China: Where Culture, Nature and History Come Alive!

Located in East Asia, China is the third largest country in the world. Similar in size to the United States, it’s home to 1,300,000,000 people. It’s bordered by fourteen countries including India, Mongolia, and Russia. Varying from cold to tropical climates, China is known not just for its culture but it’s incredible natural beauty. (The only problem with China? You’ll love it so much you’ll likely have to do a second trip. No worries – Joy Travel has you covered!)

Cities:
Manchuria: Manchuria boasts verdant forests and wheat fields similar to something you’d see in the United State’s Dakotas.
Mongolia: Located in the North West, these providences have stunning deserts and breathtaking sunsets (Think Arizona and New Mexico.) Expect flattened plains with small tree groves and stark yellow hills.
The Yangtze Valley: Opposite Mongolia, the Yangtze Valley is green and fertile (think North and South Carolina). Its lands are dotted with lakes and rivers of crystal blue and aqua. Consider taking a boat tour through for magnificent river, mountain and wildlife views.
South China vs. North China
Expect more rain in the south due to its many rice fields. Unlike the green of South China, North China is much less moist with a landscape of yellow and brown. It is similar to New England with its corn, millet and wheat – all growing together and adding to the economy of the country.

China’s Provinces:

China has 28 providences (and this does not even cover Tibet and Mongolia). These providences all have a different form of government and are separated by the Great Wall of China.

Places to Visit:

The Great Wall of China: Made of stone, wood, brick and flattened earth, this wall is 5,500 miles long. Construction began in 7th Century BC to protect the Chinese from invaders. The most famous part of the wall was built in 220 to 206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Most of the existing walls today are from the Ming Dynasty. Now a days these walls are used for Border Control.

The Forbidden City:  Located in the middle of Beijing, the Forbidden City was the premiere home to emperors and their households. It was also the center of government for nearly five hundred years. Built in 1406 and completed in 1420, there are nine hundred and eighty buildings covering one hundred and eighty acres. History buffs in particular can spend an entire day here.
The Bund (Waitan): Located in mid Shanghai, this is a breathtaking section of Zhongshan Road running along the Huangpu River. It faces cosmopolitan skyscrapers of the Pudong District and is one of the most popular must-see stops in Shanghai.

The Potala Palace: Located in Lhasa, this “Tibet Autonomous Region” originally was the home of the Dalai Lama until 1959 when the fourteenth Dalai Lama escaped to India due to the Tibetan uprising. The Potala Palace serves now as a museum and a World Heritage Site.

The Summer Palace: This popular tourist destination features lakes, palaces and gardens. It’s located in Beijing. Travelers can access Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill which surrounds it, giving a nice contrast between nature and architecture.

Tiananmen Square: This is one of the most famous cities in China. It borders the Forbidden City and houses the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People’s Heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Tiananmen Square holds the title as one of the 10 largest city squares in the entire world.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: This non-profit organization is popular due to its breeding of giant pandas and other forms of rare and extinct animals. It can be found in Chengdu, Sichuan.

Other Places to See Include:
The Tianzi Mountains
The Ming Tombs
Jiuzhaigou
The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang
Huanglong
Zhangye Danxia Landform – Gansu
Detain Falls
Thousand Islands Lake
Huangshan, Anhui
Pearl Shoal Waterfall, Jiuzhaigou
Maijishan Grottoes
Yangtze River
Red Beach,Panjin
Libo
Road to Tiananmen
The Matsu Islands
Qiandao Lake
The Temple of Heaven

Contact Joy Travel Today!

China might take hours by plane, but it’s closer than you think. Joy Travel will gladly make your dreams to visit China a reality!