Must visit places in China

china temple

Tanu Talwar

Your bags are packed and you are all set to go! But since you are caught up in the excitement of watching the Olympics you may have forgotten to check out the must see places in China. Well no worries, as here is a quick check list of ...

And believe us when we say that China mainland is one country that has some of the most astounding landscapes that are sure to leave you spellbound. You can also have a quick whirlwind tour of neighbouring Macau and Hong Kong. Speckled with lakes and gardens, China invigorates the senses. Interestingly, it’s not only man-made marvels like the Great Wall of China that go on to captivate your imagination but also umpteen number of scenic and natural hotspots that shall be a feast for your eyes.

So hop on and explore the top 8 places that you must visit in China…

Great Wall of China

The reason why Great Wall has made it to the top slot needs no justifications. It’s the first image that spurs up in our minds when we think of China. And why not? This man made marvel is the only sign of human intelligence that is said to be visible from the moon.

But that’s just one known fact. There are several interesting unknown details that remain in oblivion about the wall. For example, it took nearly 10 centuries - 5th century to the 16th century for the wall to be built. It was made for the protection of the northern borders of China. The wall had been broken and was rebuilt again by several dynasties who ruled the nation during this period.

The wall consists of a series of fortifications made out of stones, earth, tiles, lime and even wood before bricks were finally used. If historians are to be believed, nearly 2 - 3 million Chinese workers died building the wall while at one point about 1 million workers were solely rendered to guard this longest man-made structure that stretches over approximately 6,400 km.

The Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

To visit this oldest imperial palace you don’t need to hop flights across China as the lavish masterpiece is located in the heart of Beijing. Now turned into a museum, the palace’s architecture gives a glimpse of the ancient Chinese heritage, culture and tradition. The Palace has been a home to country’s emperors and their families for over five long centuries.

Being listed as one of the world heritage sites by UNESCO, the Forbidden City is the largest and oldest ancient building complex that stands intact after being attacked innumerable times by both the internal rulers and outside forces.

The well-designed palace appears magnificent, solemn and harmonious, representing the long cultural tradition of China and its remarkable architectural accomplishments. A treasure house of rare and valuable art works, the palace museum in the Forbidden City has the country's largest collection of ancient art works, some of which are invaluable national treasures. Art works alone in the museum's collection total to a number of 1,052,65 This also includes paintings, pottery, bronze wares, inscribed wares, toys, sculptures and court documents.

The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army also known as the Terracotta Warriors are the terracotta figures that were discovered in the year 1974 by the local farmers in Shaanxi province, while they were drilling a water well. These figure made of warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians speak volumes about the country’s past.

It is said that the Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the Emperor of Qin in 209-210 BC. Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies". In addition to the warriors, an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor has also been excavated.

The Humble Administrator's Garden

This is one of the classic examples of garden architecture in China. Located in Suzhou, it is said to have taken quite a fortune to be built over a span of sixteen years. The Bonsai collection of the garden is truly worth exploring.

You can enjoy this vast green expanse with the help of a guided tour which also includes an enactment of a Chinese wedding. The garden also boasts of canals, where you can enjoy a relaxed boating session in the lap of nature. Another USP of this garden are the carved tree roots.

Some people also claim that burning incense in this garden leads to wish fulfillment. So burn away as many incense sticks you want, but at your own risk.

The Pool and Cudrania Temple

Located amidst Mahavira Hall and Vairochana pavilion, the Pool and Cudrania Temple are nearly 45 kms from Beijing. Built nearly 1600 years ago, the heritage site is popularly known as the Temple of Auspicious Fortune. Not many know that the name of the temple had been changed when it underwent huge expansion and was named Dragon Spring Temple.

The new name was derived from the large dragon pool at the site and the numerous Cudrania trees on the hill that is situated behind this temple. Surrounded by lush green forests, the landscape of the site is truly picturesque.

However what’s truly magnificent and breathtaking about this age-old site is the design in which these buildings are constructed. Several buildings are grouped together each one higher than the other. Their distribution is symmetrical, which is typical of Ming temple architecture.

Another interesting fact about the temple rests on the edge of the roof where there are several figures and animals made of glazed tiles. These figures are called Chiwen. The story goes that the Chiwen is among the nine sons of the dragon who lives in the south sea and has the ability to make rain for the prevention of fire.

Karst Mountains of Guilin

The region of Guilin in northeastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is nature at its best. The awe-inspiring landscape of the Karst Mountains is according to a Chinese saying, the most beautiful view in the world. The entire hill is covered with lush green blanket that has not only left visitors spellbound but has also continued to intrigue the locals.

Besides the vast expanse of greenery, the famous karst limestone formation and Elephant Trunk Hill are the chief tourist attractions here. As its name suggests, the rock formation looks like an elephant stretching its trunk to drink from the Li River. The estimated age of the limestone formation is 360 million years. The rock is 55 meters high, 108 meters long and 100 meters wide.

Tian' an Men Square

Now here’s the place to go to, if you want to have a real look at modern day Chinese culture. One of the largest squares in the world, this square in Beijing is a tribute to the people of China. This spectacular site is located very close to the Forbidden City.

The square houses many other tourist attractions in the nation’s capital. These include the Great Hall of People, China National Museum, Tian' an Men building, and the Qian Men or the monument to the people's heroes. All these monuments and the square itself is a display of fascinating architecture.

Always bustling with locals and tourists, this is where all the action is at. You can enjoy shopping, sightseeing and a little bit of patriotic fervour as a daily flag hoisting ceremony also takes place here at the centre of the square.

The Three Gorges

Much of the Chinese history traces its roots back to the Yangtze River and the role it has played in the development of the country. The river contains the massive ‘Three gorges Dam’ and the beautiful serene site is also known as the Three Gorges. This striking location comprises magnificent valleys cut in the areas' imposing limestone cliffs.

Though the site is already a hit with tourists due to itss large countryside expanse, the government feels that it’s going to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the coming years as The Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydro electric power station in the world that is already making waves will be completed by the year 201

Many say that the dam would spoil the natural beauty of the spot as best views of spectacular site would be all submerged in water, we suggest that you take a quick river cruise and catch a glimpse of what’s left.