From Avatar's floating peaks to the Terracotta Army — one iconic sight from each of our seven destinations.
A highland pearl on the Sichuan–Yunnan border — pig-trough boats, Lige Peninsula and the Walking Marriage Bridge, with dreamy lake scenery. It is far from Lijiang, so give it its own day.
The sacred Naxi snow mountain — the big cable car climbs to the 4,680 m glacier platform. Cable-car tickets must be booked in advance; bring oxygen and warm layers, and do not miss Blue Moon Valley below.
A laid-back old town with Renmin Road and Foreigner Street at its heart — free to enter, and at its most atmospheric after dark.