The Heritage Of China


The Heritage Of China

China has many valuable and rich resources. Heritage Sites are one of the most essential parts of China tourism. Here is a list of Heritage Sites in China.
1. Forbidden City
Forbidden City CourtyardForbidden City Courtyard [ Photo by Rabs003 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five hundred years, it served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Since 1925, the Forbidden City has been under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose extensive collection of artwork and artifacts were built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Part of the museum's former collection is now located in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Both museums descend from the same institution, but were split after the Chinese Civil War. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
2. Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army Pit 1 - in Xi'an, ChinaTerracotta Army Pit 1 – in Xi'an, China [ Photo by Maros M r a z / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Terracotta Army (simplified Chinese: 兵马俑; traditional Chinese: 兵馬俑; pinyin: bīngmǎ yǒng; literally "soldier and horse funerary statues") is the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Chinese: 秦始皇陵; pinyin: Qín Shǐhuáng Ling). The figures vary in height (183–195 cm – 6 ft–6 ft 5in), according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
3. Mogao Caves
Mogao CavesMogao Caves [ Photo by Yaohua2000 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes (Chinese: 莫高窟; pinyin: mò gāo kū) (also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas and Dunhuang Caves) form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China. The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. The first caves were dug out 366 AD as places of Buddhist meditation and worship. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The caves also have famous wall paintings. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
4. Mount Tai
Photograph of the slop of Mount Tai, Shandong Province, China with the Azure Clouds TemplePhotograph of the slop of Mount Tai, Shandong Province, China with the Azure Clouds Temple [ Photo by Rolf Müller / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Mount Tai
 (Chinese: 泰山; pinyin: Tài Shān) is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai'an, in Shandong Province, China. The tallest peak is Jade Emperor Peak (simplified Chinese: 玉皇顶; traditional Chinese: 玉皇頂; pinyin: Yùhuáng Dīng), which is commonly reported as 1545 metres (5069 ft) tall, but is described by the Chinese government as 1532.7 metres (5028.5 ft). Mount Tai is one of the "Five Sacred Mountains". It is associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal, and is often regarded the foremost of the five. The temples on its slopes have been a destination for pilgrims for 3,000 years. Mount Tai is located just north of the city of Tai'an and to the south of the provincial capital Jinan. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
5. Peking Man Site
Entrance to ZhoukoudianEntrance to Zhoukoudian [ Photo by Mutt / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Zhoukoudian or Choukoutien (Chinese: 周口店; pinyin: Zhōukǒudiàn, IPA: ) is a cave system in Beijing, China. It has yielded many archaeological discoveries, including one of the first specimens of Homo erectus, dubbed Peking Man, and a fine assemblage of bones of the gigantic hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris. The Peking Man lived in this cave approximately 200,000 to 750,000 years ago. The Peking Man Site was discovered by Johan Gunnar Andersson in 1921 and was first excavated by Otto Zdansky in 1921 and 1923 unearthing two human teeth. These were later identified by Davidson Black as belonging to a previously unknown species and extensive excavations followed. Fissures in the limestone containing middle Pleistocene deposits have yielded the remains of about 45 individuals as well as animal remains and stone flake and chopping tools. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
6. Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China near JinshanlingGreat Wall of China near Jinshanling [ Photo by Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Great Wall of China (simplified Chinese: 长城; traditional Chinese: 長城; pinyin: Chángchéng; literally "long fortress" or simplified Chinese: 万里长城; traditional Chinese: 萬里長城; pinyin: Wànlǐ Chángchéng; literally "The long wall of 10,000 Li (里)") is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by the Xiongnu from the north and rebuilt and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century. Since the 5th century BC, several walls have been built that were referred to as the Great Wall. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
7. Mount Huang
The well-known Ying Ke Pine, or Welcome PineThe well-known Ying Ke Pine, or Welcome Pine [ Photo by memes / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Mount Huang, also known as Huangshan (Chinese: 黄山; pinyin: Huángshān; literally "Yellow Mountain"), is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China. The area is well known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly-shaped granite peaks, Huangshan Pine trees, and views of the clouds from above. Mount Huang is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature, as well as modern photography. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's major tourist destinations. Physical features for which Mount Huang is known include sunrises, pine trees, "strangely jutting granite peaks", and views of clouds touching the mountainsides on more than 200 days out of the year. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
8. Huanglong, Sichuan
This is a picture of one of the colorful pools in Huanglonggou in en:Sichuan, en:China.This is a picture of one of the colorful pools in Huanglonggou in en:Sichuan, en:China. [ Photo by Gjl / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Huanglong (simplified Chinese: 黄龙; traditional Chinese: 黃龍; pinyin: Huánglóng) is a scenic and historic interest area in Songpan County in the northwest part of Sichuan, China. It is located in the southern part of the Minshan mountain range, 150 km north-northwest of the capital Chengdu. This area is known for its colorful pools formed by calcite deposits, especially in Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hot springs. Huanglong is also home to many endangered species including the Giant Panda and the Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Huanglong was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992. Due to thousands of years of geological evolution, Huanglong consists of numerous unique landscapes of geological landforms. (based on a wikipediaarticle / cc by-sa)
9. Jiuzhaigou Valley
One of the many multi-level waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou Valley, northern Sichuan province, China.One of the many multi-level waterfalls in Jiuzhaigou Valley, northern Sichuan province, China. [ Photo by Gjl / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Jiuzhaigou National Park (simplified Chinese: 九寨沟; traditional Chinese: 九寨溝; pinyin: Jiǔzhàigōu; lit. "Valley of Nine Villages"; Tibetan: Zitsa Degu (gzi rtsa sde dgu)) is a nature reserve in the north of Sichuan, a province in south western China. It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls and colorful lakes, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It belongs to the category V (Protected Landscape) in the IUCN system of protected area categorization. The valley covers 720 km², with buffer zones covering an additional 600 km². Its elevation, depending on the area considered, ranges from 1,998 to 2,140 m (at the mouth of Shuzheng Gully) to 4,558 – 4,764 m (on Mount Ganzigonggai at the top of Zechawa Gully). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
10. Wulingyuan
This photo was taken from Tianzishan. It shows some of the quartzite sandstone pillars that this region is so famous for.This photo was taken from Tianzishan. It shows some of the quartzite sandstone pillars that this region is so famous for. [ Photo by Gjl / CC BY-SA 3.0]

Wulingyuan
 (Chinese: 武陵源; pinyin: Wǔlíng Yuán) is a scenic and historic interest area in Hunan Province, China, famous for its approximately 3,100 tall quartzite sandstone pillars, some over 800 meters in height, which are a kind of karst formation. It is part of Zhangjiajie city, about 270km from the capital of Hunan Province, Changsha. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Wulingyuan forms part of the Wuling Range. (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)
11. Wudang Mountains
The Wudang Mountains in China.The Wudang Mountains in China. [ Photo by gongfu_king / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

The Wudang Mountains (simplified Chinese: 武当山; traditional Chinese: 武當山; pinyin: Wǔdāng Shān), also known as Wu Tang Shan or simply Wudang, are a small mountain range in the northwestern part of Hubei Province of China, just to the south of the manufacturing city of Shiyan. On Chinese maps, the name "Wudangshan" (武当山) is applied both to the entire mountain range (which runs east-west along the southern edge of the Hanshui River valley, crossing several county-level divisions of Shiyan Prefecture-level city), and to the small group of peaks located within Wudangshan Jiedao of the Danjiangkou County-level City of the Shiyan Prefecture-level city. It is the latter specific area which is known as a Taoist center. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
12. Potala Palace
View of the Potala Palace from the foothill of Chagpo RiView of the Potala Palace from the foothill of Chagpo Ri [ Photo by Ondřej Žváček / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Potala Palace (Tibetan: པོ་ཏ་ལ; Wylie: Po ta la; simplified Chinese: 布达拉宫; traditional Chinese: 布達拉宮) is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara. The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, after an invasion and failed uprising in 1959. Today the Potala Palace has been converted into a museum by the Chinese government. Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet." Chokpori, just to the south of the Potala, is the soul-mountain (bla-ri) of Vajrapani, Pongwari that of Manjushri, and Marpori, the hill on which the Potala stands, represents Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
13. Chengde Mountain Resort
The Chengde Mountain ResortThe Chengde Mountain Resort [ Photo by wangleon / CC BY 2.0 ]

The Mountain Resort in Chengde (Chinese: 避暑山庄; pinyin: Bìshǔ Shānzhuāng; literally: Mountain Resort for Avoiding the Heat; Manchu: Halhūn be jailara gurung) or Ligong (Chinese: 离宫; pinyin: Lígōng, the Qing Dynasty's summer palace) situated in the city of Chengde in Hebei Province, China, is the world's largest existing imperial garden. Built between 1703 and 1792, the Mountain Resort took 89 years to complete. It covers a total area of 5.6 km², almost half of Chengde's urban area. It is a vast complex of palaces and administrative and ceremonial buildings. Temples of various architectural styles and imperial gardens blend harmoniously into a landscape of lakes, pastureland and forests. (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)
14. Leshan Giant Buddha
A full view of the Giant Buddha Statue of Leshan, Sichuan, ChinaA full view of the Giant Buddha Statue of Leshan, Sichuan, China [ Photo by Ariel Steiner / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

The Leshan Giant Buddha (simplified Chinese: 乐山大佛; traditional Chinese: 樂山大佛; pinyin: Lèshān Dàfó) was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world and at the time of its construction was the tallest statue in the world. The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was not damaged by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Construction was started in 713, led by a Chinese monk named Haithong. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
15. Mount Emei
Mount EmeiMount Emei [ Photo by mckaysavage / CC BY 2.0 ]

Mount Emei
 (Chinese: 峨嵋山; pinyin: Éméi Shān; Wade-Giles: O2-mei2 Shan1, literally towering Eyebrow Mountain) is a mountain in Sichuan province of Western China. Mount Emei is often written as 峨眉山 and occasionally 峩嵋山 or 峩眉山 but all three are translated as Mount Emei or Mount Emeishan. At 3,099 metres (10,167 ft), Mt. Emei is the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. The patron bodhisattva of Emei is Samantabhadra, known in Chinese as Puxian (普贤菩萨). 16th and 17th century sources allude to the practice of martial arts in the monasteries of Mount Emei made the earliest extant reference to the Shaolin Monastery as Chinese boxing's place of origin. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
16. Mount Lu
Lushan National ParkLushan National Park [ Photo by 陈昀 / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Mount Lu (simplified Chinese: 庐山; traditional Chinese: 廬山; pinyin: Lúshān, Gan: Lu-san) is a mountain in the People's Republic of China, situated south of the city of Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province, near Lake Poyang. Its highest point is the Dahanyang Peak (1,474m above sea level). The mountain is a prominent tourist attraction, especially domestically. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
17. Pingyao
The Wall of Ping Yao city, Shanxi, China 平遙城牆,中國山西。The Wall of Ping Yao city, Shanxi, China 平遙城牆,中國山西。 [ Photo by Peellden / public domain ]

Pingyao
 (Chinese: 平遥; pinyin: Píngyáo) is a Chinese city and county in central Shanxi province, China. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China. It is now renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pingyao still retains its city layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties, conforming to a typical bagua pattern. More than 300 sites in or near the city have ancient ruins. Preserved Ming- and Qing-style residences number close to 4,000. The streets and storefronts still largely retain their historical appearance. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the county belonged to the kingdom of Jin. It was part of the kingdom of Zhao in the Warring States Period. In the Qin Dynasty, it was known as Pingtao. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
18. Suzhou
Decorative boats on a Canal at the edge of downtown, Suzhou, ChinaDecorative boats on a Canal at the edge of downtown, Suzhou, China [ Photo by Peripitus / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Suzhou
 (simplified Chinese: 苏州; traditional Chinese: 蘇州; pinyin: Sūzhōu; Suzhou dialect: ; ancient name: 吳). Suzhou is a city on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. The city is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens which have contributed to its status as a great tourist attraction. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Suzhou has also been an important centre for China's silk industry and continues to hold that prominent position today. The city is part of the Yangtze River Delta region. In 473 BC Wu was defeated by Yue, a kingdom to the east which was soon annexed by the Chu in 306 BC. The golden era of Suzhou ended with this conquest. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
19. Lijiang City
Farming near Lijiang, ChinaFarming near Lijiang, China [ Photo by CortoMaltese_1999 / CC BY 2.0 ]

Lijiang (simplified Chinese: 丽江市; traditional Chinese: 麗江市; pinyin: Lìjiāng Shì) is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Yunnan Province, China. It has an area of 21,219 square kilometres (8,193 sq mi) and a population of 1,137,600 as of 2005. Lijiang City is located in the northwestern portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan. It is in a region where the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (青藏高原) and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (云贵高原/雲貴高原) converge. Owing to its low latitude and high elevation, the city centre of Lijiang enjoys a subtropical highland climate (Koppen Cwb). (based on a wikipediaarticle / cc by-sa)
20. Summer Palace
Scenery of Longevity HillScenery of Longevity Hill [ Photo by Zhangzhe0101 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Summer Palace or Yihe Yuan (simplified Chinese: 颐和园; traditional Chinese: 頤和園; pinyin: Yíhé Yuán; literally "Gardens of Nurtured Harmony") is a palace in Beijing, China. The Summer Palace is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill (60 meters high) and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. The central Kunming Lake covering 2.2 square kilometers was entirely man made and the excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill. In the Summer Palace, one finds a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
21. Temple of Heaven
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. April,2010The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. April,2010 [ Photo by Charlie fong / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven (simplified Chinese: 天坛; traditional Chinese: 天壇; pinyin: Tiāntán; Manchu: Abkai mukdehun) is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing, in Chongwen District. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
22. Dazu Rock Carvings
Dazu Rock Carvings, Bao Ding buddhasDazu Rock Carvings, Bao Ding buddhas [ Photo by Truthven / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Dazu Rock Carvings (Chinese: 大足石刻; pinyin: Dàzú Shíkè) are a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings, dating back as far as the 7th century A.D., depicting and influenced by Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the Dazu Rock Carvings are made up of 75 protected sites containing some 50,000 statues, with over 100,000 Chinese characters forming inscriptions and epigraphs. The sites are located in Chongqing Municipality within the steep hillsides throughout Dazu County (located about 60 kilometers west of the city of Chongqing, China). The highlights of the rock grotto are found on Mount Baoding and Mount Beishan. The earliest carvings were begun in 650 A.D. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
23. Wuyi Mountains
Punting on the River of Nine Bends, Wuyishan, ChinaPunting on the River of Nine Bends, Wuyishan, China [ Photo by Hamish Symington / public domain ]

The Wuyi Mountains (Chinese: 武夷山; pinyin: Wǔyí Shān; POJ: Bu-i Soaⁿ) are a mountain range located at the prefecture Nanping, at the northern border of Fujian province with Jiangxi province, China. The mountains cover an area of 60 km². In 1999, Mount Wuyi entered UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, both natural and cultural. It is the most outstanding biodiversity conservation zone of Southeast China. Numerous types of tea are produced around Mount Wuyi; it is the origin of the real Da Hong Pao tea and Lapsang souchong, further described in Wuyi tea. The Wuyi Mountains are located between Wuyishan City, at Nanping prefecture of Fujian province and Wuyishan Town, at Shangrao city of Jiangxi province. The area is connected to the road network by provincial road number S303. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
24. Xidi
Xidi village in southern Anhui province (Yixian County) in China.Xidi village in southern Anhui province (Yixian County) in China. [ Photo by Anna Frodesiak / public domain ]

Xīdì (Chinese: 西递; pinyin: Xīdì, also Xi'di, or Xi Di, literally West Post), is a village in southern Anhui province (Yixian County), in China, which was declared a part of the “Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui” World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000, along with the village of Hongcun. It was first built during the Huangyou era (1049–1053) in the reign of emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty and was originally called Xichuan (West River), because of the water courses which flow through the village. The rise of the village was closely tied to the fortunes of the Hu family. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) members of this family began to act as merchants by 1465, which gave rise to the construction of major private buildings and public infrastructure. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
25. Hongcun
HongCun central clearing in AnHui province.HongCun central clearing in AnHui province. [ Photo by Jma / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Hongcun
 (宏村, pinyin: Hóngcūn) is a village in Yixian county, Anhui province (Yixian County), located near the southwest slope of Mount Huangshan, in China. The village is arranged in the shape of an ox: A nearby hill (Leigang Hill) is interpreted as the head, and two trees standing on it mark the horns. Four bridges across the Jiyin stream can be seen as the legs and the houses of the village form the body. Inside the “body”, the Jiyin stream can be seen as the intestines and the lakes — such as the “South Lake” (Nanhu) — as the stomachs. The architecture and carvings of the approximately 150 residences dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties are said to be among the best of their kind in China. One of the biggest of the residences open to visitors, Chenzhi Hall, also contains a small residence museum. (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)
26. Ming Dynasty Tombs
"ways of souls" tombs of the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 to 1644). 50km north west of Beijing, in Changping. beijing region, ming graves, way of souls"ways of souls" tombs of the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 to 1644). 50km north west of Beijing, in Changping. beijing region, ming graves, way of souls [ Photo by ofol / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Ming Dynasty Tombs (Chinese: 明朝十三陵; pinyin: Míng cháo shí sān líng; lit. Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty) are located some 50 kilometers due north of urban Beijing at a specially selected site. The site was chosen by the third Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle (1402–1424), who moved the capital of China from Nanjing to the present location of Beijing. He is credited with envisioning the layout of the ancient city of Beijing as well as a number of landmarks and monuments located therein. After the construction of the Imperial Palace (the Forbidden City) in 1420, the Yongle Emperor selected his burial site and created his own mausoleum. The Ming tombs of the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty were located on the southern slope of Tianshou Mountain (originally Mount Huangtu). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
27. Longmen Grottoes
Longmen GrottoesLongmen Grottoes [ Photo by Alex Kwok / public domain ]

The Longmen Grottoes (simplified Chinese: 龙门石窟; traditional Chinese: 龍門石窟; pinyin: lóngmén shíkū; lit. Dragon's Gate Grottoes) or Longmen Caves are located 12 km south of present day Luòyáng in Hénán province, China. The grottoes, which overwhelmingly depict Buddhist subjects, are densely dotted along the two mountains: Xiangshan (to the east) and Longmenshan (to the west). The Yi River flows northward between them. For this reason, the area used to be called Yique (The Gate of the Yi River). From north to south, the distance covered by grottoes is about one km. Along with the Mogao Caves and Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes are one of the three most famous ancient sculptural sites in China. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
28. Mount Qingcheng
Mount Qingcheng, WuLong GouMount Qingcheng, WuLong Gou [ Photo by Jason Zou / public domain ]

Mount Qingcheng
 (Chinese: 青城山; pinyin: Qīngchéng Shān) is a mountain in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China. It is amongst the most important centres of Taoism (Daoism) in China. In Daoist mythology, it was the site of the Yellow Emperor's studies with Ning Fengzhi. As a centre of the Daoist religion it became host to many temples. The mountain has 36 peaks. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
29. Yungang Grottoes
Ceiling paintings. Yungang Grottoes, near Datong, Shanxi province, China.Ceiling paintings. Yungang Grottoes, near Datong, Shanxi province, China. [ Photo by Felix Andrews / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Yungang Grottoes (simplified Chinese: 云冈石窟; traditional Chinese: 雲崗石窟; pinyin: Yúngāng Shíkū) are ancient Buddhist temple grottoes near the city of Datong in the Chinese province of Shanxi. They are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture and one of the three most famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The others are Longmen and Mogao. The site is located about 16 km south-west of the city, in the valley of the Shi Li river at the base of the Wuzhou Shan mountains. The grottoes were mainly constructed in the period between 460-525 AD during the Northern Wei dynasty. They are an outstanding example of the Chinese stone carvings from the 5th and 6th centuries. All together the site is composed of 252 grottoes with more than 51,000 Buddha statues and statuettes. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
30. Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
The first turn of the Yangtze (Changjiang) at Shigu (石鼓), Yunnan Province, where the river turns 180 degree from south- to north-boundThe first turn of the Yangtze (Changjiang) at Shigu (石鼓), Yunnan Province, where the river turns 180 degree from south- to north-bound [ Photo byJialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province, China. It lies within the watershed areas of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong (Lancang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers, in the Yunnanese section of the Hengduan Mountains. The protected areas extend over 15 core areas, totalling 939,441.4 ha, and buffer areas, totalling 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, for a distance of over 300 km, three of Asia's great rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
31. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca "black-and-white cat-foot") at Chengdu's Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca "black-and-white cat-foot") at Chengdu's Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. [ Photo by Colegota / CC BY-SA 2.5 ES ]

The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries (simplified Chinese: 四川大熊猫栖息地; traditional Chinese: 四川大熊貓棲息地; pinyin: Sìchuān Dàxióngmāo Qīxīdì) located in southwest Sichuan province of China, is the home to more than 30% of the world's highly endangered Giant Pandas and is among the most important sites for the captive breeding of these pandas. It covers 9245 km² with seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. Along with the Giant Panda, the sanctuary is a refuge to other endangered species such as the red panda, the snow leopard, and the clouded leopard. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
32. Shilin, Stone Forest
Shilin, Stone ForestShilin, Stone Forest [ Photo by 陈昀 / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Shilin (Chinese: 石林; pinyin: Shílín; literally "Stone Forest") is a notable set of karst formations in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, in the Yunnan province of southwest China, approximately 85 km from the city of Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like trees made of stone, creating the illusion of a forest made of stone. Shilin National Park covers an area of 350 square km and is divided into seven scenic areas with names like Greater & Lesser Stone Forests, Naigu Stone Forest, Zhiyun Cave, Qifeng Cave, Lake Changhu (literally "Long Lake"), Lake Yuehu (literally "Moon Lake") and the waterfalls of "Da Dieshui". The formations are believed to be over 270 million years old. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
33. Fujian Tulou
Interior of Yuchanglou, its zigzag structure and part of ancestral hall. Foundation of dismanted minor ring can be seenInterior of Yuchanglou, its zigzag structure and part of ancestral hall. Foundation of dismanted minor ring can be seen [ Photo by Gisling / CC BY-SA 3.0]

Fujian Tulou
 (simplified Chinese: 福建土楼; pinyin: Fújiàn Tǔlóu) is "the most extraordinary type of Chinese rural dwellings" of the Hakka and others in the mountainous areas in southeastern Fujian, China. They were mostly built between the 12th and the 20th centuries. A tulou is usually a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, rectangular or circular in configuration, with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between three and five stories high and housing up to 80 families. Smaller interior buildings are often enclosed by these huge peripheral walls which can contain halls, storehouses, wells and living areas, the whole structure resembling a small fortified city. Eryilou 二宜樓 of Dadi Tulou cluster is located at Zhangzhou City Hua-an County Xiandu township Dadi Village. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
34. Mount Sanqing
SanQingShanSanQingShan [ Photo by Emitchan / public domain ]

The Mount Sanqing (Chinese: 三清山; Pinyin: Sānqīng Shān) or San Qing Mountain is a renowned Taoist Mountain located 50 miles north from Yushan, Jiangxi Province of the China with an outstanding scenery. San Qing literally mean 'three distincts' in Mandarin as the San Qing Mountatin is made up of three main summits: the "Yujing Mountain", "Yushui Mountain" and "Yuhua Mountain". A Chinese phrase “三峰峻拔、如三清列坐其巅” (“Three steep peaks, like the Three Pure Ones sit the summits”) explains why it was named San Qing. Amongst the three hills, the Yujing hill (1817 meters above sea level) is the highest. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

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