China, a vast country with an immense history, offers a diverse range of vacation spots, each with its unique attractions. Its beautiful scenery has captured millions of travelers' hearts around the world. If you are looking to visit China, I can't wait to share with you the top 10 scenic spots.
1. The Great Wall
Construction of the Great Wall started in the 7th century BC. It began during the Warring States Period and lasted for more than 2,000 years, spanning Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Gansu. It extends over 6700 kilometers and is known as "two thousand years of ups and downs, a hundred thousand miles across".
The Great Wall, as one of the most magnificent ancient defense works, is known as one of the wonders of the world. It was put on the World Cultural Heritage list in 1987 and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world each year. All tourists now know the saying, “You are not a true hero until you have climbed the Great Wall.”
The main attractions of the Great Wall include the Badaling section, Mutianyu section, Simatai section, Shanhai Pass, and Jiayu Pass.
2. Guilin's Landscape
Guilin is located in the northeastern part of Guangxi and is a renowned scenic city as well as a historical and cultural city. A distinctive karst landform is the reason behind Guilin's fabulous landscape, which is characterized by green mountains, sparkling waters, peculiar caves, and imposing monoliths. The epithet 'Guilin has the finest mountains and rivers under heaven' is often associated with the city.
Famous scenic areas in Guilin are Lijiang River, Elephant Trunk Hill, Folded Brocade Hill, Whirlpool Hill, Reed Flute Cave and Seven Star Cave.
3. Imperial Palace in Beijing
The Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the heart of Beijing, it is the largest and most complete imperial palace and ancient building complex in China, and the world at large. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
Fourteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing Dynasty lived and ruled China in this palace for as long as 490 years, from 1421 to 1911. The Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Qing Dynasty. In 1924, the last emperor Puyi was driven out of the palace. After that, the Forbidden City was converted into the Palace Museum and has been open to the public, attracting crowds of tourists eager to experience royal life.
4. West Lake in Hangzhou
There are no less than 30 lakes named "West Lake" in China, but the West Lake in Hangzhou is the most famous of them all. It is located in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, on the southeastern coast of China. The picturesque West Lake is surrounded by elegant scenery, such as Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon, Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard, and Spring Dawn at Sudi Causeway. As a world-famous tourist resort, Hangzhou, where the West Lake is located, is known as the Paradise of the World in China, and it is visited by an endless stream of international tourists.
5.Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Classical Gardens of Suzhou is a group of gardens in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These gardens are elegant and classical, harmoniously combining plants, rocks, water scenes and buildings. They present different scenes that make visitors produce a sense of a beautiful painting. Visitors can enjoy the place and the joy of nature.
6.Great Mount Huangshan
Huangshan Mountain is located in the city of Huangshan in the south of Anhui Province, and it's one of the most famous mountains in China. It is the only mountain in China named after the Yellow Emperor, the mythological ancestor of the Chinese people. It's a supremely beautiful spot with odd-shaped pines, grotesque rocks, seas of clouds, winter snow and hot springs; these five wonders of Mount Huangshan include all the extraordinary sceneries of the world.
In the scenic area of Huangshan Mountain, unique granite peaks dot the summits and cliffs, ancient pines stretch their branches in countless shapes, bizarre rocks take on every conceivable shape, and seas of clouds shift unpredictably. The Magical Mount Huangshan is like a land of dreams, bringing the legendary fairyland to the world. Mount Huangshan has won the praise of the whole world. As the saying goes, "No mountain is worth seeing after a trip to the Five Sacred Mountains, but none of the Five is worth seeing after a trip to Huangshan."
7.Three Gorges
There are three raging rocky gorges on the Yangtze River, named the Three Gorges. The Three Gorges are Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge. The 192-kilometer-long gorges are nestled between mountains more than 1,000 meters high on both sides. When you travel through the Three Gorges, water rushes past, with old trees and ancient buildings completing the beautiful scenery. The Three Gorges are not only famous for their natural scenery, but also for their rich historical and cultural heritage, making them a world-renowned tourist attraction.
Currently, the Three Gorges region is most famous for the Three Gorges Dam. The dam not only controls floods and generates electric power, but it also hosts the largest hydroelectric station in the world. Whether you are admiring the natural scenery of the Three Gorges or exploring the majesty of the Three Gorges Dam, visiting the Three Gorges will give you a breathtaking but pleasant experience.
8. Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake, located in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan Province of China, is the largest natural lake in Taiwan and one of Taiwan’s top tourist attractions. A sparkling body of water surrounded by verdant mountains draws visitors from across the world. As the largest body of water in Taiwan, this picturesque lake offers a unique blend of natural splendor and historical significance, making it a must-visit for any traveler.
This beautiful alpine lake is called Sun Moon Lake because the southern part of Lalu island is shaped like a moon and the northern part is shaped like a sun.
9.Mountain Resort: China's ancient royal summer retreat
The Mountain Resort in Chengde is one of China's four most famous gardens and one of the largest and best-preserved imperial palaces outside Beijing. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.
The Mountain Resort is located in Chengde, Hebei Province, 230 kilometers away from Beijing. It was built as a summer retreat for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, primarily due to its cooler climate and beautiful scenery. It also served as a very important place for diplomacy because the emperors of the Qing Dynasty used the palace to receive the elites of ethnic minority groups from around and foreign envoys.
The scale of the Mountain Resort is very grand. It is one and a half times the size of the Summer Palace and seven times that of the Forbidden City. Compared to the grand and solemn Forbidden City, the design characteristics of the Mountain Resort are more simple and elegant. The design of the resort takes advantage of the natural and wild scenes for the carefully constructed buildings of over 120 groups, which integrate the features of both the northern meadows and the southern waterscape, in a layout of lake in the southeast, mountain in the northwest, and plain in the northeast. It will definitely bring you an unforgettable experience.
10.Terracotta Army
There is a saying that you have not truly been to China if you have not visited the Terracotta Army. The Terracotta Army is located at the northern foot of Lishan Hill in Lintong, Shaanxi Province. It is part of the mausoleum complex of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, and is known as one of the eight wonders of the world. It well matches the pyramids in Egypt and the Greek sculptures as the precious wealth of human culture.
When you visit, you will be amazed by its vast scale and intricate details. Each warrior is as big and vivid as a real soldier. What's remarkable when you see them up close is that no two faces are the same; each Terracotta Soldier has been given his own distinct features. The facial features, expressions, and hairlines of the clay warriors were exact duplicates of those of real people. Life-sized war chariots and horses were also made. It promises an unforgettable experience.
