During the most recent episodes of season 14, numbers 9 and 10, the Amazing Race competitors began their exploration of China. During the first two sections of their journey they visited Guangzhou, Guilin, and Beijing – all amazing destinations with tons to offer the average tourist.

Guangzhou, China

The teams started out by flying into Guangzhou but only got to spend enough time here to transfer to a second flight taking them to Guilin. While the Pear River Delta region of China is known for being polluted it is still necessary to give the capital of the Guangdong province credit for being an important historic epicenter. Guangzhou is known for serving some of the best Chinese cuisine in the world and is also home to a myriad of museums, temples, shrines, and even shopping malls.

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If you do visit Guangzhou you absolutely must visit the medicine market known as Quingping Market. The market used to be a disturbingly messy, wet market but has since been transformed into a beautiful and clean mall. Inside you’ll find over 100 stalls featuring acupuncture needles, lizards on sticks, dried sea horses, and much more.

Another incredible Chinese experience you won’t want to miss is the cabaret performance of The Magic Phantom at the Mo Li Fang Theater. To be honest, if you’re looking for entertainment of this sort this is the only show you’ll find in Guangzhou, let alone China. The performance includes karaoke, dancing, opera, and computer animation, amongst other things. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.

Coffee lovers won’t find a Starbucks store anywhere in Guangzhou. Instead you’ll need to watch out for Wong Chun Loong. Wong Chun makes healthy beverages out of hemp seeds, coconut milk, and a variety of other ingredients. They also brew bitter medicinal teas for those who are ill. With over 800 stores in Guangzhou, you’re bound to run into at least one during your stay.

Guilin, China

While the Amazing Race competitors let the heat of the competition get the best of them in Guilin, we took the opportunity to find some of the best attractions in the area. Even if they had time to explore, these teams would have been too busy throwing elbows and slurs to enjoy the region.

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Guilin’s landscape is absolutely incredible and one of the best places to start your tour is along the Li River. One of the most popular destinations is Elephant Trunk Hill, found in the downtown section of the city. The hill itself earned its name because the rock formation actually looks like an elephant drinking from the river itself.

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Another incredible destination is the Guilin Art Museum. It’s the most popular museum in Guilin and is also considered to be amongst the largest museums in the southwest section of China. The collections here include works of art from both current and deceased master artists. Visitors exploring the second floor will find themselves in a gallery displaying works that are for sale, although the museum will gladly sell you works from other parts of the museum with the permission of the original artist.

Beijing, China

During the 10^th episode, the travelers found themselves in Beijing, the home of the most recent summer Olympics. Their tasks certainly felt Olympic, as almost every team struggled with their swimming or diving tasks.

Visitors to Beijing shouldn’t leave without at least one trip to the Forbidden City. Within the city walls you’ll find buildings and monuments representing the rule of dozens of emperors and many of the buildings are still used by the government today.

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The Lama Temple is another sight you won’t want to miss. It is one of only a handful of Buddhist temples that still function in the city of Beijing today. Once the home to over 1,500 lamas, the temple is home to a 75 ½ foot statue of Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood.

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You’ll also want to make a special effort to visit Tienanmen Square. The square sits in the center of Beijing and spans over 100 acres. The site of several historic protests, the square is considered to be the largest public square in existence. From here you can see the Forbidden City and several other significant cultural buildings and landmarks.

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China is a diverse land with lots to offer tourists from all walks of life. The Amazing Race travelers only got a taste of what China has to offer. Hopefully you’ll have a lot more time to explore.