Introduction
In this China travel guide presented by TastyTourist, we will be going through the best places to go in China by introducing a variety of famous China landmarks including the historical places in China. There are few countries in the world with a culture as distinct as China. A country of contrasts, China offers thriving metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai, and many other famous China landmarks and Historical places in China; you can’t write a travel guide for China and look past the tons of China landmarks it offers. A vast country with over one billion population with a ton of historical events throughout it’s history. The country borders with 14 other nations and also with the international seas. China is a country filled with micro-cultures, languages, cuisines, and ethnicities. Rapid change has attracted curious people from around the globe and there is a thriving expat scene for anyone looking to teach overseas and we for sure won’t miss the chance to introduce many of the available options in this China trip guide.
The Imperial Town and The Forbidden City
The first recommendation of our china travel guide has to go to The Imperial Town and The Forbidden City,one of the many historical places in China. The Imperial Palace or Forbidden City in Beijing is one of the most important tourist attractions in China, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is worth noting that we are talking about a palace that hosted twenty-four Chinese emperors and at the time, ordinary citizens were not allowed to enter it.
To describe the grandeur of this complex, it is enough to say that it covers an area of seventy hectares and is one of the most visited places in China. It is protected by ten-meter walls all around, and four guard towers monitor all movements around it. In this environment, the royal school, the princes’ house, the military court, the emperor’s private quarters, and the Hall of Harmony are located, and they were so beautiful, charming, and lovely that not only did Chinese emperors not give up on them, but even today, people from all over the world line up to see them therefore it’s safe to say that’s why we name it one of the best places to go in China in our China Trip Guide.
The Great Wall of China
You can not write a China Trip Guide and forget about one of the most famous China landmarks, possibly the most well-known among the historical places in China. The Great Wall of China is one of the most important political, defense, and development projects in the world and one of the most spectacular places in China. It took centuries to build and, in the end, created an unparalleled and exemplary masterpiece.
The story of the construction of this wall begins in the sixth century AD. The Chinese wanted to keep their capital completely safe from the invasion of hostile forces, and their plan was to build a high wall in the heart of the mountains and forests, and to include towers in it, so that in addition to being a lookout, it could host light and heavy combat equipment and bring any army to its knees. This ambitious project, which is now considered one of the wonders of the world, was started by Qin Shi Huang and continued by other emperors. Of course, we should point out that despite the legendary Great Wall of China, which is one of the most visited places in China, it was not very militarily advanced and the Mongol soldiers easily passed through it.
Anyway, today you can either walk on the wall or ride a cable car to see it from above. If you’re heading to Beijing, don’t miss the chance to travel back in time and sit in the eyes of an ancient Chinese soldier.
Tiananmen Square
Another one of many historical places in China that I felt like we needed in our China Travel Guide. A china vacation guide wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t involve areas with vast and acknowledge historical venues which happened in it.
The largest square was built by the People’s Republic of China to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its victory and accommodated a million Chinese citizens in its political capital.
However, if you want to learn about China’s contemporary history and communist structure, there is no other attraction in China that can match Tiananmen Square. In addition to the square itself, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Museum of the Chinese Revolution are located nearby.
National Museum of China
On the east side of Tiananmen Square is the National Museum of China, one of the most famous China landmarks and the second most visited museum in the world, after the Louvre in Paris. The museum opened in 2003 and underwent some renovations in 2011.
The overall atmosphere of the museum focuses on China’s rich history and references the country’s ancient culture and artwork. The National Museum of China has around fifty separate galleries and halls, so it might be best to spend a good part of a day exploring it.
Bronze statues, gold ornaments, Buddha statues, porcelain and everything you can think of, from the beginning of the formation of China to the communist revolution and the current situation of the country, are displayed in this museum.
Finally, keep in mind that it is almost impossible to take photos and bring equipment, even a basic mobile phone, and ticket sales only continue until 3:30 in the afternoon.
Art Zone 798
To show their goodwill to the world, the Chinese have dismantled one of their military equipment production bases in Beijing and annexed the surrounding land to create an area full of street art. Even looking at the images of this area, we realize that the color and life there do not resemble the soulless communist cities and are more inclined to the dynamic culture of the other side of the world making it one of the unique venues between the China landmarks.
Beijing Zoo
In the northwest of Beijing, there is a 200-hectare area that hosts more than a thousand species of animals. Among these animals, pandas, Chinese tigers and golden monkeys are found in few other zoos. But the important thing about Beijing Zoo, which is one of the most famous China landmarks, is the accurate simulation of the natural habitat for the caged animals as it is designed to look lively, colorful and nature-like which is why it is making an appearance on our China vacation Guide due to it’s differences with other zoos.
The Beijing Temple of Confucius
Confucius, whose name we have already seen above and below many wise sayings, was a Chinese philosopher and politician who made numerous statements about individual and social life. In honor of his respect and appreciation, various temples have been built in East Asia for him; but the most important of them is the temple that was built for him in Beijing in 1302 AD and therefore places among the many historical places in China.
From that date until today, this temple has hosted many mystical ceremonies, and visitors can, in addition to getting acquainted with ancient architecture, observe the course of spiritual activities, written works left by Confucius, and strange Chinese ceremonies and practices up close.
The statue of Confucius, the seven-hundred-year-old wooden tree of the temple, and the mystical atmosphere prevailing there can be the most important reasons for your trip to visit the China Landmarks. In addition, if you go to the Confucius Temple, also visit the nearby Niu Jie Qingzhen Si Mosque. This building is a mosque that was built a thousand years after Christ and its architecture is a combination of ancient Chinese and Arabic teachings.
Xianglong Glass Footbridge
Located in Hunan Province, the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is actually the tallest glass-bottomed suspension bridge and another one of the best places to go in China. The bridge opened in 2016 and is located between two rocky mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
The bridge is highly secure and visitors can see the beautiful scenery below them through its transparent floor. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is 430 meters long, it long held the title of the longest glass bridge and, at 230 meters high, it is still considered the highest suspension bridge in the world and another must visit option on our China Trip Guide.
China's Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army, also known as the Terracotta Army, consists of more than 7,000 statues of Chinese imperial guards. The complex also includes 130 military carriages and 520 horses, and is spread over an area of 16,300 square meters.
The size and details of these statues are designed so that each one is different from the other and their size resembles that of real people. This site, which is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was accidentally discovered by local residents in 1974 and is one of the most famous China landmarks which is a must-have for any travel guide for China.
Beihai Park
Remember the Tiananmen square we mentioned earlier in our China Vacation Guide? Nearby is one of the oldest parks in China, Beihai. This park, one of the most famous China landmarks, was built in the 10th century and takes its name from a lake of the same name. In addition to its natural beauty, Beihai Imperial Park is home to a variety of buildings and structures dating from the 12th to the 17th centuries.
For example, you can mention the Hall of Enlightenment, a one and a half meter Buddha statue and stone walls. If you go to this park with a strong tour leader, you will be well acquainted with the cultural history of China over the past thousand years, their religious beliefs and mystical rituals.
