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Shangri-la
A mystery and a dream, a wonderland hidden in a remote place, a paradise sought for ages; this is Shangri-la as first depicted in James Hilton's novel Lost Horizons. It Describes the adventures of Hugh Conway and his three Western traveling companions who, whilst traveling from South Asian Baskul (a name invented by the author) to Peshawar, were taken by a mysterious oriental skyjacker to the hidden Valley of the Blue Moon and the city of Shangri-La.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Remember the crystal clear water in Hero, nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars last year, Much of the filming took place at Jiuzhaigou Valley, a place recognized in the Chinese mind as Heaven on earth, a gift bestowed by nature in Sichuan, one of China's western provinces.
Jiuzhaigou Valley, eulogized as a world of magical fairytale, has for years enchanted tourists with its mountains and luxuriant forests, colorful lakes, gushing waterfalls and abundant wildlife. In 1992 it was put on the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
The City of Shanghai
Shanghai, the economic and business centre of China, has made its fame as a 24 hour city. The Bund, situated in the central part of Shanghai on the west bank of Huangpu River, is the most prosperous region in Shanghai and is nicknamed as "Shanghai's Wall Street." Facing the wide Huangpu River, the mother river of Shanghai, it is the most magnificent landscape in this Oriental Metropolis.
Tropical Island Hainan
Hainan Island is China's tropical playground. World-class beaches, five-star hotels, superb golf courses, fabulous food and a fascinating culture make it one of China's most desirable locations.
The Ancient Town of Phoenix
According to the encyclopedia, the phoenix is a mythological creature. It is a symbol of the sun, an ancient myth. In China, the phoenix is a small city in western Hunan province, Fenghuang in Chinese. For tourists, it is a Chinese dream, a wonderland of ancient mysteries.
This ancient small town, according to New Zealand writer Rewi Alley, is one of the two most picturesque small towns in China. Its people are colorful and hospitable. Imagine wandering the narrow streets of this "Ancient City of History and Culture," dancing and singing with local Miao and Tujia people, listening to an old man telling ancient fairy tales, and wondering how this small city nourished so many famous writers and artists…
Poetic Lands of Xishuangbanna
In the Dai language, Xishuangbanna means "Twelve districts of one thousand mu of paddy fields each." It is the name given to twelve administrative bodies ruled by twelve chieftains in the old days. Not until the liberation of Xishuangbanna in February 1950 did peoples of the various nationalities really become the masters of their beautiful and affluent land.
The only tropical rainforest nature reserve zone remaining around the Tropic of Cancer, Xishuangbanna is hot, with plentiful sunshine and an average temperature of 21 degrees C, and humid, with abundant rainfall.
Dunhuang
The mystery and beauty of the ancient Dunhuang as well as the carefully preserved Buddhist frescos and statuary makes it one of the most premier tourist destinations in China.
Mogao Grottoes
Arguably the most extraordinary and consummate depository of Buddhist art in the world, the walls of the Mogao Grottoes, or Mogao Caves, were painted and carved for a span of almost a thousand years reflecting the evolution of Buddhist beliefs in this period and its interactions with new cultures and peoples as it spread across Asia.
Dalian: Beach, Fashion and More
Dalian, located in the southernmost portion of Liaodong Peninsula, is one of the most important industrial bases and main seaports in China. Known as the "Hong Kong of Northern China," it is the center of information, finance, trade, and tourism in East Asia.
This harbor city is famous for the cleanest of environments, enjoying an extremely close proximity to the sea, the Bohai Sea to the west and the Yellow Sea to the east. The local people have created countless scenic spots along the long, rugged coastlines and amid the beautiful bays of their city. A summer tourist resort, here you can find natural scenes of stunning beauty, a soft on the senses' climate, stylish architecture, and luxurious beaches.
Coastal City Qingdao
Suicide, Victorian style entertainment at Elizabethan prices, the smell of old people eating old fish. It's all been downhill for the British seaside industry since people discovered you could leave the island without dropping off the edge of the world.
Luckily none of this embarrassment of poverty has anything to do with Qingdao, but it could have done with a slight change of history. Everywhere I looked in this coastal city reminded me of Europe. Not of a visit to the aforementioned British retirement homes but of some half remembered, half idealised visit to the European mainland. To Germany, to be exact.
The Germans invaded Qingdao at the end of the nineteenth century, and their legacy is far more essential to the city's character than just its world famous brewery. They may have taken their clothing with them but Qingdao is still draped in German fashion in that it has some of the best preserved colonial architecture in China.
Guilin
Guilin is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world today due to its natural beauty. However, the charm of Guilin would be nothing without the Lijiang River.
The Lijiang River runs from west to east through Guilin city proper, Yangshuo, Pingle and Wuzhou, and then flows as tributary into the Xijiang River. The total length of the Lijiang River is 437 kilometers and the most popular section is between Guilin and Yangshuo. It takes about three hours to visit this part of the river by boat, and on most boats lunch and guides are provided. The best way to enjoy the river is to go up to the top deck to view the "long art gallery."
Approaching the Lijiang River, one will find its gem-like color is captivating. Upon closer inspection one will find the water is as crystal clear. The best season to visit is in March and October due to the temperate weather during these two months and ideal water level. In the summer months, the river is muddied by frequent flooding, and in the winter months, the water levels drop to a point where boats cannot pass safely.
Wuyuan: the Most Beautiful Village in China
Wuyuan is a village endowed with rich ecological and cultural beauty eulogized by some as the most beautiful village in China. Although the accommodation and transportation conditions are not good in some places here, you can't be too critical when traveling in this sort of tourist attraction, with well preserved ecological and cultural relics.
Wuyuan is located in the northeast of the Jiangxi province. With a forest coverage rate of 81.5 percent, Wuyuan enjoys an unscathed ecological environment. Wuyuan is the hometown of the famous philosopher Zhu Xi, the father of "Neo-Confucianism." Here in Wuyuan, you can enjoy the elegant Hui Opera and charming tea making performances. The ancient architecture is another attraction in Wuyuan, where you can see unique walls, tiles and eaves.
Summer City in China
Boasting an array of natural and manmade wonders, along with an agreeable summer climate, Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, has long been known as an ideal summer travel destination in China. Compiled below is a list of the sights any trip to Xining would not be complete without:
Golden Lady Mountain
First known as Golden Mountain, and then renamed after the most beloved concubine of Emperor Sui Yang of the Sui Dynasty died there.
Golden Lady Mountain is located 30 kilometers outside of Xining. Known for the wild flowers that bloom on its slopes every spring and summer, adding refreshing sweetness to the crisp mountain air, Golden Lady Mountain has the ability to bring out the nature lover in all of us. Other natural features include the many waterfalls and ponds, with one clear pond considered a miracle by locals for its inability to dry up -- even during the worst of droughts.
Spending A Day along West Lake
Rippling waters shimmering on a sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded in rain;
Plain or gaily dressed like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring.
Those are the words used by celebrated Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo (960-1127) to describe Hangzhou's West Lake. Regarded by many as China's most beautiful lake, standing on its shores, it's easy to understand Su's allusion to Xizi, reputedly ancient China's most beautiful woman. The subject of many of the country's most famous literary and artistic works, and the inspiration for countless more, West Lake has been working its charms on those who gaze upon it for centuries.
Chongqing
Chongqing Municipality is the largest industrial and economic center in southwestern China. Meaning 'double celebrations' in Chinese, the city is the usual starting point for an exciting trip through the Three Gorges.
(CRI.com September 30, 2004)
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