China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Its home to a rich culture, a few millennia of history, great food, significant historical sites, and over 1.3 billion people. Most tourists head for the obvious tourist attractions – the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors, the Shaolin Temple, the Forbidden City, and Tienanmen Square. While they are all amazing (and amazingly crowded), there is much to China than these crowded tourist sites.
China has amazing areas of beauty that are great to escape to, even if the road isn’t as beaten down by throngs of tourists. These three places will help enjoy the historical and natural wonders China without the Disney World crowds:
The Longmen Caves
The Longmen Cave is has an amazing collection of Buddhas near Luoyang. Though still popular, there is more breathing room and more natural scenery than other tourist areas of China. Thousands of Buddhas, from neck-craning enormous statues to thumbnail size statues, are carved into cliffs along the Yi River. From a distance, the cliff looks like a honey comb network. On the opposite side of the river from the giant Buddhas, lies a romantic tea house tucked away in the woods, along side a stream to offer weary travelers a rests. The site is very cheap at 40 RMB.
Don’t Miss the Xi’an City Wall
The oldest and most well-kept city wall in China is in by Xi’an, a modern city with a lively and chaotic nightly carnival. The red-lantern-lined wall overlooks traditional Chinese buildings, with towers every 100 or so meters, makes you feel like you are truly in China and not a whitewashed tourist attraction. Start your bike ride before sunset and you’ll be able to ride when the lights along the wall and the lanterns light up the city to guide your way in the dark.
Song Mountain
Fans of the movie Kung Fans will know the Shaolin Temple well. Sadly, nearly the entire original temple has been destroyed and you share this faux site with hordes of tourists. However, nearby and included in the Shaolin admission ticket, is one of China’s holy mountains- Song Mountain. To reach the mountain, you must take a 60 RMB lift, which offers a nice view of the surrounding landscape. Once on the mountain, you can walk around cliffs where stacked rocks look like dominoes about to collapse over each other. You can get excellent views of the cloud covered mountains that look out to the jungle. and the best part- it’s an easy hike leaving you with no excuses to not explore.
Don’t fall into the trap only seeing the must-see sites of China. In such an old and large country, the secondary sites can give you the same feel of China’s amazing history and natural beauty without the crowds, noise, trash, and lines. You’ll have a better and more relaxed experience.
Laura Ksyer is a teacher in China. For more about of living, teaching, and touring China, check out Laura’s China Blog.
Hey whats the link to your other blog? I thought I remembered you saying you had another one.
There are many more beautiful, hidden treasures in China. I would name them, but then I would be sharing the scenic treasures with many more Laowei’s.
That being said, I agree, get out of the cities and into the countryside. If you don’t know the language take a translator or book. The Chinese are extremely friendly and curious.
Tina…
Wo laowei wode pengyou! Zhongguo hen piao liang, wo chu le san ge yua zai 2007. Wo yao chu!
Ni Hao!
Women zhu Xiamen. Wo xihuan Zhongguo, tebie xiao, chengshi he shan. Feichang piaoliang.
A great list. There are too many beautiful out-of-the-way places in China to list. Get out there, explore, have fun.
I’m sure there are more than just three but our guest author has just named those three!! any other recommendations?
Alas, I would love to tell you my pics but want to get there before you…
I will give you a nibble.
That being said, for something old different, Ling Canal and Xingan. The canal apparently is as old as the Great Wall over 2000 years, though small in todays standard, it was a feat back then.. If you want a canal town, go to Xitang. It’s similar to Suzhou without the westerners.
Coming from Singapore, I’ve never actually visited China (not even Hongkong). Don’t ask me why but it just never strike me that I should do so though its a pretty popular destination for my parents’ generation.
Though I cannot be certain, I understand that the Chinese don’t exactly treat Chinese based overseas very well.
Those pictures look fantastic, especially the one on Song San.
I just got a job and will start soon. Your website makes me miss my previously nomadic life. Especially this entry. I haven’t been to China yet.
Hi! great site, I have always wanted to go to china. I live in Costa Rica right now, and i’ll tell you latin america is fun, but it’s so similar to usa, i want culture shock!!!!!!! and china looks like the best place for it:)
MuchaCostaRica
Hey thanks for making this post. I have been planning to go to China for a while!
A great post on china..I dodnt know there were so many interesting places to see besides the regular touristy places
Thanks for reminding us that there are SO many more places to visit in this HUGE country than the regular tourist attractions. It’s so important, no matter what country you’re traveling in, to get off the beaten path, meet the locals and experience the region without your nose being stuck in a guidebook.
Matt,
This post reminds me that high on my travel priorities is a pilgrimage to Shanghai where my father lived for almost ten years on his amazing journey of immigration from Berlin, Germany (where I wish to also go on a pilgrimage) and eventually to California.
My wife and I will be making a pilgrimage to her roots in San Sebastian, Spain next year.
I was lucky to meet Phil Cousineau, author of “The Art of Pilgrimage” at the Book Passage travel writing conference a few months ago, and I am fascinated in the concept of a trek to connect to our personal pasts. The challenge is to create the path when our parents are no longer alive.
This should be a hint to the younger generation to take an interest in their own history while their parents and grandparents are still able to provide this glimpse to their past.
I didn’t and I greatly regret it.
Matt – Update: We won the amazing race. Your mother would be proud you’ve finally made something of yourself
Hahaha.
I don’t really see how Xi’an’s city wall is an ‘off the beaten place [track]‘? Xi’an is home to the terracotta warriors and the wall is pretty much the second attraction to a city visited by hundreds (if not thousands) of tourists a day (and rightly so).
In fact, I’m tempted to say the same of the other two but as I didn’t visit them so I’m keeping shtum. Doesn’t Song have steps all the way to the top, therefore of you really are off the beaten place/track!
For me, an off the beaten place is the southern region of Xishuangbanna in the Yunnan Province. A remarkable collage of Chinese tribal people, upholding beliefs and traditions in some of the most amazing scenery on offer in Asia.
@Ant: i’m just posting what the writer wrote. I’ve never been to China so I don’t know anything about Xian!
@ Tina and Christy (the first two posters): Both of you, your horribly shit attempt at Chinese makes my Chinese inner child want to cry, please stop, you two have obviously overestimated yourselves…and in pinyin no less. That shit is fucking clownshoes, you couldn’t even spell the fucking pinyin right, for the sake of god, allah, or whatever for pity’s fucking sake, STFU and never attempt that shit again.
@ my first post, I realize it was Greg who should commit ritual suicide and not Christy, but Tina, you still suck. Also, these recommendations are shit, they stink, how taste my big peepee?