In any country you can find something special. Egypt is famous for the pyramids, Spain - for bullfighting, Russia - for the Kremlin. All these sights are known all over the world. The People's Republic of China is, of course, associated with the Great Wall of China. Astronauts claim that this structure, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, can be seen even from space. The Great Wall of China, the main attraction of China, is an unforgettable sight. It seems that she has no end.
The main attraction of China is so great that next to it you feel like an ant. And if you climb it, the opposite feeling arises - you begin to feel like the king of the world. For this, you can pack your bags and safely go to such an exotic country for us as the People's Republic of China. Her sights, however, are not limited to this magnificent structure. In this country, you definitely will not be bored.
Unique objects for every taste
In China, there are many other unique objects that the People's Republic of China is rightly proud of. Attractions can be divided into 3 main groups. The first is the ancient architectural structures, which reflected the traditions, culture and history of China. The second group - religious and temple buildings. They contain the beliefs and spirit of the peoples inhabiting the territory of this country. And the last group - monuments created by nature. These are picturesque forests, majestic mountains, mirror lakes and rivers. The main attractions of China we will briefly describe in this article. Let's start with the historical ones, the main of which, without a trace, is the Gugun Palace.
Historic Sites: Gugong Palace
The Gugong Imperial Palace is one of the most picturesque places in Beijing, the capital of the country. It is here that tourists are usually brought first. This is understandable, because if a resident of Moscow was asked to show the Russian capital, he would start from Red Square and the Kremlin. And the Chinese have them, but their palace is not royal, but the imperial. And the area is not Red, but White (Tiananmen). By the way, it is here that the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the people's leader, is located. Unlike Lenin, this ruler is still loved and honored in such a state as the People’s Republic of China.
The sights of the Imperial Palace (otherwise called the Forbidden City) are numerous. This is not surprising, because for about 500 years it was the residence of 24 emperors of China and their families. It was strictly forbidden to enter mere mortals. Until 1925, the palace was closed to visitors. Its walls still keep the secrets of the past. Today, everyone has a unique opportunity to wander through the mazes of the Forbidden City and learn about how imperial families lived.
Summer Palace and Potala Palace
The cultural attractions of China attract many tourists. In addition to the aforementioned palace, at least two more deserve special attention. We are talking about the Summer Palace located in Beijing, as well as the Potala Palace located in Tibet. The first is a picturesque suburb. He gained world fame primarily as a classic Chinese garden. This palace was the resting place of the emperor's family in the summer. The second is famous for being considered the highest palace in the world.
Burials
You may have heard that a skull belonging to Sinanthropus (an ancient man) was found in the village of Zhoukoudian near Beijing. This man could already make tools and use fire. Having been in China, you can see with your own eyes this historic place. In this country, a number of imperial burials have been preserved. There are temples, and tombs, and rooms for steles, and ritual and office buildings. The most famous of them is the burial "13 graves", located in Beijing. Emperors of the Ming Dynasty are buried here. The mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi, another Chinese emperor, is also interesting. Tourists are also impressed by the "terracotta army" (Xi'an).
These are full-length statues of soldiers of the imperial army.
Ancient cities
Visiting the ancient cities located in the provinces of Jiangsu, Shanxi and Yunnan, you can plunge into the history of this country. Here and to this day, the traditions and customs of the ancestors are sacred. A particularly noteworthy place is Jiangsu. In the city of Suzhou, which belongs to this province, there are famous gardens built on the water. This is a kind of eastern Venice. The history of this place has more than 2.5 thousand years.
Religious Sites (China)
The sights whose names we mentioned are connected with the culture and history of this country. However, interesting religious sites are no less. China is not in vain considered a country of temples. There are a very large number of them, and such a variety of religious buildings in this country can hardly be found anywhere else. Among the many temples, we highlight those that deserve special attention.
Sky Temple
The Temple of Heaven, located in Beijing, is the largest and most famous. It was here that the Chinese emperors prayed for a good harvest. The Temple of Heaven is a true masterpiece. It was built on a marble three-level terrace. The ceiling is supported by wooden poles, with no cement or nails. This is quite remarkable when you consider that the height of the building is 38 meters and its diameter is 30 meters.
Lhasu City and Shandong Province
If you want to visit several temples at once and see the largest Buddha statues in the world, you should go to Tibet, more precisely, to the city of Lhasa. It is its capital and holy city for the Chinese.
Those who are interested in the teachings of Confucius can be advised to visit his temple, house and grave. They are located in Shandong. This great Chinese educator and thinker is the founder of a whole philosophical movement known as Confucianism. And today, Confucianism is the basis of the traditional culture of Chinese society.
Shaolin
This monastery is certainly worth mentioning, telling about what are the main attractions of China. A description of it is available in any guide to this country. If you are interested in martial arts or the history of Buddhism, feel free to go to the Shaolin Monastery located in Luoyang. It is the most famous Chinese temple related to Buddhism, as well as a recognized center of Wushu (martial arts).
The monasteries, called the "Shaolin", in the history of China, there were about ten. However, only one of them managed to survive, their ancestor. We are talking about the northern monastery of Sunshan. It was founded back in 495 AD. e. Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who was otherwise called Damo. Already in 620, the Chinese ruler granted this monastery the right to have its own army. Today it looks more like a museum. On the territory adjacent to the monastery, there are small restaurants, small souvenir shops, and snack bars. However, in the closed part, where the monks meditate and train, today it is impossible to get.
Mountains of china
You will enjoy not only the cultural and religious, but also the natural attractions of China. In this country, the mountains are very majestic and beautiful. Next to them you feel how insignificant each of us is in front of the power of nature.
Huangshan (pictured above) is the most famous and sacred of the many mountain ranges, which is famous for such a state as the People’s Republic of China. Sights, photos of which are especially picturesque, include this array. It is located in Anhui Province. An ancient legend says that it was here that Emperor Xuanyuan did special exercises, the purpose of which was to achieve immortality. This place, according to the Chinese, is the most beautiful in the country. These mountains are known for their quaint centuries-old pine trees. The best sights of China, created by nature itself, you will find here.
The Lushan Mountains are also quite remarkable. They are located in Jiangxi province. At this place you will find a beautiful cascade of waterfalls. In addition, the Flower Trail is located near the mountains. She is known for the fact that the poet Bai Juyi, who lived during the reign of the Tang Dynasty, created his poems here in which he sang the beauty of a peach in blossom.
The sacred mountains are Taishan. This is the place where ancient Chinese civilization is believed to have originated. Here you will find 72 peaks, as well as amazing waterfalls, piles of stones, majestic pines and cypress trees, whose age is estimated at several hundred years. You should definitely climb one of the mountain peaks. From here you can admire the sunset and sunrise, see the sea of clouds and the Golden Belt running along the Yellow River, which is also called the Yellow River.
In Tibet, Mount Kailash is located . It was believed that in ancient times the gods lived here. Nowadays, every believer seeks to see with his own eyes this sacred place where you can touch the history of celestials.
Mount Emei and Big Buddha (Sichuan, Leshan) is one of the 4 sacred mountains of China. In Wannian Temple, one of the most famous on this mountain, there is a statue of Buddha Samantabadra cast in 980. It is made of bronze and is a figure sitting on a white elephant with 6 tusks. Three rivers converge at its foot - Dadu, Qini and Minjiang. Buddha turned to face Emei, his back turned to Mount Lingyun.
Beautiful landscapes
In China, there are a lot of picturesque places where you can feel like a part of nature and take a break from civilization. You do not have to puzzle over where to escape from the densely populated noisy city. There are many places where you can find peace and silence.
Picturesque Guilin is an amazingly beautiful place, which is a natural geological and botanical garden, as well as a zoo. Here you will find caves, mountain peaks, lakes and springs. The names of the attractions speak for themselves: Seven Star Park, Jungle Cave, rock "Elephant Drinking Water".
Tibet, of course, is one of the most beautiful places on our planet. It is famous for its snowy peaks, clean air, forests, waterfalls and greenish water. A special attraction is the Tibetan traditions and customs of the local population. In this place you can plunge into the past and join the way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries. It is especially beautiful in autumn. Spring is also beautiful when trees growing right in the lakes drop their flowers into the water. Huge pandas live in Tibet. You can see them if you are lucky. In Sichuan you will find an amazing place - Huanglong. This name means "yellow dragon". Apparently, this place is named after the lakes, which have an unusual shape and color due to volcanic origin.
Hainan island
Hainan Island is suitable for lovers of exotic beach holidays. This is a famous tropical resort that accepts tourists all year round. Here you will feel like you are in paradise: endless sea, spiky mountains and endless beaches ... Sanya, the main resort, is surrounded by beaches and virgin forests. Haikou, the provincial capital, is also very picturesque and attracts many tourists.
Here are the sights in China that await travelers. Of course, we talked only about the main ones. In this amazing country, everyone will find something interesting for themselves.