All China

The Atlas Obscura Guide To China

211 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in China

Updated April 3, 2023

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Cities

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  1. Alxa
  2. Beijing
  3. Changsha
  4. Chengdu
  5. Chongqing
  6. Datong
  7. Datong
  8. Guangzhou
  9. Guilin
  10. Guiyang
  11. Hangzhou
  12. Harbin
  13. Jinhua
  14. Jiuquan
  15. Kashi Diqu
  16. Kunming
  17. Nanjing
  18. Pudong Xinqu
  19. Qujing
  20. Shanghai
  21. Shenzhen Shi
  22. Suzhou
  23. Suzhou Shi
  24. Tangshan
  25. Tianjin
  26. Weinan
  27. Xian Shi
  28. Xilin Gol
  29. Yanan Shi
  30. Zhangjiajie
  31. Zhangye Shi
  32. Zhengzhou

Unusual Attractions in China

See All 211 Things To Do in China

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in China

See all 9 Places to Eat in China
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

China: The Great Cuisines of the Middle Kingdom

From bustling night markets to fine-dining institutions, this journey down China’s east coast reveals the story of countless delicious dishes and culinary traditions.

Learn More

Explore China

Statues 21
Architectural Oddities 21
Nature 21
Ecosystems 21
Natural Wonders 20
Geological Oddities 16
Buddhism 16
Museums And Collections 16

China Leaderboard

Recent China Activity

Stories About China

At New Outlook Café in Saskatchewan, Canada, Founder Noisy Jim sits with cousin Chow Fong.

How Chinese Food Won Over the World

Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Cheuk Kwan tells a story of innovation and survival.
by Sam Lin-Sommer

Podcast: A Delicious Mission with Cheuk Kwan

Enjoy a round-the-world meal: three courses, three incredible places, three stories of Chinese immigration.
by The Podcast Team
A man makes a traditional dragon heads for the Lunar New Year celebration in Bogor, Indonesia.

5 Colorful Stories About the Pageantry of the Lunar New Year

Go behind the scenes of celebration, from molten metal to sticky cakes.
by April White
An ancient forest blankets the bottom of the sinkhole.

Descending Into the Lush Underworld of China’s Newly Discovered Sinkhole

The country’s karst terrain is fertile ground for massive caves, and a new-found hype for adventure. 
by Ye Charlotte Ming
A 1964 public health poster about preventing malaria, painted by Wu Hao.

The Secret Maoist Chinese Operation to Conquer Malaria

A young medical researcher's idea led to a powerful weapon against the disease—and a Nobel Prize.
by Jia-Chen Fu
Lu Yu, the Tea God or Tea Sage, in a 19th-century image.

The Medieval Influencer Who Convinced the World to Drink Tea—Not Eat It

Caffeinated soups and chewing the leaves were once the norm.
by Miranda Brown
Today, the Changma Basin in China is a dry, rocky expanse but 120 million years ago it was a thriving lake teeming with Mesozoic birds.

The World Has Two New Flying Dinosaurs

Or at least it used to. What can these recently identified dino-birds teach us about extinction?
by Sarah Durn
The word goldfish, or jīnyú, sounds exactly the same as the words for "gold and jade."

The Wondrous Wordplay of Lunar New Year Food

Layers of meaning surround the names of nearly every dish.
by Miranda Brown

Lists Featuring China

Red Seabeach
Padar Island and its crystal-clear turquoise water.
Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

10

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island

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