Kola Nut Travel

China is incredible in many ways. The list of sights and things to do here is endless, not to mention the rich culture and many wonders of this country. A few notable must-sees include the barren highlands of Tibet via the Silk Road to the bewildering Forbidden City at Bejing and the magnificent Great Wall of China. There are also the amazing armies of Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the tomb of Qin Shi'huang in Xi'an, the intriguing citylife of Shanghai, the breath-taking scenic beauty of Yunnan and Asia's original world city - Hong Kong. Beijing has come a long way from the dusty communist capital of the seventies and eighties to a modern city with the usual high rising buildings and shopping malls. Beijing has some of the most superb examples of Chinese architecture, including the magical ambiance of the old traditional "hutong" neighborhoods. No other place in China offers such a large number of old buildings as Bejing. Beijing is also one of the more convenient starting points for visiting The Great Wall.

The Paris of the Orient: that's what they called Shanghai in the past, when it was still the leading power in trade and opium. Today, Shanghai is the commercial center of China and has one of the most dynamic skylines in the world. The 17-million-citizen-strong city shows her dualistic face in every corner of the city. The Old Centre in the Yu Yuan area is where you can find one of the oldest streets of China. It is a good starting point for a boat trip on the Huangpu river or a visit to the Yu Yuan Market. Although the city is fairly commercial these days, there is always a park or traditional garden in the vicinity.

Xi'an is home to one of China’s most magnificent treasures. In 1974, at the northern foot of Lishan Hill in the east of Lintong county, three large pits of terra-cotta figures were found near the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin, who established the first centralized feudal dynasty in China history. The largest one is pit No.1, covering 14,260sq meters. The pit is divided into eleven corridors in which there are 38 columns of over 6000 life-sized clay warriors, horses and chariots. The life-like figures are colorfully painted and are of high artistic value.

And this is only a sample of the wonders of China. Explore the Stone Forest near Kunming, called the City of Eternal Spring – or relax in the quaint medieval town of Pingyao which hosts the world’s largest photography festival each autumn.

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