What Are the Coolest and Most Unusual Things to Do in China?
Beyond the Great Wall and terracotta warriors lies a China that astounds the ordinary, a land where rainbow mountains shimmer like watercolours, where fish nibble toes in medicinal spas, and where dining might involve scorpions on skewers or soup served inside a hollowed watermelon. This vast country harbours peculiarities and wonders that transform tourists into wide-eyed adventurers, revealing layers of curiosity and enchantment that guidebooks rarely mention.
Soak, Scrub, and Surrender: China’s Eccentric Wellness Rituals
China’s approach to health and beauty ventures into territory that might make Western spa-goers think twice. Fish spas have become a peculiar tourist rite, where tiny garra rufa perform pedicures by devouring dead skin whilst bathers giggle at the ticklish sensation. Traditional medicine centres offer cupping therapy that leaves circular bruises like abstract art, while more adventurous souls might try Beijing’s “face slapping” beauty treatment, where aestheticians rhythmically pat faces to boost circulation. Hot springs throughout Sichuan province offer aromatic variations, some infused with wine, green tea, or even beer. Ancient techniques like gua sha and fire cupping look alarming but feel strangely therapeutic. Minor Hotels and other providers have recognised these hidden gems, establishing properties near such establishments to help travellers access China’s more elusive attractions with ease, while enjoying accommodations from recognised hotel chains.
Feasts for the Fearless: China’s Audacious Culinary Adventures
Chinese cuisine extends far beyond dim sum and the familiar dishes travellers often encounter, entering realms that challenge even the most adventurous palates. Night markets in Beijing’s Wangfujing present skewered scorpions, starfish, silk worms, and seahorses arranged like edible trinkets. Century eggs, preserved until the yolk turns jade green, divide diners into devoted fans or baffled sceptics. Sichuan’s “water-boiled fish” arrives swimming in chilli oil and peppercorns, guaranteed to make anyone’s lips tingle. Stinky tofu lives up to its name, fermenting until it achieves an aroma that clears streets yet tastes remarkably mild. Hainan serves soup in whole coconuts, while Guangxi restaurants present dishes in hollowed watermelons. Other dishes for the gastronomically brave include balut, pig blood curd, and chicken feet dim sum. These are not tourist gimmicks but genuine regional delicacies that reveal China’s philosophy: waste nothing, fear no flavour, and always keep dinner interesting.
Photo by Thu Huynh via pexels
Sleep in Frozen Palaces and Chromatic Deserts
China’s accommodation options venture far beyond the usual, introducing stays that blur the line between lodging and adventure. The Harbin Ice Hotel reconstructs its anatomy each winter from ice blocks carved into translucent rooms where guests sleep in thermal bags atop ice beds, surrounded by frozen sculptures illuminated by coloured lights. The Yadan Landform offers camping amidst wind-carved rocks that cascade across the desert, mimicking an abandoned alien city where the Milky Way stretches overhead with startling clarity. The Zhangye Danxia Landform presents rainbow mountains striped with rust, gold, jade, and crimson layers, resembling a geological painting etched by the land. Fujian’s ancient Tulou roundhouses, centuries-old earthen fortresses, now welcome guests into circular communities where traditional architecture intertwines with modern comfort in perfect harmony. These unconventional stays transform accommodation from necessity into the journey’s most memorable chapter, surpassing even the highest of expectations.
China’s true magic lies not in making the extraordinary seem possible but in making it feel natural, a country where sleeping in ice hotels, eating scorpions off skewers, and booking appointments with aquatic estheticians are simply part of the adventure. China offers a wide and kaleidoscopic array of experiences that challenge assumptions and reward curiosity. Those who venture beyond the familiarity of a mass-produced brochure will discover a China that invites exploration, wonder, and delight, promising that around every corner lies something utterly wonderful and beautifully strange.
