Places worth the detour in China
China has 1,528 places worth going out of your way for on Detourmap, across 15 kinds — the biggest group is churches, temples, monasteries & shrines (514). The best known is Three Gorges Dam. 1,229 of them are hidden gems most guides skip. Every place below has a photo and a Wikipedia article — click any of them to fly the map there.
Churches, temples, monasteries & shrines in China 514
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Shaolin Monastery
Sacred sites · 5th century · Renowned
Chan Buddhist temple in Dengfeng county, Henan, China
Parks, canyons & rock formations in China 286
Museums & galleries in China 181
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Shanghai Museum
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Notable
Museum in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, China
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National Art Museum of China
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Notable
Art museum in Beijing, China
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The Palace Museum
Museums & galleries · 15th century · Notable
Museum in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China
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Hong Kong Space Museum
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Notable
Aerospace museum in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Bridges & aqueducts in China 113
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Three Gorges Dam
Great structures · 21st century · Iconic
Hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, China
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Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge
Great structures · Renowned
Fixed link consisting of tunnel and multiple bridges
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Hangzhou Bay Bridge
Great structures · 21st century · Notable
Long 36km sea-crossing highway bridge with two separate cable-stayed spans and a mid-bridge service center, completed 2008 across the mouth of Hangzhou Bay in…
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Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge
Great structures · 21st century · Notable
Bridge in Qingdao, Shandong, China
Parks, gardens & arboretums in China 88
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Chengde Mountain Resort and its outlying temples
Parks & gardens · Notable
UNESCO culture heritage of Chengde, Hebei Province, China
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Beihai Park
Parks & gardens · 12th century · Notable
An imperial park, built in Song Liao Jin dynasties, adjacent to the Forbidden City in Beijing
Ancient & archaeological sites in China 85
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Terracotta Army
Ancient & megalithic · 3rd century BC · Iconic
Collection of ancient Chinese military statues
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Yinxu
Ancient & megalithic · Renowned
Archeological site of the last capital of China's Shang dynasty
Monuments & statues in China 62
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Spring Temple Buddha
Monuments & statues · 21st century · Renowned
Monumental sculpture and the second tallest statue in the world
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Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
Monuments & statues · Notable
Final resting place of Mao Zedong, former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, in Beijing, China
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Tian Tan Buddha
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Notable
The second largest outdoor bronze Buddha in the world
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Monument to the People's Heroes
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Notable
Monument in Beijing, China
Theme parks, zoos & aquariums in China 49
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Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Fun & leisure · 20th century · Hidden gem
A zoo operated by the Chengdu Municipal Government to protect and breed giant pandas, red pandas, and other endangered wild animals unique to China.
Castles, palaces & forts in China 34
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Mukden Palace
Castles & palaces · 17th century · Notable
Former imperial palace of the early Manchu-led Qing dynasty.
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Daming Palace
Castles & palaces · 21st century · Notable
Archaeological site and history museum in Xi'an, China
Beaches & coves in China 33
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Clear Water Bay First Beach
Beaches & coves · Hidden gem
Beach in Clear Water Bay Peninsula, New Territories, Hong Kong
Caves & caverns in China 28
Towers & lighthouses in China 26
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Tianjin Radio and Television Tower
Towers & lighthouses · 20th century · Notable
Tower in Tianjin, China
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Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Towers & lighthouses · 20th century · Notable
Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower
Catacombs, shipwrecks & cemeteries in China 18
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Ming tombs
Macabre & curious · Renowned
Collection of mausoleums built by the emperors of the Ming dynasty of China
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Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Macabre & curious · Notable
UNESCO World Heritage Site including 14 tombs or groups of tombs in China
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Western Xia Mausoleums
Macabre & curious · 11th century · Notable
Building in Western Xia mausoleums, China
Waterfalls in China 8
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Hukou Waterfalls
Waterfalls · Notable
Waterfall on the Yellow River in China; second largest waterfall in China
Abandoned places & ghost towns in China 3
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Lion City
Abandoned & ghost towns · Hidden gem
Ancient underwater city, former seat of Sui'an County
