North China & the Imperial Capitals Travel Guide 2026

Destinations in this region

• Beijing

  China's 3,000-year-old capital. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the hutongs that make Beijing feel like a village of 20 million.…

• Tianjin

  Tianjin is a coastal municipality 30 minutes from Beijing by high-speed rail, famous for its 19th-century European concession architecture along the Hai River, …

• Datong

  Ancient Northern Wei capital. The Yungang Grottoes' thousands of Buddhist statues, the cliff-clinging Hanging Temple, and one of China's grandest volcanic lands…

• Pingyao

  China's best-preserved ancient walled city. A 2,700-year-old Ming-dynasty town with original city walls, courtyards, and the original Chinese banking headquarte…

• Chengde

  Chengde is a destination in China. Placeholder summary — founder fills in real verified facts.…

• Hohhot

  Inner Mongolia's capital and gateway to the grasslands. Tibetan Buddhist temples, Mongolian hotpot, and yurt stays 150 km from the city centre.…

• Beidaihe

  China's original seaside resort on the Bohai Sea — a summer escape of sandy beaches, early 20th-century villas, and Bird Island, once the private retreat of CPC…

• Taiyuan

  Shanxi's coal-capital province seat, with 2,500 years of walled-city history — the Jinci Temple's Song-dynasty sculptures, Twin Pagodas, and noodle culture domi…

• Kaifeng

  Capital of the Song dynasty. The Millennium City Park recreates Song-era China, with night markets that have run for 1,000+ years.…

• Luoyang

  Capital of 13 dynasties. The Longmen Grottoes with 100,000+ Buddhist statues, the White Horse Temple, and the famous peony festival.…

• Zhengzhou

  China's most connected HSR hub and the ancient Shang dynasty capital. The Henan Museum, Shaolin Temple, and a bowl of huìmiàn noodles that defines the city. Bes…

• Yinchuan

  Capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on the Yellow River, gateway to the Western Xia imperial tombs, Helan Mountain rock art, and one of China's most distin…