Travel to China completely without tourist traps! Here you will find a list of the top 10 sights of China! Which highlights and attractions should you not miss on your holiday in China?
China's adventurous mix of unspoilt nature and bustling business, shopping temples and rice terraces, rugged mountains and imposing skyscrapers attracts visitors from all over the world to the fantastic Middle Kingdom.
Table of contents
Terracotta Army
The gigantic Terracotta Army in Xi'an Province consists of an incredible 7,000 original-sized statues of soldiers and horses, no two of which are alike. They were created to guard the tomb of Emperor Shǐhuángdì for all eternity - who, by the way, began planning his imposing mausoleum at the age of 13 and also ordered the construction of the famous Great Wall.
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Great Wall of China
China's "Great Wall" is around 9,000 kilometres long and was built over a massive period of 2000 years. Construction began around 500 BC to protect China from hostile nomadic tribes from the north. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is only maintained on a length of around 500km around Beijing - mainly for tourists.
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Forbidden City in Beijing (Beijing)
In China's capital Beijing, the Forbidden City on Tiananmen Square is one of the main attractions. The former imperial palace was reserved for the emperor and his entourage until 1924. In the meantime, the "Gugong" behind its 10m-high wall is no longer off-limits, but reveals its spectacular architectural and craft masterpieces to visitors.
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Imperial Summer Palace in Beijing (Beijing)
Speaking of imperial residences: The 18th-century Imperial Summer Palace covers a gigantic area of almost 3 square kilometres. Picturesquely situated between Kunming Lake and the Hill of Longevity, its palaces, gardens and pavilions are considered the pinnacle of Chinese architecture and landscape design.
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Shanqing Shan National Park
The Shanqing Shan National Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and impresses with its extraordinary rock formations. With a little imagination, animals, humans and mythical creatures can be recognised in the granite mountain peaks that rise into the sky between mystical rainforests.
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Yu Yuan - Garden of Joy in Shanghai
The Garden of Delight was built in the 16th century in the southeast of Shanghai. The masterpiece of garden design contains the largest and oldest rock monument in southern China - the gigantic "Great Artificial Rock" - in addition to unparalleled plant splendour.
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Mogao Caves
On the edge of the famous Silk Road lie the fascinating Mogao Caves, carved into the sandstone by Buddhist monks over 6 centuries. They used the caves as a library, hideout and retreat for meditation and decorated them with thousands and thousands of rock paintings. This technical and logistical masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Article: The most famous stone carving sites in China
Rock sculptures in Dazu
Just as spectacular as the Mogoa Caves are the approximately 60,000 rock sculptures in Dazu. Here you can admire not only Buddhist, but also Confucian and Daoist figures - and all in colour. The statues, created between the 7th and 13th centuries, also depict everyday scenes and are therefore also of great archaeological importance.
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Limestone terraces in the Huanglong valley
The limestone terraces in the Huanglong Valley can be described as almost unearthly beautiful. The numerous pools and caves in the northwest of Sichuan province were washed out by rainwater over thousands of years and today shine in every conceivable shade of blue and green. The almost 4km-long valley amidst snow-covered mountain peaks is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Lu Shan National Park
Lu Shan National Park stretches around the mountain of the same name, which is one of China's most famous peaks. Due to its mild summer climate, numerous politically important events have taken place in the landscape, which is characterised by austere beauty. Over 200 historical buildings bear witness to the various religious communities that have settled in the misty climes since the 1st millennium.
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