Below Clockwise: Great Wall of China, Leshan Giant Buddha, Terracotta Army, Giant Pandas and Chengdu, Mount Huang
terracotta army Life-sized terracotta warriors guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, where a huge palace complex was unearthed in late-2012. Archaeologists have found the remains of an ancient imperial palace near the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. There are thousands of warriors at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures are all different; with their horses, chariots and weapons, all masterpieces of realism and also of great historical interest. The Terracotta Warriors are part of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor at Xi’an, which is about a one-and-a-half hour flight West of Beijing.
Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the Northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. The Great Wall is the world’s longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6400km from Shanhaiguan in the East to Lop Nur in the West, along an arc that roughly delineates the Southern edge of inner Mongolia. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. At its peak the Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of two to three million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the Wall.
Li River
li river
N aotnudrearsl W
“The river winds like a green silk ribbon, while the hills are like jade hairpins” - HanY u (768-824), a fa mous Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Described as one of the most beautiful rivers of China, the Li River rises in the Mao’er Mountain or Cat Mountain (Xing’an County, northern border of Guilin), passes southward through Guilin, Yangshuo, Pingle, Zhaoping and many villages to open out to the Xijiang River of Wuzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Its total length is 437 kilometres, with the 83-kilometer-long section between Guilin and Yangshuo as the highlight. There are several cruises that operate all year long, as the scenery is always impressive no matter what the weather is like. It is the most famous and important natural attraction that should be visited when in Guangxi Province. Endowed with amazing hills, mountains, caves and little streams, the Li River is a perfect place to admire rice paddies, bamboo groves and forests, waterfalls, water buffalos, ancient villages and the symbol of the area: Fishermen and their cormorants floating by on bamboo rafts. Dotted with eye-feasting scenery, the river is always pristine with its surrounding lush landscape, fauna and peaks reflecting on the clear green and mirror-like water under the blue sky.
Giant Pandas and Chengdu Heading out to Chengdu is a great way to get a taste of Sichuan province as well as an opportunity to see the famous Giant Pandas. The Breeding Research Base will give you an in-depth understanding of these gentle giants of China. Its population is small and isolated to the forest habitat in Southwest China’s mountainous areas. The Chinese government has set up more than 30 reserves, but habitat destruction and poaching continues to pose a threat to pandas living outside of them. With rapid economic development, it is more important than ever to ensure the giant panda’s survival. sources: www.touropia.com; www.travelchinaguide.com; www.whc.unesco.org; www.visitourchina.com; www.discoverhongkong.com; www.greatwall-of-china.com; www.imperialtours.net; www.china.org.cn
advertisement
11