Shaanxi: Xi’an City Wall
In addition to the world-renowned Great Wall, the city wall belonging to Xi’an, first constructed more than 2,000 years ago, also represents the power and wisdom of the Middle Kingdom in its ancient heyday.
What exists of the wall today are remains from 1370, when during the Ming Dynasty the fortification was 13.7 kilometers long, 12 meters high and between 15 to 18 meters wide. It now surrounds downtown Xi’an. Spend three or four hours biking along the wall and you’ll get great views of China’s old capital city.
Climb up the city wall from Yongning Gateon Nan Jie in Xi’an’s Xincheng District.
Shandong: Trestle Bridge, Qingdao
As old as the city of Qingdao, the Trestle Bridge has sat astride the Yellow Sea since 1892. First built for the reception of Li Hongzhang , a prominent statesman during the Qing Dynasty, Trestle Bridge has since become a symbol of the city.
Walking the 440-meter-long bridge is a great way to enjoy breezes coming off the sea. At one end is Huilange Pagoda, a classic beauty that hosts historic and cultural exhibits throughout the year.
Shanxi: Hukou Waterfall
According to some, the most magnificent waterfall in the country. As the largest waterfall on the Yellow River, and second largest in China, Hukou Waterfall is known around the country for once gracing the RMB 50 note.
At 20 meters high and 30 meters wide, the fall is located on the border of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. The May to October flood season is the best time to visit, when water flow and velocity increase, sometime swelling the fall into a 50-meter-wide spectacular scene.
The nearest traffic hub to Hukou Waterfall is Yuncheng Airport. It’s about 82 kilometers away. Major cities connected to Yuncheng Airport by direct flights include Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Shanxi: Yungang Grottoes
This 1,500-year-old site is an important Buddhist landmark. It houses 252 caves and more than 51,000 Buddha statues, most carved between the fifth and sixth century during the North Wei Dynasty. The sandstone statues – the tallest stands 17 meters, the tiniest two centimeters – combine multiple styles of Buddhist art, including Chinese, Gandhara and Persian. Grottoes 16 through 20 are the five best preserved caves. They shelter five Buddhas modeled after five Wei emperors.
Yungang Grottoes are 18 kilometers west of Datong city. Direct flights are available between Datong and Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Sichuan: Hailuogou Glacier National Park
Legend holds that only the lucky will be treated to this view. Also known as “Conch Gully,” Hailuogou park sits at the eastern foot of Gonggar Mountain in southwest China’s Sichuan province.
According to legend, the gully was a wasteland until a renowned Tibetan monk played his treasured conch there and attracted many animals, who became so enchanted with the place that they took up residence. To memorialize the monk and his conch, the gully ever after became known as Conch Gully.
The magnificent glacier, which drives through woodlands, cliffs, peaks and gullies, is accessible all year round. It appears at its best in early morning sunshine. More than 10 hot springs are spread beneath the glacier. Two are open to the public, including one at an elevation of 2,600 meters.
The nearest traffic hub to Hailuogou Glacier National Park is Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province. It’s about 300 kilometers away.Major cities connected to Chengdu Airport by direct flights include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Xi’an.
Sichuan: Jiuzhaigou
This massive lake is the crown jewel of Jiuzhaigou, a region full of stunning alpine lakes and waterfalls.
The lake is filled with incredible water that changes color throughout the day and year. The color comes from the reflection of the surrounding landscape, as well as algae and calcified rocks at the bottom of the shallow lake. Autumn is the best time to visit, when the lake surface appears as a multihued painter’s palette.
Direct flights are available between Jiuzhaigou’s Jiuhuang Airport and major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu. The nearest traffic hub to Jiuzhaigou is Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, which is one hour by air or 11 hours by bus south of the lake.
Tibet: Potala Palace
This nine-story attraction stands 3,700 meters above sea level, making it the highest palace on the planet. The Potala Palace’s current incarnation is a state museum. More than 1,000 rooms remain, as well as the original layout of the White Palace and the Red Palace.
All visitors to the palace are restricted to a one-hour stay.
Potala Palace issues a limited number of tickets every day. To secure a ticket during peak season (May 1-October 31), independent travelers are advised to pick up a ticket coupon outside the palace a day before their visit.
Xinjiang: Lake Karakul
This stunning view is the reward after a thrilling ride over one of the world’s most dangerous roads, Karakoram Highway. The many “landslide site” signposts along the way haven’t stopped devoted travelers, who mostly set out from Kashgar (喀什), the westernmost city in China. Standing 3,600 meters above sea level on the Pamir Plateau, the glacier lake’s water reflects the surrounding mountains like a huge mirror. Best time to go is May to October.
No public transportation is available between Kashgar and Karakul, but plenty of tour companies and hotels in Kashgar organize small groups and customized trips to the area. The lake is about four hours from Kashgar by road.
