Visitors making their first trip to China usually stick to the larger cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, but I wouldn't recommend visiting those for the first time. Based on my travel experience in China, I attach a reference for you below :

1.) Hong Kong.

2.) Gulangyu Island in Xiamen.

3.) Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan.

4.) Guilin’s Li River.

5.) Sichuan’s Jiuzhaigou.

6.) Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

I recommend you to visit Sichuan Province, which is not an expensive destination with many scenic places for sightseeing. The pandas there are highly welcomed by foreigners. Also, there are many great Chinese foods to experience, including Sichuan food, hotpots, and local snacks.