain ridges. Mutianyu and Jinshanling, from Beijing, are the best.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Cities · UNESCO

Beijing

About 110 miles away

The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen, with old hutong alleys.

Guide Coming Soon
Worth a Detour
Mountains · UNESCO

Mount Tai

Shandong
About 330 miles away

China's most sacred peak, climbed by emperors for 3,000 years.

Guide Coming Soon

The Full Short List

North China

Beijing, the Great Wall and Harbin's ice.

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