Ever since the discovery of China, the large Asian country has proved to be a country filled many beautiful and breathtaking sites. These sites are explored by several tourists from different parts of the world. Some of the popular tourist destinations include the following:

1.  The Great Wall of China is one of the popular a place to visit. The magnificent wall also known as Changcheng in Chinese or the Long Wall, stretches more than 6,000 kilometres from the fortresses of Shanhaiguan in the East to Jiayuguan in the West, passing through Hebei, Tientsin, Beijing-where the best-preserved section of the wall can be visited-inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Gansu along the way.

2. The Forbidden city also known as the Imperial Palace, Beijing is another sight to behold. It is China’s largest and most important building as it is in the heart of Beijing. The building is said to have housed 24 Ming and Qing Emperors, whose presence forbade the entry of anyone other than the imperial family and their courtesans.

3. The Terracotta Army like any other was undoubtedly China’s most important archaeological find. The site- part of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Park- is one of China’s most important tourist destinations as it offers the unforgettable experience of standing in front of this assembly of soldiers and horses as if inspecting a centuries-old parade.

4. Another place to visit is the Summer Palace which is an easy 15-kilometre commute from Beijing, the sumptuous Imperial Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan) and is also set amid more than 700 acres of beautiful parkland and is one of China’s most visited attractions.

5. The Karst landscape in Guilin along the Li River (Watery wonder) has captured the heart of artists. Generations of Chinese painters and poets have been inspired by the beauty of nature there, using their pens and brushes to capture the breathtaking natural scenery.

6. The Yellow Mountains in Huangshan are the most famous peaks in China, and one of China’s three best national parks.

7.The Giant Pandas in Chengdu is not only deeply loved by the Chinese, but by many foreigners too, and not just children because it is said to be the best place to see the giant pandas (hometown).

8. The Potala Palace in Lhasa is a symbol of Tibet. It is a huge treasure house of materials and articles from Tibetan history, religion, culture and art. The palace is widely known for the precious sculptures, murals, scriptures, antiques and religious jewellery housed within.

9. The Bund in Shanghai is one of the most recognizable architectural symbols. It showcases the world with the colonial European buildings and skyscrapers the other side of the Huangpu, housing one of the world’s foremost business districts.

10. The view over Victoria Harbor from Victoria Peak is to Hong Kong as climbing the Great Wall is to China. It offers the iconic outlook over Hong Kong “high rise” to success and property.

Before you take a trip to China, there is some essential information you must have. This information is that which will help and guide you throughout your stay in China. When you visit China, you will likely want to visit the popular tourist centres like Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai, just to mention a few. This information will aid your visit.

One of the most important things to know when travelling to China is that they do not offer Visas to arrivals. So before you travel, you will need to arrange your visa well in advance. It is a known fact that when applying for a tourist visa, some of the requirements needed include you providing a detailed itinerary of your intended trip and this includes return flights and confirmed reservations for your hotel bookings. It is necessary for you to know that China’s gateway airports are huge but easy to navigate.

The taxis in China are very cheap as a typical 40 minutes trip from an airport to a hotel costs less than $10, with no tip expected because the Chinese do not give tips so they do not expect it. When you use a taxi, however, it is imperative that you have the destination printed out or visible on a screen in Chinese to avoid any hassle and misinformation. It is advisable to have a language translator app on your mobile phone or to hire the services of a translator.

Local subways are easy to use as there are system maps, ticket machines, station names and recorded announcements are all presented in both Chinese and English language. The only problem is that metros are crowded at most times and busy at rush hours. Train fares are cheap and affordable; this makes it easier for you to navigate around China without breaking a sweat over the cost of transportation.

Also the hotel prices are low in comparison with other countries. Even the rates for four star and five-star hotels are lower than you might expect and this makes it easier for you to get a comfortable accommodation.

Although payments by cash are usually acceptable and are the only medium of exchange or transaction in some areas of the country, some other business organizations accept Visa and Master cards for payment. For payments made by cash, it is therefore pertinent to note that China only recognizes its own currency and nothing else. So it is advisable to exchange currency at the ATMs in China.

Larger cities in China have been said to have serious problems with air pollution, particularly in Beijing. Many locals swear by masks on days with hazardous air pollution and it is usually advisable to avoid those areas or wear face masks just like the locals, but it is safer to avoid exertion on days with particularly bad pollution.

And for communication, it is advisable to get a local SIM card in China and the major carriers include China Telecom and China Unicom.

Having a large number of regions and with a long history, China has a lot of great things for the eyes to see and explore. This article will expose you to some of the best ten must-visit attractions in China.

  1. Hong Kong’s Shopping Paradise

Hong Kong is currently a highly prosperous international city, and one of the third biggest trading centres on this planet. Hong Kong was acclaimed as a magnificent city to see, with bunches of high skyscrapers and shopping.

  1. The capital and social focus of China – Beijing

The capital of China, Beijing, is a very beautiful place to visit. The city has numerous spots of memorable interest and magnificence scenic, including the Summer Palace – the sovereigns’ superb garden retreat; the Forbidden City – the biggest and best-saved antiquated architectural complex on this planet; the Temple of Heaven – where the emperors of Ming and Qing performed serious customs for abundant harvests; the Ming Tombs – the stately and glorious catacombs of 13 Ming Dynasty rulers; and the widely acclaimed and truly motivating Badaling area of the Great Wall.

  1. The Terracotta Army, Xi’an

The Terracotta Army has been laid underground for over two thousand years. Be that as it may, in 1974, farmers burrowing a well discovered one of the best archaeological destinations on the planet. In 1987, it ended up becoming World Cultural Heritage.

  1. The Yellow Mountains, Huangshan

In east China, near Shanghai and Hangzhou, the Yellow Mountain Scenic Area charms those travelling with some five wonders around the place: oceans of clouds, sunrises, hot springs, strangely formed rocks, and the twisted pine trees.

  1. Guilin – The Scenic City with Thrilling Mountain View

Located just within South China, Guilin resembles a sparkling pearl on a green cover; the view here gets the praise of being among the top scene on this planet. One can see the green cassia trees along many roadsides inside the town.

  1. Guangzhou – the City of Goat

Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong Province – it was nicknamed “the City of Goat”. As a city of cultural, historical and social significance, Guangzhou is the biggest modern business and industrial city in South China. It also has the biggest import and export port within this region.

  1. The Li River, Guilin

The Li River, also known as the Watery Wonder, is a good place to visit in Guilin. The karst scene along the Li River has caught the mind of craftsmen, including artists. Ages of Chinese poets and painters have been propelled by the magnificence of nature over there, utilizing their brushes and pens to grasp the amazing natural landscape.

  1. Giant Pandas, Chengdu

This is really the National Treasure of China. These pandas are not just well adored by the Chinese, but also by lots of outsiders, and not by only children. In spite of the fact that there are numerous zoos in China and other places, view a monster panda, the best place to see them is at Chengdu.

  1. The Potala Palace, Lhasa

It has a symbol of Tibet. The Potala Palace was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in the year 1994. It is a tremendous treasure place for materials and articles from the Tibetan culture, history, art, and religion.

  1. The largest city in China, Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the world biggest seaports and China’s major business and industrial centre. The city was once crowned as the trade, financial and economic centre of the Far East – assuming the main part in enhancing financial improvement and stability of China.

Visit any of these destinations in China and you will definitely have a good time.

 

The history of The Great Wall of China extends back to over 2,000 years, to a period before China was a unified nation. With a length of 21,196.18 km, it was estimated to be the longest wall in the world.

The wall comprises of various walls and fortifications, most running parallel to one other. It was mainly erected along an east-to-west line over the ancient northern borders of China to secure the Chinese states against the attacks and invasions of the different nomadic travellers of the Eurasian Steppe.

Some Detailed Structure of the Great Wall

To measure all sections built, a recent report proposed that the Great Wall of China could be a stunning 13,170.7 miles in length. The well-known (was said to be the best) section was raised amid the Ming Dynasty and was 5,500.3 miles between Hushan to the Jiayuguan Pass. Regardless of whether you just mull over the primary line length of the wall – around 2,150 miles, it is still the record-holding longest wall on this planet.

In case you are wondering about the height of the Great Wall of China, the height varies, ranging from 15 feet to 39 feet. In width thickness, the wall is up to 32 feet.

The Great Wall of China extends from Dandong (in the east) to Lop Lake in the west, in an arc that generally outlines the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. In a complete archaeological overview, with the aid of higher technologies has inferred that the walls of Ming were measured 8,850 km. This covered 6,259 km areas of the main wall, 359 km of trenches and 2,232 km of naturally guarded barriers – for example, hills and waterways. Another archaeological review found that the whole wall with the majority of its branches apportioned to be 21,196 km. In this modern day, the Great Wall is often perceived as a standout among the most amazing architectural accomplishments ever to be built.

Why the Great Wall of China Was Assembled

Aside from the purpose of defense (it was initially erected as a wartime defense), different motivations behind the wall have included, permitting the imposition of duties on merchandise transported within the Silk Road, controls of border, consolation or regulation of exchange and the control of migration. Moreover, the protective attributes of the Great Wall were improved by the development of troop barracks, watchtowers, stations for the garrison, indicating abilities through the methods fire or smoke, and how the Great Wall likewise useful as a transportation passage.

Who Built It?

The idea was said to be initially brought about by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (c. 259-210 B.C.) during the third century B.C. as a method for avoiding attacks from brute nomads into the Chinese Empire – the wall was a standout among the broadest construction tasks ever made. In the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries A.D., the best-known and protected area of the Great Wall was completed – amid the Ming administration (from 1368 to 1644). In spite of the fact that the Great Wall never viably kept intruders from entering China, it functioned more as a mental boundary between Chinese civilization and the world around and maintains a capable image of the nation’s great enduring strength.

The best times to visit the Great Wall of China are usually the first weeks of May and October – during these periods; you should be expecting a great group of travellers too.

 

Overall compared to many other countries, China is an extremely safe place. But even amongst Chinese cities, there are variations in safety and public security. To some people, the major features of safe cities include no fatal accidents, no frequent robberies and cases of kidnapping, good amenities for the citizens and a host of other things.

Although all these are quite true and necessary for a state to be considered safe, for it to be truly safe, it has to be able to cater and guide the lives and properties of tourists visiting the country. It is a fatal blow to any country that cannot protect the visitors in their country. Some of the places in China that are confirmed to be safe for tourists include the following

1.  The first city on the list is Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the safest city in China, according to the latest ranking of the safest Chinese cities released by Hong Kong-based China Institute of city competitiveness (CICC).

2. The capital, Beijing, leads in many areas and public security is one of them.

3. Shanghai which is the capital of China’s economy and so public security is a top priority as a result of the high efficiency of the government.

4. Nanjing is also one of the safest places in China.

5. Hangzhou is a city that has experienced a staggering economic development, where a good combination of good timing and the right people have earned the “good reputation of heaven”. The city has been said to be safe for tourists from around the world.

6. Qingdao is said to be one of the best examples in northern China of good economic development and low unemployment greatly contributing to stable public security in the city and this makes it extremely safe for tourists.

7. Xinyu is another safe part of China as theft and robbery are rare there proving its deserved reputation for public safety thereby making the city very safe for tourists as their lives and properties are sure to be safe.

8. Meizhou is said to be the original home of China’s Hakka majority.

9. Zhoushan, a rich city with a small and stable population, is also a safe place for tourists.

10. Weihai, a city founded on the promise of making the “city that is most suitable for human living”, is a safe place for tourists because of the firm hold the government have on the environment and the security.

11. Tianjin is another safe place for tourists. The people in Tianjin are humble and down to earth. Tianjin has been very welcoming for migrant populations and tourists, thus preventing the tensions that plague some Chinese cities.

12. Chengdu is the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

13. Guilin is a city in southern China known for its dramatic landscape of limestone karst hills. It does not only house beautiful sites for tourists, it also provides security for the tourist in the area.

 

China can be a challenging place to visit despite its beauty because of the language barrier and its rapid pace of change. The country is so large with a lot of beautiful places to visit and all these places cannot be covered or seen without the tourist having a proper tour plan. Before making any trip to any part of China, it is necessary to be equipped with a detailed tour plan or guide to order your movement around.

The first thing to note when making a tour plan is that China is a vast country, and only the less remote areas are suitable for a tour all year round. These remote places have different weather constraints and a lot will depend on what sort of whether you want or can tolerate. The comfortable seasons in major tourist destinations are fall (September and October) and spring (April and May), during which you just need to wear light clothes, maybe with a light jacket.

It is also advisable to avoid the major holidays because the streets and roads are always packed to the bream making it difficult for you to really enjoy your exploration. Hotels and other accommodation arrangements are usually filled up during these periods.

The places to visit in China are another thing to include in the plan. Knowing full well that is a large country with a lot of stunning and breathtaking sights, rich culture, and mysterious places, it is necessary for you to have a mapped out or a list of places you will like to visit since you have a limited time frame. Some of these fascinating sites include Shanghai, The Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, just to mention a few.

It is also necessary for you to be abreast with at least the surface structure of their tradition in other not to upset anyone on the trip. For example, it is a known fact that Chinese do not give out tips so naturally, they do not accept tips in return. It is also necessary for you to have an app that translates to the Chinese language so you can communicate freely with the Chinese.

Before any trip, the visa policy of that country should be considered to avoid any difficulty. It is therefore advisable for you to be aware of Chinese visa policy and gateway cities. Beijing and Shanghai are the top gateway cities for international flights and most customers chose them. China has visa-free transit policies for certain cities and regions. Some customers travel via Hong Kong because it is attraction-packed, exotic and very foreigner friendly.

Also to avoid being stranded in a foreign country, financial matters are to be considered when planning a visit to China. Most stores, restaurants and hotels accept Visa and Master card in China, as do ATM machines, but in the countryside and villages, cash is often required.

With these few information, you should be able to have a nice and hassle-free trip to any destination of your choice in China.