The most interesting places of China

People usually only get to hear about the crowded, polluted cities of China. Few can ever imagine the unbelievable dreamscapes that make up the rest of the country. China is easily one of the most beautiful places on earth. If you find this hard to believe, the list below should convince you.

The Chengde Imperial Summer Villa, Hebei Province

Set against the background of a lush mountainscape, the Chengde Imperial Summer Villa was at one time the summer resort used by emperors of the Qing Dynasty. As far as the eye can see, the entire region consists of lush grasslands and tranquil farms. Today, Chengde Imperial Summer Villa, which is not far from Beijing, is a World Heritage Site.

Shennongjia, Hubei Province

The perpetually mist-covered valleys of the Shennongjia Nature Reserve are home to the world’s only subtropical forests in the central latitudes. These forests are home to endangered golden monkeys and thousands of other species. If you are a great nature lover, this is one of the most awesome places for you to visit.

The Enshi Canyon, Hubei Province

About 200 miles west to the Three Gorges dam is the Enshi, Asia’s answer to the Grand Canyon. The winding gorges of the 108 km-long canyon are bounded by near-vertical walls of mountain. Hundreds of waterfalls crash down into the gorge from above. At many points, these mountain sides have catwalks built on them to allow tourists grand views.

Wulingyuan, Hunan Province

Anyone who sees Wulingyuan is likely to make an instant connection to the floating mountains of the movie Avatar. In many interviews, James Cameron does refer to Wulingyuan as his inspiration. It is a lush, misty valley endowed with a unique feature – 3,000 giant, natural stone columns rising up like fingers, hundreds of meters up. Ever since the movie Avatar, the Chinese authorities have named one of the columns Mount Hallelujah, from the movie.

The stilted Fenghuang village, Hunan Province

If you’ve ever seen Chinese art, you can’t have missed the frequent references to the Fenghuang stilted village. Thousands of backpackers arrive here each year for an opportunity to walk through the winding streets of the millennium-old village, for a feel of the real China. If you plan to visit China this year, this place is not to be missed!

Yalong Bay, Hainan Province

Yalong Bay is a grand, crescent-shaped tropical beach in the warm, Hainan province. Everything that you would expect of a tropical beach resort, from white sand beaches, water sports, to luxury hotels and palm trees, Yalong Bay offers in spades. If you get to choose, coming around the Spring Festival is a great idea.

The Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guizhou Province

At more than 250 feet, the Huangguoshu is the highest waterfall in Asia. Measuring more than 300 feet across, it’s a mammoth natural formation, too. While Huangguoshu is spectacular to look at, it is special in another way – unlike most waterfalls, it is accessible in practically every way. Visitors get to walk behind the waterfall, and on each side.

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