Located in Eastern Asia, China or the People’s Republic of China is roughly the same size as the United States of America.

The Attraction

Entering China is like stepping into an entirely new world where the revolutionary zeal of its Maoist history is balanced by economic pragmatism and Western influence. There are two faces to China: the modern China characterized by glistening skyscrapers, world-class business ventures, Western fastfood chains and shopping malls and the historical China characterized by vast temples, centuries-old architecture, tunic-wearing locals and highly-regarded values and traditions that have been handed down for centuries.

In terms of tourism, China has so much to offer. It is famed for its rich culture and geography but also for its bustling and sophisticated metropolises that rival the best in the world. Travelers are advised to have a loose itinerary so they can maximize sight-seeing opportunities. Simply traveling down the Silk Road or hitching a boat ride across the Yangzi River can provide tourists with enough sights and influences for a trip well-spent.

Great Tourist Destinations

The Forbidden City

The city was off limits to outsiders for over 500 years, which is how it got its name. Today, however, the Forbidden City is one of China’s premier tourist attractions, boasting of its biggest and best-preserved ancient buildings. The city is flanked by two impressive ceremonial structures — the Gate of Heavenly Peace to the south and the Divine Military Genius Gate to the north.

Two emperor dynasties occupied the Forbidden City — the Ming and the Qing — and their influences remain strong today. The Meridian Gate is a massive portal which was reserved for the exclusive use of the emperor. It leads to the Supreme Harmony Gate, where the emperor presided over a huge courtyard that held over 100,000 people. The Three Great Halls lie at the heart of the Forbidden City elevated by a marble terrace. The biggest and most important hall, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, is where the emperor celebrated his birthday.

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China represents the height of Chinese architecture. It was constructed 2,000 years ago during the Qing Dynasty when China was unified under Emperor Qin Shihuang. Hundreds of thousands of workers and about 180 million cubic meters of earth were used to create the core of the original wall. Later on, additional walls were constructed and linked to the original Great Wall as China bulked up its defenses against wandering nomads. The elevated wall also served as an effective means of transportation over mountainous terrain and helped spur the country’s development.

Army of Terracotta Warriors

Archaeologists consider the army to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Discovered in 1974, the Army of Terracotta Warriors consists of over 6,000 life-size terracotta soldiers and their horses, all facing east and arraigned in a rectangular battle formation. Each soldier bears unique facial features and is dressed in full war regalia. All of them are positioned according to Sun Tzu’s classic book on the art of war.

The first article delved into China’s three leading tourist destinations – the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City and the Army of Terracotta Warriors. Here are others.

Summer Palace

Located in Beijing, the Summer Palace is exceptionally popular and exploring its entirety takes half a day. Once the favorite summer hideaway of China’s royalty, the Palace boasts of great temples, gardens, pavilions and a lake.

Grand Buddha

The Grand Buddha is the largest Buddha in the world. It is a stunning monument standing 233 feet high (71 meters) and carved into the face of a cliff overlooking two rivers. His ears alone are 23 feet long (7 meters) while his feet are 28 feet wide (8.5 meters). First started in 713 AD, construction of the Grand Buddha took over 90 years to finish.

Cloud Ridge Caves

These magnificent caves are a spiritual monument that contains over 50,000 Buddhist statues. They were cut into the southern cliffs of Wuzhou Shan and stretch to a distance of over one kilometer. Beside the caves are remnants of a 17th century Qing Dynasty fortress surrounded by truncated pyramids which were once watchtowers. Impressive artworks line the caves, depicting the influences of foreign craftsmen.

Jiuzhaigou

The Jiuzhaigou valley is a natural treasure reserve surrounded by a heavy forest and snow-topped peaks. There are 118 glistening lakes that run through the valley and remind many of turquoise. The valley is home to rare species such as pandas, takins and golden monkeys.

Tai Shan

Tai Shan is the most climbed mountain on earth and is considered the most sacred of China’s five Taoist peaks. Legend has it that if you climb Tai Shan you will live to be over 100 years old. Five Chinese emperors have scaled the mountain, including Emperor Qianlong who made the trek 11 times. The great philosopher Confucius scaled it as well and from its mountain top uttered the famous words, “The world is small.”

How to Get There

Several international airlines fly into China, including United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada (North America); Air France and British Airways (Europe); and Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and the Taiwan-based China Airlines (Asia).

Visitors may enter China by train from Moscow, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and North Korea. The law prohibits foreigners without a Chinese driver’s license from entering the country by car, but it’s possible to rent a car with a driver. Bus rides into China are available in Vietnam, Laos, Pakistan and Nepal. There are ferry rides from Japan and South Korea.

Traveling Around

Domestic flights go to all major cities and tourist spots. Flying from mainland China to Hong Kong or Macau is regarded as an international flight and can be expensive.

The train is the most popular means of long-distance transportation, while the locals prefer buses and coaches for short-distance traveling. The subway system is modern and efficient but not all of the country is covered. Taxis are plenty but the language barrier can be a problem unless you have a cell phone and can have a Chinese friend explain your destination to the taxi driver. Perhaps the best way for a tourist to travel around China is by rented car (driver included).

Shopping

China is a great haven for antiques, especially antique furniture, which are available even at the local flea market. Antique furniture has been particularly popular over the last 15 years and has become more valuable of late due to the dwindling supply of items. But tourists should be wary of fakes. The best antique furniture can be found in large warehouses on the outskirts of Beijing, Shanghai and Chengu towns.

Credit cards are rarely accepted outside the hotel. Bargaining is commonplace and expected, especially since most goods, especially in flea markets, have three prices: one for locals, one for Chinese from other places and one for foreigners. Luxury goods such as jade, expensive ceramics and pieces of art are abundant but sometimes risky. It is best to deal with the bigger vendors. Porcelain is also very popular.

There are two kinds of Chinese art, the “classical paintings” (birds and flowers, landscapes with rocks and water, calligraphy) and modern art (oil painting, photography and sculpture). Beijing is the center of the art scene.

There are also two types of jade: one is pale and almost colorless, coming from a variety of stones mined in China; the other is green in color and imported from Myanmar. Here’s a tip for shoppers: the smart way to buy jade is to closely scrutinize the quality of the carving — does the finish look good? is it refined or crude? can you notice any tool marks? The thing to remember is that the quality of the carving tells a great deal about the quality of the stone.

China is also renowned around the world for its porcelain. There is no better place to acquire great porcelain than at the famous Jingdezhen kiln center. While most travelers are familiar with blue and white porcelain, Jingdezhen’s products come in greater hues and a wider range of glazes. Many specialty shops in upscale neighborhoods also offer fine porcelain but these items are expensive at such venues.