Discover China Travel Guide

Lonely Planet: The world’s leading travel guide publisher


Lonely Planet Discover China is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Explore the Forbidden City in Beijing, marvel at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, or wander around the pagodas and lilting willows of Hangzhou’s West Lake; all with your trusted travel companion. Discover the best of China and begin your journey now!


Inside Lonely Planet Discover China:

Full-colour maps and images throughout

Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices

Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, festivals, cuisine, architecture, religion, environment, wildlife, painting, literature, film

Over 60 colour maps

Covers Beijing, Great Wall, Xi’an, Shanghai, Three Gorges, Huangshan, Hangzhou, Yangshuo, Fenghuang, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Sichuan, Macau, Yunnan and more


eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones)

Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges

Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews

Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience

Seamlessly flip between pages

Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash

Embedded links to recommendations’ websites

Zoom-in maps and images 

Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing


The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Discover China, our easy-to-use guide, filled with inspiring and colorful photos, focuses on China’s most popular attractions for those looking for the best of the best.


Looking for a comprehensive guide that recommends both popular and offbeat experiences, and extensively covers all the country has to offer? Check out Lonely Planet China guide.


Looking for a guide for Beijing or Shanghai? Check out Lonely Planet Beijing guide and Lonely Planet Shanghai guide for a comprehensive look at all these cities have to offer; Lonely Planet Pocket Beijing and Lonely Planet Pocket Shanghai, handy-sized guides focused on the can’t-miss sights for a quick trip.


Authors: Written and researched by Lonely Planet.


About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves.