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OTHER
CHINA
ATTRACTIONS
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Information Provided by
China International
Travel Service Sichuan
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