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City
Guide
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 Shanghai,
China's largest modern city, otherwise called "Hu", is one
of the four municipalities under the jurisdiction of the Central Government.
It is located at the south bank of the world's third longest river,
the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, at its outlet to the East China Sea.
It covers an area of 6340 square kilometers. Shanghai has a warm climate.
Communications are convenient. Industry and commerce are flourishing.
As a world - famous international port, Shanghai is a gateway in East
China for developing tourist trade.Shanghai is a city with a long history. In the longest development, it has formed its own unique city scene and varied cultures and arts. Up to now, a lot of cultural relics beginning in the Tang and Song Dynasties, many museums and contemporary memorial halls are well preserved. There are a lot of tourist centers in urban districts and suburbs of Shanghai, which form many tourist areas, tourist lines and special - interest tourist items. The five gardens, Yu Yuan (the Garden of Leisurely Repose), Gu Yi Yuan (the Garden of Ancient Splendor), Qushui Yuan (the Garden of Bending Brooks), Zuibai Chi (the Pond for Drunken Li Bai) and Qiuxia Pu (the Garden of Autumn Sunlight) and so on, are ready to welcome the visitors with new features. At the side of Dianshan Lake, the newly - built Grand View Garden begins to take shape. |
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 The
City of Xi'an, otherwise Chang'an (ever - lasting peace) in ancient
times and situated in the middle of the Guanzhong Plain, is the capital
of Shananxi Province.Xi'an is a noted city and was one of the oldest cities. Beginning in 1126 B. C., the Western Zhou, the Qin, the Western Han, the Sui and the Tang, altogether 12 dynasties, set up their capitals in Xi'an for more than 1000 years. So, there are many cultural relics and historic sites both on and under the ground. |
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 Hangzhou
is the capital of Zhejiang Province. It was first established as Qiantang
County during the Qin Dynasty in the 3rd century B.C. By the Five
Dynasties Period (10th century) it was the capital of Wu and Yue and
later became the temporary capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127
- 1279). As a world famous city of tourism, its chief attraction is
the West Lake and some 40 scenic spots scattered around this mountain
and lake area of 49 square kilometers. Among the most important ones
are the Monastery of Soul's Retreat, Yue Fei's Temple and the Pagoda
of Six harmonies. |
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Situated
in the northeastern corner of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,
the city of Guilin is famous the world over
for its green hills, clear waters, fantastic caves and spectacular
rocks. It is one of China's well - known tourist scenic cities, claiming
to have the "finest mountains and rivers under heaven". |
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 Situated
in northeast Hebei Province, 250 kilometers from Beijing, Chengde
covers an area of 4442 square kilometers. Surrounded by mountains
and with brooks and streams running through the city, Chengde commands
beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate. Here the Chengde Mountain
Resort of classic beauty and elegant taste, the grand "Eight
Outer Temples" and the strange hills and crags combine to make
Chengde a city of scenic and historical interest with a special and
rational layout, as well as a tourist attraction famous both at home
and abroad. |
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 Guangzhou
(Canton - the old spelling) is the capital of Guangdong Province.
With a history of over 2800 years, Guangzhou has always been a port
for foreign exchanges and trade, and is still one of the largest ports
in China. Here the China Export Commodities Fair is held every spring
and autumn, which attracts business people from the world over.The points of historical interest include Zhenhai Tower, the Guangxiao Temple, Liurong Temple, Huaisheng Mosque, Sun Yat - sen Memorial Hall and so on. |
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Situated
in the central part of Yunnan - Guizhou Plateau, Kunming is the capital
of Yunnan Province. There are many
places of historic interest and scenic beauty in and around the city,
such as the Dragon Gate in the Western Hill, the Golden Temple, the
Black Dragon Pool Park, the Green Lake Park, the Daguan Pavilion,
the Yuantong Park, the Hot Spring and so on. The most interesting
places are: the copper - cast Place in the Golden Temple, the grottoes
near the Dragon Gate, the clay - status of the Buddhist Saints in
the Bamboo Temple, three unique ancient trees in the Black Dragon
Pool and the Long Scrolls before the Daguan Pavilion. Besides, more
than 120 kilometers from Kunming impressive stone peaks present a
magnificent view. |
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 Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is located at the outer
east side of the Zhujiang River (Prarl River) mouth. It is made up
of the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories
and 235 smaller isles. The total area is 1055.61 square kilometers.Hong Kong is a hub for air and ocean transportation in East Asia and a financial center in the Far East. With highly developed commerce, it is commonly acknowledged as "a Paradise for Purchasers." |
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Dali
is a city 400 km. West of Kunming. It is located between the Erhai
Lake and the Cangshan Mountain. The Cangshan
Mountain with 19 peaks stands here like a silver screen. The highest
peak is 4120 meters above sea level and the whole mountain range runs
as long as 50 kilometers. The Erhai Lake looks like a mirror dotted
with floating boats on its rippling surface.The Erhai Park on the southern shore provides visitors with its ancient - style pavilions, corridors and platforms where one can take a panoramic view of the Cangshan Mountain and the Erhai Lake. The Butterfly Spring is another frequent destination of tourists in Dali. The clear water and the flying butterflies give people a sense of tranquility and mystery. |
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Lijiang
in northwestern Yunnan is inhabited by the Naxi minority people. The
city was built during the Southern Song  period
(420 - 589) and became the home of the Naxi tribal chiefs from the
Yuan to the early Qing Dynasty. Later it served as the Lijiang prefecture
seat. Today the city still retains its traditional layout. Among its
interesting spots are the Wufeng Tower, Yufeng and Puji temples.,
a collection of ancient Naxi hieroglyphics and musical scores. Not
far from the city are the snowy Yulong Mountain, the gulf at the start
of the Changjiang River (the Yangtze River) and the Tiger Leaping
Gorge. |
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 The
three Gorges of the Changjiang River, a world - renowned tourist attraction,
start at Baidicheng in Fengjie Country in the west and end at Nanjing
Pass in Yichang in the east, passing through Fengjie, Wushan counties
in Sichuan Province and on through Badong, Zigui counties and Yichang
City in Hubei Province. The total length of the gorges extends 193
kilometers. Except the Daning River Valley and the Xiangxi (Fragrant
Stream) Valley, the gorges themselves are 93 kilometers long. The
first gorge of the three from west to east, known as Qutang Gorge,
is 7km, Wuxia Gorge, the second one, runs west to east for 44km; Xiling
Gorge, the last of the three, covers a distance of 42km. |
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 Located
in the center of the Chengdu Plain, Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan
Province. For nearly 2500 years, it has been the economic and cultural
center of the province. Long noted for its brocade industry, Chengdu
was named Jincheng or the Brocade City in the Eastern Han Dynasty
(25 - 220 A.D.). When the people of the Brocade City discovered that
the brocade became brighter and fresher after they washed it in the
local river, they named it the Jinjiang or the Brocade River. |
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Chongqing
is the largest city in Southwest China. It is a hub of water and land
communications and an important  industrial
center. It is also the starting point for a cruise on the Changjiang
River to visit the scenic spots and historical sites along its banks.
West of the city lies the well - known Stone Carvings of Dazu. In
the city proper it has Beiwenquan (North Hot Spring), Nanwenquan (South
Hot Spring), the Longevity Lake and other places of beauty. The view
of Chongqing, a mountainous city, is most attractive at night. |
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 Wuhan
is the capital of Hubei Province. It is a combination of three towns:
Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang.Huanghe (Yellow Crane) Tower stands on the top of Sheshan (Snake Hill). It was originally built in the Three Kingdomw Period (220 - 280). In the old days it was a gathering place for men of letters. Its name spread far and wide after Cui Hao, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem entitled "Yellow Crane Tower". Today's Huanghe Tower is 51.4 meters high. It looks resplendent and magnificent. From the top of the tower one can enjoy a spectacular view. Other tourist attractions include Platform of Guqin, Guiyuan Temple and the East Lake Scenic Spot. |
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 Nanjing
is the capital of Jiangsu Province. I lies in the lower reaches of
the Changjiang River, covering an area of 4500 square kilometers.One of China's four ancient capitals and cultural centers, it was built 2400years ago and was the capital of eight dynasties - the Eastern Wu, the Eastern Jin, the Song, the Qi, the Liang, the Chen, the Southern Tang and the early Ming dynasties. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a regime set up by a nationwide peasant's uprising, had its capital here for 11 years. Following the Revolution of 1911, it was there that Dr. Sun Yat - sen assumed his office of provisional president. Just before the liberation the city was the headquarters of the Kuomintang government. |
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A
Beautiful city with a long history, Wuxi is located on the side of
Lake Tai, on the central part of Changjiang Delta. Now
Wuxi is one of the fifteen key economic cities and tourist attractions
in China.Wuxi is an important town in Jiangsu Province. It nevertheless is an attractive place to visit with its network of canals and cobbled streets. The major attraction for most visitors is Tai Hu, or Lake Taihu. Lake Taihu is the third largest fresh water lake in China, covering an area of 2425 square kilometers. In Xihui Park on the western edge of Wuxi, You will be able to see the remains of the Hui Shan Temple, built in 420 A.D., and the Huishan Spring, which was known as far back as the ninth century. It is "the second oldest spring in China". At the foot of the hills in the park stands Ji Chang Garden, which is over 400 years old and was once th private garden of a minister in Ming Dynasty. There are two other fine gardens in Wuxi: Mei Yuan, or Plum Garden, and Li Garden. Each has its own charm. |
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 Suzhou
is located near the east shore of Lake Taihu where the Grand Canal
joins the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. It is surrounded by more than
20 lakes. Narrow waterways thread between white - walled houses
to link up with the Grand Canal, making the city the "Venice
of China".It was once the capital of the State of Wu during the late Spring and Autumn Period more than 2500 years ago. Suzhou is a place of great beauty. A proverb says that "In heaven there is paradise; on earth, Suzhou and Hangzhou". In the old days wealthy families used to settle here from all over China and built great mansions and exquisite gardens in this land of fish and rice. Suzhou also has a long history of embroidery production. An old saying goes, "the gardens south of the Yangtze River are the best under Heaven, and among them the gardens of Suzhou are the best." Over centuries garden building has been a common practice in the city. The gardens once numbered as many as 200. Suzhou is unique in the world in the number of gardens, their tranquil and serenity environment, refined layout and exquisite building skills. The pavilion of the Surging Waves, the Lion Cave Grove, the Humble Administration - Administrators Garden, the Garden to Linger In, the Fishermen Garden and the Lotus Garden, all well - preserved, are masterpieces of the Suzhou Gardening Art. On the outskirts of the city are such well - known scenic places as the Huqiu Hill, Mt. Dengwei, Mt. Yushan, Lake Taihu, Lake Shihu and Lake Yangcheng, as well as places of historical interests such as Panmen, Fengqiao Bridge, the West Garden, the Hanshan Temple, the North Temple Pagoda, the Xuanmiao Daoism Temple, the Residence of King Zhong, the tomb of Zhongyong in Mt. Yushan, the Baosheng Temple in Luzhi, the Zijin Nunnery in the East Hill and the Situ Temple at Guangfu. |
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Tibet
has the magnificent and wonderful natural scenery of the "third
pole of the world " and the feature of the simple and  unsophisticated
Tibetan Buddhism. There are 44 peaks opened to the foreigners. The
Shannan's Yarlong Valley Zone is the state - listed scenic area. Lhasa
and Xigaze (Shigatse) are the noted national cultural and historic
cities. There 13 national key relics protection units. With Lhasa
as the center, Shannan and Xigaze (Shigatse) are the east and west
lines respectively, radiating Nyingtri and Ngari. The Potala Palace
in Lhasa is the world heritage. Jokhang Lamasery, Ramoche Lamasery,
Sera Lamasery, Gandain Lamasery, Norbu Lingka Park, and their Tibetan
Buddhist Culture are well known at home and abroad. Shannan is the
birthplace of the Tibetan Ethnic Group where there are the magnificent
ice peaks, countryside, the civil residence of the Middle Ages, the
earliest Tibetan palace, temples, and Tibet's King's Tombs. Xigaze
(Shigatses) was the Tibet's capital in the Gema Dynasty. There is
the Tashilhumpo (Zhaxi Lhunpo) Monastery there. Tibet is an ideal
place for mountaineering, scientific search, and ecology tour. The
festivals include Sholdon Tourism & Art Festival, Tibetan Folklore
Festival, and so on. |
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 Dunhuang
in western Gansu was an important town on the Silk Road in ancient
times. The Mogao Grottoes or Caves of One - Thousand Buddha is a world
- famous art treasury, with invaluable murals and sculptures made
between the 4th and the 14th centuries. The limpid Crescent Moon Spring
lies to the south of the city. Other spots of interest are the remains
of the ancient city of Dunhuang, the White Horse Pagoda, the old Yangguan
City, Yumen Pass, and beacon lights from the Han Dynasty. A 300 -
li (150 kilometers) section of the Great Wall interspersed with 70
beacon towers runs across Dunhuang County. |
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 The
City of Urumqi (Urumchi) is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region. It has a population of over one million. It is a border city
where multy ethnic groups live. Yanerwo in southern suburb is a noted
scenic area where there are the tombs of Chen Tanqiu and Mao Zemin,
two revolutionary martyrs. Chrysanphemum Platform is a noted place
for folk entertainment in Xinjiang. In the city there are also the
Red Hill, Jianhu Lake (Remin Park), the old Wulapo City, Shuimogou,
Yuergou Wooden - Outer - Coffin Tomb, the Great Hall of Shaanxi Mosque,
Nanshan "Earth Forest", ect. |
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Qingdao,
surrounded on three sides by water, is a good deepwater port on Jiaozhou
Bay of the Yellow Sea. It never silts
up, nor does it freeze in winter.Though with a history of only over eighty years, Qingdao has gradually set up its own textile, machine - building, food, chemical, shipbuilding, rubber and other modern industries. A city with a nice climate all the year round and red - tiled villas spread out on rolling, forested hillside, it is among the nation's best tourist and convalescent resorts. Major scenic spots there include the Plank Bridge, Lu Xun Park and the Marine Products Museum in it, the quiet and secluded Zhongshan Park, Qingdao Museum with its rich collection of exhibits, a number of nice bathing beaches and the convalescent quarters of Badaguan tucked away in greenwood. Especially noteworthy is Mt Laoshan to the east of the city. As with all famous mountains, it has plenty of places worth visiting. Spring water from Mt Laoshan, being of superior quality, is what makes Qingdao beer world - famous. |
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Located
south of Mount Tai in central Shandong Province, Qufu was the capital
of the State of Lu During the 11th centuryB.C. and also the home
of Confucius, the founder of the Confucius, the founder of the Confucian
School.
 Confucius,
a famous Philosopher (551 - 479 B.C.), used to lecture and write
books here during the late Spring and Autumn Period.The place is well - known for its Confucian Temple, Confucian Grove and Confucian Mansion. Confucian Temple, erected in 478 B.C., is a memorial hall used for the worship of Confucius. It was initially a temple of small size, built on the former residence of Confucius. Beginning in the West Han Dynasty, With the increasing titles conferred on Confuicus by subsequent emperors, the temple was continually expanded into its present vast magnitude. Confucian Grove, covering an area of about 200 hectares, is the graveyard of Confucius and his family. Confucian Mansion is actually not the former residence of Confucius. It has been occupied by Confucius' descendants. The building now we have before us was completed during the Ming and Qing dynasties. |
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 Located
on the northern bank of the lower reaches of the Jin River in Fujian
Province, Quanzhou was China's largest foreign trade port during the
Southern Song (1127 - 1279) and Yuan dynasties and the birthplace
of many overseas Chinese. Among the best known scenic spots and places
of historical interest are the Qingyuan Temple, Kaiyuan Temple, Luoyang
Bridge, the stone carvings on the Jiurui Mountain, and the Qingyuan
Mountain. |
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 The
ancient city of Luoyang is known as the "Capital of Nine Dynasties".
Beginning in 770 B.C., the Eastern Zhou, the Eastern Han, the Wei
of the Three Kingdoms Period, the Western Jin, the Northern Wei, the
Sui, the Tang, the Later Liang and the Later Tang founded their capitals
here for almost one thousand years. After the Five Dynasties, however,
Luoyang was on the decline. |
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Situated
on the southern bank of the Yellow River, the city of Kaifeng covers
an area of 350 square kilometers. With a history of about 3000 years, Kaifeng was one of China's six great ancient capital cities. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Wei during the Warring States Period (475 - 221 B.C.), the Liang, Jin, Han and Zhou of the Five Dynasties (907 - 960), the Northern Song and Jin Dynasties. The Northern Song, in particular, had Kaifeng as its capital for 168 years and the city was called the Eastern Capital. The points of historical interest which have been preserved are the Iron Pagoda, Pota Pagoda, Dragon Pavilion, Xiangguo Monastery, King Yu's Terrace and Yangqing Taoist Temple. |
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 Hainan
is the key international tropical sea - shore resort. Its distinctive
features are high - quality beach, coconut trees and broad sea, and
Li ethnic custom. Haikou and Sanya are the central cities. In Haikou,
there are the Five - Official Memorial Temple and the Volcano Crater.
In Sanya, there are "the Ends of the Earth", Luhuitou, Yalong
Bay and Big East Sea. The island divides into three routes of the
East, the Middle, and the West. The East Route includes the mangroves
of Dongzhaigang, Wenchang's native place of the noted persons, Wanquan
River, Xinglong Hot Springs, and Mihou Island. The Middle Route includes
the tropical botanical garden, the Dongfang Port, the tropical rainforest
at Jianfeng Ridge. The tourist festivals include the diving tour,
the Sanyuesan Ethnic Carnival of Li and Miao ethnic groups, and the
Hainan's international coconut Festival. |
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 Mt
Huangshan towers over southern Anhui Province. It ranks among China's
best known scenic spots and also enjoys a worldwide fame as such.In Mt Huangshan we find all beauties of Nature. But its charm lies especially in its strange pines, fantastic rocks, the sea of clouds and hot springs - the four supreme sights on the mountain. Of its numerous mountain peaks, seventy - two have names stuck to them. The pines on Mt Huangshan in their infinite variety of forms impress one with their grace and hardiness. The best known are, for instance, the Welcoming Pine and the Lying - Dragon Pine. As for the sea of clouds, it engulfs the mountain all the year round. And there is that cluster of hot springs which never dry up, and whose crystal good - quality water is good for both drinking and bathing. Besides, Mt Huangshan is also noted for its variety of exotic plants and flowers, rare birds and animals. It is indeed a great nature zoo and botanical garden. Praises were heaped on Mt Huangshan by men of letters down through the ages. In especial, Xu xiake, a great traveler and geographer of the Ming Dynasty, composed a famous poem for it. Mt Huangshan gifted with all beauties of nature is truly God's most favoured one. |
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From
Beijing to Hangzhou, the Grand Canal is 1794 kilometers long. Joining
the Haih, Huanghe, Changjiang and  QiantangRiver,
the Grand Canal created a bountiful agricultural region and served
as a major transportation artery between north and south. Its magnificence
is often compared to that of the Great Wall of China.The construction of the Grand Canal was commenced in the Sui Dynasty period (605 to 616). |
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 Jiuzhaigou
(Nine - Village Gully) is a scenic spot tucked away in the depth of
mountains at jiuzhaigou County, a county in the northern part of Sichuan
Province. It is 470 kilometers away from Chengdu, the provincial capital,
with an elevation of about 2500 meters. The scenic spot actually consists
of three major gullies, spread over a total area of 60000 hectares,
which formerly was the site of nine stockade villages of Tibetans.
Hence the name Jiuzhaigou.Jiuzhaigou is well - known for its network of alpine lakes, spectacular waterfalls and wonderful vegetation. There are, for instance, 108 terraced lakes in the midst of great mountains where the valleys echo with the roar of cataracts and Cliffside springs. The place, therefore, has always enjoyed the reputation of being a "Wonderland on Earth". Beside, in the vast primeval forests there are all kinds of rare birds and animals. The place is a habitat for the giant panda, a rare animal not to be found elsewhere in the world. |
As
the capital of China and one of the seven old capitals in Chinese
history, Beijing is the first one of the state-listed famous cultural
and historic cities. It blends as well as the traditional outlook
and the spectacular view of the modern metropolis. The Great Wall,
the Palace Museum, and the Site of Zhoukoudian-Home of Peking Man
have been listed as the world heritage. Beijing is also a noted
city for international tourism. The Architecture of the Imperial
Palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties have been preserved well.
On the axis from south to north are Yongding Gate, Zhengyang Gate,
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Monument to the People's Heroes,
Tian'anmen Gate, Duan Gate, the Palace Museum, Jingshan Park(Coal
Hill), Drum Tower, and Bell Tower. Around the Palace Museum is the
Imperial City. There are the Temple for Ancestral Worship, the Altar
of the Earth and Harvests, and Beihai Park. The outer lane is the
Inner City. There are the Imperial College, Yonghegong, Miaoying
Temple, and etc. Outside the Inner City are the Temple of Heaven,
the Temple of Earth, the Temple of Agriculture, the Summer Palace,
the Yuanmingyuan Ruins, and etc. In the outer suburbs are the Ming
Tombs, the Great Wall, and the Site of Zhoukoudian-home of Peking
Man. The newly - opened natural and so on. Beijing is rich in the
former homes of the famous persons, the Beijing-style lanes (Hutong)
and street view, folk arts, and delicacies.
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