Last month, China relaxed its visa-free transit policy. Now, Americans, Canadians and British citizens can stay in China without a visa for up to ten days if they have confirmed travel plans from China to a third country. This policy also extends to citizens of 51 other countries. While in China, these visitors can travel through 24 permitted provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. However, notable excluded areas include the Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous regions.
Despite a few exclusions, visitors can still see some of the country's highlights during the allotted visa-free time. Here are a few can't miss destinations in China first time visitors can check out:
Beijing
China's capital, Beijing, has some of its most iconic sights. Plus, there are direct flights to Beijing from American cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, making it a convenient first stop in China. Don't miss out on Beijing's highlights like the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Fragrant Hills Park. Beijing is also known for the National Museum of China and Peking Duck.
Visitors can also see a well preserved section of the famed Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, which is just a 90 minute drive from the center of Beijing.
Zhangjiajie
The 2009 film Avatar drew inspiration from the surreal Hallelujah Mountains in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province. The narrow rocks within look like they're floating among the clouds. The wider Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which the Zhangjiajie Forest Park is a part of, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features four different national parks, plenty of caves and one of the highest natural bridges in the world, called Tianqiashengkong. It can be logistically difficult to visit, though, as the closest major city, Changsha, is five hours away by train.
Shanghai
Shanghai has one of the best skylines in the world and it is often considered the most cosmopolitan city in China. The skyscrapers and bright lights are located in the Pudong area and you can snap a great photo of the skyline on the ferry across the Huangpu River. First, be sure to stop at the Bund, a riverfront promenade.
One of Shanghai's biggest attractions is the tranquil Yu Garden, which was built almost 450 years ago. Shanghai's Old Town is also nearby and is a good place to take a stroll. Other neighborhoods to explore on foot include the financial district Luijazui, the Former French Concession and Jing'An. Zhujiajiao is an ancient part of town which is full of canals, bridges and narrow streets and worth a day trip. While in Shanghai, be sure to try soup dumplings, which originated from the Eastern Chinese city.
Xi'An
While perhaps not as well known as Beijing and Shanghai, don't overlook Xi'An, the capital of Shaanxi province in Central China. Xi'An has quite a few world class cultural sites, the most prominent of which is Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, which contains famous terra cotta warrior statues. There are also prominent religious structures in the city, like the 7th century Buddhist Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the 8th century Great Mosque of Xi'An.
A popular tourist activity is biking along the massive city walls, which are among the largest and best preserved in China. Built during the Ming Dynasty, the Bell Tower is another can't miss sight. The Xi'An museum and Drum Tower are other big attractions. Meanwhile, the Everbright City area, which is 30 minutes outside of the city center, is a lively place to spend a night, with shopping, performances and street food.
Chengdu
Chengdu might just be one of the best food cities in the world and visitors can indulge in its world famous cuisine. The capital of Sichuan province in Southwestern China was recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2010. Sichuan cuisine is known for its spiciness and some famous foods from Chengdu include Sichuan hotpot, spicy dumplings, mapo tofu and meat skewers. Chengdu even has a food museum, where you can take Sichuan cooking classes.
Giant Pandas also call Sichuan province home and you can observe these majestic creatures at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Chengdu doesn't have too many landmarks but the Wenshu Yuan Monastery and Anshu Bridge are well worth a visit.