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    Tourist Attractions in China

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in China. Photos and a brief description.

    About China

    China hides more secrets and beauties than it seems at first glance. It is not only a country of high technologies and developed megacities, but also an amazing embodiment of traditions, culture, and love of nature.

    In Shanghai, you definitely need to walk along the embankment Bund, visit the Forbidden City, climb the observation deck in the New Area Pudong. In Hong Kong, you need to see Victoria Bay and admire the light show.

    The Great Wall of China cannot be ignored. Besides her, there are amazing palaces, monasteries and temples in the country. The hanging monastery of Xuankong-si rests on a rock, the summer imperial palace and the Potala Palace embody the greatness of Chinese architecture. There are magical gardens in China where time freezes. Also, the greatest monuments of Chinese religion are cave grottoes Yungang and Longmen Cave temples. The terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is impressive.

    A fantastic place – Zhangjiajie National Park, takes you to another reality. Rice terraces embody a person’s ability to use the gifts of nature. An equally beautiful place is the Reed Flute Cave. And be sure to look at pandas in China. They’re special here.

    Top Cities to Visit in China

    Top Tourist Attractions in China

    The Great Wall of China

    This fortress began to be built in the 220s BC to protect against nomadic tribes by order of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Then China achieved incredible power and flourished. The length of the wall from edge to edge is 2450 km, and if we take into account all the bends and branches, the figure will increase to 8852 km. About a million people took part in the creation of the grandiose fortress. Tens of thousands died and were walled up.

    The Great Wall of China

    Shilin National Park

    The area of the park is 350 km2. It was formed 200 million years ago at the bottom of an ancient sea that became shallow. The park is called the stone forest because of the rocks, whose height reaches 40 meters. Shilin was divided into 7 zones, on the territory of which there is a stone garden, grottoes, meadows, caves, lakes and waterfalls. Every year a torch festival is held here.

    The Forbidden City

    The Forbidden City is located in the center of Beijing. According to the astronomers who determined the place for the construction, it stands in the center of the globe. This is the largest palace complex in the world. The area of the city is 720 thousand m2. After its creation in 1406-1420, 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled there. No one could get there, too curious were punished with the death penalty. Now the forbidden city is open to tourists.

    The Forbidden City
    Li River (Lijiang)

    Li River (Lijiang)

    This is one of the cleanest rivers in China. The length of the "silk ribbon" is 426 km. It stretches through hills and rocks shrouded in haze. River landscapes have inspired many poets and artists. On its shores are the largest and most beautiful deposits of karst rocks. While traveling along the river, tourists see the Buffalo Gorge, the Crow Cave, the town Sinping, picturesque mountains "Nine horseshoes" and "Yellow canvas".

    Potala Palace

    This is a beautiful royal palace and a famous center of Buddhism. It is located in Lhasa. The first building here was built by the king of Tibet Songtsen Gampo in 637 at the place where he meditated. Then he decided to make the city his capital and get married, so he built a huge palace. It is almost not preserved. The modern complex was built by the Dalai Lama. It is located on a hill with a height of 3700 meters, surrounded by a valley.

    Potala Palace
    Bund Bund

    Bund Bund

    Image of the embankment Bund is one of the most recognizable in Shanghai. This is part of Sun Street Yat-sen. Along the embankment there are 52 architectural buildings built in different styles. Films were shot on its territory, it is the most popular tourist site of the city. Here is the building of HSBC, Shanghai Customs, the hotel "Peace Hotel".

    Pudong New District

    This is a large area in Shanghai that began to develop in the 1980s. Its area is 522.8 km2, the population is 1.5 million. Pudong has become the business and financial center of China. There are many very recognizable structures on its territory. Among them is the Jinmao skyscraper, its height is 420 meters. One of the tallest hotels in the world was also built there. It is called "Grand Haigt Shanghai" and has an observation deck.

    Pudong New District

    Jumping Tiger Gorge

    I call the Jumping Tiger Gorge a canyon in the Sino-Tibetan Mountains on the Yangtze River. It stretches for 15 km, in a place where the mountains reach a height of 2000 meters. This attracts rafting enthusiasts. The gorge got its name because of the legend and the tiger that jumped the river. Nakhi people live in this area, who grow crops and provide services to tourists. The scenery in these places is magnificent.

    Honghe-Hani Rice Terraces

    This man-made agricultural miracle occupies 16.5 thousand hectares in the southern part of the province Yunnan. The mountains on the slopes of which terraces have been created are called Ailo, and the river is called Huanghe. Rice terraces are a self–cleaning system. The soil on which rice grows is not washed away by water. The Hani people have created terraces that are already 1300 years old. They look especially magical in spring when they are flooded with water.

    Honghe-Hani Rice Terraces
    Victoria Bay in Hong Kong

    Victoria Bay in Hong Kong

    It is a nature-created harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It has become an important strategic object, a center of trade. Victoria Bay is a popular tourist destination. Annual fireworks are held there, as well as recorded in the book of records Guinness light show and sound show. It is created by lasers, spotlights, flashes and lights. You can look at it for free.

    Sihu Lake

    This is a freshwater lake in Hangzhou. It is considered one of the most beautiful places in China. Dams and small islands divide it into 5 parts. Emerald mountains surrounded the lake from three sides. There are a lot of lotus flowers, irises, bridges, gazebos on it. According to the legend, Shihu appeared from a fallen pearl. It is famous for its "ten species". All parts of the lake are included in the UNESCO Heritage List.

    Sihu Lake
    Summer Imperial Palace

    Summer Imperial Palace

    It is the summer residence of the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. It is built on the outskirts of Beijing. There are more than 3,000 buildings in the entire park. Its total area is 290 hectares . There are temples, palaces, living quarters and an artificial lake on the territory of the residence. It can be divided into two parts: the palace and the park. The mountains are a beautiful backdrop for the residence. Every landscape here is inspiring.

    The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

    At the age of 13, Qin Shi Huang began to build a tomb. After the persuasions of his advisers, the ruler departed from the tradition of burying a living army with him and decided to replace it with a clay one. In March 1974, peasants discovered a tomb with thousands of statues of soldiers. All the figures have different faces, made clothes in detail. It took 38 years and more than one life to create the tomb. Living concubines and treasures were buried with the ruler.

    Lijiang Old Town

    Lijiang Old Town

    Lijiang is an urban district in the province Yunnan. The old town is located within its boundaries, which attracts tourists. There is the Black Dragon Pool, the beautiful Jade Dragon Mountain, Elephant Hill. Old streets, houses, shops are lined up around it. The old town is full of flowers. Here every corner is saturated with history, and wherever you look – the most beautiful nature.

    Three Gorges Hydroelectric power station

    The construction of a dam on the Yangtze River began in 1992. Now it is the largest and one of the most powerful hydroelectric power plants in the world. 1.3 million people had to be relocated to create it. 32 generators of 700 MW and two of 50 MW are installed on the dam to generate energy. The length of the HPP is 2309 m, height 185 m. The dam recouped a third of its cost in the first year of operation. It also cleanses the Yangtze water from pollution.

    Three Gorges Hydroelectric power station
    Suzhou Gardens

    Suzhou Gardens

    Gardens Suzhou is a masterpiece in its genre. They include several picturesque and quiet gardens located in the city Suzhou in eastern China. They were created by wealthy Chinese. The oldest gardens were created in the XIV century. Each garden is designed in Chinese style. There are artificial stone slides, lakes, elegant bridges, gazebos, temples. In the gardens there is a pond with lotuses, an exhibition of dwarf trees, galleries.

    Huangshan Mountains

    Located in the province Anhui in eastern China, the Huangshan Mountains are included in the UNESCO Heritage List and are one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. The height of 77 peaks exceeds 1000 m . The rocks are covered with pine trees. In the area of the Yellow Mountains, as they are also called, there are 16 thermal springs, 24 streams, 2 lakes and 3 waterfalls. There are hotels for tourists on the peaks of the mountains, and there is a funicular and paths for climbing.

    Huangshan Mountains
    Buddha Statue in Leshan

    Buddha Statue in Leshan

    The statue is carved in the rock of Lingyunshan Mountain on the river bank. The height of the Buddha is 71 m . It is one of the oldest and tallest statues in the world. For 1000 years she was the leader among the giant statues. The Buddha's head is turned towards the sacred mountain Emeishan. The creation of the statue lasted 90 years, and began in 713. Tourists like to climb on the giant's fingers, which are 1.6 m long.

    Zhouzhuang

    Chinese Venice, as the city is called, is located 30 km from Suzhou. The ancient town stands on the Jinghan Canal. It is built up with white houses and villas of the intelligentsia, who liked to live in Zhouzhuang. 14 stone bridges were built across the water channels. One of the main buildings is the house of the millionaire of that time. It has 100 rooms, and its area is 2 km2. A very romantic and colorful Chinese town.

    Zhouzhuang
    Longmen Cave Temples

    Longmen Cave Temples

    These are Buddhist temples that are located in Henan Province. The caves were created in 495-898 in limestone rocks on the banks of the Ihe River. The exact number of temples is not known. There are at least 2,345 grottoes with 43 temples. More than 100,000 statues were carved in them. During the Sui Dynasty, many of them were beheaded. The Longmen Cave Temples are one of the most striking examples of Buddhist art.

    Jiuzhaigou National Park

    The place of fabulous colorful lakes and multi–level waterfalls is Jiuzhaigou National Park. It is located in Sichuan Province in northern China. The park is located in a valley with nine villages inhabited by Tibetans and the Qiang people. Jiuzhaigou consists of three valleys. In them you can see broad-leaved forests with amazing fauna, rivers, waterfalls and lakes of incredible beauty.

    Yungang Cave Grottoes

    This is a complex of 252 man-made caves. They are located 16 km from the city Datong. 51 thousand Buddha images were created in them. The tallest reach 17 meters in height. All the grottoes stretch for one kilometer. In addition to statues, they contain Buddhist scenes, ornaments, sculptures of Apsaras. This is one of the largest cave complexes in the world.

    Hanging Monastery of Xuankong-si

    Shanxi Province has a rich architecture, history and culture. This is one of the first regions of the country where Buddhism began to flourish. The monastery was built in 419. It unites three religions and is very popular with tourists. 40 halls and pavilions of the monastery stand on wooden stilts. The rock serves as an inner wall, Buddha statues were carved in it. There are 80 of them in the monastery.

    Yangtze River Cruises

    Yangtze River Cruises

    The longest river in China flows through many beautiful places of the country. During cruises, there is a chance to swim through canyons and gorges, disembark in boats and swim up to the rocks, visit excursions in different places. These can be monuments of nature and architecture, ancient temples and cities. The views are very picturesque throughout the cruise.

    Longji Rice Terraces

    These are some of the most beautiful rice terraces in China. They are located near a pretty village Pinyan. They are also called the Dragon Ridge. They were built on the mountainside. Its height is 1100 meters. In winter, the terraces look snow-white because of the snow, in spring they are flooded with water, in summer they have a bright green color, and in autumn they look golden. There are hotels for tourists.

    Longji Rice Terraces
    Mogao Caves

    Mogao Caves

    Mogao is a grandiose monument of Chinese culture. It is located in the province Gansu. The cave complex unites 492 sanctuaries. They are decorated with frescoes and sculptures. Mogao is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China. It was built in the mountains of the Gobi Desert in the IV century. It took a millennium to create jewelry and design caves. The area of fresco painting is 42 thousand km2.

    Mount Taishan

    It is one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism. It is located in Shandong province. The height of the mountain is 1545 m . A lift can take you to the top of the mountain. There is a temple on it, to which pilgrims constantly arrive. 80% of the mountain is covered with coniferous and deciduous forests. There are 1000 species of plants growing there, many of them medicinal.

    Mount Taishan

    Monasteries of Wudangshan

    Wudangshan is a mountain range in Hubei Province. It consists of 72 peaks, 36 rocks and 24 valleys. It is the second most popular monastic complex in China. It is said that it was in this ancient cradle of Taoism that martial arts were born. There was an ancient Taoist university. The most popular among tourists is the Golden Pavilion, the Forbidden City, the Purple Cloud Palace.

    Giant Panda Research Nursery in Chengdu

    Sichuan Province is densely populated by pandas. In the nursery created for the care of pandas, the conditions resemble the natural habitat. They keep little pandas in them, and when they become ready for independent life, I release them. In the nursery, animals are fed and medical care is provided. After a hearty breakfast, pandas become quite lazy and slow. This is the best time to observe.

    Temple of Heaven

    Temple of Heaven

    The only round temple in Beijing is part of the Temple of Heaven monastery complex. It was built in 1420. It is a place of worship of emperors and prayers for a good harvest. One of the most sacred places in Beijing. The temple consists of the Altar of Heaven, the Hall of Prayer, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Abstinence. The territory of the whole complex is 267 hectares. The park near the temple was endowed with great beauty.

    Zhangjiajie National Park

    The park is located in the Zhangjiajie Mountains. This is the place where the fantastic landscapes of the movie "Avatar" were born. The park was opened in 1982, its area is 13 thousand km2. The height of the quartzite rocks reaches 800 meters. They are covered with trees, and some of the mountain peaks rise to 3000 meters. There is a cable car among the mystical rocks. It offers a breathtaking view. You can climb the mountains along the paths.

    Zhangjiajie National Park
    Xi'an City Wall

    Xi'an City Wall

    This is the only preserved city wall in China. Its height is 12 meters, width is 15. Its length is almost 12 km. In the past, the wall protected the city from attacks, and after reconstruction it became a landmark. A park has been created near it, a marathon is being held on its territory. There is a great view of Sian from the wall. At night it is illuminated, and it looks fascinating.

    Reed Flute Cave

    There is a mountain in Guilin City Guangmingshan, overgrown with reeds. There is a fabulous rock in it, which is called the Reed Flute Cave. It was created by the ocean, leaving behind an amazing shape of the crevice. This is the largest karst cave in China. Its length is 500 meters. Stalactites, stalagmites, an underground lake is illuminated by a multicolored garland. Inside the cave there is a park with benches where you can relax.

    Reed Flute Cave
    Three Pagodas of Chunsheng Temple

    Three Pagodas of Chunsheng Temple

    The three pagodas of the Chongsheng Temple are one of the oldest and best preserved buildings in southern China. They are located 1 kilometer from the city of Dali on the shore of Lake Erhai. The architecture of the pagodas is unique for Buddhist structures. They were built of brick, plastered with white clay and decorated with patterns. The roofs of the pagodas are made of copper. The three pagodas of the Chunsheng Temple are called the most beautiful symbol of Dali.

    Tombs of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty

    These are several mausoleum complexes throughout China. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, who ruled the country for more than 500 years, are buried in them. All tombs are made according to the principles of "feng Shui" and testify to the beliefs and religion of the Chinese at that time. The tombs of the emperors are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

    Tombs of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty