| You may ask your self over and over again, "Is a trip | | | | beautiful landscape has inspired many artists to visit |
| to China worth it?" Well, I have the answers for you. | | | | this place where several Buddhist and Taoist temples |
| China is a big country with a long history and unique | | | | are found. |
| culture; it is one of the most beautiful countries | | | | 12. Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor: This is located |
| endowed with wonderful and natural sceneries which | | | | in Xian surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors. |
| attract tourists every time of the year. A tour to China | | | | These statues remain to be unearthed with the small |
| can be an educational tour, recreational tour, adventure | | | | different figures. The horses, weapons and chariots |
| tour, cultural tour or a religious tour. This depends on | | | | are masterpieces of great historical interest. |
| your preference and your length of stay, however | | | | 13. The Mogao Caves: These caves are situated |
| whichever tour you decide to take, the trip is always | | | | along strategic points on the Silk route. This point was |
| worth it. | | | | an important trade zone during the ancient times. The |
| In order to enjoy your tour around China, it is advisable | | | | 492 caves and cells have also contributed to cultural, |
| to engage in the services of a reliable tour operator | | | | religious and intellectual influences which are known for |
| based in China. Their agents have local guides who | | | | their statues and paintings of rich Buddhist arts. |
| are willing to show tourists and visitors the sightseeing | | | | 14. Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System: |
| and attractions of the beautiful cities. | | | | The construction of this irrigation system began in the |
| Since 24 popular scenic spots were listed in the World | | | | 3rd century. It controls the waters of the Minjiang River |
| Heritage List by UNESCO, China has become a world | | | | and distributes it to the farmlands located in Chengdu |
| renowned tourism destination. These places are well | | | | plains. Mount Qingcheng was the birthplace of Taoism |
| preserved relics which date back to some hundreds | | | | which boasts of many sacred temples. |
| years with a historical and cultural theme. The | | | | 15. The Mountain Resorts and its Outlying Temples: |
| attractions make for an interesting place to visit on | | | | This is a vast complex of ceremonial palaces and |
| your China tour. The sites as listed by UNESCO | | | | administrative buildings built into a landscape of |
| include: | | | | pastureland, lakes and lush green forests. The |
| 1. The Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang | | | | Mountain Resort was the Qing Dynasty's summer |
| Mountains: located in Hubei Province, these buildings | | | | palace built in 1703 and 1792. |
| represent the highest standards of Chinese art and | | | | 16. Lijiang Old Town: This old town has retained its |
| architecture for over one thousand years. | | | | reputation for its historic landscape and commercial |
| 2. The Ancient City of Ping Yao: this is a well | | | | center. The old town is set in a dramatic landscape |
| preserved city which presents the way a typical | | | | representing the blend of different ethnic cultures to |
| Chinese Han city looks like. | | | | produce a sophisticated landscape of ancient |
| 3. Old Town of Xidi and Hongcun: these two traditional | | | | architectures. |
| cities is a representation of the appearance of the | | | | 17. Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian: This site lies 42km |
| rural settlements transformed during the last century. | | | | away from Beijing; still under scientific research, this |
| The styles and architectural designs of the houses in | | | | site led to the discovery of the remains of |
| this region symbolize their survival mechanism of the | | | | Sinanthropus pekinensis. This site is an exceptional |
| locals. | | | | reminder of the prehistoric human societies who lived in |
| 4. Capital Cities and Tombs of Old Koguryo Kingdom: | | | | the Asian continent. It makes for an interesting |
| this site has archaeological remains of the 40 tombs | | | | destination for adventure and archaeological scientists. |
| and the three cities - Guonei City, Wandu Mountain | | | | 18. The Summer Palace in Beijing: This site is an |
| City and Wunu Mountain City. | | | | imperial garden which was first built in 1750, destroyed |
| 5. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou: the nine gardens | | | | by the war in 1860 and then later rebuilt in 1886. The |
| in Suzhou showcase the natural landscape of a small | | | | Summer Palace has a natural landscape of hills and |
| historical city. Dating from the 11th to 19th century, the | | | | open waters and built among man made pavilions and |
| metaphysical significance of the beauty of Chinese | | | | halls which all together make the site a place of value. |
| culture is seen in the design of this garden. | | | | It is a representation of Chinese landscape garden |
| 6. Dazu Rock Carvings: these are magnificent and | | | | design. |
| exceptional rock carvings which date back from the | | | | 19. The Temple of Heaven: This is an imperial sacrificial |
| 9th to 13th century. These carvings contribute to the | | | | altar in Beijing founded in the mid 15th century. It |
| beauty of the landscape of Dazu. They signify the | | | | represents a complex of fine buildings surrounded by |
| friendly combination of Taoism, Buddhism and | | | | pine woods and gardens. According to Chinese |
| Confucianism. | | | | cosmology, the overall layout of this temple and its |
| 7. Potala Palace, Lhasa: The Potala Palace was the | | | | individual buildings symbolizes the relationship between |
| winter palace of the Dalai Lama. This Palace | | | | heaven and earth. |
| symbolized Tibetan Buddhism and how it influenced | | | | 20. The Great Wall of China: The construction of this |
| the administration of Tibet. The architectural design and | | | | wall was built as a defense system to prevent the |
| beauty of the Potala Palace is what adds to its | | | | invasions from the north. This construction continued till |
| historical and religious interest. | | | | the Ming Dynasty and has remained the largest military |
| 8. The Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing | | | | structure in the world with rich historical background. |
| Dynasties: These palaces are located in Beijing and | | | | 21. Temple and Cememtery of Confucius and the |
| Shenyang. The palace in Shenyang consists of 114 | | | | Kong Family Mansion in Qufu. |
| buildings which were constructed in the late 17th | | | | 22. Yin Xu in Hennan Province |
| century. It has a library which contains important | | | | 23. The Yugang Grottoes in Datung city has about |
| articles which testify to the foundation of the last | | | | 252 caves and 51,000 statues. |
| dynasty of China. | | | | 24. Historic Center of Macao |
| 9. Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: | | | | Other natural and mixed sites listed in the World |
| These tombs feature rich decorations of stone | | | | heritage List worth visiting include the Huanglong Scenic |
| carvings, statutes and tiles with dragon motifs all of | | | | and historic area, Jiuzhaigou Valley and Scenic spot, |
| which illustrate the development of the architecture | | | | Sichuan Giant Panda sanctuaries, the Three Parallel |
| during the Qing Dynasty. | | | | Rivers of Yunnan protected areas, Wulingyuan Scenic |
| 10. The Longmen Grottoes: These grottoes contain the | | | | spot, Mt Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot, |
| largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art | | | | Mt. Huangshan, Mt. Taishan and Mt. Wuyi. |
| from the late Wei and Tang Dynasties. The Longmen | | | | With this list showing the beautiful and majestic |
| grottoes showcase an outstanding manifestation of | | | | attractions of China, you are rest assured that your trip |
| manmade artistic creativity. | | | | to China would be worth it after all. |
| 11. Mount Lushan in Jiangxi province is one of the | | | | For comments and inquiries about this article, visit |
| spiritual centers of China's civilization. The strikingly | | | | Passport to China- Great Wall of China tours. |