Southwest China attractions

China’s largest construction project since the Great Wall and the biggest dam in the world in terms of installed capacity, the Three Rivers Dam spans 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) and is more than 600 feet (183 meters) tall. The dam is an impressive feat of engineering despite the controversy surrounding its environmental and human impacts.

Head into the forest of Qianling Mountain Park for some fresh air and a break from city life. For a nominal fee, you can explore a huge expanse of natural beauty home to hundreds of plants, trees, birds, and energetic macaques. Besides the forest, there’s a lake for boating, hiking trails, and even a small zoo.

With spectacular views over limpid Dian Lake and the city of Kunming, Kunming Dragon Gate is an extraordinary network of tunnels, paths, gates, and shrines hacked out of a cliff face more than 200 years ago. Above and below it, the Dragon Gate scenic area offers tranquil temples and pavilions, plus hiking trails through shady trees.

One of the Three Gorges that the Yangtze River runs through between Yichang and Chongqing, Xiling Gorge is known for its soaring limestone cliffs and rugged landscapes. The Three Gorges Dam has raised the height of the river since Chinese poets began to write about these surroundings, but the area still offers stunning photos—not to mention scenic caves, streams, bridges, temples, waterfalls, and minor gorges.

Considered one of the most important Zen Buddhist temples in western Sichuan, Zhaojue Temple dates back to the seventh century. While few traces of the original buildings remain, Zhaojue Temple is regarded as the ancestral temple for many Japanese and Southeast Asian Buddhist temples.

Dali’s Three Pagodas are one of China’s national treasures dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries. The three symmetric towers are one of the country’s most visited attractions because of their architecture and size. A lake named Reflection Pond reflects the pagoda’s images, located at the foot of the Cangshan Mountains. Visiting these sites is a must when you’re seeing Dali's sites.

Part of the Happy Valley franchise of theme parks, Happy Valley Chengdu is the largest amusement park in western China. Located in the Jinniu District, the park features a variety of rides such as roller coasters, tilt-a-whirls, bumper cars, and water rides, as well as magic shows, concerts, and other performances.

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.