OTHER CHINA ATTRACTIONS

Dunhuang

Dunhuang, with its lush green fields and mountainous rolling sand dunes, is one of China's most historic destinations along the Silk Road. Located about 1½ hours northwest of Lanzhou by air, Dunhuang served as a rest stop for traders and as the gateway through which Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity entered China. Dunhuang is the home of superb Buddhist art at the nearby Mogao Grottoes. There are 492 caves house ancient paintings and sculptures. Among them is the famous Flying Horse of Gansu, which has been adopted as the symbol of China tourism. A monk named Yue Zun began the Mogao carvings in 366 AD, and his followers created more than 1000 statues over the course of 1000 years. Nearly half of the original carvings survive today. Other attractions include the Ruins of Yumenguan Pass and the Yueya (Crescent Moon) Spring.
 

Huangguoshu Waterfall

Perhaps no scenic spot in Guizhou Province is better known than Huangguoshu Waterfall, China's largest waterfall. This spectacular waterfall showcases raging water from the Dabang River plunging down from hanging cliffs 70 meters high, causing an unceasing shower of water droplets up to a height of 90 metres. Visitors enjoy a panoramic view this spectacular fall from a pavilion on the opposite bank or up close by entering Waterfall Cave behind the curtain of water.

Huangshan

known as "the loveliest mountain Under Heaven", and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Huangshan consists of a crowd of peaks, 72 of which have names that correspond to the shapes they resemble. It is celebrated for possessing the four wonders of mountain scenery: spectacular rocky peaks, odd-shaped pines, crystal-clear mountain springs, and seas of clouds. The pines on Mt. Huangshan in their infinite variety of forms and shapes impress one with their grace and hardiness. Picturesque rocks are seen everywhere on the mountain, in a myriad of fantastic shapes, some looking like humans and some like beasts and birds in animated motion. As for the seas of clouds, its mountain scenery changes beyond prediction with the alternation of seasons. Finally, its clusters of crystal-clear hot springs offer visitors a sensational way to soak up Huangshan's heavenly panorama.

Kashgar

Kashgar is located at the junction of the south and north routes of the Silk Road. Then, after crossing the Pamirs Plateau, the northern route led travelers of old to Persia and thence on to Europe, while the southern route led to ancient India. Main points of interest in Kashgar include the Tomb of Apak Hoja, Big Bazaar.

Turpan

An oasis 180 kilometres southeast of Urumqi, Turpan is accessible only by rail or road. Turpan presents a myriad of colourful faces and ethnic backgrounds. The Uygur and Hui peoples comprise most of the town's predominantly Moslem population. Turpan is best known for its grapes and honeydew melons, but is also rich in historical relics bearing evidence to the importance of the area's links to the Silk Road. Places of interest include the Sugong Mosque (also known as the lmin Pagoda or Suleiman's Minaret), the Thousand-Buddha Caves of the Flaming Mountains, and the Gaochang Ancient City and Jiaohe Ancient City, ruins of a once-prosperous, strategically important garrison town between the 1st century BC and the 14th century AD. 

Urumqi

This city is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China's far Northwest. Vast deserts, an ancient glacier, a huge open-air bazaar, and the colorful dress of its 13 indigenous nationalities transform Urumqi into an exotic, far removed world. Only 116 kilometres away, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) offers a vast expanse of placid water, 1,801 metres above sea level. The lake is surrounded by steep green pastures, virgin conifer forests and snowy mountain peaks.

Zhouzhuang

Zhouzhuang lies at the middle between Shanghai and Suzhou, is an ancient town of Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, where abounds with rivers and lakes. So it is thought by many to be the best waterside town in China. This ancient town has a history of more than 900 years old with many houses built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are about 100 houses with courtyards, and 60 of them have arch gateways made by carved bricks.

With lakes on four sides, the beauty of Zhouzhuang is specially to be found along the waterside lanes and around a number of the stone bridges. A different vista at every turn can be found here. All those make a visit most enjoyable. Also, one can enjoy the fairyland atmosphere of the evenings here when the myriad stars twinkle as though in communication with the glittering lights.

Hangzhou

Capital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou is the southern end of the Grand Canal and one of China's seven ancient national capitals. When Marco Polo came to Hangzhou in the 13th century he acclaimed that "it is the most beautiful and elegant city in the world". There is also a popular saying: "Above there is heaven, below there are Hangzhou and Suzhou." Hangzhou's "heavenly" beauty attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to its exquisite West Lake (Xi Hu) vicinity each year, to enjoy the placid lake, beautiful gardens, reflecting pools, lavish temples and friendly lakeside teahouses. Hangzhou is also famous for silk and tea. Main tourists attractions include West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Feilai Peak, Pagoda of Six Harmonies, Yue Fei Tomb, Baoshu Pagoda, Huanglong Cave and Hulong Well.

Information Provided by China International Travel Service Sichuan