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1. Mt. Everest - Summit of the World
▲ Feature: World's Highest Peak (8,848.86mm), Photography, Tibetan Buddhist Temples.
"Because it's the top of the world, of course, we have to see it." We often hear tourists say this when we set foot on Tibet on the plateau.
Among China natural tourist attractions, Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰)'s reputation as a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world's highest peak, at 8,848.86 meters, is enough to steadily attract climbers and tourists like a magnet.
Mount Everest's body is shaped like a giant pyramid, surrounded by glaciers and snowfields that climbers need to challenge. Looking into the distance at Mount Everest, you'll often find banner clouds fluttering on the summit.
- You can reach Gyatso La Pass to see the peak of Mount Everest in the distance, which is also one of the best locations for photography.
- You can also reach Everest Base Camp, which is the closest point to Mount Everest.
- Nearby, there is also Rongbuk Monastery, where you can experience Tibetan culture.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | China-Nepal border. |
| Best Time to Visit | Late April to early June and September to October. |
| Recommended Time | 2 Days |
| How to Get There | Fly to mainland China, then Lhasa (flight/train), then Shigatse. From Shigatse, 6.5-hour car ride. |
| Note | To travel to Tibet, you need a Tibet Travel Permit. Asia Odyssey Travel is qualified to obtain it for you, free of charge. Contact us! |
2. Zhangjiajie - Inspiration for the Avatar Mountains
▲ Feature: Avatar Mountains, Sandstone Peaks and Forest Landform.
Zhangjiajie (张家界) has long been famous for being the filming location of the movie Avatar, needing no further reviews for reference.
Zhangjiajie is a UNESCO world heritage site, composed of attractions such as the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, and Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon.
In Wulingyuan Scenic Area:
- In the Wulingyuan scenia area, you will hike into Yuanjiajie, admire the Hallelujah Mountains that pierce the ground like swords, and stroll along the Yuanjiajie scenic walkway along the cliffs.
- Go to Tianzi Mountain to overlook the peak forest.
In Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: you can experience the world's longest and highest glass bridge, and take a boat ride to visit Baofeng Lake.
In Tianmen Mountain National Park:
- Admire the Tianmen Cave at Tianmen Mountain.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | No. 279, Jinbian Road, Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | April to May and September to October. |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | 1 hour drive from Zhangjiajie. |
3. Jiuzhaigou - Stunning Waterscapes
▲ Feature: Water Scenery, Photography.
"Jiuzhaigou is the undisputed pinnacle of domestic waterscapes!" Surrounded by the sounds of camera shutters, Jiuzhaigou is indeed a must-see.
Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) is a UNESCO world heritage site and national nature reserve, ranking high among China national parks and consistently listed among national wonders in China. The park consists of the Zechawa, Rize, and Shuzheng valleys.
Here, the hundreds of lakes, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and forests maintain their pristine state, untouched by excessive human interference.
You can take a sightseeing bus and then stroll along the wooden boardwalk to admire the crystal-blue lakes, rushing waterfalls, and vibrant, colorful forests.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou, Ngawa, Sichuan Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | Late October to early November. |
| Recommended Time | 2 Days |
| How to Get There | A 1.7-hour train ride from Chengdu. |
4. Guilin Li River - A Living Chinese Ink Wash Painting
▲ Feature: Meandering River, Karst Peaks
A Tang Dynasty poem, "The river is like a green silk ribbon, the mountains like jade hairpins," perfectly describes the Li River (漓江), a UNESCO world heritage site.
This river's drainage area covers approximately 12,000 square kilometers, flowing through Guilin City, Yangshuo County, and other areas. The scenery along both banks primarily consists of diverse karst peaks, such as Elephant Trunk Hill.
Within these mountains, there are karst caves, like Reed Flute Cave, featuring stalactites, stalagmites, and stone curtains that resemble an alien ecosystem.
- You can take a leisurely Li River cruise to admire the 83 kilometers of stunning Karst scenery along the banks, which also feature peaceful Chinese villages.
- It's also joyful to take a bamboo raft trip down the Yulong River, a Li River tributary, passing by bamboo forests and rice fields along the sparkling waters.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. |
| Best Time to Visit | September to Early November |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | 1 hour drive from Guilin. |
5. Guilin Longji Rice Terraces - Dragon Line Terraces
▲ Feature: 3,099mm, Natural Wonders + Human Masterpiece, Photography.
"Go find the dragon!" This isn't Game of Thrones, but the resounding slogan of tourists heading to the Longji Rice Terraces (龙脊梯田). Of course, there are no real dragons, but rather terraced fields that meander like a dragon's back, scattered between altitudes of 300 to 1100 meters.
The Longji Rice Terraces, a UNESCO world heritage site, created by the ancient minority ethnic groups of Zhuang and Yao 2,300 years ago, with maximum slopes reaching 50 degrees, are a human masterpiece and even more so, a natural wonder.
You can hike on the Longji Rice Terraces, where all you see are long curves and wavy lines, an endless expanse of undulating beauty.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Longji Town, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | September to Late October |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | 2 hours drive from Guilin. |
6. Mount Emei - The Sacred Buddhist Mountain
▲ Feature: Famous Buddhist Mountain, Sunrise, Sea of Clouds, China's Most Difficult Mountain to Climb.
"Mount Emei specializes in curing stubbornness, but climbing up and seeing the sunrise and sea of clouds makes it all worthwhile." This is what many weary but excited climbers say, and our team felt the same.
As one of Chinese natural wonders, Mount Emei (峨眉山) is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, famous for its Golden Summit, where you can witness spectacular sights like the sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddha's Light, and Holy Lamps.
From the foot of the mountain to the summit, there are nearly 30 temples, such as Baoguo Temple, Wannian Temple. These temples carry a long history of Buddhism.
Mischievous monkeys can be seen everywhere along the hiking trail.
We recommend taking the sightseeing bus directly to Leidongping, and then the cable car to the Golden Summit, to avoid being too tired.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Huangwan Town, Emeishan City, Leshan City, Sichuan Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | April to October |
| Recommended Time | 2-3 days |
| How to Get There | A 1.5-hour train ride from Chengdu. |
Note: A trip to Mount Emei typically starts from Chengdu, where you can also see adorable pandas. If you need any advice for your itinerary, please Contact Asia Odyssey Travel!
7. Huangshan - Pines and Fantastic Rocks
▲ Feature: 1,840mm, Welcoming Pine, Uniquely Shaped Rocks.
Huangshan (黄山) is renowned for its "strangeness" among all Chinese mountains, and is known as China's No. 1 Strange Mountain and a UNESCO world heritage site.
It boasts five major natural wonders in China: ancient pine trees, uniquely shaped granite peaks, winter snow, hot springs, and seas of clouds.
We suggest starting your Huangshan tour by taking the sightseeing bus to Yungu Temple, followed by the cable car to Bai'eling Station.
Along the way, you'll encounter peculiarly shaped pine trees, such as the Black Tiger Pine and the Harp Pine, as well as the Flying Stone, which looks like a meteorite piercing the mountaintop.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | March to May and September to November. |
| Recommended Time | 3-4 days |
| How to Get There | A 1.5 hours drive from Huangshan City. |
8. Three Gorges - Picturesque Gorge Landscapes
▲ Feature: Yangtze River
"Half mountains and rivers, half poetry" is the most fitting description of the Three Gorges' visual and sensory experience.
The Three Gorges (三峡), as one of the natural wonders in China, is no exception. It is the collective name for the three sections of canyons: Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge.
It stretches approximately 193 kilometers from Baidi City in Fengjie County, Chongqing in the west, to Nanjin Pass in Yichang City, Hubei Province in the east.
- Qutang Gorge: Characterized by its majestic momentum, with steep cliffs on both banks at the gorge entrance, appearing as if they were cleaved.
- Wu Gorge: A deep and beautiful canyon with winding and tortuous paths, where the scenery on both banks is faintly visible amidst the clouds and mist.
- Xiling Gorge: Renowned for its perilousness and scenic beauty, with overlapping peaks on both banks.
Visitors can take a Yangtze River Cruise to tour the Three Gorges scenery, enjoying the strange peaks, unusual rocks, and precipitous canyons on both sides.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | The upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Central China. |
| Best Time to Visit | April, May, September, and October. |
| Recommended Time | 4 days or more. |
| How to Get There | Fly to Chongqing, then board a ship at Chaotianmen Port. |
9. Kunming Stone Forest - Karst Wonderland
▲ Feature: Karst Landscape, Photography.
"A masterpiece of nature, I come here whenever I want to escape the city." Tourists encountered along the way are like happy children released into the mountains, clearly, this place has a unique charm.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of atural wonders in China, the Kunming Stone Forest (昆明石林) is famous for its stone forest landscape, with a history dating back to the Permian period when it was submerged by an ancient sea.
The stones reach up to 30 meters in height.
You can stroll along the tourist paths within the scenic area and admire the various karst landforms.
By the way, this is also the filming location for the TV series "Journey to the West," be bold and strike up a conversation with the locals to ask where the filming locations are!
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Shilin County, Kunming, Yunnan. |
| Best Time to Visit | March to May and September to November. |
| Recommended Time | Half day |
| How to Get There | A 1.5-hour drive from Kunming. |
10. Dongchuan Red Land - Colorful Rural Palette
▲ Feature: Red Land, Photography Paradise, 1,800 to 2,600 meters.
"The stunning Red Land, every photographer knows it." A photographer sharing their experience while standing on the Red Land told us. Looking around, it's indeed true, worthy of being a member of China natural tourist attractions.
The Dongchuan Red Land (东川红土地), covering 200 square kilometers, is known as the "Red Land of the World," composed of patches of dark red, purplish-red, brick-red, and other different red soils.
Various crops are planted on the Red Land, such as potatoes, corn, rapeseed, wheat, etc., which display different colors in different seasons, complementing the red soil.
We recommend strolling along the tourist paths within the scenic area to appreciate the unique red soil. Be sure to capture the sunset at Luoxiagou, and take sunrise photos at Damakan the next day.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Dongchuan District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | April to June and September to November. |
| Recommended Time | 2 Days |
| How to Get There | A 3-hour drive from Kunming. |
11. Tiger Leaping Gorge - Rushing River and Towering Peaks
▲ Feature: Gorge, Hiking.
Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) is the next stunning place on the list of Chinese natural wonders.
Legend has it that a fierce tiger once leaped across the gorge with the aid of a large rock in the river, hence the name.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the deepest and most beautiful gorges in the world.
The gorge stretches approximately 20 kilometers, with a depth of 3,900 meters, and is divided into three sections: Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge. At its narrowest point, it is only a few dozen meters wide.
The scenery mainly consists of gorges, mountain peaks, and river waters.
A major feature of the Gorge is Tiger Leaping hike, and its hiking route is one of the world's top ten scenic hiking routes. Along the way, you can admire snow-capped mountains over 5,000 meters high, climb vertical ladders, and view waterfalls with drops of over 100 meters.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La City, Yunnan Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | April to May and September to October. |
| Recommended Time | 2 Days |
| How to Get There | A 1-1.5 hour drive from Lijiang. |
Your safety is paramount on any hike. Asia Odyssey Travel guarantees it. Contact us to plan your trip.
12. Zhangye Danxia - Rainbow-Like Danxia Landform
▲ Feature: Danxia Landform, Photography.
Most natural wonders in China stand out by their breathtaking color, and so does the Zhangye Danxia. This is why many tourists say, "Visiting Zhangye was absolutely worth it."
The Zhangye Danxia (张掖丹霞) is a UNESCO Global Geopark and was named one of the "Top 10 Geographical Wonders of the World" by National Geographic magazine in the United States.
The scenery mainly consists of two geological features: the Danxia landform of red sandstone conglomerate and colorful hills.
You can explore the Danxia landform and colorful hills by walking along the scenic area's paths or by riding a camel.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Zhangye City, Gansu Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | June to September. |
| Recommended Time | Half day to 1 day. |
| How to Get There | A 1 hour drive from Zhangye City. |
13. Badain Jaran Desert - China’s Most Beautiful Desert
▲ Feature: Colorful Desert.
After seeing green colors, we now jump to the yellow desert. A normal desert wouldn't be ranked among China natural tourist attractions, but the Badain Jaran Desert (巴丹吉林沙漠) truly deserves its reputation as "China's Most Beautiful Desert," as named by National Geographic.
This desert is a potential UNESCO World Heritage site and China's third-largest desert.
Its features include sand dunes reaching heights of 500 meters, comparable to Mount Everest, singing sand dunes, colorful lakes, hot springs, and the ancient Badain Jaran Monastery.
You can experience the desert through hiking or a more thrilling jeep tour, racing across the sands.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | A giant basin in the western part of Alxa Right Banner and the eastern part of Ejin Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia. |
| Best Time to Visit | June to October. |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | A 1 hour drive from Badain Jaran Town. |
14. Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Spring - Coexistence of Sand and Water
▲ Feature: Sand Dunes, Crescent-Shaped Lake in the Desert.
A line from Tang poem reads "Crescent Spring on Singing Sands, water and rock a jade-like dance."
Among the Chinese Natural Wonders, there is a unique landscape where sand dunes and spring water coexist, namely the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Spring. This unique natural phenomenon is extremely rare in the world.
Singing Sand Dunes (鸣沙山), reaching a height of 1,715 meters, is named for the sound produced by the shifting sands.
Crescent Spring (月牙泉), named for its shape resembling a crescent moon, is known as the "First Spring of the Desert" and has never been eroded by wind and sand for thousands of years.
Climbing to the summit of Mingsha Mountain is not as easy as imagined. It is recommended to use the provided ladders. From the summit, you can slide down the sand, ride camels in the scenic area, or try desert motorcycles, among other activities.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Approximately 5 kilometers south of the city in Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | Early mornings or late evenings. |
| Recommended Time | Half day to 1 day. |
| How to Get There | A 10 min drive from Dunhuang City. |
15. Qinghai Lake - Plateau Sapphire
▲ Feature: Highland Lake (3,193.69 meters), Salt Lake
"Is this really not the sea? It's boundless." Many tourists visiting Qinghai Lake (青海湖) leave with this impression.
Qinghai Lake's deep azure surface does indeed have the qualities to masquerade as the sea. It is China's largest inland salt lake, with an area exceeding 4,400 square kilometers, equivalent to six New York Cities.
The lake is surrounded by mountains, grasslands, rapeseed flower fields, and wetlands. It is a breeding and migratory ground for many rare waterbirds.
We recommend visiting Qinghai Lake in July and August, which is the peak season for rapeseed flowers, and you can walk through golden rapeseed flower fields stretching for thousands of meters.
You can also admire the beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake at the core Erlangjian Scenic Area and try water activities like jet skiing.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. |
| Best Time to Visit | July to August. |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | A 2.5-3 hour drive from downtown Xining. |
16. Xinjiang Kanas Lake - The Lake with Shifting Hues
▲ Feature: Alpine Lake 1374 meters, Freshwater Lake
Xinjiang Kanas Lake (新疆喀纳斯湖) is known for its "lake monster" legends. It is said that there is a monster in the 188.5-meter-deep lake, which often drags horses drinking water by the lake into the water.
In fact, the monster has not been found, but tourists come one after another.
As a member of national wonders in China, Kanas Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in China, famous for its changing colors. Depending on the season and weather, the lake's color varies from turquoise to green, and the lake reflects the surrounding snow-capped mountains, forests, and blue sky.
We recommend enjoying the panoramic view of Kanas Lake at the Fish Pavilion, and then exploring Kanas Lake along the lakeside trail or by taking a cruise, admiring the lake surface and the golden-red-orange forests at Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay, and Wolong Bay.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. |
| Best Time to Visit | May to September. |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | A 1-hour drive from the nearest Hemu Village. |
17. Ejina Poplar Forest - Millennia-Old Immortal Golden Sea of Trees
▲ Feature: Poplar Forest, Desert Oasis.
"Of course, autumn is for seeing the euphrates poplars that live for a thousand years, stand for a thousand years after death, and remain undecayed for a thousand years after falling!"
In the golden autumn season, many tourists who love autumn scenery head to the Ejina Poplar Forest (内蒙古额济纳胡杨林).
This poplar forest covers 560 square kilometers, and the vast expanse of euphrates poplars displays splendid colors such as golden yellow and orange-red during the golden autumn, a breathtaking sight.
You can explore the poplar forest by walking along the scenic area's paths or by taking a sightseeing bus.
| Basics | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Central area of Ejina Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia. |
| Best Time to Visit | Late September to mid-October. |
| Recommended Time | 1 Day |
| How to Get There | 9-minute drive from Ejina Banner. |
Discover Natural Wonders in China with Asia Odyssey Travel
Mountains, rivers, lakes, canyons, stone forests, deserts, forests - China's natural wonders always offer something to explore.
Want to travel to China natural tourist attractions but don't know how to arrange your itinerary? Unlike some travel agencies with fixed itineraries, Asia Odyssey Travel can help you plan according to your needs, and all your travel questions will be answered.
Our professional guides and drivers will drive comfortable private cars to take you to various attractions and provide fascinating explanations. Please feel free to Contact us and let us know your requirements!
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