Living There
One of the most fascinating aspects of a china tour is visiting the many modern day metropolises that China has to offer. On the Silk Road tour, you have the opportunity to visit some of Chinas most fascinating cities and get a feel for the fast pace of life that many Chinese people experience day to day.
Beijing – The Capital of China
Beijing has some of China’s most famous attractions all in one place. As one of the six ancient Chinese cities, its history and culture go back 3000 years. Main attractions include the Forbidden City, where you can see how passed emperors lived, Tiananmen Square, which holds it’s importance for hosting many of China’s most important events, the Summer Palace, where you can see the stunning Chinese landscaping and the Ming Tombs which are made up of a number of Imperial mausoleums.
No trip to Beijing would be complete without a visit to the Great Wall of China. The famous wall built between 220–206 BC to protect the population against invaders from the north. At 8,850 km, its the longest man made structure in the world.
Xian – One of China’s Oldest CIties
Xian is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilisation, encompassing 3000 years of history. Here you can see the Terracotta Warriors, a collection of sculptures that represent the armies of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. The Terracotta sculptures are one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century and depict the pageantry and excesses of the period. In total there is over 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 520 horses.
A visit to the Huaqing Hot Spring allows you to take in the beautiful surroundings and soak in the same springs that many past Chinese emperors swam in. Xian is also home to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652, it was constructed to hold figurines of Buddha taken from India. Standing at 54 metre high, it is an excellent example of Chinese construction dating back 1400 years.
Urumqi – The Cultural Hub of the Qing Dynasty
Urumqi, meaning “beautiful pasture”, is home to 3.1 million people and is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The city was a major trading hub on the silk road during the reign of the Tang dynasty.
In Urumqi, you can visit the stunning Heavenly Mountain and Heavenly Lake, giving you the opportunity to take in China’s beautiful alpine scenery. The slopes of the Heavenly Mountain are lush with green grass and flowers, creating a view that is hard to beat.
Shanghai – China’s Largest City
Shanghai truly is a city of gigantic proportions. With a population of 24,150,000, it is the world’s largest city. A city so large is bound to have some amazing attractions and Shanghai certainly lives up to that expectation.
The Jade Buddha Temple is a main attraction which houses two jade statues of Buddha, the statues avoided destruction during the Cultural Revolution and are now joined by a much larger, reclining Buddha. The temple that was built in 1882 draws its style from the Pure Land and Chan traditions.
The Old Town and Yuyuan Gardens are great destinations to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and see the many historical buildings and scenic gardens in the area.
