With ancient culture and 5000 years of historical heritage, China is a multicultural country with fascinating landscapes. The first place to learn about China is Beijing. From the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, you will discover stories of an ancient dynasty. To find more history stories about this mysterious nation, visit Xi’an, where the restless Terracotta Warriors keep Emperor Qin’s secrets 24/7. Modern lifestyles can be found in Shanghai. Turn your attention to Chengdu, where you can see those adorable pandas. If you are up for natural beauty, Guilin’s stunning karst landform will surely feast your eyes.
China’s vastness as a travel destination means that there is literally no end to the variety of things to see and do in the country. The nation offers a wide variety of exciting vacation options, from relaxing on a cruise through the Yangtze Gorges to touring a modern metropolis to exploring a historic temple. We especially select 10 of the best tourist sites in China to help you to plan your trip to China, let’s check them out now!
1. Great Wall of China
According to a well-known Chinese proverb, “Nobody can be a genuine hero without having stood on the Great Wall,” emphasizing the significance attached to this remarkable landmark.
The beautiful Great Wall of China (commonly called ”Changcheng” in Mandarin, which means the “Long Wall”) extends over 6,000 kilometers through the eastern Fortresses of Shanhaiguan to the west in Jiayuguan, traversing via Tientsin, Inner Mongolian, Hebei, Ningxia, and of course Beijing (where the most excellent parts of the wall are located).
The wall comprises several parapets and guard posts, measuring around six to eight meters tall yet reaching 16 meters high and large sufficiently in certain spots for five horse riders or ten soldiers to cross. The first defenses on the wall date to the seventh century BC and the best-known portions were built when its numerous parts were brought together in 210 BC.
The most famous stretch of the wall is located northwest of Beijing, close to Badaling Pass, and is readily accessible by public transportation or guided excursions. The regions of Gubeikou and Mutianyu, respectively 130 kilometers and 70 kilometers from Beijing northeast, are two more renovated portions worth exploring.
2. Forbidden City(Imperial Palace), Beijing
The Forbidden City in Zijinchéng, alternatively referred to as the Imperial Palace, is China’s most monumental and significant structure. Located in downtown Peking, this iconic building is one of the places to visit for travelers to the nation. The actual Forbidden City was finished between 1406 and 1420, but under the Yuan Dynasty, most of the structure was constructed between 1271 and 1368. This sprawling structure, with several magnificent palaces inside one, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty, whose presence prohibited individuals apart from the royal family members and their entertainers from entering.
This enormous structure, defended by a wall high of 10 meters, with guard towers and a large canal, was built on over 720,000 square meters of area and included portions designated for administrative uses and ceremonious as well as an emperor’s private quarters.
Attractions involve the Supreme Harmony Hall, five River Bridges made of granite and gold, a structure high 35 meters where the throne of the emperor is housed, the marvelous emperor’s reception hall, the Palace Gallery with its sizable gathering of pieces of artwork as well as many of the Ming and Qing dynasties relics, and more.
The well-known Tiananmen Square is another sightseeing area with the Temple of Heaven (a religious monument among the most considered in the nation from the 15th century) and two other notable attractions in the environs of the Imperial palace.
3. Terracotta Army, Xi’an
Farmers in the countryside of Xi’an discovered the Terracotta Army when drilling boreholes there in the 1970s. This discovery would turn out to be China’s greatest significant archaeological discovery. The finding featured over 8,000 life-size soldiers, 520 horses, 100 carriages, and many other non-military figures, all of which were created to defend the tomb of the First Emperor.
Most of the uncovered sculptures have been meticulously restored and serve as a witness to the emphasis placed here on the emperor and life after death, even though others were seriously damaged over time. One of China’s major tourist attractions, the Mausoleum Site Park of Emperor Qing Shi Huang, will give you the fantastic sensation of being face-to-face with this group of warriors and horses as though watching a parade has been going on for generations. There are excursions offered in English.
4. Summer Palace, Beijing
Among China’s most popular tourist destinations, the opulent Imperial Summer Palace (called Yihéyuán in Mandarin) is located only 15 kilometers outside Beijing. It is surrounded by over 283 hectares of picturesque parks. The palace was constructed around 1153, but the Imperial Gardens were improved by adding an immense lake in the 1400s.
The majestic ”Renshou Dian”, Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, including its throne, and the elegant Great Theater, a private low-rise building constructed in 1891 to gratify the emperor’s family’s passion for operas, are among the features. During your tour in this ancient location, you might as well have the opportunity to enjoy concerts or entertainment; it still hosts traditional Chinese dramas and local musicians’ live performances.
Le Shou Tang, the Hall of Happiness and Longevity, its gorgeous flowers and courts, and the several kilometers of scenic walkways and walking paths are further attractions. Try to spend some hours exploring the Old Summer Palace’s remains, which are also believed to be among the nation’s most ornate and elegant palaces. Regrettably, colonial soldiers devastated this formerly splendid edifice in the middle of the 1800s.
5. Cruising the Li River, Guilin
The northeastern Guangxi province, where tourists flock to visit the beautiful and natural Guilin city, is home to approximately the finest picturesque landscape in China. It is also well-known for the Li River, running thru the town and neighboring karst cliffs. Whereas its distinctive landscape has long drawn writers and painters and served as the inspiration for innumerable fables and myths, it is now a favorite destination for travelers from all over the globe who want to witness this stunning decor up close.
Sailing down the Li River is the most extraordinary manner to see the region. The best-known section of the Li River is between Guilin and Yangshuo. Here, across 80 kilometers, the river’s water serenely carries you through fantastic caverns and cliffs with exotic names and breathtaking sceneries ideal for couples and photo lovers. Journeys may last from a few hours to many days, depending on the vessel you choose.