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Top 10 Must See Places in China

One day, Karen, a client from the internet wrote to me directly and asked me about my top 10 must see places in China.

Hi Daniel,
I just found out that you are based in Beijing. I will visit China with my husband next year. Our travel plan is not yet fixed. I know you must have many tips to share. If I ask you to list the top 10 places to see in China, what will you say?

I replied to her quickly with my version of the top 10 places in China. She said she found it a very good guide for first time visitors to China. She advised me to post my suggestions here. It may be helpful for other visitors. It may inspire many readers to make their own top 10 list about China, or their own countries.

Beijing	Xian	Shanghai	Guilin	Yangtze River
Lhasa Tibet	Jiuzhaigou Sichuan	Lijiang Yunnan	Zhangjiajie Hunan	Silk Road in China

How to arrange the top 10 places based your short stay in China?

How to visit the top 10 places in China?

More lists of top 10 must see places in China

China Travel Tips

About the Author



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1. Beijing
Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, the center of the nation's politics, culture and international exchanges and a moden metropolis full of vitality. Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China together with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou. It had served as the capital for the dynasties such as Jin (1115 AD - 1234 AD), Yuan (1279 AD -1368 AD), Ming (1368 AD -1644 A D) and Qin (1644 AD - 1911 AD).
Top attractions in Beijing:
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Hutong, Lama Temple, Beihai Park, Beijing Capital Museum, Yashow Market and more... top

2. Xian
Xi'an, also called Changan is the largest city in north-west China. It had served as the nation's capital for 13 dynasties such as Western Zhou (11th century BC - 771 BC), Qin (221 BC - 206 BC), Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) and Tang (618 - 907) for more than 1000 years. It is famous for historical importance.
Top attractions in Xian:
Terra-cotta Army, Banpo Museum, Huaqing Hotspring, City Wall, Big Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xian Great Mosque, Forest of Stone Steles Museum and more... top

3. Shanghai
As the largest city in China, Shanghai is located in central-eastern China, confronting the East China Sea. Shanghai is mainly sectioned into two parts: Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) and Puxi (west of the Huangpu River). Pudong is the new development zone. Shanghai has two airports - Shanghai Pudong International Airport ( PVG ) and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Shanghai Pudong International Airport caters for international flights while Hongqiao for domestic flights.
Top attractions in Shanghai:
Shanghai Bund, Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Xin Tian Di, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Huangpu River and more... top

4. Guilin
Located by the banks of the Li River, Guilin has gained fame both at home and abroad for its featuring scenery: verdant mountians, unique rockeries, crystal water, various caves, stones of numerous shapes. The many ethnic minorities live here that include the Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Mulao, Maonan and Dong. They add the much colour to the cultural life of the city.
Top attractions in Guilin:
The Li River, The Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven Star Park, Guilin Folded Brocade Hil, Fubo Hill, Solitary Beauty Hill, Longji Terraced Field in Longsheng, Fengyu Cave in Lipu County Guilin. top

5. Yangtze River
Yangtze River cruising should be on the list for those who seek for romantic escape and travel with their family or friends. Yangtze River is winding through the mountains and the cities from the west to the east entering the East China Sea near Shanghai with a total length of over 6300 km, ranking the third in the world, only shorter than the Nile and Amazon.
Top Attractions along Yangtze River:
Chongqing City, Fengdu, Baoshizhai, Wanxian, Shennong Streem, Lesser Three Gorges, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam and Yichang City, Wuhan City. top

6. Lhasa Tibet
Tibet is a place lonely from the rest of the world with the winding hills of the high plateau and the amazing Himalayas. Today in the age of information, people can easily get to the mysterious place with jet aircraft, highways, now even trains! Lhasa is the political and cultural capital of Tibet. Lhasa means in Tibetan "The land of gods". There are numerous scenic spots and historical sites in Lhasa Tibet.
Top Attractions in Tibet:
Potala Palace, Nobulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery and Jokhang Temple being the most worth visiting. Shigatse is the second biggest city in Tibet. Shigatse means in Tibetan "The Estate that materializes one's Dream ". Tashilhunpo Monastery is its main historic attraction. Mt. Kailash, in western Tibet is holy to both Hinduism and Buddhism. top

7. Jiuzhaigou Sichuan
Situated in the depths of the mountains in the border area of Nanping, Songpan and Pingwu counties in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the northwestern Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou is a fairyland named after the Nine-Village Valley, which is the living place of nine Tibetan villages. The valley is about 50 kilometers long. In 1992, It was listed as the world natural heritage list of UNESCO.
Top attractions in Jiuzhaigou Sichuan:
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Qingchengshan & Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Emei Mountain and Giant Buddha of Leshan, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Huanglong. top

8. Lijiang Yunnan
Lijiang is situated in Yunnan Province of south China. It is on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. It has the history of over 1,300 years. Lijiang is inhabited by Naxi people. It is under the administration of the Naxi Autonomous County. It stands on a plateau at 2,600m above sea level. It is well known for its natural scenery and green vegetation. It has the Jade Dragon Mountain as its backdrop. The old town blends naturally with the natural scenery. Thel local Naxi people has developed a culture called "Dong Ba Culture". Classical Naxi music is considered as the "living musical fossil" due to its long history.
Top atractions in Lijiang Yunnan:
Ancient Town Lijiang, Yulong Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge. top

9. Zhangjiajie Hunan
Zhangjiajie City is located on the west mountians of Hunan Province. Under the administration of Zhangjiajie City, there is a district called Wulingyuan District where the Wulingyuan Scenic Area is located. The Wulingyuan Scenic Area is sectioned into 3 parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park; Tianzi Mountain and Suoxi Valley. Most of the visitors stay at the Wulingyuan area instead of the city center of Zhangjiajie City. In December of 1992, Wulingyuan was included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
Top attractions in Zhangjiajie Hunan:
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve. top

10. Silk Road in China
The Silk Road has a history of more than 2,000 years. It actually started from Chang'an ( the present Xian, Shaanxi Province ) in the east and stretched to Rome, Italy in the west. The ancient silk road went through Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai provinces, Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions and then extended over the Pamirs, further extending to Central and West Asia. And finally the silk road met the east bank of the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Europe. The Silk Road had the total length of over 2,485 miles and over half of which is within China.
Top attractions along the Silk Road in China:
Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Hami, Turpan, Urumqi, Loulan, Korla, Kuqa (Kucha), Aksu, Kashgar (Kashi), Hotan. top

How to arrange the top 10 places based your short stay in China?

· Beijing Xian Shanghai 8 Day Tour from US$835
· Beijing Xian Guilin Shanghai 10 Day Group Tour from US$1045
· Beijing Xian Yangtze Shanghai 11 Day Tour from US$1470
· Beijing Xian Lhasa Shanghai 12 Day Tour from US$1395
· Beijing China Silk Road Impression 9 Day Tour from US$1807
· Beijing Zhangjiajie Shanghai 9 Day Tour from US$1210
· Beijing Xian Luoyang Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai 12 Day Rail Tour from US$980
· Beijing Jinan Taian Qufu Suzhou Shanghai 10 Day Rail Tour from US$890
· Beijing Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Shanghai 10-Day Tour from US$1310 p/p
· 8-Day Beijing - Lijiang - Dali - Kunming - Beijing Private Tour from US$1474
· Xining Lhasa 7 Days Train Tour from US$580
· Chengdu Chongqing Yangtze River 8 Day Tour with Bullet Train Experience from US$1120

How to visit the top 10 places in China?

Foreign visitors have many ways to take their sightseeing tours or adventure tours in China. The following methods of traveling are often used by visitors coming to China:
1. Buy a China tour package from a local travel agency in their own countries.
2. Take an adventure, search all the necessary travel information and arrange the tour by themselves.
3. Find a local travel agency in China to handle all their land arrangement or part of the travel arrangement.
Note: usually local travel agencies in China offer two kinds of travel packages: Group tours and private tours.
China Group Tour: Lower prices, less flexibility, make new friends.
China Private Tours: Higher prices, more privacy, more flexibility and more personal interaction.

More lists of top 10 must see places in China

1. If you take an interest in more adventurous tours, the 10 places below you must not miss. The list below is made by David Harris, a client from the States:
1) Great Canyon of Yalu Zangpu
2) Gaoli Gong Moutain & Nu River
3) Yangze River Three Gorges
4) Across Sea Lane
5) Mother Rivers Adventure
6) Lop Nor Silk Road
7) Ancient City of Loulan
8) Lugu Lake
9) Mount Chogori
10) Kekexili Nature Reserve
2. A top 10 list from John Nunemaker, a client from the internet:
1) Huyang Tree living in the Southern Xinjiang Province. This kind of tree is said to exist in the world for three thousand years: alive for 1000 years; dead for 1000 years; not rotten for another 1000 years!
2) Mt.Everest in Tibet
3) Yangtze River Cruising
4) Huangshan Mountain ( Yellow mountain )
5) Jiuzhaigou ( nine Tibetan village valley ) in Aba Sichuan
6) Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan in Hunan Province
7) Lijiang, Dali and Zhongdian in Yunnan
8) Huangguo Waterfall in Guizhou
9) The Great Wall
10) Terra-cotta Army in Xian
Note: You are welcome to make your own top 10 list of must see places about China. Please send to for posting the list here.

China Travel Tips

In general, China is a stable country. Our present government has adopted a policy of" Harmony": harmony among people; harmony between human and nature; harmony between the central government and the local and more... China is a pretty safe place for foreign travellers. As a matter of fact, as a foreigner, you will often be given special consideration and a certain amount of leniency. Of course, you have to do according to the law in China and respect the local culture and customs. Hostility toward foreigners is very rare. Most people are friendly and willing to be helpful if possible. To learn more Beijing China travel information, please visit Beijing China Travel Tips. You are also welcome to submit your China travel tips to our tour-beijing travel community to benefit our valuable clients. Thanks in advance!

About the Author

Daniel Li has been in travel business for over 20 years. Now he is the general manager of www.tour-beijing.com. Travel, reading and Internet surfing are among Daniel Li's favorite things to do when he has free time. When it comes to work, Daniel's slogan is: "we no longer just satisfy our valued customers, we must totally impress them."

Kindly reminder:

Read "Beijing Xinhua International Tours Review" by Daniel Li to know more about its tour company and Beijing China travel advice.

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