10 Best Tourist Locations in China
1. The Great Wall of China
The beautiful Great Wall of China extends more than 6,000 kilometres from the strongholds of Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west, passing through Hebei, Tientsin, Beijing (where the best preserved sections of the wall can be visited), Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Gansu. The wall, which averages six to eight metres in height but may reach 16 metres in sections and is broad enough for five horses or ten soldiers to pass through, has multiple battlements and watchtowers. Some of the wall’s oldest fortifications date back to the 7th century BC, with the best-known sections added around 210 BC when its various sections were connected.
2. The Tarracotta Army
In the 1970s, farmers drilling wells on the outskirts of Xi’an discovered what would become China’s most important archaeological find: the Terracotta Army. The find, which was spread across three vast underground pits and erected to guard the tomb of the First Emperor, featured almost 8,000 life-size warriors, 520 horses, and more than 100 chariots, as well as countless other non-military characters dating from around 280 BC.
3. The Summer Palace
The luxurious Imperial Summer Palace located just 15 kilometres from Beijing, is set within more than 700 acres of exquisite parkland and is one of China’s most visited sites. While the palace was established in 1153, the enormous lake was erected in the 14th century to complement the Imperial Gardens.
The grandiose Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshou Dian), complete with throne, and the gorgeous Great Theatre, a private three-story edifice built in 1891 to gratify the imperial family’s love of opera, are both highlights. This historic facility is still utilised for traditional Chinese plays and musical events, and it is well worth a visit for a performance or entertainment.
4. Li River, Guilin
Guilin, in the northeast corner of Guangxi, has some of the most beautiful terrain in China and is notable for the Li River, which flows through the town and surrounding Karst Mountains. While this unusual beauty has drawn poets and painters for hundreds of years and has been the topic of innumerable fairy tales and legends, it is now popular with tourists from all over the world who want to witness this natural splendour up close.
5. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Your trip to China may feel incomplete if you don’t see China’s national animal. Although there are several zoos that house beautiful specimens of Pandas, the Chengdu Research Center allows visitors to watch roughly 80 pandas in close proximity as they go about their daily playful activities in their natural habitat. The early morning feeding hours are ideal for visiting this centre because the pandas are more active at that time of day. Aside from that, tourists can sign up for volunteer programs that allow them to hold young pandas.
6. The Forbidden City
If we’re talking about visiting Forbidden City, we can’t leave without emphasising how fantastic the entire Forbidden City is! The heart of Beijing – the lifeline of the locals who have lived there for centuries – is at the top of the list of sites to visit in Beijing. During the reign of Hongwu Emperor and his son, Zhu Di, this occurred. When Zhu Di came to the throne, he relocated the Chinese capital from Nanjing to Beijing, kicking off the construction of the Forbidden City.
7. The Yangtze River and the Three Gorges
The Yangtze River flows for more than 6000 kilometres from Tibet in the west to Shanghai in the east, making it China’s longest and most important river. This river is also the world’s third-longest river, after the Amazon and the Nile. The river is known as China’s key transit artery, and tourists who wish to tour it can do so at a variety of sites along the Three Gorges and among spectacular high mountain peaks.
8. The Potala Palace
The palace is one of China’s most spectacular monuments, built as a fortification and dwelling for the Dalai Lama but originally used to house political and religious valuables. This palace is divided into the following sections: The Red Palace was erected to protect the major shrines and murals depicting scenes from the lives of the Dalai Lamas and Tibet’s monarchs. The White House – this magnificent facility, which comprises sleeping quarters, reception rooms, and other amenities, has remained unaltered since 1959.
9. The Bund
The Bund, also known as Waitan, is a downtown Shanghai historical district. This waterfront region is well-known for the buildings and wharves that can be found there and in the surrounding area. From the 1860s until the 1930s, this area was a wealthy and powerful centre that served as a treaty port that was legally protected.
It is one of the nicest sites to visit in Shanghai, with several historical structures such as consulates and clubs. You can walk down the Bund and admire the 52 ancient buildings with outstanding architecture, enjoy a trip on the Huangpu River, or relax in Huangpu Park.
10. Hangzhou’s Historic West Lake
Few towns in China can boast the same concentration of magnificent historic structures and old temples as Hangzhou (Hangchow). Much of this rich collection is gathered around picturesque West Lake, a six-kilometer-square expanse of water in the centre of the old city surrounded by various hills, pagodas, and temples, which is located at the southernmost end of China’s famous Grand Canal.
