The most populous nation in the world, China's vast territory gathers within its borders various peoples and places - all with their own unique cultures, customs and ways of life. As such, its cities perfectly highlight this rich cultural diversity, and one could spend a lifetime exploring all the country has to offer. With beautiful temples, palaces and gardens in China's best cities, there are plenty of unique monuments to explore, and that's not even mentioning two of the biggest tourist attractions - the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army. This article presents the most beautiful cities in China and their attractions.
Chengde
This former summer home of the early Qing Dynasty emperors, with pagodas, palaces and lakes, is still a wonderful place to relax. Of particular interest is the amazing Eight Outer Temples complex, which is a must-see in Chengde. The mountain resort here is simply divine, with incredible architecture and manicured gardens that only add to the beauty of the overall scene.
A popular place to visit, Dali Town is a wonderful walking destination framed by the beautiful Cangshan Mountains. The main attractions here are the beautiful city gates, along with magnificent scenery and unspoiled nature. Many tourists go to the mountains to walk along their winding paths, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and fresh air. An excellent walk on a trail called "Road to the Clouds" takes you up to 2500 meters in altitude.
Situated on the old Silk Road, Kashgar is in the westernmost part of China. Visitors to this beautiful city must cross a vast desert to get here. Its remote location makes Kashgar an interesting place to visit. The city remains an important trading post to this day, offering an amazing mix of cultures and peoples who have moved here over the centuries. The old city, with its Uyghur architecture and lively bazaars, is especially easy to visit and offers a variety of different cuisines. The beautiful Muslim Id-Kah Mosque is a visible reminder of the past. Before you leave, be sure to visit the Sunday market - a huge number of people from all over Central Asia come here to trade. These days the city has a lively and noisy atmosphere.
With its relaxed atmosphere, clean streets and leafy avenues, Nanjing is one of China's most beautiful cities. Many visitors stop here on their way between Beijing and Shanghai. Located on famous river Yangtze Nanjing was once the capital of China and although it is often overlooked, there are many good places to visit. Great way see many of its attractions in one go - head to the Qin Huai River and sail past the mesmerizing Temple of Confucius and the huge Gate of China by boat. With many tombs and mausoleums in and around Nanjing, many visitors spend much of their time exploring these impressive sites. In addition, you can experience the charm of small towns in China in a separate selection.
Harbin
Known for its incredible Ice Festival, the city of Harbin is located in the far north of China and can get very cold here. Due to its proximity to Russia, it can be traced big influence Russia in terms of culture and architecture, and this makes Harbin a unique place to visit in China, where it especially stands out Saint Sophia Cathedral. Spread over two months from December to February, you'll definitely want to make your trip here during the Ice Festival as it's a spectacular extravaganza where everything is carved out of ice and beautifully lit up.
Suzhou
Suzhou is located in eastern China and its proximity to Shanghai makes it a popular day trip destination. This beautiful city in China is famous for its beautiful gardens and traditional buildings that surround the canals. Locals and foreigners flock to Suzhou as it is the most famous water city in China. It is pleasant to sail along its picturesque canals by boat, crossing small pedestrian bridges. Although it has undergone significant modernization in recent decades, the city has retained its historical charm. Formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Wu, Suzhou was one of the largest cities in the world. Since the Silk Road, the city has attracted merchants and artisans to its streets thanks to its legendary silk production and location on the Yangtze River Delta.
Located in the south of the country, the "City of Eternal Spring" is a great place to head out and explore the delights of the beautiful Yunnan province. In Kunming itself, the impressive Yuantong Temple dates back to the eighth century and is famous for its stone carvings. Tanghua Temple is becoming increasingly popular due to the beautiful scenery it offers.
A popular tourist destination, Hangzhou is known for its stunning natural beauty, with the idyllic West Lake and romantic Broken Bridge attracting crowds of tourists. A boat trip through its calm waters is a paradise where you can stop at different islands, each with their own individual characteristics. A number of temples and pagodas are scattered throughout the area, with shimmering water behind them. Many beautiful views await you, and Lingyin Temple is one of the most famous places in the country. The most beautiful cities in China pale in comparison to Hangzhou.
The otherworldly scenery that can be found in Guilin and its surrounding areas makes the city an impressive place to visit. A boat tour on the River Li is a magical experience with spectacular scenery on either side. Shrouded in mist, they look mysterious right in the heart of spectacular Yangshuo, where you will find caves and grottoes in the bush. Guilin is an incredibly beautiful city in China, and many visitors head to the Sun Pagoda for stunning views of the surrounding area.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou has been located on the Silk Road for over two thousand years, and boasts ancient historical sites due to the varied influence of traders on the city. The mix of architectural styles in China's third largest city can be seen everywhere. Guangzhou is a hectic and chaotic city, and its sheer size can be overwhelming. However, hidden among the endless concrete jungle are some of the country's oldest temples, such as the Liurong Temple, as well as the beautiful Huaisheng Mosque from 627 AD. With its mix of cultures, Guangzhou is a crazy but interesting place to experience cosmopolitan China. Taking a night boat ride past the glittering skyscrapers will be a lasting memory of your trip to China. This beautiful city also has something for gourmets.
Tibet's capital Lhasa is an exciting city to visit. It is located in a beautiful mountainous area in the Himalayas. The Potala Palace is the main attraction - the incredible building looks absolutely stunning. The Jokhang Palace is also memorable and is home to Tibet's most prized possession - an ancient and stunning Buddha statue. Lhasa is very different from the rest of China. Head here to experience the rich Tibetan culture.
With many historical sites throughout the city, it is not easy to see everything in one day in Xi'an. The Terracotta Warrior Army is China's most famous landmark after the Great Wall. In addition to this, you should also visit the ancient city walls of the city that protected Xi'an and allowed it to develop into a ruling seat of the Ming Dynasty. In fact, seventy-three emperors ruled from here for over a thousand years, and Xi'an was the capital of thirteen dynasties. What is certain is that Chinese civilization spread from this influential city, and although rampant modernization has changed the face of Xi'an, you can still find numerous sites that testify to its former glory.
As the largest city in China, Shanghai is a thriving place with many attractions and entertainment options. The skyscrapers rising along the banks of the Huangpu River make for an impressive sight, and somewhat surprisingly, there are many Art Deco buildings among them. Most tourists head straight to the Bund, which sits along the riverbank and has an eclectic mix of colonial-era buildings. Often referred to as the "museum of buildings", the Bund is a relic of the foreign imperial powers that once ruled the city. Due to rapid growth Shanghai for the last century, the city is an eclectic mix of different architectural styles and, as a commercial center, ideal for shopping. For a glimpse of old Shanghai, head to the Old City and the beautiful walls of Yuyuan Gardens.
This city of skyscrapers lies on Victoria Harbor, and the beautiful backdrop of forested mountains in the background only adds to the drama of the landscape. Nearby Victoria Peak is a great place to see sparkling Hong Kong in all its glory. Another fantastic way to see the panorama is from the water side, looking at the high-rise buildings stretching to the skies in front of you. Cosmopolitan Hong Kong is a mixture of cultures and peoples, and this is part of what makes it so attractive. Hong Kong's bustling markets are a shopper's paradise! The neighboring island of Lantau is perfect place for nature lovers looking to get out of the city.
Beijing
More than twenty million people live in the country's capital. Beijing is a bustling and sprawling city with many attractions for tourists to enjoy. As a first stop, many head to the vast Tiananmen Square, which borders the Forbidden City, which once housed the imperial court. With over a hundred museums throughout the city, as well as a number of palaces, temples and archaeological sites interspersed with modern buildings, Beijing certainly has a lot to see. Be sure to get out on the streets and try as much as you can tasty food! From Beijing it takes just under an hour's drive to visit some of the most beautiful parts of the Great Wall of China. The most beautiful cities in China are waiting for you - pack your bags and boldly go on a trip.
Suopo is located in Sichuan province, in the central part of the country, 1700 km southwest of the capital of China, Beijing. The population of this small town is 3,500 people, but it is a truly curious city; the main attraction of Suopo are the watchtowers, ranging from 12 to 60 meters in height, built mainly of brick, but there are also wooden ones. Suopo, this is a small Chinese Florence. Towers were the masterpiece of the ancient Jiarong Tibetans with a long and magnificent history.The oldest towers were built during the Tang Dynasty, and the last ones during the Qing Dynasty.At its peak, there were more than 3,000 towers in the area where the city is located, of which only 166 remain today, most of them rising in Suopo and the Tibetan villageZhonlu.
2. Heshun
Heshun City is a small town in western Yunnan province that is considered one of the most charming in China. And uhThis is not surprising, since the city of Heshun is located among hills covered with dense forest, and its name means peace and harmony.The city of Heshun is famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture, and its stone houses with tiled roofs look more like museums than houses.Between the closely standing houses there are narrow alleys in which it is so easy to get lost.
3. Guilin Valley
If you want to experience Dong culture, then Guilin Valley is a good place for this.There are eight villages in the valley, located about five hours' drive from Guilin.The villages are famous for their folk culture - the villagers hold a cultural exhibition twice a day, and their covered wooden bridge is one of the most famous in China.The villages are surrounded by rice fields.
Zhouzhuang is a popular tourist destination, uhIt is one of the most famous water towns in China, marked by a deep cultural past. Landmark Zhouzhuang has well-preserved ancient residential buildings among the river channels. It is called the “Venice of the East”. M The islands of Shide and Yongan are the most famous and are considered the symbol of Zhouzhuang. Built during the Wanli era (1573-1619) of the Ming Dynasty, they are located in the northeast of the city. In 1984, 38 paintings were exhibited at the Armand Hammer Gallery in New York. famous artist Chen Yifei - "Memory of the Hometown", which depicts the bridges of Zhouzhuang. One of the paintings was chosen for a United Nations postage stamp in 1985.
Even if you have visited almost all the old cities in China, you will still be amazed by the ancient city of Fenghuang in Hunan Province. Home to the Miao group of people famous for their embroidery and silver, this Qing Dynasty city is exceptionally picturesque. In this city you will understand what China was like before its economic breakthrough. A serene river runs through the city, thanks to which it is especially developed water transport, mainly consisting of small wooden boats. The cobblestone streets are narrow and worn. Some of the embankment houses are built on stilts. Fenghuang Ancient City appears simple yet elegant.
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Lijiang Old Town is one of the most famous ancient cities in China. It vividly displays charmdays gone by and China's past.The waterways that run through this city only add to the atmosphere. But you better hurry, before it is too late, as urbanization is sweeping across China by leaps and bounds and the first signs have already affected Lijiang.Due to construction in New Lijiang, the level groundwater falls, which affects the channels.
Xijiang is a village in eastern Guizhou, known as the largest Miao village in China. It is called "a thousand family villages" and has just over a thousand residential buildings, in which more than 5,000 people live, of which 99.5% are Miao people. These colorful people are known for their singing and dancing, intricate embroidery and houses built on wooden stilts. The village is located in a deep valley in a protected national park Leibangshan is surrounded by rice fields and wooded hills.
If you are staying in Shanghai, you simply must visit Tongli Water Town.Most tourists head to Suzhou, but experienced travelers take a tour of Tongli.There are so many beautiful gardens and temples in this sleepy city that you won't be able to see them all in one day, so plan to stay longer.Cruise through canals where even the water moves slowly, on wooden boat with a flat bottom, what could be better for understanding life in China.
9. Hemu
A trip to Hemu Village takes you into the Xinjiang province in western China to the Kanas Lake scenic area.National Geographic considers Hemu to be one of the most beautiful villages in China.This is a small village located in the middle of the forest, where people live in small log houses. Khemuand its surroundings are considered so picturesque that many travel companies book trips for photographers.There is an observation deck on a nearby hill where you can take great photos.
10. Jiayu
If you don't have time to travel to Tibet, you can still experience the culture by visiting an ancient Tibetan village in Zhejian Province. This city is also called"Tibetan fairyland", Jiayu is considered one of the most beautiful cities in China.Built on a wooded hill, it's hard to argue with this assessment, especially in the spring when the pear trees are in bloom.The houses have a unique shape, with crowns on several floors, toThe curtains are red and the outer walls are white.
China is an amazing country that combines modern skyscrapers and cozy old houses everywhere. No tourist guide will tell you how many cities in China are worth visiting, since in almost every city of this multifaceted country you can find unique monuments and attractions. But we won’t be able to describe all of them, so we will devote this article to some of the most beautiful and unusual cities in China.
The capital of China is one of the most orderly cities in the world. Everything here is subject to Feng Shui. Beijing is considered the most rectangular city on the planet. You can find a lot of historical and architectural attractions here. But the most popular of them are Gugong Palace (Forbidden City), Tanyanmen Square, Temple of Heaven (Tian Tian) and Yiheyuan (Summer Courtyard).
Liulichang Street, an antiques district in the very center of the city, is also a very beautiful place in Beijing. Walking along this street, you feel as if you are plunging into the history of China.
Shenzhen can be called a city of magnificent skyscrapers and beautiful theme parks. This is a young city in China, so there are no historical monuments here, but this does not detract from its beauty at all. Shenzhen is a very green city, but despite this, there are many electrical industry centers here. Because of this, many people call this city "China's Silicon Valley."
Arriving here, you should definitely visit the interesting “Window to the World” park. In it you can see small copies of the world's most famous landmarks.
When listing the most beautiful and largest cities in China, one cannot fail to mention Shanghai. A lot can be said about its magnificence, because it is not for nothing that this city is called the “Paris of the East” and the “Pearl of the East”.
Shanghai used to be a small fishing village, but now it is home to expensive hotels, brand stores and gourmet restaurants. The architecture of this city is an interesting mixture of European and Eastern traditions. Shanghai is a talented mix of different cultures.
Qingdao is a very picturesque and distinctive city in China. It consists of two parts. The western part of the city is an ancient area located on the seashore and attracting tourists with its green trees and white beaches. It is in this part of the city that its main attractions are located: the Lu Xun Park, the Maritime Museum and the Zhanshansi Temple.
The eastern part of Qingdao is a modern area with tall buildings and convenient transportation system. Here you can relax on the Fourth of May Square and on the Music Square.
These are not all the most beautiful cities in China, but they are definitely worth visiting for any traveler visiting this eastern country.
Lijang, Lidzian... whatever they call it. That's right - Lijiang. It is a city in the northwest of the Chinese province of Yunnan. Big City, more than a million inhabitants. In Chinese it is written like this, easy to remember: 丽江. In the first hieroglyph there are two columns and a roof on them, it was this one that was perfectly etched in my memory, I instantly highlighted the word “Lijiang” on all the road signs.
Lijiang is divided into two parts: Old city(included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997) and new. The modern quarters of the city are nothing special - an ordinary large Chinese city. At every step there are food shops and shops with various small things, markets with a large number of fresh vegetables and fruits, in the evenings on every corner something is fried, steamed, boiled, eaten, drunk. The avenues are wide, people look completely urban, and there are tons of fake cell phones covered in rhinestones for sale. In a word, nothing special.
Although no, one thing is still worth mentioning. At the local market you can try an unusual thing - fried bean jelly. It is gray or dirty yellow, it is cut into pieces, fried, then spices are added, soy sauce, leaves of some grass and eat. Tasty! Even in Lijiang (in the old city) something like fried puff pancakes is common, called baba, the guidebook writes that this is a local dish, but for some reason I didn’t see it at the market.
New city at sunset. In the mornings and evenings (and, if you're lucky, even during the day), Yulong Xueshan, the jade dragon mountain, can be seen. I suspect it’s cool at the top, after all, 5596 meters. It’s good that I looked at her from below and from afar, and not as usually happens to us
However, the new neighborhoods are not worth going to Lijiang for. Here's the old town (that's what they say on the signs - old town) - it's something. It is quite small in size, but you can walk there for more than one day. Firstly, in alleys and streets (or better yet, labyrinths) you will most likely get lost, and it will take time to get out. Secondly, it is very beautiful, colorful and interesting. Thirdly, there are countless shops, shops and stalls, which are not so easy to pass by, even if you are firmly convinced that you are not going to buy anything.
The houses in the old town are charming. Lijiang is the most beautiful city I have seen in China. By the way, due to the fact that it is included in the UNESCO list, they charge money for entry, 80 yuan. There is no need to pay them. There are notices all over the city that all tourists must pay 80 yuan to preserve China's cultural heritage, but most do not pay. There’s just a catch: some places that require a ticket to enter will not be allowed in without an additional ticket to pay the 80 yuan. However, personally we could easily do without such places 
Lonely Planet writes that Lijiang and Dali (I’ll write about it when I get around to it, it’s also very cool there) are terribly touristic places, disgustingly so. There are really a lot of people, especially in the evening, but despite this, the old town of Lijiang is very pleasant. Especially if you come early in the morning, around 7 or 8, when the shops haven’t even opened yet. But it’s not so easy to force yourself to get up so early 
Paved streets. And along the cafes and shops there are pots of flowers. 
Everything is decorated with red paper lanterns, they are common in China and are now used more to attract attention than a symbol of anything. 
It is difficult to navigate the old city, we first used GPS. As one of the landmarks, you can take the river and the canal system, which, meandering, pass through almost the entire old city. Moreover, usually in cities, water canals are used for washing or for quickly transporting slops to the nearest river. But in Lijiang, local residents are prohibited from polluting the water, so it is very clean, and there are even fish living in it (they mostly hang out next to cafes, from where bread and leftover half-eaten noodles are periodically thrown to them) 
The whole “old town” consists of cute details 
And such, for example 
In the most touristy part there are some wooden figurines hanging, and everyone takes pictures with them. It's funny to watch from the outside 
Locals in Lijiang seem to be tired of being photographed all the time, so they are not enthusiastic about it. But sometimes you can click quietly, as long as no one sees. Here is a young mother wearing the popular Mao cap. Just look how bright everything is around! 
The houses themselves, in my opinion, are succinctly stylish: they combine white - gray - black - red (well, and wood), nothing superfluous 
Each house has its own courtyard, the houses are mostly two-story, the structure is like in this photo. By the way, this is a guesthouse (with an unknown name, we don’t read Chinese) where we lived. The situation with housing is this: within the old city, prices start from about 50 yuan per room (you have to look for it), but usually not less than 60-70. The main thing is not to settle right on the main streets, it’s expensive there, it’s better to move towards the hill. We lived just outside the old city, for 45 yuan for two, in a giant room with three beds and a hot shower. Open Wi-Fi networks were not caught, but the hosts of the guest house had their own private Wi-Fi, we asked for the password and they told us it 
There are a lot of dogs in Lijiang, and there are even such unusual breeds for China (at least for the places we visited) as huskies. But when I see the huskies, I lose control of myself and can’t take a picture of anything, so here’s another dog 
Lions guard the Lijiang river 
Charming city, really 
There are cafes at every turn, but there are also street tables selling all sorts of goodies. There are always a lot of people milling around there 
Sweet steamed rice cakes 
A salesman in a tea shop is resting. By the way, an incredible amount of pu-erh tea (post-fermented tea) is sold in Lijiang, and no wonder, because it is made in Yunnan. By the way, there is such a city in Yunnan - Puer, it’s a pity that we weren’t there 
There's no escape from Jade Dragon Mountain 
Lijiang boasts that it is the center of the Naxi people, who are the living embodiment of the idea of matriarchy. Nasi do not marry - they remain in marriage for the rest of their lives. parental home. When a girl turns 13, she gets a separate room and can invite gentlemen. A man comes to her at night, and leaves in the morning (returns to his home), and so on all his life, and they do not marry each other and can choose other lovers, easily resigning their current passions. Now these traditions are dying out (if they have not completely disappeared). In the photo - Naxi women in partial national costumes(many people wear them, I don’t know whether with the support of the administration or of their own free will). Sweatshirts and caps, of course, are not original, but blue aprons and special capes on the back, tied in front with white ribbons, are quite 
Grandpa was very interested in me, willingly posed, and then, smiling, looked at the photographs 
There are a lot of such alleys in Lijiang 
I really love tiled roofs 
Market in the south of the old city 
At night the old town is beautifully illuminated 
In this place there is an exit from the old town to the new city, this is where there are always the most people 
Naxi have (it would be more accurate to say “had”) their own language - Dongba. For recording, they use pictograms like in the picture, in Lijiang there are many inscriptions in this language, but all this is to attract tourists 
We must pay tribute to the Chinese - in those areas where ethnic groups with pronounced architectural originality live (for example, in the Tibetan and Nasish regions), new apartment buildings partially convey the stylistic features of traditional homes. In Lijiang, the emphasis is on roofs and the combination of white, gray and black colors, and these buildings look much better than ordinary ones 
Old and new combine, in my opinion, quite organically 
Here it is, the old city in all its glory 
In a word, if you are in China, don’t pass it by!
The ancient town of Fenghuang is located in the southwestern corner of the Chinese province of Hunan, at the foot of a mountain on the banks of the Totjiang River. The town is surprisingly well preserved, it has not been touched by modernization; many ethnic languages, customs, and types of art can be found here.
Also in the town you can see ancient buildings in the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient town has retained its layout and pristine appearance times of the Ming Empire of the 14th century and the Qing Empire of the 17th century. In the old quarter, more than 200 ancient residential buildings, about 20 large and small streets, 10 ancient parks and alleys, as well as the walls of the ancient city, gates with towers, wells, bridges, temples and etc. And all this is almost in its original form.
1. The town of Fenghuang is located in what was once a wild border region. Weiyang County was founded in the second year of Chuigong, during the reign of Empress Wu (686 AD). 
2. In the third year of the Jiatai period of the Song Empire, a clay town was founded here. 
3. After 450 years, it was replaced by a brick city, and ancient Fenghuang began to take shape. 
4. In 1715, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, all the stone buildings in the city were completed. 
5. Fenghuang is located in a remote mountainous region. 
6. The red stone city walls run along an undulating mountain landscape, through rocky outcroppings and valleys, while rivers meander along mountain corridors before flowing through the city. 
7. The majestic and tall city towers stand opposite the four gates, and palace-like halls and residences, exquisite courtyards and houses of different national styles are evenly distributed on both sides of the streets. 
8. Dozens of stone-paved alleys between houses demonstrate the continuity of many generations of people living here, who go about their business along them every day. 
9. Along the river, directly opposite the scenic Nanhua Mountains stand wooden houses on stilts. 
10. Due to its unique geographical location, Fenghuang has never suffered from wars or natural disasters. 
11. There have been many wars in the region, from the Miao uprising in 1795 to the Getong Rebellion in 1937, but none of them affected the town. 
12. Even during the war against Japanese occupation, Fenghuang Town was not damaged by Japanese invasions or bombing. 
13. In 1949, Fenghuang was peacefully liberated from occupation. 
14. Over the next 50 years, the economic crisis that struck other counties also spared this sleepy ancient town. 
15. Local people value their heritage and cultural treasures. 
16. This is why local authorities carefully monitor all construction projects. 
17. Thus, the original beauty and traditions of the ancient city remain intact. 
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