Millions of tourists visit Hangzhou each year, mainly attracted by the famous West Lake (Xi Hu) area.
As the old Chinese saying goes: "Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou." Millions of tourists visit Hangzhou each year, mainly attracted by the famous West Lake (Xi Hu) area.
Founded 2,200 years ago, Hangzhou is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. The city began to prosper and flourish in the Tang Dynasty, and had its political heyday in the Southern Song Dynasty when it was China's capital.
There are many famous historical and cultural sites around West Lake, including Solitary Hill, Six Harmonies Pagoda and Lin Yin Temple. Hangzhou is also well known for its silk and tea. Additionally a trip to the city can be easily combined with a visit to a tea plantation in the hills near the West Lake.
Beijing-北京
Beijing is the capital and also the political, religious, cultural and educational center of China.
Beijing is the capital and also the political, religious, cultural and educational center of China. As a modern city with a long history, Beijing is an ideal city for people who want to know about the country's history, learn about traditional culture and discover the modern side of China.
The best time to travel to Beijing is between May and October as the weather is best.
In addition to the world-famous Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square, Beijing hosts many more scenic spots that are worth seeing during your visit. The Forbidden City, called the Palace Museum, is a must-see for any tourist and is one of the most comprehensive Chinese museums, offering a visual feast of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese art, specializing in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Summer Palace provides a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures. Fragrant Hills Park comprises of a natural pine-cypress forest, hills with maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees, offering spectacular natural beauty.
For people who want to experience the rapid growth of modern China, Beijing's Central Business District (CBD), and Beijing's Financial Street will give you a full experience. The Beijing CBD has attracted 117 Fortune 500 businesses in the financial, media, information technology, consulting and service industries, which has become the landmark of Beijing's economic prowess.
If you want to experience the traditional culture of Beijing, it is suggested that you visit an old alley (Hutong) in downtown Beijing, which is one of the most distinctive features of Beijing.
Beijing is also world-famous for its food. The capital's cuisine plays host to a long list of local favorites including filled sausage, fried liver, mungbean milk, rolling donkey, pancake and quickly-boiled tripe. Of all the dishes found in Beijing, Peking roast duck is the most well-known. Now considered to be one of China's National Foods, Peking roast duck is prized for its eloquent taste and presentation. Renowned restaurants to taste Peking Roast duck are Quanjude, Bianyifang, Changan Yihao, Beijing Xiaowangfu and Dadong Tuanjiehu Kaoyadian.
Beijing's Sanlitun Bar Street is a great place to enjoy a dynamic nightlife in the city, which is an extremely popular hangout site for the city expatriates and white collars of all ages.
Lijiang-丽江
The Old Town of Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled in northern Yunnan Province.
Lijiang lies 2,400 meters above sea level and is surrounded by jagged snow-tipped peaks. The wooden houses, tea houses and stone walkways of the old town looks as if they hadn't changed since the town was the capital of the ancient Naxi Kingdom. Ethnic Naxis still make up 70 percent of the population and the Naxi language is widely spoken. The ancient Naxi system of picture writing still puzzles and fascinates scholars. In ancient times the city flourished as a tea-trading center and merchants came from far and wide with horse and mule-trains loaded with teas.
Among the charms of the old town are mini-canals that feed from the Jade Dragon River, which flows from the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Traditionally the water in the upper part of the river was used for drinking, the middle part of the river for washing vegetables and the downstream for washing clothes.
Kunming-昆明
Kunming is the political, economic, communications and cultural center of Yunnan Province and is also home to several universities, museums, galleries and other important cultural and educational institutions.
Located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Kunming has one of the mildest climates in China. The city is an important horticultural center in China, providing products such as grain, wheat, horsebeans, corn, potato and fruit such as peaches, apples, oranges, grapes and chestnuts. Kunming is world-famous for its flowers and more than 400 types of flowers are commonly grown here.
Kunming is home to many ethnic groups, including Yi, Hui, Bai, Miao, Zhuang and Manchu. Because of its multicultural heritage, many ethnical festivals are celebrated in Kunming, such as Torch Festival, a traditional and grandest festival of the Yi ethnic group.
Kunming has many state-level scenic spots, featuring picturesque and spectacular nature sceneries. For example, Shilin (Stone Forest), features natural karst stone formations that resemble a forest; some are elegant, some are rugged and each has distinguishing characteristics that make each seem very much like trees in a forest.
Kunming also has colorful nightlife and delicious food. Kunming Square is the best spot to enjoy a night in the town. Many cinemas, bars, clubs and restaurants call Kunming Square home. Kunming's cuisine is popular and tasty, especially the highly recommended 'Crossing the Bridge' noodles, a common Kunming dish.
Chengdu-成都
Chengdu is one of the most livable cities in China.
Xi'an may have the Terracotta Warriors, but Chengdu has the giant pandas. Each city has its own unique tourist draws and your trip to Chengdu would not be complete without a stop by its Panda Breeding Research Center. In the wild, pandas are reclusive and sightings are rare, but here at the center, you're guaranteed a look at them while they munch on a meal of bamboo. It is recommended that you visit the center in the morning during feeding time when the pandas are the most active.
Chengdu is also the capital of Sichuan Province, perhaps one of the best-known provinces of China, largely because of its popular, spicy regional cuisine.
The city dates back over 3,000 years ago and has matured into a mellow, charming urban center whose pace and energy is quite different from that found in Beijing and Shanghai. One of Chengdu's "firsts" is paper money: paper currency first became commonplace in 960 AD in the city.
Chengdu is a big city with its share of shopping malls, high-rises and traffic jams. Still, just one step around any corner here often opens up to a lush, serene park usually accented with the obligatory teahouse.