China, for its sheer size and history, has many attractions and activities that tourists coming to the country can indulge in. To summarize it within just 10 places may be a challenge but still, we will try here to include the most important places that should be visited in the country. We start here with the Great Wall of China and take it from there on.
This 21,196 km long fortified wall is arguably the symbol of Chinese pride and identity. There are some stretches of the wall like Mutianyu and Badaling that are highly visited by tourists. Visiting the wall's section in places like Gubeikou and Jinshanling can be worthwhile as people can get the feeling of its massive size. No doubt, the Wall will be on the top of any China-visit itinerary!
The Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an in the Shaanxi province are a must-visit for any tourist. One can see about 6,000 differently-carved soldiers along with 600 horses in three pits. They stand guard to the Emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife and is one of the revered cultural icons of the country.
For all tourists who think that Shanghai is all about modern-day economic development, The Bund can be a pleasant departure! It is a group of medieval European constructions that look quite royal and beautiful. Different architecture styles from the Gothic, Romanesque and the Renaissance period can be seen here and a nighttime visit can be quite endearing due to the twinkling lights of the place.
Beijing is the capital of the country and has some amazing places to visit. One can see the serene Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and the legendary Forbidden City over here. In recent times, the Lama Temple which is a famous Buddhist temple has been highly frequented by many tourists due to its popularity.
China is known for its lovely pandas. To see this animal from up close, one must travel to Chengdu and visit the popular Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Nature and animal lovers can learn a lot over here about them and get a good understanding of these animals.
For viewing the monumental masterpiece of Shanghai, one must visit the Pearl. It has many types of activities for everyone visiting the place so that people can always be interested in visiting here. The best view can also be enjoyed from the Aerial Sightseeing Corridor. Visitors can also visit the revolving buffet restaurant and the Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World over here.
This world's largest public square is in Beijing opposite to the Forbidden City. The most popular building in this square is the 600-year old Tiananmen Tower that can also be climbed for a view. It is also the final resting place of Mao Tse Tung and the National Museum of China is also present very close to the Square.
A river cruise in the Yangtze can be worth a visit for any tourist as it is the longest river of the country and passes through natural and manmade wonders. It passes through cities like Nanjing, Shanghai, and Chongqing but the major attraction can be the three scenic gorges. The Leshan Giant Buddha, Yellow Mountain, and the West Lake can also be seen.
For adventure tourists, it can be very high on the list! In the Shaanxi province, there is the Huashan Scenic Area which has three hiking trails of differing intensity. Adrenaline junkies can do better to walk the treacherous ladder and plank part of the hike and get a feeling of a lifetime! This hike can test anyone's raw guts and can be worth visiting.
The Yellow mountain features twisted pines and many tall stone spires that look awesome. People who are done with the urban hullabaloo can surely enjoy this natural beauty and the sea of mist that it sits into. The nearby Hongcun village can also be worth visiting due to its superb rural panorama and rich setting. The Ming and Qing-period architecture can be enjoyed here in a natural environment.
It is impossible to limit a large country to only ten places but if a tourist is devoid of time, then visiting these ten places can be perfect to know much about China and everything that it stands for.