Top 10 Cities to Visit in China

China is big and it has a lot of beautiful cities. Good China tour consists of wonderful
China cities. As a China tour advisor, we would like to advise these top China tourist
cities to you. Each city has its own characteristic: Beijing-Capital of China,
Shanghai-Chinese Largest City, Xian-A Window on Chinese Ancient Civilization,
Suzhou-Oriental Venice, Guangzhou-The Ram City Renowned for Worldwide Fair,
Guilin-The Most Beautiful Mountain and Water in the World, Hong Kong-Pearl of the
Orient, Hangzhou-Heaven on Earth, Chengdu-Hometown of Giant Pandas,
Huangshan-Magnificent Beauty, Lhasa-Holy Pilgrimage Destination, Lijiang-Old
Ethnic Town, Shenzhen-Give You A New Wish Everyday, Tianjin-Water
Transportation Capital, Qingdao-Coastline City, Capital For Beer And Wine,
Dalian-Dynamic Capital, Kunming-Spring City, Changsha-Star City, Wuhan-Home
To Wonders, Xiamen-Lover For Amoy Straits.
1. Beijing
As the capital of China, Beijing is the center for politics, culture and education.
Known as one of the Four Ancient Capitals of China, the importance of Beijing as a
political center has been existent for centuries. With most of the famous landmarks
and structures located in Beijing the history of the city can be traced back almost 2000
years. The city is famous for its opulent Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great
Wall of China and its art treasures and universities have made it a centre of culture
and art in China. Visting Tiananmen Square and Hutongs in Beijing are some of the
highlights of the city.
2. Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and is also one of the four province
level municipalities. Its presence and influence in commerce, culture, finance, media
and fashion are prevalent. On the contrary apart from its modernity, Shanghai still has
it historical cultural elements.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta of eastern China, Shanghai city sits at the mouth
of the Yangtze River in the middle portion of the Chinese coast. The municipality
borders Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces to the west, and is bounded to the east by the
East China Sea. Shanghai literally means the City by the Sea.
3. Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions SARs of the Peoples
Republic of China PRC, the other being Macau. It is situated on Chinas south coast
and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is known for its
expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 426 sq mi
and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely
populated areas in the world. Hong Kongs population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese
and 5 percent from other groups. Hong Kongs Han Chinese majority originate mainly
from the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.
The city has some of the best and most sophisticated restaurants in the world, but it
also has dai pai dong, street-side food stalls. Hong Kong is home to one of the worlds
largest shopping malls, but lively makeshift street markets are virtually
everywhere.The more you search for in Hong Kong, the more youll find. Before long,
you, too, may find yourself swept up in the drama.
4. Guilin
Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means
forest of Sweet Osmanthus, owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet
Osmanthus trees located in the city. The Guilin city has long been renowned for its
unique scenery.
Guilin is considered to be the pearl of Chinas thriving tourist industry on account of
the natural beauty and historic treasures. Covering an area of about 27,800 square
kilometers (10,734 square miles), Guilin is rather compact when compared with other
leading cities in the country. However, situated within this area one may find green
mountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves and beautiful stones.
5. Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a beautiful coastal city, standing against mountains and facing the sea. It
is Chinas first and one of the most successful Special Economic Zones. The city is
full of innovation and hope. 81.4km long from east to west and 10.8km at the
narrowest spot from south to north. It is 160km fom Guangzhou and 35km from
Kowloon in Hong Kong. Shenzhen borders the Dapeng Bay in the east, the estury of
the Pearl River in the west, and New Terriory of Hong Kong in the south.
6. Chengdu
Chengdu, formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in
Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status. The urban area houses
14,047,625 inhabitants: 7,123,697 within the municipalitys nine districts and
6,730,749 in the surrounding region.
Chengdu is one of the most important economic, transportation, and communication
centers in Western China. According to the 2007 Public Appraisal for Best Chinese
Cities for Investment, Chengdu was chosen as one of the top ten cities to invest in out
of a total of 280 urban centers in China. It was recently named Chinas 4th-most
livable city by China Daily.
7. Lhasa
Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet, which is also the center of Politics, Economics,
cultureal and religion in Tibet. Lhasa is also known as the city of sunlight. Lhasa is
the largest city in Tibet and is located in southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region,
north bank on the Lhasa River (the tributary of the Brahmaputra). It is the second
most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau (after Xining) and at an altitude of 3,490
metres, covering a total area of ??29,518 square kilometers.
Lhasa is an ancient city with a history of 1,300 years and has long been the political,
economic, cultural and religious center in Tibet region. In 1960, it was officially
approved as a prefecture-level city by the State Council. In 1982, it was listed as one
of 24 national historical and cultural city.
8. Lijiang
Lijiang, a magical, pretty and quiet place, has stunned the world with its unspoiled
beauty. The unimaginable peace and harmony between nature and humans in the city
has made it a Xanadu on the earth. The whole county of Lijiang has about 1.2 million
people in area of about 21,200 square kilometers. The city is in the cradle of a number
of minority regions the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the north, Dali
Bai Autonomous Prefecture in the south, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in the
west and Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province in the east.
Lijiang is the political, economic and cultural centre of the northwestern Yunnan
Province. It once was an essential stop on the Southern Silk Road and Tea-Horse
Road leading to Tibet, Sichuan, India and other southeastern Asian countries. The
Lijiang city contains the only Naxi Autonomous Prefecture in China and is the home
to Naxi ethnic group, who created a unique system of Dongba Culture throughout
history. Dongba language is known as the only complete living pictography in the
world. The prolific religious Lijiang Murals , or that Baisha Murals, testifies to the
mystery of this culture. Additionally, the melodious Naxi Ancient Music , called
Living Fossil of Music, has stepped out of the stage of China and won the acclaim
of the whole world.
9. Xiamen
Xiamen, also known as Amoy, is a major city on the southeast coast of the Peoples
Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with
an area of 1575.16 km2 and population of 3.61 million. Its built up area is now bigger
than the old urban island area and covers now all six districts of Xiamen.
Xiamen is a scenic port tourism city. It is home to a large number of egrets, hence the
name Egret Island. Located in the southeastern coastal area of China, Xiamen is
linked with Zhangzhou, presenting the landscapes of the Golden Triangle in South
Fujian, and it is like spring all the year round. With various kinds of beautiful flowers,
a great number of egrets flying leisurely and carefree, and some natural bathing
grounds formed by undulating sand beaches, Xiamen is an ideal holiday resort, a
paradise for tourists.Hope this xiamen tourism guide can help you.
10. Hangzhou
Located in China Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou is one of the most important tourist
cities in China. As the saying goes, Above there is heaven, below there are
Hangzhou and Suzhou. Its famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural
heritages. Hangzhou city is the political, economic and cultural center of Zhejiang
province as well. It is also one of Chinas seven ancient national capitals.
The eight-thousand-year Kuahuqiao Site and the five-thousand-year Liangzhu Site
bear the history and tell the immemorial lingering charm of Hangzhou. Hangzhous
cultural of ancient capital is enriched by stained Genshan Gate, Yongjin Gate, the
Royal Palace site of Southern Song Dynasty and the Eight Diagrams Field of
Southern Song Dynasty. Hangzhou is also well known for its silk and tea. A trip to
Hangzhou can be easily combined with a visit to a tea plantation in the hills near the
West Lake. The famous attractions in Hangzhou should not be miss the Lingyin
Temple and Six Harmonies Pagoda.
Reference, http://www.chinatouradvisors.com/city/Tourist.html