THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN CHINA
Preparing a Chinese journey itinerary isn’t simple: the combination of awesome natural places and those with ancestral culture, leaves all visitors with their mouth open. Making a choice between things to see and those not to is a truly difficult task, and naturally very dependant on time, purpose of the trip (work or leisure?), tastes and interests, but if you are considering a holiday of ten/fifteen days, there are some spots you absolutely must visit at least once in your life.
YUYUAN GARDEN
Situated in the Huangpu district of Shanghai, the Yuyuan Garden is a blend of architecture and botanics. Inside, there are buildings and bridges in the classic Chinese style, framed by dense and lush vegetation. Due to its evocative and detailed atmosphere, exhibitions of floriculture, paintings, and calligraphy are often held within.
LONGJI RICE TERRACES
The Longji rice terraces, situated in Contea Longsheng, are another key destination for those love nature and the landscape. Located at an altitude of 300-1,100m, they unravel along a steep route that reaches a gradient of 50°.
CHENGDU
The Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is situated inside the City of Chengdu. Equipped with everything necessary for breeding pandas, the base aims to recreate the panda’s natural habitat as realistically as possible, training them to live in the wild and then releasing them to continue and preserve this exceptionally charming and interesting species.
LESHAN BUDDHA
To the east of the city of Leshan, in the province of Sichuan, where three rivers, Min, Qingi e Dadu, meet, rises the monumental Buddha statue. With its 71m height, it is the biggest carved stone Buddha in the world, making it the most celebrated point of interest in the city, such that in December 1996, it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
DONGCHUANG
In the marvelous Yunnan region, the striking terraced fields of Dongchuang can be found, characterised by a reddy-brown colour due to the high concentration of iron and copper which, exposed to the warm and humid environment, oxidises and dyes the ground, giving it its unusual colour.
YALONG BAY
An enormous tropical beach in a half-moon shape that extends for 7.5km, in the extreme south of the island. A true tropical paradise where you can relax, pursue all water sports, or go diving.
LONGMEN GROTTOES
The Yungang Grottoes, that can be found 12 kilometres south of today’s Luoyang, are an architectural complex with 252 caves and 51,000 Buddhist statues. Considered the classical masterpieces of Chinese Buddhist art from the 5th to the 6th century, they extend for 1km. The statues are precious and vivid, chiselled by exquisite inlays and rich in sculptural details.They represent the development of art, architecture, music, and religion, at the time of their construction.
XITANG WATER VILLAGE
The ancient village of Xitang is known for being the only water city in China, with a very particular architectural and morphological structure. Known as the “Venice of China” for its numerous bridges, alleys, and “Langpeng” (covered paths along the banks), it offers its visitors an absolutely unique atmosphere: the village is very calm, but for those who love photography, it is the ideal place to capture glimpses of magnificent scenery.
