Top Things to Do in China
When it comes to a traveler’s dream destination, China has got to come close. With over 5,000 years worth of culturally rich history and a vast expanse of land spanning thousands of miles, what would a traveler not love? With so much to see in do in this large land, it is hard to come up with a list of the top things to do, however, here is my attempt.
No list would be complete without mentioning walking along the Great Wall of China. It is of course one of the most popular things to do in China, as it is the quintessential Chinese landmark. You can climb the wall at a number of locations throughout the countryside. Try to find a remote passage, as you can wander within the guard towers with significantly less interruptions from fellow travelers.
The Terracotta Warriors, first discovered in 1974, were buried in 210 BC. The thousands of life-size figures have individually unique faces and hair and armor styles which are appropriate to their rank.
The Wolong Nature Preserve is located 3 hours outside of Chengdu, and houses the largest panda reserve in China. The center works to ensure the Giant Panda species will continue to exist. Tourists can observe pandas in their natural habitat and can even help researchers feed and play with these beautiful and threatened animals. Another great animal attraction is the Beijing Zoo. It is the largest zoo in China, and used to be a private garden owned by a royal Qing aristocrat before being converted into a zoo in 1901. The zoo holds approximately 6000 animals of different species from all over the country.
In terms of important historic landmarks, Tiananmen Square is it. Forever synonymous with protest and freedom, Tiananmen Square is imbued with a certain quiet power that is essential to any stop in Beijing.
Make a stopover in Tibet to see the Potala Palace, the former seat of the Dalai Lama. It is now a Chinese museum, but is still famous for its imposing white walls surrounding the inner red palace that sits at over 12,000 feet. Also while in Tibet, visit Jiuzhaigou Valley – a nature reserve located in China’s Sichuan Province. It is a beautiful example of China’s varied landscape, as it is famous for its crystal blue lakes and multi-level waterfalls. It is populated by a number of Tibetan villages so it is a superb place to see and experience local Tibetan culture as well.
A trip down the Li River will not disappoint. Starting at the Mao’er Mountain, the Li River flows southeast for about 437km. This area is the largest and most beautiful river scenes in China which attracts millions of visitors each year. The Karst Mountains make this stretch of water the most beautiful scenic area in China. The 50 mile long expanse from Guilin to Yangshuo is the finest section of the river because it is blossoming with rolling hills, limestone cliffs, and mysterious caves.
This list has just scratched the surface of things that you can do while in China, however, these are some of our favorites.