20 Reasons To Visit China
There are so many great reasons to visit China! From the food, to sight seeing, China is a top travel destination. If you’re thinking of travelling to China, you need to check out this list of all the best reasons to visit!
1. The Food
Going to China means trying out lots of different food, and you might not know what you’re actually eating. If you consider yourself a picky eater, then China might not be the place for you to visit; they do, however, have Papa John’s and McDonald’s. If you love trying all kinds of food, stop in Beijing; they have markets set up where people purchase insects to eat for a snack! Beijing also has great restaurants known for serving ducks – so delicious.
2. The Restaurant Atmosphere
Restaurants are a lot different in China than they are in the United States. They have “lazy Susans” on the tables where your group can share all of the different food. It’s a fun way to eat food and to interact with everyone you’re with! While you are all trying out the different foods together, you can talk about all of the amazing sights you just saw that day.
3. Temple Of Heaven
First constructed in 1420, this was a place for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to come to worship the god of heaven and also pray for a good harvest. I think it is one of the most beautiful buildings you will find in China.
4. West Lake, Hangzhou
This lake is located in Hangzhou in eastern China. It’s surrounded by lots of trees and many pagodas; you’ll feel like you’re in a scene from Mulan!
5. The Bullet Train
China’s bullet trains are some of the fastest trains in the world, going 124 miles per hour! It makes a 16 hour drive in the car a 5 hour train ride. So if you’re planning to visit all over China, these trains make that very possible.
6. The People
Whenever I was in China, people kept coming up to my friends and I asking for pictures. I felt like a celebrity! So if you need a self confidence boost, China is the place to go. Also, don’t be shocked if you see people pulling out their phones and snapping photos of you. They’re so excited to see Americans and want to tell everyone they know that they got to see one.
7. The Shopping Markets
The shopping markets are full of clothes, bags, sunglasses, and little trinkets that are perfect for bringing back souvenirs. Be careful about the prices they are asking for, though; most of them take advantage of you not understanding their currency, but you’re usually able to barter with them.
8. Tiananmen Square
A large city square in Beijing, it contains the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (Chairman of the China Communist Party, 1949-1976). The most recent, best known event on the square is the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, a pro democracy movement that was ended by the government and the shooting of several hundred, or possibly thousands, of civilians by soldiers (the number has been in dispute over the years as Chinese authorities actively suppress discussion of the events). It’s cool to visit this square because of the events that have occurred there, but just be sure not to bring it up while you are there.
9. Forbidden City
Located right next to Tiananmen Square, this was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (1420-1912). The city is the best-preserved imperial palace in China, and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world! Be sure you have used the bathroom and drank some water before entering, because it goes on and on and on. There are so many buildings, gardens, and courts that show where the emperors lived during their rule.
10. TV Tower
Standing at 1,536 feet, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai is the world’s sixth highest tower and China’s second tallest TV and radio tower. You can travel all of its levels in the double-decker elevator, that fits up to fifty people. Make sure you have your hair done the day you visit; this is a place where lots of people will ask to get a picture with you.
11. The Festivals
There are lots of festivals to attend in China to celebrate the holidays; the most famous one being Chinese New Year. It’s a 15 day long celebration where they will set off fireworks and welcome guests with sugared fruits, intended to “sweeten” one’s year. Chinese New Year will start on January 28 next year. Another popular festival in China is the Lantern Festival, which is the biggest feast after the Chinese New Year, and they watch lanterns in the street and all of the houses. Next year, the festival will be on February 11.
12. The Rich History
Because China’s civilization has been around for thousands of years, there is so much rich and exciting history all over the country. Anywhere you decide to go, there is so much to learn about China’s past.
13. The Fashion And Style
The people in China love to be bold with their fashion, and after walking around for a few hours, you will definitely learn that. If you happen to be in Beijing in March, be sure to head to their Fashion Week.
14. The Language
China’s language is so intricate, with over 50,000 characters. It can be very hard to learn the language because of all of the characters, and the different pronunciations are much different than the English language. But it is so cool to hear them speak so fluently in a language that seems impossible for us to understand. I suggest learning a few phrases before going to China, because most people don’t know any English.
15. KTV
If you’re looking for a fun night out while in China, a KTV is perfect. Feel like you’re in the VIP section as you rent out a room for just you and your friends and sing karaoke!
16. Transportation
Chinese people love riding around in e-bikes; they’re basically like mopeds. You’ll find them everywhere. If you plan on staying in China for several weeks, it wouldn’t be a bad investment, because you will be able to get to your destination very easily without paying too much money.
17. The Different Landscapes
From the bustling city life to the little villages, from hiking in the mountains, to cruising in all of the rivers and lakes, there are so many landscapes to explore and enjoy while in China.
18. The Huangpu River Cruise, Shanghai
The Huangpu River is located in Shanghai and is known for not having any ice all year round. This makes it perfect for being able to cruise on it at any time of the year! Riding on one of the cruises, you will be able to do lots of sightseeing of the busy and beautiful city.
19. The Pagodas
The cute little buildings make you feel like you’re in China in the 1300s. Even though China is considered a developing country and has made lots of advancements in their cities, there are still areas that include these traditional architecture that make China, China.
20. The Great Wall
If you didn’t climb up the Great Wall of China, did you even actually go to China? The historic wall is a must on anyone’s itinerary. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, you will love climbing up all the stairs and looking around at all of the beautiful landscape, plus trying to find other parts of the wall in between all of the trees. Try to go the part of the wall where there is a slide; yes, you can SLIDE down the Great Wall!
