Marked with one of the oldest and largest civilizations, China takes pride in their spectacular attractions. The progressive cities and natural scenic views are equally beautiful. In fact, we can assure you that you wouldn’t stop clicking photos as soon as you visit the most beautiful places in China! [Featured photo: Gobi Desert by Christopher Michel under creative commons
Planning to travel this year? You might want to consider creating your memories in these 7 most beautiful places in China:
Zhangye’s Danxia Landscape
The Zhangye’s Danxia is also known as “the eye candy of Zhangye”. It is a popular spot in China for its colorful landform with red rocks and rainbow ridges. Many artists come to visit this place to set as inspiration for their masterpiece as they see Zhangye’s Landscape as an imaginative oil painting.
The best part of going to this place is that the guides are generous enough to tour you around and bring you to the most beautiful parts of the area.
How to get to Zhangye Danxia Geopark?
There are a number of ways to get to Zhangye Danxia Geopark. The most convenient and the fastest way is to take a flight to Lanzhou Airport from either Beijing or Shanghai. From Lanzhou, you will need to take another flight or ride a train to Zhangye City, which is the closest town to the Danxia Geopark. From there you can rent a car or take a bus to the north entrance of the geopark. The distance is about 40 kilometers.
The Yuanyang Terraced Fields
These terraced fields are a masterpiece of the Hani ethnic minority which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. It was built thousands of years with unique shapes, sizes, and a mosaic of colors.
The three popular scenic areas in the fields are the Duoyishu which is the best place to take photos of the sunrise; Bada for the best sunset scenery; and the Laohuzui where the rice terraces are more marvelous.
How to get to Yuanyang Terraced Fields?
From Beijing, take a flight or train to Kunming, China. When in Kunming, take a bus from South Bus Station to the town of Yuanyang Xinjie. The bus departs at 10:20 AM, 12:30 PM, and 6:00 PM.
Stone Forest (Shilin), Yunnan
The Shilin Forest is said to be approximately 270 million-year-old forest of stone. It is made of stalagmite-like pillars that are overwhelming to look at. But they’re not just stones! The forest also has caves, ponds, waterfalls, and an underground river that you might want to swim into.
How to get to the Shilin Forest?
From Shanghai or Beijing, take a flight or train to Kunming, Shilin County in Yunnan Province. When in Kunming, take a regular bus from Kunming East Coast Station or a Tourist bus at Kunming Railway Station which goes directly to Stone Forest. The bus departs every 30 minutes from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is always on the list of the most beautiful places in China. It is even considered as one of the wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Although walking through the place is a bit tiring, reaching the top is definitely worth it.
How to get to the Great Wall of China?
From Beijing, take bus line 877 or S2 train direct to Badaling. Alternatively, you can also take bus 916 Express to Mutianyu but you will have to transfer at Huairou. Please take note that there might be language barriers when it comes to the right bus stop so make sure to familiarize the bus stop signs in Chinese. The most convenient way is to book a hassle-free Great Wall of China tour from Beijing.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is one of the unique national forest parks in Hunan Province. It’s been widely visited for its towering sandstone pillars, rich wildlife, streams, and sometimes, the sea of clouds. If you love outdoor activities as well as outdoor photography, this place can be the best subject of your trip!
How to get to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park?
The best way to go to Zhangjiajie is by taking a flight from Changsha, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Kunming. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is about 30 kilometers from the city proper of Zhangjiajie. From the city proper, take a bus to Zhangjiajie Scenic Area from Zhangjiajie City Bus Station. The travel time is around 40 minutes and the fare is 12 yuan.
Gobi Desert
Noted as one of the most beautiful places in China, the Gobi Desert is widely visited for its singing sands and crescent-shaped lake. When you go to the peak of the mountains, approximately 1000 meters, you can actually hear a flute singing or even a thunder rumbling. So as you visit China, never miss visiting the Gobi Desert to experience this magical sound yourself!
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Jiuzhaigou Valley is indeed a fairytale paradise! It is composed of wonderful sceneries such as blue lakes and waterfalls, snow-covered mountains, and rich forests.
Going into this place will also introduce you to the folk customs of Tibetan and Qiang peoples. The best time to visit the place is during September and October. The autumn season and snow scenery will make you fall in love with China entirely!
How to get to Jiuzhaigou Valley?
The best way to go to Jiuzhaigou Valley is to fly to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport from Beijing or Chengdu. From the airport, take a shuttle bus or a local taxi to Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area.
