Cities in China, Places to See

Cities in China

China has many large and famous cities. Below is a list of the nine most important to travelers in mainland China. Other cities are listed under their specific regional section. See the Dynasties and capitals section further down the page for a list of China's many previous capitals.

* Beijing (北京) - capital city, cultural center, and host of the 2008 Olympics

* Guangzhou (广州) - one of most prosperous and liberal cities in the south of China near Hong Kong

* Guilin (桂林) - popular destination for both Chinese and foreign tourists, sensational mountain/river scenery

* Hangzhou (杭州) - famously beautiful city, major center for the silk industry

* Kunming (昆明) - capital of Yunnan, gateway to the villages of the ethnic minorities

* Nanjing (南京) - a renowned historical and cultural city with many historic relics

* Shanghai (上海) - famous for its riverside scenery, China's largest city is a major commercial center with many shopping opportunities

* Suzhou (苏州) - "Venice of the East," old city, famous for canals and gardens

* Xi'an (西安) - terminus of the ancient Silk Road, capital of China during the Western Han and Tang Dynasties, and home of the terracotta warriors

You can travel to many of these cities using the lovely new fast trains. In particular, the Hangzhou - Shanghai - Suzhou - Nanjing line is a convenient way to see some historic areas.

Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/China

Places to See

Some of the most famous tourist attractions in China are:

* Great Wall of China (万里长城)

* Tibet (西藏)

* Silk Road (丝绸之路)

* Hainan island, tropical paradise (海南)

* Yangtze River (Three Gorges) (三峡)

Sacred sites

Several sites in China have famous Buddhist art:

* Yungang Grottoes (near Datong) in Shanxi Province - more than 51,000 Buddhist carvings, dating back 1,500 years, in the recesses and caves of the Yangang Valley mountainsides

* Mogao Caves (near Dunhuang) in Gansu province - art and manuscripts dating back to the 4th century

* Dazu Rock Carvings near Chongqing, dating from the 7-13th century

* Longmen Grottoes - near Luoyang, 5-10th century

Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/China