Top Things to See and Do in China
Article by Victoria Cochrane
For some, a trip to China would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. To get the most out of your time in China, with the chance to immerse yourself in the culture and history of one of the most ancient civilisations on earth, it's vital to know exactly what to see and do while you're there.
China is a vast Empire, stretching all the way from the southeast tip of Russia, to the northern tip of India. With so much to see and do across 29 provinces, it can help to have a clear idea of the country's top attractions and which are well worth a look near to where you are.One of China's most iconic national sites is the vast Great Wall of China, which covers over 4,000 miles and stretches east to west from Shanaiguan to Lop Nur, along the northern mountains of Beijing.
You can walk stretches of the wall or merely marvel at its structural ingenuity and the thousands of years of culture and history imbedded in each rock. Organised tours commonly take tourists to the Badaling Section of the wall, close to Beijing, but you could also strike out alone and visit the Juangjun Pass, Baimaguan Pass or the Juyongguan Pass. Many of China's most popular tourist attractions are those with particular historic, cultural or religious significance and none more so than the 71m Leshan Giant Buddha, carved from the red cliffs of Leshan, in the Sichuan province.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Giant Buddha dates from the 9th century Tang Dynasty and is truly a site to behold. Throughout a war torn past, the Chinese have been responsible for building some of the most striking and spectacular sites of interest, the world over. The relatively modern Three Gorges Damn, for example, on the Yangtze River is a marvel of modern engineering. Despite being the world's largest damn, you can get up close on a river boat cruise, which is easy to organise once you arrive in Hubei, China.
From modern, to ancient, China continually surprises. The Terracotta Warriors - a handcrafted personal army built in 210 BC to protect the tomb of the Qin dynasty's first emperor - are astounding and you can visit the site of the dig in China's Shanxi province with ease. You can go on a journey of self-discovery in China too, and visit the Potala Palace - the traditional seat of the Tibetan Buddhist leader - the Dalai Lama, in Lhasa. It can be quite a hike to reach the palace, which is now a museum, and at just over 1,000 feet, it's not for the feint hearted. A trip to China wouldn't be complete without a visit to see its iconic Giant Pandas. You can visit these majestic beats in captivity, at the Wolong Nature Preserve in Sichuan, China. There, you can observe the pandas in their natural environment, help to feed them and learn about the threats to their species, such as pollution and deforestation.
China offers a rich wealth of experience. No matter what type of holiday you're looking for, you can relax and enjoy a journey of discovery of ancient and modern proportions. While away, you'll want to share your experiences with friends and family back home. If so, you could benefit from posting your photographs online so that your loved ones can share in your experiences. On the other hand, you could quite simply look into cheap calls to China, prior to leaving home. That way, you know you can stay connected, wherever in the world you find yourself.
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