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“Great souls have wills, weak ones have only wishes.” - Chinese Proverb
If you want to visit China, you need to stop wishing! Unsurprisingly, China is visited mostly by Asian tourists; there were 4.7 billion tourists in 2018. That said, it doesn’t mean British tourists can’t go. Europeans are fascinated by Chinese history and culture and more and more are going to see China. Which are the most popular things to see in China? Which monument and buildings do you have to see? In this article, we’re going to look at the cities you should visit, the most popular tourist attractions, natural parks, and unusual attractions worth visiting.
Which Cities in China Should You Visit?
China is a country in eastern Asia and it’s the one with the biggest population. It covers a huge area and is home to coasts, mountains, prairies, and deserts. In fact, China has over 8,000 miles of coastline!
- Beijing, the Chinese capital.
- Hong Kong, a former British colony and world financial centre.
- Shanghai, a cultural and tourist centre.
- Hangzhou, a romantic city located on the Jing–Hang Grand Canal.
Here are some other noteworthy places to visit in China:
- Xiamen, a city in the south of China with many temples.
- Shenzhen.
- Yangshuo, famous for its beautiful rice fields.
- Zhangjiajie, in a region of natural beauty.
- Suzhou, with its canals.
- Chengdu, a beautiful city in the centre of China with many historic remains.
- Guilin, home to limestone hills and colourful grottos.
- Lijiang (Yunnan Province) where you can see the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a great place for a trek.
Whether it’s for the beaches, impressive skyscrapers, historic sites, or the cuisine, the People's Republic of China has got it! Keep in mind that China is divided into:
- Provinces, like Yunnan and Sichuan.
- Autonomous regions, such as Xinjiang.
- Municipalities, Beijing and Tianjin, for example.
- Special administrative regions, including Macao.
China’s a country with plenty of beautiful cities and places. For example, the Yunnan Province is famous for its beautiful treks in the lakes, rice fields, and mountains while Lijiang is home to ruins from the Song Dynasty. The Sichuan Province, in the south of China, is famous for its breathtaking countryside by the Yangtze River, especially in the Jiuzhaigou Valley or the forest where the Leshan Giant Buddha resides. As you can see, there’s a wealth of things to do and see in China. Now let’s see China’s most beautiful tourist attractions! Find out more about the best cities in China.
China’s Most Beautiful Tourist Attractions and Monuments
Interested in travelling off the beaten path? Luckily for you, China is full of ancient treasures and modern activities. Whether you’re in the north or south of China, there’s so much discover.
- The Great Wall of China, the most visited tourist attraction in China
- The Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Forbidden City
- The National Museum of China
- Jingshan Park, a great place to relax after a day in the heat of the city
- The Bund, a pedestrian area on the banks of the Huangpu river
- The Jade Buddha Temple
- People’s Square
- The Shanghai Grand Theatre, where you can see many beautiful local shows
- The Yu Garden, a great place to relax after a long day
- The Pearl Tower, a television tower
- Lingyin Temple, a 4th-century Buddhist temple
- Leifeng Pagoda
- Qinghe Lane, a great place to shop
- Dreaming of the Tiger Spring, where you can have a nice walk
- Tianmushan Nature Reserve
- The botanical gardens.
In China, you can enjoy ancient customs and modern marvels next to one another. Visiting China during the Chinese New Year is something else. Most of these sites can be visited at any time of the year. Whether it’s a day trip or a week in a resort, you can also go with a travel agent. Do you prefer nature? Visit China’s parks. Find out more about planning a trip to China.
China’s Most Famous Natural Parks
China is a modern country but it’s also very rural, agricultural, and home to many national parks that are worth visiting. The most impressive parks are in Zhangjiajie in the Hunan Province. It’s home to:
- Quartz-sandstone pillars (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park)
- Tianmen Mountain (in the Tianmen Mountain National Park)
- Baofeng Lake
- The Yellow Dragon Cave
There are 246 natural sites and natural parks in China including lakes, mountains, forests, and geological formations.
- Huangshan Park, in the Anhui Region, where you can see the sunset over the “Sea of Clouds”.
- Mount Wudang National Geopark, in Hubei, where you can find magnificent Taoist temples.
- Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, famous for its red cliffs.
- Li River National Park, in Guilin, whose river is considered to be “one of the ten wonders of the world”.
- Jiuzhaigou Valley, with its beautiful lakes.
There’s also the nature reserves in Wolong and Bifengxia where you can see wild pandas! These black and white fur balls can be seen in their natural environment and are cared for by researchers. There are 4 natural parks where you can see them and they’re all under 100 miles from Chengdu:
- The Wolong National Nature Reserve is home to 30 pandas.
- The Dujiangyan Panda Base, home to 20 pandas.
- The Bifengxia Panda Base, also home to 20 pandas.
- The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, with 50 pandas.
These are all great places for tailored trips to China! Find out more about how long you should spend in China.
Unusual Chinese Attractions for European Tourists
If you’re dreaming of taking a trip to China to discover something unusual, these sites should be worth a gander.
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