China Sightseeing

The range of sightseeing possibilities in China is enormous and includes some of the world’s true wonders. Highlights include the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors in Xian. Most every region of the country offers up archaeological and cultural attractions that are worth seeing. Incredible natural sights like the areas in and around China’s spectacular rivers are also worth taking time to see.

Forbidden City
This is a vast space that occupies over 2.3 million square feet. It’s surrounded by defensive walls that are more than 30ft in height, having an overall length of around 10,000ft, and further protected by a moat that’s 170ft wide. The city comprises an outer court and an inner court. The outer court is centred on the Midway Hall of Harmony, the Hall of Military Prowess and the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In the inner court, the focus is on the Hall of Celestial Purity, the Hall of Terrestrial Tranquillity and the Hall of Union and Peace – flanked on two sides by the Six East and the Six West palaces.

Great Wall of China
In the 7^th century BC, during the Zhou dynasty, individual states in the northern regions began constructing defensive walls. When China was united during the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC, the walls were joined to keep out invading Xiongnu tribes from the north. The Great Wall then stretched for more than 3,000mi. A visit to the Great Wall is the highlight of a trip to China for many visitors.

Huangpu River and the Bund
Taking a boat along the Huangpu gives visitors a glimpse into Shanghai’s past, and also provides great views of the modern skyline of the city. As the boat reaches the centre, on one side you will see the Bund, considered to be the birthplace of Shanghai; and on the other, the modern structures of Pudong, including the landmark Oriental Pearl TV tower. A sightseeing tunnel runs under the river, connecting the two sides, and is an attraction in its own right.

Li River
The Li river begins in Xinan country, situated to the northeast of Guilin, and weaves its way in a south-easterly direction for approximately 250mi, finally merging with the Xi river in Wulin. The scenery along the way is some of the most stunning in China, and attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year. The 50mi stretch from Guilin to Yanshuo is the most popular of all, where limestone karst formations dominate.

Summer Palace
The central feature of this beautiful complex is the manmade Kunming lake. A path follows the lake’s northern shore, and is a pleasant place for walking and enjoying the beautifully-landscaped grounds. The palace and the grounds are easily worth a half-day’s visit. Inside the Summer Palace, you’ll see an amazing display of 10,000 paintings on the crossbeams in the corridors.

Temple of Heaven
The main structures here date to 1420, during the Ming dynasty, when they were built for the purpose of honouring both heaven and earth. As the emperor was considered to be the ‘Son of the Heaven’, responsible for carrying out matters on earth on behalf of the powers above, any natural disaster was seen as a sign of the Emperor’s loss of favour. To avoid any loss of favour, current rulers made frequent sacrifices to heaven at this temple.

Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
Considered by many to be the eighth wonder of the world, this partially unearthed army of soldiers located outside of Xian is a highlight of the China experience. All of the 6,000 life-sized clay warriors and the horses that stand by them were individually crafted – with each warrior weighing more than 270kg and standing over 6ft high. The army stood guard over the dead emperor’s tomb, and provided protection for him in the afterlife.

Tiananmen Square
In Mandarin, the word ‘Tiananmen’ means ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace’. The events for which this square is remembered today, however, were far from peaceful. The square actually is set in the exact centre of Beijing, and is the largest city square in the world – having a capacity of a million people. Immediately to the north of the square is the gate to the Forbidden City; to its west is the Great Hall of the People; to the south is the Qianmen Gate; and to the east you’ll see the Museum of the People's Revolution.

Go Mountaineering. You may think that mountaineering appeals to only a few expertly-trained adventurers, but in fact there is a range of peaks to choose from, and not all are as demanding as Everest or K2. China has become a major destination for mountaineers from around the world, and provides peaks of varying levels of difficulty. You are advised that unless you are going with an organised group, permits usually have to be obtained before embarking on a climb.

Explore the Scenic Natural Wonders. There’s an amazing range of natural treasures to visit in China that include the Qomolangma Nature Reserve around Mt Everest and also numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. Some of the most notable of these are the Buddhist mountain known as Emei Shan, the fog-enveloped precipices of Huangshan mountain, and the spectacular lakes and waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou Valley.

Celebrate the Spring Festival. The most important date on the Chinese calendar is the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. This is a time for families to be together, travelling long distances if necessary. Homes are decorated with pictures, signs and banners – all with the goal of bringing good fortune in the New Year. Festivities typically include parades, lion dances and lantern shows. Children are given red envelopes containing money by older relatives.

Spend the day at the Stone Forest. This will make a fantastic and easy day trip from the city of Kunming, which is Yunnan’s capital, will take you to one of the most popular attractions in southwest China. The Shilin Stone Forest is actually a massive grouping of limestone formations that have the appearance of petrified trees.

Take a Boat Ride on the Three Gorges. This is not for the faint of heart as the Yangtze river runs through an area known as the Three Gorges – which includes Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges – located on the river’s upper reaches. The gorge area begins in Fengjie, in Sichuan Province and runs to Nanjing Pass, in Wuchang, for a total distance of more than 100mi. Along the way you’ll note unusual mountain formations and other rivers as well.

Relax on a Tropical Beach. Spend the day relaxing in Sanya, which is located on the southern coast of Hainan Island, is a relatively new holiday destination popular with both Chinese and foreign tourists. The resort features lovely sand beaches lined with palm trees, international standard hotels, varied dining options, a number of golf courses and water sports facilities.