10 Most Famous Landmarks in China

 Location: From the east to the west in north China, traversing provinces including Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang.
 Length: 21,196.18 kilometers (13,170.70 miles)
 Famous Sections: Badaling, Mutianyu, and Simatai in Beijing; Shanhaiguan in Hebei; Jiayuguan in Gansu.

The Great Wall is definitely one of the most famous landmarks in China. Dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 771 BC), it is an ancient military defense project traversing the north part of China, consisting of defensive walls, watch and beacon towers and passes, etc. Nowadays, the Great Wall of China mainly refers to the existing Ming Dynasty Great Wall stretching from Jiayuguan in Gansu Province to Hushan in Liaoning Province. What tourists mostly visit are the sections scattered in the outskirts of Beijing, among which Badaling and Mutianyu are the most popular. They are well preserved with complete defensive structures and travelling facilities. If you travel to China, do visit either of them to leave a lifetime memory.

Recommended Tour:  Great Wall Tours

 Book a ticket for Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall, Huanghuacheng Great Wall, and Juyongguan Great Wall.

 Location: Stretching from Yongding Gate in the south to the Bell and Drum Towers in the north
 Walking Distance: 7.8 kilometers (4.8 miles)
 Required Time for a Whole Walk: 3 to 6 hours

As a famous landmark in China, the Central Axis of Beijing is a north-south line dividing the city into two halves, a real axis of symmetry of Beijing. On the central axis, there are many important buildings, including the Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Drum Tower and Bell Tower. Because of its abundant historical relics, the central axis has become one popular travel route in the city. The route starts from Yongding Gate and ends at the Drum Tower, passing Dashilar Street, Qianmen, Tian’anmen, Forbidden City, and Jingshan Park. The whole length is about 7.8 kilometers (4.8 miles). However, if you do not detour the Forbidden City, the walking length is 9 kilometers (5.6 miles).

Book a ticket for Forbidden City and Jingshan Park.

 Location: On the west bank of Huangpu River, Huangpu District, Shanghai
 Length: 1.5 kilometers (1 mile)
 Major Landmarks: Expo of World Architecture, Huangpu Park, Waibaidu Bridge, Chenyi Square, Lover’s Wall, Bund Sightseeing Tunnel

The Bund in Shanghai is considered as one of the major landmarks in China because one can see China’s past, present and future there. On this 1.5-km-long waterfront avenue, stand dozens of exotic buildings in different styles. Most of them were built over one hundred years ago, telling the history of Shanghai in the past as the “Wall Street in the Far East”. Across the Huangpu River, you can see modern high rise clusters on the opposite bank forming the beautiful skyline. They represent the city’s thriving present and future and a witness of the fast development of Shanghai over the past decades.

Recommended Tour:  3 Days Shanghai Private Tour Including the Bund from $469

 Location: No. 479, Lujiazui Ring Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai
 Height: 632 meters (2,073 feet)
 Floor Number: 127 floors above and 5 floors below ground
 Observation Deck: 118th Floor

Why is Shanghai Tower ranked among China landmarks top 10? Because it’s at present the tallest building in China and second to only one throughout the world. You can take a fast elevator ride to the observation deck on the 118th floor in merely 55 seconds. Then you can have a spectacular bird’s view of the city and Huangpu River through the transparent glass wall. On sunny days, the scene will be more enchanting, especially in the morning and at dusk. The rosy clouds in the sky will give you a very romantic feeling.

Book a Shanghai Tower ticket.

 Location: in the middle section of Xiling Gorge near Sandouping Town in Yichang City, Hubei Province
 Length: 3.335 kilometers (2.07 miles) 
 Elevation: 185 meters (607 feet)
 Functions: flood control, electricity generation, navigation, agricultural irrigation, aquaculture…

Being the world’s largest hydroelectric engineering project, the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is also one of the major landmarks in China. The construction started in December 1994 and was completed in September 2009, consuming nearly 16 years and 249 billion Chinese Yuan. Currently, three sightseeing spots are open to the public, including Tanziling, 185 Platform, and River Closure Memorial Park. Standing on the sightseeing platforms, you can have a close look at the winding river, the magnificent dam, and the rolling Three Gorges along the Yangtze River.

 Location: Around the very city center of Xi’an
 Length: 13.7 kilometers (8.5 miles)
 History: Over 600 years old

When talking about China’s most famous landmarks, one cannot forget Xi’an City Wall. It’s the most complete and best-preserved city wall left from ancient dynasties in China. Circled by the city moat, the City Wall encloses the core area of Xi’an, where used to be the capital of many dynasties of China. As time goes by, the glory of past prosperity gradually fades away, but Xi’an City Wall is still a witness. Walking on the time-honored wall made of grey tiles and bricks, you will feel a profound sense of history as if the grand capital of Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) was before your eyes.

Recommended Tour:  2 Days Mini Group Xi'an Tour Including the City Wall

 Book a Xi’an City Wall ticket.

 Location: No. 222, West Yuejiang Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
 Height: 600 meters (1,968 feet)

Canton Tower of Guangzhou is also ranked among the 10 most important landmarks in China. It stands high into the sky, with a total height of 600 meters (1,969 feet). Thanks to the outstanding height, it’s the highest tower in China and the 4th highest throughout the world, only after the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, Sky Tree in Tokyo, and KVLY Tower in the US. Besides, there are the world’s highest skywalk, rotating restaurant, and Ferris wheel on it. The Canton Tower is especially suitable for a night visit, when it displays colorful lights to dazzle your eyes.

 Location: in the Lingding Bay connecting Hong Kong and Macau with Zhuhai in mainland China 
 Length: 55.5 kilometers (34.5 miles)
 Records: The longest cross-sea bridge in the world; the longest steel-structure bridge; has the longest submarine immersed tunnel.

Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai, is one of China’s most famous landmarks. The bridge is famous throughout the world for its super large scale, unprecedented difficulty of construction, and the state-of-the-art construction technologies. Because of such prominence, it has been ranked as one of the seven new world wonders selected by the Guardian. Ever since its opening, the travel duration among Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai has been greatly shortened. Now it has been regarded as the most beautiful landmark around the Lingding Bay.

 Location: on the Sino-Nepal border, Tibet Plateau 
 Longitude and Latitude: 27°59′17″ N, 86°55′31″ E
 North Slope: Tibet, China
 South Slope: Nepal
 Elevation: 8,848m (29,029 feet)
 Best Time to Visit: September and October

When speaking of the most important landmarks in China, one will always think of the Mount Everest, the highest peak above sea level in the world. As part of the Himalayas, the mountain straddles the border of China and Nepal and can be visited from either side. As a holy mountain with a particularly high altitude and harsh living environment, Mount Everest is an ultimate goal of many enthusiastic mountain climbers over decades.

 Location: No. 1, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
 Height: 367.4 meters (1,196.5 feet)

Being one of the popular landmarks in China, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong is the head office of the Bank of China in Hong Kong. The building covers 12.9 hectares (31.9 acres) in total, with the height of 367.4 meters (1,205 feet). By the time when it was completed in 1989, it was the highest building in Asia and the highest skyscraper outside of the USA. Looking from the exterior, the building resembles a growing bamboo, showing the spirit of power, vitality, and keeping forging ahead. As a modern landmark of Hong Kong, it is even printed on the banknote of one hundred Hong Kong dollar.