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China is a vast country with a cultural history spanning over 3500 years, featuring many unique and captivating architectural wonders. Everyone knows about the Great Wall and the Forbidden City of China. However, that's not all, China also boasts a series of other incredibly unique and majestic architectural marvels such as the Huyền Không Pagoda, Lạc Sơn Great Buddha, and the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang... Let's explore the most beautiful and famous tourist destinations in China with Mytour.
The Most Famous Tourist Destinations in China
1. The Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, Xi'an
This can be considered one of the most famous tourist destinations in China today. In 1974, while digging a well in the eastern part of Mount Lishan, Tây An, a farmer discovered a tomb underground with over 8,000 ancient terracotta warrior statues. These warrior statues were dated by scientists and archaeologists to around 221 BC and are considered to be the terracotta army to protect the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.
According to Chinese beliefs, the deceased will continue their life in the afterlife, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang built an entire miniature empire with clay warriors to protect his tomb. This massive project is still being excavated because the clay warriors are fragile and difficult to preserve. Therefore, the mystery surrounding the tomb of Qin Shi Huang remains unresolved, and the tomb has not been fully excavated.
2. Huyền Không Pagoda, Sơn Tây
A very famous spiritual tourist destination in China. Huyền Không Pagoda is nestled deep in a cliff on Mount Hằng Sơn, Sơn Tây province. The pagoda was built about 1,500 years ago, perched on the cliff about 50 meters above the ground. Despite harsh weather conditions and strong earthquakes, Huyền Không Pagoda still stands firm thanks to sturdy wooden beams and supporting pillars. This is a favorite sightseeing spot for China tours.
3. The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China - the most famous tourist attraction in China. This is one of the greatest architectural feats built by human hands. The Great Wall stretches 21,196 kilometers and construction began in the 5th century BC. Its most famous section, built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang between 220 and 200 BC, was intended to protect China from attacks by the Huns, Mongols, and other nomadic tribes. The Great Wall is the most visited destination by foreign tourists in China.
4. The Forbidden City - Beijing
The Forbidden City is located in the heart of Beijing, it is the largest palace complex in the world. Over 500 years, it has been the epitome of political power in China. The Forbidden City covers an area of 250,000 square meters, including 980 palaces and 8,886 rooms, surrounded by a wall 7.9 meters high and 6 meters thick, with a moat 52 meters wide. Inside the Forbidden City are magnificent palaces, unique and extravagant architectural structures. Today, it is one of the most famous tourist attractions in China.
5. Leshan Giant Buddha, Leshan City, Sichuan Province
Another spiritual tourist spot, famous for its giant Buddha statue in China. The Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Built over 1,000 years ago, it stands at a height of 71 meters. It took more than 90 years and a tremendous amount of effort and money to complete this project. The statue depicts Maitreya Buddha sitting with both hands resting on his knees, facing the confluence of 3 beautiful and sacred rivers. The Leshan Giant Buddha is a highly popular tourist destination attracting domestic and international tour groups. In addition, around the temple, there are thousands of other exquisite sculptures, ancient temples, and picturesque landscapes.
Historical Palaces and Mansions of Chinese Royalty
6. The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a complex of religious buildings in the southeastern part of central Beijing. It was visited by emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a series of elaborate rituals, prayers, and wishes for the prosperity of the nation. The parks surrounding the temple area are quite spacious, covering an area of 660 acres.
Today, The Temple of Heaven is a famous tourist attraction in China, equipped with modern amenities including playgrounds, simple entertainment services, and fitness areas. Therefore, families often bring their children here to play on holidays. Some open spaces and nearby buildings are often used in the mornings for choir performances, folk dances, and other presentations.
7. The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is a vast complex of lakes, gardens, and palaces in Beijing, China. It occupies an area of 720 acres, three-quarters of which are water. In 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace in the World Heritage List.
The Summer Palace is considered a masterpiece of landscape garden design in China. The natural landscapes of hills and water combine with modern features such as pavilions, palaces, temples, halls, and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic values. The Summer Palace is not only a famous tourist destination attracting travelers to book cheap tours but also a very interesting amusement park in China.
The Most Beautiful Scenic Spots in China
China's scenic beauty is renowned for its majestic mountains, vast plains, and stunning lakes. The nature of China creates a mysterious and captivating painting that enchants every traveler. Especially notable are the following destinations:
The Geological Park of Zhangye Danxia is a breathtaking tourist destination for checking in. The park is located in Gansu Province in northwest China. The landscapes here exist vividly, known as the 'rainbow mountains' due to their vibrant colors.
The mountain range here shines with various colors like red, hazelnut, orange, yellow, and sea blue... This is the result of the accumulation of red sandstone and dry sedimentation, oxidation.
Color streaks like long rainbows stretch across the mountain range - Image source: Internet
The landscapes comprise many layers, many shapes, most of which are several hundred meters high, when illuminated by the sun, the colors here appear very vivid. It looks like an oil painting when the existence of large red rocks contrasts with the pure blue of the sky.
9. Mount Huangshan
The image of a pine tree emerging from a rock with a peculiar shape and curvature seems deeply ingrained in the minds of the Chinese when mentioning Huangshan.
The mystical mountains with ethereal clouds floating around are the most beautiful and famous tourist destination in China. Huangshan concentrates the most beautiful mountain scenery in China known as the 'Four Wonders'.
More special than anything is the pine tree atop the Goddess Peak - Image source: Internet
One is the beauty of the pine trees. Huangshan boasts numerous ancient pine trees over a hundred years old. Two is the peculiar-shaped rocks, towering mountains, rugged cliffs, and captivating valleys. Three is the ethereal clouds of Huangshan, where mountains seem to float in a sea of clouds, with peaks appearing and disappearing, and this breathtaking sight should not be missed when witnessing the sunrise. Lastly, there are the characteristic streams of water flowing from the mountains of China.
Mountains veiled in layers of clouds - Image source: Internet
The beauty of dawn on mountain peaks - Image source: Internet
10. Huangshan Villages
Huangshan Villages is a picturesque ancient village with a stream flowing around lotus ponds and under graceful, exquisite ancient bridges. The village, with its vibrant life, attracts many art students from China.
When visiting here, looking down from above, the village resembles a leisurely reclining buffalo nestled among the verdant mountains and hills. Stepping into Huangshan Villages, tourists will feel as if they've stepped into a cobblestone ancient street, with red brick walls and green tiled roofs, and the people are like time machines, taking everyone back through time and space, back to the centuries-old Ming and Qing dynasties.
The serene, tranquil beauty of the village - Image source: Internet
11. Wuyuan Village
Dubbed as the 'most charming village in China,' Wuyuan Village is a tourist destination in Jiangxi Province famous for its unique ancient architecture blending harmoniously with vibrant canola flowers.
The vibrant golden rapeseed flowers and the unique architectural houses beneath the hills - Image source: Internet
The tranquil village in the early morning mist, with gentle sunlight spreading across the winding streams and small village lanes. The simple, harmonious lifestyle of the locals here has been preserved through generations. Visiting Wuyuan Village, tourists will experience a truly 'slow' life, seemingly disappeared by today's fast-paced living.
The peaceful, serene life in the countryside - Image source: Internet
12. Jiuzhaigou Valley
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a famous natural reserve located at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level, situated in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China. It has long been an attractive tourist destination for visitors worldwide with its picturesque landscapes resembling a fairyland.
Formed on a karst landscape on the edges of the Tibetan Plateau, Jiuzhaigou Valley is renowned for the beauty of its primeval forests, crystal-clear lakes with visible bottoms, and majestic mountain ranges surrounding it. The color of the water in the lakes can change depending on the contrast of sunlight. All of these create an impression of wandering into a paradise on earth.
Harmonious scenery of sea, mountains, and lakes - Image source: Internet
The scenery here is beautiful in all four seasons, but perhaps Jiuzhaigou Valley is most stunning in autumn. Travelers visiting this land in September and October will experience the breathtaking color palette of nature. It's the red carpet of leaves stretching out, the golden trees swaying in the wind, all against the backdrop of the azure sky like an artistic painting.
The carpet of forest hues reflected on the water surface - Image source: Internet
It's the emerald green waters, so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom, occasionally rippled by the gentle breeze.
The serene emerald waters - Image source: Internet
Those are the lush green pine forests, with numerous rugged cliffs and cascading waterfalls. The scenery is so beautiful that you can't help but stand there gazing endlessly, a beauty that leaves people speechless, mesmerized by its enchantment.
The majestic waterfalls - Image source: Internet
13. Panjin Red Beach
The beach is covered by the vibrant red color of a type of grass growing on the mixed alkaline and saline soil. Originally a nature reserve, it's home to a rich ecosystem, prominently featuring the red plant species known as sueda. In recent years, Panjin Red Beach has become a popular tourist destination in China, attracting many travelers from near and far.
The characteristic red color on Panjin Beach in autumn - Image source: Internet
This plant species only grows in waterlogged land with saline and alkaline properties. The grass starts to grow rapidly from April and May, during which time it's green like any other normal grass. However, as autumn approaches, this grass species turns into its characteristic red color, creating a vast expanse of red beach, forming a beautiful and rare natural scene. This waterlogged land has also attracted a large number of rare wild bird species, including the red-crowned crane and the spoon-billed sandpiper.
The bridges leading out to the sea for tourists to explore - Image source: Internet
Famous tourist cities in China
As a vast country with a long history of development, China boasts numerous cities that have existed for thousands of years, with many historical architectural landmarks. Alongside this, the rapid development pace of the populous nation has also given rise to some of the most modern and dynamic cities in the world. Below are the most famous tourist cities in China that you can visit.
14. Shanghai
Shanghai, known as the 'Paris of the East,' is one of the most bustling and developed urban centers in Asia. Stepping foot here, travelers booking affordable tours will be amazed by the splendor of the skyscrapers and the high-end fashion boutiques lining the Shanghai Bund. However, the iconic structures of the modern era do not overshadow the ancient cultural treasures of this city, as Shanghai still preserves ancient temples and historical landmarks of great value.
15. Beijing
The vibrant and bustling capital city is a standout destination in China that no domestic or international traveler should miss. With its delicate blend of ancient architectural lines and contemporary vibes, Beijing easily captivates visitors from the first glance. Among them, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China are top priorities. Additionally, the city's cuisine is enticing with its renowned Peking duck. Once you've tasted it, you won't forget its delicious flavor.
16. Xi'an
Xi'an is the second most culturally historic city in the country after the capital Beijing. Xi'an served as the capital of China during the peak periods of the Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties.
Moreover, this Chinese tourist spot is the starting point of the famous Silk Road, an ancient trading route connecting Europe and Asia, playing a pivotal role in the ancient Eurasian trading system. It's this historical foundation that makes Xi'an home to many unique historical sites such as the terracotta army in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang with many unexplained mysteries, the Great Mosque dating back over a thousand years, or the Banpo archaeological site and museum.
17. Hangzhou
Locals often say, 'above there is heaven, below there is Hangzhou,' referring to the irresistible beauty of Hangzhou and West Lake. Hangzhou always ranks among the most beautiful destinations in Chinese tourism.
Each year, the city attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to contemplate the West Lake scenery, admire the picturesque riverside gardens, and gaze at the serene, tranquil water. Additionally, there are many cultural and historical sites around West Lake area such as Lingyin Temple, Luchao Temple...
A distinctive feature that sets Hangzhou apart from other places is its two most famous specialties: tea and silk. Travelers can visit the National Silk Museum, the National Tea Museum, or spend time learning more about the tea culture.
18. Taizhou
Taizhou, situated on the banks of the Yangtze River, is a typical tourist destination in China. With its intricate canal system, Taizhou is also known as the 'Eastern Venice.' The ancient towns in the city epitomize the serene and gentle beauty of traditional Chinese villages: ancient wooden houses, quietly lining the canals, stone bridges, arched, locals wearing bamboo hats rowing sampan boats... Taizhou is home to over 200 well-established flower gardens, seamlessly combining nature, architecture, calligraphy, painting, and bonsai art. Some of them have been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
We hope that the list of the most beautiful and famous tourist destinations in China shared by Mytour can help travelers have complete and enjoyable journeys. If you need to tour China, contact us now via the hotline Mytour for advice and to receive attractive promotions.
