Famous Landmarks in China ⋆ China Life & Buying Guide

What would come into your mind when you are thinking of travelling to China? I am sure they must be those famous landmarks in China, which are considered as the name cards of the country, like Mt. Everest, Potala Palace, the Great Wall, Qin Terracotta Army, or the mighty Yangtze River, etc. Each of them is somehow, described a certain character of China. Come withTopChinaTravel, to witness and appreciate the landmarks in China.

The Great Wall – Landmark of China

The star attraction of China is the Great Wall , which is considered the symbol of China and the wisdom of Chinese people. The construction of the Great Wall began in the 5th century B.C. It is a spectacular defensive structure built to keep intruders from entering the mainland, which 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.

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Badaling Great Wall, Beijing

Yangtze River – Landmark of China

The mighty Yangtze River is the life-blood, the “Mother River” of the Nation. It is a curious blend of the grand natural scenery and brilliant human culture. Flowing through 9 provinces, over 6,300 kilometres long, it is therefore the largest and longest river in China, even in Asia.

It originates from the Tuotuo River on the southwestern side of the snow-draped Geladandong, flowing from west to east through 9 provinces and city of Shanghai, finally running into the East China Sea. This ‘Travelling-Through-the-Heavens’ River, with superb natural scenery and profound historical accumulations, is also a main tourist attraction in China, where you can appreciate the magnificent Three Gorges and mighty Three Gorges Dam, etc.

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Yangtze River

Forbidden City – Landmark of Beijing

The magnificent Forbidden City is considered the symbol of imperial power of ancient China. Located in the very heart of Beijing, the magnificent Forbidden City, also known as Imperial Palace Museum, was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Built in Yongle Period, Ming Dynasty (1406 A.D. – 1420 A.D.), it covers an area of about 720,000 square meters. It therefore is the largest and well-preserved wooden building complex in the world.

It now consists of 980 buildings with 9,999 bays of rooms. Originally, it was designed 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. It used to be the centre of the ancient, walled city of Beijing. It was listed as one of the world cultural heritages by UNESCO in 1987.

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Fobidden City, Beijing

Tiananmen Square – Landmark of Beijing

Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is on the vertically and horizontally two axes. It is former site of the imperial palace forecourt, represents T-shaped, surrounded by red walls, and faces south, backs by the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties of which are the Forbidden City and the royal garden. After the Revolution of 1911, it was reconstructed and expanded. In 1958, it was reconstructed in a large-scale. After reconstruction, Tiananmen Square has a total area of 520000 square meters, the middle of Square is 880 meters long from north and south, 500 meters wide, and it can accommodate 1 million people to hold a grand rally, which is the largest city square in the world today.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Tiananmen square has been expanded, and in the middle of the square there built a Monument to the People’s Heroes, and then were built on the west side of the Great Hall of the People, east built The Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution and the Chinese History Museum, the south side of Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.

At the northern end of Tiananmen Square is the Tiananmen Rostrum. Tiananmen was built in Ming Yongle period of 15th years (1417), formerly known as Chengtianmen. During Qing Shunzhi period eighth years (1651) it named Tiananmen after rebuilt. In more than 2000 square meters of beautifully carved white marble base, there is red and white abutment wall of more than 10 meters high, upon the abutment wall is resplendent and magnificent Tiananmen Rostrum. Under the rostrum are blue waves shimmering stream, and 5 carved white marble Jinshui Bridge on the river.

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Tian’anmen Square, Beijing

Oriental Pearl TV Tower – Landmark of Shanghai

Oriental Pearl TV Tower , located in Pudong Lujiazui, and constitutes beautiful scenery of double dragon playing a pearly with Nanpu, and Yangpu Bridge. This first television tower in Asia, the world’s third television tower is 468 meters high, like a string of pearl come from the sky, scattered in the Pudong district of Shanghai tracts await to be carved. Under the sunlight, it is shinning, as a new landmark of Shanghai.

In the Oriental Pearl TV Tower faces the “International Architecture Exhibition Group” of The Bund on the other side of the river. The main structure is 350 meters high; the total height of 468 meters, ranked third only to Canada Toronto TV tower and tower in Moscow, and it is the first in Asia. Like the statue of liberty in New York, Sydney opera house, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it becomes the landmark of Shanghai. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower combines sightseeing, conference, exhibition, catering, shopping, entertainment, accommodation, broadcasting and television emission, has become the landmark building of Shanghai city in the 21st century. At present, the “Oriental pearl” in the number of tourism and tourist is second only to France in the world’s high tower of the Eiffel Tower, and becomes the world famous tourist attractions.

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Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai

The Bund – Landmark of Shanghai

The Bund is located in the central district of Shanghai along the Huangpu River, it is Shanghai scenery line. The bund of Shangha also named Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, about 1.5 km in the whole. The Huangpu River in the east, the west for the Chinese and western style, the gothic, Roman, baroque for 52 different style of building, known as the “International Architecture Exhibition Group”. The classicism and modernism architecture has become the symbol of Shanghai. Surrounded the Bund are Oriental Pearl TV Tower around Huangpu River, Jinmao building such landmarks landscape, is the attraction that tourists must visit when come to Shanghai.

The bund river, long beach, green belts and the grandeur of the buildings constitutes the beautiful street scenery, has the most the characteristics of the landscape of Shanghai. When the lights go on, lights make each building of the bund resplendent.

The Bund, Shanghai

Xi’an City Wall – Landmark of Xi’an

Xi’an City Wall is located in center district of Xian, the existing city wall built in Ming Hongwu period from seventh years to eleventh years (1374-1378), has been 600 years of history, is one of the most famous ancient city wall since late middle ages in the history of China, and it is one of China’s most complete existing ancient city wall building.

The City Wall is rectangular, 12 meters high, 18 meters wide, 8 to 15 meters wide in the top, and the total circumference of 13.74 kilometers. The gates have four: east Changle gate, west Andingmen, Yongning south gate, Beian north gate.

Xi’an city wall is built on the basis of the Tang imperial city. Completely built center on the strategy of “defense” system, the thickness of the wall is greater than the height, which is solid, and you can ride the bike in the wall.

The City Wall, Xi’an

Qin Terracotta Army – Landmark of Xi’an

Qin Terracotta Army in Xian, also known as the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, is one of the greatest discoveries in the archaeological history. It is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shihuang, which has been buried underground for more than 2,000 years till 1974. According to their roles and position, those figures vary in height and charactered as warriors, chariots and horses

Known as the eighth wonder of the world, now is the biggest underground military museum to display all mighty terracotta warriors and horses made in Qin Dynasty (221 B.C. – 206 B.C.). There are four main categories of figures in this museum: chariot warriors, infantrymen, cavalrymen, and horses. It deserves its place on the UNESCO world heritage list.

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Qin Terracotta Army, Xi’an

Elephant Trunk Hill – Landmark of Guilin

Elephant Trunk Hill is located in the confluence of peach blossom river and the Li River of Guilin city in Guangxi and it is the symbol of Guilin landscape.

Elephant Trunk Hill, formerly named Li Mountain and it likes a standing giant elephant in the river drinking water thought its trunk therefore the mountain named Elephant Trunk Hill. As early as the Tang and Song dynasty here has become a famous tourist attraction, there are more than 1000 years history of tour. Elephant Trunk Hill scenic area combine strange rock, beautiful water, special cave as a whole, and there are abundant of cliff stone carvings Buddhist statues and many historical and cultural relics, no matter from the view of natural landscape and human landscape, it is the essence of Guilin landscape culture, enjoys a high reputation in the world.

Elephant Trunk Hill the main attractions are Water-Moon Cave, Elephant Eyes Rock, Puxian tower, Hongfeng Temple, etc. And near is stupas remained in Sui and Tang dynasties. Water-Moon cave is close to the river and Li river flow through it, when the waters wave and the moonlight gleams, the scene is exceedingly enchanting. This cave intoxicated innumerous poets through ages. Many lines can be found giving high honor of the cave.

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Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin

Li River- Landmark of Guilin

The world’s largest and most beautiful one of karst landscape area, located in the eastern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, belongs to the Pearl River water system, water path of about 83 kilometers from Guilin to Yangshuo, named Li River.

Derived from Mao’er Mountain, Li River belongs to the Pearl River water system. Li River like a jade belt winding in the green mountain. Boat tour to appreciate Lijiang, you can have a look of mountain inverted reflection in water, clear water, green hill, hearing the cowboy songs and seeing fisherman fishing leisurely, everything is so poetic here. The Li River tourist attractions are various, in the short term tourists can only choose its main attractions to visit, among them, one river (Li River), two caves (Reed Flute Cave, Seven Star Cave), three mountains (Solitary Beauty Peak, Fubo Hill, Folded Brocade Hill) are representative, they basically are the essence of Guilin landscape.

Li River, Guilin

Potala Palace – Landmark of Tibet

Potala Palace , located in a hill about two thousand meters of the northwest suburb of the Tibet autonomous regional capital Lhasa, was founded in the 7th century by Tibetan king Sontzen Gampo for a history of 1300 years ago. In the local belief in people’s heart of Tibetan Buddhism, the sitting hill like mount Putuo where Guanyin bodhisattva live in, thus in Tibetan, calls this is call Potala (means Putuo).

The Potala Palace, contrasting with the twists and turns with mountain together, stands high, magnificent and towering. Wall is red and white, the roof shows strong artistic appeal. It is the sign of Lhasa city, also is the symbol of the Tibetan people’s great creativity, is the precious wealth of Tibetan architectural art, and is also unique Syracuse plateau of human cultural heritage.

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The Potala Palace, Tibet

Mt. Everest – Landmark of Tibet

Stood at the south part of Tingri County in southern Tibet, Mt. Everest , or Qomolangma in Tibet, is the highest mountain of the world. With a height of 8,848 m above sea level, this mountain is permanently covered with snow. Its body assumes the shape of a pyramid with its peak stabbed the sky. Its snow peak sends out silver radiance year after year. Its waist is hidden in the clouds.

As the earth’s highest mountain, it is the ultimate goal of every mountain lovers. The optimum weather to visit Mt. Everest is from April to June, a golden period for mountaineers. But due to its complicated and volatile natural environment, it is actually a tough job even for those well-experienced mountaineers.

Mt. Everest, Tibet

Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower – Landmark of Guangzhou

Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower is located near Chigang Pagoda in Haizhu District Guangzhou China, 125 meters away from the southern bank of the Pearl River, facing the Haixin sand island and the Pearl River new town on the other side of the river. Guangzhou tower is a tower mainly to sightseeing, with radio and television emission, cultural entertainment and urban function of window of large urban infrastructure.

Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower, a total height of 600 meters, replace the CN tower in Canada as the world’s tallest free-standing tower, is second only to Japan’s Tokyo sky tree as the world’s second high tower free-standing tower, also become a new landmark of Guangzhou. Guangzhou tower has several of the world’s most: the longest sky ladder, the highest revolving restaurant, the highest 4D Theater, the highest goods shop, the highest lateral ferris wheel, the highest air post office.

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Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower, Guangzhou

Those are the most famous landmarks in China. Each of them offers you different impressions of different cities in China. And when you mention them in each place, everyone can recognize them.