Are you looking for the most Instagrammable places in Hong Kong and China? No need to look further, cause this blogpost covers them all! Including some insider tips on how to get there and when to go! All of the places will be linked to a Google Maps location!
The Most Instagrammable places in Hong Kong
Yik Cheong Building
How to get there – Try to avoid taking taxi’s in Hong Kong. Why? Well, first of all their system is really complicated and there are 3 different types of taxi’s for different regions. Plus if you have to cross the bay by car you have to pay toll. The easiest and cheapest way to get around is by public transportation.
When to go – This place has blown up on Social Media over the past couple of years. Don’t be surprised that when you arrive there will be a line to take a photo. But the good thing is that everyone is very respectful and patiently waits their turn.
Google Maps Location – Click here
Choi Hung Estate
How to get there – This famous place is located on top of a parking building nonetheless! The easiest way to get here is by taxi.
When to go – I advise you to come here early! A lot of people come here to take photos and it’s way less organised as the Yik Cheong Building!
Google Maps Location – Click here
Nan Lian Garden
How to get there – Nan Lian Garden is pretty close to the Choi Hung Estate, so try to combine both places!
When to go – First go to Choi Hung Estate, after that head towards Nan Lian Garden!
Google Maps Location – Click here
Jordan – Nathan Road
How to get there – The area of Jordan is one of the coolest ones to explore in Hong Kong! There are old mandarin signs everywhere and it breathes the vibe of old Hong Kong. This area is right next to the Kowloon Station so easy to reach by public transport!
When to go – It doesn’t really matter, this place is perfect to take photos the entire time! Don’t forget to give egg waffles a try!
Google Maps Location – Click here
Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
How to get there – Ritz Carlton is located right next to Kowloon Station. It’s the highest building in entire Hong Kong and offers a view over the entire bay.
Book your stay here. If you want to splurge go for one of the Club rooms, they come with a private driver. So perfect to roam all of these places!
The Most Instagrammable Places in China
The Most Instagrammable Places in Guilin
Xingping
How to get there – Xingping is about an hour driving from Yangshuo and Guilin. The best way to get here without a fixed tour is by taxi. Do know you’re in mainland China and really not a lot of people speak English!
When to go – This place must be amazing for sunset! I was there in the middle of the day and due to the overcast weather the light for photography was still really good!
Google Maps Location – Click here
Li river
How to get there – Simply ask your driver a fixed price for a full day and let him know you want to go one of those little bamboo rafts :). The most scenic part of the river is from Xingping to Yangdi. But the boats on the Li river are a lot more commercial than the ones on the Yangshuo river!
The average price for a 1 hour boat ride is 200 CNY.
When to go – Simply go after visiting the viewpoint
Google Maps Location – Click here
He/She Hotel Guilin
The main reason why I chose this hotel was the scenic view over the mountains in Guilin.
Book your stay here.
The Most Instagrammable Places in Suzhou
Lingering Garden
How to get there – The easiest way to get to Suzhou is by train from Shanghai. Once you’re at Suzhou Railway Station North take the tourist bus. This one goes around entire Suzhou and marks the most important spots such as the Lingering Garden.
Opening hours – 7.30 AM until 5.30 PM
When to go – Try to arrive before 9 AM cause after that it can get really, really crowded! Suzhou is a very touristic place and this garden is one of the most popular ones!
Google Maps Location – Click here
Shantang Street
How to get there – Shantang street isn’t all too far from the Lingering garden so you can easily get here on foot.
When to go – It doesn’t really matter, just be prepared for the crowds. It’s one of the most touristic streets of Suzhou.
Google Maps Location – Click here
The Most Instagrammable Places in Bejing
Temple of Heaven
How to get there – Once you’re in Beijing you can pretty much get everywhere by public transport. The subway system is super easy (even if you can’t speak Mandarin!) and goes way faster than by car.
By Subway – Take Subway Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen Station; leave from Exit A and you’ll find the East Gate of the Park.
Now the most beautiful temple here is ‘the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests’. So make sure to go here first cause this is also the busiest part!
When to go – So the main gates open at 6 am, but it is listed on their website that the main attractions don’t open until 8am. So if you want to be the first one there make sure to be at the gates around 7am.
Ticket price – You’ll need to buy a combi ticket which is 34 CNY.
Google Maps Location – Click here
The Forbidden City – Palace Museum
How to get there – The Forbidden City lies in the city center of Beijing and is a place you simply have to visit! You can not miss this one! It is the world’s largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares. Daily about 80.000 people visit this place!
Visitors can only enter through the Meridian Gate (Wumen) and leave from the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) or East Prosperity Gate (Donghuamen).
Take Subway Line 1, get off at Tiananmen East Station (Exit A) or Tiananmen West Station (Exit B), find the Tiananmen Tower, and then walk north to the Meridian Gate.
When to go – Since this place is visited by 80.000 people on a daily basis I don’t have to paint you a picture that it’s always crowded :). So I decided to go later in the day and stay as long as possible! The Forbidden City closes at 4.30PM so around that time they will start closing off doors and guards will start to escort you out. I lingered for a while at the main square and when everybody was almost gone was able to take this shot without having to photoshop anybody out! 🙂
Google Maps Location – Click here
For more information about visiting The Forbidden City, where you can find the best photo locations and how to buy your tickets click here.
The Great Wall
How to get there – We opted for a tour to the Mutianyu part of the Great Wall. It’s only 1,5 hour driving from Beijing and way less crowded as the Badaling part!
When to go – Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds! I did opt to take the cable car up, not because I didn’t want to climb but I just wanted to get up there before everybody else :p.
Google Maps Location – Click here
Lama Temple – Yonghe Temple
How to get there – The Lama Temple is located at the northeast corner of Beijing City.
Take Subway Line 2 or Line 5 to Yonghegong (Yonghe Temple) Station, get out of the station from Exit F. Walk south for a few meters and turn east and you will arrive after about two minutes of walk.
Entrance fee – 25 CNY
When to go – The Lama Temple opens at 9am for visitors so try to be there around this time. I combined my visit with The Great Wall of China so I was only there in the afternoon :).
Google Maps Location – Click here
Where to stay in Beijing
- The Pondlife Hotel at Mutianyu Great Wall – The perfect place to stay if you want to go up the Great Wall for sunrise!
- Shichahai Sandalwood Boutique Hotel Beijing – A beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Beijing, completely in classic Chinese style.
- Rosewood Beijing – The perfect combination of modern and classic, including an inside swimming pool oasis.
What gear do I use for taking my photos?
It’s a question I get asked a lot and below you can find the exact camera and lenses that I use to create my dreamy photos.
Camera – Canon 6D Mark II
Lens 1 – Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens
Lens 2 – Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6
Tripod – Manfrotto Tripod – Good for heavy camera and lens!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.
Travelling Tam says
Amazing photos and such comprehensive instructions to find them – thank you ?
Charlotte says
Thank you! 🙂
Hayley says
Absolutely stunning! If these places weren’t on my list before, they certainly are now. The Li river photo is my favourite- so beautiful
Charlotte says
Thank you so much Hayley! 🙂
Sam says
All these pictures are so beautiful! I would love to visit one day!
Darcy says
What a great post, and your website is just beautiful! And I appreciate the great tips about what times to arrive at some of these sites.
Amanda says
Oh all those pictures look stunning! I’m hopefully going there within the next few years, I’ll make sure to save a pin so I’ll remember these spots!
Charlotte says
Thank you so much!
kat says
I adore Hong Kong ?? it was one of my favourite cities these are some incredible locations.
Charlotte says
Thank you so much Kat!
channy says
It’s been years but on the 5% chance you know this, I will ask lol So the beautiful red design dress in Guilin, what brand or where did you get it? Love it!