China Travel Guide:

Best Places to Visit in China

Map of the leading tourist destinations in China

• Beijing   

  • A trip to China would not be complete without a tour of Beijing's attractions. Beijing has long been the Capital of China and offers a number of world-class palaces, monuments, and mausoleums for the tourist's inspection.   Be sure the see the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs and 

    
    

    • The Great Wall of China

      • Built as a defensive wall, construction started between two and four hundred years B.C. When finished, the Great Wall guarded approximately four thousand miles of border.  Although many sections of the wall have fallen into decay, there are numerous locations where you can see the Great Wall at its best:  the most commonly visited Great Wall site is north of Beijing in Badaling.

    
    

• Xi'An 

  • Xi"An was the capital city of China during numerous dynasties. Among its many attractions, Xi'An is, perhaps, best known for the Museum/Tomb of Emperor Qin and the world famous Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.

    • Other places to see include Xi'An's Bell Tower, which was the start of the famous "Silk Road".  If you have time, see the ornate Tang Murals in the Shaanxi Museum of History.

  
  

• Shanghai

  • Shanghai is a historically significant city that has been earmarked as the "new " Hong Kong.  In addition to numerous monuments and museums, Shanghai is a vibrant economic center, with great shopping , good food, and a mix of things to do  that are relatively unique in China.

    •  To the west of Shanghai is the Suzhou, a city known for the Lingering Gardens, one of the most famous gardens in China

• Hong Kong  (Click for our Hong Kong Guide)

  • Hong Kong is a must see city.  It offers a spectacular setting, an upbeat mood, and an "electricity in the air" that cannot be found anywhere else in China.  Be sure to see Victoria Peak, ride the Star Ferry, tour Nathan Road, visit Repulse Bay, discover Stanley, and shop at the Temple Street Night Market. Due to its unique status as a Special Administrative Region of China, we have created Hong Kong Travel Information page outlining entry requirements and other information of value to travelers.  In addition, we have provided a second page that provides detailed geographic information on Hong Kong.




• Chengdu

  • Historic site of many beautiful palaces, temples and tombs, Chengdu is a pleasant stop on any China tour.  Many travelers are attracted here by Panda City, a national center for research related to the protection of the Panda Bear.

    • If you are traveling by train, note that the train station in Chengdu is a notorious den for pickpockets, who are reputed to operate with police protection. (Always wear a money belt while traveling.)

  
  

• The Three Gorges

  • Much of China's history is linked with the Yangtze River and the role it has played in the development of the country. The area known at the Three Gorges is comprised of magnificent valleys cut in the areas' imposing limestone cliffs. The striking views are disappearing as a result of the Three Gorges Dam Power Generation Project.

    • The Three Gorges Dam is scheduled to be completed in 2009  and the Chinese government claims that the area will be better than ever when the project is done, due to access to new areas that could not be visited at the lower water level of the past.

    • If you are interested in visiting the Three Gorges, you will need to take a river cruise to do so.  Make the trip soon if you want to see this breathtaking landscape, as the waters are now rising rapidly.  Many would claim that the best views in the area are already submerged.

  
  

• Guilin

  • Guilin is one of the most beautiful and exotic areas of China. The Karst topography provides unusual and attractive landscapes.  If you  have time, take a Li River cruise.




• Nanjing

  • Nanjing has many attractions of significance but most travelers stop here to see the spectacular, thousand year old Confucian Temple.  In addition, be sure to see the Linggu Temple and The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.  The Ming is one of the largest imperial tombs in China.

• Tibet

  • Since 1959, Tibet has been administered by China as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)

  •   Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, sits in a beautiful mountain valley and the city is topped by the world famous Potola Palace. Many important temples and monasteries are in or near Lhasa and the city is a beautiful place to visit.  Be sure to inspect the wares at Barkor Street while on your way to the Jokhang Temple, regarded as the holiest of Tibetan temples.

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