Top 10 Things to Do in China

An undisputable symbol of ancient Chinese military power, the Great Wall is the largest military defense system in the world. It stretches across northern China, separating the mainland from Inner Mongolia, starting at the mouth of Yalu River (Hushan, Liaoning Province) in the east and ends at Jiayu Pass (Gansu Province) in the west, measuring 8,851.8 kilometres in all. Read More...

Former French president Jacques Chirac once said: "One can't claim to have visited China unless one has seen these Terracotta Warriors." Considered to be of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century – the Terracotta Warriors and Horses were discovered during the 1970’s when local peasants were drilling for water and happened to stumble across a subterranean life-size army of thousands – built to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang during the afterlife. Read More...

The giant panda is native to central-western and south-western China and is one of the most instantly recognizable creatures in the world. In China images of this black-and-white bear permeate almost every aspect of life and pandas oftentimes are used as goodwill ambassadors. Yet these days this racoon-like bear is facing extinction due to rampant poaching. China’s populace devours almost anything on four legs and ‘herbal’ remedies utilising exotic creatures are widespread, so it’s unsurprising that the pandas face overwhelming danger from both man and natural causes. Read More...

Stretching from Suzhou Creek to Jinling Lu along the western shore of the Huangpu River, The Bund is Shanghai’s most popular landmark. Providing a striking contrast to Pudong’s ultra-modern skyline, The Bund is characterised by a row of well-preserved colonial buildings lining its streets - especially along the western side of Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu - which have been converted into financial institutions, F&B outlets, hotels and administrative centres. Read More...

Huanglong is best known for its five main attractions – rainbow ponds, limestone sandbars, snow-capped peaks, undulating ravines and virgin forests. Also known as Golden Dragon Valley, Huanglong’s main draw are its tiers of multihued limestone ponds with the silhouette of the 5,588-metre Xuebao Peak in the backdrop. The sequence of twinkling ponds extends through a basin where yellow-hued calcium carbonate and limestone deposits cause the waters to sparkle best on sunny days, in shades of pink, turquoise, yellow and green. This increasingly popular tourist destination is not as popular as the nearby Jiuzhaigou Park, but is a peaceful and gorgeous scenic area to visit. Read More...

This expansive temple-and-park complex is an iconic site in southern Beijing and possibly the second most popular landmark in the city. Built in 1406 by Ming Emperor Yong Le (r. 1402-1424) for conducting religious sacrifices and rituals, the Temple of Heaven’s layout and architecture are filled with ancient symbolisms, which interpret heaven as a blue, round dome and the earth as a flat, square base.Open to the public in 1912, the Temple of Heaven has since amazed visitors with its marvelous architecture, craftsmanship as well as its landscape design. It is also one of the most popular parks for local people to relax, do their morning exercise and fly kites. Read More...

Lijiang has the best-preserved ancient town in China. The Old Town, with a history going back more than 800 years, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At one time a confluence for trade along the old Tea Horse Road, the town is full of shops with a superb collection of handicrafts and all the streets and lanes of the town are paved with red breccia (sedimentary rock), which is neither muddy in the rainy season nor dusty in the dry season. Read More...

Ranked as one of China’s most-liveable cities, Chengdu – the capital of Sichuan Province – is a great starting point from which to explore Sichuan. Although the city centre has scores of cars thronging its streets, the bustling side streets are chock-full of gingko trees and hibiscus flowers.
Emei Shan – a cool mountainside sanctuary that presents a sharp contrast to Sichuan basin’s sweltering heat – is located 130 kilometres southwest of Chengdu.
Leshan – home to the world’s tallest Buddha statue – is a tranquil riverside town not far from Emei Shan; it’s not a bad place to hang around for a day or two – the riverfront along Binhe Lu is especially beautiful at night. Read More...

The Stone Forest is a creation of prehistory. In the Permian period, roughly 270 million years ago, the earth flexed its muscles, caused an ocean to drain and the limestone seabed to rise up. The wash of the receding waters, time, wind and acidic rains, all lent to the erosion of the limestone until only tall narrow karsts remained dotting the otherwise barren landscape. As with the karsts at Halong Bay, in Vietnam, the locals have given names to many of the rock pillars - names that say a lot about how they see the rocks. 'Mother and Son Going for a Walk', 'Rhinoceros Looking at the Moon', and 'Phoenix Preening its Wings' are some of the more unusual monikers given to the many karsts. Read More...