At 1.4 billion! inhabitants and a gigantic size of 9,597,000 km², you can guess that the sights in the People’s Republic of China must also be huge. And that’s exactly what they are – huge in their diversity, their popularity and their influx of people from home and abroad.
Whether mountains, deserts, rainforests or cultural landscapes: there are so many destinations worth seeing in China that it is difficult to choose just a few. One of the popular tours that covers at least a large part of the sights may help here.
If you want to go on a journey of discovery yourself, you should make a good plan in advance and always take the climate into account. Some of the individual excursion destinations are difficult to enjoy in summer due to the heat. The same applies to the overcrowding on certain holidays in China, when thousands of Chinese go out and visit their cultural highlights.
The most popular travel destinations in China
Anyone who is in China visits the Great Wall of China. So much time has to be. As the largest building in the world, this myth of travelers to China is an absolute must-see. Built several centuries ago over a length of 21,196 kilometers, hikers see a colossal piece of human history that is unique when they look at the Great Wall of China. It is rightly considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world.
According to countryvv, Beijing, the cultural heart of the Asian country, is also a popular holiday destination in China. There is a high pace here that is difficult to escape. If you love the noise, the breathtaking atmosphere of a gigantic city and the cultural and historical treasures, this is the right place for you. Beijing shows impressive contrasts in the form of very modern architecture compared to ancient sites such as the Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace or the Mausoleum.
Visitors can find more peace and perhaps their own serenity in the Shaolin Temple (built in 495 AD in honor of the monk Batuo), which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in the past and was used as the backdrop for many kung fu films. The Shaolin Temple is located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Luoyang and, like its pagoda forest, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. As one of the most important Buddhist Zen temples, it invites you to take a stroll with its picturesque gardens.
Xian, the “Little Beijing”, was once the capital of China and is known worldwide for its terracotta army, which was discovered by accident in 1974. Since 1987, the approximately 8,000-strong Terracotta Army in the northwestern city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Xian, which is one of four major ancient capitals in the country, is also known as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. In ancient times and the Middle Ages, the old Silk Road was considered one of the most important and oldest trade routes between the West and the East. Today, China is busy building a new Silk Road as an important trade route between Asia, Europe and Africa.
Scenic impressions in the land of superlatives
China is a country of superlatives. It is home to the world’s highest mountain and third-longest river, the most populous city (Shanghai) and the longest architectural monument (Great Wall of China). The “Land of Dragons” is also particularly attractive in terms of landscape – it is diverse, impressive and full of surprises.
The landscape of Guilin in southeast China is characterized by conical karst mountains that have inspired painters and poets to create their works for many years. There are numerous rice fields, bamboo fields and water buffalo on the banks of the Li River. When the Kasai trees bloom in autumn, it is probably the most beautiful time to travel. On a bamboo raft trip on the Yulong River, visitors discover, next to the tropical trees, a panorama of staggered mountain ranges, which locals have given imaginative names (Crescent Moon Mountain, Elephant Trunk Mountain).
Chinese people love colorful, loud and shrill things. It’s no wonder that Zhangye’s Regenborg Mountains are a popular photo opportunity for locals and guests alike. In the approximately 400 square kilometer Zhangye Danxia Geopark, which has been a UNESCO natural heritage site since 2010, there are the most colorful and largest rainbow mountains in China, which the Chinese are rightly proud of and which make a huge impression without the need for a photo shop.
Panjin Red Beach in China is known as Red Beach. Only it is completely without sand. Instead, the suede seagrass predominates in this bright red natural spectacle in autumn, which is still green in color in summer. Red Beach is located in the largest wetland in the world. It is also home to the most complete ecosystem you can find: China is a country of superlatives.
A trip to the big cities of China
In addition to Beijing, with a history of over three thousand years, holidaymakers also look for the sky-high buildings and the pulsating activity on the main streets in Shanghai, Chengdu or Shenzhen. Shanghai, China’s largest city, boasts a famous waterfront promenade and a futuristic skyline. The 632 m high Shanghai Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower television tower are located here. Both popular photo opportunities.
Years ago, Chengdu was ranked 4th among the most livable cities in China and is currently inhabited by around 16 million people. The capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China has developed into one of the economic centers of western China.
Chengdu’s history dates back to the 4th century BC. Artifacts that can be viewed today in the museum at the Jinsha site date from this period. Another destination is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This is a protection station for the endangered pandas, which once populated the entire People’s Republic of China and are still considered national symbols today. Incidentally, Chengdu is also the synonym for German guests for the panda.
Chengdu is cosmopolitan, tolerant and attracts around 4.5 million visitors from all over the world every year. It is primarily the pandas that give Chengdu its unique urban cultural charm. Once you’ve been to the city, you never want to leave it. At least that’s what the proud locals say.
Wuhan is known to many people around the world. Not necessarily for its landscape, summer heat and China’s largest inland water port, but rather for its recent history. But that’s not the only thing we should associate Wuhan with. The metropolis located in the north-east of China is inviting for locals and foreigners who like to travel, of which there are significantly more in 2020 after a break.
Popular excursion destinations in Wuhan include the Crane Pagoda and Changchun Temple. The Yellow Crane Tower was built in the 3rd century for the military and is now considered a city landmark with different exhibitions on each floor and a fantastic view from the top. The Wuhan Changchun Guan Daoist Temple, also called the Temple of Eternal Spring, is also a tourist destination. This is sacrificed to Qiu Chuji, the founder of the Daoist Dragon Gate School.
