Most people think of the Great Wall as the restored stone sections near Beijing. But the real wall system spans fifteen provinces, dissolves into the Gobi Desert, walks into the sea, and ends at the North Korean border. This is what it looks like at the edges.

Most people visiting the Great Wall of China see the same two sections. We've spent years exploring the wall beyond Badaling — from an unrestored pass hiding in Badaling's shadow, to a watchtower riddled with WWII bullet holes, to the section where the wall literally walks into a lake. Here's where to go if you want to avoid the most crowded parts.

Many years ago I visited Chongqing with no research and no expectations. What I got was one of the most surprising cities I've ever been to and I've been recommending it ever since. Here's the guide I wish I'd had.

You've done the sakura circuit in Japan. You've seen the Instagram posts. But China’s flower culture? It's been going for 2,000 years longer, with philosophical weight that makes hanami look like a recent trend. If you're ready to go deeper than sakura, this is where you start.

China is massive, but some of the country's best destinations sit just a few hours from Beijing and Shanghai. We've picked eight side trips that show you different sides of China - from ancient water towns to mountain cities where your GPS gives up trying to make sense.

China is having a tourism moment. As visa rules relax and infrastructure develops, we're sharing five places that inspire us for 2026, from Yunnan's burgeoning wine scene to Guizhou's towering peaks. These aren't your typical tourist destinations, they're places that will help you discover what China really has to offer.