China Landmarks Worth Visiting: 10 Best Locations

China, officially known as the People’s Republic of China, was made known to the West around 700 years ago through the great traveler Marco Polo’s writings. China is a country in East Asia that covers approximately 9,600,000 square kilometers; the fourth largest country in the world by its total area. Ever since, China has remained the center of attraction with many wonderful places to visit due to its massive size and vast geography. The most interesting fact about China that people seem to ignore is China’s magnificent landmarks. Have you ever wondered how many landmarks are in China? China is home to some of the most amazing and splendid landmarks of the world. From a never-ending list of glorious Chinese landmarks, here I’ve picked the top 10 China landmarks that you must visit.

1. The Great Wall of China in Huairou

The Great Wall of China is amongst the most historical landmarks in China. This is the longest wall on the entire globe. It is an amazing showcase of ancient defensive architectural design. The Great Wall of China is around 21,196.18 km long and is more than 2,300 years old. The Great Wall of China was built for two primary reasons: to prevent invasions and to protect the silk road trade. In 1987, it was honored by UNESCO and was declared a world heritage site.

2. Tiananmen Square in Beijing

Tiananmen Square or Tian’anmen Square is a city square situated in the heart of Beijing. It is amongst the biggest town squares in the world. This square is amongst the most famous landmarks in China. The Tiananmen Square is home to a variety of notable attractions including the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the national repository of China, the great hall of the people, and the monument to the people’s heroes. It has great cultural significance because it was the location of many vital events in Chinese history.

3. The Palace Museum in Beijing

The Palace Museum, placed in the heart of Beijing, is also referred to as the Forbidden City. The most fascinating truth concerning this well-known monument in China is that it remained the imperial palace for 24 emperors. It was designed around 1406-1420 throughout the reign of Emperor Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty. When we talk about major landmarks in China, The Palace Museum is amongst the most distinctive sites to travel to and explore. All four corners of the curtain wall have exquisitely fine structured towers on it.

4. Terracotta Army Museum in Shaanxi

The repository of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses, also referred to as the Terracotta Army, is found approximately 1.5 kilometers east of the tomb of the very first Qin Emperor and forms a part of the extensive cemetery. There have been over a thousand terracotta troops unearthed there, each with a unique facial expression. Standing before the huge underground army you can feel the extraordinary might of the Qin Emperor that enabled him to unify six militant states over two thousand years ago.

5. The Summer Palace in Beijing

The Summer Palace, located in northwest Beijing, is a large ensemble of soothing lakes, landscaped gardens, temples, palaces, and pavilions in Beijing. This palace is alleged to be the most effectively preserved imperial garden in the world and also the largest of its kind still living in China. Mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake the Summer Palace covers approximately an area of 2.9 sq. km, three-quarters of which is composed of water. In 1998 UNESCO declared The Summer Palace as a world heritage site and said that ‘Summer Palace is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design’.

6. Dujiangyan Panda Valley in Chengdu

The Dujiangyan Panda Base, or China conservation and research center for giant pandas, is placed in Mt. Qingcheng city, approximately 34 miles northwest of Chengdu. The center features a panda rescue and quarantine space, research space for disease prevention and management, a recovery and coaching space, reception and education space, a vegetation space and a topographic point. You can visit this panda valley at any time of the year, however, in summer there are baby pandas to enjoy. It is said that mornings are the best time of the day to visit.

7. Li River in Guangxi Zhuang

One of the most exotic and splendid China landmarks is the Li River in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, flowing eighty-three kilometers from Guilin to Yangshuo. You will be able to take a 4 to 5-hour cruise on the watercourse where you’ll be delighted with sights of the mesmerizing Karst peaks, watch water ox within the field, peasants in their rice paddies, cormorants diving and wave to kids and fishermen floating by on bamboo rafts. Along with these soothing and delightful sights, you will also get a chance to see Elephant Trunk Hill, the exotic scenery of Chuanshan Park, Daxu ancient city, Crown Cave and Half-Side Ferry.

8. Mt. Everest in Tibet

The globally known face of Mount Everest is in Nepal; however, the less known side is accessible through Tibet. Here, the mountain is a kilometer wide and U-shaped depression, and looking at the golden triangle created by the sun as it rises at the peak of Mount Everest is unforgettable. The scenery and experience of Tibetan culture add the much-needed charm to the experience. A road has been paved there along with the construction of a camping ground at the bottom. This place looks even more gorgeous in winter and less crowded, but more icy, snowy, and windy.

9. Tianzi Mountain in Hunan

Tianzi Mountain is located in the northern part of Wulingyuan Scenic area in the Hunan province of China close to the Suoxi Valley in South Central China. The gorgeous scenic peaks of the Tianzi Mountains are said to be the inspiration for the alien landscapes of ‘Avatar’. The travelers will get a chance to enjoy views of the weather-worn sandstone towers. The views of mesmerizing peaks rising one on the other are appreciated by travelers in all seasons and times, particularly the sea of clouds, rays of sunshine, and snow of winter.

10. Tiger Leaping Gorge on The Jinsha River

One of the deepest river canyons in the world, the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge is on the Jinsha river, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze river, sixty kilometers north of Lijiang town, Yunnan, in southwestern China. The best times to go to the Tiger Leaping Gorge are Spring (April – May) or Autumn (September – October), in short when the weather is clear and dry. Summers (July – August) are rainy creating hurdles due to landslides, and Winter is incredibly cold at night with some snow.

China is not just hugely populous, it is a country full of amazing landmarks that one should visit at least once in a lifetime. China landmarks are well known and globally praised for their diversity, uniqueness and mesmerizing views. If you ever get a chance to visit China make sure you go to these top 10 spectacular landmarks. Each landmark has its historical importance while others add to the already wonderful scenic beauty of the country.