154 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in China - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in China

Hanging Temple of Hengshan

A 5th-century temple improbably built into the side of a cliff.

Josh

Panjin Shi, China

Red Beach

A part of the world's largest marsh seems to be growing bright red Martian grass.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Huanglong Travertine Pools

Intensely colorful calcite pools in Southern China.

serflac

Added by serflac

Lexiaguo

Vibrant soil and a canvas of crops create China's "Red Land."

serflac

Added by serflac

The Forbidden City

The most famous location in China was home to whole dynasties worth of imperial rulers.

Zhangjiajie, China

Tianmen Skywalk

For those with no fear of heights: a skywalk 4,700 feet up on a Chinese mountain.

Zhangjiajie, China

Tianmen Shan

999 stairs lead visitors through a massive hole in a mountain known as the Gateway to Heaven.

atimian

Added by atimian

Chongqing, China

Three Natural Bridges

Not one, not two, but three natural bridges remain in this captivating spot post-sinkhole.

Added by lioness1041

See All 154 Things to Do in China See All 154 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in China

Dragon's Beard Candy

Gastro Obscura

Dragon's Beard Candy

The ancient confection consists of wispy sugar-strands that look like dragon whiskers.

Gastro Obscura

Added by Sam OBrien

Hmong Stuffed Chicken Wings

Gastro Obscura

Hmong Stuffed Chicken Wings

Next-level egg rolls are wrapped in an entire chicken wing.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Jiānbǐng

Gastro Obscura

Jiānbǐng

Every morning, Chinese vendors sling savory, crispy crepes to lines of patient fans.

Gastro Obscura

rachelrummel

Added by rachelrummel

Longevity Peach

Gastro Obscura

Longevity Peach

These buns artfully resemble peaches and represent immortality.

Gastro Obscura

Anne Ewbank

Added by Anne Ewbank

See all 28 things to try in China See all 28 things to try in China

Explore China

China Leaderboard

Places Added

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Places Visited

Recent China Activity

turbulentlyApathetic wants to go to Canola Flower Fields

turbulentlyApathetic wants to go to Shanghai Marriage Market

turbulentlyApathetic wants to go to Oriental Pearl Tower

turbulentlyApathetic wants to go to Giant Head of Mao Zedong

turbulentlyApathetic wants to go to Tianzi Hotel

Stories
About China

Diplomats in Guangzhou have been experiencing strange symptoms.

The Mysterious Illness Affecting U.S. Diplomats in Cuba Has Spread to China

Scientists still haven’t figured out why or how the symptoms started.

by Sarah Laskow

Hot water thermoses, like the one on the table, have long been a fixture of Chinese public life.

Are China’s Days of Hot Drinking Water Over?

Bottled water or thermos—pick a side.

by Vittoria Traverso

February 13, 2018

<em>Caihong juji</em> was a study in contrasts.

How We Know That This Dinosaur Had Bright, Audacious Plumage

Microscopic structures hint at an iridescent past.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

January 15, 2018

This tureen features handles that are decorated with bovine heads.

Found: A 3,100-Year-Old Tomb Full of Bronze Cauldrons and Other Food Vessels

Archaeologists believe they were spoils of war.

by Vittoria Traverso

December 12, 2017

Mulian confront his hungry ghost mother in the Kyoto Ghosts Scroll, late 12th century.

In China, Ghosts Demand the Finer Things in Life

The Hungry Ghost Festival provides them with paper effigies of money, food—and iPhones.

by Vittoria Traverso

October 19, 2017

Don't worry. Those cracks aren't real.

China's Cracking Glass Bridge Prank: Funny or Cruel?

Some people aren't cracking up over a stunt at 3,800 feet.

by Eric Grundhauser

October 11, 2017

China's Seaside Library Mimics the Rhythms of the Ocean

The ultimate beach read.

by Vittoria Traverso

September 06, 2017

Video Captures a Gorgeous Chinese Lavender Bloom

Huocheng County celebrates the blossoms with an annual festival.

by Michael Waters

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