Where to Travel in China Beyond Beijing and Shanghai: 5 Cities for Singapore Travellers

Beijing and Shanghai will always have a place on our China itineraries. But Singapore travellers are beginning to look much further afield. According to Traveloka data covering Jan to Aug 2026, searches for China from Singapore increased 132% compared with the same period in 2025, the highest growth among the five Southeast Asian markets tracked by the platform. The range of Chinese cities booked by Singapore travellers has also more than doubled year-on-year.

The classics aren’t disappearing. Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou remain Singapore’s most-booked China destinations on Traveloka. Instead, travellers are adding new places to the map, from Northeast China to Xinjiang and Yunnan. With the year-end travel season guide, here are five cities worth putting on your radar.

Also read: My 6D5N Jiangxi, China Itinerary: Best Things to Do & Places to Visit

1. Urumqi: For a completely different side of China

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If your previous China holidays have mostly revolved around Shanghai, Beijing or the country’s eastern seaboard, Urumqi will feel like quite the change of scenery. Capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China’s far northwest, Urumqi sits within a region long shaped by Silk Road trade and cultural exchange. It also recorded the biggest rise in popularity among Singapore travellers in Traveloka’s latest data.

Start at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, a major cultural and commercial landmark where you can browse local food, handicrafts and souvenirs. Another worthwhile first stop is the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, which offers a broader introduction to the region’s history and heritage. Then leave the city behind for the Urumqi Tianshan Grand Canyon, a national 5A attraction surrounded by the dramatic mountain landscapes of the Tianshan range.

Why go: For travellers who want their next China trip to feel genuinely different, Urumqi offers a compelling gateway into western China.

2. Harbin: For the full winter experience

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Singaporeans complaining about 24°C being “cold” may want to prepare themselves for this one. Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, has become synonymous with China’s winter season, thanks to its ice sculptures, snowy cityscapes and long-established ice-and-snow tourism scene.

Its headline attraction is Harbin Ice-Snow World, where enormous structures carved from ice are illuminated after dark. The attraction returned for its 27th edition during the 2025–26 winter season. If you’re considering Harbin for the end of 2026, however, check the official operating dates for the 2026–27 season once they are announced rather than planning around previous years’ schedules. Harbin is also among the northern Chinese cities seeing growing interest from Singapore travellers, according to Traveloka.

Why go: For a genuine winter holiday with snow, sub-zero temperatures and a completely different atmosphere from tropical Singapore.

3. Changchun: For winter scenery with a side of history

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Harbin might get more international attention, but nearby Changchun is quietly becoming one to watch. Traveloka’s data shows that Singapore travellers book Changchun at more than three times the rate recorded across the five Southeast Asian markets it tracks combined.

One of the city’s biggest draws is Jingyuetan, a vast scenic area known for its forest landscapes and seasonal outdoor activities. History lovers can visit the Palace Museum of the Manchurian Regime, while film buffs can explore the Changchun Film Studio Museum, reflecting the city’s longstanding connection with China’s film industry. It gives Changchun a different personality from Harbin. You can still experience Northeast China in winter without making the entire trip about ice sculptures.

Why go: For travellers looking to combine winter scenery, museums and modern Chinese history.

4. Shenyang: For an imperial history fix beyond Beijing

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Think China’s imperial history begins and ends with Beijing’s Forbidden City? Shenyang has another chapter waiting. Singapore travellers book Shenyang at nearly twice the rate recorded across Traveloka’s five tracked Southeast Asian markets combined.

The city’s standout historical attraction is Shenyang Imperial Palace, which dates to 1625 and preserves 114 Qing-era buildings with more than 500 rooms. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 as part of the Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Another worthwhile stop is Marshal Zhang’s Mansion, a historic residential complex associated with Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang and featuring a mix of architectural styles. Together, the two attractions offer a look at very different chapters of Northeast China’s past.

Why go: For history lovers who want to explore China’s past beyond its best-known capitals.

5. Kunming: For those who don’t actually want to freeze

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Not everyone booking a December holiday is dreaming about thermal layers and sub-zero temperatures. Try Kunming, known as China’s “City of Eternal Spring”; the Yunnan capital offers a gentler alternative to Northeast China’s deep winter. Traveloka says Singapore travellers book Kunming at nearly twice the rate recorded across the five Southeast Asian markets it tracks combined.

Nature is a major part of the appeal. The famous Stone Forest features dramatic limestone formations shaped over hundreds of millions of years, while Dianchi Lake, Yunnan’s largest freshwater lake, becomes especially interesting during winter when migratory red-beaked gulls arrive. Overlooking Dianchi are the Western Hills, where walking trails lead past temples, forest scenery and the cliff-carved Dragon Gate grottoes. Kunming can also serve as a convenient starting point for a wider Yunnan itinerary.

Why go: For travellers who want landscapes, culture and a milder alternative to northern China’s winter.

Singapore passport holders can currently visit China visa-free

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There’s another practical reason China is particularly easy to consider right now. Under the reciprocal visa-exemption agreement between Singapore and China, Singapore citizens holding ordinary passports can enter mainland China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days.

Travellers intending to work, undertake journalistic activities or stay longer than 30 days still require the appropriate visa. That makes everything from a short city break to a longer multi-city itinerary considerably easier to plan.

Planning that China trip? Traveloka’s 10.10 EPIC Sale is on now

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If one of these destinations has made it onto your shortlist, this could be a timely moment to start comparing flights and hotels. The Traveloka 10.10 EPIC Sale runs from 1 to 10 Oct 2026, with China among the campaign’s key destinations for Singapore travellers.

Here are some of the deals worth looking out for:

• S$100 off selected China flights and hotels
  Traveloka highlights destinations including Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. Separate China destination coupons also offer up to S$50 off selected flights and hotels, subject to the applicable terms and quotas.

• S$200 off sitewide at 12am
  From 7 to 10 Oct, Traveloka is releasing an S$200 sitewide coupon alongside a separate 20% off sitewide coupon. These are separate promotions, so check the individual redemption and combination conditions.

• Extra S$199 off flights at 8pm
  The evening flash sale from 7 to 10 Oct includes an additional S$199 off eligible flight bookings.

• Extra 30% off selected 4- and 5-star hotels at 8pm
  Travellers planning a more premium stay can also look out for this evening hotel flash sale.

• More hotel offers
  Other accommodation deals include up to S$75 off hotels, an extra S$50 off selected 4- and 5-star properties, and 15% off eligible three-night stays.

As with most flash sales, minimum spends, eligible travel periods, participating products and coupon quotas can vary. Check the final booking price and applicable terms before confirming your purchase.

The 10.10 EPIC Sale ends on 10 Oct 2026.

Also read: Everyone Can Hike In China: How China Has Made Hiking Ultra-Accessible

Your next China trip might look very different

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What makes these five cities interesting is how different they are from one another. Urumqi opens the door to western China. Harbin delivers the full winter experience. Changchun mixes snow with history and film heritage. Shenyang takes you deeper into China’s imperial past, while Kunming offers landscapes and milder weather for travellers who would rather skip the deep freeze.

So if you’ve already experienced Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou, perhaps it’s time to see another side of China.
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Note: Travel trend and promotional information referenced in this article was provided through a press release from Traveloka. Deal details were cross-checked against Traveloka Singapore’s official 10.10 EPIC Sale page on 7 Oct 2026. All promotions are subject to availability, quotas and applicable terms and conditions.