Want to know where you can find a Yellow Dragon that winds through a green forest?
Or maybe you’d like to hear a dune sing.
Today, we’re taking you to the Most Amazingly Beautiful Places in China.
10.
Jiuzhaigou
Located in the Sichuan Province of South Western China, Jiuzhaigou or “Nine Village Valley,”
known for its blue and green lakes, snow-capped mountains, and many multi-level waterfalls.
It has been a protected park and nature reserve since 1982.
It gets its name from the 9 Tibetan villages residing in it, 7 of which are still populated
today.
Comprised of three valleys, Rize, Zechawa, and Shuzheng, Jiuzhaigou has a plethora of
beautiful sites.
In Rize, you can find The Pearl Shoal that flows into the famous Pearl Waterfalls, Five
Flower Lake, and most notably for its appearance in the 2002 Chinese film “Hero,” Arrow
Bamboo Lake.
Zechawa hosts the Long Lake - the highest, largest, and deepest lake in the region, and
the Seasonal Lakes which fill and empty with the changing of the seasons.
Finally, the Shuzheng Valley has the gorgeous Reed Lake, a reed-covered marsh with a turquoise
ribbon through the middle, Nuorilang Falls - reportedly the widest highland waterfall
in China, and Sleeping Dragon Lake - named after the shape of the calcium carbonate dyke
running through it.
9.
Yangshuo
Yangshuo County is located within the Guilin City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
It is most famous for its scenic hikes and the Li River that runs past it.
A description written by Han Yu 1,200 years ago is as accurate now as it was then: “The
river winds like a green silk ribbon, while the hills are like jade hairpins.”
The area around Yangshuo is world renowned; it even inspired the Star Wars world Kashyyyk,
homeworld to the Wookie.
Some prominent features of the area include Moon Hill, Butterfly Spring Park, and the
Ten Mile Gallery.
Moon Hill, literally translated as Moonlight Mountain, is a hill with a naturally formed
arch in the middle of it.
Butterfly Spring Park is located near the base of Moon Hill and is known for its butterfly
shaped stalactite located within the grotto.
There is also a butterfly garden, a honey bee garden, and the giant butterfly sculpture
at the entrance.
The Ten Mile Gallery is not far from there, and Butterfly Springs Park is the only place
you can get a panoramic view.
This picturesque road is like something out of a silk painting.
It is a host to idyllic villages, colorful fields, rolling hills, and the river surrounding
it.
8.
Sanya
On an island just a few miles south of the mainland, lies a beautiful coastal city called
Sanya.
This tourist attraction, often called the “Hawaii of the East,” is a perfect beach
holiday location.
With picturesque white sand beaches, Heritage and National Parks, and some of the most luxurious
resorts in the world, it’s no wonder this city attracts foreigners and Chinese alike
to its beautiful sandy shores.
If exploring is more your thing, worry not!
There are many hiking trails and caves to explore on this island.
Just 90 minutes outside of Sanya is Wuzhishan or Five Finger Mountain.
Maybe you’d rather stay near the water.
Great!
Then you can explore the many beaches Sanya has to offer and maybe even catch a tour to
see one of the tallest statues in the world, the Nanshan Sea Goddess of Mercy.
You can also see the “edge of the Earth”.
Tianya Haijiao is considered the southernmost point of China, despite the fact that Jinmu
Cape truly is, and is a lover’s paradise.
7.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Recognized as China’s first National Park in 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
is most well-known for its pillar-like formations that give the area an otherworldly feeling.
That might have been the thought process Director James Cameron had when creating the wildly
popular 2009 film, Avatar.
These iconic pillars were created by thousands of years of erosion most likely due to weather.
High in the misty mountainous region, these one of a kind quartzite and sandstone formations
are breathtaking with some towering as high as 1,080 meters (3,540 ft).
This National park also holds the world’s longest and highest pedestrian glass bridge
called the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge.
It has over 120 tempered glass panels that are 3 layered and each layer is 2 inches thick.
With all of the greenery and gorgeous stone pillars, this area of China is easily one
of the most beautiful parks in the country.
6.
Fenghuang
Legend says that two phoenixes flew over this scenic town and were so captivated by its
beauty, that they were reluctant to leave.
As the literal translation of Fenghuang is Phoenix, this aptly named town is named one
of two of the most beautiful towns in all of China, and it’s well deserved.
The quaint ancient buildings are on stilts just above the Tuo Jiang River, and looks
like the setting of a period kung-fu movie.
With over 1,300 years of history, Fenghuang has more than just the river and houses to
offer.
Architectural beauties such as pagodas, temples, castles, and bridges are scattered throughout
this idyllic hamlet.
Some notable features are the Longevity Palace - a once lavish and ornately decorated aristocratic
home turned museum, - The Hong Bridge or Rainbow Bridge - a two-tiered foot bridge that crosses
the main river, - and even a section of the Southern Great Wall.
Don’t think that Fenghuang is only a day trip, the town lights up at night.
Literally.
The winding streets are illuminated by lanterns, the riverside lights up with festive lights,
and the native Miao people host bonfires where you can experience their traditions and culture
first hand.
5.
Gobi Desert
Far away from the lush green forests that make up the majority of China’s landscape,
lies the largest desert in Asia, the Gobi Desert.
It sits on the border of Mongolia and China and is outlined by numerous mountain ranges
on all sides.
The Gobi is described as a cold desert and is divided by five ecoregions, Eastern Gobi
desert steppe, Alashan Plateau semi-desert, Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe, Dzungarian
Basin semi-desert, and Tian Shan range.
Just because it’s a desert, doesn’t mean it’s nothing but sand.
There are actually more grasslands, where nomadic peoples raised various domesticated
animals, and rocky plains.
One of the few areas where sand exists is the home to the world’s tallest stationary
dunes, the Singing Dunes.
Scientists have a theory of how exactly the dunes make the low rumbling noise, but it
is still mysterious enough to draw tourists from around the globe to this one of a kind
area.
4.
Huanglong
Our next contender for the most beautiful place in China has been called a “Fairy
Land on Earth.”
Nestled in the Sichuan Province is a colorful collection of calcite deposits called the
Huanglong Gully.
Home to snow capped mountains, waterfalls and hot springs, these travertine pools have
known to be blue, green, yellow, and brown, depending on the time of year and mineral
deposits from the hot springs.
This “Golden Dragon” Valley covers an area of 700 kilometers squared (about 270
square miles), and is known to have a celebration every June.
The Huanglong Temple holds a festival between June 13 and 15th in honor of the valley’s
Yellow Dragon reaching his Buddhahood and therefore, immortality.
It is important to note that if you were to travel to this colorful cascade, be aware
of the altitude and weather.
3.
Yuanyang Rice Fields
One of the most beautiful man made structures of this amazing country, is the Yuanyang Rice
Fields.
Spanning over 113 square kilometers (nearly 28,000 acres), and 3,000 steps, this rice
field was hand created and cultivated by the Hani people, this multi layered field is a
sight to see.
There are three major observation platforms that are the best places to get photos, and
each has a different opportunity.
Duoyishu is said to be the best area to catch the sunrise.
It is most famous for the sea of clouds that settle onto the field early in the morning.
Laohuzui, or “Tiger Mouth,” is named after the tiger shape of the field.
This area is one of two to catch gorgeous sunset photos, and is said to be the most
colorful.
Bada is another sunset location, and said to mean “Hani is the nearest place to the
sky” translated from the local Hani dialect.
After seeing the picturesque stairs, consider visiting the local market, or, depending on
the time of year, take in a festival, or performance.
2.
Mount Lu
In the Jiangxi Province of Central China, lies the oval shaped mountains of Lushan or
Mount Lu.
Although these mountains are a significantly smaller area than some of our previous entries,
it is not without its own attractions and splendor.
This area of China is perfect for hikers who are looking for a more “wild” hiking path
as this range is not quite as built up as some other more popular attractions.
Near the northwestern foot of Mt. Lu is the Donglin Monastery.
This important piece of Buddhist history is the monastery built by Huiyuan, a famous monk,
who created the Pure Land or Lotus Sect of Buddhism, and is now practiced by 80% of Buddhist
disciples.
The Lushan Botanical Gardens is a plant lover’s dream, boasting tens of thousands of different
plant species.
Mount Lu is also the home to a world famous green tea, Lushan Cloud Mist Tea.
The lush green of the surrounding forest, the balmy respite in the hot Summer, and the
beautiful and heavenly mists that surround the peaks, make this mountain one of the most
beautiful places in all of China.
1.
Heaven Lake
Halfway up a mountain the Mongolians named “Celestial Mountain,” lies a natural alpine
lake called Heaven Lake.
This beautiful, crystal clear body of water is a crater lake and was once called Jade
Lake.
As famous in legend as it is today, the Heaven Lake is not just a summer vacation, but equally
fantastic in the winter.
The mountains are covered in now, the water freezes over, and the mountaineers have a
heyday.
Some say the best way to experience this idyllic scene is to stay overnight, and what better
way to do that than renting a yurt space from one of the indiginus Kazakh people?
It’s a fantastic way to sample some of their food and enjoy learning about their culture
as well.
With waterfalls, scenic hiking trails, and glass-like waters, it’s not a wonder that
Heaven Lake is one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.
Have you ever been to any of these places?
Maybe you have one that we should have listed.
Let us know in the comments below. :)