Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilization, China has a lot of historic attractions to offer such as the famous Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army. In a previous article we’ve covered China’s top attractions. Here’s a look at some more amazing sights that are perhaps not as well known but are well worth a visit.
Hundreds of years ago, the Chinese built massive stone walls around their cities to defend them from invaders. Xi’an was no exception. This city’s wall survives today, and is considered one of the most well preserved in China. The wall is 12 meters (40 feet) tall and about 15 meters (50 feet) wide at the bottom, tapering to 12 meters (40 feet) at the top. Walking on this wall is a must-do for visitors to this ancient capital of China.
See Also: Where to Stay in Xi'an
Located about a mile northwest of the ancient city of Dali, The Three Pagodas are one of the best preserved Buddhist structures in China having endured several man-made and natural catastrophes. The middle pagoda, built during 824-840 AD by king Quan Fengyou, is 69.6 meters (227 feet) high and is one of the tallest pagodas in China. The other two pagodas were built about a century later.
wikipedia/chensiyuanEstablished in 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is the first national forest park in China and is part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Areas. With its clear streams, weird-looking peaks, wildlife and abundant sub-tropical vegetation, the park is a year-round magnet for visitors. Key attractions include the Golden Whip Stream where visitors can see fish swimming in the crystal-clear water.
flickr/faunggNothing is more symbolic of Beijing than the iconic blue dome of the Temple of Heaven. Located in south Beijing, the Temple of Heaven was built by the Ming emperor Yongle in 1420. Emperors from then on would come here to pray and make sacrifices to the god of heaven for good harvests. It is the world’s largest complex for making sacrifices, with 92 buildings set in a pine forest. Chinese like to come here to fly kites today because of the large open areas.
flickr/terralanceThe Stone Forest, or Shilin in Chinese, is a set of karst formations in southwest China. The stones jut from the earth similar to the way a stalagmite does in a cave. These stones are thought to be 270 million years old. The area was an ocean floor and the flow of water created the majestic pinnacles. The stone forest receives over 2 million visitors a year.
Lijiang Old Town is one of Yunnan Province’s top tourist magnets, drawing visitors who want to sample life in a minority area. Kublai Khan was the first emperor to live in this 800-year-old town that is affiliated with the Naxi minority culture. Almost 350 bridges cross canals that meander through the city, which is a good place to see colorful Naxi architecture and residents wearing native costumes.
flickr/drnan tuTravelers who’ve seen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon already know how scenic the Wudang Mountains, located in northwestern Hubei Province, are. Besides being scenic, the Wudang Mountains is the most sacred Taoist mountain range in China. There travelers will find temple complexes, including the palatial Nanyan Temple, considered the most spectacular of the 36 temples on Wudangshan because it’s built of rock from the cliff behind it.
Zhouzhuang is one of the most famous water towns in China. Often referred to as the “Venice of the East,” the town is criss-crossed with rivers and streams lined with ancient houses. Located less than 32 km (20 miles) from Suzhou, Zhouzhuang is famous for its twin bridges, Shide and Yongan that are symbols of the town. A boat ride is a good way to see the city.
flickr/Filipe FortesMount Tai, in Shandong Province, is one of China’s Five Sacred Mountains. Climbing Taishan (“shan” is mountain in Mandarin) was one of the first things a new emperor did; it’s said that 72 emperors made the climb. They left behind great temples, inscribed tablets and other cultural relics. Travelers with imperial leanings will want to climb the 6,000-step east route as that’s what the emperors did.
flickr/Mulligan StuTiger Leaping Gorge is situated on the Yangtze River in southwestern China. About 15 km (9 miles) in length, the canyon passes through a series of rapids surrounded by mountains on both sides that sharply rise 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above the river. It is believed to be the deepest canyon in the world – depending on the criteria applied. The hiking trail through the gorge is one of the most accessible and satisfying in China, with dramatic scenery. The hike is not to be taken lightly though. Even for those in good physical shape, it’s a workout and can certainly wreck the knees. Accommodation along the way is in guesthouses, so hikers won’t need a tent.
Suzhou is a picturesque city located on the Grand Canal about 65 km (40 miles) from Shanghai. It is famous for its silks, the canals that run through the city, and for its classical gardens with their fish ponds and rockeries. Suzhou has about 80 classical gardens; the Humble Administrator’s Garden is among the most famous. A canal boat ride is a good way to experience the exquisiteness of Suzhou.
wikipedia/BairuilongTravelers along the ancient Silk Road will definitely want to stop at Dunhuang for a visit to the Mogao Caves, which are representative of early Buddhist cave art. Unlike the Yungang Caves, which featured Buddhas carved into hillsides, the Mogao Grottoes mostly feature murals painted on cave walls. Some of the paintings date back to the fourth century. At one time, there were more than 1,000 cave temples.
wikipedia/severin.stalderThe Longji or Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces were built over 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. The terrace fields are found in Longsheng about a two hours drive from Guilin. From a distance, during the growing season, these winding terraces appear as if they were green woven cables laid out over the hillsides, starting at the riverbank and ending near the mountaintop. Visitors can meander through the paddies and villages, greeting and being greeted by horses, pigs, chickens and hard working locals.
Located in northwest Beijing, the Summer Palace was once a playground for China’s imperial families who wanted to escape Beijing’s summer heat. It was constructed in 1750, but was destroyed a hundred years later when the French and British invaded Beijing. Its restoration was not without controversy as the Empress Cixi embezzled funds from the Navy to build the Marble Boat, which really isn’t marble but wood painted to look like marble.
wikipedia/Tan Wei Liang ByornThe Yangtze River runs along some of China’s most interesting and famous sites, including the stunning Three Gorges. On a Yangtze River cruise, travelers will travel through some of this immense country’s most gorgeous landscapes and may also have the option of taking shore excursions to various interesting sites. The Yangtze River is also home for a number of this country’s endangered species, including the Chinese alligator and river dolphin.
Perched precariously halfway up a cliff some 75 meters (246 feet) above the ground, the Hanging Monastery is one of the most remarkable sights in China. Consisting of a complex of 40 rooms linked together by mid-air corridors and walkways, this remarkable monastery appears to be glued to the side of a sheer precipice. The original monastery was built in the 5th century and has been repaired and extended many times during its long history.
Reed Flute Cave known as “the Palace of Natural Arts” is located in the northwest of Guilin in southern China. According to a legend, Reed Flute Cave got its name because people believed that the reed by the cave’s mouth could be made into flutes. The limestone cave offers a majestic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, birds, plants and animals in fantastic shapes and colors.
flickr/CresnyThe Yungang Caves or Grottoes at Datong is one of the great examples of early Buddhist cave art. Here, monks carved more than 51,000 statues, ranging in size from several inches to tens of feet high into the hillside. Work on the carvings in the 252 grottoes took place in the fifth and sixth centuries. If possible, visitors recommend coming here in off-season when it is less crowded.
One of the main reasons to visit Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, is to see West Lake, a large freshwater lake that is the symbol of this East China city. Forested man-made islands with temples and pagodas dot the lake, which is rarely deeper than five feet. West Lake, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in China, is divided into smaller lakes. It was once an imperial retreat.
See Also: Where to Stay in Hangzhou
flickr/B_coolLocated in southwestern China, Jiuzhaigou is a nature reserve officially known as Jiuzhai Valley in English. The national park has been described as a fairyland because of its many waterfalls; snow-covered karst mountains, and its 108 blue, turquoise and green colored lakes that are so crystal clear one can see the bottoms. It is also the habitat of giant pandas, though the chances of seeing them are slim due to the park’s size and the number of tourists.
The Longmen Grottoes are densely dotted along the Xiangshan and Longmenshan mountains in the eastern central part of China. Construction of the grottoes began in 493 AD. There are over 2100 niches, more than 100,000 Buddhist statues, some 40 pagodas and 30 tablets and steles in the caves. The 17 meter (56 foot) high statue of Vairocana in Fengxian Temple is the most representative of the trove.
21 More Amazing Attractions in China21 More Amazing Attractions in China
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