If you are looking for a memorable trip, China is a destination that may well be at the top of your bucket list. And with good reason.
It has a stunning array of world-famous landmarks and is a country with a rich and intriguing history and culture. Even if you are not interested in all that, there’s an amazing food and the beautiful scenery.
As it is such a huge and expansive landmass, planning a tailor made holiday to China can be overwhelming. Therefore, we’ve tried to make things a little easier for you by highlighting five things you should make the time to do.
Visit the Jinkeng and Longji Rice Terraces
Located around two hours outside of Guilin, you will find the Longsheng rice fields, more commonly known as the Jinkeng and Longji rice terraces. Longsheng refers to the wider district where they are situated.The rice paddies themselves reach over 800-metres and sit at around 300 to 1,100-metres above the sea level. You can even hike through the fields between the villages, Dazhai and Ping’An. Please note, if you plan to do this, it will take you at least five hours. Particularly as you will not want to rush it, so you can drink in the attack of the senses that the beautiful scenery all around will give you.
The Summer Palace
Within Beijing, you will find this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of more than 50 sites with this registration in the country, making China the country with the second most sites in the world, just behind Italy where there 51. The Summer Palace and a huge park are built up around the beautiful Lake Kunming. Here you will find spectacular bridges, halls, pavilions, temples and landscaped gardens. Besides, you will get more than enough to enjoy a quiet and tranquil afternoon in the city.
The Forbidden City
Despite its ominous name this is one of the most historically significant palaces in the world and another of China’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The palace was the official residence of the emperors during both the Qing and Ming dynasties and is definitely one place that you should not miss out on if visiting Beijing. Just make sure you set aside a whole day of your trip to take in all its glory.
Beijing
We have mentioned Beijing twice already, you may have noticed. That’s with good reason. If there is only one place you have time to go to in China, it is the country’s cultural, economic and political capital.
As noted above, you will find the Summer Palace and The Forbidden City, as well as the Temple of Heaven here. Additionally though, it is also the best place to start a hike along the Great Wall, or to lose yourself in one of the many hutongs, the alleys that are interlaced around this amazing city.
This city is also a very modern and futuristic city with truly magnificent and unique skyscrapers, as well as the Olympic Games’ Bird’s Nest Stadium, National Swimming Centre and Cube of Water. You can also visit the National Theatre.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall was noted above, and you will find that there are no tours of the country that do not involve taking this jaw-dropping landmark in. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is over 6,000 km in length and a wondrous feat of construction and architectural design.
There are a variety of different visitor sections, including:
Simatai – A recently renovated part of the wall, Simatai was re-opened in 2016 and remains true to its original look and feel.
Jinshanling – Around 120 km outside of Beijing this part of the wall is one of the less busy parts, but is nevertheless very beautiful.
Jiankou – Jiankou is relatively close to the city, but is also the wildest part of the wall. Although it is a striking area, it is one of the trickier parts to navigate over and is not so much of a casual walk, but a full-on hike.
Juyongguan – This is 50 km outside of Beijing, meaning that these parts of the wall are not as busy and you will be able to check out amazing landscapes different to those popular images you normally see.
Mutianyu – This is one of the quietest sections and has the most beautiful scenery of any part of the wall.
Badaling – Badaling is without a doubt, the most popular part of the wall, busy with so many tourists looking to tick the landmark off their bucket list.
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