Attractive places in China

The great wall of China

For any average traveler who visits China for the first time, the Great Wall is always an indispensable fixture on the itinerary. Without it, a trip to China would be incomplete. The reason is simple: it is one of China’s most important cultural and historical symbols. It is also one of the best known ancient constructions in the world. The massive project stretches from Shanghaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west, a distance of over 6,300 kilometers, covering eight provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

The Great Wall was first built as a defense line against nomadic incursions. Its military and strategic importance was unmatched by any other projects in ancient China. The construction of the wall began around the 7th-4th century BC during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). At that time, feudal states built walls for self-defense against the invasion of nomadic tribes. In 221 BC, after unifying China, Qinshihuang, the first emperor of China, had the walls linked up, reinforced and extended to form the Great Wall. During succeeding dynasties in later years, renovations were made in line with local geographic conditions, creating many enchanting sights. It was listed by UNESCO as its World Heritage in 1987.

Shanhai Pass, east end of the Great Wall

Jiayu Pass, west end of the Great Wall


Shanghai Meuseum




Shanghai Museum was founded in 1952 and moved to its current modern building in 1994. It is a museum of ancient Chinese art, with a collection of 120,000 precious artworks of 21 categories. Its rich and high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy is specially celebrated in the world.

• Shanghai Museum includes the following galleries and exhibition halls:

• Ancient Chinese Bronze Gallery (Woo Po-Shing Gallery of Chinese Bronze)

• Ancient Chinese Sculpture Gallery (K.L. Watt Gallery of Chinese Sculpture)

• Ancient Chinese Ceramics Gallery (T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Ceramics)

• Chinese Painting Gallery (R.R. Shaw Gallery of Chinese Painting)

• Chinese Calligraphy Gallery (D.C.W. Teh, C.Y. Chu, R.S.Q. Ku, C.L. Luk and M.C. Tung Gallery of Chinese Calligraphy)

• Chinese Seal Gallery (Lincoln and Lillian Chin Gallery of Chinese Seals)

• Chinese Ming and Qing Furniture Gallery (Chuang Tzeyuen & Chuang Tzekong Gallery of Ming and Qing Furniture)

• Chinese Minority Nationalities' Art Gallery (The Kadoorie Gallery of Chinese Minority Nationalities' Art)

• Chinese Coin Gallery (C.V. Starr Gallery of Chinese Coins)

• Ancient Chinese Jade Gallery (Joseph E. Hotung Gallery of Chinese Jades)

• Zande Lou Ceramics Gallery

• No. 1 Exhibition Hall (S.C. Ko Exhibition Hall)

• No. 2 Exhibition Hall (Dr. K.K. Leung Exhibition Hall)

Li River

A well-known part of the Guilin River, it flows from the Piled Festoon Hill to "Bilian Peak" in Yangshou, covering a distance of 83 kilometres. This green ribbon-like river runs zigzag through a multitude of hills against a backdrop of steep peaks, luxuriant flowers and green hills along the shores are mirrored in the blue water, giving the visitor a poetic inspiration. In drizzly days, the peaks embraced by clouds and mists and river.

Blanketed over by light fog make people feel like in a fairyland. Sailing from Yangdi downstream to the south, one will soon see a hill with nine peaks and steep precipices by the riverside. This is the "None Horse" Hill. Viewed from afar, it looks like a colourful mural, examined at a close distance; it presents a vivid image of nine horses in different postures: standing, drinking, neighing and galloping….In misty or rainy days, the image of the horses are even more vividly outlined as if they were galloping through a curtain of clouds and mists. As the old saying goes, "Since an ancient time a mountain is as beautiful as painting; at present day, a painting is just as pretty as a mountain". If one really wants to count the number of horses a folk ballad gives a hint:" a man who can find seven horses will come second in the highest imperial examination; a man who can see all nine horses well come first in the highest imperial examination."

Further trip downstream after a right turn well soon bring one to see swift currents and clusters of strange rock. Looking through the crystal-clear water, one will soon find a yellow stone plate at the bottom, like a piece of yellow cloth, hence the name "Yellow Cloth Shoal". Then, one will see along the shores seven peaks in various shapes like seven gentle and sweet young girls standing gracefully. The mirror-like river gives a clear reflection of the beautiful scenery. "I see the green peaks clearly mirrored in the river, yet, my boat sails through as if just over the peaks". The Famous "Reflection of the Yellow Cloth Shoal" is here. Further downstream, one will see "Xingping Scenery", Yangshou Landscape", etc. After making a sightseeing trip on the Lijiang River, a head of a foreign said: "I have been to many famous foreign cities; none of them is as beautiful as Guilin." Tourists say: "A visit to Guilin is incomplete without a trip on the Lijiang River".

Heavenly Lake




The Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake) is situated to the east of the Tianshan Mountain range, north of Bogda Peak, 97 km south of Urumqi.

Known as Yaochi in ancient times, the lake surface elevates 1,910 meters above sea level, with an average depth of 60 meters. Surrounding the Heavenly Lake are snow mountains, glacier forests and grassland alpine lakes, featuring a vertical natural landscape belt.

The snow line of Mt. Bogda is 3,860 meters above sea level, making it rich in glacier resource. Numerous super-glacial rivers formed by the melting snow and ice, ice bridges, ice mushrooms and ice fountains can be seen on the glaciers.

There are many super-glacial lakes and moraine lakes scattered in front of the glaciers. The vast expanse of mountain land and forests at the foot of Mount Bogada are also rich in plant and animal resources.