Famous Buildings in China ⋆ China Life & Buying Guide

Famous Buildings in China would like to introduce those Famous Architectures in China. Some of them are grand building complexes built hundreds of years ago, some of them are incredible skyscraper flourishing in recent years. All of them are sharing one thing in common, they are the crystallization of human wisdom. Come with TopChinaTravel, to witness those majestic architectures.

Defensive Wall

【Great Wall of China】
As one of the Seven Wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China is definitely an outstanding representative of those famous buildings in China.

It is the top ranked tourist destination of China, which is a spectacular defensive structure built to keep intruders from entering the mainland. The construction of the Great Wall began in the 5th century BC and the whole project lasted for centuries, through different dynasties. And finally, this grand construction, stretches from Jiayuguan Pass in the west, to Shanhaiguan Pass in the east, with a total length of 8851.8 km that traverses Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Inner Mongolian and Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu , etc. 9 provinces and municipalities.

The steady stone fortification was inscribed into the list of the World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Badaling, Mutianyu and Simatai sections within Beijing area are the most famous ones.

► Recommended Tours: Great Wall of China Tours

【Xian City Wall】

Xian City Wall was one of the largest ancient military defensive systems that protected this city Xian from invasion during the ancient times. Today, the first landmark visitors will encounter in Xian is the ancient City Wall, which stretches round the old city. This wall therefore, represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls and attracts people from all over the world.

The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall. This impressive structure is just a precursor to the remarkable discoveries awaiting visitors to Xian.

► Recommended Xian Tours coveing City Wall: Xian Package Tours

Imperial Palace

【Forbidden City, Beijing】
Forbidden City , also known as the Imperial Palace Museum, is a magnificent building complex located in the very heart of Beijing. As the symbol of imperial power, which was built in Yongle Period, Ming Dynasty (1406 – 1420 A.D.), it is the largest and well-preserved wooden building complex of the world. These were laid out very precisely in accordance with a feudal code of architectural hierarchy which designated specific features for reflecting the paramount authority and status of the emperor.

Forbidden City can be taken as a sample of the traditional Chinese palatial architecture. In 1987, it became a World Heritage Site. Besides, it is also listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

【Imperial Mountain Resort, Chengde】

Situated in the city of Chengde in northeastern Hebei Province, The Imperial Mountain Resort is the most famous summer resort of emperors of Qing Dynasty. With easy access to Beijing (200 km), it is entitled “the back yard garden of Beijing”.

Enjoys superb natural environment, this summer resort was served as the second political center of the Qing imperial court. And nearly every summer, the emperors of early Qing Dynasty would come here to spend their summer time, hunting or boating.

It is the largest existing imperial garden in China, which covers an area of 5.64 million square meters, double the Summer Palace, and eight times that of Beihai Park in Beijing. The 10-km-long wall around it winds its way through plains and high mountains like the Great Wall.

【Imperial Palace, Shenyang】

Shenyang Imperial Palace , which is also known as Mukden Palace, is located in center of the city Shenyang. Covered an area of more than 60,000 square meters, it is one of the exciting best-preserved imperial Palace-like constructions, only after the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The whole structure has over 90 buildings and 300 rooms. It was first built in 1625 during the late Ming Dynasty, lasted for 12 years, the grand project was completed in 1637, in the early Qing Dynasty. The Palace was built to resemble the Forbidden City in Beijing. However, the palace also exhibits hints of Manchurian and Tibetan styles.

During the Ming Dynasty, it was the gorges imperial palace and the official residence of the Emperor. However, after the Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming Dynasty in 1644 in Beijing, this palace lost its status and became a regional palace.

Religious Construction

【Temple of Heaven, Beijing】
Located at Chongwen District, Temple of Heaven also known as the Altar of Heaven, was first constructed in 1420 of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as the venue for the Ming and Qing emperors to offer sacrifices to the Heaven and pray for harvest. It is considered the Taoism Temple.

It is the existing largest sacrificing temple in China, which covers and area of 2.7 million square meters, and consists of three main groups of constructions, namely the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar. Renowned for its precise outlay, unique architectural structures and decorations, this building was recorded as one World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1998.

【Potala Palace, Lhasa】

Potala Palace is a majestic building complex that built against the Red Hill. Until 1959, it was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama, the political and religious center of the whole Tibet region. Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, the awe-inspiring Potala Palace, perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city.

Potala Palace is a spectacular castle-like building complex that used to be the unification centre of political and religious of Tibet. Covered an area of over 360, 000 square meters, mainly comprised by the White Palace, the administrative building, and the Red Palace, religious building, Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks. Creative designing, gorgeous decoration and conservative religious atmosphere, are earning it a place on UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site list.

【Confucian Temple, Qufu】

Located in central Qufu City, Shandong Province, Confucian Temple is one of the 3 great palace-style constructions in China. Originally built as early as in 478BC, it is a memorable place to worship the great philosopher Confucius. There is a statue of Confucius, 13 stele pavilions, 53 huge steles and 120 “Shengjitu”, on which records Confucius’ life experience.

It is a must-visit attraction of the city and holds an important position even in the world. As the second largest ancient building complex that only after the Forbidden City, it covers an area of 50 acres.

It contains over 460 halls, altars, towers and pavilions, 54 archways and 13 steles bearing calligraphy by various emperors. Apart from the royal steles, the temple also boasts a variety of others, especially those made in the Han Dynasty.

【Ruins of St. Paul’s】

One of the most classic tourism sites in Macau, the Ruins of St. Paul’s , somehow, can be considered the landmark of Macau. Firstly completed at the year 1580, the church of St. Paul its architecture combined Renaissance-style and oriental-style in harmonious way. Experienced the baptism of fire for three times, this well decorated and furnished church been destroyed and only the stone facade can tell people its brilliant glories in the old times.

The stone façade been designed to five layers. The first layer or the top is a triangle Doorcase decoration; the second layer carved a Jesus stone figure; the 3rd layer showed the “Virgin Holy Days” scene; the 4th layer consecrated four saints; “MATER DEI” carved on the lintel of the main door of the 5th layer.
Modern Constructions

► Recommended Best Macau Tours: Macau Tours

Modern Constructions

【Bird’s Nest, Beijing】
Bird’s Nest is a nickname of the Beijing National Stadium located in the Olympic Green, 4th Ring of Beijing. It is one of the most dramatic stadiums to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. It was designed by submission from the Swiss architecture firm, appeared like a ovalsteel beams weaved nest-like building, hence the name.

Beijing National Stadium hosted the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletic events, and football final of the 2008 Summer Olympics, from 8 August to 24 August 2008. The stadium also hosted the Opening and Closing ceremonies and athletic events of the 2008 Summer Paralympics from 6 September to 17 September 2008. The stadium will continue to host sporting events, such as football, afterwards. It will become the most important public space in Beijing.”

【Water Cube, Beijing】

Officially known as the Beijing National Aquatics Center, Water Cube is one of the most creative venues to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. Located opposite to the Bird’s Nest, it enjoys a totally different appearance as its external viw was inspired by the natural formation of soap bubbles.

The innovative design concept successfully addressed four key concerns for the Beijing games; namely economic, social, environmental and natural resources issues. Central to the design philosophy is the core objective of water conservation. Water in Northern China is a valuable commodity, and the outer membrane has self-cleaning and water collection properties.

【The Bund, Shanghai】

The Bund , is a term usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. It is Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade, stretches 1.5km along the west bank of Huangpu River, which is known as the “the exotic building clusters of Shanghai ”. And it is one of the most popular attractions in Shanghai.

During the 19th century, The Bund area was first the British settlement, then it became the international settlement ruled by British and American. Owning to a building boom at the end of 19th century, the Bund became a major financial hub of East Asia and since when, has dozens of historical buildings that lining the Huangpu River, in different building styles, such as the Renaissance style Asia Mansion, Bri-Classic style Dongfeng Hotel and Bri-Gothic Commerical Bank of China, etc.

【Shanghai World Financial Center】

Shanghai World Financial Center is the landmark located in Pudong District, Shanghai. This building is a mixed-use skyscraper, consisting of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls. It towers 492 meters in height, which made it the 3rd tallest building of the world. Comprised 101 floors above ground and 3 floors underground, the building’s most distinctive architectural feature is the aperture at the building peak, which has a trapezoidal shape resembling a bottle opener.

The building has three sigtseeing decks. The lowest one is located on the 94th floor, with a height of 423 meters, the second one which named “Observatory Bridge”, is 439 meters high, on the 97th floor, while the highest one is situated on the 100th floor with 474 meters height.

【Three Gorges Dam】

Three Gorges Dam is by far the largest hydroelectric project in the world, which located 27 miles upstream from Yichang City proper, at Sandouping Town. The project was designed to be built in three phases and came to an completion in year 2009.

It is 2,335-meter long, 185-meter high, 18-meter wide on the top and 130-meter wide at the bottom. The dam raises the river to a level of 175 meters above sea level, creating a 600km long reservoir with storage capacity of 39.9 billion cubic meters extending from the dam site all the way to Chongqing. It is the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken.

【Hangzhou Bay Bridge】

With a totally length of 36 kilometers, Hangzhou Bay Bridge ranks as the longest cross-ocean bridge in the world and the second longest bridge in the world behind the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in America.

Hangzhou Bay Bridge is a large highway bridge that connecting the Zhengjiadai in Jiaxing in the north to the Shuiluwan in Ningbo in the south of Zhejiang Province.

This significant bridge shorten the highway travel distance between Ningbo and Shanghai from 400 km (249 mi) to 280 km (174 mi) and reduced travel time from 4 to 2.5 hours. With a six-lane and two-direction design, Hangzhou Bay Bridge gets a 100-year, service guaranteed with a 100km/h speed limit.

【Hong Kong International Commerce Centre】

Hong Kong International Commerce Centre, with a height of 484 meters, is currently the world’s fourth tallest building by height, world’s second tallest building by floors, as well as the tallest building in Hong Kong and the 4th tallest construction in China. As the final phase of Union , it is a missed-use 118-floor skyscraper designed by well-known Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF). The sightseeing platform is set up in the 100th floor, from where, tourists can enjoy a bird-view of great Victoria Harbor.