10 Famous Places in China with Rising Popularity over the Web

Located to the south to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, Great Tang All Day Mall is a large cultural quarter with the Tang-style buildings, theme squares and cultural venues like concert hall, cinema and theater. The performance of the tumbler girl there has created an amazing viewing amount of 40 billion on Chinese version Tik Tok. In addition, a variety of other wonderful street performances and the float parade reproduce the glorious days of Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD), the group sculptures of the emperor Li Longji, the poet Li Bai, and the empress Wu Zetian, etc. give you different impressions of these celebrities of Tang Dynasty. Moreover, you could appreciate the colorful light show, walk to play a music on Piano Path, and experience the interesting 3-D Human Printers. You may also go shopping in creative fairs, and taste palatable local foods there.

In Xi’an, Terracotta Army, Xi’an City Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum and other attractions are also appealing.

 Recommended Tour:  One Day Private Xi'an City Tour from $109

Hongya Cave becomes hot on the internet for its amazing structure and the glittering night views. This famous place in China is a complex of folk stilted houses constructed floor upon floor covering a whole mountain side. It is a brilliant way of building houses in mountainous areas. When the lights are turned on at night, it looks extremely grand and beautiful. Due to the mountainous landscape, its top level is the ground level of other buildings. So it will be a unique experience that you take a lift to go from its first floor to the highest 11th floor, but find yourself at the ground level of other buildings after getting out. Inside, there are many local snacks on sale.

You may also visit other classical attractions during your stay in Chongqing, including Ci Qi Kou, Dazu Rock Carvings, Yangtze River Three Gorges, and Chaotianmen Dock.

Chongqing Tours

Simatai, about 120km (75 miles) northeast to Beijing downtown, is a famous place in China together with Gubei Water Town at its foot. It is nice to go hiking on this Great Wall section along the mountain ridges, appreciate the lush plants and visit the historical watch towers. Gubei Town is a rare water town in north China with streams and hot springs. What make the two sites hot over the web are their night scenes. Simatai is the only Great Wall section open at night. When looking up at night, it looks like a flying dragon on the mountain. The night scene of Gubei Town is like a starring sky when looking down up on Simatai Great Wall.

If coming to Beijing, the classical Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Hutongs, etc. cannot be missed, either.

 Recommended Tour:  One Day Simatai Great Wall Hiking and Gubei Water Town from $151

The Glass Bridge over wide Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, is sought-after online and becomes a must-see and a landmark in Zhangjiajie and a famous place to visit in China in recent years. This is the world’s highest glass bridge over 280 meters (919 feet) above the bottom of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. You would feel like walking in the air and overlook the green valley via the transparent bridge floor. For tourists seeking for thrill, it is a prefect site to go.

Zhangjiajie is known for the grotesque peaks. You could also go to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, etc. to see the marvelous peaks. If you are not in a hurry, the Fenghuang Ancient Town by riverside is also worth visiting.

 Recommended Tour:  Private Zhangjiajie Day Tour with Glass Bridge from $180

Zhangjiajie Tours

Chaka Salt Lake is a magical site on the plateau in Qinghai Province of northwest China. As a natural salt lake, the white salt everywhere makes the vast land like a snow-covered sanctuary. Plus snow-capped mountains in the surrounding, Chaka Salt Lake is a white holy land that could calm you down and purify your mind. Meanwhile, the reflections of blue sky and white clouds are clear in the lake. Walking in the shallow lake on sunny days, it seems to walk in the water as well as in the sky. The old train to the middle of the pure white Chaka Salt Lake, is also an attractive scene there. The salt engravings on banks are eye-catching, too.

Other famous sites in Qinghai, including Qinghai Lake, Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, and Qinghai Provincial Museum, are also worth a visit.

Yading, in Daocheng County of west Sichuan Province, is honored as the “Eden Garden on the Earth”. It is a high land with three Holy Mountains capped by white snow, which are said to be three gods to protect the paradise-like place. In the middle of the three snow mountains, Luorong Pasture is situated right there with large wetland, murmuring rivers, and herds of yaks. The lakes formed by melt snow water - Five Colored Lake and Milk Lake are like pearls shinning under bright sunshine. Chonggu Monastery with monk’s chanting, comfortable hot springs, red grass field in autumn, are all the attractions in peaceful Yading. It is a most famous place in China to escape from the busy life and to get relaxed completely.

In Sichuan Province, Chengdu Panda Base, Jiuzhai Valley, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei, Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Mt. Qingcheng and more attractions are also recommended.

 Recommended Tour:  8 Days Private Tour to Daocheng & Yading from Chengdu from $2029

Taking a ferry from Xiamen downtown, you can get to Gulangyu Island praised as “The Garden on Sea”. What make Gulangyu shoot to fame over the web are the various western style buildings, snack and dessert shops, and the artsy atmosphere. On the island, you can also visit Sunlight Rock - the highest point with the observatory to overlook the whole island and look far into the Xiamen downtown, Shuzhuang Garden - a Suzhou-style garden by sea, the Statue of ancient national hero Zheng Chenggong, Organ Museum, traditional architecture, and the stunning beaches.

A day tour from Xiamen is sufficient to travel around Gulangyu Island. South Putuo Temple, Baicheng Beach, Zengcuoan, Jimei, and Hulishan Fortress... are all best attractions in Xiamen downtown.

 Recommended Tour:  3-Day Xiamen Tour with Gulangyu Island from $379

Xiamen Tours 

Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved ancient town, is one of famous places in China with more than 700 years’ history. It has no city wall but embraced and guarded by mountains, which is rarely seen in the country. You can climb up the mountains to look down to the entire town, which is a hot scene over the web, and stroll on the old streets to admire the traditional dwellings, flowing rivers, fine wooden carvings and leisurely life of local people. As it is largely dwelled by the ethnic minority Naxi people, you shall enjoy the ethnic culture and may come up with the Naxi music performance on the central square. Tasting local dishes, like Yunnan Rice Noodles, Lijiang Baba – a baked cakes, and Naxi styled roast meat, on Square Street in the center of the old town, is also a popular thing to do there.

Apart from Lijiang Old town, Dali Ancient City, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Stone Forest, Dianchi Lake, Lugu Lake, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc. are the famous places to visit in Yunnan.

 Recommended Tour:  3 Days Lijiang Old Town Package from $349

Yunnan Tours & Lijiang Tours

Mount Huashan, around 120km (75mi) east to Xi’an downtown, is the most precipitous mountain in China. What is more thrilling is the Plank Walk on the eastern hillside of its South Peak. The about 11.8 inches wide planks are inserted on the high vertical cliff over abyss valley and there are no handrails but only iron chains for protection. To move on the Plank Walk safely, tourists need to wear the safe rope tying to the iron chains and pass by very cautiously. It is so horrifying and courageous people would always record their special moment “in the air” and upload it to the web to get big thumbs, making it more and more popular over the web.

 Recommended Tour:  4 Days Private Xi'an Tour with Mount Huanshan from $549

Wuzhen is one of the best known water towns in south China. About 80km (50 miles) northwest to Hangzhou, this famous place to visit in China is picturesque holding clear rivers, the local houses with white walls, whose tops are like horse heads. You may enjoy the local sceneries and folk customs at Dongzha, and feed your stomach with foods at Xizha in the historical town. You would know how the locals dye cloth and brew wine and watch the opera performance, etc. there. But the most popular part of the town over the web is always the dreamy night view.

As you are in Hangzhou, West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Meijiawu Tea Plantation, etc. are also unmissable attractions.

 Recommended Tour:  1 Day Wuzhen Water Town Excursion from Hangzhou from $151

Hangzhou Tours