Holidays in China are becoming increasingly popular: Turkey, Egypt and other favourite destinations for Russians are becoming more expensive, and it is not so easy to get to Europe now. So China has taken a well-deserved place in the top ten most popular countries for tourists.
Having visited China at least once, you can fall in love with it forever, despite the difference in cultures. However, in recent years, more and more Russians are beginning to learn Chinese, work in the Celestial Empire and actively visit vacation spots. Now China is not only tourism, but also business, study and much more.
I’ll show you where it’s best to go in China to immerse yourself in the intricacies of the Celestial Empire.
Lantau, Hong Kong
A large island famous for its nature, virtually untouched by man.
Lantau has many temples and monasteries, and because of this it is sometimes called the island of prayer.
In addition, the island is home to the beautiful Chek Lap Kok Airport, which has won the title of the best in the world for many years in a row. And here is also the smallest Disneyland of the five existing on the planet.
Lantau is rich in beaches and hotels: from the most budget to premium class. This is a great place to go on holiday surrounded by nature, without depriving yourself of amenities. However, a holiday here cannot be called budget: due to its great popularity among tourists, prices are frankly inflated.
From Hong Kong to Lantau it is easy to get by bus or taxi. By the way, you can sail there by boat – it takes longer, but is much more interesting.
Macau
A specific administrative region of the Celestial Empire, where the Portuguese colony used to be. Now it is the most densely populated region in the world, which is called the Chinese Las Vegas. Macau is located on the shores of the South China Sea, in the Pearl River Delta, almost 60 km from Hong Kong. Here, Portuguese exoticism has mixed with Asian, creating a very bizarre architecture and customs.
Macau is home to a ton of gambling establishments. Avid gamblers from different continents come here trying to get into one of the largest casinos in the world, Venice.
I’ll say it right away: the beaches here are worse than in Lantau – not as clean, although picturesque. But there is a plus: lifeguards work on all of them.
I recommend visiting the 338-meter-high Macau Tower and having a snack in a restaurant with a view of the city. You can go down by cable car or use a sky jump – a special system on belts.
It is interesting that prices in Macau are much lower than in Hong Kong, especially for antiques and souvenirs.
Guangzhou
You don’t have to go to Japan to see cherry blossoms. A sea of soft pink flowers awaits you at Pingba Farm in Guangzhou Province, home to the largest cherry blossom garden in the world. From March to early April, over 500,000 blossoming trees transform the area into a fairytale place.
In addition to sakura, the garden also grows peaches, magnolias and lilacs, which also bloom and smell fragrant.
The area also often hosts concerts or celebrates national holidays. The easiest way to get to Pingba is from the city of Guiyang, which can be reached by plane.
Zhangjiajie Park in Hunan
A stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site with otherworldly landscapes. Incidentally, the movie Avatar was filmed here, specifically the scenes where the main characters flew on birds of prey among the rocks.
The average height of these rock pillars is about 800 m, although there are some that reach three kilometers.
The natural park is located 32 km from the city of the same name in Hunan Province. Initially, Zhangjiajie was created as a reserve for the preservation and protection of animals and plants. But soon it became one of the three most popular tourist destinations in China.
The park has many hiking trails for every taste and level of training, there are observation platforms with glass floors, a cable car. If you are lucky enough to get to the park during fog, you will see a fantastic sight: how cliffs with green caps rush upward from the whitish haze.
It is unrealistic to see the whole park in one day, I advise you to stay here for at least a couple of days. You can stay in the village of the same name, where there are many hotels with good conditions and food.
A ticket to the park costs about 245 yuan for two days – about 3,000 rubles. It is easy to get here from anywhere in China: there is an airport in the city of Zhangjiajie, and buses regularly depart from the railway stations of nearby towns.
Dunhuang
An oasis city that used to be a gateway to the Celestial Empire on the Great Silk Road. Beyond its green fields lie desert and barren lands where it is difficult to find any vegetation. In addition to the natural contrast, the city is interesting for its historical and cultural attractions.
The city is home to the Mogao Caves, famous for their magnificent frescoes and religious manuscripts, where thousands of years of Chinese history are carefully preserved.
The niches and inner halls were carved out of the rock in the 6th–14th centuries. The monks lived in them themselves or used them as warehouses. Many of the rooms have collapsed due to rock erosion, but many have survived: 492 large halls that serve as rock temples. Their walls are covered with paintings, many contain clay sculptures — 2,400 in total, they mostly depict bodhisattvas and, of course, Buddha himself.
I also recommend going out of town: in the south there are sand dunes that are over 200 meters high. Climbing them is not easy: with each step you slide down a little. A popular pastime here is sledding down the sandy slopes. If you are not in the mood for activity, you can just sit and listen to nature: in a strong wind the dunes seem to start singing.
Dunhuang also has a charming night market where you can try local delicacies and buy unique souvenirs.
Lake Qinghai (Kukunor)
The largest lake in the country. The water in it is salty, which is why it is sometimes called a sea.
There are many fish in Qinghai, especially carp, which is called “Huang fish” and is highly valued. In the middle of the lake there are several islands where migratory birds live, their number sometimes reaching tens of thousands. You can watch the birds on special viewing platforms.
Near the lake there is the Gontsa Monastery, which houses the only school on the planet for studying the originals of the canonical texts of Buddha. It is open to visitors: tourists can look into the sacred books, examine the mandalas drawn on the walls and ceilings, and also see images of the Guardians and Protectors of the teaching.
On all sides, Kokunor is surrounded by mountains, rivers and fields to the horizon. The place is very quiet, calm and isolated from the city noise – perfect for recharging and relaxing in the fresh air.
The lake is located 150 kilometers from the city of Xining, where the nearest airport is located.
Wuzhizhou – Pirate Island
Wuzhizhou in Hainan Province is the best option for diving in China. It is also great for a beach holiday, locals even compare it to the Maldives.
The island itself is small – only 1.5 km². This modest territory is home to over 2,000 different species of plants, including the famous dragon trees, whose resin is the color of blood and is highly valued in Chinese medicine.
Vacationers can enjoy villas, cottages, bars and restaurants, as well as tennis courts, parks and much more. You can rent bungalows that are in no way inferior in terms of “stuffing” to four-star hotels: they have Internet, air conditioning and other benefits of civilization.
Wuzhizhou is very popular among divers. But if you want to see the underwater world, but you are not ready to dive, you can dive in a bathyscaphe. The excursion lasts only half an hour, but this is enough to see the underwater inhabitants and the picturesque bottom.
There is another way to admire the sea creatures – a walk in special helmets with a tube through which air is supplied. All those who wish will have to walk along an equipped underwater path with handrails. No special training or equipment is needed – a regular swimsuit and comfortable shoes, such as rubber slippers, will suffice.
In addition to diving, they offer fishing, water skiing, sailing and sand games: volleyball, football and others. You can ride a canoe or a boat with a transparent bottom – since the water here is very clean, this service is popular.
On land, it is worth visiting the ancient temple in honor of the goddess Mazu, the protector of sailors. Every year on the third lunar day of April or May, her birthday is celebrated here with great fanfare.
Boats regularly go from Hainan Marine Station to Pirate Island. When planning a trip here, check the weather: in a storm, the road to this paradise will be closed.
Weihai
This cozy and quiet city is a recognized tourist center with beautiful nature and a lot of entertainment for every taste.
There is a wonderful beach here, three kilometers long, very clean, equipped with everything necessary for a quality holiday.
To immerse yourself in the country’s culture, visit the Shengshuiguan Temple. It stands at the foot of Mount Wecde on a natural spring that locals believe has healing properties. A school of Taoism opened here 8 centuries ago. Bamboo groves grow around the temple. You can admire the surroundings from the cable car; the views of the city are simply magnificent.
Weihai is unique in terms of architecture: thanks to historical contacts with other countries, buildings of different styles appeared here – in addition to traditional Chinese, also Japanese, Korean and English. It would seem that the city should become similar to something incomprehensible, but in fact everything looks very harmonious.
Weihai also has a safari park, a Buddhist temple complex called Chishan with singing fountains, and many other interesting places. By the way, Chishan is home to an 86-meter Buddha statue, which can often be seen on local postcards.
Many tourists note the special friendliness of the locals. Apparently, because the Weihai people lead a measured way of life and are not averse to giving tourists some advice.
Beijing
The capital of China directly reflects the rapid development of the country: modern infrastructure, incredibly convenient metro, beautiful palaces, huge squares and many more interesting things.
Beijing is huge. The city is home to over 20 million people, and the streets are noisy and crowded. The Chinese don’t know English well – it’s best to find out in advance where you need to go in the city, so you don’t get lost and don’t have to look for someone who can tell you the way. The subway is the main form of transport here, used by most locals. The Beijing subway is one of the largest in the world.
The fare is about 40 rubles, cheaper than in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Children whose height is less than 130 cm use the metro for free. Interesting fact: almost all of China has a restriction on the child’s height, not on his age.
What to see in Beijing?
The Forbidden City is the largest palace complex on the planet and is extremely well preserved. This UNESCO site was built in the 15th century in classical Chinese style and served as both the residence of the ruling dynasty and a political and ceremonial center.
There are 980 buildings in the city. Many say that there are 9999 rooms in the palace, but this is not true: there are 8707. However, this inaccuracy can be forgiven: the fact is that the number 9 signifies the connection between heaven and earth, which the emperor liked very much. By the way, there are also 9 times 9 rivets on the gates – and on each leaf.
The city consists of an outer and an inner part. The front courtyard was used for ceremonies and receptions, while the back courtyard was used as a residence for the emperor and his family.
The walls of the Forbidden City are surrounded by a moat that is over 50 meters wide. The palace has four entrances, each with its own bridge. Photo: Unsplash
There are several more palaces on the territory, an imperial garden, and also an “inner river”, which can be crossed by one of five marble bridges.
The Great Wall of China is a famous historical and architectural monument. Construction began in the 3rd century BC. It stretches 2,500 km straight, and if you count all the extensions and branches, then it stretches 8,851 km.
In fact, the section of the wall that thousands of tourists come to see is called “Badaling”, it was built in the early 16th century. It was carefully maintained during the Qing Dynasty, while the rest of the wall was falling into disrepair and ruin. Restoration began in the 20th century, and in the 1950s “Badaling” was opened to tourists. You can get here from Beijing by electric train or buses, which run regularly.
Great Wall of China
Beijing Disneyland is a great place for children and adults to relax. The real name of the park is “Happy Valley”. Every day there are costumed performances and shows with Chinese cartoon characters. Even if you don’t know all the characters, the spectacle will still delight you.
Ideally, you should visit the Valley of Happiness in the morning to see everything. And even better – in the morning on a weekday, because on weekends there are huge queues. Photo: Unsplash
The park has different locations: ancient, Mayan, Roman and others. Each is decorated in its own style. There are an indecently large number of attractions here – to go around them all, even a whole day may not be enough.
The metro goes right to the park, you can also get there by bus or taxi.
In addition to the above, Beijing has dozens of interesting places for tourists: the Temple of Heaven, the planetarium, the zoo, the water park, the ancient Beijing observatory and many others that can be talked about endlessly. I think that to see only the capital without visiting other regions of China, you will need at least a month. In my opinion, China is a very interesting country, and in any corner of it you will find something new. The Celestial Empire treats tourists with respect and friendliness, which inspires confidence and literally conquers the heart.
What you need to know
China is located in three climate zones at once, I advise you to find out the weather forecast in the cities you are interested in in advance to avoid surprises.
Learn the peculiarities of Chinese etiquette. This is not so much to avoid offending locals, but to better understand their behavior. For example, the Chinese are very friendly to tourists, some will even want to take a photo with you – this is normal.
The South China Sea is great for diving. The seabed is very beautiful, and you don’t have to swim far to admire the underwater scenery.
Take the necessary medications with you. Yes, there are pharmacies in China, but most often the pharmacists do not even know English, and it is very difficult to explain in Chinese what hurts you.
Don’t be surprised if you see locals wrapped from head to toe in scarves and covered with umbrellas – the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire do not like to sunbathe and protect their light skin tone.
If you don’t eat spicy food, be sure to mention it when ordering: the Chinese add a generous portion of chili or other hot spices almost everywhere. And one more thing: if there is an aquarium with sea creatures in the restaurant, it is a sign that the dishes are fresh.
