China: 10 Top Places to Visit

10 top places to visit in China

Vast and diverse, China is a giant tourist destination. With more megacities than any other country in the world, as well as being the country with the largest population, any visit to this Asian giant is a captivating and compelling mix of fascinating traditional culture and modernity. With 53 different ethnic groups and more than 292 languages spoken, every destination in China is different from the last.

Visitors making their first trip to China usually visit the biggest cities. More experienced visitors will find themselves somewhere where travelling might be a little more frustrating due to the language barrier, but still perfectly feasible for independent travellers. With so much to offer, the only problem is how to fit all the best places to visit in China into a single trip.

10Kunming

Kunming is the economic, transport, industrial and cultural centre of south-western China. It is linked by rail to all the main cities of China and to Vietnam. Its mild climate makes it a good place to visit at any time of year. Largely because of the mild climate, floriculture is a big industry, and tourists can visit flower shows and auctions and an enormous botanical garden. Besides its wonders, Kunming serves as a base from which to explore the area's rainbow of ethnic minorities.

9Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou Valley has been described as a fairy-tale land because of its many waterfalls; snow-capped karst mountains and its 108 blue, turquoise and green lakes that are so crystal-clear you can see the depths. It is also the habitat of giant pandas, though the chances of seeing them are reduced because of the size of the park and the number of tourists.

8Hangzhou

Famous for its natural scenery, Hangzhou and its West Lake have been immortalised by countless poets and artists. In the 13th century Marco Polo described the city as the most beautiful and magnificent in the world. Hangzhou's most famous sight, West Lake, is a large lake separated by raised causeways and lined with ancient buildings and gardens designed for relaxation and spirituality. Visitors will find pagodas, temples, paths and tea plantations along its shores.

7Yangshuo

Yangshuo in southern China was once a magnet for backpackers thanks to its cheap prices and relaxed atmosphere, but today it attracts every kind of traveller wanting to enjoy its wonderful landscapes and karst mountains. Yangshuo is also a good base for a day trip to Guilin for a pleasant cruise on the Li River. Many travellers choose to rent bicycles for the return journey, since the route is relatively flat and gives them the chance to see farmers working hard in their fields.

6Lhasa

Lhasa is one of the most important cities in Tibet and one of the highest in the world at 3,500 metres (11,500 feet). Lhasa, despite its absorption into greater China, has preserved much of its culture. It is home to the Potala Palace, which was the former home of the Dalai Lama. The palace was built on the red hill more than 360 years ago. It consists of two parts, the White Palace, where the Dalai Lama lived, and the Red Palace, where religious studies took place. Another palace in Lhasa is Norbulingka, built in 1755. It was the Dalai Lama's summer palace before his exile.

5Xi'an

Xi'an was once the starting point of the indispensable Silk Road that made trade between many Eurasian countries possible. It was also the imperial seat of no fewer than eleven dynasties, before the unification of China between 1000 BC and 1000 AD, which made it one of the four great ancient capitals of China. Its most famous attractions are the recently discovered Terracotta Army, the guardians of the tomb of China's first emperor. Xi'an also boasts 14th-century walls that are more than 12 km long. Not only are they part of the city's history, but travelling in Xi'an sometimes requires going under, over or around them.

4Shanghai

Located on the East China Sea and at the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai is China's largest and most developed city. Its skyline fills with skyscrapers, while gleaming shopping centres, luxury hotels and prestigious art centres are rising alongside. Evenings in the city of Shanghai are representative of the Western vision of Chinese cities, with neon signs, crowded streets and numerous businesses. The most popular place for a stroll is the Bund, Shanghai's colonial waterfront along the Huangpu River.

3The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a collection of smaller walls built by various dynasties over many years. The builders erected these walls to protect themselves from invasions by those coming from the north. The Great Wall, with a history of over 2000 years, measures about 8,800 km in length, although some sections are in ruins or have disappeared entirely. It is the longest man-made structure in the world. There are several sections of the Great Wall of China that visitors will find interesting. Badaling is the most popular section of the wall. It is close to Beijing and easy to reach and climb.

2Hong Kong

Located off the south-eastern coast of China, Hong Kong is a gleaming world-class commercial hub where Chinese culture, British colonial influences and modern high technology blend together. While it contains the world's highest concentration of skyscrapers and one of the highest population densities, Hong Kong also offers numerous green spaces, mountain views and beaches. Some of the unmissable attractions include the famous Victoria Harbour, which is a spectacular sight at night with all its dazzling skyscrapers, and The Peak, Hong Kong's highest point, which offers breathtaking views of the city.

1Beijing

Beijing is the current capital and remains one of the most popular places to visit in China. Its history goes back more than 3,000 years, and much of that history is still alive within its borders. Beijing literally means Northern Capital, a role it has played many times in China's long history. The city is home to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, as well as the old and new summer palaces. These and other attractions are perfect for observing Chinese gardens, ancient architecture and Chinese culture from a range of periods in the country's long history.