Happy Chinese New Year: 7 Luxury Travel Destinations in China

Traveling to China is like a lifetime of journeys layered into one vast, complex, exhilarating destination. For people who want breathtaking views, unique adventures, and awe-inspiring history, China offers something equally compelling: ancient dynasties, dramatic landscapes, hyper-modern cities, and experiences that feel entirely your own.

Here are seven luxury travel destinations in China, each curated for a different travel style.

1. Best for Food & Wine: Shanghai

Shanghai is where China’s culinary heritage meets global sophistication. Private dining rooms overlooking the Bund, Michelin-starred tasting menus, and immersive market tours with chefs reveal the city’s refined palate.Beyond soup dumplings and hairy crab, you’ll find cutting-edge Chinese gastronomy paired with premium wines from Ningxia and curated cellars from Bordeaux to Napa. Arrange a VIP table at one of Shanghai’s most sought-after modern Chinese restaurants, then explore hidden speakeasies tucked behind unmarked doors.

Shanghai is for travelers who love the intersection of tradition and innovation—where every evening feels like an event.

2. Best for Historical Significance & Iconic Sites: Beijing

Beijing is living history. With a private historian, walk the quiet corners of the Forbidden City before the crowds arrive. Stand atop the Great Wall of China at sunrise with champagne set discreetly nearby. Wander the grand courtyards of the Temple of Heaven as locals practice tai chi.

This is the China of emperors and revolutions, philosophy and power. A well-curated Beijing itinerary blends cultural immersion with exclusive access to private calligraphy lessons, behind-the-scenes museum tours, and luxury courtyard hotel stays inside restored hutongs.

3. Best for Scenic Beauty: Yangshuo

Yangshuo is one of the most beautiful places in all of China, with the limestone peaks of the Karst mountains rising through misty river valleys feel almost mythological. In Yangshuo and along the Lijiang River, scenery becomes poetry. Yangshuo is a town that has preserved its original rural scenery and low development as much as possible. Board a privately chartered boat along the Lijiang River, drifting past emerald hills and water buffalo grazing along the banks. Helicopter transfers and boutique countryside lodges elevate the experience while keeping you immersed in nature.

This is China at its most cinematic, ideal for travelers who value serenity, photography, and landscapes that linger long after you return home.

4. Best for Active Travelers: Lijiang

For hikers, cyclists, and skiers who prefer movement with meaning, Lijiang and the surrounding Yunnan region deliver. Trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest canyons, with a private guide and luxury mountain lodges awaiting you each evening. Cycle past terraced rice fields and remote villages, or venture farther north toward Shangri-La for high-altitude exploration. Winter travelers can even combine Yunnan with skiing in northern China for a multi-region active itinerary.

This is immersive adventure with comfort never compromised.

5. Best for Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences: Xi'an

Few moments rival standing face-to-face with the Terracotta Army. With a private archaeologist, explore the excavation pits and gain insight into one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in history.

Beyond the warriors, Xi’an offers Tang Dynasty heritage, ancient city walls you can bike at sunset, and exclusive dumpling banquets showcasing the city’s Silk Road influences.

For seasoned travelers who think they’ve “seen it all,” this is a genuinely humbling experience.

6. Best for Modern Luxury & Design: Shenzhen

For a different lens on China: futuristic architecture, art districts, and avant-garde design—Shenzhen delivers. Pair contemporary art tours with private shopping experiences and curated meetings with designers or tech innovators.

Stay in architecturally striking hotels and explore the city’s thriving culinary and creative scene. Shenzhen is dynamic, ambitious, and unapologetically modern, a compelling counterpoint to China’s ancient heritage.

7. Best River Cruise in China: The Yangtze River

A luxury cruise along the Yangtze blends cultural depth with dramatic scenery. Sail through the Three Gorges, where towering cliffs rise above jade-colored waters. Today’s top-tier river ships offer spacious suites with private balconies, refined dining, curated shore excursions, and onboard experts who contextualize everything from ancient poetry to modern engineering marvels like the Three Gorges Dam.

For travelers who love Europe’s rivers but crave something more expansive and culturally distinct, the Yangtze is transformative.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year: Once-in-a-Lifetime Destinations

China rewards curiosity. It is a destination for travelers who want complexity—who want their journey to feel layered, textured, and meaningful. From Shanghai’s culinary artistry to Guilin’s dreamlike landscapes, from imperial Beijing to a sunrise on the Great Wall, China offers the kind of experiences that redefine what “luxury” means: access, insight, and the privilege of perspective.

If you’re ready to explore China in a way that feels seamless, elevated, and entirely tailored to you, this is a journey worth designing thoughtfully.

Contact Nova Vista to plan your dream vacation of tomorrow—today.