Beijing may not be known for environmental values, but Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park (Yeyahu) outside the city is flying the flag for natural restoration. Migrating birds and indigenous plants adorn the flat wetlands that fringe Wild Duck Lake, while a network of cycle paths make it a pleasant place to explore.
Macau’s only Suzhou-style Chinese garden, Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, often attracts locals who come to practice tai chi or play music in what was once the largest private garden in the city. Today the space is a 4.4-acre (1.8-hectare) public park, featuring traditional elements like ponds, bridges, rockeries, pavilions, and pagodas.
The Beijing Aquarium (Beijing Haiyangguan)—the largest inland aquarium in China—is part of the Beijing Zoo. Anyone interested in marine life will enjoy experiencing its Amazon rain forest pavilion, coral reef, shark aquarium, and marine mammal exhibits complete with daily sea lion and dolphin shows.
Get an overview of some of Hong Kong’s best sights on a 1-hour sightseeing tour aboard an open-top 1920s-style tram, which includes an onboard guide, prerecorded commentary, and a mini museum. Gain insight into Hong Kong life and history as you pass by bustling streets, modern skyscrapers, historic landmarks, and top attractions.
Head to the “Green Lung” of Nanning, Mt. Qingxiu, a popular summer resort for centuries, and explore the Longxiang Pagoda, man-made pools, Three Gods Temple, the botanical garden, and Nanning’s only 18-hole golf course. The mountain range itself has 18 peaks, with a pagoda sitting on top of one of them. This is a lovely spot to spend a few hours.
Situated on a forested hillside in the old part of town, Luis de Camões Garden and Grotto is a welcome oasis of calm in one of the most densely populated places in the world. Dedicated to the Portuguese poet and naval veteran Luis de Camões, this is the largest park in the city of Macau.
One of the three ancient temples of Macau, Kun Iam Temple was founded during the 13th century, although the present structures were built in 1627. Dedicated to Kun Iam, the Chinese representation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Mercy, this Buddhist temple is one of the largest and most important in Macau.
A truly global outdoor gallery, the Changchun World Sculpture Park features hundreds of carvings from a myriad of countries and cultures, including Inuit, Māori, and Maya pieces, set amid parkland around a lake. Four separate museums feature East African Makonde wood carvings, works by Chinese sculptor Wei Xiaoming, and art from calligraphy to installations.
Carved into the side of a cliff, the Maijishan Grottoes contain thousands of Buddhist sculptures and frescoes crafted by pilgrims and traders as they made their way across the Silk Road. These grottoes are one of four cave complexes in China and have a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
A high green mound set in landscaped gardens with statues, steles, museums, and a tent for dance performances, the Zhaojun Tomb is one of the biggest Han Dynasty tombs, standing as high as a 10-story building. It’s named for a famous beauty and Chinese heroine, Wang Zhaojun, who married a chief of the nomadic Xiongnu people in 33 BC.
One of a number of Chinese rivers that share this name, the Daning River is a tributary of the Yangtze and meets the main river at Wu Gorge, one of the Three Gorges, by the town of Wushan. Travelers mainly know the Daning River for the Three Little Gorges: Dragon Gate Gorge (Longmen Xia), Misty Gorge (Bawu Xia), and Emerald Gorge (Dicui Xia).
A huge Tibetan Buddhist temple complex, Dazhao Temple is one of Hohhot’s signature sights and draws pilgrims from across China. Worshippers bearing prayer wheels process past a blue-faced Medicine Buddha, a silver model of Sakyamuni (Buddha in human form), a stupa clad in prayer flags, a selection of deities, and an array of colorful murals.
The Weijin Tombs are thought by many to be the world’s largest underground art museum. Here, several family burial tombs dating back thousands of years have been excavated, unearthing bodies, artifacts used daily in the home, and hundreds of murals drawn on bricks. The pictures on the murals provide insight into life in the Wei and Jin dynasties.
The Tomb of Wang Jian was the last resting place of 10th-century Chinese leader Wang Jian. Carved murals of musicians and dancers surround the bed where his coffin once rested and a statue of the man himself awaits in an adjoining chamber. The attraction is also known as Yong Ling, Yongling Museum, or Yongling Mausoleum.
The Kong Forest, or the Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin), is just north of Qufu. The thousands of gravestones and tombs here honor Confucius, his disciples, and his descendants—the Kongs. Their gravestones span the length of several dynasties. Confucius, the philosopher, educator, and politician, is revered by many as a profound thought leader bringing China into modern times.
At this large museum in Nanning, learn about the 12 nationalities in Guanxi and ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia and worldwide. Explore the different cultures by examining silver accessories, brocades, and costumes. Check out the ancient copper drums, Qing ceramics, examples of calligraphy, and much more. Some exhibits are indoors, some outdoors, and you can also learn from films.
Offering fresh forest air and reflecting waters in summer, the Jingyue Lake reservoir turns into a Chinese winter wonderland once the waters freeze over, with ice skating, sleigh rides, snow sculptures, and more. The centerpiece of Jingyue Lake National Forest Park, it’s a great way to get out into nature from Changchun.
The nine-story Pavilion of Prince Teng was originally built in the Tang dynasty, so it’s seen its fair share of history. Set in Nanchang, the structure is famous for its height, large size, and architectural style, which is actually related to the Song Dynasty. Inside there are bronzes, musical instruments, and other extravagant gifts given to Prince Teng.
Tucked into the north range of the Qinling Mountains just outside Xian, Louguantai National Forest Park was where Laozi, father of Taoism, penned his foundational philosophy of theTao Te Ching. Travelers will find three Taoist temples within the park, as well as a bamboo forest and wild-animal-breeding center.
Goddess Peak (Shennu Feng) is where the goddess Yao Ji is believed to be immortalized in stone, watching over the Yangtze River below. This highest of the twelve peaks comprising the Wu Gorge is thought to resemble a woman standing on the river’s northern shore.
One of China’s oldest and most impressive temple complexes, Jinci Temple—just southwest of Taiyuan in the Shanxi province—was constructed some 1,500 years ago. Formerly used for ancestral worship, the sprawling temple complex contains nearly 100 buildings scattered across a verdant garden setting. It’s also celebrated for its wealth of ancient trees, including a 3,000-year-old cypress.
A tiny islet linked to mainland Qingdao by a road bridge, leafy Little Qingdao (Xiao Qingdao or Qin Island) is a popular spot for a stroll and offers great views back towards the city. Highlights include a German-built lighthouse from 1900, a World War II Japanese torpedo dump, and a statue of a lady with a zither (qin).
Established in 2013, Art Basel Hong Kong is the premier art fair in Asia and follows Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach. With half of the participating galleries coming from the Asia Pacific region, Art Basel Hong Kong showcases some of the best and newest in modern and contemporary art from artists in Asia, as well as around the world.
From May to June, Changchun’s Peony Garden comes alive with opulent blossoms in shades of pink, white, and fuchsia, and the sweet scent of peony fills the air. Paired with classical Chinese backdrops of bridges, streams, pavilions, and woodland, it’s a lovely but fleeting display of flowers that play an important role in Chinese culture.
