The Best of Attractions in China, Unmissionable Places to Visit

Uncover the Terra Cotta Warriors

Yes, many civilizations have provided the modern world with examples of the might of their armies but none as eloquently, as concretely and as wonderfully as the ancient Chinese. Stand at attention, ladies and gentlemen, for here comes the Terracotta Army!

As any fan of history knows, the Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures of warriors in full battle gear as well as horses and chariots depicting the armies of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. To say that this was a monumental project even for our time is an understatement in itself. Anybody who sees the Terracotta Army, no matter how many times he has seen it, will stand in awe at the great vision of rows upon rows of these larger-than-life sculptures.

While only about a thousand soldiers as well as a few horses and chariots have been uncovered by more than three decades of archeological diggings, experts estimate that thousands more figures lie below the ground just waiting to see the light of day after centuries of entombment. At present, experts estimate that the Terracotta Army is over 8,000 soldiers-strong complemented by 130 chariots pulled by 520 horses in addition to the 150 cavalry horses. As befits the army of a powerful emperor, there are also figures of court officials, strongmen, acrobats, and musicians.

Today, the excavated terracotta warriors can be seen in a museum with three open pits designated in the stoic Chinese way as simply Pit 1, 2 and 3 in the order of their discovery. In all of these three pits, the Terracotta Army stands in battle formation, which only a privileged few outside of the museum staff have been able to walk in between the rows.

In Pit 1, which is the largest of all three pits, the soldiers are arranged in columns while the war chariots are at the back. In Pit 2, opened in 1994, are arranged more than a thousand warriors with 90 wooden chariots. In Pit 3, the number of warriors (68) and horses (4) may be small in comparison with those in Pit 1 and Pit 2 but it appears to be the command center for the army.

As impressive as the sight of the Terracotta Army standing at attention may be to the human eyes, the attention to detail poured into the figures is even more astounding. Each and every single one of the excavated terracotta warrior has unique facial features! Add in the varying height, physique and clothing and we have a representation of how the army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang must have looked like in real life. And it’s definitely a sight that must have struck fear into the hearts of the peoples being conquered by the emperor in his quest to build a larger China.

For fans of military history, it is easy to spot that the figures are arranged according to their ranks and roles with the tallest figures representing the generals. Thus, the infantry soldiers were shorter at 5 foot and 8 inches to 6 foot and 2 inches while the generals were at a towering 6 foot and 6 inches tall.

Indeed, if the sight of real-life Chinese soldiers in parade formation amaze spectators today, their ancestors as immortalized in terracotta are excellent examples of a great military tradition. It’s a tradition guaranteed to make you stand up and pay attention.

Summer Palace

Then and now, the Chinese are known for being one of the best architects in the world with many of its ancient buildings with surrounding complexes designated as world heritage sites. One such site is the Summer Palace, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1998 in recognition of its status as a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design.

Literally known as the Gardens of Nurtured Harmony in its Chinese name of Yíhé Yuán, the Summer Palace combines the magnificent beauty of Mother Nature with the aesthetic value of its manmade features. Observers marvel at how the spectacular hills, open water and natural gardens seem to blend ever so harmoniously into the quintessential Chinese architectural styles of the pavilions, palaces and temples.

Located in Beijing, the Summer Palace is a center of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan city. With its manmade Kunming Lake located in the center of the 2.9 square kilometer-complex, the ambience is one of balance between man and nature in the manner of the yin and yang. Even the manmade 60-meter high Longevity Hill, which was made from the soil dug up to form the Kunming Lake, is a reflection of this centuries-old Chinese philosophy.

Of course, the images of the Summer Palace include the awe-inspiring pavilions, palaces, halls and temples that dot the complex. As of last count, these structures were well over 3,000 in total. It’s an impressive complex of classical Chinese architecture by any standard.

Tourists may not be able to see the beatings from the two major attacks that the Summer Palace has endured in the past, thanks to the reconstruction project of the Empress Dowager Cixi, but the history of the complex is still evident. After all, no summer resort by an emperor and later by an empress dowager of the Chinese culture will be anything but a testament to Chinese history in all its ups and downs. Today, the downs have been eclipsed by the ups, thus, the atmosphere of serenity.

So, what exactly has the Summer Palace to offer in terms of structures? To appreciate the complex, one must divide it into four areas with each one having a distinct personality that blends into the other areas, thus, the harmonious whole for which the Summer Palace is known for among locals and visitors alike.

The front hill area is widely considered to be the most magnificent mainly because many of the important buildings are located here. Visitors can marvel at the ingenuity and beauty of the wistfully-named structures like the Gate of Dispelling Clouds and the Hall of Dispelling Clouds as well as the Tower of Buddhist Incense, among others.

For a sense of natural tranquility, go to the rear hill area where the dense green trees, the two lakes of Kunming and Back, and the Garden of Harmonious Interest are located. The court area is as stately as can be since it was where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu conducted state affairs. And of course, the front lake area can be found the most magnificent view of the entire Summer Palace – islands and bridges dot the landscape for a magical effect.

So, when the commercial parts of Beijing become too much on the body and soul, you must head to the Summer Palace and there find the serenity you long for.

China Without Its Great Wall Isn’t China

Other cultures may have built walls of its own with the same military intent but none comes close to the visual impact, the historical significance and the cultural association as the Great Wall of China. It is not an overstatement to say that China without its Great Wall is not China at all in the same way that a visit to the country is incomplete without stepping foot on the Great Wall.

So, what makes the Great Wall, well, great? It must first be emphasized that the term itself is a name given by Westerners aptly awed by the sheer size of the Great Wall. The Chinese with their penchant for naming things either in a down-to-earth or in an up-the-heavens kind of way know it as the Wan Li Chang Cheng, which literally translates to the Ten Thousand Li Long Wall (Li is equivalent to approximately one kilometer).

But the Great Wall’s exact length is under dispute, which in no way lessens its appeal but instead adds to its air of mystery. Estimates vary from a paltry 1,500 miles to a considerable 4,163 miles depending on the source. There is hope for the stickler for measurements as an ambitious 4-year survey seeks to end the dispute once and for all.

If you think that 4 years is unnecessary considering modern technology, let’s place the Great Wall in proper perspective to appreciate the monumental task. The Great Wall traverses numerous landscapes from the unforgiving Gobi Desert to the nourishing Yellow Sea with steep mountains, grasslands and cities along the route. Add in the fact that the builders of the Great Wall also took advantage of the natural barriers of mountains, hills and rivers and the members of the survey team have their work cut out for them.

If you think that the survey task is monumental, then the task of actually building the Great Wall was epic. In reality, the Great Wall is not a continuous wall made by one master architect – the Emperor, of course – in a few years’ time in the same mold as, say, the Terracotta Army of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Instead, it was the work of several Chinese dynasties beginning from the seventh century BC to the fifth century BC (archaeologists are disputing on the start date itself).

Small walls were erected by the six small states that became the modern China we know today. In 220 BC, Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered these six walls to be connected while also adding other stretches made from various materials including bricks, rocks, stone, earth and grass. Other dynasties from the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty added thousands of more miles to the Great Wall.

But it was the Ming Dynasty in 1368 that developed the Great Wall we know it today. Length was not only added to the already-impressive structure but double and triple walls as well as guard towers and fortresses were added. It was only when the Qing Dynasty came into power that the 2,000-year old ongoing construction to the Great Wall finally ceased.

Today, many parts of the Great Wall of China are in various states of disrepair. The good news is that many more areas are still accessible to the millions of visitors who brave the trek to see one of the world’s greatest wonders.

When the Forbidden City Is Forbidden No More

The Chinese culture may demand an elaborate set of manners from its people but it minces no words where naming certain places are concerned. This is all-too-true with the Forbidden City as it was exactly what its name says it was – a city within the city of Beijing forbidden to all commoners to even go near its walls, much less enter it.

For 500 years from the Ming Dynasty until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1924, the Forbidden City was the exclusive abode of 24 successive emperors, their courts, families and servants. The Sons of Heaven, as the Chinese emperors were called, were protected by a deep moat, 30-foot high thick walls and thousands of guards from any intrusions by the outside world. Even the general architecture of the entire city reflected emperor worship with the ceremonial halls elevated from the surrounding courtyards.

And because it was the ceremonial and political center of the imperial Chinese government, the Forbidden City should be impressive in scale, size and style. Its maze of 980 buildings composed of 8,700 rooms and halls cover 720,000 square meters of land in the middle of Beijing.

The huge complex was once rumored to contain 9,999-and-a-half rooms, which is in deference to the ancient Chinese belief that the heavenly palace has 10,000 rooms. Even if the Forbidden City is short of 1,299-and-a-half rooms, its structures have been hailed as heaven on Earth. The official recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 due to its personification of traditional Chinese palatial architecture is just icing on the cake.

Such architectural style is reflected in the Forbidden City’s overall layout, which also reflects the philosophical, imperial and religious sensibilities of the Chinese people. Everywhere can be seen the symbolisms used in Chinese architecture including imperial yellow for the glazed tiles, groups of threes for the Qian triagram representing heaven itself, and the precise number of statuettes to represent the status of the building, among others.

As befits an imperial complex with the Son of Heaven calling it home, the Forbidden City was an epic undertaking. It was built by more than a million workers in 15 years with expensive materials like the Phoebe zhennan wood, blocks of marbles and the so-called golden bricks, among others. Such expensive materials have been useful in the sense that the Forbidden City has survived and thrived despite numerous occupations from Chinese emperors to foreign invaders, a benefit present and future generations will surely enjoy.

An ordinary mortal cannot hope to visit each and every one of the 980 structures in the Forbidden City in a single visit for obvious reasons. But the structures that can be visited are testament to the greatness of the city, then and now. The following are just a few of these open structures:

Tiananmen Square
The Gate and Hall of Supreme Harmony
The Hall of Preserving Harmony
The Hall of Central Harmony
The Meridian Gate
The Palace of Heavenly Purity
The Palace of Earthly Tranquility

With names such as these for the halls, palaces and temples in the Forbidden City, you simply must take the time to visit. Be sure to bring along your camera, wear sturdy walking shoes and take a friend to share the awesome experience of being in the Forbidden City where commoners were previously barred from entering.

Be in the Midst of History Inside the Tiananmen Square

At 440,000 square meters, Tiananmen Square is the largest square in the world. But it is not its size alone that makes Tiananmen Square a must-see sight on a visit to China. Many important events in Chinese history have taken place inside the Tiananmen Square and its vicinity with most of these events reverberating throughout the world.

Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is named after the Tiananmen Gate located to its north side. Said gate effectively separates the square from the Forbidden City although many first-time visitors mistakenly think of the former being inside the latter. The name for the gate itself translates to Gate of Heaven’s Pacification.

The world-famous square has been and continues to be used as a meeting place for people from all walks of life. Such purpose is facilitated by the fact that the square itself is a flat, open and large space with no trees, benches and other structures that can impede free flow of traffic. Large lampposts fitted with surveillance cameras break up the monotony of the landscape while plain and unformed policemen are always ready to break up any suspicious gathering of people. We suggest being on your best visitor behavior.

Lest you start thinking that Tiananmen Square is the flattest square in both the literal and figurative sense, it is actually bordered by interesting features. On the east lies the National Museum of China while the west features the Great Hall of the People with both these directions also have trees lining the edge of the square.

On the north is the massive Tiananmen Gate while the south entrance has the Qianmen Gate. In effect, Tiananmen Square lies between two ancient gates with the modern addition of the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong as counterpoints. Keep in mind that the Tiananmen Square is a source of pride for most Chinese, thus, the presence of reminders for both its ancient past and modern present.

Let’s discuss the attractions in Tiananmen Square. Start your journey with the Tiananmen Tower, which was previously forbidden for commoners to enter as it was the venue for the declaration of the new emperor and empress. Only members of the royal family and the noblemen were allowed to set foot inside in the same way as the Forbidden City was only open to the elite of Chinese society.

While the Tiananmen Tower has imperial roots dating from the Ming Dynasty with construction starting in 1417, the Monument to the People’s Heroes has a more proletarian origin. It was built in 1952 under the orders of Chairman Mao with the final results being 8 larger-than-life relief sculptures showing the development of Chinese modern history.

The National Museum of China is of more recent vintage, so to speak, dating from 2003. It combines the best aspects of two museums – the Chinese History Museum and the Chinese Revolutionary Museum. Relics, artifacts and other historical objects dating from 1.7 million years ago to 1921, the year when the Last Emperor Puyi left the throne, are exhibited.

To enjoy all of these attractions at the Tiananmen Square, be sure to attend the flag-raising ceremony that begins at sunup. You will then be able to appreciate the pride that the Chinese people have of their culture, past and present.

Loving the Leisurely Life Along the Li River

We can expound on the geographical facts of the Li River. These facts include its point of origin being the Mao’er Mountains in Xing’an Ð¡ounty, its course through the southerly direction to meet with the Gui River and then its end at the Xi Jiang – a distance of 437 kilometers although the Li River itself spans just 100 kilometers of it.

But the Li River is so much more than its geographical facts. It’s one of the most famous sceneries in both China and the world, thanks to the countless scroll paintings that depict its flora and fauna, its caves and mountains and its other natural wonders. Ancient poets have written about it and painters have painted about it and yet the river continues to amaze poets, painters and tourists today.

To truly fall in love with life along the Li River, you must take one of the cruises that ply the route from Guilin to Yangshuo. You can set the expectations of the tour as high as your heart desires and you will come out of the cruise more than satisfied with what you have seen, heard and experienced of the alluring river. Expect to see people living an enviable rural life as their ancestors did centuries ago, animals too beautiful for words and natural vistas that will take your breath away. If you think these are exaggerations, wait till you see them for yourself again and again and again.

The cruise starts at the bustling dock of Guilin where you must come prepared for an 8-hour trip down the most magnificent of Chinese landscapes – and there are many where the vast land of China is concerned from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the mountains of the Himalayas. Not only will you be treated to the awesome natural sights but the tour guide will be generous with retelling the fairy tales, myths and legends that surround almost every rock while also telling tourists of the life along the Li River.

With numerous individual features along the Li River, it will be impossible to cram everything in a single webpage and still do justice to do the landscape. So, let’s choose the most notable features that you should look out for along the Li River cruise.

The Elephant Truck Hill is arguably the symbol of the Li River and it looks like an elephant trunk sucking water from the river. Daxu Town is a Ming Dynasty town that manages to retain its traditional charm while also being friendly to modern intrusions from the Western tourists.

The Crown Cave is a wonderland in itself with twelve kilometers of stalactites, rock formations and stone pillars, which claustrophobics can appreciate because of the illuminating lights inside the cave. The trail from Yangdi to Xingping is probably the most stunning part of the cruise because of the seemingly endless succession of unique peaks, green bamboo groves and other stunning natural features that poets and painters have put into pen, paper and paint albeit inadequately.

Other attractions along the Li River cruise include the Mural Hill, the Yellow Cloth Shoal and the Xingping, all of which are gifts from Mother Nature that complement the sight of fishermen and cormorants working alongside each other. Indeed, if there’s a river that must be in your bucket list, the Li River is on top.

Taoist Worship at the Temple of Heaven

China is the land of birth for many of the world’s major religious, philosophical and political movements including Taoism. For the Chinese Taoists and tourists, the Temple of Heaven is one of the most notable places of worship that must be visited while in Beijing. For historians, the Temple of Heaven is notable for its important part of the last two Chinese dynasties, the Ming and Qing, as it was where the emperors performed the annual Taoist ceremonies of prayer for a good harvest.

Indeed, there is something for everyone in the Temple of Heaven from its political importance during imperial times to its theosophical value today. One may not be a Taoist but the sense of serenity in the temple grounds unites people from all over the world.

The Temple of Heaven is closely associated with the Forbidden City as both magnificent complexes were built under the direction of the same emperor – the Yongle Emperor. It was built within the span of 14 years from 1406 to 1420 as befitting an imperial masterpiece. Such opus of architecture was recognized by the UNESCO as a World heritage Site in 1998 for its symbolic layout and design that has greatly influenced Far Eastern architecture for many centuries.

Such was the Temple of Heaven’s influence that the Jiajing Emperor also built three other notable temples in Beijing ostensibly to complete the cosmos of buildings. These were the Temple of Sun on the east, the Temple of Moon on the west and the Temple of Earth on the north. But the original is still considered the best of these four temples as evidenced by the Temple of Heaven’s popularity with the locals and tourists alike.

The grounds surrounding the Temple of Heaven are almost 3 square kilometers of parklands divided into three main groups. It must be noted that all three groups are built according to the strict Taoist philosophy, thus, reinforcing the Temple of Heaven’s stature in China and the world.

First, the Hall for Prayer for Good Harvests was the site of the imperial ceremony where the present Emperor prayed to the gods for good harvests throughout the land. This magnificent hall is a triple-gabled structure with three levels of a marble stone base since it was believed the Emperor was above earthly matters. Its original construction was completely of wood with no nails used anywhere on the structure although the current building is only a reconstruction after the original one was gutted down by lightning-induced fire in 1889.

Second, the Imperial Vault of Heaven is located to the south of the main hall. It resembles the Hall for Prayer for Good Harvests but on a smaller scale, which explains its single-gable, single-level marble base. Its main attraction is the Echo Wall, which is just as its name suggests, and the Vermillion Steps Bridge connecting the hall and the vault.

Third, the Circular Mound Altar is the altar proper upon which the ceremony was performed. It is lavishly decorated with dragons and the symbols of the natural elements in groups of the scared number 9 and its nonuples.

The Temple of heaven complex is a must-see visit while in Beijing, indeed. Be sure to bring your respect for the Taoist traditions of worship so that you can have a better appreciation of the Chinese culture as reflected in this awesome temple.

Beijing: The Center of the Chinese Universe

The Chinese people can be excused if their attitude about their land, their culture and their history borders on arrogance although we find little evidence of such attitude in most Chinese. Beijing, their capital city for over 800 years beginning from the Yuan Dynasty until the modern-day communist regime, is one of the world’s best cities. The city is then rightfully the center of the Chinese universe.

Beijing is the heart of Chinese politics, culture and economy for 8 centuries and it remains confident of its status in Chinese affairs for the next centuries to come. On one hand, the city boasts of the magnificent imperial structures that the Emperors of years past have built to honor themselves, the gods and the nation. These include the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and parts of the Great Wall.

On the other hand, the signs of modern development can be clearly seen in the towering skyscrapers, millions of citizens and bustling traffic that makes Beijing one of the liveliest cities in the world. The revolutionary designs of the structures built for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games like the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest have the world taking notice once again that, indeed, the Chinese are great builders, engineers and architects, then and now.

Combine these aspects of ancient and modern China and Beijing is set to become one of the centers of international affairs, if it is not already so at present. With hundreds of millions of local and foreign tourists stepping foot inside Beijing either to see the city in its entirety or to use it as a starting point in a journey of discovery through the land, being the center of the Chinese universe works out just fine for one of six ancient Chinese cities still proudly standing today.

So, what exactly makes Beijing so alluring? The answer lies partly in its people and partly in its architecture. The Beijingers are well-known for being friendly, hospitable and disciplined, cultural traits stemming from a strong Confucian tradition that persists to this day, fortunately. You will find that the Chinese people’s general characteristics are well-represented in Beijing especially with the influx of people from the countryside looking for work in the booming city.

Of course, the Beijingers are proud of their long history as well, a history written in stone, wood and marble of the numerous architectural wonders in their city and the surrounding area. From off-the-beaten-track hutongs to the most-visited tourist places, Beijing always has something new to delight visitors and it’s these delights that make for a second, a third ad infinitum visits worthwhile.

Be sure to visit the Forbidden City for it is a privilege not given to commoners many decades ago. Marvel at the elaborate residence of past Chinese emperors whose status as Sons of Heaven deserved the royal abode. Just outside the Forbidden City is the immense Tiananmen Square, site of any historic events in China.

The Great Wall is also in Beijing specifically the Badaling portion. Where other parts of the Great Wall are in a state of disrepair, the one in Beijing is carefully preserved for obvious reasons.

Indeed, if you want a summary of the flavors of China while still being treated to the ambience of an imperial city, Beijing is the city to visit. Do learn a few phrases of Mandarin Chinese.

The Bund: Symbol of Chinese Prosperity

If Beijing is the political and cultural center of China, then Shanghai is its financial hub with The Bund as the symbol of such significance in national affairs. In fact, The Bund was once called the Wall Street of Asia and although it may have lost the title, its appeal to locals and visitors remains as strong as ever. With the £280 million two-year restoration for The Bund finished in 2010, the area has been reverted to its 1930s glamour.

An interesting piece of trivia: Other countries like Indian, Iran and Japan have their own bunds, a word that means an embanked quay, but the use of the proper noun The Bund invariably refers to this area in Shanghai. Specifically, The Bund is the one-mile long area in the Huangpu District in central Shanghai with its center located along East-1 Zhongshan Road. All the buildings, wharves and other structures along this road and a few adjacent areas are collectively known as, well, The Bund.

As a popular tourist attraction, The Bund can be expected to offer plenty of things to see, do and enjoy. This is, after all, one of the symbols of Chinese prosperity so it simply will not do to offer less than the joys of a cosmopolitan city with the right dose of 1930s glamour from its heyday.

Let’s start with the buildings The Bund is often aptly referred to as a museum of buildings. Many different styles of European architecture can be seen here while just across the Huangpu River can be found the modern skyscrapers befitting the city of Shanghai. The contrast is a pleasant one especially as The Bund has strict building height regulations in place.

These buildings include the 8-storey Customs House with its clock tower fondly named Big Ching and the HSBC Building known for being the grandest in the area. Don’t forget to visit the Huangpu Park where The Bund Historical Museum is located.

The Bund is strongly associated with the Huangpu River so it’s no surprise that tourists also enjoy the city from its watery vantage point. Take a cruise trip down the river that can last anywhere from an hour to three hours.

As a symbol of prosperity, The Bund definitely has its fair share of shopping to offer those with deep pockets. Couture houses, high-end spas and salons, and high-brow bars and restaurants are all the rage in this part of the city. We suggest dressing up to the nines when entering these elite establishments or risk being denied entry in front of other patrons. Then again, this is true in other cosmopolitan cities in China and in other countries of the world.

When your feet become tired and your stomach starts to growl, enter one of the dining establishments in the area for taste of fine dining Chinese-style. With the vaunted Chinese hospitality practiced even in the cities, you will surely find a place that will treat you like an emperor. After all, The Bund is always welcoming toward its visitors for this is exactly how it became prosperous in the first place.

Potala Palace, Tibet: Passion in Stone

From afar, the Potala Palace in Tibet is an imposing site in itself. The white walls of the White Palace reflect the glare of sunlight and the red walls of the Red Palace reflect the ardor that went into the centuries of building that made Potala Palace what it is today – a people’s passion set in stone.

Located atop the Red Hill in central Lhasa, it is considered as the highest ancient palace of its kind in the world. If you have problems with elevation, this serene place dedicated to Buddha is the place to conquer your fears. Indeed, you will find no better symbol of Tibet and its trials and triumphs than the Potala Palace.

According to legend, the Potala Palace was built in the 7th century to commemorate the passion of Tibet King Songtsen Gampo for his new bride, the Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang Dynasty of China. It was formerly a 9-storey palace with a thousand rooms that subsequent wars almost razed to the ground. The Potala Palace that we see today was the result of expansions made on the original structure during the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century.

At present, the Potala Palace is a symbol of the Tibetan people’s passion to preserve its culture, religion and soul despite the overwhelming odds. Tibetans revere the Potala Palace as the spiritual home of the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, and all the Dalai Lamas who came before him. If you have followed modern Tibetan history, you ought to know that the current Dalai Lama is in exile in India.

Tibetans can still be seen kowtowing near the Potala Palace’s stone gate, be it in the morning and during the night. Worshipers walk in a circle around the outer wall while chanting prayers – truly, a moving sight and a testimony to the people’s passion for their exiled leader, their culture and their land.

Up close, the Potala Palace has two distinct parts. First, the Red Palace is in the center and is known as the Potrang Marpo in Tibetan language. As the highest part in the entire palace, it is completely devoted to studying religious texts, Buddhist prayers and other monastery activities. Take note that red is the color of power in Tibetan culture, which explains the paint used in the Potrang Marpo.

If you have access to the Red Palace, you can walk through its complicated maze of chapels, libraries and halls with names like the Dharma Cave, the Great West Hall and the Tomb of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, among others. It’s an impressive structure in itself befitting the home of the spiritual and temporal leaders of Tibet.

Second, the White Palace – known as Potrang Karpo – was once the living quarters and offices of the local government in Tibet. It is actually two wings flanking the Red Palace on both sides, of which the walls were painted white to represent peace and quiet. Like the Red Palace, the White Palace also has plenty of rooms including the Dalai Lama’s actual living quarters on the topmost part known as the East Chamber of Sunshine and the West Chamber of Sunshine – yes, because sunshine floods the area like a holy cloak.

You also have the benefit of enjoying the centuries-old collections of Tibetan culture inside the palace wall. Murals, statues, stupas and rare sutras are plentiful in the Potala Palace, all of which evoke the quiet but determined passion of its people.

Uncommon Beauty of West Lake

Xi Hu, or West Lake, may have an all-too-common name but its beauty is uncommon by any standard. Ancient poets have waxed so eloquently about its rippling water shimmering on a sunny day, its misty mountains shrouded in the mystery of the mist, and its astounding beauty with which no beautiful woman can compare. Indeed, the glory of the scenery in this famous fresh water lake located in Hangzhou is, without a doubt, heavenly while still being earthly – a combination that draws millions of tourists to this part of the world, then and now.

Despite its grand appearance, the West Lake only has an average depth of just 5 feet and a relatively modest area of under 6 square kilometers. Tourists, nonetheless, are under the spell of West Lake’s environs that has all the essential elements of an imperial traditional Chinese garden but on the grandest possible scale that only Mother Nature can achieve.

Hemmed on three sides by hilly peaks with strange shapes, West Lake has green forests, dense shrubbery, and a myriad of blossoms that accentuate the sparkling waters of the flowing springs. The changing lights from dawn till dusk add another dimension to the uncommon beauty that this small lake gives to people privileged to witness it. Think of heaven on earth during springtime when all the world’s flora and fauna are coming alive and you have an idea of the West Lake experience.

The West Lake is divided into five sections with equally practical names, namely, the Outer Lake, the North Inner Lake, the Yuehu Lake, the West Inner Lake and the Lesser South Lake. The ten best-known scenic spots on West Lake, however, are named in a creative manner with each one marked by a stela with its corresponding 4-character epithet. These ten scenic wonders that best encompass the West Lake experience are:

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon
Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill
Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter
Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond
Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset
Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn
Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring
Orioles Singing in the Willows

The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is aptly-named because the night candles set in stone lanterns create the impression that three moons are, indeed, reflected on the water. This spectacle is best viewed from the manmade Island of Little Oceans located on the Outer Lake and on the Autumn Moon Festival.

The 13-storey Six Harmonies Pagoda represents the six codes of Buddhism and, thus, is a favorite among Buddhists. But its main attraction is the excellent view over the Qiantang River with its world-famous tidal bore that so often resembles a magnificent brown dragon rolling over the land.

Indeed, the West Lake experience is one that should not be missed by tourists to the great land of China. Its uncommon beauty of natural tableaux accentuated by architectural wonders combine the best of Heaven and Earth in ways that only the Chinese can envision.

Mt HuangShan, The Power, Grandeur and Beauty of the Yellow Mountain

Wu yue is the collective name given to three of China’s most important mountains – Mt. Taishan, Mt. Hengshan and Mt. Huangshan. Of all the three mountains, it’s only Mt. Huangshan, also known as the Yellow River, which symbolizes the greatness of China with the others being the Yangtze River, the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. In modern times, the Yellow Mountain is listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site.

What makes the Yellow Mountain so special? The simple answer is magnificent natural beauty coupled with a rich flora and fauna that makes for once-in-a-lifetime experience where the riches of heaven seem to trickle in generous quantities to mere mortals on earth. Such is the beauty of the Yellow Mountain that the ancient Chinese said that once you see wu yue, you will not want to see other mountains anywhere in the world; but once you see the Yellow Mountain, Mt. Taishan and Mt. Hengshan become all-too-ordinary.

With over 400 scenic spots, the Yellow Mountain cannot be explored in just one day, not even a month if you want to see what the fuss is all about this mountain. The good news is that it can be divided into six areas, thus, maximizing the opportunity to see the Yellow Mountain in its full glory in just a few weeks’ time of sightseeing.

Xanadu – this is the name given to the Hot Springs scenic area for good reason. At its center is the Grasping Beautiful Scenes Bridge under which the equally beautiful waters of the Peach Blossom Stream and the Xiaoyao Stream flow. Other must-see attractions are the Merciful Light Pavilion, the Cloud Valley Temple and the Singing String Spring, the latter of which is notable for the tweedle-like sounds produced by the spring water hitting the rock at its bottom.

And then there’s the North Sea scenic area that demands a few days’ worth of sightseeing to fully appreciate. Climb the Shixin Peak to believe in the magic of the Yellow Mountain, the Lion Peak for the best views of the sunlight and the moonlit nights, and the Bright Peak for the spectacular view of the Cloud Sea. Other attractions are the Lovers’ Pine, Black Tiger and the Monkey Gazing at the Sea, all of which have shapes that befit their whimsical names and surrounded by the most spectacular views this side of the world.

The Jade Screen scenic area is host to the highest peak in Mt. Huangshan, Lotus Peak, which eerily looks like a blooming lotus. The magnificent Huangsan pines, azaleas and other blooms greet visitors on the way up with clear views to the surrounding mountains on a clear day and a surging sea of clouds on a rainy day.

Don’t miss the other three scenic areas of Pine Valley with its 6,500 steps coupled by rocks, ponds and streams; the Cloud Valley scenic area boasting of old trees, rocks with odd shapes and the breathtaking Nine Dragon Waterfall; and the White Cloud scenic area with the hypnotic cloud dreamland constantly changing color. If you have all the time in the world, then the Yellow Mountain deserves more than just a few days of hurrying from one scenic site to the next.

Stay, look and enjoy the beauty, generosity and magnificence of Mother Nature as manifested in the Yellow Mountain.

Take in the Mighty Yangtze River with a Luxury Cruise

The Yangtze River – the name alone evokes superlatives that few other mighty rivers of the world can equal. Its dark brown waters appear to be dirty in comparison with the likes of the Nile and Amazon, the only rivers that surpass Yangtze in size, but such color is also the source of life along the mighty river. And from its life-giving force come its great historical, cultural and economic significance in the past, present and future of the Chinese nation.

In itself, the Yangtze River is filled with awe-inspiring sights of flora and fauna, mountains and valleys, gorges and streams – all of which are part of the scenery worth the words written about them by ancient and modern poets. Locals feel lucky to live in paradise while tourists feel even luckier to appreciate the magnificence of the Yangtze River at least once in their life.

Of course, the people who live along the Yangtze River are as delightful as the place they live in. Local cultures that have changed little since the time of the first emperors exist often just a few miles from the modern societies that fuel China’s drive toward world leadership. In fact, a cruise along the Yangtze River reinforces the general idea that it forms the demarcation line between Northern China and Southern China, each region possessing distinct cultures, climate and customs as well as economics while still sharing more than a few similarities.

The Yangtze River cruises are reasonably-priced services considering the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to know the mighty river up close and yet still enjoy the comforts of a cabin. Also, these cruises provide the opportunities to enjoy the passing scenery while on the boat and to enjoy excursions on land for various activities. You can look at the wonders of the Yangtze River up close and personal, so to speak.

Depending on the cruise ship, the amenities range from basic to luxurious accommodations, food and drinks, and services. On luxury ships, the facilities are comparable to 5-star hotel accommodations on land complete with a magnificent lobby, suites and Jacuzzis. Other services may include prompt check-in and check-out, formal dinners and buffet breakfasts, and even butlers for the most luxurious cruise ships. Safety measures are also in place to ensure that the passengers will arrive at the final port with smiles on their faces for having had the privilege to see the mighty Yangtze River and not get swallowed in it.

Yes, the entire cruise is filled with great sights and sounds to enjoy from start to finish, thus, the popularity of almost all Yangtze River cruises. But the most impressive section of the Yangtze River remains to be the Three Gorges, namely, Qutang, Wuxia and Xiling.

Qutang Gorge may be the shortest but it is arguably the most spectacular of the Three Gorges. Rocky mountain peaks seem to rise out of the roaring waters while the historical sites on the bank are aplenty as well.

Wuxia Gorge features an impressive collection of weird-looking mountains, zigzag turns and and beautiful sights that add another meaning to “breathtaking”. Xiling Gorge is the longest gorge filled with archeological sites, spectacular cave formations and dangerous rapids.

Indeed, if you feel like having seen it all in China and the world, you will take back your statement while on a Yangtze River cruise. It is an incomparable experience, period.

Source / Original Articles: http://chinatravelguides.org/