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A
many-splendid landscape, a venerated history, and a rich cultural
legacy have added to the fascination of China as every traveler's
dream destination. The endless list of the country's tourist
attractions includes 99 famous national historical and cultural
cities, 750 national cultural sites under key protection, and 119
major scenic resorts and sites of historical and cultural interest.
UNESCO has included 27 renowned Chinese scenic places on its lists of
world cultural and natural heritage sites.
The land of China is pockmarked by historical sites and cultural
relics. Beijing, Xi'an, Nanjing, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Hangzhou and Anyang
are seven ancient capitals. China awaits to take its visitors on
journeys of discovery through a galaxy of cultural legacy by following
in the footsteps of celebrated historical figures like Confucius,
Qinshihuang and Gengghis Khan, and give them the opportunity to
contemplate the immensity and profundity of human glory.
Few countries boast such majestic and intriguing landscape as China,
thanks to the infinite generosity and exhaustless bounty on the part
of Mother Nature. Along, the Lijiang River of Guilin, the mountains
are statuesque and there is something dreamlike about them. The five
holy mountains are marked for awesome heights and fabled and poetical
associations, breathtaking is hardly an adequate word for the sights
of the Yangtze River Three Gorges. The water bound country scene south
of the Yangtze Rive is, in a nutshell, ethereal, Mount Huangshan is a
paragon of alpine grandeur, while Mount Omei lures visitors from all
over the world with an unmistakable religious aura. The Huangguoshu
Waterfall tumbles down the brow of cliffs in a heroic fashion. At the
Lunan Stone Forest, nature hews craggy rocks into a hundred and one
exotic images. The vast prairies of Inner Mongolia ripple with lush
meadows. In the northeast, rimed trees and snow-covered land transform
the city of Jilin into a silvery wonderland that guarantees a unique
sightseeing experience in subfreezing temperatures. No visitor leaves
these places without feeling completely rested and satisfied.
China's folklore is as richly varied as its landscape. More than 40
major festivals are celebrated nationwide, and not a single month
passes without one festival or another being observed by some ethnic
people. Visitors to China also derive immense joy from the famed
Peking Opera, Chinese acrobatics, traditional music and folk dances,
as well as traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.
China's long and winding coastline is indented by so many fine
harbours and beaches cut out for the joy and relaxation of
holidaymakers. A number of national holiday resorts have been
established for those who care to go the extra mile and get lost in
the natural beauty of China.
Apart from abundant tourist resources, Chinese tourism has come a long
way in the development of transportation, lodging, and catering,
shopping and recreational facilities-all for the comfort and delight
of visitors. Ancillary tourist facilities are also being constantly
improved. The quality of tourist service is rather impressive-the
fatigue of a long journey to China is always dissolved by a winsome
smile of the hospitable Chinese host. |
Scenes &
Sights 
Information
provided by
China National
Tourism Administration.
