Chinaand#39:s long and continuous history vast and diversified terrains as well as her rich and various cultures have created some of the worldand#39:s top touristic attractions. Many of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. But Chinaand#39:s top six touristic regions have more cultural historic and natural treasures to offer.

Beijing and Hebei Province the Cradle of the Chinese Civilization:-

There are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Beijing and the Hebei region namely the prehistoric Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian Yin Xu and the Great Wall of the ancient period the Temple of Heaven the Summer Palace the Imperial Garden the Imperial Palaces [the Forbidden City] the Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples of Chengde and the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Between the prehistoricancient time and the MingQing Dynasties history still left its marks in the ancient capital. The Liao Dynasty started the Beihai Park while Jin Dynasty initiated the Xiangshan Park. The now famous hutong [narrow streets or alleys] and siheyuan [courtyards] is best represented by Nanluoguxiang of the Yuan Dynasty. The Tiananmen Square the National Opera House and the Olympic Games etc are keeping the cultural succession going.

Sichuan the Home of the Giant Panda Scenic Areas and Ancient Civilization:-

Sichuan comes second on the Chinese UNESCO World Heritage List with six sites namely the Mount Emei Scenic Area including the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries in Wolong Mount Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains the Dazu Rock Carvings as well as the Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.

Because of the geographical inaccessibility a unique ancient civilization was founded in the home of the giant panda. The excavations at Sanxingdui and Jinsha have given archeologists some of the most fascinating mysteries to solve. .


Jiagnan Region the Place for Vacationers Poets Writers Painters and Emperors:-

Jiagnan refers to the area south of the middle and lower stream of the Yangtze River. The five UNESCO World Heritage Sites namely the Classical Gardens of Suzhou the Mount Huangshan the Ancient Villages of Xidi and Hongcun the Lushan National Park and the Mount Sanqingshan National Park are scattered in the province of Jiangsu Anhui and Jiangxi.

Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Nanjing have always been the famous cities in this region because of their historic monuments Buddhist monasteries and scenic gardens. Together with the picturesque water villages and the mountain resorts Jiagnan Region has been the favorite vacation destination for writers poets painters and even the emperors for thousands of years. They left behind thousands of romantic poems and songs in praise of the unearthly beauty.

Yunnan a Province of the Legendary Shangrila:-

The three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the old town of Lijiang the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas and the South China Karst together with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Laojunshan National Park exemplify the diversified terrains of this mountainous province.

Yunnan is also famous for the legendary Shangrila the colorful cultures of the minority groups and the Ancient Tea Road. The ancient trade route is also known as the Southern Silk Road. Tradesmen and their mule caravans walked from Yunnan to Sichuan Tibet Nepal India and even Burma trading tea horses china wool products and silk. The route is still considered dangerous because of the narrow mountainous trail the deep and yet beautiful gorges and steeps along the way.

The Silk Road the Oldest Trade Route:-

The Silk Road is one of the oldest trade routes connecting the East and the West. Starting from Xian travelers can follow the historic places old cities ancient ruins and Buddhist monuments in Lanzhou Xiahe Hami City Kashgar and Turpan etc. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mogao Caves in Dunhuang and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xian are the gems on this ancient route.

Tibet the Most Challenging Touristic Destination:-

In addition to the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Potala Palace in Lhasa the mysterious Tibetan Plateau never stops attracting travelers and adventurers from all over the world. The QinghaiTibet Train lets passengers experience the unique climate terrains flora fauna and culture on the way to Lhasa. Places and cities like Yarlung Valley Yomdrok Lake Linzhi Shigatse Tsangpo Tsedang Namsto show the unequalled beauty of the most challenging touristic destination in the world.