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China’s National Day holiday is one of the country’s most popular times to travel. During Golden Week, travelers head to historic cities, scenic landscapes, and cultural destinations across China. If you’re planning a trip during the holiday, this guide highlights some of the best places to visit, from Beijing’s imperial landmarks to Guilin’s dramatic scenery and the distinctive local cultures of different regions.
Table of Contents
1. Beijing: Imperial Landmarks and Living Culture
As China’s capital, Beijing is a natural starting point for a National Day trip. Visitors can watch the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, walk through the red walls and courtyards of the Forbidden City, or spend a day exploring the Great Wall beyond the city. But Beijing is more than its famous landmarks. Its hutongs, local food, traditional neighborhoods, and crafts such as cloisonné and Jing embroidery offer a closer look at how the city’s history continues into everyday life.
Planning a longer stay? Our Beijing Travel Guide 2026 covers the city’s major sights, local food, traditional crafts, and practical travel tips to help you explore Beijing beyond the usual sightseeing route.
2. Xi’an: Ancient Sites and Local Flavors
Xi’an is one of the best places to experience China’s long history in a single city. Start with the Terracotta Warriors, then spend time exploring the old city, where historic streets and lively food markets offer a different side of Xi’an after dark. Local favorites such as roujiamo and liangpi are easy to find and well worth trying between sightseeing stops.
If your itinerary allows, Luoyang is a natural next stop after Xi’an. Another of China’s historic capitals, Luoyang offers a different window into the country’s past through the Longmen Grottoes, Tang Sancai ceramics, and its long-standing peony culture. Continue your journey with our Luoyang Travel Guide: Longmen Grottoes, Tang Sancai & Peony Culture.
3. Guilin: Li River and Karst Landscapes
Guilin is known for its dramatic karst mountains, winding rivers, and quiet countryside. A cruise along the Li River is one of the best ways to take in the landscape, with limestone peaks rising on both sides of the water. From there, many travelers continue to Yangshuo, where cycling through rice fields and small villages offers a slower way to explore the countryside.
There is also more to Guilin than its scenery. The region is home to a rich mix of local food and ethnic traditions, including the brocade weaving culture of the Zhuang people. For more ideas on what to see, eat, and experience, explore our Guilin Travel Guide, covering the Li River, Yangshuo, Longji Rice Terraces, local flavors, and Zhuang brocade.
4. Shanghai: City Views, Museums and Urban Culture
Shanghai offers a very different side of China, with historic neighborhoods, contemporary architecture, museums, and one of the country’s most recognizable skylines. A walk along the Bund gives you a clear view of Pudong across the Huangpu River, while the Shanghai Museum is a good place to explore Chinese art and historical collections. For a livelier city experience, Nanjing Road and the surrounding streets are easy places to shop, eat, and take in the pace of modern Shanghai.
Shanghai also works well as a starting point for exploring nearby Jiangnan cities. Suzhou and Nanjing are both easy to reach by high-speed rail, making them convenient additions to a longer National Day itinerary. Suzhou is known for its classical gardens, canals, Su embroidery, and Song brocade, while Nanjing offers a very different atmosphere shaped by its history as an ancient capital, along with landmarks around Purple Mountain, Qinhuai River, and the tradition of Yunjin brocade.
If you have extra time after Shanghai, continue with our Suzhou Travel Guide: Classical Gardens, Canal Life & Song Brocade or Nanjing Travel Guide: Ancient Capital, Local Food & Yunjin Brocade for a deeper look at each city.
5. Guangzhou: Lingnan Culture and Canton Embroidery
Guangzhou offers a mix of historic neighborhoods, Cantonese food, and living craft traditions. Spend the morning exploring places such as Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Shamian Island, then slow down over dim sum or a traditional Cantonese meal. For travelers interested in local craftsmanship, Guangxiu, or Canton embroidery, is one of the city’s most distinctive cultural traditions and a good way to understand another side of Guangzhou beyond its modern skyline.
If you’re planning to spend more time in the city, our Guangzhou Travel Guide covers cultural sights, local food, Guangxiu embroidery, and practical 1–3 day itineraries to help you plan your stay.
6. Chengdu: Sichuan Flavors and Laid-Back City Life
Chengdu is a city best explored at an unhurried pace. Start with a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, then spend the rest of the day discovering the city through its food, teahouses, and historic neighborhoods. Hotpot, dan dan noodles, and other Sichuan specialties are a big part of the experience, while places such as Kuanzhai Alley offer a glimpse of Chengdu’s slower rhythm of daily life.
Beyond pandas and food, Chengdu is also closely connected to traditional crafts and the history of ancient Shu culture, including the long tradition of Shu brocade. For more ideas on what to see, eat, and experience, explore our Chengdu Travel Guide, covering local culture, Sichuan cuisine, major attractions, and the art of Shu brocade.
7. Lijiang: Ancient Towns and Mountain Landscapes
Lijiang combines an old-town atmosphere with some of Yunnan’s most striking mountain scenery. Wander through the stone-paved lanes of Lijiang Ancient Town, where traditional Naxi architecture, local markets, and everyday life offer a closer look at the region’s culture. Outside the town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain brings a completely different landscape, with alpine views, mountain trails, and valleys to explore.
Lijiang is only one of many ways to experience China’s regional landscapes and cultures. If you’re planning a longer trip, explore our China Travel Guide series for more destination ideas, including Beijing, Guilin, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Changsha and other cities across China.
Plan Your China National Day Trip
China’s National Day and Golden Week are a great time to see how different each part of the country can be. From Beijing and Xi’an’s historic landmarks to Guilin’s karst scenery, Shanghai’s city life, Guangzhou and Chengdu’s regional cultures, and Lijiang’s mountain landscapes, each destination offers a different way to experience China.
If you’re planning to travel in China during National Day, it’s worth arranging transportation, accommodation, and popular attraction tickets in advance, especially for a Golden Week trip. Whether you’re interested in ancient cities, local food, traditional crafts, or natural scenery, there are plenty of places to build into your itinerary.
FAQ: Traveling in China During National Day
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Q: Do I need a Chinese SIM card when traveling in China?
A: A local SIM card is useful if you plan to use maps, ride-hailing apps, mobile payments, or booking services during your trip. Foreign travelers can buy SIM cards from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom with a valid passport. Choose a data plan based on the length of your stay and how much mobile data you expect to use. -
Q: What is the easiest way to get a taxi in China?
A: Didi is the most convenient option for many foreign travelers. You can also book rides through Alipay or WeChat without downloading a separate taxi app. Didi Greater China supports foreign phone numbers and international credit cards, which makes it easier to use after arrival. -
Q: How do I buy high-speed train tickets in China?
A: Use the official China Railway 12306 website or app. Foreign travelers can register with a passport, complete identity verification, and book train tickets online. Bring the same passport you used for the booking, as it is also used when entering the station and boarding the train. During National Day Golden Week, popular routes can sell out quickly, so booking ahead is strongly recommended. -
Q: What should I know about booking hotels in China?
A: Hotels can be booked through platforms such as Trip.com or other international travel sites. Bring your original passport when checking in, as hotels are required to register foreign guests. Payment options usually include RMB cash, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and bank cards, although international card acceptance can vary by hotel. -
Q: Is it easy to order food and pay at restaurants in China?
A: Yes. Many restaurants use QR-code menus, while others offer printed menus with photos. Alipay and WeChat Pay are widely used, and foreign travelers can link supported international bank cards such as Visa and Mastercard. It is still useful to carry some RMB cash for smaller restaurants, markets, or places where card payments are limited. -
Q: Should I book restaurants and attractions in advance during National Day?
A: For popular attractions, high-speed trains, and well-known restaurants, booking ahead is a good idea during China’s National Day Golden Week. Major destinations such as Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin, and Chengdu can be much busier than usual, so checking ticket and reservation requirements before you arrive can save time.
