Why Trust This Article?
- • Author: Hesham Al-Daaja (based in China since 2019)
- • Last updated: Aug 1, 2026
- • Based on direct field experience with Arab travelers and buyers
China Isn't Just Cities — This Is Its Best Nature
I'm Hesham, living in China since 2019. Most Arabs picture only Beijing and Shanghai when they think of China, while the country actually has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. This is my curated list of the 10 best destinations — I've visited some myself, and others come strongly recommended by travelers I trust.
Quick Answer
If you love peaks and rock formations, start with Zhangjiajie and Huangshan. If you love lakes, Jiuzhaigou and Kanas are among the most beautiful in China. And if your time is tight and you want the closest nature destination to Shanghai, West Lake is a single-day trip away.
| Destination | Best For | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Zhangjiajie | Towering rock pillars | Hunan |
| Guilin & Yangshuo | Karst mountains & river | Guangxi |
| Jiuzhaigou | Colorful lakes | Sichuan |
| Huangshan | Peaks above the clouds | Anhui |
| Huangguoshu | Massive waterfall | Guizhou |
| Lijiang & Shangri-La | Old Tibetan-edge town | Yunnan |
| Kanas Lake | Turquoise alpine lake | Xinjiang |
| Sanya | Tropical beaches | Hainan |
| West Lake | Historic lake | Zhejiang (Hangzhou) |
| Rice Terraces | Farmed landscapes | Yunnan |
1. Zhangjiajie Pillars (Hunan)
I've been here myself, and it's genuinely the place that inspired the floating Avatar mountains — towering sandstone pillars rising out of the forest, with the Wulingyuan area registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Guilin and Yangshuo (Guangxi)
The famous karst mountains and the Li River — the boat trip from Guilin to Yangshuo is one of the most famous river cruises in all of China, and the scenery changes with every bend.
3. Jiuzhaigou (Sichuan)
Jiuzhaigou Valley (also a World Heritage Site) is famous for its turquoise and blue-toned lakes, surrounded by ancient Tibetan villages — it looks like a painting.
4. Mount Huangshan (Anhui)
Sheer rock peaks rising out of a sea of clouds — an old Chinese saying goes "you never need to see another mountain after Huangshan," and it's the real inspiration behind the traditional Chinese "mountain and water" school of landscape painting.
5. Huangguoshu Waterfall (Guizhou)
One of the largest waterfalls in Asia, over 100 meters wide — a massive sight worth the trip on its own.
6. Lijiang and Shangri-La (Yunnan)
The old town of Lijiang sits at the edge of the Tibetan plateau — stone alleys and water canals, with mountain scenery completely different from the rest of China.
7. Kanas Lake (Xinjiang)
A striking turquoise alpine lake in the Altai Mountains — the best time to visit is autumn, when the trees around the lake turn yellow and orange.
8. Sanya Beaches (Hainan)
I've been here myself — Hainan is "China's Hawaii," tropical beaches and turquoise water, a great alternative if you want coastal nature instead of mountains.
9. West Lake (Hangzhou)
A historic lake lined with willows and old pagodas — the closest natural destination to Shanghai, and doable as a single-day trip by car.
10. Yunnan Rice Terraces
Green terraces following the mountain contours, hand-built over generations by Yunnan's ethnic minority farmers — a completely different kind of scenery from anything else on this list.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Love peaks and rock formations: Zhangjiajie / Huangshan / Guilin
- Love lakes: Jiuzhaigou / Kanas / West Lake
- Love culture with nature: Lijiang / Yunnan terraces
- Love beaches: Sanya
- Closest to Shanghai: West Lake
Planning a Nature Trip in China?
I'm Hesham, living in China since 2019. Most of these destinations need advance planning (domestic flights, a local driver, the right season). Message me on WhatsApp and I'll help set up the right route, or visit the custom trip planning page.
