We’ve all seen the TikToks: drone shots over Shanghai’s sci-fi skyline, high-speed trains gliding across the countryside, and a latte made by a humanoid robot in a mall somewhere labeled “China.” But don’t be fooled because behind the curated clips and AI filters lies another reality: the worst cities in China. Yes, they exist. For every Shenzhen or Chengdu that dazzles, there’s a Datong or a Hegang that… doesn’t.

Travel in China long enough and you’ll inevitably end up in one of these places, whether by curiosity, bad luck, or a misjudged overnight train route. These are the cities where the WiFi is weak, the air is thicker than the noodles, and the only skyline is a row of grey apartment blocks from 1984. So here it is: our very unscientific, deeply cynical, and painfully honest countdown of the worst cities in China, from “sort of grim” to “never again.”

10. Datong (大同)

You’d think a city home to the stunning Yungang Grottoes would be a must-visit. You’d be wrong. Datong tried reinventing itself as a tourist hub by bulldozing half its old town and rebuilding it in faux Ming dynasty architecture. The result? A ghost city cosplay with no soul and even fewer visitors.

The pollution is next-level, the food is forgettable, and the vibe is somewhere between “we ran out of money” and “please don’t stay the night.” TikTok skipped this one, and so should you.

9. Shiyan (十堰)

If concrete was a city, it would be Shiyan. It exists solely to produce Dongfeng Motors, which is great if you’re into trucks but not so great if you’re into, say, life. Surrounded by mountains but devoid of charm, Shiyan is the grimy underbelly of Hubei Province that even locals avoid when given a choice.

There are Taoist temples nearby, sure—but spiritually uplifting this place is not. File under “functional misery,” and definitely among the worst cities in China for anyone not collecting factory stamps.

8. Lanzhou (兰州)

Ah, Lanzhou Lamian! China’s most famous noodles. Ironically, you can get better ones in Beijing, Xi’an, or even London. Once the broth settles, you’re left in a valley of smog, dust, and brutalist architecture.

Wedged between mountains and industrial zones, Lanzhou’s idea of scenery is the Yellow River looking like someone spilled soy milk into a storm drain. Add in consistently awful air quality, and you’ve got a bowl of nope. Definitely earns its place in the worst cities in China culinary hall of shame.

7. Yinchuan (银川)

Ningxia’s capital wants to be a regional hub and it markets itself as the cultural bridge between China and the Muslim world. What you get instead is an empty film set masquerading as a city, with more LED screens than people and not a single decent cup of coffee.

Yinchuan is full of half-baked “Islamic-style” architecture, desert-themed malls, and a creeping sense of artificiality. Think Dubai if Dubai had no money, oil, or tourists. One of the worst cities in China purely for wasted potential.

6. Baotou (包头)

Welcome to Baotou, the industrial heart of Inner Mongolia, where the ground glows faintly and the rivers occasionally catch fire. This is China’s rare earth capital, and boy, does it look like it.

Expect grey skies, brown rivers, and an urban layout that seems designed to crush the human spirit. There’s a monument to Genghis Khan, but even he wouldn’t stick around here. An easy entry on the worst cities in China list, unless you enjoy Soviet chic and environmental collapse.

5. Zhoukou (周口)

Zhoukou is in Henan, a province that never quite shook off the 1980s. It’s one of those places you’ve never heard of for a reason: nothing ever happens here. Flat, lifeless, and almost proudly boring, it’s a city that feels like a forgotten provincial bus terminal.

The only upside? It’s so forgettable, it doesn’t even make local news. But when your defining feature is being the beige paint of Chinese cities, you’ve earned your place on the worst cities in China tour.

4. Xining (西宁)

Xining is the gateway to Qinghai and Tibet, but don’t confuse “gateway” with “destination.” The city itself is an awkward mashup of Tibetan kitsch, Han Chinese development, and a train station that looks like a relic from a steampunk nightmare.

It’s cold, wind-whipped, and full of overpriced tourist traps selling yak jerky. The views might be stunning but only if you drive 200km out of town. Until then, you’re just stuck in one of the worst cities in China with altitude sickness and regrets.

3. Tonghua (通化)

Nestled in northeastern Jilin Province, Tonghua has two speeds: freezing and slightly less freezing. The local economy runs on pharmaceuticals and alcoholism, and the nightlife ends sharply at 8:30 p.m on the dot, presumably because everyone’s gone home to hibernate.

It’s the kind of place that reminds you why people migrate to Beijing. A highlight? You can see North Korea from parts of the region, which still somehow manages to be more exciting than staying in town. One of the worst cities in China for sheer boredom per capita.

I honestly knew someone who worked here whose colleague jumped off of a roof. No further comments.

2. Hegang (鹤岗)

Ever wanted to buy an apartment for $3,000? Welcome to Hegang, the city that made headlines for having the cheapest property in China. There’s a reason.

Hegang was once a coal town. Now it’s just a ghost town. Youth are fleeing, job prospects are nonexistent, and infrastructure is stuck in a weird post-collapse limbo. It’s like Detroit if Detroit was in Siberia and still had working public toilets.

And yes despite this I am planning to buy an apartment here (really)

1. Heze (菏泽)

Topping our list is the city no influencer has dared to film: Heze. Located in Shandong Province, it’s famous for… roses. That’s it. And unless you’re seriously into horticulture, Heze offers nothing else.

The roads are potholed, the skyline looks like a SimCity glitch, and the pollution levels make Beijing look like a yoga retreat. Local nightlife consists of watching traffic lights change and maybe, maybe, a lukewarm beer in a karaoke bar that still uses CDs.

Congratulations, Heze: you are officially the worst city in China, at least by the YPT metrics anyway.

Final Thoughts

This list isn’t meant to offend (well, maybe a little), it’s more a love letter to the beautifully chaotic and often baffling reality of travel in China and somewhat akin to sites like SheppeyScum. Every country has its armpits, and China’s no different. These aren’t the cities that make glossy travel brochures, but they do make for great stories.

So next time someone tells you China is all bullet trains and futuristic skylines, just whisper, “Hegang,” and watch the illusion shatter.

And while we do not offer tours to the Worst Cities in China (yet) we do offer bespoke China Tours that could well take you to them.

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