The arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in India for a two-day meeting has increased expectations that direct flights between the two countries will resume soon as part of a push to strengthen bilateral relations.
During Wang’s visit, both countries agreed to reopen border trade through three designated passes (Lipulekh, Shipki La and Nathu La), discussed easing visa processes for tourists, businesses and media persons, and pledged to improve trade and investment flows.
At present, Indians can visit China after transiting through a third city, such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, etc. The world’s second-largest economy by GDP has cities that are among the most developed in the world, and it is a global player in science and technology. Besides this, there are a wealth of historic, cultural and natural gems that entice visitors from all over the world, 32 million of whom visited the country in 2024.
If you plan to visit the East Asian country soon, here are five places you should consider adding to your itinerary.
China’s first national park is best known for its pillar-like formations which inspired the scenery in the film “Avatar” (2009). Although resembling karst terrain, this area is not underlain by limestone and is not the product of chemical dissolution. Instead, the sandstone quartz pillars are the result of many years of physical, rather than chemical, erosion, caused by expanding ice in the winter and the plants that grow on them.
The most spectacular lookout points in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are in the areas known as Yuanjiajie, Tianzi mountain and the Yellow Stone Village (known locally as Huangshizhai). The UNESCO World Heritage Site and Global Geopark has several walking and hiking trails for people of all skill and stamina levels, alongside shuttle buses and cable ropeways for easy access.
If you’re feeling brave, step onto a vertiginous glass-bottom suspension bridge floating 300 m above the ground, the highest and longest pedestrian glass bridge in the world, to see the stunning vistas. Those who enjoy adventure sports can bungee jump off it, too.
You may also want to consider entering the Bailong Elevator, the world's tallest outdoor lift at 326 m, which can transport visitors to the top from its base in less than two minutes.
How To Reach: Take a flight to Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (DYG) followed by a bus or taxi to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, 30 km away.
You can’t visit China without seeing its Great Wall, an awe-inspiring, 21,196 km-long fortification built over two millennia. The most extensive and best-preserved section of the wall dates from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and runs for some 8,850 km east to west from Mount Hu near Dandong, southeastern Liaoning province, to Jiayu Pass west of Jiuquan, northwestern Gansu province.
Chinese leaders instituted wall-building projects for millennia to protect the land from northern, nomadic invaders. Around 220 BCE, Qin Shi Huang, also called the First Emperor, united China and set about the process of uniting the existing walls into one. At that time, rammed earth and wood made up most of the wall. In some places, the wall was constructed of brick. Elsewhere, quarried granite or even marble blocks were used. The wall was continuously brought up to date as building techniques advanced.
Today, the best-known section of the Great Wall is at Badaling, which was rebuilt in the late 1950s; it now attracts thousands of national and foreign tourists every day.
How To Reach: The closest section of the Great Wall to Beijing is the Badaling section, located about 75 km northwest of the city.
The Shanghai Museum is one of the country’s top art museums, with a collection of over 120,000 pieces, including bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jade, ancient coins, paintings, seals, sculptures and foreign art. The institution houses several items of national importance, including one of three extant specimens of a "transparent" bronze mirror from the Han dynasty.
There are 20 galleries and interactive spaces in the building, which are designed to enrich the audience's experience and to provide more details and context of the artworks. A notable highlight is the Gallery of Chinese Ancient Calligraphy, in which most exhibits are from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties.
When you visit, pick up an audio guide that comes in eight languages on the first floor for an immersive experience.
How To Reach: Take a flight to Shanghai from any major Chinese city.
Rice is cultivated all over China, but few paddy fields are as spectacular as the ones in Longji. Rising to 1,000 m, they are an amazing feat of farm engineering on hills dotted with small villages. There are two main areas to see: the Ping'an terraces, the most established of the region's rice fields; and the Jinkeng terraces, with viewpoints around Dazhai and Tiantouzhai.
The terraced fields are said to have been built about 650 years ago and received their name because they resemble a loong dragon's scales, while the summit of the mountain range looks like the backbone of the dragon.
If time permits, stay a night at a village to wake up to spectacular sunrises and to soak in magnificent sunsets.
How To Reach: Take a flight to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) and then a bus or taxi to the Longji Rice Terraces, which are 103 km away (two-to-three hours by road).
One of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century is the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who unified the Great Wall. The figures include an estimated 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, most of which remain in situ in the pits near Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.
The site was discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi'an city. The clay figures, once brightly painted with mineral colours, are grouped into a specific military formation—a configuration of vanguard bowmen and crossbowmen, outer files of archers, groups of infantrymen and charioteers, and an armoured rear guard—that followed the military prescriptions of the time. The buried army faces east, poised for battle, about three-quarters of a mile from the outer wall of the emperor’s tomb.
How To Reach: Take a flight to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY). From there, take a tourist bus or the subway to the Terracotta Warriors, 40 km away.
Indian citizens need a visa to enter China, which they can apply for at https://www.visaforchina.cn/. You will require a valid passport, a completed application form, recent photographs, proof of accommodation and round-trip flight tickets. The processing time is usually 4-6 days, and it's advisable to apply at least a month before the intended travel date.
An official announcement is expected around the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin (August 31–September 1, 2025), coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
Priority routes include Delhi–Beijing and Delhi–Shanghai, followed by connections to Guangzhou, Chengdu and other commercial hubs.