Visit Shanghai

Blue-and-white jars whose cobalt came up the Silk Road from Persia, in one of the great collections.

Tintin in 1930s Shanghai against opium smugglers and the Japanese occupation; the album where Herge did his research.

Philip Seymour Hoffman as an arms dealer, an ambush on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and a swing between Shanghai rooftops.

Visit Shenzhen, a major tech hub in southern China. Explore the bustling Huaqiangbei electronics market (one of the world's largest for components and gadgets), see the modern skyline from the observation deck of the Ping An Finance Centre (China's second-tallest building at 599m), and relax at the OCT-LOFT creative park (a repurposed industrial area with art galleries, cafes, and design studios).

Visit Xi'an, the ancient capital of China. Explore the Terracotta Army (thousands of life-sized clay warriors and horses guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang), walk or cycle the ancient City Wall (one of the largest and best-preserved in China), see the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (a Buddhist pagoda built in the Tang Dynasty for storing sutras), and sample local street food like roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and biangbiang noodles.

Visit Chongqing, a sprawling megacity in southwest China. Explore the Hongya Cave (a multi-story stilted building complex with traditional architecture overlooking the Jialing River), ride the Yangtze River Cableway for panoramic views of the city's dramatic hills and rivers, taste Chongqing hotpot (known for its numbing Sichuan peppercorns and spicy broth), and see the Dazu Rock Carvings (a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring intricate Buddhist sculptures dating back to the 9th century).

Visit Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in China. See the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (home to over 150 pandas for conservation and research), explore Jinli Ancient Street (a historic pedestrian street with traditional Sichuan architecture and snacks like spicy rabbit heads), and visit Wuhou Shrine (a temple complex dedicated to Zhuge Liang with ancient cypress trees and cultural relics).

Visit Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province. Stroll around West Lake (a UNESCO World Heritage site with pagodas and gardens), explore the historic Lingyin Temple (one of China's largest Buddhist temples with ancient rock carvings), and sample local dishes like Dongpo pork (braised pork belly) and West Lake fish in vinegar gravy.