Why You Should Visit China

Lately, we hear a lot about China. This country is discussed from various angles. Some see it as one of the fastest-growing economies, while others view it as a threat to the established world order.

Opinions vary, but the fact is that China has become one of the most prominent countries not only in geopolitics but also in the world of tourism. China is a country surrounded by myths, legends, and stereotypes. However, during travels across the country, stereotypes often shatter and are only rarely confirmed. Incomprehensible numbers and scales shock and amaze us.

In China, you feel like you're in a sea of giant buildings and crowds of people. China attracts more and more attention from Russian travelers every year.

The emergence of increasingly convenient air travel is bringing the Far East and Belarus closer together.

Megacities shimmer with neon lights

China has about 180 cities with a population of over one million. Cities are the new face of China. Therefore, when visiting this country, it is essential to see the capital, Beijing. Beijing has played a crucial role in the country's life since its foundation. Although in the 13th century, Mongol hordes led by Genghis Khan swept through the Great Wall and razed the city to the ground, it was rebuilt and flourished again. Since then, many rulers have changed in the 'Forbidden City,' and the city itself has constantly transformed. Today, about 22 million people live here, traffic flows on 10-lane roads, and the narrow streets of the old city quickly give way to office buildings, luxury hotels, and residential districts.

Another Chinese city, Shanghai, often called the 'Paris of the East,' also impresses with its size, neon lights, and crowds. Shanghai, once comparable to cosmopolitan Casablanca or Alexandria, has been a source of inspiration for writers and directors. The city can also be called an open-air museum of European architecture. Furthermore, Shanghai is the economic center of China. Currently, the city is being built and modernized at a faster pace than ever before.

When visiting giant cities, it's definitely worth trying high-speed train travel and taking a hot air balloon flight over the city rooftops. And in the western suburbs of Shanghai, by Lake Dianshanhu, fifty kilometers from the center, there is an amazing place worth visiting – the water town of Zhujiajiao.

Cruise on the Li River

One way to get to know China is to sail on the country's most picturesque rivers.

The Li River resembles a sparkling, winding jade ribbon with shallows at every bend. The misty, shimmering reflections have a special charm – the mountains in the water appear even brighter than in real life and seem to float along with the river's current.

The views of the winding river constantly change, revealing new sights before your eyes: conical mountain peaks lining both sides of the riverbed, the 'Elephant Trunk Hill,' local villages, herds of water buffalo, bamboo groves, murmuring waterfalls – these are just some of the impressions travelers experience during the cruise.

And today, on unusual bamboo rafts, souvenir vendors buzz, the river is full of fishing boats whose fishing method is surprising – here they fish at night using domesticated cormorants. Their throats are tied so the birds cannot swallow the caught fish.

In a nature sanctuary

Another way to discover China is to get acquainted with its nature. And one of the most popular and beautiful places in China – the Lotus Mountains – is perfect for this introduction. Travelers who have been here claim to have experienced a refreshing of body and soul and a feast for the eyes.

Lotus Mountains, 'Lianhuashan' in Chinese, means 'lotus mountain'. And for good reason. If you look from above, you will see that five mountain peaks are arranged like the petals of a giant sacred lotus flower. The mountains consist of 48 red hills, the largest of which reaches 108 m in height. Since time immemorial, hermits have meditated in the hard-to-reach remote caves of these mountains.

You can take the cable car to the northern peak of the mountains, continue your journey on foot along narrow and winding mountain trails, constantly stopping at panoramic platforms to admire breathtaking views. There is something for everyone here – both for lovers of active sports and for travelers seeking tranquility.

And lovers of attractions will be delighted by the man-made Buddha statue towering on the mountaintop – it is over 40 meters high.

In Hunan Province, you can visit the ancient town of Fenghuang, which is like something out of a fairy tale. The greatest emotions will be evoked by the 'Avatar' mountains, where the film was shot.

Continuing your acquaintance with China's nature, you must visit Longsheng, an ethnic minority area whose surroundings are famous for impressive rice terraces. The terraces are charming at any time of the year. In spring, the rice fields are full of water and resemble silver necklaces hanging between the mountains. In summer, green waves pour from the mountains. In autumn, the mountains turn into golden towers, promising a bountiful harvest. And winter wraps the mountains in white ribbons that intertwine and cover each other.

The terraces, located on steep mountain slopes, leave an unforgettable impression. The way of life here is calm and simple, and the view from the observation deck of the whimsically winding terraced fields is mesmerizing. Of course, the itinerary must include a visit to the Great Wall of China, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. It's hard to believe it was built 2000 years ago! Construction began in the 7th century BC, with the aim of protecting against marauding barbarian tribes. Currently, only 30 percent of the wall retains its original appearance. The rest is heavily weathered.

Previously, the wall was measured not in meters, but in units of 'li' (1 li - 500 m), which is why this site is still sometimes called the 'thousand-li wall'. In some places the wall is very narrow, but there are places where two cars standing side by side could fit.

The Wild West in China

Step beyond the standard tourist route and head to the even lesser-known world of Western China, which is only gradually opening up. It is like a multi-colored puzzle of regions, composed of different characters. Each piece is like a separate country with its own peoples, fascinating history, and fantastic landscapes.

Head to the city of Xi'an, where the Great Silk Road began. Within the city limits are the mound tombs of Ancient China, including the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang with the Terracotta Army.

Travelers continue their search for the amazing, enduring Eastern power in Gansu Province, where the most impressive attractions are the mesmerizing cave temples with works of art and the Western Section of the Great Wall.

The magic of discovery continues in Muslim East Turkestan, known as Xinjiang. Among the ruins of centuries-old palaces and temples, travelers try to immerse themselves in the spirit of the former capital of the Jushi Kingdom - Jiaohe.

The travel experience begins to heat up in the Flaming Mountains and the cave monasteries – the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Near the capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi, you can reach the Tianshan Mountains and Heavenly Lake, shining like jade between them. The road then leads south to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, where you will return to a Buddhist environment and visit the Panda Reserve.

Guizhou Province reveals rare steepness and the incredibly picturesque Mount Fanjingshan, which looks especially mysterious through the mist.

It is difficult, and perhaps undesirable, to list everything that awaits you during your journey through China, as much will have to be discovered on your own. For those ready for the journey, we can only say that the adventure will be extremely interesting and amazing.