Mao-era China had no golf courses at all, and the first modern one opened only in 1984. Two decades later, Mission Hills on the edge of Shenzhen had 12 courses and entered Guinness World Records as the largest golf club on earth, and the country had hundreds more, many built in spite of a national ban on new courses.
That history shapes what you find today. Golf in China is mostly a private-club affair, courses are clustered around the rich coastal cities and the tropical island of Hainan, and green fees run higher than in Thailand or Vietnam. In return you get immaculate conditioning, near-empty weekday tee sheets at some clubs and a few genuine oddities, including the world’s longest course, at 3,100 m, below the glaciers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain near Lijiang.
Most visiting golfers combine a few rounds with a city trip, or come to Hainan in winter, when the north is frozen and Sanya is in the high 20s.
At a Glance#
- Biggest resort: Mission Hills, with 12 courses between Shenzhen and Dongguan and 10 more on lava fields outside Haikou.
- Winter golf: Hainan, with Mission Hills Haikou in the north and Yalong Bay and Luhuitou near Sanya in the south.
- Tournament golf: Sheshan International outside Shanghai, long-time host of the HSBC Champions.
- Year-round mild weather: Spring City Golf and Lake Resort near Kunming, at roughly 1,800 to 2,000 m.
- Bucket-list round: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club near Lijiang, 8,548 yards from the back tees.
- Costs: green fees about 600 to 2,000 yuan (85 to 280 USD), with caddies usually compulsory; weekends cost much more.
Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta#
Mission Hills Shenzhen straddles the border between Shenzhen and Dongguan, about 45 minutes from Hong Kong’s land crossings. Its 12 courses, each named after the champion golfer or architect who designed it (Nicklaus, Faldo, Norman, Olazábal, Ozaki and others), make up the world’s largest golf club, with a hotel, spa and tennis centre on site. It has hosted the World Cup of Golf several times. The courses vary widely, so ask which are open to visitors on your day; the World Cup and Norman courses are the most demanding.
Many Hong Kong golfers play here or at other Shenzhen and Guangzhou clubs because fees are lower than at home. The Delta is hot and humid from May to September, with typhoons possible from July, so tee off early in summer.
Hainan#
Mission Hills Haikou, 20 minutes from Haikou airport, has 10 courses laid out across black volcanic lava rock, which gives the fairways a dramatic, rugged look. The Blackstone course, which hosted the World Cup of Golf in 2011, is the flagship and the most expensive; Lava Fields and Sandbelt Trails are excellent alternatives, and a short course suits a quick round. Indicative 2026 green fees run from about 580 yuan on the short course to about 2,080 yuan (290 USD) on Blackstone.
In the south, around Sanya, courses such as Yalong Bay Golf Club and Luhuitou sit close to the beach resorts of Yalong Bay and Sanya Bay. Hainan is China’s winter golf destination: from November to April it is warm and dry, while the rest of the country is cold. Summer is hot, wet and typhoon-prone. Hainan also has its own visa-free entry rules for many nationalities; see China visa rules and our China islands and beaches guide.
Shanghai and Beijing#
Sheshan International Golf Club, west of Shanghai near the Sheshan Basilica, hosted the HSBC Champions for many years, when it was one of the world’s richest tournaments. It is private, and play is largely limited to members and their invited guests; a golf travel operator may be able to arrange a round. Shanghai has several other clubs in the suburbs that take visitors more readily; spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons.
Beijing has a ring of courses on the city’s edge, several near the Ming Tombs north of the city. Winters are freezing and dry, so most courses close or are brown from December to February, and summer can be hot and hazy. April to June and September to October are best. Plan a morning round and an afternoon at the Great Wall instead of fitting both into one rushed day.
Yunnan: Kunming and Lijiang#
Kunming is nicknamed the Spring City for its mild climate all year, and Spring City Golf and Lake Resort, with a Jack Nicklaus mountain course and a Robert Trent Jones Jr lake course, is regularly ranked among China’s best. At roughly 1,800 to 2,000 m the ball carries farther than at sea level.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, outside Lijiang, is listed by Guinness as the world’s longest golf course: 8,548 yards from the back tees, with a 711-yard par 5. It sits at about 3,100 m below the glaciers of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, so the thin air helps your driving, but walk slowly and drink water, as altitude sickness can affect anyone arriving from the coast. October to May is the dry season and the best time to play.
Green fees, caddies and booking#
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Green fee, top resort course, weekday | about 1,200 to 2,100 yuan |
| Green fee, good club, weekday | about 600 to 1,200 yuan |
| Weekend surcharge | often much higher; check with the club |
| Caddie | usually compulsory, often included in the fee |
| Cart | often included at resort courses |
| Club rental | available at most resort clubs |
Most Chinese clubs are member clubs. Visitors book through their hotel, a golf travel operator or a booking app, and should bring a passport to register at the clubhouse. Ask exactly what the fee includes (caddie, cart, locker, insurance) before you pay. Tipping is not customary in China in general, but caddies at international resorts appreciate a cash tip.
Stay-and-play packages at Mission Hills Shenzhen and Haikou usually work out cheaper than booking rooms and green fees separately, and include transfers from the airport.
Rules and etiquette#
Dress codes are strict: collared shirts, tailored shorts or trousers and soft spikes. The central government has restricted course construction since 2004 and closed more than 100 courses in a 2017 crackdown, so a club you read about online may have closed; confirm before you travel. Party members and civil servants are barred from golf club memberships, which is why some clubs keep a low profile. Lightning is common in southern summers; leave the course when the siren sounds.
For costs elsewhere on your trip, see our China costs guide.
Best places for golf in China#
More Things to Do#
China golf FAQs#
What is the best golf course in China?
Spring City’s Mountain Course near Kunming, Mission Hills Haikou’s Blackstone and Sheshan in Shanghai are the courses most often ranked at the top. For a golf trip, Hainan and Shenzhen have the most courses close together.
How much does golf cost in China?
Expect about 600 to 1,200 yuan for a weekday round at a good club and up to about 2,100 yuan at the top resort courses, with caddie and cart often included. Weekend and holiday rates are much higher.
When is the best time to play golf in China?
November to April in Hainan, spring and autumn in Shanghai, Beijing and the Pearl River Delta, and October to May in Yunnan. Avoid the north in winter and the south during summer typhoons.
Can visitors play at private clubs in China?
Many resort courses, including Mission Hills, take visitors. Private clubs such as Sheshan are mostly for members and their invited guests, though a golf travel operator may be able to arrange a round.
Is golf restricted in China?
Building new courses has been restricted since 2004 and many courses closed in 2017, and party members cannot hold golf memberships. Foreign visitors can play freely at any club that accepts guests.